Winter is Com-....never mind, it's here....

11/14 - Since I cut cable this year, I have been enjoying free NFL games on my phone via Yahoo.  I watched my AFC-leading Tennessee Titans take on the banged-up Saints today while enjoying a Cyclops Milkshake IPA from The Phoenix Brewing Company (OH).  Thanks to my buddy, Chris, for bringing me this one from a recent trip to northern Ohio. The game was tighter than it should have been,  but the good guys came out on top! 
#TITANUP 

11/16 - I went to see the new Marvel movie, Eternals, in  IMAX this afternoon at the Opry Mills Theaters.  I thought it was a little long and tedious at times, but overall pretty good.  Since it's been out a while and it was a Tuesday afternoon, I basically had the giant theater to myself!   Beforehand, I did a little work on the go at Living Waters Brewing in East Nashville where I had their excellent Triberg German Pilsner and their very good Sutherland NEIPA.  I still had a little time before the movie when I reached Opry Mills, so I stopped in the Bavarian Beirhaus and had the decent Urban Underdog American Lager from Urban Chestnut Brewing out in St. Louis. 

11/18  - I was back at the Opry Mills Theaters again this afternoon for the opening day of  Ghostbusters After Life in IMAX.   While it's never been one of my favorite franchises, I thought this reboot was very well done and quite enjoyable .
Beforehand, I stopped by TennFold Brewing in Donelson and had their solid Oat Ridge stout followed up by their outstanding wheat-based IPA called Camp Relax. I worked from here as well, and will definitely do this again since their happy hour prices of $3 a pint are awesome! 
Back at home tonight, I cracked open a Beer Drop ordered can of a nice black IPA called Bonus Tracks from Resolute Brewing in Centennial, Colorado. 

11/19 -  I stopped by New Heights Brewing tonight to celebrate their 5th Anniversary and tried a couple of their brand new creations.  First up was the very good Space Mullet double IPA. Next  I had their terrific Batch # 3 Coffee IPA.  It's a bittersweet weekend for craft beer in Nashville as New Heights celebrates its success while the shocking announcement that nearby Various Artists Brewing will be shutting down after next weekend.  Sure hate to see them go.  Afterwards, I drove over to see new film, The Power of the Dog, at The Belcourt Theaters with a short intro by a professor of film studies over at Vanderbilt University.  The movie was a little slow, but interesting, and I will pretty much watch anything with these three great actors in it.  

Parking is such a bitch around the Belcourt Theater, you have to come early.  So with some time to kill before the movie, I had a plan for the area known as "The Village" but it did not work out quite like I thought.  My first choice was Hop Doddy around the corner for a burger and beer, but they've stopped doing bar service, and now you only order in a take-out line and then pick your seating after...and the line was long...PASS!   So I walked a few blocks to try the food (and a beer or two) at Kay Bob's Grill and Ale and it was closed for remodeling...DAMN! (Editor's note:  I did read online that Kay Bob's remodel will include 30 beers on tap and you pour yourself kinda like that train car tap room down in Chattanooga I suppose.)  

A taco shop next door to Kay Bob's had another food ordering line a mile long too...PASS!  Then I spied a brand new (and almost empty) Central BBQ joint, and quickly enjoyed a thick-cut BBQ bologna sandwich, BBQ beans and a cold Gerst Amber from Yahoo Brewing here in Nashville (photo above).   Saved by Memphis in Nashville!  With still a little more time after eating to kill, I wandered into a long-time dive bar in this area called The Villager Tavern for my first visit where I had can of the interesting and light Wowie fruit beer from Rhinegeist Brewing up in Cincy.  Six bucks plus for a can of beer?...not that "dive-bar-like" - I won't be back...

11/20 - I am having a few bachelor days with Ashlee attending a bachelorette weekend in Nashville of a friend's daughter.  So I made the most of it at home and in Nash-Vegas as well.   I stopped by Various Artists Brewing with my friend, Bethany, on my way into town to drop her off for some of the bachelorette fun.  I still can't believe they are closing next weekend!  Hurts my heart.  I still have a sneaky suspicion someone bought them out (Terrapin maybe?).  While there, I had there excellent Ryed Up Shorts pale ale.  Great beer and hilarious names...please don't leave, VABC!! 

After dropping Bethany off, I dropped back by New Heights Brewing to pick up some 3-bomber gift packs they were releasing for the 5 Year Anniversary.  One for me as a gift to myself (more on those later as they get cracked open); one for my beer pal, Charly, upon request; and one for my beer/booze lover of a brother-in-law for Christmas.  While there I also had a pint of the tasty Four Coco brown ale.  Next, I went and parked early at The Cannery for a solo Augustana show at The Mercy Lounge a little later.  Instead of listening to the opener, I Lyfted over to Jackalope Brewing's tasting room, The Ranch, since prices were surprisingly not surging on a Saturday night.  While there I had their Brewwalker brown ale that was dynamite.  I finished with their solid pale ale called Brave Noise, half of whose proceeds go to a great cause, the Nashville Sexual Assault Center.  Cheers and good deeds, Jackalope!!  I got back in time for the last song from the opener (didn't miss much), but Dan Layus of Augustana was on fire!  What a great show!  What a great voice!! 

11/21 - It was not all fun and frolic this weekend.  I had to go down to visit my screwball sister today, so the always-needed Post-Melinda-visit beer was had at Happy Trails Brewing in Sparta on the way home.  I had their very nice milkshake IPA called Have a "Just Peachy" Day and was about to order another when Ashlee texted and ask me to do some chauffeuring in Nashville tonight as the bachelorette weekend was winding down and someone needed a ride to the airport for a flight home and they were all buzzed.  Yeah, yeah...OK.  #sowhipped.  But she did send me this cool Titans Miller Lite box picture, so I guess she's worth it.  Too bad the boys played about as good as this crappy beer today vs. pitiful Houston.  Ooof! 

Taylor Sheridan does it again!!  Man, his new show on Paramount+ called "Mayor of Kingstown" is awesome!  So raw, so harsh and so real.  Well worth ponying up $5 a month for this streaming service alone, not to mention NFL games on CBS too.  

11/23 - I attended the Nashville Soccer Club's first home playoff game against Orlando City SC tonight with my beer pal, Nate.  We tailgated before the game where I had a couple of great pint cans from The Phoenix Brewing Company up in Ohio that my buddy, Chris, gave me.  The first was their Krampus Kandy white stout, and then their brown ale called Danger City with Hazelnut and Chocolate.  Both were fantastic!  I also gave Nate some of my Beer Drop extras as some "payment" for the ticket. At the game I had a pint can of the always-tasty Hop Perfect IPA from our local Yazoo Brewing.   We scored a big 3-1 win tonight in front of a huge crowd of 26K+, and we move on to conference semis in Philly on Sunday!! 

This month's Beer Drop order arrived today also. Heavy on the IPA's, of course, plus a pale ale and an amber ale...I am a creature of habit. 

It was a cold tailgate at the NSC game tonight, so my Suzy Beer Mitt came in mighty handy!  Best Christmas present ever from my sister-in-law, Paige!!  That's the can of Krampus Kandy stout mentioned above in my clutches.  

11/24 - Gobble, gobble, glug, glug!  Always got have a beer on Thanksgiving.  I cracked open a pint can of Ferryman oatmeal stout, yet another gift from my buddy, Chris, during his visit to The Phoenix Brewing Company up in Ohio earlier this year.  It was actually my least favorite of the ones Chris brought me.  Just way too boozy.  But, hey, let's still give thanks for friends like Chris who bring me craft beer!! 

11/26 - HAPPY BLACK (IPA) FRIDAY!  We were happy to show off  The Cedar Tap here with our friends Will and Jenna (a real cutie -nice beer, nice rack!- who likes craft beer like I do) who were in town for the holiday.  We laughed and caught up for a good while and I was able to catch up on my check-in list there starting with the solid Pennsylvania Roots hefeweizen from Marrowbone Creek Brewing over in Ashland City (one of the brewers there is part owner here).  Next I had the smooth and creamy S'mores Stout also from MCBC.  I moved on to the nice festbier from Living Waters Brewing in Nashville called Kleinst.  I ended the evening with the very good Marzen (2021) from Duck-Rabbit Brewing (NC).  

11/27 - It's so hard to say goodbye, but I did today at Various Artists Brewing who are closing after tomorrow sad to say.  These guys have been consistently one of my favorite Nashville breweries, so it was a shock to hear the news recently.  Let's hope somebody good uses the space soon.  I started my farewell libations with their excellent saison called Tesla Time.   My beer pal (and even bigger lover of VABC), Nate, joined my for second one, the very nice (and new?) Red IPA.  

11/28 - I also had a nice crowler of  VABC's schwarzbier they call Burrisss today as I watched the Titans and NSC head north only to both come back with losses. The latter knocking them out of the MLS Playoffs with a rotten penalty-kick decider after two OT's knotted at 1-1.  Yuck.  Good thing the beer was tasty. 

11/29 - I got to a final table tonight on Global Poker and wound up finishing 3rd vs.112 other players for about $116 in profit.   My signature pocket three's hand didn't pan out much on the hand above,  nor did my AJ vs. 1010 that sent me to the rail later on.  Still keeping the winnings in the bankroll, but getting closer to a withdrawal soon hopefully.   Decided to toast my decent success with a beer, so I cracked open a can from my latest Beer Drop order.  I had the delightful and hazy Rocky Mountain Juice IPA from 105 West Brewing (CO).

11/30 - I flew up to Columbus, Ohio, today thanks to a cheap Southwest flight to spend the night at one of my "Beer"ket-List locations: the Brew Dog Brewery and Hotel...oh, and to see my fave team the  newly # 1 Duke Blue Devils take on Ohio State in early-season basketball in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge.  Despite being a half-hour or so out of Columbus and a $40 Uber ride to and from, it was worth it to stay at such a cool place. 

I couldn't check into my room until 4 PM, so I hung out in the nice tap room and restaurant there and had a great burger for lunch, did some work, and, of course, sipped some great craft beer.  My favorite of the day (and the trip) wasn't even a BrewDog beer, it was the amazing Carmen's Carrot Cake kolsch from Sonder Brewing down in Mason, Ohio (photo above).  Besides the incredible color, it was light and yet rich at the same time.  Oh so good!  Put a scoop of vanilla ice cream in there!! I also had the solid black IPA from BrewDog called Dude Where's My Tank.  

My Room 212 was awesome!  So cool and trendy.  Besides a shower fridge (more on that later), a kegerator in the room, a working guitar, a turntable and albums (I really enjoyed Jason Isbell's "Reunions" album on vinyl), my door opened into the brewery itself above the aging barrels and it smelled so good!  I had another guest beer from the room fridge. It was a tasty pint can of the session IPA from Dancing Gnome Brewing (Pittsburgh) called Pleximetry Rhythm.

Before heading out to the game, I went down to the lobby at 7 PM for the complimentary Cookies and Stouts.  I had a pint can of BrewDog's awesome Jet Black Heart Nitro Vanilla which I've had before, but not with a giant yummy chocolate chip cookie by a nice fire out on their patio.  

Ah, yes, the game...it's a great venue at Schottenstein Center Arena on the OSU campus; there was a huge crowd with a large Duke contingent; I even got a chance to see the boys warm up up-close before the game down near the floor; I had a great front row seat in the upper level; I saw The GOAT - Coach K - in his final season coaching in person; we got a comfortable 15-point lead in the early second half...and then...down goes Duke.  Wow!  What a second-half meltdown.  The offense shot under 25%,  their defense was matador after getting in foul trouble, and OSU just wanted it more.  Well, Duke was # 1 for about three days.  I did get to witness my first storming-of-the-court in person afterwards which I have to admit was kind of cool.  Well done, Buckeyes.  Suck it up, Blue Devils, the season is young. 

12/1 - "Well, I woke up this morning, and I got myself a beer!" 
My Shower Beer was BrewDog's light and tropical milkshake IPA called Mallow Laser Quest.  I followed that up with a "beer-mosa" at the nice complimentary breakfast bar in the lobby that featured BrewDog's Hazy Jane NEIPA which I've had before, but never with orange juice...delicious!  

I spent the morning working in my room at the Dog House Hotel and then the afternoon working back in the BrewDog Dog Tap taproom. I had another amazingly good meal (awesome brisket street tacos) and a couple more guest tap beers including the English mild ale from Brink Brewing (Cincinnati) called Hold the Reins that was solid, and the decent cream ale from Dancing Gnome Brewing (Pittsburgh) called Marbled Hearts.    My flight back from Columbus was smooth and easy and I even had time for one last Ohio beer at the nice airport there.  It was the light and smooth double IPA from Columbus Brewing called Citrus Blast Bodhi that went great with my tasty Ohio-based Donatos pizza for dinner. 

12/2 - Success is success I guess...to kill some time tonight on Global Poker, I played a goofy one-dollar "Bountiments" tourney where your entire buy-in is your bounty with and ultra-turbo levels. I somehow got 9 knockouts, and finished  3rd out of 59 players, scoring me 9X profit. I actually made more than first or second place!  Otherwise, it was a losing night overall, so let's keep grinding...

12/3 - We dropped by The Cedar Tap tonight after seeing the Lebanon Square Christmas Tree lighting and had some tasty sandwiches and a couple brews.  They were having a tap takeover from Black Abbey Brewing in Nashville and Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville.  I had the two breweries' collaboration beer, a brett IPA called Keep 'Em Guessin' which was pretty good. 

I couldn't have another round at The Cedar Tap since we had to head to Hendersonville and pick up my Turo rental car for my trip to Cherokee, NC, this weekend.  Looks familiar?  It should.  It's the exact same Subaru Outback that we took to the Indy for the G.A.M.E. trip.  It was such a nice car at a reasonable price, and such an easy experience, that I decided to get it again even though I didn't need all the room.  

12/4 - I headed east this afternoon with an overnight stay in Newport, TN, to cut down on the drive time to Cherokee, NC, tomorrow for an early-starting poker tournament.  I was finally able to "swing on by" Swing On Brewing in Crossville.  This tiny nanobrewery is in a garage beside a house in a residential area, and run by a husband/wife team who were super nice.  Unfortunately, I was not a fan of their two beers that I had.  Their Bushwood "select" IPA really needed more hops.  Their Carl's Oktoberfest really needed more malt.  Both were just kind of bland.  Too bad, but I am glad to have checked this little brewery off the "Beer-ket" list. 

Now this is more like it!! I checked off another Knoxville craft brewery (this has become a real beer town!) today called Hexagon Brewing, and the two beers I had here were excellent!  I started with the their Horny Otter imperial IPA and I found the hops that were missing over at Swing On Brewing.  I finished with their amazing Smoking Goat smoked beer that was just about perfect.  I would have loved to stay for more, but I had to keep driving east (safely).  I had another brewery pegged near the hotel I was staying at, but it was closed for a private event unfortunately.  

12/5 -To say I saw beautiful Soco Falls just 30 minutes after the start of the WSOPC Seniors Tournament # 2 at the Harrah's Casino in Cherokee, NC, tells the sad story of a very quick exit from the event.  I could have rebought in, but decided to just move on after my disappointing play.  Enough said about that.   I don't recall ever going to Soco Falls in the past, but it's hard to believe I didn't since it was so easy to get to and very memorable as another creek cascades into Soco Creek from the left as it drops off the mountain.  I didn't go to the base, but I might on my next trip up this way in February hopefully.  I vow to play better and if not...there's always waterfalls and craft beer! 

My early exit from the tourney gave me all day to return home and make a few more visits to places that have been "Beer-ket List."  I went by 1907 Brewing in Morristown again (this is the one that was closed last night) and they were closed AGAIN for a staff party.  OK, that's it...I give up!  I continued back west and made it to Clinch River Brewing in Norris, TN, right across the road from the Clinch River itself.  Good name and I love their hop-fish logo!  The brewery is housed in what looks to be an old Elk's Lodge or something of the sort.  Very 1970's.   The two beers I had were solidly good.  I started with the Tongue-Tie Rye Dry-Hopped Amber Ale. and then finished with their Hop Captain session IPA.  Gotta come back here sometime! 

I continued west toward home and checked off another regional brewery on my "beer-ket" list, Moco (Morgan County) Brewing Project in Wartburg, TN.  There was a sip-and-paint class going on, but the bar was open and I had a couple of really good libations here too.  First up was their Nemo Tunnel No. 24 brown ale that was awesome with it's chocolaty finish.  Their Clinton Tractor stout had a little smoky linger to it which I really enjoyed.  Definitely will come back here given the chance. 

12/9  - I decided to go to opening night of the new college football flick, National Champions, at the Opry Mill Theaters.  I didn't know much about it, but it has a pretty good cast.  It was even better than I expected.  Almost like a stage play with great performances and a bold topic of whether to pay college athletes.  Oddly, it was a private screening for me as well.   Beforehand I did a little later afternoon work and libation sipping at TennFold Brewing in Donelson where I had their tasty Trebock.   I followed that up with their smooth and easy Blimey, Mate English Pub Ale.   I also had an early dinner here of a protein bowl with smoked chicken that was fantastic.  The food here continues to impress. 

I also dropped by Homegrown Taproom before the movie and checked in a couple more brews that got me over 3,700 check-ins on UNTAPPD on what happens to be my ninth anniversary on the app.  So nine years is 3,285 days, so I am averaging a little more than a beer a day!!  Cheers!  I started with the smooth and malty Christmas Ale from Breckenridge (CO) Brewing.   I finished with a half pint of the tropical and citrusy NEIPA from Southern Grist Brewing here in Nashville called TEAL. 

12/11 - We dropped by Sidebar at the Bode Hotel in downtown Nashville for a Christmas pop-up bar experience tonight.  I had a good mixed drink to start off with, but had to grab the Jubilee double IPA from Braxton Brewing (KY) for my second round.  It was OK, but for an imperial, it sure needed more hops.  On the way downtown, I also had a can from my last Beer Drop order.  It was the tasty Pump Action Imperial Pumpkin Ale from 4 Noses Brewing (CO). 

12/13 - It was Lebanon poker night for me and I took some Beer Drop beers with me for the session.  I was enjoying my third one when I took an awful beat by a stupid calling station player (I should have know with that jackass) who hit a bigger straight than my turned one on the river.  Man, am I running bad lately.   First, Cherokee, then my bankroll's gone on Global and now this!   Ugggh!!  Well, at least the beer was pretty good.  I started with my second can of the solid Furious (that title certainly fits the bill tonight) IPA from Surly Brewing (MN). Next up was a decent Hefeweizen from Resolute Brewing (CO).  I was just finishing the pretty good Surfcasting farmhouse ale/grisette from Oxbow Brewing (ME) when the infamous hand came about. The beer was pretty salty...as was I after that knockout!! Damn donkeys!!

I did go ahead and give $25 (a little more than 10% of some winnings a while back) to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee for the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund in light of the recent deadly tornadic activity here and in the region.  It's a good cause and I guess I am hoping that will turn my luck a little too.  
(thanks to Redbubble.com for the funny cartoon pic) 

12/14 - I went to see the new dark comedy, Don't Look Up, at the Malco Theaters in Smyrna this afternoon (recliners and a private screening!) and would have thought it was really funny if it wasn't so damn scary and true to life to this crazy world we live in.  Beforehand, I stopped by The Casual Pint nearby and worked a little and sipped a little.  I started with a pour of the excellent Two Scoops: Coffee and Cream ale from Panther Creek Brewing over in Murfreesboro.  Next up was the solid 4 Giants IPA (2021) from Founders Brewing (MI).  I closed out with another great effort from my favorite Nashville brewery, Living Waters, and their smooth and light Zammer pilsner.  The weather was so mild that they had their window bar open and that's where I sat and sipped.  Global warming?  What's that? 

I'm in!!  I finally got to join my first craft beer Mug Club at Cedar Tap starting next month.  I've never had a place close enough to justify a membership before now.  Looking forward to 2022!! 

12/18 - Spider-Man No Way Home in IMAX at The Streets of Indian Lake Theater in Hendersonville.   I thought it was very good, and although Spidey has never been my favorite, bringing previous Spidermen from previous movies as superheroes from other universes was pretty clever and cool.  I stopped by Blossom and Cellar Door Craft Cavern nearby after the show for a late lunch and a brew. It's been a while since I've been here, and the beer is still great, but I was bummed that they took my favorite appetizer (beef jerky - Thai-style) off of the menu. I settled for some tasty dumplings and shrimp rolls instead with my tasty pint of the session IPA from Equilibrium Brewing (NY) called Hop Layers.  

We went to a Christmas concert tonight at a new place called, Eastside Bowl.  It's a trendy new bowling alley and concert venue in an old, refurbed Kmart building. Very cool.  We ate at their Clark's Diner, and I had a can of Pink Lemonade Session Sour Ale from Hi-Wire Brewing (Asheville) since it was the only one on their me menu that I had not checked in yet.  It wasn't too bad.  More tart that sour and went good with my burger and fries.   
In the concert venue called The Wash, I had a draft pint of the old reliable Dogfish Head 60-minute IPA.  Even better than the solid beer was the cool aluminum solo-style cup it came in (photo above). It did a great job keeping the beer cold for the whole show.  And then that baby came home with me!  

12/19 - Another plus for the Paramount+ streaming service that I recently bought is the new "1883 - A Yellowstone Prequel" show that started today.  Man, Taylor Sheridan does it AGAIN!!  I enjoyed a Beer Drop brew while watching.  It was the  I am sure glad the show is good, because on this streaming service I also got to watch the Titans piss away a lead and an important AFC game today.  UGGGH!!  

I also got third in fairly large (over 100 players) NLHE tournament on Global Tonight turning my $11 buy in to well over $100 in profit which I needed to resupply the suffering bankroll as of late.   I was watching the weird holiday classic The Nightmare Before Christmas at the same time.  

12/20 - We hit another fun Christmas pop-up bar tonight at the Dream Hotel in downtown Nashville who had turned their Parlor Bar into A Nightmare Before Christmas-themed libation station.  Good thing I watched the movie last night to make sense of all of it.  The fun even spread outside as this giant snake from the film was gobbling Christmas trees.  Oh my!!  I started with a pretty good cocktail but went for the Christmas Ale (2021) from Abita Brewing (LA) next and it was very good and refreshing. 

12/22 - I went to see the new sequel, The Matrix Resurrections at the Malco Theaters (recliners!) in Smyrna this afternoon.  It was pretty good and like Spiderman No Way Home, it was trying to glean off the nostalgia of the previous films, but Marvel Studios did a better job at it.   Before the show,  I stopped in at Catch-22 in Mt. Juliet for a working lunch and a couple of brews.  I started with the so-so cream ale from Braxton Brewing (KY) called Storm.  I finished with the much better Costero Mexican Lager from Carolina Brewing (NC).  I moved on to Smyrna just before the movie and stopped by The Casual Pint to finish up work and have a few more brews.  I started with the spectacular KBS Cinnamon Vanilla Cocoa (2021) imperial stout from Founders Brewing (MI), then I had the equally great Hazel's Nuts imperial stout from Odd Side Ales (MI), and then closed out with a lighter fare, the solid Giving Kitchen Red Lager from Tailgate Brewing in Nashville.  

I got back on the winning side on PokerStars tonight with a chop of a 10-person tournament with some rebuys (but not by me) hosted by the usual local group here.  I cleared a profit of $90.  

12/23 - I had a few early-evening half-pint brews at the Homegrown Tap Room in Donelson before we headed to another Christmas-themed bar and dinner in East Nashville.  I started with the Cherry Stout from Bell's Brewing (MI) and thought it was pretty good despite me not being really fond of cherries.  Next up was the ho-hum wheat beer called Winter Cheers from Victory Brewing (PA).  My third was the winner of the night (as is Homegrown's awesome bacon and cheese popcorn - yum!) and pictured above.  The Merry Crispmas lager with spruce and juniper from local Southern Grist Brewing here in Nashville is the best seasonal brew I've had this year.  No surprise from my favorite Nashville brewery for a few years running now.  I ended the evening with a dessert half-pint of the excellent S'more Gratitude pastry stout from Mad Tree Brewing up in Cincy.  

12/24 - We headed down to Chattanooga tonight to spend Christmas Eve and most of Christmas Day with family.  When we got to Chattanooga, we stopped by Terminal Brewhouse where Ashlee and her friend, Mollie, exchanged gifts.  My gift from both of them was the meeting being here!!  I went half-pints again for caloric and alcoholic reasons.  I started with their brand-new Cherry Poppin' Stout which as their (borrowed) picture above shows was aged in Chattanooga Whiskey barrels.  I thought it was very good.  That's two cherry-based stouts in row that I've liked.  It's a trend!!  Next up was their Dead Sexy Scottish Ale which I thought was solid.  I finished with their also solid Rock Out With Your Bock Out German style Maibock.
When we got to our family's place, my brother-in-law, Andy, who I've groomed to be a pretty good beer snob, cracked open THREE growlers he picked up from Riverside Beverages here in town. And, man, he done good!!  The first was a very interesting and rather good sour called Lord Grey.  It's a sour ale from Three Taverns Brewing (GA) with Earl Grey tea added that sure seems to take some of the sour punch out of it and leaves a nice tart and floral finish.   Next up was an even better Kobes kolsch from Barrique Brewing up in Nashville. Aged 55 days in white wine barrels gave this one a smooth, dry finish.  The last one was the best one, an awesome Belgian quad from Oddstory Brewing here in Chattanooga called Grandfather Death, not a very cheery name at Christmas, but still a great beer. Well done, and thank you, Andy! 

12/25 - Merry Christmas!!  I started Christmas Day out with a pint can of another beer that Andy had gotten me a 4-pack of for Christmas.  It was another sort of sour (ok, buddy, you're pushing it...lol).  The Sparkleberry is a Belgian Tripel from Bell's Brewing (MI) with lots of raspberries added for some uber-tartness.  Not awful, but there's no way I am drinking four of these.  Left two of them with Andy!   
The craft beer improved when we got home and cranked up a game of Christmasopoly (which I got for Ashlee and then I won!  Oops!), and I had a can of the excellent Hoppy Christmas IPA from Brew Dog's Columbus brewery which my pal Nate had given me a little while back.  And it's his birthday!  He not only looks like Jesus, but he also has the same birthday.! Cheers, brother!! 

12/28 - We had a New Year's trip to South Carolina planned around a Duke game at Clemson.  The game got postponed (thanks Covid), and our plan to pick up Ashlee's sister, Paige, in Chattanooga, also got foiled when she tested positive (thanks again, Covid).  We went ahead and continued our planned route along good ol' Hwy. 64 out of Tennessee into North Carolina with an overnight stay in Franklin, NC.  We haven't been on windy, narrow Hwy. 64 in a while, but old friends like Cullasaja Falls (photo above) were still there to greet us.  Nice to be back! 

We've never spent any time in Franklin, NC, on our previous trips along Hwy. 64, but it's a very nice, historic town with TWO craft breweries also! Our first stop was at Lazy Hiker Brewing where we had a tasty dinner out of the food truck on site and a few libations. I started with their Spruce Ale lager which I thought was very good.  I also had a sip of Ashlee's choice:  the tasty Winter Nutterland ale.  I finished with their outstanding Trimont IPA.  Good motto and good beer!  We shall return someday! 

Even though she couldn't come with us, I enjoyed wearing my great Christmas gift from my sis-in-law, Paige, today.  We miss you, PCH!   

Our next stop was the Franklin location of Currahee Brewing out of Alpharetta, GA.  The photo above was taken at night with no flash with Ashlee's great new 3-lens IPhone camera ... mine is coming soon.  I can't wait!!  We each enjoyed a brew here sitting outside along the Little Tennessee River in crazy mild weather for late December.  I had their boozy, but tasty, wild ale called Currahee 506th Series: Vol. 4, and a taste of Ashlee's choice, the even better Slick Rock Brown ale.  

12/29 - With the basketball game postponed, there was no need to go to Clemson now, so we headed straight for Greenville, SC, this morning since that city has been our list to visit for a while now. Our first stop was for lunch and some suds there at Panagea Brewing.   Our Vietnamese pizza was unique and delicious!  The brews were solid too.  I started with their Irish dry stout called Murphy's Law.  I had a sip of Ashlee's choice, the impressive White Thaiger wheat. 

I've been to South Carolina before, but not a craft brewery here, so I earned this milestone badge on UNTAPPD at Pangaea Brewing where I finished with their really top-notch Clever Girl IPA.   

I earned another milestone badge on UNTAPPD tonight at the Pour beer bar in downtown Greenville where we met some friends who also happened to be in town.  It's one of those places where you pay by the ounce, so I went kinda nuts (2 or 3 ounces at a time, that is) since they had a ton of regional stuff I had not had.  Here's a quick rundown of my dozen samples:

the very good Pixels NEIPA - Seminar Brewing (SC)
the good Yoeman's Brown Ale - Brewery 85 here in Greenville
the tasty Obstruction of Justice IPA - Legal Remedy Brewing (SC)
the "best of the night" Ode to Mercy "Nitrode" brown ale - Wild Heaven Brewing (GA)
the really good Orange Infused Blonde Ale - Cooper River Brewing (SC) 
the OK NEIPA called A Hop Crushed My Mind - 13 Stripes Brewing (SC)
the very tasty Sweet Potato Pie yam beer - Tradesmen Brewing (SC)
the solid Hoppy Holidays IPA - NoDa Brewing (Charlotte, NC)
the very good double NEIPA called On Cassette - New Anthem Beer Project (NC) 
the tremendous golden stout called World Court - Legal Remedy (SC)
the yummy winter ale called Winter Solstice - Anderson Valley Brewing (CA)
the interesting but good Russian imperial stout called Cookie Doh! - Southern Range Brewing (NC)

12/30 - We continued on to the coast to Beaufort, SC, today.  It's on our list of possible retirement/snow-bird locales, but a big con right off the bat for me was no craft brewery - strike one! In fact, craft beer in general was kind of hard to find here.  They did have a decent selection at a place we ate lunch at called the Lowcountry Produce Market Cafe where I had a can of the pretty good Marsh Hen cream ale from Reverly Brewing up the road in nearby Charleston.  

12/31 -After a large, late lunch, we decided to just hang out in the hotel room for New Year's Eve and watch old sitcoms.  I was impressed that our little Tru Hotel by Hilton had some craft beer available to buy in their lobby, so I picked up a can of the solid Damn Yankee IPA from Southern Barrel Brewing over in Bluffton, SC to toast the new year.  

Hanging in the hotel room tonight also gave me the chance to peruse my 2021 Year in Beer per UNTAPPD.  I was down just a few check-ins from 2020, but a 568 total is pretty good!   My highest ranked beer was the Sutherland IPA from Living Waters Brewing in Nashville.  The now-defunct Various Artists Brewing was my # 1 brewery, sad to say.  I covered 262 breweries this year, but my badges-earned count on UNTAPPD was way down for some reason.  Stinginess on their part, I think.  Didn't even get one for 3K beers checked in.  My top location for beer check-ins was the pool.  No surprise there!  And my top beer buddy was best friend, Craig, as it should be. 
It was a good year in beer. 
Let's move on to another one!