Ginger Man

I am constantly trying to expand my horizons.  I used to not really like wine, but I’ve explored my way through to find some wine I really enjoy, and am still learning to appreciate the finer vintages.  I really detest beer, but since hiring Beer Boor to write about beer for the Feisty Foodie, I’ve tried many more beers than I ever thought I’d try in my lifetime.  I mean, with most things, I’ll keep re-trying just to see if I’ll suddenly develop an appreciation for it, but with beer, being that I tend to dislike the taste of the very thing that makes beer, beer, it never seemed like something I would enjoy. 

However, back in November, I attended the Second Annual Foodbuzz Festival, and I discovered a beer that I would happily drink a hot summer day away – Come Hell or High Watermelon by 21st Amendment.  I know this is a girly, fruity beer, but it was really enjoyable and refreshing (and on a really hot summer day at the ballpark, I have been known to throw back a Bud Light or two, though don’t let Beer Boor find out because he’ll certainly tilt his nose up and say, “That’s not beer.”).  I told this to Beer Boor, who filed it away in his head and told me that he would find a beer for me yet. 

So that’s how I found myself at Ginger Man one Friday afternoon, staring at a glass of beer.  “It’s blueberry,” Beer Boor said, almost proudly, like he’d brewed it himself.  I mulled this over in my head.  I don’t have a particular fondness for blueberries.  I don’t like most berries (aside from cherries and strawberries; raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries and blueberries don’t bother), but what the heck, it’s in beer.  The overwhelming aroma of blueberries wafted towards me so I thought it couldn’t be that bad, right?  Well.  It was.  I’m not a beer expert or a certified beer judge like Beer Boor is, but I did not enjoy that and nursed it through the rest of the time I was there. 

But really, I was there to eat lunch, so you want to know about this.  Beer Boor and his friend, in town from NH for Split Thy Skull, split a charcuterie platter – hah, yes, two grown men split the meat plate – which I ignored in favor of my lunch. 

I really wanted a salad, so I ordered one.  The Cobb salad was a decent size, and I found myself making my way through it happily.  The slightly tangy dressing was the perfect amount, the gorgonzola crumbles welcome spikes in flavor to break up any perceived monotony, and there was plenty of bacon that I had to fight Beer Boor from taking.  The tomatoes were a bit mushy and gross, but it was early March, so they were quite out of season and I expected them to be less than amazing.  Overall, though, this was a solid salad, and if you must eat a salad while there, this one does a good job of being as un-salad-like as possible. 

A short while later, though, I was in a nibbly mood.  I’ve been thinking about pretzels since Pony Bar, so I ordered one of their pretzels, with beer cheese as a dipping sauce.  I don’t know what beer cheese is, but it tasted like melted queso that’d been thinned out with beer.  I liked it well enough, but I liked the pretzel even more – soft, with just enough salt, and just the right amount of chew.  I was a very happy girl eating my pretzel, even splitting it with Beer Boor as I did. 

I’ve been to Ginger Man a few times now, and while it can get really crowded after work, it’s empty on Sundays and pretty pleasant during a work day.  Of course, as it got progressively more crowded, I decided to leave the boys up to their own devices, so I avoided a lot of that.  Even at 6ish on a Friday, it was starting to get packed, and full of the kind of people I don’t want to be around, so I made my way out – my continuing beer education to be continued another time. 

Yvo says: Ginger Man has a pleasant atmosphere, and a huge selection of beer that I’m sure Beer Boor can and will elaborate further upon.  With regard to the food, though, it’s nice to find another place that both pays careful attention to its beer menu AND its food menu.  I believe I would be happy with any number of the offerings on the menu… and so, I am sure I will be back, sooner than later. 
recommended