A First at A First

When I first reviewed the Buck Hill Brewery in Blairstown back in June, I had a very strong feeling that Warren County's first brewpub would be a winner. Read that column here.

And that was before Buck Hill even poured its first house made beer. But it was based upon the country ambience of the place, the excellent food and service--and, of course, the beer list.

It still hasn't poured its first brewpub beer, and government red tape may delay that happy event until mid-October, but I can tell you this:

On second thought, no, I can't. Just be ready when it happens, because Buck Hill's only going to become more popular than it already is.

I led my "Secret" FaceBook PBBC group up there today. PBBC stands for the PubScout Beers and Bikers Club. The PBBC is an organization of friends who both ride motorcycles and who are responsible and mature enough to enjoy a beer during a stop, especially for lunch.

And the group today was nothing short of awesome. That it was a gorgeous day to ride, that the roads were excellent and that the people riding, dining and drinking were just top-tier had everything to do with it. Taking them to a top-tier place only seemed fitting.

And it was good to see manager Greg Schmatz again, because I actually had another good reason for visiting the Buck Hill Brewery. It was to award the pub the coveted PAP Seal of Approval, making the first brewpub in Warren County the first Warren County recipient of the award.

And well deserved it is. Buck Hill has all the ingredients necessary to have won the recognition--it's a great pub with great beers staffed by great people, like Greg and our busy-beaver server Melissa. And the food is outstanding. Get the "Steering Wheel Size " Pretzel for an appetizer, and see what I mean. The portions are huge--and apparently tasty. One of our members was filmed scarfing down the clam juice left in the bottom of the bowl the clams came in.

And our table also got a round of applause from the house after we sang the Star-Spangled Banner to honor 9/11/01, which just happened to be the birthday of the young lady to the left. She wasn't drinking, and was accompanied by her mother, a PBBC member.

Get to Buck Hill Brewery if you can, whether on two wheels or four. It's a pretty drive, and once the leaves start changing, it will be even prettier.

Buck Hill is "farm-to-table" good now, but after its own beer starts coming from the taps, it will be even better.

Trust me on this.