A Brewery in the Middle of Nowhere: Gravity BrewWorks in Big Flat, AR

Has anyone ever heard of Gravity BrewWorks? Neither have I, until recently. We go camping, hiking, biking, etc. a lot around the Mountain View area, which is in a dry county. We have some friends that drive from Stone County to Baxter County, which is a wet county, to get their regular dose of beer. They told us about Gravity BrewWorks and how much they love it, so we checked it out.

About 30 minutes from Mountain View, on Highway 14 East in Big Flat, you will find Gravity BrewWorks This is a small “nanobrewery” that opened in November of 2013. One of the owners used to be the head brewer at Vino’s in Little Rock. They focus on a small number of house-brewed batches, which allows them to really focus and make sure these are great beers.

THE ENVIRONMENT

In the middle of Nowheresville, you will find this very nice brewery. The large sign out from makes it hard to miss.

The inside is open and modernly decorated. There is a bar up front and tables with some games to play throughout the rest of the room.

There is even a large, clean bathroom for when you break the seal.

The people that work there couldn’t be more kind. Two ladies were working this day and both were very helpful. They offered us samples of each beer, answered any questions we had, and just made easy small talk with everyone there. We felt immediately right at home here.
There were some locals enjoying a beer while we were here, as well. They were very kind and easy to talk to, as well. It was a very nice, homey environment. Just right for a brewery, in my opinion.

THE BREWS

On the day we stopped by, there were four brews on tap, all of which we got to sample.
1. Falling Star ESB (5%)- This is an English-style ale that was lighter than the others, but pretty bitter. Spoiler alert: We got some of this one in a growler.
2. Blacker Shade of Ale (5.3%) – You guessed it, this was a dark beer. It was full of deep, rich flavors. A great sipping beer, but one I wouldn’t get a growler of. (I am not a huge fan of dark beer)
3. Hoppy Together IRA (6%)- This Indian Red Ale was a nice hoppy beer without being overly hoppy. It still had depth and flavors that I enjoyed, even though I am not a hops fan.
4. Bel Hop Belgian IPA (6.3%)- This was hoppy! That is all I could taste and I am NOT a fan of hops. If you are, you will love this beer!

The prices were surprisingly affordable as well…much cheaper than many Little Rock Breweries we frequent.  Each beer is labeled with a letter, which shows you how much it costs on the menu. With all options of pints ranging from $4.25- $5.75, that is pretty great price-wise, especially for a brewery with no near competition.

We decided to purchase a couple of their 32 oz quart bottles for $3 a piece. We got the Falling Star in one and the Hoppy Together IRA in another.  I was happy to see 32 oz bottles available. I would never have been able to drink a 64 oz of either of these brews before it went flat. So, the 32 oz is a nice option to have on hand when going to any brewery.

If you want to stop by, their tasting room is open Thursday- Saturday, 12-8pm.

 

 

Food Review: Rock N’ Java is More Than Rocks and Coffee

I have driven past this “Rock N’ Java” shop multiple times. Whether we were heading to the Buffalo River or Branson, this shop always appeared to be a regular ole’ rock shop that happened to have coffee for sale, too. No thanks.
Then, on the way home from camping at the Buffalo this weekend, I was craving some good coffee. Besides gas stations, there aren’t many options around these parts of Arkansas for any coffee, so I decided to give this place a shot. And I kicked myself all the way back to my car when I realized what I have been missing out on for so many years!

A few miles south of Marshall, Arkansas, on Hwy 65, is where you can find this gem of a coffee shop, with a great view to go with it.

While it is a rock shop, it is unlike any rock shop I have encountered. Yes, it sells tons of cool rocks, but much more than that.  There were some local artists’ fare for sale, such as clay pottery and plenty of other unique finds. AND they not only sell ligit coffee, but food as well.

The inside is super fun and eclectic. This shop reminds of a few of the family-owned shops in small mountain towns in Colorado….hippies included.

When first entering, the super friendly barista was talking to a couple other young customers about the area. She then turned her full attention to us to answer any questions we had.
She suggested a simple latte with any flavor for me and an iced pomegranate green tea with mulled fruit mixed in for Drew.
She. nailed. it.
My 12 oz white chocolate latte for $2.99 truly hit the spot. She even asked what type of milk I preferred, so I got skim. Though, I’m sure soy or almond or whatever else kind of milk you prefer is available. Anyway, it was delicious.
Drew’s iced green tea stole the show, though. Placed in a large 32 oz styrofoam cup to go, it was full of ice, mulled fruit, and a delicious, flavorful, fruity green tea. Plus, it was only $3.29…can’t beat that.

There were just a handful of food options, which I opted out of since I had just finished a freeze-dried meal for breakfast. However, omelets and hash brown casserole were available for “breakfast all day”.
There was also a lunch special of a bbq sandwich, chips, and mac’n’cheese for $5.49. Also available was a grilled cheese and tomato soup.
Finally, there was also a case full of sweets, such as cookies and other pastries. I behaved myself and abstained….but next time, I’m not sure I’ll be able to pass the food up.

Overall, I’m so glad we stopped by this place. It will definitely be a must-stop-shop from now on. Give it a try and let me know if there is anything else delicious you enjoyed there!