Hello 2015!...hello low-carb diet for a few months (insert frowny-face)

Dec. 31 - January 3:  We took a quick trip down to New Orleans to ring in the New Year and I also had a few New Beers as well:

We had brunch at the Ole Saint Kitchen and Tap which is owned by former Saints and Ole Miss running back, Deuce McCallister.  I had the Endeavour Double IPA from Saint Arnold Brewing (Houston, TX) and also had their Fancy Lawnmower kolsch.

Walking the streets of NOLA I bought this delish canned beauty of Rebirth Pale Ale by NOLA Brewing in a convenience store.  One of the best perks about The Big Easy is you can walk with an open beer just about anywhere.

January 13, 2015:  Back at home I went and saw the current  # 1 team in the NHL!!, our beloved Preds, vs. the Vancouver Canucks.  It was an impressive 5-1 beat down that I witnessed from my sweet 200 level front row seat in the defend twice zone.  Before the game I had a nice pint of Santa's Private Reserve Ale that my friend, Wayne, gave to me for Christmas.  It was pretty good and is made by Rogue Brewing in Oregon.

# 1 in the NHL!!

January 17 - I attended another Preds game vs. the Washington Capitals with my friends, Mike and Wayne, and we saw the first return of our former and premier coach, Barry Trotz.  We started the game in the nosebleeds in Cell Block 303 for the first period.  But the next two periods we spent in the Renaissance Suite mid-ice!  It was a thrilling 3-2 win with an awesome unassisted goal by James Neal with about a minute left in the game. Thanks, Wayne, for the sweet suite hook-up plus some food and local Yazoo beer beforehand!

Sound the horn!!  Preds score!! Sweet view from the Renaissance Suite!

Mike and I stopped after the game at Bar 308 in East Nashville for a "Mexican Coke" with our friends, Danny and Brenda.  While this blog is dedicated to good beer, this is probably one of my favorite mixed drinks and deserves some recognition.

It's a "Mexican Coke" or the "Papaw" as Bar 308 calls it.  Bourbon, peanuts and Coke in the bottle.

you have a baby?...at a brewery?...I will save mentioning the brewery where I took this pic since it's not their fault that idiots have money too and like to spend it on good beer...despite what's on their to-do list that day...

January 18 - Mike and I stopped at TN Brewworks (it was our 3rd place to try and get a beer downtown, it was quite the busy brewery day in Nashville) where I had a Country Roots stout. Then it was over to the new Honky Tonk Brewing where I had their Brown Ale.  We then met up for dinner at The Field House in East Nashville (with Danny and Brenda again) where I had a High Water dark German lager from the local Little Harpeth Brewing, and an Ananda IPA from Wiseacre Brewing over in Memphis.  It was then on to a Linkin Park concert at the Bridgestone Arena for me and Mike. (Editor's Note:  We were fortunate to catch the show tonight since lead singer Chester Bennington, broke his ankle sometime between our show and the next show the next night in Indianapolis where he performed on crutches before having to cancel the rest of the tour). Here's a little snippet of our fantastic show below:

January 20 - I won entry for two to CMT's "Listen Up" show filming of a live performance by one of my favorite local bands, The Cadillac Three.  Thanks to my friend, Chris, for attending with me since the wife was out of town.  

Show link:  http://www.cmt.com/artists/the-cadillac-three/

Before the show, we had dinner at the always-tasty Slider House which has a tremendous selection of canned craft beer.  I had the Deviant Dale's IPA pint can from Oskar Blue Brewing in Colorado, as well as a pint can of the Threadless IPA from Finch's Brewing in Chicago.

 Livin' large (and tall)  at The Slider House in Nashville!

We had a great balcony view of The Cadillac Three show at a cool (albeit soon to close?) venue called Anthem.  Nonetheless, The boys were on fire and provided a great little show.  Photo by Chris DeGroff.

January 21-24: I took a quick trip out to Las Vegas to play some tournament poker while my honey was on a "ladies-only" cruise in the Caribbean. I opted to stay in the old part of downtown for the first time and got a great rate at the Four Queens Hotel which was perfectly fine.  The best thing about the hotel and casino, however, was the fact that Chicago Brewing is located inside,  After checking in, I headed immediately there for some lunch and a few brews.  I started with the Hardaway IPA and then the Black Widow stout.  Both were impressive.

Winning at video poker and winning at finding great beer at the same time at Chicago Brewing

I took a road-trip the next day out to Death Valley National Park and had lunch at the Corkscrew Saloon which is actually inside the park.  I had one of their "famous" Bad Water Ales which was OK, but not good enough to have another, so I opted for a Samuel Adams Cold Snap wit bier next.   (Editors note/Funny coincidence:  just a few days later, on January 28, I read where the 65-year-old bassist from Black Sabbath got in a fight the Corkscrew and was arrested!! Man, I miss everything!! LOL

Check another national park off the list.  Stark, but beautiful country.

Lowest elevation point in the United States

Walking on the salt flats in Death Valley NP

Photographed out the car window.  I bet some ranger feeds him.  He's pretty fat and not too shy of cars.

The next day back in Vegas before my second ride on the new High Roller Ferris Wheel, I finally got to have a couple beers at the new Yard House on The Strip (it was a Monday night the last time I was here and MNF was on and their wasn't one seat open at the huge bar).  I had shorties (half-pints) of the 60 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head Brewing in Delaware, the Detour Double IPA from Uinta Brewing in Salt Lake City and Hop Juice from Left Coast Brewing over in California.  All were outstanding along with my delish lettuce-wraps that I always get at The Yard House.

Another ride on the High Roller.  This time at sunset with only 3 other people including a hot Aussie bartender and some crazy chick from New York who got cut off from the booze that was included in the ride.  You gotta love Vegas.

My last stop in Las Vegas was at the fairly new Neon Museum and Boneyard where parts of Sin City's colorful history are being collected and slowly restored to their former glory.

What a cool tour this is...especially after dark.

I could sure use this one in my back yard!

Well, it's time to DIET....is it a coincidence the first three letters in this word are DIE!!!??  Ugghh!!  Low carb-ing means no beer for me unfortunately...see ya in a few months...unless I slip up...