REVIEW, PHOTOS: BaseLine Tap House Elevates Writer’s Stop Offerings

    We made it out to BaseLine Tap House this morning to try out the new small plates and drinks location at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. While the small plates were the same look as Writer’s Stop, the quality of ingredients used was definitely better.

    Theming

    Themed to an old printing company, BaseLine Tap House is, at its core, a laid-back bar with some solid food and drink options.

    The interior includes some fun nods to the old Writer’s Stop, with “Writers Stop” spelled out in the shelving.

    Nods to Walt Disney exist as well, including a castle with his name under it and “Carolwood”.

    There are also some really cool prints on the walls.

     

    Food

    Spiced Almonds – $6.00

    House-made Sweet and Spicy Toasted Almonds

    We really liked these almonds. Dusted with a cajun spice, each bite packs a kick that is equal parts flavorful and heat. The almonds themselves are soft and pair well with the drinks on offer. A very nice dish.

    Bavarian Pretzel – $9.00

    with Beer Cheese Fondue and Spicy Mustard

    A large pretzel comes out with two dips. We definitely gravitated to the beer cheese sauce as the mustard proved to be fairly standard. If you get the charcuterie board, definitely venture out and use the spicy mustard. The pretzel is above Park quality with a butter undertone that was a nice surprise to the monotony of normal pretzels. It was also fresh which again, beats the carts outside.

    California Cheese and Charcuterie – $10.00

    Toma Farmstead Cheese, Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese, Laura Chenel’s Sonoma Goat Cheese, Chorizo and Calabrese Salami, Cornichons, Grapes and Toasted Baguettes

    The chefs and Disney put a lot of effort into this plate. They focused on specific cheeses that they could source from California and would ensure the quality was up to a Disney standard. The whole plate turned out to be a good choice. From the chorizo and salami on to the blue cheese, it was a good dish.

    I will expand a bit on some of the cheeses because a few stood out above the crowd. First, the blue cheese was excellent. I’m not a huge blue cheese person, but this packed a wonderful flavor into a bite that wasn’t as sharp as normal.

    Next up is the goat cheese. An aging process of 9-14 days and natural draining allows it to retain as much moisture as possible. A pumpkin seasoning is added to the exterior of the cheese wheel and was a nice, subtle addition.

    Drinks

    Create-Your-Own Beer Flight – $10.50

    Napa Smith Lost Dog Red Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Lagunitas IPA, Stone Delicious IPA

    Let’s work left-to-right as pictured below and listed above.

    Napa Smith Lost Dog Red Ale – We liked this ale. It offered plenty of flavor and would be one of a few that we would get in a larger pour on a return visit.

    Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – While the beer rates well, I felt that it offered little in the way of taste, but maybe that was because it followed the Lost Dog in line.

    Lagunitas IPA –  Another beer that rated well. Made with 43 different hops, and 65 various malts, it can get a little bitter towards the end.

    Stone Delicious IPA – With hints of citrus, it ended up being the lingering bitterness that stuck out with this beer.

    Golden Road 329 Lager, North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner, Anchor Meyer Lemon Lager, Golden Road Hefeweizen

    Golden Road 329 Lager – A good, inoffensive lager that is meant to be crisp and easy to drink. Goes well with most everything.

    North Coast Scrimshaw Pilsner – Really lacked any distinctive flavoring, earning a pass.

    Anchor Meyer Lemon Lager – A nice fullness of flavor in a light offering that we enjoyed.

    Golden Road Hefeweizen – A nice fruity beer that stuck to the palate.

     

    Green Flash Passion Fruit Kicker Wheat Ale (22oz) – $9.50

    A sweet, flavorful beer that was nice for those in the group who enjoy a fruitier option.

    California Sunset – $11.25

    Absolut Berri Açaí Vodka, Southern Comfort, Orange Juice, Sweet-and-Sour with a float of Pomegranate Juice

    This proved to be my favorite drink at BaseLine Tap House. Citrus through and through, it’s a dangerous drink due to the lack of vodka flavoring and how great it tastes.

    Negroni – $11.25

    Hendrick’s Gin, Campari and Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth

    By far the strongest drink that we tried. This ended up being an unenjoyable offering due to the strength of alcohol.

    Overall

    So what are our initial thoughts on BaseLine Tap House? It’s a leap forward from the Writer’s Stop offerings, and is a wonderful spot to spend a relaxing hour. To be honest, the atmosphere of the area is probably more in-line with Disney Springs than a Disney park, but we think it’ll be a popular venue moving forward and hope the quality of the food and drinks continue.

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