The Big Apple, Chatta-boogie, Hot-lanta and home, sweet, home

We went to New York for my birthday and a few beers were had, of course:  

Wednesday, 4/15 - Before a Broadway show we had a drink at The Perfect Pint nearby and I had a Gun Hill Brewing (Bronx, NY) IPA.  We returned their after the show and I had a classic Smithwick's red ale since we were getting our Irish on a bit

Thursday, 4/14 - I had a Rare Vos red ale from Ommegang Brewing (NY) sitting outdoors at Lafayette Restaurant

You gotta love NYC street art

I had a Belgian IPA from Sixpoint Brewing (Brooklyn) at AOA Bar and Grill while watching the Preds get a playoff road win in Anaheim.

4/15/16 - Inside the crown of The Statue of Liberty...who knew they were windows??

I had a Metropolis Lager from Speakeasy Ale and Lagers (San Francisco) at Vandal Restaurant with some late night dining.

The Tribeca Film Festival was the main goal of the trip and it paid off in aces with tons of stars to see live including the lovely Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones fame.

With a huge moon hanging over The Big Apple tonight, we were back at AOA Sports Bar and Grill watching the Preds in the playoffs again (another road win!).  I had a Back in Black IPA and a Down to Earth session IPA both of which were from 21st Amendment Brewing (San Francisco)

4/15 - I had a Mother's Milk stout from Keegan Ales (NY) at One Mix Bar atop the Freedom Tower with some tremendous views.

More Tribeca beauty with the stunning Katie Holmes.  This gal never did much for me on screen, but seeing her in real life made me a believer.  

4/16 - I had a Long Trail Brewing's (VT) English-style IPA at Yankee Stadium where the boys in pinstripes lost to Seattle.  Perfect weather for a pint in the bleachers.

So close to perfection...three of my favorite things in the world...the legend, Christopher Walken, Nicole Kidman's legs (guess that makes it four things) and the hilarious Jason Bateman.  This would have been heaven if they only served good beer!

Back in Tennessee for my actual birthday and enjoyed a few cold ones here and there to celebrate: 

4/19 - I had a Yee-Haw Brewing's (Johnson City, TN) Pale Ale at the Tivoli Theater for a Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals show that was really good.

4/20 - My actual birthday brew with lunch at the Brewhaus was a Bloody IPA from McHale's Brewhouse there in Chattanooga (I need to go check this place out next time I am in town!)

We moved on to Atlanta to close out the birthday celebration:  

4/24 -   I had a Little Boy imperial IPA and the Jittery Chris coffee brown ale made in-house at Hop Alley in Alpharetta, Georgia before a Van Morrison show.  I finished with a guest tap and the Dark Cloud lager from Mother Earth Brewing (NC).

4/25 - We stopped back in Chattanooga on the way home and had lunch at Clyde's on Main where I had a 3 Star Pale Ale from Chattanooga Brewing.

4/27 - I saw the rather-amazing new version of The Jungle Book in IMAX with my pal, Wayne tonight and had dinner at Homegrown Tap Room beforehand and had a couple half-pints with my meal including the Saffron IPA from Mantra Artisan Ales (Franklin, TN) and the 7th Street Wheat ale from NOLA Brewing (New Orleans)

5/1 - Back in Chattanooga at Bluewater Grille for brunch where I had a couple of Big River Brewing beers including their Maibock and an Iron Horse Stout.

5/3 - Preds 2nd Round Playoffs - Game 3 - I went to Party Fowl for dinner with Wayne  and had the Lovebird hefeweizen from Jackalope Brewing next door, and then their own Party Fowl IPA made for them by Mantra Artisian Ales over in Franklin.  At the game, which was an awesome 4-1 beat-down of the San Jose Sharks to get us back in the series, I had a pint can of Big Mamie pale ale from Narrangansett Brewing (RI).

5/4 - Poker night!!  It took a while (2 in the morning to be exact), but I finally secured this season's win in my local poker club and have now won a seat to the 2016 $10K WSOP Main Event in July!!!  I had some good beer to help me get through the long night including: Headwaters Pale Ale  from Victory Brewing (PA), the 4 Hop IPA from Rogue Ales and Spirits (OR), and Mad Anthony's APA from Erie (PA) Brewing.

5/5 - Preds 2nd Round Playoffs - Game 4 - Triple overtime win that added up to be the longest game in franchise history.  Dinner before at The Slider House with my pal, Wayne, where I had a Long Day Lager from Red Hare Brewing (Atlanta).  I had a couple pints of their IPA at Czann's to secure some valuable free parking downtown for the game.  At the game I had a Dos Perros brown ale from Nashville's Yazoo Brewing (while it was Cinco de Mayo)


5/6 - We went and saw Captain America: Civil War in IMAX tonight and stopped at The Homegrown Taproom beforehand for dinner and a couple of half-pints for me including an Electric Peel IPA from Magic Hat Brewing (VT) and a Baby Got Black dark ale from Saw Work Brewing in Knoxville.

5/9 - Preds 2nd Round Playoffs - Game 6 - It was another overtime win with two come from behind efforts at 0-2 and 2-3 tonight.  This team is amazing!    I had dinner at Tennessee Brew Works with Wayne beforehand.  Had their Walk the Lime pale wheat ale which was excellent.  It was another historic night as the Preds as they moved deeper into the playoffs than ever before for the franchise and a historic night in beer for me as I move to over 1,000 check-ins on UNTAPPD.  Less than 100 away from a 1,000 distinct check-ins.

5/10 - I tried some bar-league poker at The Beer Sellar tonight (got 3rd place out of 9 folks playing).  I had three beers while I was there including a Gotta Bet Up to Get Down milk stout from Wiseacre Brewing (Memphis), an ESB from Green Man Brewing (Asheville, NC) and not my first by far but finally checked in on UNTAPPD, a Weinstephaner Original lager from Freising Bayern in Germany.

5/12 - Well, the exciting Preds season ended with a loud thud tonight as they got blanked at San Jose 0-5 to close out the series.  Still a great year and a great beer to wash my sorrows away:  a Top Rope IPA pint can from Tallgrass Brewing (KS) (this was some of my birthday beer bought at Whole Foods in Chattanooga with a gift card from bro- and sis-in-law.  Thanks, guys!)  Better luck and see ya next year, boys!

sad, but true...