We spent an evening exploring three Tulsa breweries “tapas- style.” This was an especially refreshing and effervescent (wink, wink) project for me because I’m typically not a beer drinker. So, when I like a particular beer—I really like it. The recent surge in Tulsa breweries has enlivened the social scene and I wanted to check them out on my own “brewery tour.”

This particular Saturday, my hubby and I started off at Heirloom Rustic Ales. I had been before in the spring for a craft show and I’d been looking forward to going back there. I’m drawn to Heirloom’s ambience because unlike the darker, brick interior, sports bar feel of a typical brewery, it has a bright interior and a decor that has both feminine and masculine features (like the decor but also the big screen TV where sports was playing). I also observed that the crowd seemed more multi-age to me. Rather than just a youngish crowd, I think the ambience also attracts middle-agers like us. Authenticity speaks volumes. While selecting which beers I would sample, the menu entertained us! Written in clever and rich descriptions, I immediately inquired about the writer. Beer titles (like wine bottle labels) are great marketing tools and work on customers like me. So, obviously, I gravitated toward the beer called Gypsy Friends and asked which other one I should try. Based on my preferences, the “beerista” suggested Cult Jam.  My customized flight was perfect for me—concentrating on two 5 ounce choices; quality not quantity. As the menu says, “Gypsy Friends —a dry, effervescent saison that gets dry hopped singularly with Hallertau Blanc. This beer reminds us of getting rescued on rafts made of hay bales, island fishing with lemongrass, and candles made of ponderosa pine sap.”  I LOVE IT!!! An intellectual vibe. The island fishing detail put me into a vacation feeling right here in the middle of a hot Tulsa summer.

The other description I’ll cite from the menu was for the other beer I sampled, “Cult Jam-A basic barley recipe fermented by a sluggish tropical yeast and dry-hopped with current vintage Azaca and Citra.  This batch reminds us of a dream where Bartlett pear trees morphed into Panamanian red passionfruit, motorized boats on lake Keystone were sugar spun into guava sails on a balmy dreamsicle sea, and construction cones transformed into lychee heavy snow cone shacks.” NAILED IT! Ironically, I had conversations about Lake Keystone this week and I believe in signs so….(I know we’re talking about beer but, still, I pay attention to signs….) It was like having a spiritual connection to the beer descriptions.

I learned great info from the impressive staff.  Zac shared, ” We have beers that people don’t typically have on tap–we focus on the complexity and subtleties, obscure beers, lager and saison-forward.” I asked about  “saison” and he explained that it’s a farmer, old world style beer. Gypsy Friends beer is better when there’s age on it, IPA has a 7 day turn around, and lager , etc…(can’t make out my notes on that one). I learned that they have hosted a Thursday Think and Drink lecture and discussion group. (with a paleontologist) I also like that they have craft shows in the adjacent space which is the brewery. The food truck outside was from the Belgian Wirwar but we weren’t hungry, yet.

Next stop was Welltown Brewery.  The night before our brewery tour, we drove past Welltown and its huge balcony. What a magnetic vibe that was–reminding me of Kansas City rooftop bars and their appeal. Since summer daylight hours last longer, I wanted to try out Welltown to stretch out our afternoon leisure and lingering. Before our beer expert friends joined us there, Patrick and I played several rounds of Gin Rummy–a dejavu of our beach time in Greece decades before. We started off on the balcony where there are outdoor games, moved inside to the board games and ran into some friends of ours who were playing the boardgame Battle of the Sexes. I sampled an IPA and the Tart Blackberry Sour--again, just sticking to two beers. The game atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon was perfect for us. Instead of the former running around to events for our three sons over the last 23 years, we were actually playing card games and I was drinking beer and speaking with “beeristas”. Our Saturday morning of Farmers Marketing, exercise, yard work and a few house chores was done—and we were playing board games (like kids on a playdate) and I was day-drinking beer on a balcony….and we weren’t even on vacation! The IPA was perfect and the tart beer was interesting to try–quite an explosion of flavors. I bought tacos from the food truck outside.

Our friends met up with us and we moved onto American Solera. Also, a great spot for being outdoors as well as indoors, Solera is a frequent brewery stop of ours. Being in midtown now, and not downtown, we were closer to home. It’s kind of a neighborhood brewery for us that we have even walked to on our route. The beer served in wine goblets is a bonus for me because I feel like I’m drinking a white wine. Now, they serve their beer in a variety of glasses.   

I’ve had several favorites at Solera but that night I tried Rose Colored Sky and had a sip of my friend’s Turpey Citra. Solera has a great vibe–reminiscent of European towns. We ran into more peers there and people-watched a procession of biker couples attend a concert inside The Shrine next door. We ran into more friends having a pre-dinner drink on their way to Dalesandro’s across the street and we’ve even gone over to Mercury Lounge before after American Solera.

It’s a great corner. We still felt like we were  downtown as the skyline was right in front of us, sitting outside on the picnic tables surrounded by barrels.                                                                   I’m always intrigued by the cyclists who gather here. Exercise + beer afterwards. We’ve done it before, too, after a hike at Turkey Mountain. Our friends bought a calzone and pizza from the food truck on the property. I do love those pizzas from that truck. Highly recommended!

So, that was our brewery tour. It began at 4:00 ish p.m. and ended at 8:00 p.m. It was a casual and care-free afternoon and a departure for us from our usual, “get dressed up and go have a big dinner with wine and friends” and a great way to support local. It was also nice to add many new favorites to my typical favorite beer, Marshall’s Sundown Wheat.

photos by Gina