Venue Review - GEO-82

Wow, this was a hard reservation to get. Disney adults must be excited to drink with no kids. I haven’t had to stalk a reservation this hard unless it’s ‘Ohana on a holiday for years! When I had to give up my first reservation due to an emergency, a kind cast member was unable to find me a replacement at any time in the future. Luckily, a few days later, I was able to grab a last-minute resy that someone must have dropped.

GEO-82 is the new hotness. At least until we get The Beak and Barrel in the Magic Kingdom. As a Disney fan, the draw of GEO-82 is to share some sips inside Spaceship Earth, as one looks towards the World Showcase. And let’s be honest, this is an idea that should have been stumbled upon a while ago, it’s easy money. 

Spaceship Earth Vibes

GEO-82 is located right at the back of Spaceship Earth. As a guest, it’s easy to see the windows that look out onto the gardens behind Spaceship Earth. But it’s also a little bit difficult to find. The entrance is in the exit for Spaceship Earth…well, one of the exits, with the entrance on the World Discovery side. One will find a fairly indistinct hallway that then leads to a small desk and the beginning of theming. From this check-in area, one is taken to a lobby up a set of stairs that is highly themed with images and homages to the history of Spaceship Earth. Also at this stop, a guest is handed a cool lavender-scented towel, which is refreshing and delightful. It begins to feel like a high-end experience as one cools off with their towel (I apologized to the server who took mine away) and soaks in the vibes of comfy seating and golden Spaceship Earth tiles. Yes, the tiles inside are gold to pay tribute to the original Spaceship Earth plans.

The lounge is not large, with comfortable seating for small groups. There is a handful of seating types between the windows looking out towards the World Showcase and the bar. Everyone will want seats next to the windows, seats that have been reserved for fireworks views at night. But everyone can see out towards the greeny and the showcase from inside. We would like to come back at night, perhaps for a fireworks experience, which will require us to sell blood or take out a medium-sized loan. 

“Peach Shrub Whisky Smash”

My sipping companion doesn’t like drinks that taste of pure alcohol, are overly sour, or super bitter. So I was worried that we wouldn't find something that she would enjoy. At the server’s recommendation, she got a “Peach Shrub Whisky Smash” advertised as Toki Suntory Whisky, Lustau Amontillado Sherry, Peach and Mint Shrub, and Bubbles. Luckily for her, the whiskey was hidden by a gentle sourness and gave her something she could enjoy. I did worry that the specialty cocktails would all be options that she would find off-putting, but the bottles displayed behind the bar made it clear to me that they could likely make her a cocktail from scratch if nothing on the menu was pleasing to her. 

The Shapeship Earth Ice of the “Brown Butter Old-Fashioned”

I dove into bourbon. First, I grabbed the “Brown Butter Old-Fashioned” consisting of Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon, Brown Butter, Maple, and Hella Cocktail Co. Mexican Chocolate Bitters. I don’t see myself as someone who stands in fields and finds heather and leather notes in whiskey. No, I’m the guy who likes Bourbon because its barrels can make a nice temporary home for dark beers and I want to be reminded of that boozy sweetness. I found this old-fashioned to have a nice little whiskey burn balanced out by the sweetness of the brown butter and bitters, with a nice sweet chocolate note. I think the maple helped tame the beast also, but I didn’t walk away saying, “oh yeah, that maple was nice!” It was a very nice old-fashioned, and maybe my second favorite on Disney property after “The Tempting Tigress” at the Nomad Lounge.

Disney Select Bourbon Flight

Second, yes, there was a second; I treated myself to an experience. This is likely a once in a lifetime for me. I may get the old-fashioned again, but I can’t support myself routinely spending $49 on 8 ounces of bourbon. I mean, I didn’t even get tones of vanilla and aisne or stone fruits (which I generally have to Google). But I treated myself to the Exclusive Disney Select Bourbon Flight. It is an experience as you try different presentations of the same liquor. My server said that the “Stagg Private Barrel” is the favorite of the bourbon fans, with me calling it spicy, which means alcohol burny. And I imagine that this spiciness is what real bourbon fans really dig. I preferred the “Uncle Nearest Single Barrel” which I found to be the smoothest. The “Blanton’s Gold Single Barrel” scratched a to drink off my bucket list since Blanton’s and my favorite bourbon, “Buffalo Trace” are very similar. But I didn’t need to get up and chase an allocated bottle. Finally, I found the “Woodford Reserve Private Barrell” to be tastier than I expected, as I don’t drink a lot of Woodford bourbons, which made me rethink that choice. Honestly, I’m glad I did this once, as I don’t often get to sip from private or select barrels; it’s just not an experience I think I would duplicate anytime soon.

We do need to be clear, these cocktails are pricey. But they are also in line with the experience that you are having, the location you are sitting, and the view provided. One just needs to be prepared for the expense.

I did notice behind the bar three different bottles of different-aged Pappy Van Winkle bourbons. I mean for the three of us who watched Secret Wars on Disney+, this is how we drink like Nick Fury. It’s also an unicorn bottle of bourbon for many sippers, a liquid I have never sampled myself. I texted a friend who thinks he’s a bourbon guy, asking what bottle he would still be chasing. He immediately stated, Pappy. So I did ask the server what a sample of Pappy would cost and if it’s available. The resounding answer was yes, I mean Disney has always been willing to take Disney adult money. I was told based on the age, it would cost $150 to $400 for two ounces. That is a pretty steep pricetag, but I also think it’s fair for what I have seen other bourbon bars that I have been at sell a sample from the bottle.

Funghi Flatbeard

There are five small bites on the menu. Some of them are not to my tastes. It does sound like the chef’s selection of cheeses or meats, can we just call it charcuterie, is the item that will fill larger parties and picky eaters. We grabbed the Funghi Flatbeard, which was such good mushroomy goodness. But, like with many things at GEO-82, it’s a $15 price tag for a few bites when split between two. But it is so so good if you like mushrooms!

Beer, why would you come here for beer? It’s an honest question. Beer is nothing special, and in fact, a handful of beers that one can find throughout Walt Disney World, including Yuengling's “Traditional Lager” and Lexington’s “Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale” which just don’t feel like special brews for such a high-end, highly desired reservation.


Who Drinks Here? Disney adults who love Epcot and want to feel classy while sipping high-end cocktails without the pressure and presence of children drink here. Those guests with a reservation have to want a cocktail to get the most out of the experience, as beer is much cheaper and more interesting outside of GEO-82. I can see visiting again for an anniversary or special event, which should only be shared with adults, but I don’t see GEO-82 as my go-to location.

Beer Review - Blantons Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout

 

"Blanton Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout"

Let’s use a cliche!

If there is one fan of Goose Island’s “Bourbon County Stout” it’s me. If there are no fans, I am dead! “Bourbon County Stout”, which you can get nearly everywhere in the fall, is the beer that really started my fascination with beer and Imperial Stouts that have been aged in barrels. But they are expensive to make with higher ingredient costs, smaller batches, and longer brew times. These are expensive beers that have lower profit margins, so I was resigned to the fact that maybe one would show up at a festival since these beers scare some drinkers. Or hey, I can live with the mass-produced, “Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale.” I mean I’m not drinking it at home, but sometimes a barrel is a barrel. But find my unicorns on Disney property, I don’t think so.

I walked into Polite Pig and saw it. “Blantons Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout” was the pricey seasonal on tap. It cost more, and it was a smaller pour (it always is because these are higher ABV), and it called my name.

I confidently walked up and ordered this tulip of beer. The server looked at me approvingly, like there’s a bold drinker. Or maybe it was, hey we can finally move some of this. I joked about taking some home, she started to tell me I could but then made a comment about “opening it” which made me think it was canned or bottled instead of being on tap. What a world! A craft made Imperial Stout on Disney property. I was living the dream.

“Blantons Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout” by Ravenous Pig Brewing Company, the Polite Pig’s sibling brewery, is an 11% ABV and 46 IBU imperial stout. It was brewed and then placed into Blanton’s bourbon barrels to live and soak up the character of wood and remains of the bourbon qualities of the Blanton’s that was born there. I have to use “Bourbon County Stout” as my comparison. It is definitely more bitter than the Goose Island original releases of the last two years, and I enjoy that sweetness found in the original barrel-aged imperial stout. The hop bitters lead the taste, with some oak from the barrel, giving me more dryness than sweetness in this dark-colored liquid elixir. It reminds me of a hoppy Surly “Darkness” variant I had a few years ago that was a special one-time keg. I was surprised I could find a quality imperial on property and found it fit well with my lunch.

A Winning Lunch!

That being said, no one else in my group wanted to touch it. They all wanted beer-colored beer or mixed drinks.

But me, I was surprised by a location that I already had a high opinion of because I was able to order something I never expected to see. That’s a magical Disney Springs type of day! 

Who Drinks This? Me! I think if you are someone who enjoys “Bourbon County Stout” you should grab one while it’s there to compare how it hits your palate. Who knows how long it will be on menu? In Central Florida, imperial stouts tend to linger on menus longer than what I have seen in the Midwest as those drinkers tend to view these as very special releases. Despite the care put into these beers, I am well aware that the price, style, dark malty color, and even flavor for some can be an obstacle. This is not a candy bar of an imperial stout. But it is a nice representation of what you can do with a category of beer that “Bourbon County Stout” created.

Beer Review - Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

“I’ve never bought a beer in America before!”

My buddy was sincere. The awesome thing about Epcot’s World Showcase is there are so many food and drink options, that pints that seem familiar are ones that you can skip. And unless it’s a quick sandwich from Regal Eagle, like my buddy, I often skip over The American Adventure.

While wandering with our families, my buddy wanted a drink. At that moment, Block & Hans Fine American Ale was right beside us on the walkway in Epcot’s The American Adventure. He saw the phrase Bourbon Barrel and he wanted a try. So we each grabbed a caramel-colored draft from the list of six craft beers. Among the six there were beers like Orange Blossom Brewing’s “Orange Blossom Pilsner”, 3 Daughters Brewing’s Beach Blonde Ale, and Golden Road Brewing's’ “Mango Cart Wheat Ale” which can all generally be found in other locations within Walt Disney World. You could get a flight. But nothing here overlay screamed special beer.

Let me get back to the beer I grabbed. Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company’s “ Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale” is an 8.2% ABV and 19 IBU Strong Ale. The beer has some sweet caramelly tones from the combination of the style and the time spent aging in a bourbon barrel. The flavor is not overly strong, it does not hit you with whiskey tones. But it feels like it has been kissed lightly by time aging in a barrel after brewing. Honestly, it’s easy to drink, with the 8.2% ABV also not becoming apparent as I was willing to have another. It’s definitely better for me than a lager as the barrel and style impart just a tad more flavor.

I do chuckle. As “Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale” was over a decade for me a beer that I gave a 5 rating to on Untapped. Today, I give it a 3.0 rating. The reason today is that it is professionally made and meets my expectations of a Strong Ale. It is tasty. But it’s also not a game-changer that I would ever seek out intentionally when there are still so many great beers out in the wild. I would like to see the barrel be more pronounced to raise my rating. Just remember, your opinions can and will change.

Strong Ale is a beer that is as it says, strong. It is an ABV of more than 5%. But let’s be honest, so many craft beers are now over 5. So really you are looking at 7 to 11% ABV. A barleywine (meh) and old ale (which I more strongly equate to strong ale due to its sweetness). But a Strong Ale with some sweetness in the brew is fantastic after living in a barrel. But I really do look for the Old Ale callout to know that the beer has some sweet tones on its own.

“Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale” is a year-long beer that you will likely find in any market. Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company is a Lexington, Kentucky-based brewery and distillery that has been around for over 20 years. This brew has been sold since 2006, and in a chaotic beer market that is some staying power. Often with barrel-aged beer, the source of the barrel is a big selling point. Here, I assume they are using their own barrels from spirits that they make in-house. So no special statement is made about the barrels. I’d assume that the used barrel is from the Town Branch label that Lexington Brewing and Distilling bottles.

Who Drink This? I mean, for those who are wandering right next to Block & Hans, this is the beer I’d likely select from the list of widely available beers. But in most cases, I would keep wandering to another pavilion to try something more difficult to obtain outside of Epcot. If you want to begin to play with a barrel-aged brew, this is a good starting point. It has sweetness and it's not overwhelming in barrel character. So it’s a fine place to start. I’m a barrel-aged beer Disney adult. But for me, I want to have a more pronounced barrel character.