Thirsty Thursday (Primo Edition): No Throw Solo

Happy Valentine's Day!  You might be expecting a holiday-themed cocktail...and you'd be right...just not THAT holiday.

My cousin Primo messaged me over the weekend with this new cocktail recipe, so I had to get it posted for this week!  Since Mardi Gras season is in full swing down in in New Orleans, he created this as his cocktail special to run through Fat Tuesday (March 5 this year).  If you're going to be in NOLA for Carnival season, head over to La Bayou, say hey to Primo, and order one up...or you can make it at home.

INGREDIENTS:
1.5 oz Scotch (Primo uses Grant's Family Reserve)
1 oz dry Riesling (Kung Fu Girl)
1 oz pineapple juice
1/2 oz Thyme simple syrup (recipe below)

DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice.  Serve over ice and garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme (and charred pineapple, if you have the means).

P.S. Don't forget to follow Primo's newest culinary adventure, Snaxidermy, a pop-up restaurant serving up killer creations like Texas brisket tacos and smoked rib sliders.

Thyme Simple Syrup:
1 cup water
1 cup white sugar
handful of fresh thyme

Combine sugar, water, and thyme sprigs in a small saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and cool to room temperature(~30 minutes). Strain to remove thyme sprigs. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Kid-Friendly Breweries: Springfield, Missouri!

If we're going to do a series on the kid-friendliness of  breweries, it only makes sense to include a post about right here in our own stomping grounds.  Because good-ol' Springpatch, when I was in college, only had one brewery-- Springfield Brew Co.  Now, in 2019, we're up to eight with more reportedly to come in the next few years.  Not bad for a college town!

So, we'll be grading each brewery based on 3 criteria:

1) Beers:  There's no point in worrying about whether you can take your kiddo to a brewery if the beers aren't worth trying.  We'll give a brief overview, and then tell you our favorites.

2) Entertainment:  Do they have some way to distract your kid for 30 minutes to an hour while you sip on a cold one?


3) Changing Station: This is more geared toward the parents of younger kids, but as we probably all know--it's a pain in the butt to have to try to change a diaper on a bathroom floor, or in the back of your car if the bathrooms are beyond gross.

NOTE: if you want to try out this area's breweries, I suggest picking up a free Tap & Pour Passport from any of the participating breweries, the Visitor's Center, or airport--after you get all your stamps, you can pick up a free pint glass!  Also: check this link to see if there are any half-price "Ozarks On Tap" discount cards left!

Springfield Brewing Company
This is the original craft brewery in the Springfield area.  The current incarnation began in 1997 (the original opened in the 1870's but went under during Prohibition): they have a 2 story building with a small outside patio dining area as well.  There's two bars--one on each floor.  The downstairs is mainly for dining, while there are private rooms available upstairs, along with several pool tables and darts.

Favorite Beers: They make a pretty solid gose and like to play around with small batches of their sours, but our favorite year-rounder is the Greene Ghost IPA.  And I don't usually like IPA's.  So that's saying something.
Food: Since they're a restaurant, they have a full menu. Personal favorite here is the fish & chips or fish tacos.  They are also open for breakfast on the weekends!

Entertainment for Kiddos:  Pretty limited, since this is mostly a restaurant.  But if your kids are old enough to fiddle around with a pool table, you can keep them occupied. They also offer crayons and a kid's menu for keeping little ones entertained at the table.
Changing Station: Yes!  Bonus points!

Mother's Brewing Company
Mother's is probably one of Springfield's best examples of redevelopment of an industrial space.  Historically, Mother's was a Butternut bread factory (I can remember delivering pizzas here in college).  The factory had been defunct and abandoned for about 10 years when the Mother's family moved in and transformed it into a brewery. The brewery owners have done a great job of repurposing items from the factory (like old conveyor belts and fan blades).  

They offer free tours at certain times so you can get a peek at the interior of the building as well.  They've been around since 2011, but have quickly grown and now distribute throughout most of the Midwest.  They love to experiment and have many brews that are exclusive to the Tap Room. And once a month, they have First Firkin Friday, where they tap a small batch experimental brew, like a Strawberry Vanilla German Lager, or Lil' Helper with blood orange, basil, and jalapeno.  Their beers trend toward the hoppier side, so if you're a hop-head, this is the place to be.

Favorite Beers:    Flagship-Towhead. Seasonals-Winter Grind, and the Backyard Strawberry Ginger Gose.

Food:  Not in-house, but they do host food trucks for some events. Watch for London Calling, we're big fans! 
Entertainment for Kiddos: They have an AMAZING giant backyard, with lots of space to run around and burn off energy.  There's always plenty of families and pets.  They also have some yard games like cornhole.  There's usually plenty of seating, but for big events you might think about bringing a lawn chair.

Changing Station:  Yes! They just recently added them.  Even in the men's room!

Lost Signal Brewing
These folks moved in a couple years ago and are probably one of our favorite places to go in town, because they're constantly releasing new beers.  It helps that they're only a few minutes from my office.

Favorite Beers: Smoked Pecan Porter, hands down.
Food:  They have BBQ onsite (delicious BBQ, at that), and on Sundays offer brunch.  I recommend the pulled pork nachos, or the jalapeno poutine.

Entertainment for Kiddos:  They have a nice fenced-in outside space behind the brewery, with yard games like cornhole and giant Jenga.
Changing Station: There's a small dresser in the bathroom that can be used to change diapers.  

White River Brewing
White River opened up on Commercial Street in 2012, an area of town that has seen a huge amount of revitalization in the last few years.  Since then, dozens of restaurants and shops have opened up, and the C-Street Farmer's Market is one of the most hopping places to be on Thursdays & Saturdays!

Beers: For year-rounders, the C-Street Pale Ale is pretty solid.  As far as seasonals go, I'm a fan of the Queen City Hibiscus and the Shadow Rock Vanilla Stout.
Entertainment for Kiddos:  If it's warm outside, their outdoor space is fenced with plenty of roaming space, but the indoor area is a little cramped.  There is a shelf with a variety of games for older kids.

Photo Credit: 417 Magazine

Changing Station: Nope, sorry.

4X4 Brewing - Our "Most Kid-Friendly Brewery" Winner
This spot recently opened up down in Galloway Village, near our old Inside Scoop stomping grounds.  They've had a lot of success, both with solid flagship beers and some great small batch experimentation. They also recently expanded (their new indoor space is huge and VERY family friendly) and are gearing up to start distributing!

"Well Behaved Children are Always Welcome! The rest will be turned into beer."

Favorite Beers: Java the Kolsch, both for name and wow-factor--you just don't expect that much coffee flavor from a light colored beer!  They do a lot of experimentation, and most are really solid--The Gatekeeper (pepper porter) that was recently released is great, and the County Fair (a cotton candy blonde, shown below) was amazing.

Entertainment for Kiddos:  They have tons of games, a free popcorn machine, and a nice outdoor space for those kiddos who need some space to run. Their new indoor expansion features a ping pong table, giant jenga, picnic tables, and lots of space for a tot to play. 

Changing Station: Yes!

Tie & Timber Brewing
One of the newer members of the Springfield craft brewing family, T&T moved into the Rountree neighborhood to provide a great venue in Central Springfield, but outside of the downtown area.  They have a large selection of beers and always seem to have something new rolling out. They're within walking distance of the Missouri State campus as well.

Favorite Beers: Kokomo Chocolate Porter (it's like Almond Joy in a glass), and Brick & Timber (it's a coffee amber made with locally roasted beans from Brick & Mortar).
Entertainment for Kiddos:  They have a few board/card games, and a nice large yard for kids to run around when it's warm.  Also a very dog-friendly spot!

Changing Station: There's a small dresser that can be used as a changing table.

Show-Me Brewing
This place is actually a home-brewing store, but they also have a few taps of their own stuff as well. 

You can organize brew days here with a group of friends and design your own batch of beer, let it ferment at their facility, then come back a few weeks later when it's ready and use their facility for bottling as well. It's a neat option for folks who don't have space at home to try out brewing.  Since it's a store, it's not super kid-friendly, unless your kiddos are older and don't feel compelled to touch EVERYTHING.  They do have a long table with some games for folks who are hanging out brewing or having a beer.

Bricktown Brewing
This Oklahoma-transport just opened a couple months ago and is gaining popularity. I've eat/drank at other Bricktown's while in OK for work and was excited to see them come to Springfield.

Favorite Beers: At the time of this writing, they had a limited selection of their own beers on tap because they're still gearing up to brew onsite, so Piney River is helping them out by brewing 2 of their flagship beers (Ol King Kolsch and Blueberry Wheat) at their facility in Bucyrus, MO.  Of these, Blueberry is my fave, though the OKK is pretty solid too.  And, they have tons of taps with other local beers, and a huge bottle selection as well.  
Food:  Honestly, I've had nothing bad here.  We love their Hatch Green Chile Burger (there's a chicken version too, but the burger is better), and the sweet potato fries with bacon and salted caramel--O.M.G.  SO GOOD.  They also have a happy hour when you can get $3 appetizers--which makes those salted caramel fries even more delicious.

Entertainment for Kids:  They have a few games in their waiting area, and then crayons/kid's menu for the table. Since this is mostly a restaurant, there's not a lot of play options.  However, their kids menu is stellar--great serving amount for the price.

Changing Tables:  Yup!

Great Escape Brewing
As of the writing of this post, this is the newest brewery to Springfield, having opened right before Christmas 2018.  They're located in Quarrytown (a development within the Galloway neighborhood, so just a few minutes from 4 By 4).  This is a new development with a very "Colorado ski village" vibe.   All the beers we tried there were solid, and there were several families with kids the last time we were there.

Beer: I don't normally like hefeweizens, and theirs is good.  Also their porter is nice and roasty, and the Scotch Ale and Altbier were excellent.
Entertainment:  They have long tables and a basket of games to play with.  The upstairs area has lots of space to spread out and keep kiddos entertained, and there are balconies when the weather is warm enough for them.

Changing Station: Yes, both the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms have them!

Thirsty Thursday: Fentimans & Strawberry Infused Vodka!

Last spring I shared a post about making homemade infused strawberry vodka, using the leftover tops from strawberries.  Well, we're still doing it, and lemme tell ya...it's amazing. The longer it infuses, the more it mellows.  And it's taken on a gorgeous pink hue from the strawberries. (I've got a couple other infusions going as well...stay tuned.)

Also earlier in 2018, the Hubs & I brewed up some homemade ginger ale (non-alcoholic), and we split the batch to ferment half, making hard ginger beer.  Aside from it being a little explosive (because of the champagne yeast we used), it's tasty stuff, providing you like ginger.  This is like, Goslings or Q spicy ginger beer, not like Seagrams or Canada Dry sweet soda.  Like, burn-yer-nose-make-ya-sneeze ginger level.

As it turns out, our neighbor Neil is quite a fan of ginger beer, so we delivered a 6 pack to his door.  And in return, he gave us a mixed pack of Fentimans soda.  Because, you see, Neil is a Brit.  And not just any Brit, but co-owner of locally famous food truck London Calling.  You wanna eat lunch in a legit double-decker bus?  They've got you covered.

In addition to delicious pasties (like, a hand-held pot pie, or if Hot Pockets were made of real food), they offer other British imports like Walkers chips/crisps, candy, and English Fentiman's sodas. And their mall location also has UK import beers that are hard to find in this area (like Innis & Gunn).

The chicken tikka masala is my current favorite.

Lil' Man is a big fan of the Wotsits. And the sausage rolls.

So, we were savoring our stockpile of sodas, and finally popped open this one, which was just begging to be made into a cocktail.

INGREDIENTS: (per cocktail)

2 oz strawberry infused vodka (you could also make it with regular vodka)

4-5 ounces of Fentiman's soda

lots of crushed ice

strawberry to garnish (note: I think some fresh mint would also work great in this.)

DIRECTIONS:  

Fill your glass with crushed ice, and add the vodka. Then top with the soda and stir to mix.  Garnish with strawberry and enjoy!

We made two versions, one with just plain vodka (so essentially a screwdriver), and the other with the strawberry infused.  We both agree that the strawberry version was much smoother.  Slainte!

Beer Traveling with Kids: A Gulf Coast Brewery Tour

We recently took a week long trip down to Gulf Shores, Alabama with our kiddo and some friends who also have a kiddo. I've already done the whole "traveling with a baby" and "traveling with a toddler" and "beach vacationing with a baby" post thing.  Those are all great resource posts (if I'm not being humble), so feel free to check them out.  So, there's no point in rehashing a bunch of travel tips here.

(Okay, maybe one:  if you are staying in the Gulf Shores/Pensacola area, and have a day where it's not good beach weather, go check out the Naval Air Museum on the Naval Air Base.  It's free admission and SUPER cool.  We spent 2 hours and still didn't see everything, and it's geared toward kids--there's planes they can sit in, there's a play land for burning off energy...I highly recommend it.)

So instead...I'd like to talk about all the breweries we visited, in respect to their kid/family friendliness.  Because the Hubs & I, we're Beer Travelers.  When we go someplace new, that's one of the first things we do a Google search for: local breweries.  And if we're going to have the kid with us, "kid-friendly brewery in *insert town name*".  Sometimes we get lucky, sometimes we have to dig.  So hopefully this post pops up in someone else's Google search so we can be helpful. :)

Stop 1: Southern Prohibition Brewing, Hattiesburg, MS
This was probably my favorite of all the places we stopped, both for beer diversity and kid-friendliness.  It's not in the best neighborhood, but don't be deterred--once you're inside, it's amazing. Half the interior is full of old arcade games, which our kiddo loves to play (even if it's actually just the demo screen). 

Outside (in a fenced-in patio area), they have a "soccer billiard table" which kept our kiddo entertained for about half an hour with minimal intervention.  Oh, and they're right by the train tracks, so if you have a kid who is obsessed with trains, he/she'll be super happy.   Also--they have a freezer full of free popsicles, for kids and adults alike.

They also have a pizza food truck onsite--we tried The Butcher (all the meats!) which was delicious, but I wish I'd been hungrier or lived closer, because there were so many other things I wanted to try, like the pecan praline cannoli or the blackberry dessert pizza.  And the beer selection was top notch--we tried 2 different flights and had trouble finding fault with anything.

Favorite beer(s): Tie between Usurper (Part of their Wild & Wood Series, a Brett ale with Blood Orange & Satsuma) and the Spoils of War Coconut Cream Pie Stout

Changing Table in the Bathroom: Yes!  Bonus Points!

Stop 2: Big Beach Brewing, Gulf Shores, AL

After a somewhat rainy day while Tropical Storm Alberto's western edge clipped the area, we headed over to Big Beach, where they host Geeks Who Drink pub quiz on Monday nights.  We were concerned that they wouldn't be open (or not having trivia) because of Memorial Day, but they responded right away when we messaged them on Facebook to say that yes they would be open and having trivia!  So we got a couple flights and one of the bartenders saw our kiddo and brought him the bean bags so he could play with the cornhole game.

The staff was super friendly and we got no flack about our kid, even though they were packed to the gills with customers playing trivia.  They're also dog-friendly, with a big outside fenced in area, so our son got to pet a few dogs.  But he was mostly interested in the giant mud puddle right next to the cornhole game...and was a giant muddy mess by the time we left. 

But he had a blast, and we got to play trivia and drink beer, so everyone wins! 

We even came back here later in our trip for a couple more pints and to catch a ride on the giant tree swing outside.

Favorite Beer: Amy Honey Basil Wheat for me, Czech It Out pilsner for The Hubs.

Changing Station in the Bathroom:  No, but their bathrooms are very clean and tidy, so we just laid a disposable changing mat on the floor and changed him there.  I asked and they said they'd suggest getting one to the management.


Stop #3: Luna's Eat & Drink, Orange Beach, AL

Luna's is not a brewery--they're a restaurant & tap room.  But they have one of the most impressive beer menu's I've seen.  Nearly all their taps are local or regional.

We got two flights here, which got us *close* to trying all the ones we haven't had before.  Service was great, and they also have an excellent outdoor space with games and such so bored kids can run around a bit.

They also have AMAZING food here.  We shared the pimento hushpuppies with blueberry pepper jelly (SO GOOD)  with our friends.  The Hubs got a fresh catch sandwich, and I got the stuffed grouper with brussel sprouts...my. heaven.  I could eat those brussel sprouts EVERY. DAY.

(Note: it doesn't come with tomatoes.  Those are from my husband's sandwich.)

Favorite beer(s): it's hard to say.  Looking back at my Untappd check-ins, we gave a LOT of high scores to these beers.  But I'm gonna go with Charlie (sour ale) from Fairhope Brewing, and Old Fashioned Lemonade IPA from Evil Twin Brewing.

Changing Table in the Bathroom: Yup!  Bonus Points!


Luna's is located in a larger complex, that is also home to one of the best beer and wine shops in the area...

Stop #4: Maggie's Bottle & Tail, Orange Beach, AL  
They had a huge selection of local bottles & cans and you can build your own 6-pack (NOTE: the local Rouses also does mixed 6 packs with a good selection of local beers, so be sure to stop in there as well if you're looking for some local brews to take home.)

Our kind of Souvenirs. PS--stay hydrated, folks.

Stop #5: Flipdaddy's, Orange Beach, AL

We did a date-night exchange with our friends, so this is where The Hubs & I went for dinner on our date night. Since we were here sans-kiddo, I can't really review their kid-friendliness.  However, they did have great service, tasty burgers (I fell in love with The French Connection) and sweet potato tots, and a good selection of craft beers.  We got 2 flights here, sat at the bar, ate our burgers and chatted in relative peace.  It was a really nice date.

Favorite beer(s): for me, Summertrip from Braxton Brewing.  For the Hubs, Cheap Sunglasses (kolsch) from Fairhope Brewing.

Stop #6: Spahr Brewing, Pensacola, FL

So, I didn't actually get to go to this one.  I was at the Children's Museum with our kiddo.  The Hubs didn't feel like going so he went to Spahr while waiting for us, then came back to pick us up when the museum closed.  So, I'm gonna let him write this section. In the meantime, here's a pic of the kiddo playing at the Children's Museum.

The Hubs:  What can I tell you?  It's set up like an old German beer hall, with lots of German decor and long picnic tables inside.  There's an outdoor seating area in the back with some yard games where kids could run around.  They have darts and a pool table inside.  But I didn't see any board games or anything like that.  And the beers were pretty good.

Favorite Beer: Blueberry Wit (this is a big deal, because we are NOT witbier people.  We don't dig on the banana + clove vibe, like, at all.  But The Hubs says even the regular Wit from Spahr was probably the best he's ever had.)

Changing Table in Bathroom:  Nope.  Sorry.

Stop #7: Pensacola Bay Brewery, Pensacola, FL

This brewery is just a couple blocks from the Children's Museum, so we walked over there.  They have a nice outdoor space, part-covered and part open.  I didn't see any outdoor games, so probably not the kid-friendliest spot, but the beer was good!  (They are dog-friendly, FYI.)  We got one flight here. Also--there's a park right across the street, so if you can bribe your kid with snacks for a bit, you can take them over there afterward. Our kid was obsessed with the old-fashioned mail slot on the entry way door, and so he just kept opening the door for people so that he could go inside and peek out through the mail slot.  Weirdo.

Favorite Beer:  Me - DeSoto Berliner Weisse, The Hubs - Deluna kolsch.

Changing Table in Bathroom: Kinda. If you have a mat or disposable changing pad cover to lay down, they do have a large chest of drawers in there that can be used as a changing station.

Stop #8: Perfect Plain Brewing, Pensacola, FL

We headed here next during our day in Pensacola to grab some dinner and a flight.  They don't have much of an outdoor space since they're basically downtown along a major street, but they do have a few tables outside.  It was pretty hot while we were there so we didn't really want to sit outside anyway.  They had a great selection of board games and kid's toys, so we were able to keep our toddler entertained while we sampled beers and waited for our food.  

They had about 10 taps on while we were there, plus craft sodas and fresh pressed Florida juice for the minors/non-drinkers in your group.

Two Birds food truck was onsite while we were there, so we ordered a brisket & green chile Philly, and the crushed Doritos mac & cheese.  Both were AMAZING.

Favorite Beer: As far as standard beers, the Kolsch would probably be our go-to.... however, I have to give some props for the Neglected Garden, a saison featuring honey, turmeric, black peppercorns, and basil.  It's a little weird...but in a good way. I don't know that I could have more than one in an evening, but I'd definitely drink it again.

Changing Table:  Not at the time of our visit, but I was told they do have one on order so it could well be installed by now. 

Stop #9: Blue Canoe, Tupelo, MS

We stopped here on the way back home for lunch. They have a great selection of regional craft beers, and the staff was super friendly and not at all judgey about us bringing a tiny human into their bar/restaurant.  They have a fully fenced in back yard, and while it was too hot to eat outside while we were there, we did let the Lil' Man run around outside like a Tasmanian Devil for about 20 minutes to burn off energy from being trapped in a car for 6 hours.

The only downside of the big backyard is that it's also their smoking section, so if you have a kid who's obsessed with picking stuff up off the ground (like discarded cigarette butts), I'd suggest bringing some Purell with you.

Favorite Beer: ALT-ered State from Natchez Brewing.  

Changing Table: No dice.  We ended up changing him outside in the back yard, since we were the only ones back there.

~~~

Note: We would have really liked to have gone up to Fairhope Brewing and Haint Blue Brewing in Mobile, AL.  Unfortunately, Fairhope wasn't open when we were going through Mobile and Haint Blue doesn't have a tap room yet.  There's also several breweries in Pensacola that we didn't have time to make it to. Ah well--next time! 

Thirsty Thursday: Bourbon Slush (Sequiota Bike Shop)

Hey--remember those crazy kids who used to own an ice cream shop as a "side business" because they thought it'd be "easy"?  What a hoot!

Oh wait...that was us.

So, if you recall, a few years ago we sold our business to some friends (veteran restauranteurs). I can't recall if we ever did an update, but they have truly transformed that location. It's now the Sequiota Bike Shop--they have a great menu of sandwiches, a full-on outdoor dining area and bar, just a really fun space.  They even do bike rentals. 

Our formerly awkward parking lot is now a lovely covered seating area (perfect for those drizzly-but-still-warm days)...

And for every other day, there's an outdoor bar in the back, plenty of seating, oh, and they even added a fire pit for those slightly cooler days.

The interior of the building was reorganized and the indoor seating was removed to give them some much needed additional space inside for workers, where they crank out some of the tastiest sandwiches in town.  No fryers to mess with, so they serve up sides like chips, housemade soup, and potato salad instead.  It's a really smart use of a small space (about 600 sq feet).

Jamis Roast Beef sandwich.

The Hubs & I like to stop by periodically to have a drink (great local beer selection) and share a sandwich (our personal favorite is the Finnegan's Reuben). 

Soooo good.

It's always a little bittersweet because we have so many stressful memories tied to that business and location, but I'm honestly very happy for our friends.  They've done more with it than we ever could have.

Anyway, enough gushing.  Bring on the booze!

Sweet tea bourbon slush.

So, Bike Shop has a rotating menu of slush cocktails, made with Four Roses Bourbon.  As much as I love my beer, it's hard to not get a slush when I go.

Watermelon mint slush.

Simple, cold, refreshing. And I do not have the recipe, so I cannot replicate it here.  So I guess you're just going to have to go try one for yourself.

Granted, we are in October....in Missouri.  Where it can be 70 one day and 40 the next.  But I still think Bike Shop is a great destination for this time of year.  Because if it's 70, you get a slush. If it's 40, then you grab a chair by the fire and ask for a spiked cocoa,coffee, or chai instead.

They also frequently have live music, so if you don't have a kiddo (or are lucky enough to have one old enough to leave at home, or better yet, be your DD), it's a great place to kick back in the evenings.  It's like your own back yard...but better.

Cheers!