Over the River and Through the Woods to North Country Brewing We Go

November 14, 2016 at 12:00a.m.

North Country Brewing

If you’re a craft beer drinker, you’ve probably already heard of North Country Brewery. Hopefully you’ve made the trek there. If you haven’t, you really don’t know what you’re missing. This is a fun place, with excellent food and a fantastic staff. Think rustic classy.

by Jason Jugenheimer, Mahoning Valley Flight Crew

It’s a wonderful brewery nestled amongst the little shops on Main Street in the quaint college town of Slippery Rock, Pa. Just an exit south of the Grove City Premium Outlets (about a 15-minute drive), it’s the perfect stop for lunch or dinner either coming from or going shopping.

The moment you walk into the building, which once served as a furniture store, funeral home and even a stint as the morgue, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a rustic little lodge in some mountain hideaway. The attention to detail in the woodworking is phenomenal. It’s a warm and inviting place to walk into on a cold fall or winter day.

The Mahoning Valley Flight Crew has taken multiple trips over there, including a trip in August for Roger “the Rogfather” Gillespie’s 65th birthday. On Friday, Nov. 11, Veteran’s Day, we took the ride over there, because my father, Tim, wanted to enjoy a good meal. He’s an Air Force veteran, and North Country was offering all veterans 25 percent off their meals. In fact, the bartender noticed his Air Force Veteran hat, and she bought him his first round. Like I stated earlier, fantastic staff. I love it when businesses recognize those who served or serve.

I’ve enjoyed many North Country beers, which can be purchased locally at a variety of places, including Paleo IPA, Station 33 Firehouse Red, Bucco Blonde, Slimy Pebble Pilsner, Buck Snort Stout and Stinky Hippie. Tonight, however, there seemed to be a wide variety of beers there on the board that I’d never indulged in before. So, I ordered up a flight and began on a palate-pleasing journey from light and refreshing, crazy hop profiles and a brown ale that made me feel like we were camping in the woods by an open fire.

Peach Sour: ABV 4.3

I’ve grown into someone who really enjoys a sour beer. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but once you start to enjoy them, they open your senses to a whole new level of craft beer enjoyment. This particular sour is a nice starting point. It has very little bite and subtle peach flavors that make it perfect to just sit and enjoy.

Ginger Snap: ABV 3.7

This is another refreshing beer that’s a perfect complement to a brisk fall day. If you’re a fan of ginger ale or ginger beer, this is definitely one for you to indulge in. The ginger flavor, from 10 pounds of locally sourced ginger, is not overpowering. It’s just a smooth flavor from start to finish.

Taco Tuesday: ABV 5.3

This has a light hop profile with a slight spice finish but not in a peppery way. North Country describes it as, “Everything you love about TACOS and BEER in a pint glass.” It is a unique flavor, but one that would just as good sitting down with a plate of Wild Boar Nachos or celebrating Cinco de Mayo.

PJ English IPA: ABV 6.8

Think traditional English Ale on a hop steroid rage. This has a slight hop aroma, but you definitely know it’s hopped up the moment you take a sip. It has a strong hop flavor and definitely one to check off your list if you’re a “Hop Head.”

The Ol’ Two-Niner Double IPA: ABV 8.29

This is a definite hop lover must and worth the drive over all by itself. Legendary Pittsburgh Penguin Phil Bourque lends his hand in the brewing of this double IPA. Both Legacy and Warrior hops create a beer that if hoppy from start to finish, and the flavor definitely hangs around. This was a wonderful beer to enjoy.

But the favorite of the night — I even brought a growler home — was the Breakfast Brown.

Breakfast Brown: ABV 3.8

You know a beer is going to be unique when it’s garnished with a hunk of sausage patty. I’m a brown ale, stout and porter lover, but I wasn’t prepared for the flavor we were about to enjoy. The best way I can describe this beer is taking a high-quality brown ale and infusing it with coffee that was brewed in a tin pot over an open campfire. It is a wild flavor. Not smoky in any sense, just a perfect brown ale to drink on a cold day. If you’re a fan of coffee in beer, grab your keys and take a ride today.

North Country truly is a great experience that’s always just a little different every time you go. The burgers are phenomenal (highly recommend farm-to-fork). The back patio, with its rustic feel and giant fireplace, is the place to be when the weather is in the least bit bearable. Heck, even the urinal in the men's room is a repurposed keg. Like I said, it’s an experience.

So this holiday season, take a little time away from the Christmas crowds at Grove City, hop on I-79 south, make the trek to this sleepy little college town, and enjoy the brewery that gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling each time you walk through the door.