The Finger Lakes are known for wine. Yes, there is beer. Yes, there is cider. (And yes, one of my favorites is Lake Drum.) There are distilleries (and lilac flavored gin). But, in the main, when you say Finger Lakes, many hear "wine" or "wine and food." I hear that (and home).
When you say North Carolina, though, few say wine (though there are wineries here). Many say "beer" because there are many breweries and brew pubs - and not just in Asheville. Here in Winston Salem, there is a whole set of craft brewers and brew pubs, an unusual quantity of which are very near to where I am currently living. And, many of the restaurants in town serve beers both from Winston Salem and across the state.
Here are a few I have visited:
Fiddlin Fish is a terrific place right near where I live which has a set of beers always on tap as well as a varied set of more occasional items, including ciders, sours, and more. I love this place - and I particularly like it that I can show up, have a beer, and sit by myself at the bar - without a soul talking to me. Yes, the bar tender speaks occasionally. But otherwise, its a place for a beer and . . . . I have been there once with others - and heard some live music - and there are televisions which show sports. The latter are not loud, the place is big and the ambience just right. Hurrah. A few beers I have liked:
- Irish (I was fishing for) Reds - just that, an Irish style red beer, around 5.2% alcohol and tasty. Described as malt forward, it is a tiny edge toward sweet, but not so much as to ruin the beer.
- Thunderbird Brown Ale - In general, I like nut brown ales and I like this one as well.
- Black Mountain Chocolate Stout - a terrific stout, with a nod to the chocolate place across the parking lot from Fiddlin' Fish. I recently had a nitro stout that was even better.
Not surprisingly, you can get a flight of beers to taste at Fiddlin' Fish - and the IBU (international bitterness units ) are listed as well. I had no idea what an IBU was - and that helps!
One other wonderful thing: there is always a food truck at Fiddlin' Fish. It is the Slanted Shed, and I can attest to the speed of service and the overall quality. I like the buffalo cauliflower, the brussel sprouts, and just had some terrific tacos recently. A quibble: there are too many brussel sprouts even for me to eat. And, it is true, they make what they make on any given evening. Suck it up, I have to say to myself, when I have a taste for a particular thing and they are not serving that!
Location: Tap Room, 772 Trade Street, Winston Salem, NC
Foothills is down town and I have to admit I always confused it with Fiddlin' Fish. I have been there once. And, I did not have beer. So, I cannot comment. Others seem to like it. Decent burgers. Not so pleasant (in my opinion) ambience. I prefer Fiddlin - though Foothills is near my fave bookstore.
Location: Try 638 West 4th Street, Winston Salem, NC for the downtown brewpub.
Hoots is another place - and it opened a newish place on Trade Street in Winston Salem - again, near where I live. (Click here for announcement.) It has a delightful ambience - not at all like it seems from the outside. And, the beer is terrific. Here's their main site. I have only been there once, and had a lovely stout as I recall. Several of them. Mostly, I liked the balance of quiet and friendly, the beer was tasty, and the company perfect.
Yes, I should write about Wise Man. Another time. They claim it was a wise man who invented beer. My guess: it was a wise woman! (And yes, their beer is tasty - and in the "winter" there is a Farmer's Market in their space on Saturdays.) Also, within walking distance of where I live.
Location: 826 Angelo Bros. Avenue, Winston Salem, NC
On beer and North Carolina, check out the North Carolina Brewers Guild. Or, this bit on beer on the site VistNC.
