I-P-A RIVER: August 2019

Facebook can be evil in so many ways....

7/26 - "Friday night, it was late, I was walking you home and I was thinking about craft beer..." Isn't that how the Little River Band song, "Reminiscing" goes? Maybe not, but it was Friday night and we were enjoying the pool so I tapped into my variety six-pack I had gotten earlier in the day at Lebanon Wine and Spirits. I started with a Salt Life Lager from Salt Life Beverage LLC (USA?) which I would call BS on actually being a craft brewer, but Abita Brewing (LA) helped out according to the can info, so I will give it a pass. It was still way to close to Budweiser for my taste, but I do like their logo. I finished on a much better note with a After-Sesh Ale from Cigar City Brewing (Tampa).

7/27 - I finished out my variety six-pack on Saturday which was a perfect pool day. I started with a great Ocansey pale ale from Crosstown Brewing in Memphis. This was my first brew from these folks over in Memphis and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to finding more of their creations. Next up was a bottle of the so-so Samuel Adams Rebel Juiced IPA (Boston). Then a very good Kentucky Tequila Barrel Wheat from Lexington Brewing (KY). I finished the day with a nice and light Cerveza lager from Yee-Haw Brewing over in Johnson City, TN.

7/28 - Today was a kind of a weird one as we headed down to Chattanooga to attend a memorial service for Ashlee's great Uncle Bob. He passed recently at the age of 96 and led a full and interesting life. He was an engineer and an inventor including the famous Play-Doh Fun Factory. He worked on the Manhattan Project during WW II as well. He and his immediate family are a bit eccentric, so the service was a little all over the place, but they meant well. Afterwards, we had an early dinner with Paige, Andy and Ella at the always-tasty Edley's BBQ in North Chattanooga where I had a Golden Blackbird Belgian Blonde from local OddStory Brewing. It was terrific as were my brisket tacos! Here's to you, UB!! Cheers!

I finished the day back home with a late-night win online in a NL Hold'em tournament. It was a n unlimited re-buy with 112 other players and I turned an entry-fee and an add-on totaling $6 into about $190 worth of profit. These winnings will be my stake for an upcoming tournament series on Global Poker that I hope to play several events in over the next couple weeks for hopefully even bigger returns. We shall see...

7/30 - Not a big cash with this third place finish today vs. 94 others and unlimited rebuys, but it was still $50+ in profit since I only added on. The most unusual fact about this one is that I started it during work (shhh, don't tell anyone). Sure, there was only 30 minutes left in the work day, but it was still naughty...

8/1 - I couldn't let IPA Day pass without a libation, so Ashlee and I stopped by the Homegrown Tap Room over in Hermitage for dinner on the way to a movie. I started with a decent Westbrook Brewing (SC) IPA. I had a couple sips of Ashlee's interesting Ancient Berry Kombucha from Flying Embers Brewing (CA).

I finished with an excellent Streaker rye IPA from Rhinegeist Brewing (Cincinnati) and I was pretty proud of my check-in on UNTAPPD of it. #FranktheTank

8/2 - We headed back to the mountains today for our annual early-August long weekend. We returned to Bryson City again this year to do some tubing on Deep Creek which we didn't get to do last year due to flood-stages water levels. On the way, I found a pint can of the terrific Dayglow IPA from Elysian Brewing (WA) in a gas station. Open container, open consmainer. Thanks for driving, Ashlee!

A return to Bryson City meant a return to Mountain Layers Brewing where I had the tasty, but grapefruit-juice looking Dragon Tamer NEIPA. It seemed an appropriate choice since we did just complete another drive on The Tail of the Dragon (Highway 129) coming here.

My pal, Charly, and I got a couple of Mountain Layers Brewing crowlers to go and enjoy back at the rental house tonight also. We cracked the Baltic Delight Russian Imperial Stout that was amazingly good. It did not last the night.

Always good to be back in the mountains...with good craft beer....

Another great find and addition to Bryson City is BC Outdoors and more importantly, their impressive Tap Room (Craft Beer Department) next door to their store. I had a half-pint of the solid BPA (Belgium pale ale) from the Hillman Beer Company (Asheville, NC). I also had a couple sips of Charly's choice, the Chuffed To Bits English mild ale from Archetype Brewing which is also in Asheville.

8/3 - After a fun day of tubing on nearby Deep Creek, a few of us were willing to head back out to Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City for a quaff. I had the Dirty Girl Blonde with Strawberries that was OK, but I just didn't taste much of the strawberry infusion. I also had a sip of Charly's Chocolate Covered Cherry Stout that was very good (and better than my choice). I also had a sip of Wayne's Carolina Apple cider that wasn't bad either.

After my beer, it was good to head back out to Juney Whank Falls for another hike and visit. This is on my favorite waterfalls in the area and I thought this reverse panoramic shot was pretty cool. Afterwards we stopped back by the BC Outdoors Tap Room for a few more libations. I had an excellent Soul-vation IPA from Innovation Brewing over in nearby Sylva, NC. I had a sip of Charly's Luchador Mexican Lager from the The Mason Jar Lager Company (NC) that was pretty tasty. I also tasted (and then finished) Wayne's expensive choice of the Lime Agave ginger beer from Ginger's Revenge (Asheville, NC) which he didn't like, but I thought tasted like a kambucha which I have been exploring recently.

8/4 - As we were packing up today and leaving the rental house, I found someone had left some bottles of Mango Wheat from Blue Moon Brewing (CO) from a previous visit. After a half-bottle, I now know why there were left there...mehh. Our next to last stop before leaving North Carolina was a few miles east in the small town of Sylva to the unique, charming and weird Museum of the American House Cat. This one-man creation/collection is amazing and one of my favorite displays was the Super Lucky Cat from Japan holding his Asahi Beer.

Right before we got back into Tennessee, we stopped at the beautiful Tapoco Lodge for lunch and a libation out on the Cheoah River-side patio. I had a great pint of Reward Pale Ale from Boojum Brewing in nearby Waynesville, NC with my awesome lunch of fried trout bites.

I had a bachelor week as Ashlee was out of town for work and I was going to travel to play some live tournament poker, but decided since I was running pretty good online, I would just save money and time and just stay home and play as many events as possible in the The Goat Series on Global Poker that is running this week. Here's how it went:

8/4 - Small cash in a series event
8/5 - Final table, 4th place, in small side tournament while I enjoyed a pint can of Twisting River Wit from Deep River Brewing (NC) from my first from the variety 5-pack from the Bryson City Outdoors Tap Room while in the pool.
8/6 - It was just not my night, but I did have a light and tasty can of Innertube Lager from Burial Beer Company (Asheville) from my variety 5-pack while playing in the pool.
8/7 - Another small cash in a daily event and close to the money in a series event, but that's about it. I did have a great pint can of Lazy Bird Brown Ale from Birdsong Brewing (Charlotte, NC) from my BC variety pack.

8/8 - I took a sneaky bachelor sick day off (cough cough) today and headed over to East Nashville to check out the brand new Living Waters Brewery. These guys brew coffee AND beer, and do the latter very well I must say! I started with their lovely Seven Sisters w/ Pineapple NEIPA. I followed that with the outstanding Rubicon w/ Guatemala Pulcal coffee stout. These guys are going to be special to me I can see since their beer is terrific, they name their beers after waterfalls and it's just a cool place to hang out. The photo above is some wall art in the brewery with their logo twisted circle logo infused into it.

Living Waters Brewing was officially the 150th different brewery I have visited (at least while on UNTAPPD). Only a few thousand more to go and I am up for the challenge!

My afternoon plans started out OK with a stop at the 12 South Taproom where I was fooled into drinking an expensive sour called the Natura Morta with Blood Orange from Green Flash Brewing (CA) that UNTAPPD has listed as a saison and 12 South calls a wild ale, but trust me, it's a sour. Yecch! I countered with a tasty Yallarhammer pale ale from Blackberry Farms Brewing (Maryville, TN) that blew the keg when I ordered it and got (almost) a half-pint at no charge. Thanks 12STR! I had planned on seeing a movie next at the Belcourt Theaters but just could not find parking and had to just pull the plug and head home. It's become a real problem and I will need to make adjustments when coming here in the future I guess.

8/10 - I finished off my Bryson City variety pack in the pool today. I started with a pint can of Southern Girl golden ale from Sycamore Brewing (Charlotte, NC) that was tasty and smooth. I finished with a salute to my pal, Craig, with a decent can of Old Tuffy lager from New Belgium Brewing (NC and CO). It's a salute to the NC State Wolfpack of which Craig is a big fan. Yes, I brought him a can as well. As a Duke fan, we have sparred many times over the years during ACC basketball season and I pull for the pack except when they are playing the Blue Devils. Go DUKE!!

8/11 - We attended a beer-and-donut pairing today at Mayday Brewing down in Murfreesboro. The donuts were provided by the local bakery, Donut Country. The pairings were pretty good even though the event was a little disorganized. I had only had one of the four beers before, so in order of what was new to me as seen in the above photo, I had the Unithorn Blackberry Sour which was more tart than actually sour; the Lemon-Basil Sour which wasn't too bad either; and the excellent Donut Country Coffee Stout. Before the pairing I had a pint of their pretty good I Am Brut IPA and a couple sips of Ashlee's light, but tasty, Going Commango shandy.

We had two more stops afterwards to make it quite the Sunday Funday. First up was a quick visit to the nearby Hop Springs Beer Park where I had a solid Raider IPA from Steel Barrel Brewing, one of three nano-breweries operating here. We headed back to Wilson County for dinner at the always-great Cherokee Steak House where my friend, Charly, and I broke the rule about "No Beer" from outside and sneaked in our crowler of Wee Be Heavy Scotch Ale that we brought back from Mountain Layers Brewing in Bryson City. We drank it from wine glasses, of course, to aid in our ruse that it was red wine to the casual observer/waitress.

I finished the night off out in the hammock in the back yard looking for shooting stars in the ongoing Persiad Meteor Shower but had luck seeing any, but I did get this pretty cool shot (not bad for an Iphone pic) of the moonlight behind the trees and Jupiter's bright pin-prick in the sky to the south.

8/13 - I saw the new film, The Kitchen, tonight at the Roxy Theaters (recliners!) here in town with my pal, Casey, on $5 Bargain Tuesday. It was pretty good albeit a bit choppy in editing, but then when I learned it was based on a comic book (oddly enough) it kind of made sense as the scenes seemed to jump from one to another like panels in a comic.

8/14 - I actually had a legit day-off today so I could go see the Titans practice with the New England Patriots over at Baptist Sports Park. Ashlee went with me and we only stayed about an hour due to the oppressive heat, but it was enough time to get a close-up look at The GOAT, Tom Brady, in action. I spent the afternoon in the pool with a half-growler of Bubble Tub, a watermelon-based farmhouse ale from Whiner Beer Company (Chicago) that I got from Providence Wine and Spirits. I also had a can of Lager of Love from Saugatuck Brewing (MI). Ashlee picked this six-pack out because she liked the can colors and its friendly LGBT message, but it also just a good beer for hot summer days in the pool.

8/16 - Tonight was a start of a bachelor weekend for me as Ashlee was traveling to San Francisco to see a sick friend. After dropping her off at the airport, I headed downtown for a date with Melissa Etheridge at The Ryman Auditorium. I have loved her music for a very long time, but never seen her play live. I also can't say I wasn't a little disappointed when she came out as gay after staring at this 1992 "Never Enough" album cover many, many nights. But, hey, as long as she's happy! On the way to the show I stopped by Various Artists Brewing and had a Real Good Time (in more ways than one!) double IPA. It was excellent.

I decided to park for free at ML Rose and have a couple libations and dinner in the cool newly-updated Capitol View area of downtown Nashville. I like their new touristy logo sign they have installed on the sidewalk across the street from ML Rose. With my dinner of awesome dry-rubbed Cajun wings, I had a less-than-hoppy enough Lil' Crispy pale ale from Clown Shoes Brewing (Boston), and then a much better Shiner Wicked Juicy Pineapple and Coconut IPA (2019) from Spoetzl Brewing (TX).

I Ubered over to the Beer Sellar next where I could have a libation and then walk over to The Ryman for the show. This place is never on my radar much and I remembered now why when I walked in and they were smoking. Yuck! I only had time for one (which was fine with the smoking) and chose the very good Zippin Pippin IPA from Ghost River Brewing over in Memphis. I did grab this unique badge on UNTAPPD for my efforts as well.

The show was excellent. Melissa is 58 years old, but she played like a 20-year-old with a 2+ hour show just full of energy. You really forget how many hits she's had over the years, and what an accomplished guitarist she is also. This short clip is of her opening the show with the rockin' tune "Ain't It Heavy." I had to walk away from the crowds after the show to grab an Uber, so against my better judgement, I slipped back in to The Beer Sellar and had a tasty Peach Dreamsicle double IPA from Terrapin Brewing (Athens, GA).

8/17 - I went to early showing of the new film, Blinded by the Light. today at the Opry Mills Theaters. I thought the movie was going to be cheesy once it started, and then I wound up balling like a baby by the end. It was a great little movie and true story, and the Bruce Springsteen songs influence was awesome.

I chose Opry Mills atsmy theater choice because it was the closest to Madison where the new Yazoo Brewing facility is located. It's a great taproom, and even though Yazoo has never been my favorite Nashville brewer, I do respect their products and hope they do well so far from their popular first location in The Gulch area of downtown Nashville. I had the tap-room-exclusive #marglife American Wild Ale (photo above) first and it was a little tart/sour, but enjoyable. I finished with their decent Belgian Single pale ale.

Tonight I went to see the Patriots at Titans Preseason Game with my pal, Wayne. Thanks, as always, for the tickets, buddy. Before the game I parked at Living Waters Brewery near Wayne's house in East Nashville and had a really good Victoria New England IPA while I waited for myWuber (Wayne-Uber). The game was fun since the temps weren't as bad as I was expecting, and our first- and second-teamers played well. The third-string let the game get away, but who cares, right? It's not like it counts.

8/18 - I went to see Apocalypse Now Final Cut in IMAX at the AMC Thoroughbred 20 Theaters way over in Cool Springs today because it was the only place showing it in Nashville. My friends, Danny and Kyle met me there also. Before the show, I stopped in the new-to-me Brewhouse South near the theaters for a couple of beers. I was impressed with their beer list and decided to check them out. I had a light and refreshing Cheetah lager first from Rhinegeist Brewing (Cincinnati). I finished with a heavier but really good Mexican Cake imperial stout from Westbrook Brewing (SC). Best thing was it was happy-hour and I got both pricey pints for half off! The movie was long and weird, but interesting enough since I had never seen it on the big screen. It was an impressive transition to the IMAX screen for such an old film. And just remember, "Charlie don't surf!!"

8/22 - We went to Live on the Green tonight in downtown Nashville to catch some great music. We had VIP tickets which allowed us "free" adult beverages and food next to and right in front of the stage. We had to dodge some rain to hear Mat Kearney's sound-check early on while I enjoyed a surprisingly tasty Hibiscus Hard Lemonade from Devil's Backbone Brewing (VA). Later on during a rocking set by one of my faves, Will Hoge, I had a "free" pint can of the solid Pep Talk pilsner from Bearded Iris Brewing here in Nashville.

8/29 - We were back at Live on Green tonight and while I didn't have any new-to-me beer (I had a pint can of Nashville's own Bearded Iris Brewing Homestyle IPA which was terrific), I did discover the new-to-me beauty and talent of Maggie Rose and her sizzling back-up band, Them Vibes.