Dor & Bob's Reviews

Beer, Brewery, Pub, and Festival reviews...

Review of Airways Brewing Beer & Bistro, Kent, WA

Airways Brewing Beer & Bistro
320 W Harrison St.
Kent WA
(253) 236-8632
airwaysbrewing.com


View Larger Map

Overall Score: 90.0

Selection: 4.75 | Service: 4.75 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 4.0

Airways Brewing Beer & Bistro is in a fairly generic two story brick building at the front of a small office complex. The parking lot is in front and the entrance is on the side (only the small signs in the high small windows on the first floor can actually be seen from the street).

Inside is a long rectangular space. On the right is an area with wood-topped tables and large windows overlooking the courtyard with a few rhododendrons. Straight ahead is an L-shaped wooden bar with a blue wooden top and attractive tall black metal chairs with rich mahogany-colored wooden seats. A simple open kitchen is at the back. Behind the bar, the twelve taps are on one side of a small-ish aluminum refrigeration unit (implying short lines; always a good sign).

The floors are worn painted concrete. The finished ceiling has recessed lighting fixtures, and over the table area it is made from dark wood and has some attractive blue glass hanging lamps. The walls are light beige/yellow except for a couple of blueberry blue colored accent walls that match the bar top. On the wall behind the bar there is one small TV with the sound off, and a poster-sized black and white photo of an historic Alaska airline stewardess onboard an airplane. Near the entrance is a large chalkboard listing all the beers on tap with a few additional details.

There were four Airways beers (Jet City ESB, First Class IPA, Sky Hag Imperial IPA, and Midnight Departure Cascadian Dark Ale), seven more local craft beers, and a Washington cider on tap on our visit. The two IPAs and the CDA are all quite good.

The food choices are simple (flatbread pizza, panini, salads, and a couple of appetizers) but good. We enjoyed the sausage pizza we tried, and the salads looked to be quite special.

Only those over 21 are allowed here.

(download)

Review of Neighborhood, San Diego, CA

Neighborhood
777 G St.
San Diego CA
(619) 446-0002
www.neighborhoodsd.com


View Larger Map

Overall Score: 93.3

Selection: 5 | Service: 4.5 | Atmosphere: 4.5 | Food: 5.0

Neighborhood is an alehouse/gastropub on a corner in the redeveloped, but still somewhat edgy, East Village neighborhood in the center of downtown San Diego. It’s a bit on the trendy side, but the beer selection is amazing and the atmosphere is modern/casual and inviting.

Interestingly, the beer list is categorized by flavors. On our visit, there were four “Light/Fruity/Wheaty”, 6 “Hoppy”, 6 “Malty”, 12 “Belgian/Spicy/Sour”, and one cask beer. The selection is largely local craft beers plus a few craft beers from elsewhere in the US and some Belgians.

The metal bar is topped with dark wood and lined by padded stools. Also in the bar area is another stand-alone tall counter with the same stools.

The remainder of the seating has dark wood tables with black padded chairs and benches (the one we sat on had “BEER” stitched into it). Large glass windows are on two sides. These windows fold up to let in air. On the sidewalk outside on both sides are outdoor seating sections partially shaded by large awnings.

The floors are worn wood and concrete. The high black ceiling has exposed ducts, painted rosebuds, and strange artisanal light bulbs hanging down from black metal tubes. A striking black and white mosaic with the San Diego skyline is on the back wall. On one side wall is a large painting of Sigmund Freud holding a hamburger and behind the bar is a smaller painting of Jesus Christ holding a hamburger. Also behind the bar is a huge elk head over the chalkboard beer list.

The food is upscale - both pub food variations and some innovative choices. The small plate we tried was excellent (fried olives, cherry peppers, sauteed almonds and strawberries).

(download)

 

Review of Mission Brewery, San Diego, CA

Mission Brewery
1441 L street
San Diego CA
(619) 544-055
missionbrewery.com


View Larger Map

Overall Score: 88.3

Selection: 4.5 | Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4.75 | Food: N/A

Mission Brewery is well worth a visit: the beer is good, the atmosphere is welcoming and pub-like, and there’s a front-seat view of the stainless steel brewery.

The tasting room and brewery are in a large, old, but beautifully restored brick building (apparently a former Wonder Bread facility!), right by Petco Field baseball stadium and not too far from downtown San Diego. The ceiling is an extremely high wood ceiling with exposed rafters and large skylights. Quite a few tall wooden posts help support the ceiling.

A very long and very deep dark wood bar runs along one wall, lined by black wooden stools. Behind the bar are ten taps and a hand pump. On the other side is the brewery, separated only by a matching long bar counter (no seating). The mash tun and brew kettle are front and center and there are at least six good sized fermenters. In between the bars are a few tables with stools and a shuffleboard. It’s quite a good sized bar space and the feeling is light and friendly.

There were six beers on our visit: Blond (Kolsch), Amber (Dusseldorf Altbier), ShipWrecked Double IPA, IPA, and Dark Seas Russian Imperial Stout. We tried the IPA, the Alt, and the Russian Imperial Stout and all were impressive. (Beer was served in plastic cups, however). There is no food available.

(download)