I know you all are used to me talking about my teenagers. And great teens they are. But this summer is for me and my friends, Tawanna and Laniece. We are outside, y’all! We love going out and enjoying ourselves. We work out together. We pray together. We even do “old lady” crafts together.
This month we’re focusing on craft beer. Memphis has more than a dozen breweries, all showcasing different brew styles and flavor depths. We carefully selected places that offered a variety of craft beers. IPAs, stouts, sours, pilsners, and bonus points if they had any barrel-aged beer. We wanted bold flavors and a good time, a chance to make friends with strangers, take up space, and laugh out loud. In short, we wanted to have a good time with Memphis!
MFS
We started off with a visit to Memphis Filling Station (MFS) in Downtown Memphis. I first came across MFS at the Science of Beer event hosted by the Pink Palace. (If you have never been, you need to make it a priority next year.) Even then, I knew they were something special. They have 16 beers on tap and often keep one hidden up their sleeve. All of their beers have a mix of bold, layered tastes. My current favorite is the Heather and Honey. It’s a 10 percent ABV Scotch Ale, and it’s good. Tawanna fell in love with the Crescent Wrench Rosé. It reminded her of a lot of wine, which she loved! Laniece enjoyed a beer slushie and the Tongue and Grove, a pale ale with 6 percent ABV. For eats, I went with the South Main Italian Sausage Calzone. The heat and the honey in that calzone are amazing. Oh, and besides good beer and great food, they also have unlimited popcorn!
Cooper Project House
The Cooper Project House is located in Midtown on South Cooper Street. It’s the type of place you can stay all day, from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m. Why, you ask? Because they serve coffee in the morning and beer in the afternoon and evening. My kind of place! For this article, we’re going to focus on their beer. My current hyperfixation is the BBA Barleywine Beer. It’s 10 percent ABV and full of fun! Oh, the Toasted Coconut Porter, 7 percent ABV, is also a favorite of mine. Some people say stouts and porters are not summer beers. As for me and my tastebuds, we drink dark all year round! My friends loved the Public Choice and the Belgian IPA. Our beers paired perfectly with the patio and sunshine. And if we were to get hungry, their classic pepperoni pizza would do the trick.
Hammer and Ale
Oh, Hammer and Ale! You have impressed me today! After leaving the Cooper House Project, we walked across the street. The patio was packed with people who looked like they were enjoying themselves. So we decided to join them. Upon walking in, we were greeted by two handsome bartenders. They gave us the warmest Hammer and Ale introduction. Here’s what we learned. Hammer and Ale is a taproom that offers beers, wine, and spirits. We ordered three beers and a rum-based, sour cocktail. I had the Stout of Tune, a mere 5.8 percent ABV. Tawanna and Laneice both had the Hoochie Coochie from a local brewery, Soul & Spirits. This IPA clocks in at 7 percent ABV. While we didn’t order food this time, I do feel like a hotdog would go well with any beer.
Soul & Spirits
Our final shindig was at Soul & Spirits Brewery. This brewery has some of the best beer in the city, mane! Their “Sauce” beer is so unique and good. Even people who aren’t “beer drinkers” love this beer. The Sauce’s flavor base changes all the time. I’ve had Strawberry Sauce, Orange Sauce, Pineapple Sauce, and Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce. And all of them were delicious! And that’s the case with all of their beer. All the flavors are bold and crisp and outstanding. Tawanna and I shared a beer flight. We had The Sauce (of course), Cupid, Day Dreamer, Hoochie Coochie, Walk on Rye, and Love Joy. I loved the Walk on Rye the most … and it isn’t a high gravity beer!
This summer? We’re outside … responsibly. Just good beer, good food, and even better company. Oh, and if you’re wondering if we did all of this in one day, just remember we are all over the age of 40. We are not about that life anymore! LOL!
Patricia Lockhart is a native Memphian who loves to read, write, cook, and eat. By day, she’s a librarian and writer, but by night … she’s asleep.