So close to summer you can taste it! Cheers!

A modern goddess!! 

5/1 - I hate to benefit at the expense of others (except in poker), but when my beer/soccer pal Nate's wife broke her foot recently, it opened up a seat for me at the SOLD OUT inaugural game at the new Geodis Stadium for the Nashville Soccer Club today vs. the Philadelphia Union! Thanks, Ginny, and get well soon!  The stadium (appropriately nicknamed "The Castle") is magnificent, and the weather today was perfect.  I brought a few tailgate beers from my recent Beer Drop order.  I started with the very good Scottish ale called Ba-Ree from High Hops Brewing (CO).  I also enjoyed a pint can of the solid Premium Pils from New Image Brewing (CO).  

Nate's seats are right on the field in the south end of the stadium.  A perfect close-up view to see one of our NSC stars, Hany Muktar, send in a corner kick.  Nate and I also shockingly found a beer neither of us had had before at a BBQ stand on the way to our seats.  The Memphis Sands Helles lager from WISEACRE Brewing (Memphis) was pretty darn good.

Again, it's just a beautiful stadium from top to bottom.  After a scoreless first half, we fell behind early in the second half 1-0, but the huge 30K+ crowd was still in it.   

I discovered Cumberland Crafts beer bar in the second half and got me a draft "rally beer" as we tied the game up late with a deserved penalty kick.  The aptly-named Rivalry IPA from Hub City Brewing out in Jackson, TN, was very tasty. 

The game ended in a draw with a valuable point gathered vs. the # 1 team in the eastern division.  NSC striker, Randall Leal, (photo above) got us back to even.  Another plus to Nate's seats are that they are right beside the tunnel where the players enter and exit the stadium, so some close-up encounters are very likely.  Say for instance, someone hands Randall's newborn baby to him from right behind you!  

Captain Dax!  Another great close-up shot from Nate's seats.  Thanks again, bud!  Getting out the parking lot (the infield of the historic racetrack next door) was a bit of a nightmare, but luckily I had one tailgate pint can left to sip on while I waited. The Summer Daze wheat from Mad Anthony Brewing (IN) was pretty good despite not being super cold, but you take what you can get! 

After the game (and traffic), I met back up with Nate at the nearby Fait la Force Brewing where I had their outstanding saison called Orchestral Fanfare, and their equally impressive rye farmhouse ale called French Adventuress.  This might be our new rally point for NSC games since you can easily walk from here to the stadium (and walk back quicker than the traffic jam leaving). 

5/2 -  After picking Ashlee up at the airport this evening, we stopped by Phat Bites in Donelson for dinner and to wait out some rush-hour traffic.  It's a funky little place, but the food was fresh and good.  With my Cajun pasta I had the "house beer" called, what else, Phat Beer, a decent little pilsner, but I am not sure who makes it for them.  

5/4 - Mmmm, beer...cup.  I kinda love my belated birthday gift from my sis-in-law, Paige, that she picked on a recent trip with Ashlee to the Universal Studios Theme Park down in Orlando.  Thanks, PCH!  I also had some real beer today at The Cedar Tap Happy Hour.  I started with the very good Inception Pale Lager from Blackberry Farms Brewing over in Maryville.  Next up was another solid pale lager called Bach from Living Waters Brewing here in Nashville.  

I was happy to see my last beer today at The Cedar Tap earned an ALES for ALS badge, meaning a little of the sales went to a great cause.  That beer was the decent kolsch called Gold Record from Rhinegeist Brewing (Cincinnati). 

5/6-   I headed over to the Opry Mills Theaters late this afternoon to catch opening day of Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness in IMAX 3D.  I thought it was a fun film and the 3D was actually pretty good.  Beforehand, I finished up work at TennFold Brewing in Donelson where I had a couple libations as well including their refreshing and tasty new lager called Songs in the Key of Lime,  and their collaboration stout with a couple other local breweries called Resist! It's a support brew for Ukraine and a couple bucks from each pint sold goes to The Red Cross relief efforts there.  Hey, Putin...go fuck yourself!  Cheers! 

5/8 - I was a guest again of my pal, Nate, at the NSC game today vs. Real Salt Lake.  We decided to avoid the traffic snarl of parking onsite and opted to walk from nearby Fait La Force Brewery.  Before our jaunt, we had a couple pints, of course.  I started with their impressive dark lager called the Emperor's Wisdom.  Next up was their decent Belgian blonde called Heathen Philosopher.  The mile walk was easy and safe.  We hooked up with the NSC support group called The MixTape 615 for some tailgating.  I went ahead paid my dues and joined the group to take advantage of their season-long food and brew available before each home game.   While there I had a can of the always-great Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA (2021) where I haven't checked in on UNTAPPD for a couple years now, and an OK little pony bottle of Modelo's lager called Modelito Especial.  Thanks, group!! 

The game was awesome and a big 2-0 win!!   While at the game I had a nice draft pint of Deez Coconuts cream ale from Rock and Dough Pizza (Memphis) who now has a booth at the new stadium.  My second half choice was a repeat on UNTAPPD, but still a good one:  the Basement IPA (2021) from Scofflaw Brewing (Atlanta).  After our easy walk back to Fait la Force where we hooked up with my best friend, Craig, and his wife and Al and their son, Ryan, I had a pint and a half pint (cuz I'm driving) to close out the victorious night.  Their cold IPA called Polar Explorer was a little underwhelming, but not bad.  My half pint of Admiral of the Narrow Seas, their Baltic porter was much better. 

5/9 - I had to take our Subaru Outback up to Gallatin for an oil change today, and as I drove in I spied a new Garcia's Mexican Restaurant nearby that I could walk to for lunch while getting my service.  Well, their tacos were great.  Their wifi is free and fast for working.  And they even have a pretty good draft beer selection.  I chose the surprisingly good Gatino Gose from Hutton and Smith Brewing down in Chattanooga.  The lightly tart with hints of salt and coriander go perfect with Mexican fare. 

Thanks to Movie Mike for the shout-out on his podcast today of an email I sent him recently about the fun movie guessing game called "Framed." 

5/10 - My first official day working (and poker playing) from the pool was today.  Get used to this view all summer!!  I christened the pool/office with a can of Bang Bang Double IPA from Station 26 Brewing (Denver) from my most recent Beer Drop order.  I followed that up with a pint can of Cambodge, a unique and tasty Cambodian-inspired farmhouse ale from Diebolt Brewing (Denver).

I subbed tonight in the Lebanon Poker League.  My partner, Chip, was playing for us, but it didn't matter since we are far out of the running for WSOP points.    I brought only one beer since I was running low with my pool time libations earlier and didn't have to stop for more.  It was a dandy though.  A delicious pint can of Night's Rose, an imperial stout from Ursula Brewing (CO).  Our poker host, John, and his girlfriend also said I could have anything in the fridge that I wanted so I spied a bottle of Chimay Grande Reserve (Blue) which I thought I had already checked in, but had not, so it officially became my 4000th unique beer to check in on UNTAPPD!! Thanks, Doc! But no badge from UNTAPPD for my achievement??  That's just sad.  

5/11, 5/12, 5/13, 5/14 and 5/15 - Following is a listing of collective pool libations I had over these five days that were from a variety six-pack I got at Lebanon Wine and Spirits and a couple of half-growlers from Providence Wine and Spirits:  first up was the excellent bottle of Beeracuda pale lager from Abita Brewing (LA); next was the half growler of the surprisingly smooth and likable Italian pilsner called Croccante from Pontoon Brewing (GA); a half growler of a fruited gose from Orpheus Brewing (Atlanta) called There Was Such A Thing As Daylight was next.  I couldn't finish the half growler.  Even with the added ginger, it was just too sour for more than one pint.   I cleaned my pallet and my attitude with a can of the delicious and hoppy Icelandic Artic Lager from Einstok Brewing (Iceland).  Next up was a pint can of the excellent Native Land NEIPA from Yazoo Brewing here in Nashville; a bottle of the smooth and tasty Kentucky Peanut Butter Stout from Lexington Brewing; another bottle of another impressive milk stout called Camp Amp from Dogfish Head Brewing (DE); and yet another bottled stout, the Kentucky Breakfast Stout (KBS) 2022 from Founders Brewing (MI).

5/15 - It was also Dollar Pours Day at The Cedar Tap for Mug Club members, so I walked up and had a couple before walking back just before dark.  I started with the solid Sentinel IPA (photo above) from Living Waters Brewing here in Nashville.  They only had sours left to choose from as a new brew for me, so I opted for the decent Blueberry Boyfriend from Prairie Artisanal Ales (OK). 

5/16 - I started American Craft Beer Week off right today with another pool float and a can of Raging Eagle Mango fruit beer from Yuengling Brewing (PA) that my friend, Emily, brought me.  It was pretty good.  Thanks, Em! 

5/17 - It was at another oil change in Mt. Juliet today, so afterwards I grabbed lunch at Catch 22 where I had some amazing fried salmon street tacos and a pint of the refreshing IPA called Bright Day Coming from Three Taverns Brewing (GA).  I stopped by the Mt. Juliet Beer Company as well and picked up a variety four-pack for future pool floating, one of which I cracked on a quick float this afternoon.  It was the solid Wanderlinger Lager from Wanderlinger Brewing down in Chattanooga.   

5/18 - I cheated on my haircut gal, Kim, today because I needed a trim before an upcoming trip and she's not available on Wednesdays, so I checked out the hip, new Blackbeard Barbershop her in Lebanon at The Mill. Cool place.  Nice cut.  A bit pricey, but not awful.  They have a bar too, but I wasn't offered a libation.  What's up with that?  Anyway, it's probably back to Watertown next month instead. 

I was also able to squeeze in a quick pool float this afternoon before heading to the airport for our trip.  I cracked open a can of the very nice Premium (Postmodern Beer), a farmhouse ale from Stillwater Artisanal (Brooklyn, NY); and an also quite tasty Proper Pils Czech pilsner from SpindleTap Brewing (Houston). 

5/19 - Time for a Happy Anniversary beer up here in Massachusetts.   Ashlee and I decided to check out the Cape Cod area and the "Key West of the North" Provincetown out at the tip for our 21st wedding anniversary trip.  One of our first stops was the Cape Cod Beer Company in Barnstable.  These guys had some great beer and some decent food for lunch too.  I started with their just-released-today wheat beer called Cape Cod Summer that was fantastic.   I had a few sips of Ashlee's Big Sea Saison that was pretty solid.   I ended with their interesting and refreshing Shillelagh Irish Pale Ale.  They allowed for a variety four-pack to be bought so I took them up on it to have in our room up in P-Town.  More on those later...

I was, of course, lighthouse chasing too on this trip and walked up solo to check out pretty Nauset Light in Eastham while Ashlee waited in the car.  

We got to Provincetown and checked into our super-nice hotel, The Brass Key Guesthouse.   We walked to dinner and picked the local legend, The Lobster Pot, where I had a draft of Outermost IPA from Hog Island Beer Company in nearby Orleans, Massachusetts, with my meal.  Back at the hotel and in their giant hot tub right outside our room (photo above) I cracked open a pint can of the Narrow Lands NEIPA from Cape Cod Beer Company. It was very good and went down smooth in the warm, bubbling water.  I ended with their Big Dipah double IPA back in the room and it was excellent as well.  

5/20 - We walked over to Provincetown Brewing this afternoon on our way to a whale watching trip.  Their selection was a little less than Cape Cod Beer's, but I do love their logo with the top of the hard-to-miss town landmark, The Pilgrim's Monument, on it .  I started with their double IPA called Double Rainbow that I thought was OK, but needed more hops.  The Bearded Mistress IPA (photo above) was light and pretty solid.  I also had a sip of Ashlee's choice, the Spilt Tea hard seltzer which was surprisingly good since those are not my thing usually. 

We drank outside in the mild weather in the shadow of the tower on Provincetown Brewing's logo. 

Well, the whale watching trip was out of this world and the best I've been on ever.  We happened upon a couple of mother humpbacks and their calves feeding in an area and staying there for what seemed like hours.  The photo above is just one of a dozen great shots I got.  Wow!  What a day!!  There was even craft beer on the boat!  The obvious choice was the Whale's Tale Pale Ale from Cisco Brewing over on Nantucket which I've actually had before, but it sure tasted sweeter with these amazing views!!  

Just an amazing afternoon from start to finish.  

We were starved when we got back from the whale watching and headed straight to dinner at The Patio American Grill where we dined outside and my roasted haddock (foreground in the photo above) was incredible.  The beer in the picture was the solid Fiddlehead IPA from Fiddlehead Brewing (VT). 
I decided to bring my other two Cape Cod Beers home with me since I was checking a bag on tomorrow's flight.  What a great place!  Can't wait to come back! 

5/21 - Our flight back home from Boston Logan Airport was delayed, but it had nothing to do with the fog still hanging around the airport and city late in the afternoon today.  The delay did give me a chance for a few more craft beer check-ins as we found a great bar called Not Your Average Joe's that had an excellent selection.  I started with the very good Post Shift Pilsner from Jack's Abby Craft Lagers over in Framingham, Mass. I ended with the excellent Sluice Juice NEIPA from Bent Water Brewing in Lynn, Mass.  It just so happens my UNTAPPD friend, Mando, checked in the same beer at the same bar back in April while waiting on a delayed flight.  When it doubt...drink!! 

Not my best shot from a plane, but one of the coolest sites was the Boston Lighthouse among the pounding waves through the fog and clouds.   I guess ya had to be there...or at least OVER there. 

5/22 - I walked up for Happy Hour at The Cedar Tap late this afternoon.  Their board was pretty full of beers I had already tried, but I eked out a couple new ones (at least to me).   I started with the excellent Salted Caramel Porter from Anderson Valley Brewing (CA).  Before heading back, I also had the very nice Cosmic Sipper golden ale from East Nashville Beer Works. 

I decided to go see the remastered, director's edition of Star Trek The Motion Picture at the Hollywood Theaters in Nashville tonight since I've never seen it on the big screen.  It was pretty corny, but, hey, it's "Star Trek" and it was way back in 1979.  Beforehand, I had a couple of craft brews at, well, Craft Brewed.  I started with the really good Dreadnaught double IPA from 3 Floyds Brewing (IN).  I finished up with the light and refreshing wheat beer called Bucket of Flowers from Edmund's Oast Brewing (SC). 

I sported my new Cape Cod Beer hat tonight and made another stop before the movie at The Black Abbey Brewing Company which is near the theaters.  I had their very good and very new rye beer called Mash, Rinse, RyePeat (get it).  

524 - Holy hops, Batman!  Not one, but two more craft breweries are coming to Lebanon!! Man, what a great time to finally live in the backassward county!!  Tenn Lakes Brewing will be opening soon in The Mill, the complex where I just got my hair cut; and East Nashville Beer Works is opening an "East of Nashville Beerworks" facility over near Hwy. 109!  Let's see if all these places can stay afloat in this still backassward county where most people would pass on paying $7 for a beer despite saying they love small business and want to "buy American."  Hey, buddy, that Miller Lite in your hand ain't American no more...

My double Beer Drop order came today.  I went double because it was a better price per beer, and I wanted to load up for the 3-day holiday weekend (hopefully spent mostly in the pool) coming up.  I got a nice, most light, variety with a Belgian tripel and a golden ale; a Mexican lager and a pale lager both with lime and sea salt; a few other lagers including an amber, a Bavarian helles, and a Vienna; one IPA only this time; a nice-looking kolsch; and a rye barrel-aged oatmeal stout that just sounded too good to pass up.   Cheers!! 

5/25 - Look, the company I work for now, Aptive Environmental, is pretty goofy at times and can even be embarrassing to work at other times, but they do seem to try with their employees.    Check out these awesome free Nike Air kicks they sent me for no real reason at all!   All had to do is tell them my size and pick my "Nike by Rob" design.  Thanks, folks! 

It was Lebanon Poker Night for me - the last one of this season that I am playing.  I took some of my new Beer Drop brews with me.  First up was a can of the tasty Gold Rush Belgian strong golden ale from Pikes Peak Brewing (CO).  Next up to toast a triple up of my poker stack by pulling off an all-in bluff over AA and fading a nut flush draw, I swigged the decent (more hops, please) Wilson IPA from Roadhouse Brewing (WY).  I finished the night with a frustrating 3rd place finish (thanks to a bad beat by the worst player at the table) and a consolatory can of the very nice Bavarian Lager from GoodLife Brewing (OR).