Fifty West Brewing Company
Once known as “The Loneliest Road in America,” the famous coast-to-coast journey along U.S. Route 50 takes about 43 hours, starting in Ocean City, Maryland, and ending in West Sacramento, California. It crosses 12 states with mountain, desert, and Great Plains scenery. Fifty West Brewing Company is a stop along the route. However, our planned destination for the evening was their second location in the heart of the District at Deerfield Residence. The brewery offers a variety of seasonal outdoor activities, including volleyball, pickleball, cycling, canoeing, and ice skating, providing options for fun both in the sun and snow.
Inside, guests gathered around community tables, stools, and the microbus. Most of the people on the bus were kids, but some adults were there too. When we arrived at the bar, the man next to us kindly moved his wife’s belongings one seat over to make space. She soon returned from her trip to pick up hamburgers from the carry-out window at the front of the building, where an attached tent provides extra seating. I didn’t think much of it as she unpacked the smashed, unappetizing burgers from a brown paper bag until later, when we ordered pretzels that were raw inside and inedible. It was surprising because, when we visited the Wooster Pike location with some friends, the food was hot, fresh, and delicious.
Fifty West doesn’t offer flights, but they serve as many individual beer samples as you like. Sticking with the traditional flight of four, we chose an American lager, a white ale called Doom Pedal, an IPA called West Coast Indian Pale Ale, and a Scottish Ale named Going Plaid. My husband and I shared the experience, discussing our impressions of aromas, appearance, and flavors. Unlike most craft breweries, there are no descriptions telling customers what to expect, and the traditional chalkboard listing new flavors has been replaced with a lighted sign. But like many microbreweries, they offer year-round and seasonal beers in cans, along with crowler and growler fills. Sampling the four, the draft American Lager was very clear and pale. It’s a light-bodied, sparkling, refreshing, and well-balanced beer. Fifty West’s white ale, Doom Pedal, is gold-colored, has a clean aroma, and is highly carbonated. It’s a very drinkable, medium-bodied, hoppy beer with a dry, citrusy finish. Also known as Witbier, the Belgian term for “white beer,” white ale is a spiced wheat-based brew. The third sample, West Coast Indian Pale Ale, is medium amber, highly carbonated, with a grapefruit aroma, citrus flavor, and a delightful aftertaste. The last of the four, the chestnut-brown Scottish Ale called Going Plaid, is a full-bodied, hearty beer with a balanced, rich flavor.
Additional lager samples included Done and Dunkel Lager, a light brown, slightly hazy, creamy, medium-bodied, and pleasantly bitter beer. Roadster, a Vienna lager, is brown, hoppier than an American lager, very tasty, and full-bodied. A conversation with the bartender revealed that Vienna Lager’s hops are imported from Vienna and toasted, which gives the beer a dark color and rich flavor. Finally, Headlight Lager, an American light lager, didn’t taste like a typical light lager. The name suggests this beer is lighter than the American Lager; maybe the folks at Fifty West have a playful sense of humor. According to the signage, their American Lager has 4.5% alcohol, while their Headlight Lager, an American Light Lager, has 5%. It’s medium to full-bodied, darker (gold), and heavier than the regular lager. Although it has a clean aroma, the taste is yeasty and slightly bitter. It’s a thick beer that leaves a lingering aftertaste and doesn’t meet the expectations associated with a lager, especially a light lager.
Poor acoustics, rising noise levels, and an overheated building prompted us to move to the tent area. The sense of open space started to feel more like a traffic jam as we jostled for room among running children, one of whom carried a large plastic sword. As adorable and friendly as he was, the tiny samurai needed his parents’ help to learn to be respectful of others. In a corner at the front of the tent, near an opening that let in cool, fresh air, a man commented on the heat and asked if we had mentioned it to management. Although it seemed odd that management would need prompting to notice the rising indoor temperature, we told him we hadn’t, and he said he would speak to someone, but it didn’t matter at that point because our visit had ended.
