Blue Jacket Brewery and Tavern - Innovative Brews in a Historic Space

Usually I write about interesting food and drink finds around the 904, but last weekend I had the opportunity to head to DC, spend some time with great friends and experience a few new finds in the nation's capital.

Always on the lookout for really great and interesting local brews, we found ourselves near the Naval Yard and a very cool brewery and tavern appropriately named Blue Jacket. This DC hotspot is unique in that it not only serves some of the most innovative craft brews but also is housed in a fantastic, truly historic industrial circa 1919 building that was once the Boilermaker Shops, part of the Navy Yard ship and munitions complex.

The space is, of course, what strikes upon entering Blue Jacket. It is a massive warehouse with exposed steel beams, industrial décor and floor to ceiling windows letting in more natural light than you can possibly imagine. In a word – awesome. The Arsenal, Blue Jacket's restaurant, had a rather long wait, so our party of three opted for the tavern area occupied by an eclectic group enjoying beer, food and watching football oblivious to the massive vats of beer surrounded them. 

Sunday being brunch day, the menu featured a variety of items to please both the breakfast lovers or those interested in lunch. We were there mainly for the beer but opted to sample a few smaller dishes. Our server had some challenges with questions we psed about the food but she was quick to offer beer and water. When food finally arrived, it came in waves and not exactly piping hot. But what it lacked in speedy delivery and temperature it certainly made up for in taste. The biscuits smothered in Tasso gravy were savory with just the right amount of spice, pepper and smoky flavors to remind one of Louisiana.  The Home Fries were nicely sautéed with red and green peppers and the Arsenal fries were perfectly crispy and salty. I have to admit that my side salad was a bit confusing consisting of a bowl of mixed greens, tomatoes and red onion. It had little to no dressing and although as satisfying as greens can be, I expected a little more to it.  

Blue Jacket's draft menu did not disappoint with several varieties and flavors to choose from.  I was curious about a few of the brews and opted for tastes, smaller pours for a smaller price, of three different beers. I began with the Figure 8 cask Ale – a full-bodied, malt-driven ale brewed with 30lbs of dried figs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and bourbon soaked oak chips. It was smooth and delightful but the small taste was about all I could handle.  Thirsting for something a little lighter, our server suggested the Seersucker, which was definitely effervescent, juicy and zippy (as the menu promised) with wheaty sweet flavor and quite refreshing. My one observation was that the tastings came in what seemed to be tuliped wine glasses – an odd choice for craft beer or cask ales.

The other guests, and more advanced beer aficionados in my party, opted for full pints of the Cut & Dry, a classic Bohemian pilsner with a Blue Jacket twist; Mexican Radio, a mole-inspired imperial stout; and the Redhead, a hoppy red ale with hints of cocoa and toffee.  Both agreed that each was satisfying to the taste buds and unique enough to come back for other signature Blue Jacket brews.

Blue Jacket brewery and tavern at the Naval Ship Yards in Washington, DC. – a must for specialty beer, pretty good food, atmosphere and a little history.

Blue Jacket

Brewery and Tavern

300 Tingey St, SE

Washington, DC 20003

(202) 524-4862

www.bluejacketdc.com

The Arsenal

Lunch Dinner Sunday Brunch

Intuition Ale Works & Cafe Nola team up to bring Jacksonville: Beer & Food - Together at Last

Last week marked the third anniversary of one of Jacksonville’s own craft breweries,

Intuition Ale Works. Naturally, the week was marked with several beer related events and celebrations to mark this momentous milestone for Intuition. On Thursday night, Café Nola joined in the celebration by hosting a beer and food pairing appropriately named: Beer & Food – Together at Last. Attendees enjoyed a delectable collaboration of beer and food featuring three samples of Intuition Ale brews selected by sommelier Mico Fuentes and three culinary bites from Café Nola’s chef, Kathy Collins.

Café Nola, which is known for its upscale bistro-like fare, was the ideal setting for such an event.  Located in the lobby area of Jacksonville’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), the modern ambiance and no-fuss décor made beer connoisseurs feel right at home.  The crowd was small but servers on hand were attentive and well informed on both the brews and the bites.

The first items on the Tasting Menu featured Intuition Ale’s Dragonglass Saison paired with melted brie, house pepper jelly and Mount Dora micro-arugula atop a black bean cake.  The Dragonglass is an almost jet black brew also known as a Farmhouse Ale so named because it was originally brewed during the cooler, less active months on the farms in the French speaking region of Belgium then stored for the farmhands to drink during the summer months.  With hints of chocolate and almonds, the Dragonglass did not disappoint, as it was smooth and perfectly presented in mini mason jars not unlike a farmhand would use. The house pepper jelly gave the black bean cake with Brie just the right balance of sweet and sour, all the while begging for the rich flavor of the Saison. Although it would’ve been nice to have a second cake to truly experience the pairing, it was certainly a terrific way to get the taste buds going.

As quickly as one server cleared away our first pairing, came our second – an American Rye IPA teamed up with a surprisingly scrumptious Flat Creek Lodge Dragon’s Breath Cheese and prosciutto macaroni and cheese fritter, with a rye bread crust, and house made beer mustard vinaigrette for dipping. The unexpected flavors within the fritter were an exquisite combination of creamy and salty with a delightful crunch from the rye bread crust. Of course the pairing of the fritter with the American Rye was genius as the hops and rye complimented the rye crust beautifully. Taste buds were certainly surprised and thrilled to experience this pairing which left me wanting not only more fritters, but also more beer.

Not to be outdone by the prior tastings, the final pairing of the evening featured Intuition’s King Street Stout with a roasted brussel sprout, bacon wrapped King Street Stout braised short rib kabob, and topped with aged goat cheese. Talk about an unusual symphony of flavors! Often given a bad rap (how many of us were force fed brussel sprouts as kids?), these bite size morsels of flavor when cooked properly and combined with the likes of bacon and goat cheese, not to mention short rib, will truly become a favorite among even the most discerning palate. Each component of the kabob worked together to create a savory bite perfectly washed down with the nutty, chocolaty stout. I would have liked the bacon wrapped around the entire bite – brussel sprout included – but certainly not a deal breaker the way it was presented and I enjoyed every last taste.

Once we had sampled the three brews and their respective small bites, we were able to tour the museum as part of the evening.  We agreed that it would’ve been nice to have two bites of each course and an entire pint of each brew. Still, the event was a Tasting Menu and that we certainly did. Kudos to chef Kathy and sommelier Mico for three superbly delightful and delicious courses. And of course, thanks to Café Nola and the MOCA for hosting.

Aardwolf Taproom & Brewery

Jacksonville craft brewers have a new addition to their scene. Aardwolf Brewing Company debut their phenomenal space and brews a couple of months ago when they opened their taproom and tapped their kegs on Hendricks Avenue in San Marco. Once the city’s old ice house, Aardwolf Brewery and Taproom is an amazing space with exposed brick walls, wood beamed ceilings and cool ambient lighting. Just as interesting and great conversation as the renovated space, is the brewery’s name - Aardwolf. An aardwolf is a small, insectivorous mammal or earth wolf. Coincidentally, the Latin name for hops translates to humulus lupulus or earth wolf. Hence the logic in the name, Aardwolf.  

 

Upon entering, one is struck by the spaciousness of the taproom and the inviting bar spanning the entire wall, which separates it from the actual brewery. Throughout are a variety of tables and plenty of seating all in keeping with the rustic yet comfortable atmosphere. A nice architectural touch is the glass window giving patrons the opportunity to get an eyeful of the large brewing vats. On the far wall of exposed brick, a large chalkboard sign lists the days taproom offerings complete with alcohol content and price. But unlike the other breweries, Aardwolf thoughtfully lists both their beer offerings on the left-hand side, while on the right cleverly offering

ales from other local breweries. Like most Jacksonville taprooms, a food kitchen is not part of the brewery, however, Aardwolf books Jacksonville Food Trucks on Friday and Saturday nights making it the perfect weekend spot to hang out, enjoy some great brews and satisfy your pallet.

Aside from the main taproom, Aardwolf boasts a Biergarten and a Back Lounge, both perfect private gathering spaces. Last Wednesday night MPI North Florida held a happy hour event for members and guests to showcase the venue and try out the newcomer to the Jacksonville craft brew arena. MPI After 5 took over the Back Lounge, an amazing space with plenty of couches and comfy chairs for guests. A convenient “take-out” style window allowed for easy brew ordering and Corporate Caterers provided a little something to nosh while the group mixed, mingled and enjoyed the beer.

Being new to the Aardwolf brand, I would’ve liked a flight of beers to get a true sense of what the brewery had to offer. I eventually opted for the Aardwolf Belgian Pale Ale – amber colored with a slight head and an amazing hint of clove and tropical fruits. The pint went down smoothly and I loved every last drop. By far one of the better Pale Ale’s I’ve ever had, refreshing and light yet completely satisfying. My guest, wanting the lightest beer offered, opted for Aardwolf’s Hasselhoffenweisse.  A cloudy, golden hued brew with a sweet aroma of citrus and a touch of yeast, this brew was just the right flavor for her. Around us, many had to chosen to taste the newly tapped Ermah-Gourd Pilot Batch pumpkin ale. The Pilot Batch series, I came to find out, is special limited beer, brewed in small batches and tapped every Wednesday. Although I am not a pumpkin ale drinker, this particular brew, a nod to the fall season, did not disappoint the beer connoisseurs that enjoyed a glass.

When I left the taproom around 7:15pm, the place was still happening with most spots at the bar occupied and tables full of people enjoying the beer and the atmosphere. I am looking forward to being back on a Food Truck night to sample more beer and culinary delights. What a terrific new spot for after work and weekend crowd!

Aardwolf Taproom
1461 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville
Wed - Sat: 3pm-11pm
Sunday: 2pm-10pm