"Better in the Summer" - a new song by The Dirty Guv's - "the beer goes down a little bit smoother..."

7/6 - It was back to work today, then back to the pool after work, and then back to the beer in the pool.  A big shout-out to my friend, Bethany, for bringing a sweet Brew Dog (Scotland and Ohio) 12-pack to our Christmas in July Party.  It was kind of a mistake since she doesn't like IPA's and this one has eight in in it (seven of which I haven't had before!).  But I figure she can have the other four fruity seltzers (yuck!).  This was the first of the new seven, the nice Hazy Jane NEIPA.  

7/7 - I ran to downtown Nashville today to drop off some posters to get framed and afterwards went just around the corner to Tennessee Brew Works for lunch. #BeerOnTheClock.  I had some great fish tacos and their new collaboration NEIPA called the Hazy Trails IPA.  They got together with 5 Wits Brewing out of Chattanooga to make this one, and it was very good. 

7/8 - I attended the NSC game tonight with my beer pal,  Nate.  It was against my former love, Atlanta United.  We did some tailgating before the game and I took a few more from the Brewdog (Scotland and OH) variety pack that Bethany brought me.  I started with their nice Light Speed session IPA.  I noticed all these were brewed in the newer Ohio location.    Next was the very good Juice Shake milkshake IPA.  The game turned out to be a frustrating 2-2 tie.  We had two goals called back for offsides and ATL UTD was playing a man down the last 10 minutes or so when one of their players was issued a red card.  We should have won easily, and didn't.  

My last tailgating beer was the excellent and iconic Brewdog Punk IPA which I am sure I have had before but never checked it in on UNTAPPD, and definitely never had it from the newer Ohio location.  I caught the blue skies and gold sun reflection off the new high-rise being built in downtown Nashville to make for a nice NSC color pattern shot above.

Before the game, I also took a nice dip in the pool (on company time - hey, I was all caught up) and enjoyed a can of the delicious Brewdog Clockwork tangerine session IPA.

7/9 - Lots of people trade baseball cards or Pokemon cards and the like, but my beer pal, Nate, and I trade craft beers.  Last night while tailgating before the soccer game, we did a little swapping and tonight I opened one of my acquirements, the Denogginizer. an excellent double IPA from Drake Brewing (CA) while playing poker in the pool.  Cheers and thanks, Nate!

Finally, some positive online poker news!  Tonight I won the nightly crazy pineapple bounty poker tournament with 11 bounties collected giving me $73 of profit above my $300 that I had to put back in over the last couple months of tough bad beats and coolers.  I forgot to note how many players were in this one but it was about the average of 40 to 50 players.  
The following night I got second in the exact same tourney, this pushed my current profit up over $100.

7/10 - I went to see the new/postponed-due-to-Covid Marvel flick, Black Widow at Opry Mills today.  I am having to forego IMAX this month since Regal changed the rules with their unlimited program and give no discounts now for the giant screens.  No IMAX discount means time to cancel!  The movie was really good.  I have a weird affinity for the bad guys in movies sometimes and Taskmaster was no exception.  SHE was very cool.  Hence the poster selection in the photo above.  
After the show I stopped by TennFold Brewing and had a couple new-to-me brews from them and some awesome cheese curds as a snack.  I started with their brand new and very good Lake Day Session IPA.  I finished with decent Italian-style pilsner called Paparoni.   

7/14 - We were in Chattanooga today working on the AirBnB house and also working remote at our jobs, so I was able to slip on down to Naked River Brewing for lunch and a couple of brews.  I started with their great new NEIPA called Sticky Parts (photo above).  My second beer was even better.  Their very rye beer called Great Outdoors was outstanding I thought.  #beerontheclock

Well, my first art commission wasn't very high brow, but I sure do love it.  My former supervisor at Aptive, Josh, is a great artist I learned recently, and so I had him create this original idea of mine into artwork for stickers that we can take on our G.A.M.E. trips each year.  I thought it turned out great!  #otterstyle 

7/15 - Now we are cookin' again!  I got another win in the night Crazy Pineapple Bounty Tournament tonight on Global Poker.  I had 6 bounties and outlasted 49 other players.  With the $130+ in profit, I was able to withdraw another $100 and get me back where I was before that terrible month of June, and keep over $200 in my online bankroll.  That's more like it!! 
I started playing poker in the pool after work and also enjoyed a can of Pulp Patriot Blueberry, a double milkshake IPA from Brew Dog Brewing (Scotland and OH).  It was quite tasty. 

7/16 - We headed to Nashville  tonight to catch Jimmy Buffet in a make-up show from last year at the always-nice Ascend Amphitheater.  They have a pretty good local craft beer stand, and I even found one I hadn't had before.  The Tennessee Sipper golden ale from East Nashville Beer Works.  I am glad it was delicious, because it was expensive!  But it probably was a double pour, so at $16 a pop, I guess it's your regular concert gouging.  
Before the show, we were able to get a little pool time in before the weather changed.  I floated and enjoyed another gift/trade from my beer pal, Nate.  It was a can of the very good Hopocalypse Hazy Double IPA (White Label) from Drake's Brewing (CA). 

7/17 - We headed over to the historic  Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway today with our friend, Bethany, who is more into racing than we are, but it was a pretty cool event called SRX (Superstar Racing Experience) pitting big name retired drivers against some well-known current drivers.  We had a good time at the sold-out event, and most startling was that I found craft beer there.  Racing-themed craft beer, of course.  Evidently, Nascar driver, Michael Waltrip has a craft brewery in his name, so I tried two of his 3 products available.  The Two-Time Blonde Ale was decent.  I really liked the Two-Time Checkered Past Coconut IPA.  Ashlee said their Mexican lager was good as well, but I didn't get a chance to try it.   Michael was also driving tonight, but his beer was better than his results! 
We were also able to take another dip in the pool today before heading out to Nashville, and I did another float with the last of my Brew Dog variety pack that the aforementioned Bethany brought me/us.  It was another classic that I am sure I've had, but never checked in on UNTAPPD: the awesome Double Punk imperial IPA.

7/19 - I am back to even on my 10% of poker wins donations with a $25 gift to the American Cancer Society today.  I give this in memory of my mom...miss you very much. 

7/20 - I won a couple tickets to see The Black Crowes at Ascend Amphitheater in downtown Nashville tonight.  This is a make-up show from last year's pandemic mess.  I couldn't find one damn person who could go with me, so I just went my damn self!   It was worth it. What a great show!  The Robinson brothers sound as good as ever and "Shake Your Money Maker" is such a classic debut album.  The weather was great as well.  Before the show I took advantage of the free parking at the M.L. Rose Capitol View and had dinner and a few new-to-me brews.  I started with the excellent NEIPA from Jackalope Brewing here in town called Foghorn.  I busted the keg on my next order and got a free couple of sips of the Open Table: Hibiscus Belgian blonde from Harding House Brewing also here in town.  Glad it wasn't a full pour because it was bit more tart than I was wanting or expecting.  I finished instead with the solid IPA from the Maine Beer Company called Lunch.  

7/21 - I played some poker from the pool today and had a couple of brews from a variety 4-pack from Lebanon Wine and Spirits that I picked up earlier.  No luck with poker, but the beers were good. I started with the excellent Tennessee IPA from The Black Abbey Brewing Company here in Nashville.  Love that can design!!  I followed that up with a pint can of Crooning Crane fruit beer from Jackalope Brewing also over in Nashville.  I have had several beers calling themselves "key lime pie" in a can, but these folks actually went out and did it!  Amazingly good taste! 

7/22 - I had planned another afternoon in the pool with poker and brews today, but I then proceeded to make a final table in an afternoon tournament on Global Poker (while on the clock) and finished it outside the pool.  I wound up getting 3rd vs. 105 other players.  This got my bankroll back where it started plus $50.  To celebrate afterwards, I cracked open a bottle of Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Strawberry Ale from the folks up at Lexington Brewing and Distilling.  Not my favorite of theirs, but still an interesting combination.  This brew from my recent variety four-pack was also a toast to finally selling our two old mountain bikes today after months of annoying inquiries with no one actually forking out the dough for them.  Glad that's over! 

7/23 - I headed down to Chattanooga this afternoon, but also made a couple stops on the way including at The Burlap Room in Smithville where I had a full pint of Ye Olde Calfkiller Quazi from nearby Calfkiller Brewing in Sparta.  I've only had a taste of this yummy pale wheat beer before.  I moved on to the aforementioned Sparta and stopped at Happy Trails Brewing where I had their great NEIPA called Hazy Beautiful.  They have wifi there and I was actually able to do some work and enjoy a beer (photo above).  That's right!  My first time working at a craft brewery!!  I see this happening more and more if possible!  
When I got to Chattanooga I cracked open an excellent pint can of the double IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing (CA) called Big Little Thing.  This is one I picked up down the hill at Harry's Shell Station.  Best gas station beer selection ever!! 

7/24 - Man, our new deck paint has got me in a Key West state of mind!  Despite the rain, she's looking pretty good!  Just in time for our first AirBnb guests this weekend.  I toasted a long day of work with a very tasty Samuel Adams Wicked Hazy NEIPA.  It's good to see the Independent Brewery logo on this pint can from the Boston Beer Company which I am surprised they still are considered given how big they've gotten.  I got this one at Harry's Shell Station just down the hill.  Awesome craft beer selection for a gas station! 

7/25 - After another long day of work down at the AirBnb, I got home in time to rent a pretty good new sci-fi flick called Settlers.  The ending was a little convoluted, but worth the watch.   To toast another day of hard work, I had another craft beer pint can from Harry's Shell Station down at the bottom of the hill.  This was the light and tasty Dreamland American Lager from Rogue Ales (OR)

7/26 - I went and saw the new Snake Eyes movie at the Hollywood 27 Theaters in Nashville late this afternoon.  It was pretty good.  Could be the start of a decent franchise.  We shall see.  Before the show, I stopped by Craft Brewed and had a couple new-to-me brews while the rain poured down.  I started with the tasty double IPA called The Light from Living Waters Brewing here in Nashville.  I concluded with a very good pale wheat beer from OEC Brewing (CT) called Evermore. 

7/27 - This month's Beer Drop order arrived today and it looks like a good one! I got an interesting lemon basil west coast IPA, a New Zealand pilsner, a coconut and chocolate stout, a French double
Biere de Garde, and a hazy pale ale with Colorado honey.  Let's get these babies cold!! 

I also finished off my last of my variety 4-pack from Lebanon Wine and Spirits in the pool this afternoon while playing poker on Global.  It was the fresh and tasty Utility Vacation, a blueberry-infused fruit beer from The Black Abbey Brewing over in Nashville.  I also made the final table of one of those tournaments I started in the pool.  I wound up winning the whole thing for a profit of $425+! I outlasted 213 other players.  

7/28 - I unexpectedly knocked out four of my five new beers from my Beer Drop order tonight as we had some last-minute guests over for some pool time and some grilling out.  I started with a nice pale ale called Anaphylaxis from Mockery Brewing (Denver).  Next was my favorite of the night, a decadent milk stout called Samoa Delite from Four Fathers Brewing (IN).  Next up was an interesting Lemon Basil West Coast IPA from Spice Trade Brewing (CO).  I finished up with a decent farmhouse ale called Biere de Garde from Diebolt Brewing (Denver).  

7/29 - I went to see the new film, The Green Knight tonight on its opening night over at the Providence Theaters in Mt. Juliet.  I really had high hopes for this one, and it really let me down.  I almost walked out on it, and I haven't thought about doing that in a movie in a long time.  Man, it was just so boring and so strange.  Some pretty cool visuals at times, but that's about it.  I have cancelled my Unlimited Movies deal from Regal after this month, so I guess I am glad I got this one in under it.   On a brighter note, I had some awesome grilled salmon street tacos and a couple of good craft beers before the show at Catch 22 in Mt. Juliet.  I was able to finish my "racing trifecta of craft beer" from earlier this month from Michael Waltrip Brewing (VA) called the Two-Time Vamanos Mexican Lager.  I thought it was really good.  I finished with an even better tropical IPA from MadTree Brewing (Cincinnati) called Midwest Luau. 

7/31 - I finished off the month and my Beer Drop order today in the pool with a very good New Zealand Pilsner from Lumpy Ridge Brewing (CO).  It's a Czech-style pilsner, but the hops are from Kiwi-land, hence the name.   I also had a pretty decent fruited sour called Super Squishy from Oliphant Brewing (WI).  They blended coconut in with the tart blackberries and raspberries and that really balanced the finish on it.  Thanks to my friend, Greg, for giving me one of his six-pack that he picked up recently on a cross-country trip with his family.

8/1 - Ashlee and I had a little Sunday Fun Day today and I got a pic of this great Mountain Dew mural over in East Nashville.  It's one of the only beverages I hold almost up there with good craft beer.  Hell, Sun Drop is even closer!  Where's that mural at?  

Another fun stop today was at the new Virgin Hotel over by Music Row.  They have an old camera collection in their lobby that kinda puts mine to shame.  

8/2 - I used my next to last Regal Unlimited tickets to see Stillwater tonight over at Providence Theaters in Mt. Juliet.  It's a new film that's getting Matt Damon some Oscar buzz already.   I thought he was great, and the movie was solid with a good twist at the end.  I stopped by Providence Wine and Spirits before the show and picked up a variety 3-pack, one of which I snuck into the theater.  It was the very tasty Rocket 88 oatmeal stout from Ghost River Brewing over in Memphis. 

8/3 - Signature-hand alert!!  Even won a nice pot with them today when the aggressive fella to the right must have caught a ten or a jack on the river.  

I found another interesting charity to give my recent 10% of poker winnings to today.  It's boilingriver.org, a non-profit organization striving to preserve an amazing geothermal river in the Peruvian Amazon.  I gave $50 to them, a rounded up amount of my current winnings.  It would be so cool to visit here one day.  Thanks to the great Atlas Obscura Podcast for the idea.  Photo courtesy of the charity's  website.  

8/4 - It was an afternoon of pool (it was a little cool actually); soccer (NSC draws 0-0 with league-leading New England); chasing cats (Dudley's very good at hiding), online poker (nothing good to report other than knocking out some name-calling a-hole which was pretty satisfying); and beer ( a solid pint can of Pharmacy Pils from Bearded Iris Brewing here in Nashville, and a tasty pint can of Saison Des Reves from Perennial Artisan Ales [St. Louis] in collaboration with a Belgian brewery, Brasserie de la Sennes).  These both finished off my variety 3-pack from Providence Wine and Spirits. 

8/5 - I stopped by Homegrown Taproom tonight before Ashlee picked me so we go see the Sean McConnell album release show at the City Winery.   I met up with my beer pal, Nate, and we enjoyed a few good new-to-us craft beers.  I started with light and crisp lager called Taco Tuesday from Monday Night Brewing (Atlanta).  I went half-pints from there with a nice IPA from Terrapin Beer (GA) called Cryosphere; a good NEIPA from Tennessee Brew Works here in town called Tangerine Waltz; and finally a very good blonde ale from right up the road at New Heights Brewing called BrewShine.   

How is this not a national holiday??

The Music City Grand Prix was awesome....except for the beer.  Putrid sheeple choices for sale within the event with Elysium Space Dust (one of the WORST West Coast IPAs I have ever had) as the only "craft" beer available.  You let local food trucks in, so what not local beer?  
8/7 - I did enjoy a bomber bottle of Barrel-Aged Belgian Tripel from New Heights Brewing here in Nashville while floating in the pool before heading out into the heat of downtown for the second day of the racing weekend. 

8/9 - I grabbed a variety four-pack from Lebanon Wine and Spirits today to have for the pool this afternoon and beyond.  And in the pool this afternoon, I cracked open the excellent Mountain Lager from Blackberry Farms Brewing over in Maryville, TN.  I just love their logo (photo above).  I also had a nice pint can of the Nashville-based Bearded Iris Brewing double IPA known as Roadmap.  

8/10 - I finally got to see the new DC Comics James Gunn reboot flick, The Suicide Squad, in IMAX tonight at the Streets of Indian Lake Theaters in Hendersonville.  My old work pal, Casey, and his nephew, Colin, went with me so no beer stops before or after.  I thought the movie was pretty good.  Kinda trippy and very violent.

8/11 - I had a fun evening playing poker in the pool after work today.  No big success  at poker,but my     quad sevens did show on a Global streamer's feed (see below).  I did get to add a couple more craft beer can labels to my impromptu collection on our pool-side hammock frame that I started this summer.  I had two pint cans from Bearded Irish Brewing here in Nashville that finished off my variety four-pack from Lebanon Wine and Spirits.  Both were very good.  I had their double IPA called Fiasco and their imperial stout called Deep Cover.

Look who's got quads!  Not this streamer on Global Poker, but it is cool he went to UTC.

Summer Beers...Make Me Feel Fine...flowing like the jasmine in my mind...

 

So that's how that wonderful stuff is made....science is so cool! LOL

6/2 - Some historic, sad, and also happy news out of Durham, North Carolina, today as the GOAT of college basketball coaching, Coach K, has announced his retirement at the end of this upcoming season. Gonna hate to see him go as the leader of my beloved Blue Devils, but everyone deserves some retirement time.  Long-time assistant and former player, Jon Scheyer will be taking over next year.  I wish both these fine gentlemen all the best and will continue my rapid support of the Dukies! 
GO DUKE!!!

6/5 - Ashlee let me slip away from working on her mom's house down in Chattanooga today to run a couple errands and stop by Hutton and Smith Brewing for a couple of beers. I started with their excellent Taylor Dopplebock.  Just look at that beautiful chestnut color in the photo above! I ended with their extremely good Chris Arnt Baltic Porter. Mr. Arnt won a raffle with the brewery to collaborate on a beer of his choice and this was the result. Well done, sir! 

6/6 - I got another reprieve from my weekend boss, Ashlee, who let me slip down to Riverside Drive in Chattanooga to check out another new nano-brewery  to the city called Tanasi Brewing. I thought the mural out front of the old converted gas station was pretty cool (photo above).  I assume they get their name from the Cherokee word that we converted into "Tennessee."  I only had time for one, but it was fantastic!  It was the super-fresh and mellow Hazy Ridge NEIPA.  Probably one of the best NEIPAs I have had in a long time.  They used a not-so-common hop called Huell Melon that, as the name implies, has a more sweet melon finish than a hard citrus ending like most NEIPAs.  Very impressive.  I will be back ASAP!! 

Man, the hits just keep on coming here in Wilson County!  Looks like Mt. Juliet is getting a German restaurant and beer garden called Prost and Riot.  So, with the new ML Rose, the  Catch 22, the upcoming Cedar Tap in Lebanon and now this, we are starting to look like a place I would want to stay in and spend my beer money at home.

6/9 - I tuned in today to newest Marvel Universe series on Disney+.  While "Loki" is not one of my favorite characters, he is immensely popular, so I will put my trust in Marvel Studios again like I did with "WandaVision" which I did enjoy.   I did think the first episode was enjoyable and will definitely keep watching. 

6/11 - I had a date-night with my sweetie tonight and we decided to go over to Catch 22 in Mt. Juliet since we've actually never been there together for dinner.  The food was excellent as always and during my time there I logged in three more new-to-me brews on UNTAPPD.  I started with the light and tasty Pride and Joy 3000 English mild ale from 3 Floyds Brewing (IN).  Next up was the decent Summer Break session IPA from Sierra Nevade Brewing (CA). I closed the night with a boozy and decadent Barrel Aged Vanilla Absentium imperial stout from Scofflaw Brewing down in Atlanta. 

6/12 - I stayed overnight in Chattanooga tonight working on the AirBnB house and rewarded myself after a long day with a few craft brews.  I set out for Wanderlinger Brewing, but couldn't find any damn parking.  The place was packed!  Bad for me, but good for them.  I slipped over to MLK Boulevard instead and found parking right across the street from Odd Story Brewing.  I settled into the bar and had a couple of excellent pours.  First up was their excellent Belgian blonde (one of the best of this style that I've had in a long while) called Day Sway.   I finished my visit with a their very good German pilsner called Forgotten Fortress.  Man, has this town got some great little breweries! 

6/13 - Pool day!!  I got home from Chattanooga and a belated birthday brunch with my nutty sister for an afternoon of pooling.  Hey, it wasn't a total bust with her at least.  We did go to Top of the Rock Restaurant and Brewery in Kimball and I had their pretty good Red Ale Top of the Rock with my tasty meal.  And crazy Melinda even had a mimosa!! 
I stopped by Red Silo Brewing in Cookeville on the way back and grabbed some freshly bottled brews for pool time with Ashlee.  I made sure to get a few Belgian styles (her favorites) and a couple others that I had not had before.  We don't do glass around the pool, so this posed shot above was for a social media photo contest they are having about summering with Red Silo.  My order of consumption was as follows:  the light and easy drinking Lime Lite Belgian blonde went down quick.  I shared The Farmer's Daughter Belgian blonde with Ashlee.  We both really liked it.   I finished with the smooth and easy-drinking German pilsner they call The Yednocker Cookeville Pils.  It's actually a Christmas brew of theirs, but I thought it was great for the summer pool as well.   We didn't crack open the fourth bottle yet, since I got it mostly for Ashlee.  It's the Belgian Thong, another blonde ale that I've had before and loved it and I think Ashlee will too. 

6/17 - I headed up to Hendersonville tonight to the Regal Theaters at the Streets of Indian Lake to catch a showing of the action/comedy sequel The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard in IMAX.  I never saw the original in the theaters, but caught it on a streaming service and thought it was pretty good and funny.  This one was equally fun with over the top action that made it a silly, mindless ride.  Before the show, I grabbed dinner and a couple craft beers at my old favorite, Blossom Thai and Cellar Door Craft Cavern.   I haven't been here since the Covid crap started, so it was great to be back.   And the place was packed.  I barely found a place to sit at the bar. Good for them!!   With my tasty meal I started with the excellent Coyote Tactics IPA from Blackberry Farm Brewing over in Maryville, TN.  

Since Covid and now with working from home, I've been doing a lot of bird-watching in my backyard along with my cats. Byron and Dudley.  Our interest in said birds is quite different, of course.   I want to watch them and photograph them. They want to maim and kill them!  Yesterday,  I saw this big beauty which my birding friends told me was a yellow-hammer or Northern flicker.

As I was aiming to get another shot of him, he suddenly flew off and my IPhone caught this pretty cool shot of him in flight.   Of course, now in hindsight, it kinda looks like Byron and Dudley got to him and did some massive maiming for sure! lol 

I was happy to earn this UNTAPPD badge on my second beer at Blossom and Cellar Door Craft Cavern tonight, an excellent NEIPA from one of my local favorites, Southern Grist Brewing, over in Nashville called Always Something.  There is "always something" good at SGBC! 

6/18 - We had a fun and relaxing weekend in and around the pool.  I ran over to Lebanon Wine and Spirits for a variety six-pack and a couple of half-growlers to get me set.  Today I watched my beloved Nashville Soccer Club take it on the chin in New York,  two-zip.  At least I was cool in the pool watching it and sipping on some tasty libations.  I started with the excellent triple NEIPA from Bearded Iris Brewing here in Nashville called Reverse Reverse (photo above).  I continued the BIBC love with a pint can of their Double Kick imperial IPA that was also fantastic. 

6/19 - The pooling continued today and a weird thing happened with Ashlee's six-pack of Adios Pantelones.  Four of the six almost blew up on me as I removed them from their plastic holder.  I sent a message to the folks at Rahr and Sons Brewing about it over social media, but no response yet. At least the beer was salvageable!   As for me, I continued a bottle of tasty Honey Orange Tripel from New Belgium Brewing (CO) and a half-growler of the solid Wild Honey Wheat from Yazoo Brewing here in Nashville.  

6/20 - Our pooling weekend concluded tonight with a long day (and night) in the water.  I started the day with a half-growler of Rising Haze IPA from Highland Brewing (Asheville, NC) that was really good. I moved on to a extra-tall pint can of Tropical Beer Hug that was decent from Goose Island Brewing (Chicago).   I went over my proposed limit and also had a can of Farmhouse IPA from Crane Brewing (MO) and it was worth it because it was mighty fine! 

"Lacey, lace, lace, I love lace" (think "scotch" from Anchorman) - seemed funny at the time while at dinner the other night at Blossom Thai and the Cellar Door Craft Cavern up in Hendersonville.  

I reached a cool UNTAPPD milestone over the weekend as well.  Keep those imperials coming! 

 

6/21 - Today was my first day of new salaried role with Aptive Environmental - executive resolution specialist.  It went well, and I hope this might turn into a long-time gig.  We shall see.  I toasted the success after work with a bottle of Hanalei Island IPA from Kona Brewing (HI).  It was tropical and smooth. 

I caught another bird in flight on my IPhone camera over the weekend also.  Check out this pretty cardinal taking off from one of the old clothes-line poles we still having standing out back. 

6/23 - I attended tonight's NSC game vs. Toronto with my beer buddy, Nate.   In glorious news, they are allowing tailgating again at Nissan Stadium, so we kicked back before the game and had some cold ones to celebrate.  I brought three from my recent Lebanon Wine and Spirits variety pack.  I started with a pint can of the very good double IPA from Bearded Iris Brewing here in town called Logic.  I continued with another BIBC product, a solid NEIPA they call Chasing Rainbows.  I concluded with an oldy, but a goody, a Scottish Ale from Belhaven Brewing (Scotland). I am sure I have had this smooth and tasty import in the past, but this was my first check-in of it on UNTAPPD. 

Now as for the game itself...WOW!  What a thriller!  We came from behind twice and then won it 3-2 in the closing minutes of the second half!  Great showing by our boys in gold!  And our mascot, Tempo the Coyote, was looking pretty good too (photo above).  With a crowd of over 17K on a Wednesday night, it was a great showing in Music City! 

6/24 - More backyard nature coolness.  Found this beauty sun-bathing on our pool shed this morning. I got a real problem with a lot of organized religion, but I got no problem accepting a higher power creator (who uses evolution as his/her "magic" - hey, why not, right?).  I mean, how else to do explain all the perfect symmetry in nature.

I headed up to Hendersonville tonight to catch opening night of the new The Fast and the Furious 9 in IMAX at the Streets of Indian Lake Regal Theaters.  This isn't my favorite movie franchise by a long shot, but they are always fun to see on the big screen and knowingly stupid (like a Ford Fiero in space stupid).  Before the show, I stopped by Half Batch Brewing.  Man, haven't been here in a while!  I had their very good SumCo Tripel and then finished with their solid summer brew, Big G, a light Belgo-American pale ale.

6/25 - More backyard nature!  New fawn, who dis!! 

6/26 - It was sure nice to get home from working in Chattanooga today and jump in the pool with a cold one.  I bought a 4-pack of Blue Foot cream ale when I was at Half Batch Brewing in Hendersonville the other night.  I figured Ashlee would like them since they are brewed with blueberries.  I thought it was a great beer myself, but the blueberry hint is very, very mild and it took a few sips before I caught it a little in the aftertaste.

6/27 - I finally found a cause that spoke to me for some of my previous 10% of poker winnings donation.  I gave $45 (40 plus tip) to sponsor this little cutie in her bid for the high school national championships in fishing.   My alma mater, Whitwell High School, has a fishing team now, so I think it's pretty cool. I would have liked to have been on an organized fishing team.  Plus, the nationals are being held in Dayton, TN, on the Tennessee River lakes and sloughs I assume.   Maybe it will help me with my poker luck too...it's been woeful as of late.     Go get 'em, Cricket! 

6/27 - Ashlee and I went to Publix this morning for some grocery shopping and I was impressed with their craft beer selections.  In fact, I got a four-pack and a six-pack of some new-to-me brews to enjoy at the pool this afternoon and for next week's Christmas in July Pool Party we are hosting.   I started with the very good Dr. Dank, an IPA from Wicked Weed Brewing over in Asheville, NC.  I noticed on the can (photo above) that this is a malt beverage and not a "beer" because they added flavoring instead of brewing it all in.  I kinda like knowing there are rules as to what can be called a "beer."  Hmm, a malt liquor with hemps seeds...I bet Snoop Dogg would like this one!  Fo' shizzle, my nizzle!! (I am so old...but,then again, so is Snoop!).

Next up was another solid NEIPA called Xanadu Hazy IPA from the folks over at Wiseacre Brewing in Memphis.  I loved that it came in a 4-pack!  I finished the day with a boozy and heavy Barrel-Aged Narwhal imperial stout from Sierra Nevada Brewing (CA).  Thanks to my beer pal, Nate, for hooking me up with this one in trade the other night.

Man, when it rains, IT POURS!!  That's right, Wilson County is FINALLY getting a craft brewery!!  Welcome, Cedar City Brewing Company.  And it's in walking distance and right around the corner from the new beer bar that's coming as well.  Oh, happy day!!!!   More news to come soon (I hope). 

6/28 - Finally back in the winner's circle! It has been a pretty DRY spell to say the least in online poker as of late, but tonight I did win the nightly Crazy Pineapple tournament vs. 50 other people for $150 in profit.  The best thing this did was get me back above my $300 in losses over the past month or so.  It took a while, but I slowly got it back.  Now I just have to keep moving forward.  

In the background I had on a new Netflix Liam Neeson movie, The Ice Road, that was much better than I expected it to be.   Liam is a world treasure.  

6/29 - I ran down to Murfreesboro today to drop off some retirement paperwork to those backstabbing SOB's at MTEMC (hey, at least I'm not bitter), but beforehand I had lunch and a couple of brews there at Jack Brown's Burger and Beer Joint on the square.  Despite my ill-will about losing my old job, I never got to have a couple beers at lunch while working there.  So thanks for that, Aptive.  Gotta focus on the good things now:  like in this photo above of the excellent Scottish Ale from Czann's Brewing in Nashville, the tasty "Greg Brady" burger and fries, and the pretty decent butt in shorts of the lady barkeep in the background! Hey, I'm old...but not blind.  My "dessert" beer was a 10 oz. pour of the decent Oval Beach Blonde ale from Saugatuck Brewing (MI). 

While I wasn't super-jazzed to have get dressed up in a coat and tie to go check out the pricey House of Cards restaurant and magic parlor in downtown Nashville, I did end up having a pretty good time.  The speakeasy vibe was cool, the food was outstanding, the magic was pretty amazing and they even had  a good craft beer list.  I have had almost everything they had listed except for the heavy, but enjoyable, Bourbon Barrel Ale from Good Wood Brewing (KY).  I finished it off after dinner out on their cool sunken patio with a 30' waterfall.  

7/1 - Despite it being the first day of  July, my new Beer Drop for June finally arrived today!  Just in time for the 4th of July pool party we are having this weekend!  It's a nice selection including a wheat, a vanilla porter, a light pilsner, a Mexican-style lager and a lime ale.  Looking forward to consuming these very soon!  

CCBC!!

I had a meeting today with Cody Lannom, the owner of the new Cedar City Brewing Company coming soon here to Lebanon to discuss me doing some marketing/PR work for them!   I just reached out randomly to them via email and Cody responded back fairly quickly wanting to meet and discuss some ideas.  The meeting went great and I thought we hit it off pretty good.  He showed me some designs and logos they are working on and they look fantastic!  The restoration of the old building on the square is gonna take a while, but when it's done it will be amazing!  More updates to come!!

7/2 - Looks who's open for business!!  Ashlee and I stopped by the brand new Prost and Riot Beer Haus in Mt. Juliet today on our way to a concert in East Nashville.   We had some terrific food and I had nice big pint of Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier (Germany) out of their back lawn with some amazing low humidity temps for early July.  Welcome and we will definitely be back!! 

Speaking of the concert at The Basement East, it was amazing!!  We saw 16 different East Nashville artists take the stage including our beloved Will Hoge and Butch Walker as they all did tributes to the The Traveling Wilburys and individual songs by the members of that supergroup.  What a night! How do get to see this much talent for $15??  Only in Nashville, baby!  I also had a really good beer while there (photo above) called The Beast Blonde by Tennessee Brew Works here in Nashville.  Weird thing is I can't find out anything about it online and it's not on UNTAPPD.  I will try and ask about it when I plan on going by there next week for lunch for day. 

OK, I am finally caught up on my 10% of poker winnings being given to charity.  I gave my pending $17 (rounded it up to $20) to my friend, Starling, (she goes by Jo Marie on Facebook...don't ask) and her birthday fundraiser for the Equal Justice Initiative.  Now it's time to win some more big payouts at poker so I can give some more money away!!  Hear that, Poker Gods?  Enough with the bad beats and coolers already!! 

 

7/3 - In the immortal words of musician Todd Snider, "B-double E-double R -U-N...Beer Run!!" Salute to National Independent Beer Run Day today.  I did a beer run to Lebanon Wine and Spirits today, of course, in preparation for our pool party tomorrow.  I picked up a couple of six packs of some local craft light beers that I thought some of the folks who don't like heavy beer might enjoy.  Plus, they were new to me and I needed to check them in too.  

But when I got back for some pool time after our party prep, I was met by Ashlee's cousins, Leslie and LeeAnn, down from Cincinnati for the party and the weekend.  They promptly presented me with a six-pack of Hustle, a fairly new (and tasty) IPA from Rhinegeist Brewing back in their hometown.   Thanks, ladies!  I continued my pool time with a smooth and easy can of Lowrider Lime Lager from Berthoud Brewing (CO).  This was my first beer from my newest Beer Drop delivery.  I finished the evening with a sensational Lost Lands: Winter Wheat farmhouse ale from Oxbow Brewing (ME)  that was also from my Beer Drop order. 

 

7/4 - Ashlee and I hosted our Christmas in July Pool Party 

today to celebrate our nation's independence, 

let Ashlee put our her tons of Christmas stuff more than once a year...

and to drink good craft beer.  I started early starting with the two light craft 

beers I bought yesterday on my beer run.  First up was the OK, 

Premium light lager from Mill Creek Brewing in nearby Nolensville 

that I thought tasted a lot like Budweiser.  The next was one was much better.  

The Naked Light Czech pilsner was very good and smooth.  

It's from the Naked River Brewing folks down in Chattanooga.  

I finished off my Beer Drop order in quick succession including 

the very good Astro Blaster Pils from Spangalang Brewing (CO); 

the outstanding Vanilla Porter from Dry Dock Brewing (CO); 

and last, but no least, the solid Cityscapes Mexican Lager from 

Ratio Beerworks (CO).   My craft beer pal, Nate, who always 

comes through with some good stuff gave me three new-to-me beers 

in exchange for some of mine that were new to him.  

I finished the night with the wonderful Triple Hazy NEIPA 

from Brew Dog Brewing (Scotland and Ohio).  

Ashlee even encouraged a mini-beer tree at the 

Christmas in July Party.  

I obliged with one with some of my newer

 "ornaments" from the last couple years.

7/5 - We finished off the long weekend with a quiet Monday 

off from work cleaning up a little from the party and then lazing

 around in the pool.  I played some online poker and made a final

 table.  Nothing much to report since it just helped get my bankroll 

back where I started it a few days ago, but it's still progress.  

I had Nate's two other gift beers including the tart, but enjoyable, 

Dragon Weisse fruited sour from Harpoon Brewing (Boston).  

The best thing about this beer was seeing the "Independent Brewer" 

label on the can.  Harpoon Brewing was one of my very early on 

favorite craft brewers, and I thought I had read they got bought out 

by a larger conglomerate, but evidently not.  Craft on, folks!!  

I finished the afternoon off with the delight Frost Proof 

Belgian wit (photo above) from Cigar City Brewing (FL).