STEAMHORSE BREWERY - Brewery number 3
The third brewery that I visited this year is:
STEAMHORSE BREWING
1500 Elizabeth Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561/623-0091
https://www.steamhorsebrewing.com/
February 6, 2020
For my review, and for rankings, the scale is: (1) beer quality (taste) (1-20); (2) beer quantity (number available) (1-10); (3) beer varietals (differing types) (1-10); (4) atmosphere (look, feel and vibe) (1-20); (5) service (self-explanatory - hopefully) (1-20); and (6) miscellaneous (personal preference) (1-20). This will give me a 100 point scale to reference, and I will keep a running ranking of each of the breweries throughout the year.
Once again, to be fair, this is probably the closest to what I will call a home brewery besides Twisted Trunk and there are a lot of similarities between the two, starting with the owners/brewers. And, since they share taps with each other (and their third sister brewery - Tequesta Brewing Company), a lot of this analysis is going to be repetitive, so for reference, I will just go ahead and and send you to the previous review of Twisted Trunk Brewery.
One of the primary differences between the two is the atmosphere. Tucked into an old industrial area, there is no parking area of which to speak. Now, that does not mean it is hard to find parking, there just are not really a whole lot of parking "spaces". You pretty much just park in front of the brewery or any of the adjacent businesses, especially at night when the rest of the businesses along the street are closed. Now, that being said, it is not difficult to find a parking spot even when Steamhorse is busy, which is amazing because there is practically no actual parking.
You enter through a non-descript door with the Steamhorse logo etched onto the class, but once you open the door, you realize that this is anything but an old warehouse. You enter a vast, spacious bar which is longer than it is wide, with high-ceilings and track-lighting. As you walk up a small 3 or 4 step staircase to be on the main level of the bar, you notice that the elongated bar is on your right, with the vats of the brewery visible behind a glass wall behind the bar. The taps themselves are on the bar in the middle, very similar to how I described them at Twisted Trunk (see above). Even though the bar and the brewery itself attract your attention, immediately to your right and before the bar is a refrigerator with cold beer for sale, and a sitting area with a couple of couches and tables. On your left are tables for seating (and dozens upon dozens of outlets if you would like to do work or just play on your computer/device). After you past the tables, there is another sitting area to the left, a hallway to the right (to the office and restrooms) and a door to a patio. Below is a picture of a crowded Steamhorse (from their website), looking opposite my description. The entrance door is in the back right of the picture.
Just like Twisted Trunk, this place is obviously a full brewery, but very much has the feel of a bar. And, they owners treat it like a bar, having Wine Down Wednesdays, Trivia Nights, Bike Nights, Puppies on the Patio Nights, and even live music.
Just like my Twisted review, Steamhorse only offers about a dozen options, some of which are from their sister-breweries (Tequesta Brewing in Tequesta, Florida and Twisted Trunk in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida). Of these, they do offer a variety of types, a lager, a stout, a porter, an IPA, a fruity saison, a red, a sour, and some variations on the above.
On my visit on February 6, I had the Roundhouse Red, Knockabout IPA, Don't Doubt the Stout, Boujee Berry Raspberry Wheat and the Coco Vin Rouge Imperial Stout. My description of each of these beers can be found in this previous beer entry.
I could just cut-and-paste my Twisted Trunk review here because service is always amazing. No matter how busy, or how slow (and yes, at a lot of places service slips when it is slow because the servers/bartenders aren't up to full speed), service is the primary focus of the staff. Even if they are currently pouring beers for another customer, they will at least greet you and say they will be right back, or just take your order and put it in their mental queue. It is clear service is paramount. And like Twisted Trunk, it doesn't matter if the bartender or a server takes your order, they all open a single tab for you so you don't have to worry about finding the right person.
I feel like I recall that the Happy Hour is the same as Twisted Trunk, meaning that it is from 3-6 Tuesday through Friday, and 1-8 on Sunday. Happy Hour offers $1 off each beer. But, I was not there for Happy Hour, so I don't remember specifically, and I could not readily find it on their website.
RATINGS
BEER QUALITY - TASTE (1-20)
So, in total, I had 5 beers from Steamhorse, all of which were really delicious. I particularly want to highlight the Coco vin Rouge - a cabernet sauvignon barrel aged imperial stout was amazing and the Boujee Berry Raspberry Wheat. Overall, I give the beer quality an EIGHTEEN (18/20).
BEER QUANTITY - NUMBER AVAILABLE (1-10)
So this is almost exactly the same as my Twisted Trunk write-up, so it makes sense that the rating be the same. Steamhorse purposefully limits its number of beers, primarily because they like to focus on the taste and also because the owner/brewers/managers operate three distinct breweries. That being said, they do have a dozen or so distinct beers from which to choose, as they often offer taps from their sister breweries. I give the beer quantity regarding number of beers available a SIX (6/10).
BEER VARIETALS - NUMBER OF TYPES AVAILABLE (1-10)
The good news is that although they offer a limited number of choices within each type, Twisted Trunk does offer a number of different types from which to choose. For that, I do give them props for having choices. I give the beer varietals regarding the number of types available a SIX (6/10).
ATMOSPHERE (1-20)
A great atmosphere here, and the fact that this little gem is hidden in an industrial warehouse section of town is amazing. My only nick is parking. This place was very much a bar, and operates best when it was crowded. Table service is offered as the bartenders constantly roam the seated areas to take empties, take orders, clean and just otherwise be friendly. A food hall is on the same block, so food is readily available. I give the atmosphere a NINETEEN (19/20).
SERVICE (1-20)
Service is amazing. I give the service an TWENTY (20/20).
MISCELLANEOUS (1-20)
This place is a bar that you would want to be, but is always welcoming and homey even when extremely busy. With trivia night, sip-and-paint and excellent local bands they have a lot to offer a variety of customers. The beers are more than reasonably priced, as I am always surprised at how low the bill is when I receive it. The only markdown is that they are closed on Mondays. I'll give this miscellaneous rating a NINETEEN (19/20).
OVERALL (100)
Doing simple mathematics, Twisted Trunk rates 88 (out of 100). This places it first (to date) in my rankings.
RANKINGS
1. Twisted Trunk Brewing - Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 88
1. Steamhorse Brewing - West Palm Beach, FL - 88
3. Infinite Ale Works - Ocala, FL - 77
STEAMHORSE BREWING
1500 Elizabeth Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561/623-0091
https://www.steamhorsebrewing.com/
February 6, 2020
For my review, and for rankings, the scale is: (1) beer quality (taste) (1-20); (2) beer quantity (number available) (1-10); (3) beer varietals (differing types) (1-10); (4) atmosphere (look, feel and vibe) (1-20); (5) service (self-explanatory - hopefully) (1-20); and (6) miscellaneous (personal preference) (1-20). This will give me a 100 point scale to reference, and I will keep a running ranking of each of the breweries throughout the year.
One of the primary differences between the two is the atmosphere. Tucked into an old industrial area, there is no parking area of which to speak. Now, that does not mean it is hard to find parking, there just are not really a whole lot of parking "spaces". You pretty much just park in front of the brewery or any of the adjacent businesses, especially at night when the rest of the businesses along the street are closed. Now, that being said, it is not difficult to find a parking spot even when Steamhorse is busy, which is amazing because there is practically no actual parking.
You enter through a non-descript door with the Steamhorse logo etched onto the class, but once you open the door, you realize that this is anything but an old warehouse. You enter a vast, spacious bar which is longer than it is wide, with high-ceilings and track-lighting. As you walk up a small 3 or 4 step staircase to be on the main level of the bar, you notice that the elongated bar is on your right, with the vats of the brewery visible behind a glass wall behind the bar. The taps themselves are on the bar in the middle, very similar to how I described them at Twisted Trunk (see above). Even though the bar and the brewery itself attract your attention, immediately to your right and before the bar is a refrigerator with cold beer for sale, and a sitting area with a couple of couches and tables. On your left are tables for seating (and dozens upon dozens of outlets if you would like to do work or just play on your computer/device). After you past the tables, there is another sitting area to the left, a hallway to the right (to the office and restrooms) and a door to a patio. Below is a picture of a crowded Steamhorse (from their website), looking opposite my description. The entrance door is in the back right of the picture.
Just like Twisted Trunk, this place is obviously a full brewery, but very much has the feel of a bar. And, they owners treat it like a bar, having Wine Down Wednesdays, Trivia Nights, Bike Nights, Puppies on the Patio Nights, and even live music.
Just like my Twisted review, Steamhorse only offers about a dozen options, some of which are from their sister-breweries (Tequesta Brewing in Tequesta, Florida and Twisted Trunk in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida). Of these, they do offer a variety of types, a lager, a stout, a porter, an IPA, a fruity saison, a red, a sour, and some variations on the above.
On my visit on February 6, I had the Roundhouse Red, Knockabout IPA, Don't Doubt the Stout, Boujee Berry Raspberry Wheat and the Coco Vin Rouge Imperial Stout. My description of each of these beers can be found in this previous beer entry.
I could just cut-and-paste my Twisted Trunk review here because service is always amazing. No matter how busy, or how slow (and yes, at a lot of places service slips when it is slow because the servers/bartenders aren't up to full speed), service is the primary focus of the staff. Even if they are currently pouring beers for another customer, they will at least greet you and say they will be right back, or just take your order and put it in their mental queue. It is clear service is paramount. And like Twisted Trunk, it doesn't matter if the bartender or a server takes your order, they all open a single tab for you so you don't have to worry about finding the right person.
I feel like I recall that the Happy Hour is the same as Twisted Trunk, meaning that it is from 3-6 Tuesday through Friday, and 1-8 on Sunday. Happy Hour offers $1 off each beer. But, I was not there for Happy Hour, so I don't remember specifically, and I could not readily find it on their website.
RATINGS
BEER QUALITY - TASTE (1-20)
So, in total, I had 5 beers from Steamhorse, all of which were really delicious. I particularly want to highlight the Coco vin Rouge - a cabernet sauvignon barrel aged imperial stout was amazing and the Boujee Berry Raspberry Wheat. Overall, I give the beer quality an EIGHTEEN (18/20).
BEER QUANTITY - NUMBER AVAILABLE (1-10)
So this is almost exactly the same as my Twisted Trunk write-up, so it makes sense that the rating be the same. Steamhorse purposefully limits its number of beers, primarily because they like to focus on the taste and also because the owner/brewers/managers operate three distinct breweries. That being said, they do have a dozen or so distinct beers from which to choose, as they often offer taps from their sister breweries. I give the beer quantity regarding number of beers available a SIX (6/10).
BEER VARIETALS - NUMBER OF TYPES AVAILABLE (1-10)
The good news is that although they offer a limited number of choices within each type, Twisted Trunk does offer a number of different types from which to choose. For that, I do give them props for having choices. I give the beer varietals regarding the number of types available a SIX (6/10).
ATMOSPHERE (1-20)
A great atmosphere here, and the fact that this little gem is hidden in an industrial warehouse section of town is amazing. My only nick is parking. This place was very much a bar, and operates best when it was crowded. Table service is offered as the bartenders constantly roam the seated areas to take empties, take orders, clean and just otherwise be friendly. A food hall is on the same block, so food is readily available. I give the atmosphere a NINETEEN (19/20).
SERVICE (1-20)
Service is amazing. I give the service an TWENTY (20/20).
MISCELLANEOUS (1-20)
This place is a bar that you would want to be, but is always welcoming and homey even when extremely busy. With trivia night, sip-and-paint and excellent local bands they have a lot to offer a variety of customers. The beers are more than reasonably priced, as I am always surprised at how low the bill is when I receive it. The only markdown is that they are closed on Mondays. I'll give this miscellaneous rating a NINETEEN (19/20).
OVERALL (100)
Doing simple mathematics, Twisted Trunk rates 88 (out of 100). This places it first (to date) in my rankings.
RANKINGS
1. Twisted Trunk Brewing - Palm Beach Gardens, FL - 88
1. Steamhorse Brewing - West Palm Beach, FL - 88
3. Infinite Ale Works - Ocala, FL - 77
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