Griffin B.
Yelp
Venturing up to Truckee these days, any longtime visitor or resident will notice there are a few changes in the brew scene. Chief among them in recent months has been the addition of The Good Wolf Brewing Co. Finally got around to visiting them a couple times, and I think they are off to an exceptional start, bringing great tastes to the mountain beer community, and with still more great things on the horizon.
They are located on the north end of town in the industrial and warehouse district, an area with several other hidden gems in terms of beer and food. Parking is generally easy and plentiful, but do watch out for vehicles coming and going from the other businesses. Inside the otherwise unassuming exterior, however, you will find a cozy, quirky, if not downright whimsical setup, with moss on the ceilings, tapestries on the walls, and various little trinkets on the shelves that make you feel almost like you've walked into a tavern out of a D&D game. This sense of whimsy is also carried over into their beers, with highly creative names and styles on their menu.
Staring at the Sun is a good, smooth, "juicy" NE IPA with a great hoppiness to it. Spirit Caster, another hazy, is also quite interesting. Golden Wolf, an unfiltered cream ale, makes for very easy drinking, and is one you can easily have several pints of on a hot summer's day. Fur and Teeth is a Russian imperial stout. Creeping up towards 11% ABV, this packs a serious wallop, but also delivers amazingly prominent flavors of chocolate, coconut, and molasses. In truth, it is almost like drinking a candy bar. But what impressed me the most this trip was the Forbidden Temple, an absolutely phenomenal "cherry pie sour". If you go with this option, spring for the optional addition of vanilla syrup in your beer, as this ups some of more subtle hints, and makes it seriously taste like you are enjoying a slice of pie. Definitely one of the more unique beer experiences I can recall.
Price-wise, you are pretty on-par with the other craft beer options in Truckee, with most pints starting around $6-$7 depending on type. Growler fills are available, should you find something you want to take to-go, and the staff say that cans will be available for purchase soon, and there is also some swag options for purchase, too. In regards to the staff, I have nothing but praise for them. The service here has been exceptionally friendly, and it was great getting to chat with them a bit about their company and beer styles.
All in all, I think The Good Wolf is a highly creative and delicious addition to the ever growing beer scene in our region. I am for sure planning to swing by again and run with the pack of already devoted fans of their work.
Cheers, guys!