Fanfare....

MAIN STREET BEER CO.

MUCH MORE THAN BUD

I’m much more than a Bud man in the Fan, thanks to places like Main Street Beer Co. The explosion of microbreweries and brewpubs has led to a nation (and Fan) full of those who love more than just Bud.

The most recent addition to Fan beer drinking options is the huge Main Street Beer Co. Once the location of a several grocery stores, the Williamsville Brewery folks of Jacksonville and Wilmington fame have turned the building into a spacious beer (and food) mecca. Now, rather than some wilted lettuce on aisle 6, you’ll find freshly brewed beer.

“We’ve had great support from the Fan, with many locals making us their local spot,” says Bob Cabaniss. It’s easy to see why, when Fan residents can walk their way (why drive?) to taste some great beer (and food).

First and foremost, Main Street Beer Co. is about beer. The huge vats and other brewing paraphernalia can be viewed at the back of the building, which is where Main Street Fan Lager and Main Street Work Beer are produced. If you fall in love with this place and their beer (as I have), you’ll also want to visit their retail store at the back of the big building. This size and wide open nature of this place can make the front portion a bit loud on crowded nights, but the closed-off formal dining area is much quieter.

The neighborhood namesake Fan Lager is a Munich-style pale lager that is generally low in both bitterness and maltiness, while Work Beer is patterned after an English mild ale. As with all the draft beers, Fan Lager and Work Beer are served in logoed pint-size glasses.

Of course, they also offer a wide variety of other standard, specialty, and seasonal beers on draft, as well as a variety of bottled options. Some of the best beers on draft include: the very popular Williamsville Brewery Studley Brown Ale (a traditional English brown ale); Amelia Island Amelia Ale (a medium-bodied golden ale moderately hopped with four different kinds of hops); First Coast Bikini Ale (a very light and clean ale); First Coast Mango Ale (a light beer flavored with all-natural mangos); Beach Brewing Amber Wave Raspberry Wheat (the name says it all); and Wilmington Brewing Dergy’s Porter (a rich dark beer with five different kinds of malts).

One of my favorite ways to introduce Fan residents to Main Street is to get them to try their Beer Tasting (four tastings for five bucks). The Work Tasting includes the Work, Bikini, Amelia Ale, and Mango. The Fan Tasting includes the Fan Lager, the Amber Wave, Studley Brown Ale, and a taste of the Williamsville Brewery Border Porter.

Along with the Border Porter, other popular microbrews by the bottle include: Williamsville Brewery Cabo Pale Ale; Williamsville Brewery Golden Lager; First Coast Beach Beer; First Coast Brown Ale; Jungle Brewing Jag Lager; Wilmington Brewing Dergy’s Amber; Wilmington Brewing Dergy’s Golden Ale; and Wilmington Brewing Dergy’s Golden Ale. For those who haven’t succumbed to the pleasures of microbrews, they do offer the likes of Bud, Bud Light, Corona, Heineken, and Pilsner Urquell.

Of course, it will take many visits to try all of their draft and bottled microbrews, but I’m up to the task. If you happen to be with a non-believer, they do offer a surprisingly wide selection of wines by the glass and bottle. But, in my opinion, why bother coming here if you’re going to drink wine?

One of the pleasant developments in the brewpub industry had been the vast improvement in food offerings. This is not your father’s pub grub.

Main Street Beer Co. takes their food (almost) as seriously as their beer. During the day, an extensive bar menu includes a wide variety of appetizers (the varied potato-based offerings are excellent with beer), tasty chili, daily soup specials, and several salads. Sandwiches, which are perfectly matched with many beers, include a great crab cake, a rare marinated flank stack, a grilled knockwurst, a Maine lobster club, and many more creative choices (including daily chef specials).

After 5pm, the food forays become even more interesting. Along with appetizers from the bar menu, creative options include another take on potatoes, tender escargots, a southern-style eggroll, and several others. Along with the chili and several salads (the Classic Caesar is excellent) the soup changes daily.

As for entrees, you won’t go hungry. Some of my favorites with beer are Bob’s Crab Cakes, the Tamari Tuna Tower, the Veal Chop, the Pecan Crusted Catfish, and the BBQ Baby Back Ribs (full rack, of course). There are also daily entree specials and an ever-changing array of dessert options. As with the beers, it will take many visits to try all of the tasty choices.

Main Street Beer Co.
1911 W. Main St.
358-9620
www.willbrew.com