Charlotte, NC

I now present several non-Bojangles, yet still fine establishments.

Brixx is a pizza/sandwich/pasta/bar sort of dealie, complete with 24 taps. I had a sampler of for 4oz glasses for maximum adventure and a pizza with chicken on it.

*The Mad River Jamaica Red, from California somewhere, was a hoppy red/amber ale, and I think my favorite of those that I tried. They also apparently have a Sunset India Pale Ale that I think I will keep my eye out for.

*The Flying Dog Tire Biter was a light-colored ale, brewed with pale malt and German hops; good, but probably something I'd use to introduce a corn drinker to the finer things in life rather than keep as a personal pick. A gateway beer, if you will. :)

*A local choice, the Highland Gaelic, was very good; not as hop-flavored as the Jamaican, but amber in color and a good malt/hop balance. The Gaelic was better had prior to the Jamaican due to the hop differences.

*Finally, the Hobgoblin, I chose purely based on name. It's British, and turned out to be a good hoppy full-bodied brownish beer.

Now, around the corner from this particular Brixx was the ever-so-interesting Wine Shop at Foxcroft. The wines and beers are hand selected by the owner, and there is a little table area and a bar for tasting wines and beers. After Brixx, I didn't take advantage of this table area, but I think I will if I am in this area again.

Pamplemousse!!!!

In a move of questionable patriotism, Adam and I spent Veterans Day weekend in Québec... coincidentally during the celebration of Remembrance Sunday. The temperatures weren't completely stupid like when I went to Montréal in 2006 (with highs around 2F), so walking around didn't come with the constant threat of hypothermic death.



Québec City will be 400 years old next year, so there is an abundance of neat old architecture. Vieux Québec is walled and has a citadel. The fact that it is up a steep hill on a of bank the St. Lawrence made for some sweet natural defenses when warfare was two-dimensional. Personally, I'd say screw it and invade some Caribbean island instead, but apparently people really liked cold-ass cities on suspected Northwest Passage routes. Go figure.

The trip was mostly lookin' and walkin', but food procurement was quite successful, too. I found a fun little pub filled with locals called Pub Saint Alexandre. It had a useful selection of taps and bottles and also a reasonable food menu. Lunch the next day was at La Petite Italie where I ordered a pizza and chocolat chaud. Both were quite good. Sadly, I was too full to examine the crêpe establishment a few blocks away. Next time.