FALLing into WINTER

10/5 - I went to see the historic biopic, Harriet, tonight at the Providence Theaters.  Thanks Regal Unlimited.  It was OK, but I thought it took a few too many short-cuts and soft blows for the subject matter.  I snuck in a beer from my variety four-pack from Asheville.  The Session IPA from Sweeton Creek Brewing in Asheville was smooth and tasty.

11/6 - Who's got the best wife around?  That would be me.  Ashlee went out to our local Aldi Grocery Store this morning and grabbed me a 2019 Beer Advent Calendar for next month.  That's a beer a day for 24 days!  Ho! Ho! Hell Yeah!! It's gonna be a Merry Christmas!  Thanks, sweet pea, you are the best!  And I will see you 12 oz. boys in a few weeks!!  

11/7 - Hoo-ray for International Stout Day!  To celebrate I cracked open the bomber bottle of the Batch One Theory - Mexican Hot Chocolate stout from Southern Grist Brewing here in Nashville (photo below).  It was fantastically rich and smooth.  Thanks again to my pal, Charly, for nabbing a couple bottles for us on release-day a couple weeks back when I was out of town.

Aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels for over 12 months!

11/8 - So, they take sick days away from you at work if you are maxed out, which I am, and I have four days to burn before the end of the year, and today was my first one (cough, cough) or as I see it, my first of four mental health wellness days off.  

After a leisurely breakfast at the Waffle House, I killed a little time looking for a few neat spots in Nashville that I had heard about, but hadn't seen in person.  The first was the awesome hot air balloon mural (complete with basket) over in East Nashville on the side of the new, swanky Cleo Apartments Building.  

I went downtown to look for the Proper Saki Brewery location and also ran across this historic site of the Nashville Brewery built in 1859 and closed in 1954 after a few different owners. I love the vintage darkened hue I put around this shot with an IPhone filter. Salute!! 

I figured it was time for my "second breakfast" at Craft Brewed where I had a couple of...what else...breakfast stouts!  I started with the Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) (2019) from Founders Brewing (Grand Rapids, MI) and it was terrific. Next was the Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) (2019) also from Founders.  I have the give the edge to the CBS for exceptional smoothness and creamy sweetness.  It probably helped that it was aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels.

After those 11%+ monsters, I finished with a low-ABV brown ale from Anderson Valley Brewing (CA) called their Black Rice Ale   It was a solidly decent brew.  I sat inside since the weather was pretty cold and actually never noticed what a great little room they have behind the bar to relax and have a cold one.  This place is easily my favorite beer bar in all of Nashville.  

With the two Founders Brewing check-ins, I earned the Beer City Brewsader badge on UNTAPPD in recognition of Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Founders is located.  They are one of my favorite breweries, so I guess a trip to Michigan needs to be added to the ever-growing Beer Travel List.

I attended the noon showing of the new war pic, Mdway (2019) in RPX at the Hollywood 27 theaters (recliners!) and really enjoyed it.  The movie was, historically-based, well-crafted and well-researched, and was actually better than I was expecting.  It was also the surprise box-office winner of the weekend which makes me happy.  I would love to see a trilogy maybe with the battles of Iwo Jima and Guadacanal  next?  

I stopped by Catch 22 Brewpub in Mt. Juliet on the way home to finish out the day and  enjoyed a Suddenly Comfy cream ale from Dogfish Head Brewery (DE) and a half-pint of the LazerSnake IPA from 3 Floyds Brewing (IN).  

11/10 - We were in Chattanooga again this weekend and I got a chance to stop by Heaven and Ale Brewing for a couple of 9 oz. libations.  I started with their awesome black IPA called the Harsh Caw.  If you like dark chocolate, this is your beer!   I finished with their 2nd Anniversary Barrel Blend stout that was also top-notch.  I always enjoy the artwork that adorns the brewery here.  And it looks like I have found my new favorite superhero. HOPS-MAN!!  

I started a Crazy Pineapple online poker tournament on Global Poker as we drove back home from Chattanooga and wound up winning it over 52 other players and turning my $5 investment to just over $70 in profit.  I needed this since my results on Global lately haven't been stellar lately.  

11/11 - Thanks for your service, folks!  This one's for you!  I cracked open a can of Farm Island Organic IPA (made on contract from Peak Organic Brewing in Maine)  from my Trader Joe's variety pack to earn this cool badge on UNTAPPD on this special commemorative day.  

We saw an excellent show by Ryan Bingham at The Ryman tonight and before the show we ate at a little Mexican cantina called, Nectar, that had great food and a very nice beer list.  I had the oh-so nice Scotch Ale from 3 Floyds Brewing (IN) with my tasty street tacos.

11/12 - The highly-anticipated Disney + streaming service launched today and I ponied up a year's subscription for it, mostly to see the new Star Wars series, "The Mandalorian."  So far, so GREAT! 

11/13 - I checked out the new film, Motherless Brooklyn, tonight at the Providence Theaters (thanks Regal Unlimited!).  I snuck in another coat-pocket beer for the show.  I had a can of the very nice Revivalists Pale Ale from NOLA Brewing (LA) from my Asheville variety-pack.  The movie, a period-piece detective story starring and directed by Edward Norton, was very well done.  Norton's definitely got an eye for being behind the camera as well as solid acting chops in front of it.

11/15 - I was surprised to learn that I squeaked in to the Tournament of Champions at The Poker Barn in Mt. Juliet.thanks to my 2nd place finish earlier this year. I picked up a 3-beer variety pack from Providence Wine and Spirits to enjoy during the game.  The beers were enjoyable.  Getting my pocket kings cracked fairly early on was not.  But for the couple hours I was there, I had a can of Italian Pilsner from Untitled Art Brewing (WI) in collaboration with Fair State Brewing Cooperative (WI) that was tasty.  Next up was the outstanding Hazelnut Imperial Stout (best of the night) also from Untitled Art in collaboration with Mikerphone Brewing (IL).   I ended with a very good Again and Again pale ale pint can from Bearded Iris Brewing here in Nashville.

11/16 - I stopped by New Heights Brewing's 3rd Anniversary/Birthday Party in Nashville today to do a little Christmas shopping for my friend, Charly, my brother-in-law, Andy, and me, of course! They had three specific (and limited) new barrel-aged releases in bomber bottles that I was lucky to get.  More on those as I crack them open on future occasions.  

While Ashlee did a little early Christmas shopping at the Cool Springs Mall, she dropped me off at the excellent Brewhouse South where I watched some football and enjoyed a few cold ones.  I started with an awesome Dark Age Russian imperial stout from Wicked Weed Brewing over in Asheville.  Next up was the impressive Milk and Cookies double milk stout also from Wicked Weed.  After shopping, Ashlee came in and we had an early dinner there.  The food was excellent!  Catfish tacos with red beans and rice!  With dinner we shared a delicious White Chocolate Moo-Hoo (2019) milk stout from Terrapin Brewing (GA).  

I don't usually post 14th place finishes on Global Poker, but when it's vs. 599 players with unlimited rebuys, it's worth noting.  Too bad my $10 investment didn't get more than just under $60 in profit based on the prize pool of $7,500.  Talk about a top-heavy tournament!  I toasted my success with a can from my Trader Joe's variety-pack called the Boatswain H.L.V. Ale from Rhinelander Brewing (WI).  It was about as mediocre as my cash amount was in the tournament.

11/18 - I took another Mental Health Day Off today and headed north for a leisurely breakfast at a Waffle House in Gallatin.   I had a ticket to see an early showing of the controversial satire film, Jo Jo Rabbit, at the Streets of Indian Lake Theaters in Hendersonville (recliners!).  I thought the movie was a bit lame and not overly funny.  Glad I got to see it at a huge discount thanks to Regal Unlimited.

To kill some time before the movie, I drove a surprisingly short distance farther north and checked out the Kentucky Downs Casino.  It's a nice place albeit with only slot machines.  Their bar did have some craft beer which was encouraging, but nothing I hadn't already had.  

After the movie I had a late lunch at Blossom Thai and Craft Cavern where I had a couple good libations with my excellent meal of Lao beef jerky and sticky rice (served up in its own tiny bamboo steamer)..  First up was the solid Crux-Mas Ale (in photo above) winter warmer from Hutton and Smith Brewing down in Chattanooga.  I finished with an excellent imperial Vanilla Bean Stout from Avery Brewing (CO). 

11/19 - Ashlee and I saw the excellent new film, Ford vs. Ferrari tonight at our local Roxy Theaters.  I had a coat-pocket beer from my Asheville variety pack.  It was a rather good can of fruit (blackberries) beer called Shade from Mad Tree Brewing (Cincinnati). 

11/20 - It was Lebanon Poker Night once again and I picked up a 3-beer variety pack from Lebanon Wine and Spirits to accompany me on my quest for good cards and better luck.  I eked out a ho-hum 4th place finish, but my beer choices were Top 3.  I started with an interesting and joyful, One-Y, an very tasty 100 CALORIE hazy session IPA from Oskar Blues Brewing (CO and NC).  Fat boys rejoice!!  Next up was a super-tasty and smooth Belgian dubbel from New Belgium Brewing (CO) called Abbey.  I finished up with a solid Festbier marzen-style lager from Victory Brewing (PA).

11/21 - We saw Augustana play tonight at The Mercy Lounge for the umpteenth time and enjoyed them as much as ever.  Before the show, we stopped by Homegrown Taproom and had a few libations with our friends, Wendy and Charly.  I started with a pint of the decent Easy Daze NEIPA from the recently-defunct Mill Creek Brewing over in Nolensville, TN (RIP).  I turned to eight-ounce pours for the next two rich and decadent pours.  The Spacebird pastry/donuts stout from Crosstown Brewing in Memphis was first.  Love their logo shown below.  I concluded with a 16th Dark Czech Lager from Yazoo Brewing here in Nashville.

11/22 - This mysterious posting on Facebook today could mean that Mill Creek Brewing over in Nolensville, TN, has gotten a last minute stay from execution by some lovely guv'nah. 
Lets hope for the best!