Hobbs Tavern and Brewing

After a visit to Sap House Meadery to enjoy a sampling of their delicious offerings - including their new red wine, which is absolutely fabulous - we headed off to Hobbs Tavern and Brewing for a late lunch and brews.


Hobbs is partly owned by one of the founder/owners of Sap House Meadery. You'll see their products offered at Hobbs.








The restaurant has an amazing warm, rustic atmosphere. The staff is friendly and attentive.

The food was fantastic. The hot wings were crisp and flavorful - spicy without being brutal. The grilled cheese and soup was wicked good. The burger was cooked perfectly and generously sized. All good stuff. And quite satisfying.









A couple of seemingly minor things really impressed me.

One was the use of slates for beer boards. They are reusable and continue the philosophy of sustainability that Sap House Meadery promotes and that is so prominent in this area.

The second was the chalkboard strips used on the beer flights to label what each beer is. It made it very easy to identify which beer was which without having to refer to a separate list that may or not be in the correct order.

Minor, like I said, but great ideas well executed.

Black Sheep Cream Ale (5.3% ABV)  is a hazy golden ale with a fresh and inviting aroma. The taste is initially mildly sweet grains with a whisper of tangy citrus. A gently hoppy bitterness balances out the sweetness for a crisp finish. A nice, light, easy drinking beer.

West Ossipee Winter Warmer (5.7% ABV)  is a lightly spiced brown ale. It is malty and flavorful without being heavy. A tasty seasonal ale that is delightfully drinkable.

Something Went A-Rye (5.2% ABV)  a good IPA with a clever name. The rye is clearly identifiable complimented by just the right amount of hoppy bitterness. A balanced IPA that is tasty without violating your tastebuds.

Born To Be Mild (2.8% ABV) is a brown ale that, despite its low alcohol content, is incredibly malty and hearty. Mild indeed! I am truly impressed with this offering. Very well done.

Bearcamp Brown  (4.1% ABV) has a lovely sweet caramel flavor that compliments a solid malt backbone with a hint of smoke. Barely a whisper of bitterness yet still well balanced. Tasty.

Leaf Peeper Rauchbier is what a rauchbier is all about - smoke. Not my favorite style by a long shot and I honestly didn't care for it. That being said, hubby likes smoked beers and he liked this one. So, there you have it.  Not every beer is for everyone but there's a beer for every taste.







I really enjoyed my Hobbs experience. I was comfortable in the surroundings and the food was delicious and well presented.


But, I was there for the beer. I wasn't disappointed. There is really is a beer at Hobbs for every taste; including beer from other breweries. Yeah, I tasted those, too. Cuz that's the way I roll.

I'll be back for sure.  :)

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

I asked my beer guy to pick a bock beer out for me and this is what he handed to me.   With nary a glance,  I happily put it in my cart and went on my merry way.  

I got home and showed my husband the bottle.  He started dancing around like a puppy with a new bone and was like, "Ooooo!  Rauchbier!  I love rauchbier.  You never buy me rauchbier."  Then he stopped prancing, looked at me gravely and said, "But you don't like smokey beers."

It's true, I don't.  But I was like, "I bought it just for you because I love you sooooooooo much!"

Okay, that's not exactly how the conversation went, but it's close enough for government work anyway.

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is brewed by Brauerei Schlenkerla in Bamberg Germany.  It is ranked among the top 50 beers in the world.  That's right, I said it!  The whole wide world!

That's pretty impressive.


Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier (6.5% ABV) Pours a hazy (smoky?) sable brown with a thin white head.

The aroma is smoke and a hint of malt.  From the smell alone, I imagine this beer would wonderful with barbeque or a big honkin' steak.

The taste is a combination of smoke and caramel sweetness.  The smoke is not as bold as I imagined it would be.  It actually compliments the maltiness quite nicely.

The mouth feel is lighter.  This is a smooth beer and goes down oh-so easy.  

I like it! I really, really do! So I can't say I don't like all smoky beers.  And that makes me happy.  Not dance around like a puppy with a new bone happy.  But happy.

Overall: very good

Smoked Porter

Smoked Porter brewed by Alaska Brewing Company is a beer that I can't get at my local beer store but I got this as a gift.

This porter is a limited edition bottle aged beer and is know to be one of the first rauchbiers brewed in the U.S.  It is released in small quantities each November so if you can get your hands on a bottle then grab it!

I was able to get a 2011 "vintage" bottle.  It pours black as black with a thick but quickly dissipating head and wafts a big smoky aroma.

I'm not a big fan of smoked beer but this one was different.  It had, of course, a smokey (mesquite?) flavor but it didn't overpower other taste aspects . . . dark chocolate, a touch of caramel, coffee and nuts.

It has a full, creamy mouthfeel that I loved.  It goes down smooth and easy . . . interesting in a dark rich beer . . . with nice bite of bitterness at the end.

Drink it slow and savor this beer.  The flavors and aroma enhance and are accentuated as the beer warms in the glass.

Overall, I liked this beer a lot . . . for it's uniqueness as much for its deliciousness.  

I'm hoping to snag a bottle of the 2012 to see how it compares.

6.5% ABV

Visit Alaska Brewing's website for more information about their beer or check them out on Facebook!