LEHIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA
Rustic RED CASTLE BREWERY, an interestingly decked-out Medieval-themed, Polish-influenced restaurant-brewery located in the perfect rural spot across Lehighton’s imposing mountain range abutting the Lehigh River, benefits from busy crossroad traffic, well-priced authentic Eastern European cuisine and easy drinkin’ homemade brews.
Two small parlor chairs and tables welcome local minions and road-weary beer hounds to the cozy aluminum-topped, plank-wooded shack. Roughhewn planks also bedeck the small maroon-hued one-room interior (with left side private seating) and the 14-stool L-shaped bar serves a few front tables as well as a small side deck.
Six draught handles and one nitro tap adorn the flat-stone designed centerpiece at the bar (along with a Polish-American plaque). Halupki, a cabbage-stuffed pork, rice and spice dish, Haluski (cabbage with noodles and spices), Perogies and Smoked Mac & Cheese went well with the easygoing five original brews on tap this sunny July afternoon, 2017.
Local wines, Kielbasi, gourmet burgers and potato pancakes round out the splendid menu.
For a fruity appetizer, Blueberry Shandy sufficed, with its sweet ‘n sour blueberry tartness receiving lightly vinous green grape esters and teasing cranberry snips above a delicate straw wheat spine.
Soft-toned English pale ale, Smash English Malt, brought raw-honeyed corn malts and mineral grained earthiness to light lemon wisps.
Likable Lancers Lager retained a dryer-than-expected Helles profile as earthen Noble hops gained cigarette tobacco crisping and neutral wheatgrass illusions for its sly citric tones.
Harkening back to English-styled India Pale Ales, Knights Of Mayhem Imperial IPA let malt-smoked Band-Aid astringency and earthen rye graining prosper alongside desiccated orange tartness.
For dessert, laidback Dark Dungeon Coffee Bourbon Stout hit the spot. Sweet bourbon licks affected light-roast coffee, brown chocolate and spiced toffee illusions to contrast sedate hop-charred bittering.
www.redcastlebrewery.com
