Braxton Brewing

Hey readers!  I asked a friend of mine to write about a local brewery we visited recently!  Check it out!  —–

Go There, Beer That

I love beer. No, this is not the first of my twelve steps. This is my proclamation. I have recently befriended a fellow blogger and all around good person, (Mindy Trujillo).  She has given me the challenge, honor to speak and share my opinion and create a separate sub-blog under her wing.

A little about myself.

I really do love beer. I love drinking a meal, ergh *clear throat* cough, stout and occasionally like drinking water, or some would call it – a lager. I enjoy beer like I enjoy food. I dissect them, appreciate their complexities, and often have an opinion about them. Despite tasting (of course) over 200 craft beers in my short life, I thank you for the opportunity of your undivided/bathroom reading attention. But be kind. I am an intermediate connoisseur at best. I understand some things about beer: body, hops, H2O; and, this will be a learning process for me as well.

Enough of that, let’s discuss why you are here: Braxton Brewery!

This is a delight and gem. Tucked away in a medium sized town near Cincinnati; Covington, KY has a newer brewery with a unique mix to offer.

As a surprised layman, I met the one of the owners (Greg Rouse) unplanned. He greeted me with a jolly smile and the presence of one who enjoys community and the power of beer. We shared our likes/dislikes, and he shared his hard work. 

It reminded me that I am still in the Midwest where wholesome and high caliber attributes are one in the same (being a fellow Cincinnatian and former Clevelander). 

The brewery almost has a focused ADHD that might be masked by what they offer, coffee! (Starter) Coffee poured in a brew, coffee on nitro, or just plain dark, full bodied coffee.  The nitro coffee is creamy enough to make some creamer-based companies worried about what they are doing wrong.

In an attempt to synergize the cities resources, Braxton has teamed with Carabello coffee to create a beautiful stout (Dead Blow Starter), noteworthy to any upper shelf beer. It is an independent coffee brew mixed with their shining star – Dead Blow Tropical Stout.

And did I mention the nitro pour enough? Would you like the nitro pour in your tropical stout brewed with Dates (Nitro – Dead Blow)? Your cream lager (Nitro – Storm)? Your porter (Nitro – Dead Blow)? Feel free, and also compare to the carbon pour and notice the stellar difference!

The atmosphere is light, relaxed and simple with the clear vision of a fused coffee shop and brewery.  

Tours are a regular occurrence, and the staff act like they come from confident and humble rearings.

I can feel see the possibility for expansion (lots of room to expand), new ventures (bourbon barrels), and a great staff devoted to the cause.

The vibe is fun, has room for a small jazz/rock/whatever venue.  It’s simple and dabbling in branding :

& social media

Plus, they sell a mean growler, even my wife admits it is.

In summary, I give Braxton an 8.5 smiley faces out of 10.  The brewery is young (4 months old!), clever with a couple tricks under its sleeve (nitro pours to compare with the carbon pour, and coffee at a brewery), with a foundational, sturdy front running selection. It is certainly leans more toward stout/coffee vibers/lovers, but still has plenty to enjoy : A traditional dortmunder, IPA, a hoppy wheat ale, and a pale ale (with melon hops?). I won’t give too much away, because it is worth the trip to see for yourself.  

Your fellow beer there guy, Cheers!

GO THERE (Braxton Brewing)!  TRY THAT (Dead Blow Tropical Stout)!