Japantown Brewing Company

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Since the Fall of 2017, I was enrolled at Auburn University in their Brewing Science & Operations Graduate Certificate program.  Finishing the Summer of 2018, one of the two final projects was a business plan for my future brewery.  In addition to a business plan, an associated marketing video was also required.  This post documents the wonderful marketing video that we put together.  A big thanks to my friends Rick Bacigalupi from Bacipix Productions and Austin Knop, the graphic designer who put the labels together.  I couldn’t have done it without you two!

Japantown Brewing Company Marketing Video

Working on the voice over for the video.

Rick hard at work getting setup for the beer videos.

Dry-running the spin table with the good o’l staple Sierra Nevada Pale.

Rick working his magic with the Sake Bomb JTown Brew cans.

Rick focusing on the Machu Picchu Pale cans.

The finished JTown Brew products.

Products labels designed by Austin Knop for Japantown Brewing Company.

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Brunch at Oakland’s Portal Restaurant

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After running the Hot Chocolate 15k in and around the famous Golden Gate Park, my wife and I decided to leave confines of San Francisco and find a brunch spot that rivals those found in the growing exclusiveness of San Francisco without the 1+ hour wait.  After a lengthy Google search, we discovered Portal in Oakland, shortly off the Lake Merritt BART station.  And we were glad that we did!

Portal Restaurant
1611 2nd Ave
Oakland, CA 94606

 

There wasn’t a lot of parking right around there, but there’s a Lucky store nearby that has a large parking lot, in addition to street parking off of East 18th.

The Portal Restaurant

The Portal Restaurant

Although the restaurant isn’t very large, the menu is quite expansive, capturing all of the sweet or savory taste buds that command you culinary decisions.  Take a look at the brunch menu below, I challenge you to find something that you won’t want to eat or drink….especially with bottomless mimosas and an expansive beer selection.

The Portal Restaurant Menu

The Portal Restaurant Menu

The view of Lake Merritt from the back patio

The view of Lake Merritt from the back patio

Looking back towards the restaurant on the back patio.

Looking back towards the restaurant on the back patio.

The Iron Springs Casey Jones Imperial IPA and Portal Restaurant Menu

The Iron Springs Casey Jones Imperial IPA $6 and Portal Restaurant Menu

The "Corned Beer and Hash" Two eggs any style, $12

The “Corned Beer and Hash” Two eggs any style, $12. Washed down with a Fieldwork Moraine Brett IPA $8.

"The Cowboy" two eggs (Any Style) over grilled polenta, drenched in tomato chili sauce $11

“The Cowboy” two eggs (Any Style) over grilled polenta, drenched in tomato chili sauce $11 with a side of bottomless mimosas $18.

From the great beer selection, like the Iron Springs Brewery Casey Jones Imperial IPA to the salty, beefy goodness of the Corned Beef.  All paths lead to a fantastic brunch.  So kick the concern about your calorie and sodium intake and indulge. After all, you only live once.

Neal’s Ratings:

  • Atmosphere = B
  • Service =  A+
  • Food = A+
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Dinner at Blacklock in London, England

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Blacklock
24 Great Windmill St,
Soho, London W1D 7LG

After shooting some sunset pictures over the historical Parliament building, I wanted to eat at a nice, nearby restaurant.  Doing a quick Google search, I found the chop house Blacklock hidden away on Great Windmill Street.

At first I couldn’t find it, I walked down the street, hit the cross road Brewer Street and turned around only to unknowingly pass it again.  After asking for directions from teh nearby security guard, I eventually found it hidden away underneath the structure above.

Into the restaurant we go! The small, hidden door off of Great Windmill St.

View of the kitchen from downstairs inside of the restaurant.

View of the tables from downstairs inside of the restaurant.

 

Dinner, a little green and a lot of meat. All washed down with a local beer.

Pork belly anyone, yes please!

 

Neal’s Ratings:

  • Atmosphere = A
  • Service =  C+
  • Food = A
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