It's About Fall, Ya'll!!

Just cuz it's cool... 

9/3 - On the road again for work.  This time it's Chattanooga! I finally got a chance to stay at the historic and beautiful (look at that crapper!!) Read House in downtown Chatty.  Very cool!  Thanks, Cumberland U!!  The fairs were a little slow today, but the Baptists sure can cook.   I had some great complimentary lasagna at the Silverdale Academy tonight.

I also had my fantasy football draft for a new league at work.  I think I did OK.  We shall see. 

My Enterpise rental is a comfy Jeep Compass (with ApplePlay, thank goodness).  

I stopped by Odd Story Brewing's "Green House" which I thought was going to be a new location, but it's the same one on ML King where they've always been.  I had their terrific ESB called Fabled Fire. 
I got back to my room and had a helluva comeback in a small buy-in NLCP tournament on Global Poker to get a win vs. around 20 players for around 1,000% ROI.  The exact info got closed out before I could record them, but the W is what counts the most!

9/4 - It was an extremely early and long day today since I had to run up to the Knoxville area for two morning fairs and then back down here to Chattanooga for a night fair.  I did have a little gap time (in between driving) to stop at Orange Hat Brewing in Knoxville to admire their city skyline wall art (photo above) and have a couple of their excellent beers.  First up was the smooth and hoppy IPA called No Handlebars and then an excellent spicy rye porter they call Pepper Ryeman.
I got back to Chattanooga in time to have a couple more "gap beers" at Naked River Brewing including their solid IPA called Sturgeon General and my first pumpkin beer of the upcoming fall season, the tasty Pumpkin Vice. 
I was done drinking for the day, so I headed back to my room kind of early to prep for my BFFFL fantasy football draft and play some online poker. 
No luck in poker, but my second fantasy football draft went OK. 

9/5 - It was a long day in Chattanooga today and then a long drive over to Shelbyville and back this evening.  On the way I made a couple of "for me" stops - the first being Top of the Rock Brewing and Restaurant atop the mountain in Jasper Highlands in Kimball.  I had their Kolsch which was OK, but their view is killer, especially on a clear day like today and on a weekday afternoon with no crowd.  

My next stop was at Common John Brewing in Manchester for dinner and a brew as well.  Their cheeseburger pizza on the company tit was tasty and their California common called Scared Money was great.   

9/6 - I was fed pretty well at the Chattanooga college fairs this week, so I had a little extra company money to spend before leaving today.  I decided to grab a pizza pie to take home for later from the Lupi's Pizza location in Hixson.  (It was delish!  Thanks CU!)  They even had beer on tap as I waited for my take-out order, and I enjoyed a cold frosty pint of the very good Juice Wizard (a Wizard's Order IPA) from Tailgate Brewing who now have a brewing location here in town.  The photo above is actually from last night's visit to Common John Brewing's men's room.  It's just too hilarious not to post in a blog entitled "I-P-A River." 

9/7 - I had to pay $10+ a month for ESPN+ (thanks for nothing shitty Spectrum Cable) to watch the epic beat-down by The Big Orange of the NC State Wolfpack today, but it was worth it.  This is quite a team assembled in Knoxville this season.  I am eager to see how far they can go!!  I had a couple float beers in the pool today before the game after some yard work which included a repeat of the recent Campside Pale Ale from Upland Brewing (IN) and a Lager for the Lakes (2023) from Bell's Brewing (MI), both of which were from my most recent BeerBox order.   

9/8 - I got a small buy-in NLHE bounty tournament win tonight on Global Poker vs. just 13 other players with five knockouts for a total ROI of just under 600%.  
Two fantasy football wins as well today! 

9/10 - My co-workers, Todd and Apurvah, and I checked out an Indian restaurant in Mt. Juliet today after work and not only was the food banging good, but they also had some Indian beers available that were new-to-me and not too bad at all.  The place is called Persis Indian Grill and the beers I had were the King Chakra pale lager (pictured above) from Som Brewery (India) and the 1947 Premium Lager, a collab from New World Beverages (NY) and Appalachian Brewing (PA) and created by Indian Americans.  Thanks to having an expert like Apurvah with us, we got some great stuff off the menu we probably wouldn't not have ordered on our own! 

9/11 - I had another short trip for work towards Knoxville today and got close enough to drop by one of the locations of Abridged Beer Company for lunch and a couple brews.  First up was their excellent DIPA called Alright, Alright, and their solid NZ-style pilsner called Southern Star.  The Abridged Burger I had on the company dime was excellent.  

 
Where I was headed this week gave me a chance to stay in one of the cabins (# 16) on the lake at Big Ridge State Park just north of Knoxville.  I took my fishing pole in hopes of wetting a line now and then also. 

 
My rental car from Enterprise was a decent little Nissan Sentra that I got to park right beside the cabin (photo above).   I got three crowlers of craft beer from Abridged Beer Company and enjoyed the first one, their cold IPA called Cool Hand Luke, tonight at the cabin.  I had a small fish on but lost it before I could land it, but otherwise, not a much action on the lake, but it was still an evening on the lake!! 

9/11 thru 9/22 - Meanwhile back in Lebanon, I started another long cat/house sitting gig around the corner with my feline pal, Foxie, again along with a little help from my friend, Apurvah, at the start and at the end as I hit the road again for the short work trip this week and then another full week the week following next.   

9/12 - My second and last night in the cabin at Big Ridge State Park is where I had to wish a Happy Birthday to Ashlee as she was traveling back from Austin, Texas, for work as well today.  Cheers, honey!  I toasted my baby with my second ABC crowler, the light and easy-drinking lager called The Rifleman from my sweet, screened porch overlooking Big Ridge Lake.   

Woo Hoo!!  Success!!  My first Big Ridge Lake bass landed!  This picture doesn't do this little beauty justice.  He was well over a pound and very healthy and full of fight!  What a thrill!!  Unfortunately, he was my only action of the night, but I will take it!  
I toasted my limited, but satisfying, fishing success afterwards with my third and last ABC crowler of Sgt. Swig, a decent and mild red ale.

Beforehand, after finishing up with a college fair in Oneida, I was just too close to not go take a look at the amazing East Rim Overlook of The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River.  I had this National Scenic Area view all to myself also.  I did a little waterfall scouting as well and will need to come back to tackle (and find) Bandy Creek Falls which is nearby and could be pretty awesome.  

9/13 - I was headed back toward home after my last college fair today and had time to stop by Monkey Town Brewing in Dayton for a couple of their brews.  First up was the solid session IPA called Skinny Dippin' and then their excellent India pale pilsner called California Dreamin'.  It's great to see that while some other regional microbreweries are calling it quits, MTBC has actually expanded operations to two other locations.  Keep up the good work and the good beer, folks!! 

I also finished a very good audiobook today by John Grisham.  While "The Reckoning" did have some courtroom/lawyer drama in it, I was pleasantly surprised that it was more of a historical fiction story also which made it that much more enjoyable.  

9/14 - With some chilly pool water, it was "top-water lures" only today for my float with three nice brews from my recent BeerBox.com delivery.  First up was the Tropical Salty Lady fruited Gose that was tart, but refreshing, from Martin House Brewing (TX).  Next was the nice summer Helles lager called Reef Knot from Half Acres Beer Co. (Chicago).   I concluded drinking and floating (thanks to some rain) with a very nice pint can called the Greenhouse German Pilsner from Evil Twin Brewing (NY). 

9/15 - I got a small buy-in NLCP tournament win on Global Poker tonight while cat-sitting around the corner with my grumpy old gal, Foxie.  I bested 29 other players for
an ROI of right at 1,100%! 

9/18 - I picked up another rental car for work today. It was a decent little Volkswagen Jetta that I took first on a day trip to Warren County/McMinnville.  After the college fair there, I dropped back by Common John Brewing in nearby Manchester where I had a tasty hot dog on the company dime for lunch and a couple of brews on mine.  First up was their excellent festbier/marzen called Better in the Fall.  I closed out with a sip of their NEIPA Slow Down, Easy (Chapter XIV) which the barkeep said wasn't as good as the new Slow Down, Easy (Chapter XV) ...and she was right, but I thought both are pretty tasty and highly drinkable.  I really do love this brewery! 

9/19 - A took another quick overnight trip to Knoxville for another college fair (that was a real bust), but it did give me a chance to finish a wonderful audio book called "Remarkably Bright Creatures."  Yep, teared up a little at the end.

 
This little trip also gave me a chance to stop by Fanatic Brewing in Knoxville for a couple brews that were honestly not that great.  The first one was a soapy mess Rye Porter that didn't have much rye taste either.  The Svetly Lozak 10 Czech-style pale lager was a little better, but still nothing great.  I will probably avoid these guys when I am back here next week and try their nearby neighbors, Black Dog, and Ebony and Ivory Brewing instead. 
My dinner on the company dime were some good, but overpriced, voodoo chicken tacos from The Chop House near my nice Drury Hotel off the Cedar Bluff exit in West Knoxville.  I will be here again next week.  

9/20 - I headed back west toward home today and hit another college fair in Baxter on the way.  Afterwards, I stopped for a late lunch (on CU) at Edel's Tavern in Carthage.  Their pretty copper bar held my pint (paid for by me) of the decent wheat beer from hometown Tenn Lakes Brewing called Whatever Yo.  The chicken fingers were decent.  

9/21 - I met my friend, Tom, and his girlfriend, Terry, at his house and we rode down to Murfreesboro today to catch the Duke at MTSU football game.  Tom, like me, is a fan of Duke, so we were definitely pulling the Blue Devils over the Blue Raiders today.  Before the game, we had lunch at the Boulevard Bar and Grill near the stadium.  It had good food and a solid craft beer list.  I had their "house lager" which they claim they brew there but seems suspect.  But since I couldn't find it on UNTAPPD, I went ahead and added it as is and thought it was actually pretty good.  I finished there with a bland, but serviceable, Nashville Amber Lager from Nashville Brewing which I think is contract-brewed by Blackstone Brewing over in Music City.  I thought I had checked this one in before on UNTAPPD, but the all-knowing app said no.  
At the game, the hot sun and then stormy weather in the 3rd quarter kept me from visiting the stadium's beer garden, but I did have the star of the show today:  the excellent and surprisingly light Chocolate Milk Stout from local Cedar Glade Brewing.
After a long lightning delay and a comfortable lead by Duke, we slipped out before the rain got us.  Duke finished off MTSU by a final score of 45-17

9/22 - I had to head back to Knoxville for the week today, but I did so in style thanks to a goof by Enterprise Rentals.  They lost my reservation which I had proof of, and my "standard" car turned into a nice little Mercedes Benz GLA 250 SUV.  So far, I'm actually not that impressed, but let's see if grows on me in a week.   I had a beer on the patio before I left, a nice pint can of the La Bamba, a Mexican-style milk stout from Birmingham (AL) District Brewing - another "payment" beer from my pal, Nate, for pet-sitting for him and his wife while they were in the B-ham for a concert.  

9/23 - Since it was not released in theaters around here, I decided to rent the new thriller/crime movie centered around poker called Dead Money while hanging out in my nice Drury Inn hotel room tonight in Knoxville.   It was decent, but pretty much stole a lot of the poker themes/scenarios from Rounders IMO and then slapped a dark crime comedy around it.   

9/24 - My second fair in Knoxville today ended exactly at BEER:30...what are the odds??  So, I jumped over to Orange Hat Brewing for a couple pints starting with their solid hefeweizen called Nanners 'n Jammers, and then their lovely IPA called El Dorado Bullfighter.  These guys are becoming my K-Town go-to brewery for sure. 

Beforehand, I had a fantastic, and healthy, lunch (on CU) at Pokeworks.

9/25 - I sat and watched the rain come down between fairs over in Maryville at Peaceful Side Brewing (formerly Blackberry Farm Brewing).  I like the new name, and I really liked the beer!  First up was their excellent IPA followed by their equally terrific Dude, Where's My Haze IPA?. 

I had dinner (on CU) - a delicious wedge salad with blackened chicken and a couple more brews at the Blackhorse Pub and Brewery which also has this location I learned today in Maryville as well as in Clarksville.  Their beers were OK, and probably overshadowed by the recent great ones at PSBC.  Their McGee's Pale Ale was a little soapy to my pallet.  The Stargazer NEIPA was better, but still rather unmemorable.  

I got back to my room tonight in time to take down a small-entry NLCP progressive bounty tournament on Global Poker vs. 32 other players with 9 knockouts (including the tournament maniac who had racked up a lot of bounties) for a total ROI of over 1,500%!!  $75 cash-out on its way!! 

9/26 - Today was my only day this week without a full day of fairs and my morning one was even cancelled due to flooding weather.  So, it was pretty lazy day in K-town. 

After my only afternoon fair near the hotel, I stopped by for a couple beers at the Tennessee Tap House because they had food too.  I got the Volunbeer lager from Next Level Brewing here in Knoxville, but then the stupid barkeep couldn't figure out how to do a tax-free meal, so I left and went next door to the nice Parkside Grill and had a tasty steak skewer, tax-free because this barkeep had half a brain, and she got a nice tip for doing so.  I finished with a stop at the Crafty Bastards Brewing West location and had a couple of pretty good brews.  The place isn't much to look at, but it was popular this rainy afternoon.  First up I had their solid, but fruitier than I was expecting by the name, Hop Candy IPA.  I finished with their nice and accurate-tasting Munich Dunkel Lager.  

Tonight, I went to opening night of the new historical biopic, Lee, starring one of my faves, Kate Winslet.  It was pretty good overall and a fascinating true story, but the dinky little Regal Downtown West 8 is kind of a dump, but at least it's close to the hotel. 

9/27 - I headed back from Knoxville today early in the rain the whole way as my only fair of the day was postponed due to this hurricane in The Gulf driven weather.  I give the Mercedes Benz a C- at best.  Just not that great, and kind of annoying to drive overall.  What I do give high marks to is the great audiobook I am listening to currently to help pass the miles.  "The God of the Woods" is a spooky thriller set in the 70's with backstories going a decade before as well.   Really well written and crafted.  

My last Beer Box of the year (see ya next summer!!) was waiting on me when I got home.  Looks like another great combo including three IPAs, a couple marzens (tis the season!), a pilsner, a lager and a bock.  Plus, some coasters and beer nuts as usual.  Cheers!  

9/28 - We traveled down to the brand-new South Star Music Festival in Huntsville, Alabama, today and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine blew my mind as well as the roof off the place!!  And his stand on how he feels about Trump was pretty clear (photo above).  Take that, Bama!!   "Because you are the machine, motherfucker!!" 

They didn't have jack-shit in terms of good craft beer at the festival.  I had a feeling.  I had an overpriced and terribly sweet "malt beverage" called Pirate Water Sex on the Beach from Drink Four Brewing Co. (Chicago).  I made it up for it with a couple travel-beers in the hotel room beforehand that I brought from my recent Beer Box delivery.  I had a feeling.  First up was the excellent Mad Hatter IPA from New Holland Brewing (MI), and then a tasty Bockslider from Martin House Brewing (TX).  

9/30 - After enjoying a Remote Day at home, I went to see the much-anticipated sequel, Joker: Folie a Deux Fan First Premiere in IMAX at the Streets of Indian Lake Theaters in Hendersonville tonight with my pal, Toney.  I thought this chapter of my favorite DC villain (RIP Heath Ledger who still did it the best) was pretty disappointing overall.  A fairly dull story leading up to a very unlikable ending IMO.  Is this really how you're going to treat one of the greatest comic-book villains of all time??

10/1 - A shout-out and a prayer for all the folks, businesses and lives that were devasted this past week by Hurricane Helene even hundreds of miles inland like in Asheville, NC, pictured above (yeah, global warming is a myth) at French Broad Brewing (the blue building) which we just visited over the summer.  I toasted a speedy recovery to all those affected with a delicious crowler of Pretzel Octoberfest from Johnson City Brewing that I brought back with me after a recent trip to that same affected area.  (Photo courtesy of Facebook)

10/3 - I had a day trip for work today out west of Nashville and stopped for a late lunch on the way back at It'z A Philly Thing (photo above) and then had a couple brews at Fat Bottom Brewing since I was out that way.  The philly was superb.  They are doing them right out here in West Nashville!!  The beers were solid.  First up was their Jackie - Pumpkin Ale followed the interesting and refreshing Office Bad Boy - LTO spiced lager.  

10/4 - We attended a Magic Show and Dinner at Cedar City Brewing tonight so along with the hocus-pocus and some good grub, I made their new Alt-Bier disappear!! Ta-Da!!!! 

10/4 thru 10/7 - I started a long weekend dog-sitting gig here in Lebanon off Hwy. 109 just across the road from the new East Nashville Brewing that is so close to being open.  When oh when???

10/5 - We attended a pretty cool projection show called "Beautifica" tonight at the Adventure Science Theater in Nashville and beforehand had a quick, tasty dinner at Schulman's Bar in East Nashville.  The took over the space that was originally occupied by Southern Grist Brewing who moved to a bigger, newer location close by, but they still have a connection here since they brew the excellent Schulman's Neighborhood IPA for the bar which I had with my yummy fried bologna sandwich.  What a cool, retro vibe and locale they have here!