Scooter's Bar Journal » Distillery

Great Turtle Brewery & Distillery

scooterj — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 17:12:00 +0000

(Mackinac Island, MI)

Scooter’s 1816th bar, first visited in 2024.

After high tea at the Grand Hotel we went to the bar at the top of the hotel, which offers a stunning panoramic view of the island and Lake Huron. We were going to have cocktails, but realized if we did we might not make the last ferry off the island.

We went out front to request a horse taxi, but were informed that even waiting for that might make us late and that it would be faster to walk.

As we were walking down the hill back toward town it occurred to me that if I took off at a light jog, I’d be able to get one more stop in and chug a beer while everyone else was catching up. So that’s exactly what I did.

Bonus, I’d received a Great Turtle t-shirt as a gift a year earlier, so now I could finally claim having been there when I wear it.

I ordered a Hoban Street Stout and drank as much of it as I could as quickly as I could until the rest of the group caught up to me. I finished about 3/4 of the pint and we made our ferry.

1359 Hoban St.
Mackinac Island, MI 49757
US
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+1 (906) 422-3200
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New Holland Brewing – Holland Tap Room

scooterj — Sat, 05 Oct 2024 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Holland, MI)

Scooter’s 1812th bar, first visited in 2024.

This brewery has been on my bucket list for a few years, and today our driving route just happened to take us within a few miles of it shortly after opening time! We were towing a camping trailer so it took of quite a while to find a place we could fit to park, but we finally found room in front of the post office a few blocks to the east.

New Holland’s tap room consists of three connected buildings. Furthest east, toward the center of the block, is the gift shop and packaged beer/spirits to-go store. Next over is the restaurant, and finally furthest west on the corner of the block is the bar — which includes additional mezzanine-level seating in the back. There’s café style seating out on the sidewalk, and also a large (mostly)-covered patio in the back.

Finally able to enjoy Dragon’s Milk in its natural habitat, I started with just regular Dragon’s Milk. Next up, Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Double Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout With Madagascar & Indonesian Vanilla Beans (2021-2). And, finally, Dragon’s Milk Reserve: Rum Barrel-Aged Stout with Chocolate, Hazelnut, & Toasted Coconut (2020-1).

Then I went over to the gift shop and spent way too much money.

66 E. 8th St.
Holland, MI 49423
US
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+1 (616) 355-6422
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Glacial Lakes Distillery and Brewhouse

scooterj — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 17:16:00 +0000

(Downtown, Sioux Falls, SD)

Scooter’s 1790th bar, first visited in 2024.

I almost changed my mind about coming here because there was a singer on the patio and the place looked crowded, but it turned out the crowd was mainly outside and indoors was fairly empty.

I had a Blueberry Bold Fashioned. I really liked it so considered ordering another cocktail, but I remembered how that went for me the previous night in Fargo so thought better of it.

There were stairs leading to a lower level, but it was unclear to me if that was a public area or staff only. I’m suspecting they likely went to their distilling area and/or pizza kitchen.

200 S Main Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
US
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+1 (605) 271-5087
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Railway Winery & Butler Creek Distilling

scooterj — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 17:10:00 +0000

(Eureka Springs, AR)

Scooter’s 1759th bar, first visited in 2024.

Technically closer to the town of Beaver than to Eureka Springs, we had driven by this place many times in recent years before finally stopping in this past weekend.

There is a small amount of indoor seating, with considerably more seating outdoors under three covered areas. Due to state licensing requirements one of these outdoor seating areas is where you must sit if you plan to order from the distillery menu, but the entire complex is available for wine service. They also serve a handful of brews from Bentonville Brewing.

The patios are dog friendly and water bowls are provided. There is no food, but crackers and popcorn are available to cleanse the palate.

I sampled all of the wines except the Strawberry Trainwreck (I don’t like strawberry) and in a rare situation for me when it comes to wine, I liked nearly all of them. I also had the complete distillery flight, and finished off with a pour of the Hills and Hollers amber lager from Bentonville Brewing.

We bought 5 bottles of wine to take home, and when we asked about a good place nearby to get firewood the owner directed us to a tree he’d recently cut down behind the vineyard and had us load up whatever we wanted.

We’ll definitely be back!

4937 State Hwy 187
Eureka Springs, AR 72631
US
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+14792447798
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Fence Stile Vineyards, Winery & Distillery

scooterj — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 17:11:00 +0000

(Excelsior Springs, MO)

Scooter’s 1757th bar, first visited in 2024.

This was out next stop of tastings during our camping weekend at Watkins Mill. We both did wine tastings here, but since the list was quite long and nothing was written down (you just say what you want to try next after you finish each sample) I can’t remember what all we tried. But we did find would be both really liked that we bought a bottle of.

31010 W 124th St
Excelsior Springs, MO 64024
US
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+18165006465
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Brickway Brewery & Distillery

scooterj — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 17:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Omaha, NE)

Scooter’s 1715th bar, first visited in 2023.

Since this was directly across the street from Jackson Street Tavern it made sense for this to be our next stop, even after we first detoured a couple blocks west to buy some Ibuprofen.

When we first arrived a tour was getting ready to start so it was a bit hectic, but once the tour group moved to the back it became much calmer.

I was faced with a dilemma. This was the start of the day, so the best strategy would be a few samplings of lower alcohol beers that I was only mildly interested in. But what I really wanted was the Barrel-Aged Epic Blackout Stout, a delicious beast with a powerful 17% ABV but was NOT available in flights. I’d had it before, but never from the source. I really wanted it from the source. So that’s what I chose. And, guess what? The rest of the day would still work out just fine.

At one point I went to use the restroom. Inside the men’s room was a door labeled “employees only”. It was the employee access to the same restroom. That door was also ajar. And I could plainly hear that the tour group was currently gathered right on the other side of that door. I briefly considered the entertainment value of a nice loud fart. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I just didn’t have it in me.

1116 Jackson St
Omaha, NE 68102
US
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+14029332613
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Fernweh Distilling Co.

scooterj — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 17:14:00 +0000

(Downtown, Hermann, MO)

Scooter’s 1686th bar, first visited in 2023.

While I as at the brewery, my wife sent me a pic of the menu at they place they all decided to go to, and I texted back my order. I joined up with them moments before the food came out.

In addition to the brisket platter, I had a couple of cocktails. The first was the Black Pepper Basil Smash (pictured below). The second was either the Maple Pecan Old Fashioned or the Campfire Old Fashioned, unfortunately I forgot to take a picture and I can’t remember which I picked.

4 Schiller St,
Hermann, MO 65041
US
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+15734862970
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Copper Mule Distillery

scooterj — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 17:12:00 +0000

(Hermann, MO)

Scooter’s 1676th bar, first visited in 2023.

Our next stop was a distillery, since that was on the way to the next winery.

Part of our group stayed in the front to do a tasting, the rest (including me) went into the back for cocktails.

I had two Old Fashioneds.

Though there isn’t food per se, they did have some light snacks such as candied bacon and cocktail-inspired chocolates.

2258 MO-100 Hwy
Hermann, MO 65041
US
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+15734090007
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Amalga Distillery

scooterj — Sat, 13 May 2023 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1654th bar, first visited in 2023.

We popped in here for one drink shortly before last call at the end of another downtown shopping trip. This is primarily a gin distillery. Rarely they will make other spirits, but most of the time (like today) it’s only gin. I had a raspberry gin & tonic.

134 N Franklin St
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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+19072092015
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West Bottoms Whiskey Co.

scooterj — Sat, 17 Sep 2022 17:14:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1574th bar, first visited in 2022.

We didn’t know this even existed until the bartender at 9th & State mentioned it was the source for the whiskey used in their cocktail called The Murdock. (Murdock, as it turns out, is the nickname of the bespectacled figure in the West Bottoms Whiskey logo.)

There’s picnic table out front and a seating area inside just past the bar. There’s also a cozy sofa seating area in the loft above the bar.

I had a coffee-based cocktail called The Whiskey Waker. My wife, not a fan of whiskey, opted for a glass of wine.

1321 W 13th St.
Kansas City, MO 64102
United States
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+18162390520
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Holladay Distillery

scooterj — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 17:10:00 +0000

(Weston, MO)

Scooter’s 1533rd bar, first visited in 2022.

This was a very cool find that I’ve probably driven past dozens of times and never noticed. The tasting room is inside a mansion, there is also a covered patio and completely-outdoor seating as well.

I had two cocktails: Summer of Espresso and Historical Register Manhattan.

1 McCormick Ln
Weston, MO 64098
United States
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(816) 640-3056
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Electric Park at J. Reiger & Co.

scooterj — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 17:10:00 +0000

(East Bottoms, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1530th bar, first visited in 2022.

The outdoor bar at J Reiger that was closed for the season the last time we were here.

I had a couple of cocktails and a Heim Beer by KC Bier Co.

2700 Guinotte Ave
Kansas City, MO 64120
United States
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+18167027800
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Boot Hill Distillery

scooterj — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Dodge City, KS)

Scooter’s 1515th bar, first visited in 2022.

I don’t normally drink distilled spirits. They’ve never interested me and never tasted good to me. But this place just looked too interesting to pass up.

The building has a fascinating history. It is on the grounds of the original Boot Hill Cemetery, and was built on the footprint of a school that as built here in the 1870s after the bodies were moved. The current building served as City Hall and also housed the police station, the fire station, and served other roles that I can’t remember.

I had their Standard Flight, and against my expectations each shot was tastier than the previous as I progressed from left to right. Surprisingly to me, I learned that I might actually like gin.

501 W Spruce
Dodge City, KS 67801
United States
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620-371-6309
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Tasting Room at J. Reiger & Co.

scooterj — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 18:10:00 +0000

(East Bottoms, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1511th bar, first visited in 2022.

We found out about this distillery complex less than a week before COVID lockdowns started in early 2020 and were anxious to visit, but then forgot about it by the time things re-opened and it was only due to needing to pick up a bottle of gin that we suddenly remembered and decided to pay them a visit.

There are actually four bars throughout the complex — one on each level plus one outside. The outdoor bar was closed for the winter, and since we were on a shopping trip we decided to stick with just the tasting room for today’s visit and check out the other bars in the future when we have more time.

I had a Heim beer and a lemongrass gin & tonic.

2700 Guinotte Ave
Kansas City, MO 64120
United States
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+18167027800
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Lifted Spirits

scooterj — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1410th bar, first visited in 2019.

This was the next stop on my birthday bar crawl. I was pretty lit by this point and all I really remember is that my drink included a toasted marshmallow, and that the guy behind me in line (mid-20s in age) ordered something I couldn’t make out that caused the bartender to say “Bro, we are a distillery. We sell distilled spirits and cocktails.”

1434 Cherry
Kansas City, MO 64108
United States
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(816) 866-1734
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Mean Mule Distilling Company

scooterj — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Kansas City, MO)

Scooter’s 1409th bar, first visited in 2019.

This was stop #2 (but my first new bar) on my birthday bar crawl.

One of the first things we noticed was crickets in the vending machine. Which grossed us out. So of course one of us decided we needed to try them. So several of us (myself) included did… on the count of three. They were actually not bad. I ended up eating two.

I took a photos of the menu so I would remember what cocktail I had. I didn’t work. Best I can narrow to is either “Coffee And Treason” or “You Go Glen Cocoa”.

1733 Locust St
Kansas City, MO 64108
United States
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(816) 301-5447
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Fox Trail Distillery

scooterj — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 17:16:00 +0000

(Rogers, AR)

Scooter’s 1397th bar, first visited in 2019.

Distilleries are outside my wheelhouse, but I wanted to visit every craft establishment in the region so that meant stepping out of my comfort zone. Knowing nothing about distilled spirits whatsoever, I went with a White Russian, as that’s a safe bet for me, and I really enjoyed their interpretation of it.

One thing that was amusing was the number of borderline vagrants who came in wanting bottles of bourbon to go, and then chewing out the bartender for them not being available yet because they are still waiting for the state to approve their off-premise sales license. (They’d only been open a few months.) I felt bad for the bartender, though.

If you visit, make sure you use the restroom. It’s a little bit trippy.

2121 S Bellview Rd
Rogers, AR 72758
United States
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(479) 372-6136
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Glacier Distilling

scooterj — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 17:10:00 +0000

(Coram, MT)

Scooter’s 1376th bar, first visited in 2019.

Here’s something different (for me), a distillery! My wife was giddy here, she loved it. Something up her alley for once!

Here is what was on my flight, I also sampled some from another flight but I don’t remember what all I had from that. I also had a cocktail called the Waking Bear: Wheatfish whiskey shaken with MT Coffee Traders cold brew, maple cinnamon syrup, and a dash of chocolate bitters.

10237 US-2 E
Coram, MT 59913
US
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(406) 387-9887
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