Thursday 27th of October 2016 03:08:39 PM

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It started out as a joke.

On duty in Afghanistan, Scott decided to create a fictitious brewery to keep his mind busy….and off the idea of being shot at during the day.

After he got home, (Safely) he went on a fishing trip to Nina Moose Lake…but mis-read the name.

And Ninja Moose Brewing was born.

In little Hamilton, Missouri (1800 folk) 15 minutes off Instate 35, wife Persimmon & I saw the sign. Since we were taking a year to see the country….parts of the country NOT bordering the Interstate, we made an immediate right to explore.

Certainly glad we did!

Running a small, 5-barrel system, Dr. Falke (Ph.D, thank you very much!) has 12 beers (12??? — yep!) ranging from an IPA (very drinkable and not so hopped up it burns your mouth) to an exciting Tripel, Amber, Abbey Strong, 2 Stouts and an Apple Pie Cider that would have cider lovers clambering for glass after glass.

Careful though! It’s 5%…at least one of the patrons told us, “One glass of this and I’m over the moon.”

OK. But for us, the 9% ABV Stout, Abbey Strong and Tripel never made a dent….at least, not as far as we could determine. The alcohol never interfered with the taste of those beers.

In fact, in this little brewery…out of a dozen beers, we did not care for only one.

Now let’s talk about the food.

They don’t have any….but every restaurant in town will deliver whatever your heart desires; from up-town cuisine to Subway sandwiches.

Then there is the atmosphere. Nice people, considerate - respectful - happy to be where they are - not in a rush.

Perfect.

Maybe it has to do with the brewery’s “rules;”
1 Treat others as you would like to be treated
2 This is a community gathering place. Do your part to help maintain a family friendly atmosphere
3 No pig snatchers, turtle racers, snakes without leases or
cure-all salesmen allowed
4 Please don’t let alcohol get the best of you. Drink with
moderation
5 Please refrain from yelling or cursing. Engage in polite
conversation
6 No flavorless beer
7 Being polite is never a bad idea

How about that?

And if you still don’t get it, there is a sign on the front door;
“This taproom is not a bar. If you’re looking for a loud,
smokey, rowdy environment full of drunk people cursing
like sailors, this is not the place. THIS is a craft beer
taproom with a friendly, laid-back atmosphere.”

It sure was.

And we made sure to thank Scott for his beer and his attitude…and what do you suppose we got in return?

“Oh! Thank you so much! No one comes back here (into the brew room) to thank me. It means everything to me, to know that I’m making good beer and making people happy.”

Wow.

There just is no other word to describe this amazing experience.

Do not….I repeat, DO NOT pass up this little jewel in the beer “necklace” if ever you are in Missouri.

And dammit, thank Scott.