Otto's - State College, PA

Date of dining experience(s): July 1, 2016 and July 2, 2016

Place: Otto's Pub and Brewery

Location: 2235 N. Atherton St. in State College, PA

Appetizer (July 1): Asian Sesame Boneless Chicken Wings ($7) - 6 oz. of boneless wings tossed in your choice of sauce, served with bleu cheese and celery. The Asian Sesame sauce was on the weekly specials menu. Naturally, I had to try it. The wings themselves were very good, but I didn't care for the sauce. I will be trying other sauces on different visits.

Appetizer (July 2): Scotch Egg ($4) - A hard-boiled egg wrapped in Hogs Galore sage pork sausage, then breaded and fried golden brown; served with a side of Roger's almost-famous sweet-hot mustard. This was a very good Scotch Egg, easily shareable, with the most sausage of any that I've had. Yes, I have had Scotch Egg dishes, two or three other times. Some restaurants call them Scottish Eggs.

Entree (July 1): Weekly Feature - Grilled Arctic Char with Farro Pilaf ($20) - Sustainable Icelandic Arctic char, grilled and served over a farro wheat pilaf with charred tomato vinaigrette and a side of the vegetable of the day (which was a mix of sauteed broccoli, squash, zucchini, and onions). I do love fish dishes and this one was no exception. I have had Arctic Char once before, at one of the Osage Beach restaurants, and I think I paid around $36 for a slightly smaller portion. I guess it pays off to be closer to the coast! Arctic Char is a very good fish. It is light like Tilapia, but much more flavorful.

Entree (July 2): Chicken Breast Mac'n'Cheese ($16) - Fasta radiatori pasta with Amish sharp and smoked cheddar cheeses, bacon, and heavy cream, topped with seasoned bread crumbs. This pasta is great! I absolutely believe this is the best restaurant mac'n'cheese I have ever had. I'm not sure if it's the Amish cheeses or the heavy cream, but it works! Delicious!

Beer Samples (July 1):
1. Pennsylvania Triple Ale - Belgian-style ale brewed with Pennsylvania apples, malt, and honey. (ABV 7.0%)
2. Maibock - An amber-colored Spring bock. Nicely malty character with a good hop flavor. (ABV 6.1%)
3. Arthur's Best Bitter - A British-style ale. This traditional style is served on the hand pump, emphasizing its floral aroma and citrus flavor. Hopped in the kettle and then dry-hopped with Cascade. (ABV 5.1%)
4. Spruce Creek Lager - This refreshing American lager has a malty, smooth character and low hop bitterness. (ABV 4.7%)
5. Apricot Wheat - An American Wheat Ale. Golden amber with the delicate aroma and flavor of Apricot. (ABV 4.7%)
6. Red Mo - An American red ale brewed with Nugget hops for the bittering and then late-hopped with Liberty hops. Very malty and crisp. (ABV 5.0%)
7. Black Mo Stout - A dry Irish stout served via Nitrogen. Black Mo is very smooth and creamy with pleasant roasted malt character. (ABV 5.1%)
8. Mt. Nittany Pale Ale - An American pale ale brewed with Cascade hops and hop-backed with Citra. A real refresher with a spicy, cirtrus aroma and a slightly nutty malt flavor. (ABV 5.0%)
9. Slab Cabin IPA - A classic American IPA with lots of floral punch and assertive hop presence. Brewed with Nugget and Amarillo hops, and colored to a reddish hue thanks to Munich and Aromatic malts. (ABV 6.3%)

Beers (July 2):
1. Pennsylvania Triple Ale (12 oz.) - see above.
2. Maibock (16 oz.) - see above.

If you are ever in State College, whether staying the night or just passing through on your way to somewhere else, I highly recommend you stop and eat at Otto's. You will not be disappointed.

Try it out for yourself and let me know what you think! Enjoy!