It was a dark and stormy night. The wind was fierce and the icy rain turned to snow as I drove into the higher elevations. Although slow going and treacherous, I was determined to reach my destination, the Ellicottville Brewing Company. Finally, I see the quaint lights that line the streets and stores of Ellicottville where not only is my appetite and palette about to be satisfied, but also where my mind is about to receive an unexpected enlightenment.

The Ellicottville Brewing Company is located south of Buffalo, New York, near the ski resort of Holiday Valley. I’ve had the pleasure of dining in the beer garden at Ellicottville Brewing twice before when my travels had taken me out to the western end of New York State. When my job recently sent me out that way again, I made sure there was time for another return visit.

I started off with a Scottish Ale while I looked at the menu. This yellow-gold brew was wonderful and much hoppier for a Scottish than one would expect. That, of course, is not a complaint coming from this hop-head.

I didn’t know how hungry I was until I realized how quickly I polished off my Pastrami Rueben with homemade potato chips. Pastrami, in case you didn’t already know, is just smoked and peppered corned beef.

I wanted another Scottish, but also wanted to try something else so I went with the Oatmeal stout, a favorite style of mine. This beer had strong roasted coffee and chocolate notes, similar to the Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, but it was also nitrogenated which brought a creamy, thick, mouth feel to this robust and strong stout.

I also had sips of the Chocolate Cherry Bomb Stout, also nitrogentated, made with real chocolate and cherries. This imperial beer was strong and rich, like a dessert and best saved as beer to sip at the end of the night by the fire.

Business was slow this mid-week evening and in-between seasons for Ellicottville and I chatted extensively with the barmaid. Karen had a wonderful way of describing how beers tasted, her previous experience in wines really showed. With a flourish, she would say things like, “it bounces off your tongue in your mouth”, which is a refreshing way to describe the hop bitterness in an IPA. (I personally can’t do justice to her descriptions)

I mentioned my affinity for Ellicottville and the beers and that I can’t get them out my way, even though I do get some New York State beers, like my new favorite brewer, Southern Tier. (as I’ve mentioned on this blog before, about fruit, porters, the very drinkable Extraordinary Ale, and a case for Mom) Upon mentioning Southern Tier, Karen started giving me some background history of Ellicottville and tells me the names of the original brewers were at Ellicottville were Peter, and Phin…

*ding*

(to be continued)