San Clemente Times June 23-29, 2022
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San Clemente Times June 23-29, 2022
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Go.See.Do
Welcome
TO THE SUMMER OF VENI, VIDI, VICI
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ell, folks, we made it to another summer. That can only mean one thing—our biannual Go.See.Do edition is here to help guide you on a season of adventure, sightseeing, and, dare I say, lots of libations. This jam-packed summer guide will have you clamoring for fun around our beautiful South Orange County, as well as craving some delectable milkshakes on a sunny afternoon. Regarding the latter, our team of reporters went through the trouble of tasting a handful of chocolate, vanilla and specialty milkshakes at some of the area’s local staples. It was some tough work, but we were happy to try the various options if it meant letting you, the reader, know where to find the best milkshakes. With so many summer concerts on the horizon, we took a look at the country music scene that’s particularly popular in San Juan Capistrano. There, you’ll find
some popular venues that feature great local acts for you to enjoy. Also, for those who are maybe considering day trips to other nearby towns, you’ll want to check out our piece on visiting the City of Oceanside, just a short trip down the 5 Freeway. We explore some of the popular eateries and bars, as well as family-friendly happenings in the town. And I did mention libations? First, we highlight the plethora of craft breweries that have called the towns of Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, and— more prominently—San Clemente their homes. Then we take you aboard the trolley for a trip around the three towns, as we embark on a Trolley Crawl. This day-drinker’s guide shows you which stops have all the best bars and offers tips on how to best utilize the free summertime trolley service. Time to turn that page and read about all the ways that you can turn this Go.See.Do into a summer of Veni, Vidi, Vici.
Taking a Hop, Skip, and Jump to Oceanside for a Day
San Clemente Times June 23-29, 2022
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Go.See.Do Just down the I-5 from San Clemente, Oceanside offers a litany of sights, shops, and sand that would make any day trip there well worth it. Photos: C. Jayden Smith
Taking a Hop, Skip, and Jump to Oceanside for a Day By C. Jayden Smith
San Clemente Times June 23-29, 2022
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he cities of Dana Point and San Clemente are among a litany of “Beach Cities” that deservedly receive significant attention, but the diverse City of Oceanside is another that should be on the list. If you’re a fan of hitching up the wagons to take a day trip and explore new places— and willing to sit through Interstate 5 traffic—the O-side is the place for you! “Oceanside is bursting with creativity and innovation on all levels, from dining and craft beverages to arts, culture, shopping and adventure,” said Visit Oceanside CEO Leslee Gaul. “Our renaissance over the past decade has been done in a way that is true to Oceanside’s personality and roots; we’ve done our best to ensure that our unique past and heritage is woven into the exciting experiences happening here.” Depending on your arrival time, a quality coffee can serve as a good pick-meup to get the day started, or a good snack can keep it moving. Either way, the Brown Cup Cafe is a good option among many in town to stop. Owners Roger and Vilai Thavarajah have operated the business for about
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six years, prioritizing the creation of an atmosphere that makes people feel appreciated and are full of conversation. “You can buy coffee anywhere,” Roger said, but he added that he does whatever he can to make people comfortable. Comfortable, worn-in chairs and sofas dot the restaurant, complemented with classic board games and plenty of books to read. Customer favorites include the vanilla honey cinnamon latte, among other creative specialty drinks, and the avocado toast. For lunch or dinner, The Lab Collaborative is quickly emerging on the food scene as a highly rated spot to grab eccentric and modern American food, in addition to a bevy of alcoholic drinks. Jack Everett, owner of The Lab and an Oceanside resident, said he feels the restaurant fits right into what the town is all about, as part of a revitalized downtown that has seen small businesses coexist with larger brands. Besides taking some time to visit Oceanside’s beaches or the pier, which is always a good idea, the city offers numerous ways to enjoy your free time. Just a few hundred feet from the shore on Mission Avenue, shopping for a water-adjacent lifestyle and new local restaurants abound. If you’re ever in town on a Thursday
night, be sure to stop by the Sunset Market, which runs from 5-9 p.m., and features more than 100 food and retail vendors. The market has been full of life since it started in 2006. “What’s special about it is, it’s not your typical farmers market,” said Kim Heim, the director of Special Projects for Main Street Oceanside. “In fact, it’s not a farmers market at all. What it is, is a weekly event that was designed to serve as a weekly get-together for everybody in Oceanside.” Hundreds of thousands of people visit every year, according to Heim, and the food vendors, especially, span a wide range of cultures, including Danish, Filipino, Kenyan, Thai, and Vietnamese. One more tidbit: If you are anything like me, in that you love to view nice homes, hop back in your car, take a drive around the city, and make your way into the hills!
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Go.See.Do
Those Down-Home Tunes Country Music Thrives in San Juan Capistrano
Hillbilly Crutch Band recently played at Swallow’s Inn for the first time. The San Juan Capistrano bar is a popular venue for local country music fans to dance to swinging western tunes. Photo: Courtesy of Connie Hamon
By Collin Breaux t was a Sunday afternoon in April when Hillbilly Crutch Band played at Swallow’s Inn for the first time. The Sunset Beach-based country band had been building some buzz in South Orange County after playing at Mugs Away Saloon in Laguna Niguel, which singer and rhythm guitarist Ryan Archer said is a reason they were able to book the Swallow’s Inn show. “It was a bit surreal,” Archer said of what it was like playing at the popular San Juan Capistrano watering hole for the first time. “It’s kind of like walking back in time. There was line dancing. It was a lot of fun.” The Hillbilly Crutch Band show is one example of how country music concerts are a regular occurrence at Swallow’s Inn, which has become an epicenter for local country fans who want to enjoy live music. On any given night at Swallow’s, you’re likely to see cowboy hats and Western boots—and to hear earthy crooning and have a good time. The audience members who attended that April show shook hands with the band members and thanked them for the performance afterward, Archer said. San Juan Capistrano is a “little hidden country gem,” Archer said. Swallow’s “keeps it around,” he said of the local country fandom. As for Hillbilly Crutch Band, the country and western act started years ago. The members have been in other bands, and gradually came together after casually talking with each other. “We definitely play the old-time outlaw classic country,” Archer said. “We do have a little bit of an edge to us.” Along with country, the band also has bluegrass and even cowpunk touches. Fans at their shows tend to be older country fans, which Archer figures is because those people grew up listening to classic country. “I would definitely love for a younger crowd to come in, too,” Archer said. “We get some
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of them.” For more information on Hillbilly Crutch Band, check them out on Instagram @hilbillycrutch and YouTube. If you’re curious about upcoming country concerts at Swallow’s Inn, visit the bar’s website at swallowsinn.com to see who’s playing next. MUSIC IN THE PARK On the other side of town, another place to check out country concerts in San Juan Capistrano is the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. The country music festival MissionFest is usually held once a year at the park, and Jon Pardi also performed at the outdoor site earlier this year. Clint Black will play at the park in July. “Since we started MissionFest back in 2018, it’s kind of evolved into more of a country music scene out here in San Juan,” said John Iavarone, who organizes and promotes the park’s country events. “San Juan is a huge country town. It’s certainly embedded into our town and the surrounding area.” The concerts at the park have been popular over the years, and people have “embraced the great names” who have played at the wideopen site off Ortega Highway, Iavarone said. “When I first started thinking about doing concerts here and bringing shows here, it seems you always have to go somewhere else to do something extraordinary, but we live in an extraordinary place with extraordinary facilities,” he said. Iavarone attributed part of the reason big country shows are scheduled at the park to entertainment company TAG Events, which works behind the scenes to make MissionFest and other concerts a reality at the park. “What I’ve found about country music is people love to dance to it,” Iavarone said. “If you go to Swallow’s, there’s people dancing all night long.” For up-to-date information on who’s playing at the park next and when, check out sanjuanoutpost.com. sanclementetimes.com
Go.See.Do
Shake Shakedown The
Judging the Best Milkshakes in South Orange County
San Clemente Times June 23-29, 2022
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Go.See.Do
By Breeana Greenberg
Always a classic summer treat, milkshakes are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth and celebrate the summer. Picket Fence Media staff tried some of the best spots to get especially tasty shakes in our tri-city area of South Orange County. For each review, we sampled the restaurants’ classic vanilla and chocolate shakes and gave a rating based on a scale of 1 to 5. To set each restaurant apart, we also tried their unique or most popular shake. Not all shakes are made with real ice cream, but we found those that were to be extra tasty.
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In-N-Out
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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Always reliable and consistent, In-N-Out served as a great control with which to compare each local restaurant’s shakes. In-N-Out offers chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry shakes, as well as the Neapolitan option of getting a mixture of the three flavors. Across the board, In-N-Out’s vanilla, chocolate and Neapolitan shakes earned an average overall score of 3 out of 5 from the staff. In-N-Out’s shakes are consistently rich and thick, but have noticeably subtler flavors. Its shakes are made with real ice cream, giving it the rich and creamy flavor. As for the Neapolitan, it was not well-blended, so one tastes each of the chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavors separately, while drinking the shake. t
The Stand
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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO The Stand offers shake specials, as well as the traditional strawberry, chocolate and vanilla favors. When we visited, the shakes on special were Mint Cookies N’ Cream, Cookies N’ Cream and Cookie Butter Crunch. Depending on the location, the shakes are made with vanilla ice cream or vanilla soft serve. Overall, we gave The Stand’s vanilla shake a 2 out of 5, its chocolate shake a 3 out of 5, and its specialty shake, the Cookie Butter Crunch, a 3 out of 5. All of The Stand’s shakes had a thick consistency, though the vanilla and chocolate shakes lacked strong flavor. The Cookie Butter Crunch was a favorite, as it was especially rich and flavorful. The specialty shake truly tasted like cookie dough, and the crushed Biscoff cookies added a satisfying crunch, though they were difficult to drink through a straw. San Clemente Times June 23-29, 2022
Biggie’s Burgers
SAN CLEMENTE Biggie’s offers vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, Oreo and Neapolitan shakes. We rated Biggie’s vanilla shake a 2 out of 5, its chocolate shake a 2 out of 5, and its Oreo shake a 3 out of 5. The vanilla shake was runny, not very thick, which gave the impression that we were drinking milk and not a shake. Though the chocolate shake was notably thicker, similar to the vanilla, its flavor was subtle. The Oreo shake was well-blended, so the fragments of Oreo cookies in the shake didn’t just feel like a topping. Both the Oreo and chocolate shakes were notably thicker than the vanilla, but none of the shakes we tasted was very rich.
Harbor House Café
DANA POINT The Harbor House Café offers both malts and shakes, served in a classic, large metal shake cup topped with whipped cream. Harbor House shakes are made with real ice cream and your choice from a selection of toppings: Oreo cookie bits, blueberries, chocolate, pineapple, strawberry, dates, peaches, pecans, banana, vanilla, butterscotch, peanut butter, orange juice or coconut. Harbor House was by far a favorite. Overall, we rated Harbor House’s vanilla shake a perfect 5 out of 5, while giving its chocolate shake a 4 out of 5, and its Oreo shake a 4 out of 5. Each of the shakes was thick, rich, and flavorful. They truly tasted as if they were made with real ice cream. The quality of Harbor House’s shakes set them apart. Our top-rated shake, Harbor House’s vanilla, was a perfect milkshake, pure ice cream flavor, very rich and thick. Page 19
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Go.See.Do
TOURING THE FAMOUS
WESTERN WHITE HOUSE
By C. Jayden Smith
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s part of the 26th annual Newport Beach Garden Tour and Summer Garden Party, the home of former President Richard Nixon is available for a virtual garden tour. The video tour of the Western White House, also known as La Casa Pacifica, originally premiered on Mother’s Day, and will be available throughout the summer. Viewers will be able to see numerous gardens on the nearly six-acre property, which features various microclimates that allow for a wide range of plants to grow. An English-style garden, a koi pond and koi garden, a garden within an inner courtyard,
and a culinary garden are among the flora that span the estate. The plants include a Monterey cypress, which can often be found along the Pacific coast from Central California to Washington, tender vegetables, hydrangeas, and other unique species. The operators of the garden tour event hope that each tour can be educational for the viewers, as well as entertaining. Seeing the many beautiful plants on the grounds of the Western White House may serve as inspiration for people to use to construct how they want their own homes and gardens to look. The Newport Beach Garden Tour grand finale will be the in-person Summer Garden Party on Aug. 27, at Sherman Gardens from 4-7 p.m., which will include numerous attractions. Tickets for the Virtual Garden Tour are $25 for members and $35 for non-members, and tickets for both the tour and party are $60 for members and $80 for non-members. Visit thesherman.org or call 949.673.2261 for more information or to purchase tickets.
The former San Clemente home of President Richard Nixon, La Casa Pacifica, is one of three locations that can be viewed virtually as part of the 26th annual Newport Beach Garden Tour and Summer Garden Party. Photo: Courtesy of Beverly Morgan/Sherman Library and Gardens. Historic photos: National Archives Catalog
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Go.See.Do
All Aboard
The
Crawl
the Trolley Crawl
SAN CLEMENTE
A day-drinker’s guide to planning the perfect bar hop in South County By Shawn Raymundo he sun is shining brightly in South Orange County, and the summertime trolleys are humming along our streets in Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. That means free and safe access for visitors and residents to explore the many bars, breweries and watering holes throughout our three towns. For those of us who enjoy a bit of day drinking on a sunny summer afternoon but don’t know where to start, well, no fear, as I’ve compiled a list of some great local hotspots that just so happen to be within walking distance of all the trolley stops. So, gather some friends and hop aboard your nearest trolley to embark on this allday excursion.
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SAFETY FIRST I first want to stress that everyone in your boarding party should drink responsibly and at their own pace. Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the trip to stay hydrated, and snack on appetizers along the way—remember the old adage, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.” Though you’ll largely be indoors and under shade, nobody wants to be a drunken crab by the end of the day if you end up at mostly outdoor establishments, so apply some sunscreen. TIME MANAGEMENT Saturdays are going to be your best day to check the most bars off the list, as the trolleys in all three cities begin operating a 10 a.m., running till 10 p.m. in Dana Point and San Clemente and 9 p.m. in San Juan. Timing and a general understanding of the route schedules are going to be key. San Juan’s trolley is a on 20-minute rotation, while Dana Point and San Clemente’s trolleys arrive at stops about every 15 minutes. Admittedly, the list of spots I’ve compiled is quite extensive, and it’s unlikely any group will stop at every place. As much as you’re in control of how long to stay at a bar, you’re always going to be at the mercy of San Clemente Times June 23-29, 2022
Avenida Del Mar & Ola Vista Beachfire Bar & Grill; Avila’s El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant; San Clemente Wine Company u San Clemente Pier Fisherman’s Restaurant & Bar u Avenida Del Mar & Ole Vista H.H. Cotton’s u E l Camino Real & Avenida Del Mar/Avenida Palizada Pizza Port San Clemente u El Camino Real & El Portal La Siesta Mexican Restaurant u El Camino Real & Calle de Los Molinos Shwack Cantina; Knuckleheads Sports Bar & Grill; Los Molinos Beer; Mulligans Sports Bar u San Clemente Metrolink Landers Liquor Bar u O utlets at San Clemente (Switch to Blue Line) Asada Cantina + Kitchen u Camino Mira Costa & Camino de Estrella Transfer to Dana Point Trolley u
PFM Managing Editor Shawn Raymundo embarks on a Trolley Crawl around South Orange County with friends Gabriel Mendoza and Grisel Rodriguez on June 4. Photo: Courtesy of Grisel Rodriguez
the trolleys’ rotation schedule. If you’re taking a run-n-gun approach, pick your spots carefully, have an idea of how long you want to stay at each bar, and keep track of the trolleys en route to your nearest stop. MAPPING IT OUT Each city offers its own Trolley Tracker app for smartphones, and I strongly suggest downloading them ahead of your Crawl. Maps of the trolleys can also be found at each of the cities’ websites or aboard the actual trolleys themselves. Based on my own experience, having recently embarked on such a crawl with friends, it’s important to know which trolley you’re boarding. San Clemente has two lines—a Red Line and a Blue Line. Dana Point also has two lines—a North Line and a South Line. For our Trolley Crawl, we only used Dana Point’s South Line to keep the trip simple. Dana Point’s South and North Lines converge in the Lantern District—this is where you’re going to want to keep your wits about you and cognizant enough to read the signs. A handful of the stops, namely along Del Prado Avenue, are mere yards away
from each other, but some are marked for the North Line and others are marked for the South Line. If you’re trying to jump on the South Line, don’t stand next to a stop labeled with an N, followed by a number, or vice versa—don’t stand by a stop labeled with an S, followed by a number, if looking to board the North Line. Dana Point’s trolley is also the unofficial hub of the South County trolley system. There are four stops throughout the city that offer transfers to the trolleys for San Clemente and San Juan, and if you’re so inclined, Laguna Beach and Laguna Niguel. For this guide, I’ve limited it to just our three South County towns. DESTINATIONS With all of that in mind, the next step for your group is just to decide which bars you’d like to visit the most. Each spot I’ve chosen is within a few feet from the stops, or within a short walking distance. San Juan Capistrano’s bars are largely concentrated in its downtown corridor, so once you arrive there, you’ll have a buffet of options to explore. Honestly, one could just enjoy a bar hop in Downtown San Juan on any given day or evening. Similarly, many of Dana Point ’s popular eateries and bars are located around the Lantern District and the Harbor. You could bounce around to several of the spots without the trolley while you’re in the area. As a San Clemente resident, I started my Trolley Crawl in Downtown San Clemente, as outlined in the list. It’s certainly not a rule to start there, so feel free to begin wherever you and your friends feel most comfortable and reverse the order of spots as you see fit. Hoppy trails, my friends! I hope this guide is helpful and gives you and your friends a fun, new experience to enjoy down here! Page 21
DANA POINT Coast Highway Sunsets Bar; Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant u Doheny Village/Doheny Park Road Pepi’s Sports Bar & Grill u Stonehill Drive & Del Obispo Transfer to San Juan Trolley u
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Mission San Juan Ramen Shack; Rooftop Bar; Swallow’s Inn; Trevor’s at the Tracks; Five Vines; Paddy’s Station; Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria & Tap Room u El Adobe Plaza El Adobe de Capistrano u Stonehill Drive & Del Obispo Transfer to Back to Dana Point Trolley u
BACK TO DANA POINT Golden Lantern & PCH (La Plaza Park) Hennessey’s Tavern; Station Craft u Del Prado & Amber Lantern Coastal Kitchen; Dana Point Ale House u Golden Lantern & Del Prado StillWater Spirits & Sounds u Dana Point Harbor Drive & Golden Lantern Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern; Turk’s Dana Wharf u Camino Mira Costa & Camino de Estrella Transfer Back to San Clemente Trolley u
BACK TO SAN CLEMENTE El Camino Real & Calle de Los Molinos La Colombiana u El Camino Real & Avenida Del Mar Artifex Brewing Company u
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Go.See.Do
Craft Beer Bonanza Highlight tour of South Orange County’s large craft brewing scene Docent Brewing
By Zach Cavanagh
Craft brewing has a new Mecca, and it’s just down your street in South Orange County. It doesn’t really matter which street or which town. You’re sure to find a hops haven in all corners of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano or Rancho Mission Viejo. From the Harbor to Del Mar to the Mission, there are grog grottos aplenty. Here, we’ll highlight the breweries themselves. That’s not to cast aside the number of establishments that serve local brews, such as the newly minted Dana Point Ale House or the tucked-away Brewhouse in San Juan Capistrano. Let’s take a swing around the craft brewing scene in South Orange County. SAN CLEMENTE • Artifex Brewing | 919 Calle Amanecer, Suite A • Artifex on Del Mar | 98 Avenida Del Mar Either of Artifex’s locations can serve up one of their bevy of popular brews with numerous IPAs and other ales. Always eye-catching is the Unicorn Juice, an American wheat ale with hand-picked passion fruit. • Delahunt Brewing Co. | 1011 Calle Recodo While relatively new, Delahunt has spread quickly around SoCal. The brewery recently won an award at the World Beer Cup for its De La Sol American-style cream ale. • Left Coast Brewing | 1245 Puerta Del Sol For nearly two decades, Left Coast has produced topnotch beer in San Clemente. Among its iconic brews is the Trestles IPA, which is light-bodied, clean and pleasantly hoppy. • Los Molinos Beer Co. | 151 Calle de Los Molinos The newest brew on the block is Los Molinos, which just opened its doors in April. There are four seltzers and 13
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beers on tap, including the locally named Surf Ghetto Lager. • Lost Winds Brewing Company | 924 Calle Negocio, Suite C Like its name alludes to, Lost Winds puts the local in “local brews.” Lost Winds took home gold at the World Beer Cup for its Beach Hopppin’ Hoppy Pale Ale, an Australian-style pale ale. • Pizza Port | 301 N. El Camino Real Not only one of the best places for a slice or pie in town, Pizza Port doles out quality grog. Pizza Port also took home a gold at the World Beer Cup for San Clemente’s Dusk ’til Dawn imperial coffee porter. Honorable Mention: • Drift Distillery | 940 Calle Amanecer, Suite K Not only can you find craft beer in South Orange County, but craft spirits are also making waves. Check out Drift’s new release of single barrel wheat whiskey.
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Go.See.Do
Frisby Winery & Brewing
DANA POINT
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
• F risby Cellars Tasting Room | 34673 Golden Lantern While this Frisby location focuses on the brand’s wine offerings, there are two beers on tap, with a rotating selection. • Station Craft | 34150 Pacific Coast Highway Station Craft is the way to go for in-town brewing in Dana Point with a wide variety of in-house brews from the 3.8% ABV Drinks such as a Fish English bitter to the 11.5% ABV Deepest Sea imperial stout.
• Capistrano Brewing Co. | 31721 Camino Capistrano Paired with the mouth-watering Heritage Barbecue, Capistrano Brewing Co. offers other SoCal brews along with two of its own—the Don Juan Blonde ale and the Ysidora Pico IPA. • Docent Brewing | 33049 Calle Aviador, Suite C “San Juan Capistrano’s Public House” was one of the major pioneers of craft brewing in South Orange County. Give a look to the award-winning Double Nickels pale ale or the Super Tonic oatmeal coffee stout. • The Dog Pawrk Brewing Company | 27122 Paseo Espada, Suite 904 Have some hops with your hound at the Dog Pawrk Brewing Company. Take the leap with Tad and Nathan’s Most Excellent Adventure Vol. 1, a barrel-aged triple chocolate stout.
RANCHO MISSION VIEJO • F risby Winery & Brewing | 28522 & 28526 Airoso Street After a decade of craft wines, Frisby Cellars has made the splash into craft brewing. Grab a taste of its newest selections: the Hilltop Honey blonde or the Amber Waves amber ale.
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Station Craft
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