Evening of Beer in West Hartford

So what is there to do in central Connecticut on the evening of a good snow storm? Nothing really. Until you see in your Facebook news feed that Max Burger is tapping a log of New England Brewing Company's Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA!

One of my buddies has been talking about this beer for what seems like forever. As much Ghandi-Bot and Elm City Pils that we consume, neither of us have been able to get our hands on the New England Brewing Fuzzy Baby Ducks IPA. The icing on the cake happens to be the fact that it's at one of the Max Restaurant Group locations in West Hartford, the Max Burger. As often as I've been to Max Amore in Glastonbury, even Max Fish several times, I've never been to Max Burger. With all due respect, Plan B Glastonbury is so close I could walk (though only if absolutely necessary). So the 20 minute drive across the bridge and into West Hartford Center just never won over 4 minute drive to Plan B.

Finally, the Fuzzy Baby Ducks

Well, combine a little cabin fever and some Fuzzy Baby Ducks, and Max Burger here we come... I don't mean to toot my own horn, but some of my friends know I have a knack for parking. So despite being 7pm on a Friday evening, I manage to pull up to Max Burger and get a spot right in front of the door. Once inside, however, we're not so lucky: the place is packed full! People crowded around the bar, people crowded around the hostess desk, and a number of people waiting in the foyer as well. So we skip the line and head straight to the bar. Indeed, Fuzzy Baby Ducks is on tap, and when Chris orders it he even gets a few questions from nearby drinkers. I get the distinct impression no one within ear-shot of us had ever heard of Fuzzy Baby Ducks before. At the very least, they didn't know we've been seeking this out like the one ring of Mordor.

Mmmm, Fuzzy Baby Ducks

Smells a lot like Ghandi-Bot initially, which doesn't surprise me, they probably use the same type of hops. Tastes a lot like Ghandi-Bot too, which still doesn't surprise me too much. But the finish... hmmm, the finish is lighter and less-boozy than Ghandi-Bot. Plenty of upfront hops, nice bitterness, a relatively dry and lasting finish, but Fuzzy Baby Ducks is like a lighter version of the Ghandi-Bot. Chris and I both enjoy this beer quite a bit, but with a 30+ minute wait for a table, we might be moving on. The inside of Max Burger was very cool, like a dignified version of a good beer bar. People were coming and going constantly, and I saw quite a few tasty looking plates of food walk by. However, it's 7:15pm on a Friday night, and Chris and I are going to need a little food, and soon!

Right around the corner are two of my favorite beer stores, and Chris is now seriously jonesin' for some NEBCo Ghandi-Bot. If anyone has some Ghandi-Bot left, it's these two stores. First stop? The Wise Old Dog (formerly Quaker Lane Package store) just two minutes down the road on South Quaker Lane. Jacob and the team is always super friendly, and for a relatively small store they pack in a ton of variety. One of the sales-reps is here tonight doing a little wine-tasting, excellent! Apparently all the talk I do about this place, Chris hasn't been paying attention, he's quite surprised by the selection. Brooklyn Black Ops, Allagash Curieux, Oskar Blues Gubna, all intrigue us momentarily, but we're won over by an old favorite: Lagunitas Sucks. Six-pack prices here are very reasonable, some of the best I've seen, so no complaints here. If you haven't been to The Wise Old Dog since Jacob started running the place, you need to swing by.

I also suggest we make a quick stop at another of my favorite beer stores, Harvest Fine Wine. While the name "Harvest Fine Wine" doesn't scream 'craft beer', this place is insane. Every time you think you've seen all the beer, you turn around to walk away and BAAAM, there's another shelf you didn't see before. There are dozens (literally dozens) of beers here that I've never seen or tried before. There's a stack of Aprihop, at least 5 cases of Bigfoot, Dogfish Immort, Dogfish Burton Baton, a single beer selection that could choke a horse, and now my head is spinning. This place is absolutely wicked! There are two young guys working tonight that must have asked each of us three times if we needed any help or recommendations. We shot the proverbial shit for a few minutes and the guys really know their beer. (unlike the average big box type store where the girl behind the counter says "Ghandi what?!") Point being, Harvest Fine Wine is a local beer store that demands checking out.  Anyway, Chris grabs a single of something random to try and we decide that we seriously need some food now. I don't know where the idea came from but one of us finally says "Ever been to McLadden's?"

This was just one of the
two chalkboards!

Well guess what, McLadden's is right around the corner, so off we go! On the way there Chris is checking their facebook page and website. He finds a list somewhere of their regular drafts and a rotating guest draft list. We both get nervous, it sounds like they have all the regular crappy beers, and maybe two or three taps that get rotated for good craft beer. Again, we get a parking spot right in front of the door, and we make our way inside. Pretty good number of people here tonight, but the place isn't over-crowded. Chris walks away for a minute for a phone call or something so I make my way to the bar. I can see several tap towers scattered down the bar so I start looking for a tap list somewhere. Ah, here it is, tucked around the side of the bar in a spot that's not easy to find or read. Aaaaaaand we were both very wrong. They've got a dozen or so of the regular mediocre beer like Guiness, Smithwicks, Harp, Stella, Blue Moon, etc (no thank you). And they've got a chalk-board devoted to real beer. Twenty-one beers on the list, each with the date it was tapped. PBR, Harpoon, Anchor Steam, oh there it is! Stone "Enjoy By", yes bartender, I'll have two of those please!

We might need another
round of food...

True Test - Nachos & Wings

The whole rest of the night here I was thoroughly impressed! Our three benchmarks for measuring the quality of a beer bar like McLadden's have become 1-Tap List, 2- Nachos, and 3- Wings. Tap list is long, pretty damn good, and including the dates is a huge gold star in my book. Nachos were well made, large, and pretty tasty. Buffalo wings were a little lacking in sauce choices, but the "Buffalo Hot" that we chose was damn near perfect - hot enough to make your nose run, but not unbearable. Our waitress was great, super friendly and attentive. The place never got too loud or crowded (although there was a band setting up for 10pm I believe). Overall I was really, really pleased with the evening. I've been to plenty of "Irish Pubs" up and down the east coast and never been too impressed. There's even one in Glastonbury (you know who you are) with a mediocre beer selection, mediocre wine selection, and food that's just 'okay'. But McLadden's, you've done a hell of a job, Chris and I salute you!

So next time you're looking for something to do in West Hartford, I hope we've given you some ideas. Chris and I are already talking about heading back to Max Burger when the place isn't so crowded, and we'll evaluate the food at that time. At the very least, we'll be making McLadden's a regular stop when we're looking for a great beer selection. And if you're out and about, let me know what the beer lists look like, maybe we'll come have a beer with you! Until then...

Eli
Bibo Ergo Sum