Wait, a BILLION beer check-ins? Wow!

Russell Crowe is my fat spirit animal...

 

It's amazing to think that  the UNTAPPD app is closing in on one BILLION check-ins.  That, my friend, is a shit-load of beer....or a weekend at Russell Crowe's house....

3/16 - My currently unemployed ass was sent grocery shopping  today by my wife into West Nashville.  I did as I was told, but I also stopped by Southern Grist Brewing's location in The Nations out that way and had a nice libation out on their warm sunny patio.  I guess I can raise this tasty DDH Mixed Greens LI (51) to the last official day I am an employee at MTEMC since my forced retirement starts tomorrow.  Cheers to that and to my 21 years there...oh, and to those four snakes I have in mind...
go fuck yourselves....

3/17 - Happy St. Patty's Day!!  Decided to go north a bit and honor the Scots instead with this wee heavy ale from Southern Grist Brewing that I picked up yesterday called Dancing on Staves.  It is tremendous!  Glad I got a four-pack!! 

3/18 - I had a promising job interview today by phone and Doris seemed to sense my anxiety and was there to support me up close and personal.  She's so smart and loving!!

3/19 - I have been anxiously awaiting today's premiere of the new Marvel Studios episodic TV show on Disney+ called "The Falcon and The Winter Soldier."  The Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes is one of my favorite characters from the Marvel Universe, so that also heightened the interest for me.  It did not disappoint as the premier episode was full of action and a good story line.  Can't wait til next Friday!

I got my first of two Covid-19 vaccinations today.  Old farts first!!  No fuss. No muss. The first step to getting back to normal hopefully.

3/20 - Will work for beer!  Thanks so much to my long-time pal, Chris, for coming over to the Carroll House in Chattanooga and help replace a couple boards on the small deck outside the back bedroom that had rotted.   The irony is that Chris built this deck about 20 years ago when he was dating Ashlee's sister, Paige.  He also helped remove an old weathered outer door and replaced it with a new one.  He would not take money as I knew he wouldn't, so I made sure to give him a nice four-pack of great beers from Southern Grist Brewing here in Nashville.  I helped where I could and figured I earned a can myself of their awesome Hoppy Timbs double IPA.  The beer got its name from when they first started to brew this beer, they stuffed so many hops in that it clogged the tank and when they tried to clear the valve it exploded and splattered all over the brewer's fresh Timberland boots.  Waa-laa! That's a super hoppy beer story and an excellent super hoppy beer as well!

3/24 - Well,  I had my second interview with Duck River EMC today and this time it was in person in Shelbyville at their main office.  I feel like it went pretty good, but there is always doubt in my mind after what happened to me.  Fingers crossed.  I "celebrated" with a stop at Hop Springs Beer Park outside Murfreesboro on my way back home from the interview, and had a couple new brews under the actual Hop Springs moniker which was new to me.  It's still a trifecta of small breweries there with Steel Barrel, Humulus Project and, now, Hop Springs, replacing Mantra Artisan Ales who says they are still there, but maybe not brewing currently?  Anyway, I started with the Hop Springs Excellent Adventure session IPA that was very nice.  I finished with their equally impressive Bragg Porter.  
(3/29 - Disappointing update.  I did not get the job.)

3/25 - Big thanks to the Nashville Film Festival for sending out a couple of free new film screenings that my unemployed ass could take advantage of at no cost.  I still sent in a $5 donation for this first one, Persona Non Grata, which I really enjoyed watching.  What an amazing true story!

The second one is actually showing in theaters right now (and not getting great reviews), but I figure for free it's worth a look tonight.   Boogie is the film debut from "Fresh Off the Boat" writer, Eddie Huang, whose content I have enjoyed in the past, but can get a bit tiresome.    It was actually better than I was expecting.  

3/28 - We threw our one year old tuxedo cat, Dudley, a birthday party today (cause that's how we roll), and to stick with the Black and White theme, I bought a couple of packs of beer at the new-to-me Madison Beverage Warehouse.  The first one I had was the The Long Thaw WHITE IPA from Harpoon Brewing (Boston) that I really liked.    Above is the Duds checking out his cool Star Wars themed toys that he got for his birthday.  Cheers, buddy! 

I was excited to earn the One Billionth Check-In badge from UNTAPPD with my next beer, a tasty pint can of The Doughnut Revolution: Chocolate BLACKout Cake imperial stout from Orpheus Brewing (Atlanta). Congrats to UNTAPPD for reaching this amazing milestone almost two weeks before it was even expected.

I love my sweet boy!  My craft beer buddy, Nate, attended the party as well and as usual brought some tasty beers.  We did some swapping and I enjoyed checking in some of his crowler of Go With The Flow, a solid brown ale from TennFold Brewing over in Donelson, plus a can of rich and tasty Benevolent Overlord imperial stout from Monday Night Brewing (Atlanta). 

3/30 - I did some more unemployed houseboy shopping again today in West Nashville and in between my visits to Costco and Trader Joe's, I stopped by the Charlotte Pike original location for Tailgate Brewing.  I enjoyed a delicious Maple Brown Ale as I watched a little NFL Pro-Day going on for a QB at Alabama and felt like a man again, LOL.  

3/31 - I met up with my old work pal, Casey, and his nephew, Colin, at the Roxy Theaters here in Lebanon tonight for the opening of Godzilla vs. Kong,  No IMAX, but the recliner seats are pretty sweet.  It was a fun flick and the special effects were amazing.  #TeamKong

4/1 - No April Foolin', afternoon movies are back!!  I went and saw the bargain matinee showing of the new dark humor film, Nobody, today at the Malco Theaters in Smyrna (recliners!).  Bob Odenkirk is the best thing to come out of "Breaking Bad" in my opinion, so this looked like a great fit for him in terms of a movie - violent and funny.  And it was both.  Fun, fun action flick.
Before the show, I stopped by The Casual Pint in Smyrna for a couple of craft beers as well.  I started with the interesting "white" porter called Death by King Cake from Oskar Blues Brewing (CO and NC).  This is first white porter (gold in color instead of dark) that I can recall having.  I've had some stouts like this.  This one was terrific!  I finished up with a 2018 Gold Medal Winner at the GABF evidently, but I thought it was just OK, but I am not a big expert on Helles lagers either.  It was the Deer Crossing from Nashville's own Little Harpeth Brewing.

4/2 - Man, nothing like Opening Night....on the couch!  LOL.  Netflix Studios continues to impress with original films that are pretty damn good.  I really enjoyed Concrete Cowboy tonight.  Great cast and based on an incredible true story.  Keep it up, guys!! 

4/3 - Well, they have moved a Jack Brown's Beer and Burger Joint into the old Yesterday's building in Chattanooga.  Great burgers and craft beer vs. memories of great nights there as a young, single stallion looking for love (in the all the wrong places).  The beer sucked there, but the ladies were many and lovely, and the bands were always rockin'.  It was a legendary place and I do miss it.  Back to today, however, our burgers were fantastic and my first beer was as well - the 200 Day IPA - an imperial from Wanderlinger Brewing just around the corner.  My second one was a bit of a miss IMO - the Game of Thrones: My Watch Has Ended imperial brown ale was a little too sweet for my taste (and a little too sweet for the lads on The Night's Watch, donchathink?).  Great beer name from the Ommegang Brewery (NY) at least, but ease up on the maple syrup already! 

4/4 - Check out this pretty Easter egg I found! It was delicious!  Thanks, Easter Bunny Nate!  We had a beautiful afternoon hanging out by our recently opened pool and doing some grilling with family.  My beer buddy, Nate, left this Jet Black Heart Nitro Vanilla milk stout for me a few days ago.  It went down smooth and easy (and was way better than a painted boiled egg!). 

I made my first final table tonight on the sweet new HP laptop I got at Costco recently (my main birthday present this year from Ashlee actually).  It was a Crazy Pineapple Progressive Bounty Tournament on Global Poker.  I wound up winning the whole shooting match vs. 52 other players with 6 bounties for a profit of over $135.   It's been a while since I had a good win on here and it sure feels good since it's also the first win since the work situation.  I've always wanted to try and be a poker pro...could this be the opportunity...?  

4/5 - Well just over a year from now I can start drawing BOTH of my tiny pensions.  Might as well I guess.  #CANNOTLIVEFOREVER  

4/7 - Let's hear it for the beer!  It's National Beer Day once again, and I couldn't NOT drink a craft brewski on this special occasion, so I cracked open my last Beer Drop order and stuck a pint can of Czech Dam Pilsner from Woods Boss Brewing (Denver) in the fridge this morning and cracked her open this afternoon.  I really deserved this refreshing light beer after loading and unloading 54 bags of mulch from Home Depot for our front and back yards.  Whew what a day!  

Oh, yeah, and I got a job today!  Not a big deal.  Just a low-paying work-from-home customer support position for a pest control company called Aptive.  They are impressive in their national reach and growth, and they've treated me good so far with a laptop and headset coming, benefits and incentives for more pay.  We shall see.

I also made another final table tonight in a small Crazy Pineapple tournament on Global.  I finished 3rd and cleared over $35 in profit to cover my night and then some.  It was vs. 44 other players plus it was a turbo progressive knockout of which I got six. 
I proceeded to make another final table in another Crazy Pineapple tournament later tonight vs. 52 others.  I ended  up winning it and clearing over $152 in profit!  This one was also a progressive knockout of which I scored several, but at least it wasn't that stupid turbo format again.

4/8 - I had some time and a Regal gift certificate to burn today, so I went and saw the historical fact-based thriller, The Courier, today at the newly reopened Opry Mills Theaters.  It was well made and Benedict Cumberbatch delivered the goods (as usual) including an astonishing weight loss for his character locked in a Russian prison for two years.  After the show I stopped by Homegrown Taproom for a couple brews.  I started with the solid Printshop Southie Cream Ale from Printshop Brewing over in Knoxville.  Glad to see them on tap here now! I finished with an interesting and enjoyable sour, yes, I typed SOUR...it just happened to contain the two things that will actually entice me to it:  lime and cucumber.  It was the Lime Cucumber Gose from Urban South Brewing (New Orleans).

4/9 - Eff you, Covid!! I got my second shot today and am vaccinated up...at least til the summer.

We headed down to Blue Ridge, Georgia, to spend the weekend at a cabin we rented with a couple other friends.  They are on Eastern time there and by the time we got there, the two breweries I planned to stop by were already closed at 8 PM...on a Friday.  Ugggh!! I am embarrassed to admit how I earned this badge...but out of desperation I drank a Smirnoff Ice Original malt liquor that my friend, Toney, had bought at Wal-Mart.  It wasn't half-bad actually and I did get to check it in out on the deck of our sweet cabin at least.  

4/10 -  Finally, some craft beer in Blue Ridge, Georgia! We stopped by Grumpy Old  Men Brewing which Ashlee and I visited several years ago when it was just starting.  Now, it's a thriving, growing craft brewery that is very popular.  I started with their excellent Tsunami Steve NEIPA.  I had a sip of Ashlee's porter, the Hell's Holler that was terrific as well.  I finished with their equally impressive, Static Shock, black IPA.    I didn't get a chance to visit the other new-to-me brewery in town, Fannin Brewing...maybe next time.  I was also saddened to find out that Blue Ridge Brewery has shut down permanently.  Too bad, it was a cool little place.

Fire-water, you're to blame!  I also got two half-growlers filled at Grumpy Old Men Brewing and enjoyed them in the hot-tub back at the cabin, as well as by the firepit on one of the decks  The Porch Pounder session IPA was solid and smooth (photo above) and the Scentsation Xtra double IPA was decent, but could have used more hops to be considered an imperial.  

4/11 - I had planed to check out two other new-to-me breweries in the area on the way home, Copper Hill and Buck Bald Brewing, but they didn't open til noon, and with a 10 AM check-out from the cabin and them being only 20 minutes away, the timing didn't work out...once again...maybe next time.  I sated myself back at home with another brew from my last Beer Drop order.  The fantastic Snow Reporter porter is made with the water of actual snowmelt by Telluride Brewing (CO).  

4/12 - Well, my first official day with Aptive went pretty well.  It was just training, but it was simple and I was treated nice and with respect.  It's all I ask for.  I celebrated the successful day with another can from my last Beer Drop order:  a fantastic Schwibby Schwarzbier from Wibby Brewing (CO). 

4/13 - I made it to another final table in the nightly Crazy Pineapple tournament on Global Poker tonight.  I ended up going out in third place vs. 62 other players for a profit of over $84 that really wasn't profit since it got my bankroll back up to where it was a few days ago.

4/14 - I attended an Oscars online seminar called "And  The Award Goes To..." via Zoom tonight hosted by The Belcourt Theater.  It was free to attend and I am getting pretty handy with using Zoom since all my training this week with Aptive has also been using the software.  It was short, but informative and I even was told the question I submitted was a good one!  Can't wait for the Oscars in a couple weeks! Even if they will be weird this year with the pandemic still lurking around.

After the online show, I somehow limped into another final table on the nightly Crazy Pineapple tournament that I have been playing lately on Global Poker. I wound up winning the whole thing vs. 60 other players.  With six big knockout bounties, I cleared $155 and most of that that went right back into the bankroll replenishment with 10% going to charity, of course.  

And that charity would be...Nothing But Nets which my new company, Aptive, supports as well and turned me on to.  I gave a $40 contribution to them to help battle malaria around the world by providing netting for protection against the biting pests.

4/15 - I headed back over to the Regal Cinemas at Opry Mills tonight and checked out the new Lord of the Flies in space film, Voyagers.  It was decent, but nothing to write home about.  I was able to sneak in a nice pint can craft beer since the place was really dead.  It was the fourth installment from my last Beer Drop order: the Connect the Dots NEIPA from Progression Brewing (MA).  

4/16 - I made another Crazy Pineapple bounty tournament final table on Global Poker tonight.  I wound up finishing fourth, but my $30 plus profit was cancelled out when I was the bubble boy (always fun) in another bigger $30 tournament tonight as well.  Just gotta keep plugging away...

4/17 - I attended the opening match for the new season for the Nashville Soccer Club vs. FC Cincinnati tonight.  Thanks to my beer pal, Nate, for letting me buy his second seat for tonight's game for the price of....beer, of course! Before the game, we stopped by the new digs for Barrique Brewing who was having a private tap room soft opening for which Nate got an invitation.   They open to the public on May 1.  They have taken over the spot where Little Harpeth Brewing used to be near downtown.  LHBC in turn, have moved out toward West Nashville and were bought by Lippman Distributing recently (boo!!!). 

While at Barrique I was overjoyed to see that they don't just have sours...which they are known for and which I care the least for in the world of craft beer.  Instead I first had their excellent Pub Ale - Ordinary Bitter (photo above).  Next, was their equally great Pub Ale - Proper Porter.  We talked some with the owner/brewer who says English pub ales are actually his favorite and hopes to have a couple on tap all the time.  Well, I guess I will be back!!  I bought Nate's two rounds here as payment for the game ticket.  We both bought a couple of bottle of some of their sours as well.  Thanks, again, Nate, for the invitation here and to the game! 

It was an awesome night for a game.  A little cool, but tolerable.  Nate's lower bowl seats at Nissan Stadium are pretty sweet too.  I found a New Heights IPA pint can to have with my pizza dinner.  Gotta support our local team and our local breweries!!  The game was quite enjoyable with the good guys falling behind in an early 2-0 hole due to some bad luck and freaky plays.  But we battled back and tied it, and probably should have won, but the Cincy goalie saved his team the loss with some great saves.  At least we got the point.

After the game, we met up with my longtime pal, Craig, and his son, Ryan, who were also at the game, and drove them back over to the ML Rose at Capitol View where they were parked.  We went in and had a beer before leaving, of course.  I had an OK double IPA from Monday Night Brewing (Atlanta) called Space Lettuce.  Honestly, I was expecting more from an imperial IPA.   Craig hooked me and Nate up with a case of craft beer from his hometown Perrylogic Brewing over in Paris, TN.  Wow!  Thanks, man!  I felt like I should return the favor a little and gave him one of my sour bottles from Barrique since he likes them more than I do anyway.  

4/18 - Popcorn, beer and poker...three of my favorite things!   I scored big tonight with a second place finish in a huge $22 tournament vs. 448 other players. I turned a profit of over $1,220!!  Poker pro, anyone??  During the 6-hour session with my nutritious dinner of popcorn, I cracked open one of Craig's gift beer from last night.  The Summer Wheat from Perrylodgic Brewing over in Paris, TN, was solid and thirst-quenching.  Thanks, Craig, and thanks, Global Poker!!