The Firehouse Brewing Company, South Dakota’s first brew pub, is the creation of a group of Rapid City locals who developed the idea of creating an onsite microbrewery after frequenting one of Denver’s downtown pubs. The idea was to return the building’s interior to its original fire-hall glory with the added feature of a brewery visible from behind glass enclosures. The new decor included polished brass and fire fighting equipment to adorn the walls, the bar, and even the ceiling. The Group of partners walked in the door on the evening of September 3, 1991 with sledge hammers and crow bars in hand. The project, now a part of history, was completed 93 days later.
The Firehouse Brewing Company opened its doors to an eager throng of patrons on December 5th, 1991. Today the Firehouse is a favorite with locals and tourists alike and features a brewery, an indoor restaurant and bar, an outdoor patio complete with band-shell for live music, a winery a mercantile, and sports bar.
Best of a mediocre bunch at the Firehouse. Clear, deep golden color, thick white head, solid lacing. Aroma of pine and grass. Taste is balanced bitterness with decent body.
Tap @ Brewpub: Dark brown pour with a modest tan head. The aroma is a blend of roasty malts and dark chocolate. Hints of coffee. Tastes balanced with light smoke, roast, bittersweet chocolate, and espresso. Retains a sneaky amount of sweetness for a dry stout. Nice.
Tap @ Brewpub: Pours a clear golden color with a smaller sandy head. Nose is mild, but citrusy and some caramel. Tastes crisp with florals and citrus, light caramel. The bitters stand out better here than in the Red. Not bad.
Tap @ Brewpub: Pours a dark copper/amber color with a modest beige head. Mild nose is fairly sweet. Tastes malty and has some light florals. A little caramel. Sweet fruity yeast pokes through. Not something I’d have again.
Tap @ brewpub: Cloudy pale yellow with a mountain of white head. Nose is mildly sweet, hints at malt and grass. Tastes wheaty enough with more grass and a malty sweetness. Not bad, just really light and mild.
Probably the stand-out beer here - black pour - frothy, lasting tan head - pretty dang sweet for a dry stout - bittersweet aroma with some vanilla cream, chocolate, anise, roast - creamy mouthfeel - a little bitter black malt up front - quite a bit of cream sweetness through the middle and finish - a light bit of roast and anise - lingering, bittersweet finish - a decent stout.
Draft at brewpub - a fairly lackluster, overly sweet bitter - a lot of residual sugar and adjunct-y (corn syrup-like) sweetness - some toasted/burnt grains and faint earthy hops - not so much bitter at the end as it is acidic - a little metallic on the tail end - boring.
RBSG 2007 Grand Tasting. Clear golden body with a small white head. Sweet sugary caramel aroma. Dry grainy floral hops flavor with some light caramel in the background.