Brewery Visit) Scriptown Omaha

Nutjob Brown Ale

There's a new brewery on the block in Omaha's Blackstone District. With the location's historic look and classy feel, Scriptown fits right in with its use of rustic wood elements and vintage light bulbs.

With a list of easy-drinking beers, the selection is very sessionable. No food yet, but they mentioned something about parking a food truck out back that would serve waffle sliders. That sounds awesome, but for now, the beers should be more than enough to keep you occupied.


Nutjob Brown Ale) As all of their beers are, this one was nice and easy to drink. However, the finish had an unusual touch on it that I couldn't pin down initially. With my friend's help we pegged it as a caramel flavor but more like the kind you'd find in a barrel aged beer. For those of you who like Newcastle's Brown Ale, you will definitely like the unique touch on this one. ☆☆☆

Lone Tree IPA, St. Meinrad, Intensity Stout, Muddy Mo, Beligian Curve IPA

Belgian Curve IPA) If there's a curve to this one it is that there's a bit more malty caramel to this on than I had expected. There's a good bit of mild citrus in the middle. The finish is more pale ale than IPA to me, but considering I'm not a hop head, that was ideal. ☆☆☆

Muddy Mo) Usually the association of mud and beer are not good thing, but this amber pushes past all that. I'm curious if anyone else had the same sensation I had after drinking this beer. The aftertaste reminded me of what I'd get after eating graham crackers.  ☆☆☆

Intensity) This stout is a good roasted stout with just a touch more bitterness than I would like in an easy drinking stout. However, that punch helps it live up to its name. ☆☆☆

St. Meinrad) This was easily my favorite one for the evening. It is full of flavor and has that lovely belgian-style complexity and coriander touch. ☆☆☆☆

Lone Tree IPA) Not being a major IPA fan, I have to say that I did like the initial on this one. A good light watery mouth feel full of pine-esque citrus. The finish though was bitter enough to nuke my tastebuds a little. ☆☆☆

(Sorry, no picture)
4th Wiseman) Scriptown's winter seasonal brew delights. There's just the right amount of sweetness - from Mexican molasses. The mouth feel is smooth and a myriad of good spices are at work. Definitely check out this belgian-style winter warmer. ☆☆☆☆


Bonus!
Do you know who St. Meinrad was? If you don't, allow me to remedy that.

In Switzerland 797, Meinrad was born. He grew up to become a Benedictine monk in the same region. Then in 829, he withdrew into a place called the Black Forest to be a hermit. However, word of his piety and good counsel got around. People and would-be disciples often came out to visit him. In order to actually have his seclusion, he was forced to retreat to an even more remote location. Einsiedeln (which somewhat ironically means hermitage) is where he spent his time in relative obscurity until...

January 21st, 861, a pair of rough-looking sojourners arrived seeking refuge. Being the hospitable person that he was, Brother Meinrad fed, clothed, and sheltered the men. They returned the favor by trying to steal from him. They soon found that he had nothing of value though and became enraged. In their anger, they beat the monk to death. He then became known as the "Martyr for Hospitality" since he died in defense of the virtue.

However, legends and folklore speak of a slightly different ending. He still died on January 21st, and the day remains his feast day in the Catholic Church. I suggest celebrating it with a beer, perhaps even a St. Meinrad. However, there are tales that speak of how two ravens came to his aid and drove off the two ruffians. This is why images of St. Meinrad show him with two black birds.

And yet, I have to digress, but there is another figure of old that has two crows: Odin. That's right, the ruler of Asgard kept Huginn (Thought) and Muginn (Memory). Together, they served as his eyes and ears informing him of events from around the world each day. Odin so appreciated their services that he is reported to have even given them the ability to speak.