Cop-brewed beer in a robber’s hideout.

A century and a half ago, Jesse James used a cave in Eastern Nebraska as one of his hideouts.

Fast forward to the present. The cave, called appropriately enough as Robber’s Cave, is now the home of a brewing company with roots in law enforcement.

Old Jesse must be rolling in his grave. If he wasn’t, he’d pop right on up and head over to Blue Blood Brewing Company for a pint of their fantastic beer.

Founded in December 2011 by a couple of guys with a love for craft beer, including former Lincoln Police Officer Brian Podwinski, Blue Blood’s mission is to use beer to bring people together. Mission accomplished.

Blue Blood has the kind of beers that would make even the worst outlaws lay down their arms in exchange for a cold one. Their selection of year round brews, known as the Usual Suspects, is headlined by Wicked Snout Farmhouse Ale, a pleasantly complex and hardworking Saison, and Kompagnon (pronounced “companion”) Kolsch, a clear pale ale dedicated to police dogs and crime-fighting canines everywhere.

They also have a selection of seasonal beers, including Two Gun Triticale Brown Ale, an autumn brew made with a wheat-rye hybrid, and the summer exclusive 6-4-3 Double Play Pilsner, a light and refreshing lager perfect for the dog days.

The beer is great, and it’s even better because it has the perfect partner: a delicious taproom food menu. The Charred Brussels Sprouts with candied bacon grumbles, shaved gruyere and Okhrana Imperial Stout gastrique will satisfy even the pickiest eaters who always swear they hate Brussels sprouts. And don’t miss the award-winning Brews & Qs Smoked Pork Sliders with Fat Boy’s BBQ sauce, bourbon-pickled jalepenos, provolone and ale-battered onion straws.

If you’re trying to track down a place in Lincoln that has great beer and great food, call off the bloodhounds. You’ve found it. It’s Blue Blood Brewing Co. 

In fact, go ahead and bring your bloodhounds along. Dogs are allowed on Blue Blood's patio, and you can even buy  in the taproom or from the in-house Beer Paws machine.