On Saturday, 9/26, Hoppy and I took a quick drive out to Modesto to visit some beer joints. The main purpose of the trip was to check out a new brewery, 18Seventy Brewing. That was our first stop but I�ll talk more about this great brewery later.
We also wanted to check out a few other places. We tried to visit St. Stan’s, but they didn�t open until 3:00 on Saturday, which was disappointing so we had to head elsewhere.
We then tried to have lunch at Commonwealth, but with outdoor only dining, the wait was a bit long so we headed over to Churchkey (@churchkeymodesto). We�ve been there before and always enjoyed the food and the huge beer selection (try the pizza!). This time, the beer selection was a bit smaller than we expected but still had a lot of excellent choices. We still tried some snacks (Garlic Tots and Nachos) which were tasty. The outdoor dining area, mostly in the back, is well covered and fairly spacious. Overall very good beer and food..
On the way out we had to stop at Persuasion (@persuasionbrewing) which is a MUST for anyone in the area. The location isn�t just a brewery/taphouse. It also has a small market, that includes a butcher shop and huge can selection, and a deli that makes some of the best sandwiches around. Their outdoor area was also well shaded, a sizable spot in the parking lot that has a dirt (like baseball dirt) floor, small trees and ample seating. Their beer, as always, was tasty, and they have a sizable selection of guest taps.
But the star of the day was 18Seventy brewing (@18seventybrew), a brand new brewery in the heart of Modesto. They had a small bar set-up outside and a few small tables. When we arrived, we expressed some disappointment at the limited beer selection; only three of their beers on tap. When we asked the owner why they had such a small selection, her response was, �We want to focus on quality, not quantity.� Mission accomplished!
We sampled all three of their offerings, a Blonde, a West Coast IPA (that is more like a Red IPA) and a Black IPA. It is a rare occasion that I get three different styles (I count Black IP and West Coast IPA as different styles) and thoroughly enjoy all three, but that was indeed the case. The Rough Start IPA was a nice balance of hops and malt with a soft bitterness that didn�t overpower the malt. It has been a while since I had a Red IPA I enjoyed as much as this one (shout out to HopTown Paint the Town Red!). The same is true for the ChulaCabra Black IPA, a wonderful balance of smoke and bitterness. The Bail Blonde, which I am not typically a big fan of, was a tasty, mild beer that was highly drinkable. We weren�t able to see much of the inside of the facility and the brewing system looks to be small so finding their beer might be difficult, but if you are in the area, make a point of stopping by. You won�t be disappointed.
Modesto has a lot to offer when it comes to craft beer. If you are in the area, we strongly suggest you visit these places for good beer and good food.
Cheers!