Getting Back To Normal
In a first for for this blog, I want to talk about a craft beer that is, for the most part, "normal." Recently, while at Wiseacre's taproom, I came across a beer that wasn't loaded with a lot of hops or any of the other "crafty" stuff that's unfamiliar to the average American beer drinker. It's a German Helles lager that's both distinctive and familiar, meaning that while isn't interchangeable with a Bud Light or a Pabst Blue Ribbon (although the Sands is a slightly more robust (as in hoppy) version of a PBR; the flavor is very close to the Kona Longboard Island Lager), the mildly hoppy and malt flavor of the Memphis Sands is unique but still falls within the norms of what most expect in a beer. By the way, this is not a put down of craft beer in general or any of Wiseacre's other brews like the hoppy pilsner Tiny Bomb, the Ananda (an IPA) or the Gotta Get Up To Get Down, a coffee milk stout that might be hip with a lot of millennials (and tasted great with a maple doughnut cheeseburger that I had at LBOE). However, for middle age guys like myself, I would rather "get down" with a normal, decent tasting beer that I can chill out with. On that note, the Memphis Sands (like the local aquifer it's named after) is perfect.
NOTE: Because of Wiseacre's limited brewing capacity, finding a grocery store that carries the Memphis Sands might prove difficult. After searching for it in places like Cash Saver, Raffe's Deli and other beer-friendly stores, I eventually bought a case directly from the brewer at Wiseacre's Tap Room.
Going into 2018, I want to get back to normal in blogging about food and anything related to that (including an occasional blog post about beer, wine or any other alcoholic beverage). Although blogging is a hobby, I still feel that it's my mission to highlight restaurants that are noteworthy and point out places that most aren't familiar with (including restaurants in the "hood" and other undesirable places). Unfortunately, I've had a lot of distractions that kept me from blogging (along with a scarcity of cash), but I hope to recommit to Ken's Food Find as a way of getting back to normal. With new restaurants like The Dirty Crow Inn, The Vault and Hopdoddy Burger Bar opening (along with Hattie B's expanding into Memphis), it's time for me to get back into the game.
In a first for for this blog, I want to talk about a craft beer that is, for the most part, "normal." Recently, while at Wiseacre's taproom, I came across a beer that wasn't loaded with a lot of hops or any of the other "crafty" stuff that's unfamiliar to the average American beer drinker. It's a German Helles lager that's both distinctive and familiar, meaning that while isn't interchangeable with a Bud Light or a Pabst Blue Ribbon (although the Sands is a slightly more robust (as in hoppy) version of a PBR; the flavor is very close to the Kona Longboard Island Lager), the mildly hoppy and malt flavor of the Memphis Sands is unique but still falls within the norms of what most expect in a beer. By the way, this is not a put down of craft beer in general or any of Wiseacre's other brews like the hoppy pilsner Tiny Bomb, the Ananda (an IPA) or the Gotta Get Up To Get Down, a coffee milk stout that might be hip with a lot of millennials (and tasted great with a maple doughnut cheeseburger that I had at LBOE). However, for middle age guys like myself, I would rather "get down" with a normal, decent tasting beer that I can chill out with. On that note, the Memphis Sands (like the local aquifer it's named after) is perfect.NOTE: Because of Wiseacre's limited brewing capacity, finding a grocery store that carries the Memphis Sands might prove difficult. After searching for it in places like Cash Saver, Raffe's Deli and other beer-friendly stores, I eventually bought a case directly from the brewer at Wiseacre's Tap Room.
Going into 2018, I want to get back to normal in blogging about food and anything related to that (including an occasional blog post about beer, wine or any other alcoholic beverage). Although blogging is a hobby, I still feel that it's my mission to highlight restaurants that are noteworthy and point out places that most aren't familiar with (including restaurants in the "hood" and other undesirable places). Unfortunately, I've had a lot of distractions that kept me from blogging (along with a scarcity of cash), but I hope to recommit to Ken's Food Find as a way of getting back to normal. With new restaurants like The Dirty Crow Inn, The Vault and Hopdoddy Burger Bar opening (along with Hattie B's expanding into Memphis), it's time for me to get back into the game.Also Downtown
Recently, Wiseacre also opened a taproom in Downtown Memphis at 398 S. B.B. King Blvd. Unlike its first location, the downtown taproom has a more chic and colorful look that aims to be a nightspot competing with those in the South Main Arts District. It looks cool!
In 2022, the Downtown taproom added a kitchen that makes pizzas and appetizers. Called Little Bettie, the pizza joint has become very popular in Memphis. After years of procrastination, I finally got around to getting a pizza there.
One of Little Bettie's most popular pizzas is the Thud Butt. The pizza toppings include ricotta cream, stracciatella cheese, black pepper honey and mortadella, a minced pork meat similar to baloney that also has pistachios in it. The sweetness of the black pepper honey and the flavor of the ricotta cream stand out, combining well with the saltiness and fat content of the mortadella. All together, the Thud Butt has a unique flavor profile that sets it apart from typical pizzas, for it doesn't have that "red sauce" base but instead comes off as more of a fancy "flatbread" served at upscale restaurants. Overall, the Thud Butt is a really good pizza that I look forward to having again.
In addition to pizzas, Little Bettie also serves appetizers and other food items. For loners like me who don’t want to consume an entire pizza, an alternative to that is the Bettie Melt. It is a patty melt burger with caramelized onions, jalapeños and a lot of pickle slices on two quarter-pound beef patties. For a burger made by a pizza joint inside a brewery taproom, the Bettie Melt was decent in terms of taste, with the pickles being very prominent. On a grading scale, I give it a "C" for it was good but has room for improvement. To eat with my patty melt, I got a plate of fries that was more than enough for my burger. For hamburger aficionados, the Bettie Melt might fall short in terms of tastiness, but for those who are looking for a light, decent lunch to satisfy the appetite while drinking great beer, the patty melt can fulfill that need.
I was going to end this update of my "Wiseacre" review with hopes of the brewery opening a "Little Bettie" at its Broad Avenue taproom so that I could get a pizza closer to home. However, I discovered on Wiseacre's website that it already has a restaurant at its Broad Avenue location that serves sandwiches. It's called Panuzzo King that coincidentally has a sandwich consisting of many of the components of the Thud Butt pizza. Looks like another update is coming when I talk about the "Ric & Morty" sandwich. In other words, more to come.
1 Comments
good post.thank you
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