Ladies and gentlemen...the next beer post

Finally got my funny and cool Belching Beaver Brewery (CA) patch that my wife got me a while back put on a Dickies work shirt thanks to a local alterations shop here in town.

Speaking of beer wardrobe, I am enjoying my new UNTAPPD hat.  I am wearing it "hipster-style" so I don't give away my age...I am sure it's working....LOL  

6/1 - I was able to go to the Poker Barn tonight for some live tournament poker action.  I stopped beforehand and got a 3-variety pack from Beer World in Mt. Juliet which continues to impress me with its selection.  I started off with a tasty Goalden Ale from Mill Creek Brewing over in Nolensville, TN.  This looks to be the official beer of the new Nashville Soccer Club of the USL League (photo right).  I love that a local craft beer is a team sponsor!  I wonder if they will continue their relationship when the new MLS team arrives?   Next up was a Windy Hill IPA from Mikkeller Brewing (San Diego) that was very good.  I finished with a Resting Brew Face (hilarious name, photo above) IPA also from Mikkeller.  This one was solid as well.  Speaking of finishing up, I got second place tonight and several $20 bounties in the tournament for a nice $400+ profit.  I think I could have gotten first, but as 2 AM approached I just didn't have the stamina to grind any further and ran my A9 straight into AK.  

6/2 -  I was headed to Chattanooga today for a concert and decided to stop at Red Silo Brewing in Cookeville on the way.  I had a couple pints:  the You Mango Me Crazy fruit beer that was pretty good and the extremely good Float the Creek Session IPA.  It was early and the place was quiet and I was able to have a nice conversation with the brewer and a couple of nice ladies who like to run before they drink in the A.M.  My kind of thinking!  My other stop on the way to Chatt-town was a roadside wet-weather waterfall on Cagle Mountain that I have been wanting to check out for years now.  She's a beauty that dumps into Little Brush Creek and was running nicely thanks to all the stormy weather as of late.

Before the show in Chattanooga (an awesome gig by Fitz and the Tantrums) we had an outstanding dinner at Edley's Barbecue which also has a nice craft beer menu.  I especially liked their chalkboard art depicting the beers currently on tap of which I had the solid AVL IPA  from Highland Brewing (Asheville, NC).

6/3 - I was excited today to check out the new American Draft Beer Hall set up in a train car at the Chattanooga Choo Choo along with my beer-loving friend, Chris, and, my beer-loving wife, Ashlee.

What a cool concept!  You give them a credit card and in exchange they give you a card key to activate any of their several draft stations of craft beer, pouring it yourself for as much or as little as you want.  They had a much better selection than I was expecting with more than a dozen craft beers on tap both local, regional and from across the U.S.    I started with a nice half-pint pour of the Coral Bay IPA from Jig Head Brewing up in Cookeville.  It was tasty.   I tried Jig Head's porter next called the 48 Fathom which was really good.  I got a sip of the CocoNutorious red ale from Four Sons Brewing (CA) before the keg blew.

Here's a shot of the draft station in one end of the converted rail car.  There were window seats to the right and a few booths (behind me in this shot) and even a bathroom.  Next up for me was the Chattanooga Dynamo Appalachian Pale Ale from in-town Chattanooga Brewing.  It was terrific.

I even got a cool UNTAPPD badge from the experience.  I ended with an excellent Astronomical IPA from Wicked Weed Brewing (Asheville, NC).  All my beers plus Ashlee's came out to around $20.  Not bad at all!  We will definitely be back to check this unique place out again!  

6/4 - I saw a film tonight called Upgrade that is probably my favorite of the year so far.  The strange thing is there is basically zero marketing for this great, but unheard of, movie even though it won the Audience Award at SXSW earlier this year.  They don't even have a good poster for it!!  

6/5 - It was Lebanon Poker Night tonight and I got a variety 3-pack from Lebanon Wine and Spirits.   The card-playing wasn't good, but the beer sure was as I enjoyed all three.  First up was a refreshing grapefruit-based Schofferhofer Hefeweizen from German macro-brewer, Radeberger Gruppe.  I followed that with an updated and super-hoppy Hop Stoopid (2018) from Lagunitas Brewing (CA).  Last, but not least, was a very tasty coffee-based Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Stout from Alltech Lexington Brewing.

6/7 - I had the day off today from work today and volunteered to take my mother-in-law back home to Chattanooga after she had been visiting us for a couple days.  On the way back, I made a couple stops to enrich the trip.  First, I dropped by Heaven and Ale Brewing in Chattanooga and had a couple libations including their outstanding IPA called Juice Buckets.  I followed that with another solid pale ale called Class Dismissed.   My second stop was a first for me.  I finally got to visit Cookeville's third microbrewery (how does Cookeville have three and my town of Lebanon has ZERO??), Jig Head Brewing.  Very cool facility and their saison Skipjack (photo above) was extremely good.  With them being less than a mile from the interstate, this will definitely not be my last visit here!

6/8 - Ashlee to airport.  Rob to beer.  After dropping off Ashlee at the airport tonight for a trip to Philly, I officially began my "bachelor weekend" and my first stop was just a couple miles down the road at the Homegrown Taproom for a couple half-pints.  I started with a delightful Friki Tiki - Pineapple IPA from Catawba Brewing (NC) and finished with a Han Brolo (great beer, great name) pale ale from Monday Night Brewing down in Atlanta.  

6/9 - I really deserved some beer today after spending the early afternoon with my crazy sister on her birthday, seeing the house I grew up in had been torn down, and seeing my mom and dad's grave-site hadn't been cared for all year...SHEESH...so I took I-24 home from The Valley and timed it just right to check out Ole She Brewing in Tullahoma.  What a great little place!  I have been a fan of their beer for a while, but this was my first chance to visit their taproom next to their microbrewery.   Wish they were closer to the interstate.   The place was quiet since they just opened for the day and I started with a decent Vanilla Nut Brown ale.  I got a bonus of being able to watch my "almost-mater" Tennessee Tech maintain a lead over # 13 Texas in Game 1 of their 3-game series in the college world series playoffs.  I finished with a very memorable and interesting Red Wine Aged Porter.  I couldn't drink of lot of this one, but I sure won't forget it.  I also won't forget this great little place and will return whenever I can.

Just a few miles from Ole Shed Brewing is a dandy little  privately-owned but graciously open to the public place in Manchester called Rutledge Falls.  I seem to remember visiting this place in the past, but never got a good photo of it and don't remember it being so pretty.  I deserved this beautiful site and tranquility also after the day I had!  

6/10 - I finished the weekend with an entire bachelor Sunday to myself.    After sleeping in a little and playing some online poker that didn't go too well, I headed to Hendersonville to check out the new film, Hotel Artemis, in the recliner seats at the Regal Theaters at Streets of Indian Lake.  What a snooze that film is!  Too bad:  great cast, neat story idea, but it just really went nowhere.  

The ho-hum day was saved a bit by some great food (Asian chicken bites...I had two orders of them!) and good beer just down the way from the theaters in Hendersonville at Growler USA, my favorite new-to-me beer bar in the area.  I even got to watch TN Tech play in Game 2 of the three-game series against Texas although the result was a tough 4-2 loss for the Golden Eagles.  On to the rubber match Game 3...Go TECH!  I started with a good Phone-A-Friend pale ale from MadTree Brewing in Cincinnati.  Next up was the solid Schlossbier from Hollow Pointe Brewery here in Nashville (photo above with one of my favorite beer quotes also on the wall from Ben Franklin).  I finished with a nice half-pint of the Salmon Pants helles lager from WarPigs Brewpub in Copenhagen, Denmark.

6/12 - We saw the living legend, Al Stewart, tonight at the City Winery in downtown Nashville.  I gotta say the guy is pretty spry and his musical talent remains sharp for a 72-year-old!  Before we headed downtown, we had a dip in the pool after work and I had a couple pint cans of  Honey Do Golden Ales that I picked up at Ole Shed Brewing in Tullahoma a few days ago during my visit there (post above).  At the show I had a decent Solid Gold lager from Founders Brewing (MI).  

6/16 - It was pool-day today with hot temps and a free Saturday to ourselves, so I dropped by Lebanon Wine and Spirits for a variety four-pack to have by the pool.  I started with a tasty bottle of the IPA from Omission Beer (OR) which I tried out my new Wonder Woman Koozy on (thanks to my sis-in-law, Paige, for this neat beer-gift).  Next up was a boozy bottle of Scotty Karate  bourbon barrel Scotch ale from Dark Horse Brewing (MI).  Then it was the zesty and refreshing bottle of Tangerine Wheat from Lost Cost Brewing (CA).  I finished the day with a  hoppy and delicious can of Hoppyright Infringement IPA from NOLA Brewing (LA).

6/17 - It was another pool day with some guests this time, so since I had to share, I opted for three new-to-me six-pack cans from Lebanon Wine and Spirits including the pretty good pale wheat ale called The Volunteer from BriarScratch Brewing just up the road in Gallatin.  What a beautiful can wrapper!  Go Vols!!   Next was an outstandingly smooth milk stout from BrewDog (Scotland) called Jet Black Heart.  I had a taste of Ashlee's Strawberry Fields sour gose from Little Harpeth Brewing over in Nashville.  Yuck...  I finished the day with a surprisingly good TN Times Pilsner from Blackberry Farms Brewery up in the Smokies.  

6/19 - I saw the movie, Tag, with my work buddy, Casey, tonight.  What a great movie.  Really well done and funny as hell.

6/21 - I headed up to Hendersonville after work today to catch opening night of Jurassic World: Fallen Empire in IMAX at the Streets of Indian Lake Theaters there.  The movie was quite good.  Scary and sad at times also.   I had dinner and a couple of belts at Growler USA near the theaters before the show and watched some of the NBA Draft as three of my Duke boys went in the first round.  Good luck Marvin, Wendell and Grayson!   I started with a tasty and interesting Citreamsicle IPA from Mantra Artisan Ales over in Franklin.  I could swear there was a pepper kick to it??  I finished with a 5 oz. taster pour of the Summertime Wheat hefeweizen from Rahr and Sons Brewing (TX).  

or maybe you're just thirsty??

MAY beer be a part of your May

5/1 - Now, this is the way to start off a new month!  I got my biggest score to date (by far) on Global Poker tonight as I got second out of a huge field of 637 other players in their Rattlesnake Open Tournament Series Event # 2-L.  With a buy in, two re-buys and an add-on, I turned a $22 investment into just under a thousand bucks!!  I had the player who won it, all but knocked out early on at the Final Table as a small stack, but he caught an ace on the river to stay alive and then proceeded to impressively battle his way back to the top.  

5/2 - I attended the Music City "CANarchy" Beer Fest tonight in downtown Nashville at the Walk of Fame Park.  It was part of the international Craft Brewers Conference that has been going on all week here.   I chose this particular night to attend for several reasons:

 1. It was a free event.  Only paid $5 to park across the river.

2. The weather was absolutely perfect.

3.  Lukas Nelson (Willie's boy) and his band were playing (and they were great).

4.THERE WAS CRAFT BEER EVERYWHERE!

I met up with my craft-beer-loving pal, Nate, and proceeded to have four cans of new-to-me beers throughout the evening including a great 98 Problems IPA from Perrin Brewing (MI), a good Ghostrider White IPA from Wasatch Brewery (UT), a decent Hop Rising double IPA, and a light but tasty Chasing Tail Golden Ale, both of which were from Squatters Craft Beers (UT).

5/3 - I was able to swing by The Green Dragon Pub in Murfreesboro today for lunch where I had bowl of their awesome soup of the day, a white bean turkey chili, and a half a pastrami sandwich along with a citrusy and flavorful pint of  Gangster Frog I.P.A. from Hoppin' Frog Brewery in Akron, Ohio.

I ain't saying I'm running good...but I am running REALLY good!!  Scored the win tonight on Global Poker in a smaller tournament with a larger buy-in than the previous night, but turned my $40 investment into a very nice pay-day!  

5/4 - We had a terrific dinner in East Nashville tonight at Butcher and Bee where I had a draft pint of Upstream San Fran Lager from nearby Little Harpeth Brewing with my excellent steak.

5/5 -  It was a Saturday of events around the house, so I went over to Lebanon Wine and Spirits and got a variety 4-pack to toast each one:

1.  I toasted the fact it was Cinco de Mayo with an excellent bottle of LazerSnake (2018) IPA from 3 Floyds Brewing (IN)

TV show?  Look, UNTAPPD," there can be only one"...and it's the original movie, Highlander...but cool badge nonetheless.

2.  I toasted the running of the Kentucky Derby with a solid Well Played IPA from Left Hand Brewing (CO).  The nag I picked, "Audible," came in third to show at least.

3.  I toasted the 2-1 win of Atlanta United over the Chicago Fire that I watched on TV with a juicy Tropic Plunder IPA from T.W. Pitchers' Brewing (CA).

4.  My last one was supposed to toast the Predators win at home...but that didn't work out...so....

5/6 - ...I waited til the next day and toasted my first official dip in the pool for 2018 with a terrific Elvis Juice IPA from Brewdog Brewing (Scotland and Ohio).  I also had another surprise new beer to add to UNTAPPD, the Voodoo Ranger Juicy Haze IPA from New Belgium Brewing (CA) that my friends, Danny and Brenda, had given me for my birthday late last month.  I thought it was an original Voodoo Ranger which I have had before, but this more-citrusy version was very good and tasted great out in the hot sun by the pool.  Our new pool sign from our friend, Roman, definitely has a craft-beer lover in mind with its message!

5/8 - Lebanon Poker Night - another solid win for me with a nice pay day and a quick first place ranking in points for the new season!   I am splitting my seat this year with a guy named, Derek, so hopefully this will be a good year for us.   I had a couple of new-to-me beers along the way from a variety pack I picked up at Lebanon Wine and Spirits.  First up was the excellently hoppy Lieutenant Dank IPA from Wicked Weed Brewing (Asheville, NC) and the pretty good Hugh hefeweizen from Rhinegeist Brewing (Cincinnati).  I goofed and picked up another product from Rhinegeist that turned out to be a cider called Cidergeist Bubbles that I didn't care for after a couple sips and gave to my friend, John, who did like it.

5/9 - A decent third place finish on Global Poker tonight for a smallish payout (10 x what I paid in), but most importantly, the poker roll keeps on rollin'!

5/12 - I toasted a long Saturday of work around the house with an afternoon beer in the pool.  The pint can of Kinetic IPA from Nashville's own Bearded Iris Brewing went down really good.

5//13 - We had a Mother's Day cookout at our place around the pool with Ashlee's family and mom, Evelyn, today.  I got a variety four-pack from Lebanon Wine and Spirits for the occasion and toasted my late mother, Eleonore, who I miss greatly.  I started with a terrific can of Tarahumara pale ale from Wiseacre Brewing over in Memphis. Next up was a tasty bottle of Wee Heavy Scotch Style Ale from The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (NC).  Next in line was a pretty good bottle of Samuel Adams Fresh As Helles lager.  For this macro-brewery out of Boston, I have to give it to them for a pretty cool label (photo above).  I completed the day with a decent  Hop Bullet (coulda used more hops in my opinion) double IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing (CA).  

5/16 - Huh, who knew?  Well, I do now since I checked in my Hipster Dance Party double IPA from nearby East Nashville Beer Works that I had with dinner at Brothers Burger Joint in Berry Hill.  I thought that this was a new-to-me brew, but this was actually my second check-in of it on UNTAPPD (July 27, 2017).  This time around I tasted more hops which I like!

5/19 - "Happy Anniversary, baby!  Got you on my mind!" - Littler River Band
It was mine and Ashlee's 17th wedding anniversary today and it was a rare one where we weren't traveling somewhere.  We stayed home and took advantage of warm weather and our pool for most of the day, but we started in Nashville with some yoga for Ashlee on a downtown rooftop and me at City Tap for a breakfast beer..and what better choice than the excellent Maple Breakfast Stout (photo above) from 14th Star Brewing (VT).  I followed that up with a so-so Brenner's Olde Delicious stout from Calfkiller Brewing over in Sparta, TN.   I had a cute little barkeep who was really nice (and maybe bored since I was the only person at the bar at 10 in the morning).  We talked local beer, and she even gave me a taste of the rare Batch 5000 rauchbier from Bell's Brewery (MI) that was kegged several years ago and  is out of production now.

5/20 - Another solid win on Global Poker!!  This is the same tourney I got third in the other night.

5/21 - Saw Deadpool 2 tonight with my work pal, Casey, here at Roxy Theaters (recliners!).  I think it was as funny if not funnier than the original and definitely very enjoyable.

5/22 -  I headed into Nashville after work tonight to  check out the new Blackstone Brewing Taproom.  This was my first visit to their new location since the closing of their brewery/restaurant on Broadway a year or so ago.   When the original place opened, they were one of the grandfathers of craft brewing here in Nashville, but I honestly wasn't a huge fan of their beers there.  However, since their move and possible re-focus on just brewing craft beer, I have noticed a great improvement in quality when I have bought their products around town lately.  Their new place is a bit west of downtown, but a nice facility nonetheless.  It was quiet when I got there around 7 PM  since they close at 8 PM on weeknights.  I started with a Blackstone Cinna Swirl Coffee Stout which was excellent and I got the privilege of entering this (new?) beer into the UNTAPPD app.   I also got a taste of their solid Chocolate Milk Stout from the friendly barkeep.  I finished with a 3 oz.-only sacred pour of the Black Belle Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (2017) which is now out of production according to UNTAPPD.  It was excellent.  I am glad to see these guys still alive and improving on their products under the Blackstone name.   Afterwards, I headed over to the Belcourt Theater for a late showing of the haunting and raw film,  The Rider.  I had a few minutes to kill before the movie, so I walked around the corner to the Hopdoddy Burger Bar and stuck with my Blackstone-themed evening with a HopJack IPA which I have had before, but never checked in on UNTAPPD for some reason.

After the storm, a pot of gold that is downtown Nashville is at one end of a rainbow.  I didn't see the other end, so maybe I was standing in it with my rare 3 oz. pour of Black Belle Barrel Aged Imperial Stout (2017) at Blackstone Brewery.

5/23 - I had an enjoyable day off  from work in the middle of the week today and took advantage of it with another visit to Nashville and more beer tastings.  

My first stop for lunch was the brand-new Sedona Taphouse in Germantown.  It was a very nice place, the food was good (steak tacos) and the beer list was very impressive.  I started with a really good Mississippi Fire Ant Imperial Red ale from Southern Prohibition Brewing (MS). I finished with an excellent Colorado Wild Sage saison from Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project (CO).  

My next stop was Cool Springs Brewery over in Brentwood.  Man, this used to be one of my favorite local breweries.  They used to have such inventive and unique products.  I still remember the Dew Me Now pale ale that tasted amazingly like Mountain Dew back in 2014.  Oh, how the mighty have fallen...not sure what happened here...lost their brewer?  lost their focus? (the big banner outside proclaiming a lunch buffet might be a hint).  Just not sure, but it's a far cry from what it used to be and I don't see myself making any special effort to get out here anymore.  I did have their decent flagship Pecker Wrecker IPA which I have had before, but never checked into UNTAPPD.  I followed that with an unfinished pint of their boringly bland Chocolate Porter.  It was time to move on today and maybe forever...

I still had an hour to kill before catching a movie I wanted to see nearby, so I headed into Franklin and visited Mantra Artisan Ales for only the second time ever.  Now these guys HAVE GOT IT GOING ON!  They have several inventive  beers available in a variety of styles, but I stuck with their New England IPA Humulus Project first with the citrusy delight known as Survey (photo above) and followed that up with a darker version known as Prodigious which was also very good.  So there's still one place worth visiting in west Nashville at least!  Afterward I caught a showing of the cleverly funny and oddly entertaining film, Tully, that had quite the twisted ending..."paging Tyler Durden"...

Big news today for Music City!!  Birthday 2019 plans SET!  

5/24 - I went with my pal, Wayne, to see the new Star Wars story film, Solo, in IMAX tonight.  We changed venues this time and went to the theaters at Streets of Indian Lake in Hendersonville.  Great IMAX experience with roomy aisles and comfy seats.  The movie was solid and fun also.  Before the show, I had dinner and a couple brews a few doors down from the theater at Growler USA (my new fav beer bar lately).  I started with an impressive rye IPA called Revenant from  Windsor and Eton (England) and with my excellent Cobb salad dinner I finished with a delectable Tenniskey porter aged in whiskey barrels from Ole Shed Brewing down in Tullahoma, TN.

5/26 - Ashlee dropped me off at Homegrown Taproom today and she went and got her hair did nearby.  I was joined by my friend, Charly, and then my friends, Nate and Ginny, for a few pints and conversation.  I started with an excellent Hopsolution Ale double IPA from Bell's Brewing (MI).  Next I had a solid C.S.B.English bitter from Calf Killer Brewing over in Sparta.  Next was a so-so Copperline Amber Ale from Carolina Brewery (NC).  I finished on a high note with a tasty Leroy brown ale from Mile Wide Beer Company (KY).  I also had a sip of Ashlee's  nice Strawberry Harvest Lager from Abita Brewing (LA) when she got back to pick me up.

As we headed to Clarksville next to hear some music among the vines at Beach Haven Winery I had a can of Torpedo Extra IPA from Sierra Nevada (CA) that I bought at a gas station.

It was a sad weekend for us as we had to put our beautiful oldest cat, Mabel, down due to oral cancer.  I loved this cat more than I ever thought I did once she was gone.   She was the pet I have had the longest (17 years), my first cat as a pet, and the first  real decision Ashlee and I made as a married couple by adopting her as a kitten from the humane center in Chattanooga. This is one of my favorite pictures of her coming back from a routine check-up at the vet a couple years ago with such a mad look on her face.  It actuality she was one of the most loving creatures I have ever encountered and I will miss her every day from now on.  5/29 - I had Mabel on my mind heavily as I drove back from Chattanooga today and stopped at Monkey Town Brewing for a couple beers and dinner.  I toasted her with my first pour: their Brown n' Out brown ale which was very good.  I finished with there excellent Evolution IPA: Batch # 22.  

5/31 - I headed back up to Hendersonville tonight to The Streets at Indian Lake complex to catch the opening night of the new true-story film Adrift, which was very well done.  Beforehand, I stopped by Growler USA again and had a few belts.  I started with a solid Grindhouse Cream Ale from Ghost River Brewing in Memphis.  Next up was an OK Roaddog Red ale from nearby BriarScratch Brewing.  I closed with just a 5-oz. taster pour of The Crimson Mask amber lager from 3 Floyds Brewing (IN).  

A Birthday Month of Beer and Beasts

4/1 - I started the month out right with a can of Lovebird hefeweizen by Nashville's own, Jackalope Brewing, at the brand new open-air rooftop bar called Rare Bird on top of the  recently remodeled Noelle Hotel in downtown Nashville.  Cool view, cold brew and lovely birds.

4/4 -  I headed to downtown Nashville tonight to attend the New Titans Uniform Reveal  celebration called Evolved.  It was quite a party with a huge crowd, Florida Georgia line playing live, and lots of present and past Titans on the stage modeling the new uniforms which look pretty good. I especially like the new dark blue helmets.  I met up with my pal, Wayne, before the fray at the HQ Beercade where I played a few games of free Galaga and had a couple new-to-me pours including the decent Lo-Pitch Juicy IPA from Hi-wire Brewing in Asheville, NC, and the terrific 2018 Graeter's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Milk Stout from Braxton Brewing in Covington, KY.  Covington is just across the river from Cincinnati where Graeter's Ice Cream is legendary.

4/5-  I headed to Hendersonville tonight for my first visit to Half Batch Brewing.  Great little place and their beer is top notch.  I had 10 oz. pours of the solid Get Crackin' pale ale and the excellent Peppersprout Smoked Porter.  I also had my first visit nearby to the very nice Streets of Indian Lake Regal Movie Theaters (reclners!) where I saw the scary, but solidly made, monster movie, A Quiet Place. 

While I was in the movie,  the Preds were in Washington, D.C., wrapping up a 4-3 win over the Caps and securing the Central Division Regular Season Title, the Western Conference Regular Season Title and The Presidents' Trophy.  Congrats, fellas!!  Now let's go get that Cup!!!

4/6 - I went and saw Chappaquiddick tonight at Opry Mills.  It was an interesting flick and an equally interesting historical topic.  Beforehand, I stopped in Dave and Busters next door and had a quick dinner at the bar along with a Lagunitas Brewing (CA) IPA which I have had before but somehow never checked in on my UNTAPPD app.

4/7 - Cheers!  I celebrated National Beer Day at a  birthday party in Chattanooga for my 79-year-old mother-in-law, Evelyn, who doesn't frown too much on my craft beer obsession.  I stopped by Riverside Beverages in Chattanooga before the party and got a variety 3-pack to imbibe during the celebration.  I started with a tasty Goodvice double IPA from Wild Heaven Brewing (Georgia).  Next up was the Mr. Wiggles Double Dank imperial IPA from Rahr and Sons Brewing  (Texas).  This brewery is new to me and I was impressed with my first taste of their wares.

Last, but certainly not least was the excellent Exalted IPA from Stone Brewing (CA).  These guys continue to be my favorite brewery of them all.  Always consistent.  Always top-notch.  This one is part of the Hop Worship Series and no one worships hops more than I do!!

4/8 - Hey, it only took 25-plus years to get here, but I FINALLY got to visit Falling Water Falls on top of Signal Mountain in Chattanooga today!  The state of Tennessee has owned this natural area for years, but there has never been a designated place to park or an official trail to it until recently, so I never got to add it to my list of over 300 waterfalls visited until today.  It was well worth the wait.  What a beauty!  It's a 110' sheer drop with commanding views of the valley below from the brink.    I celebrated after my visit  nearby at Heaven and Ale Brewing in North Chattanooga with a couple half-pints including their cloudy and hoppy Jucci Mane IPA and their solid whiskey Barrel Aged Love Supreme milk stout.  At dinner later that night at the Frothy Monkey in the new Choo Choo complex, I had an excellent Fire Keeper Imperial Amber Ale from Chattanooga's own Oddstory Brewing.

4/9 - I had the day off in Chattanooga today as our elderly cat, Mabel, was scheduled for anther chemo treatment for oral cancer.  After we dropped her off, Ashlee and her mom, Evelyn, and I stopped by the Breu Haus in North Chattanooga for a tasty lunch and a couple of half pints for me including the super-sweet Lizard of Koz stout from Founders Brewing (MI), and the brackish-looking, but good tasting, Brother Tommy's Black Wit from Calfkiller Brewing up in Sparta, TN (photo above).

I got back home tonight in time to head in to Nashville to catch a movie, the odd and a bit disappointing, Isle of Dogs, at the Green Hills Theater (with recliners).  I am not a big fan of animated or stop-motion films anyway, but the trailer for this one intrigued me, but I came to find out pretty quickly that all the funny lines were in that trailer.  Ho-hum.  Before, at least, I had a couple of great half-pints at the 12 South Taproom from another new-to-me brewer, Knee Deep, out of California.  I had their excellent Lupulin River IPA (photo above) and their Imperial Tanilla double porter.

4/11 -  OK, so I don't bring beer to Lebanon Poker Night this month because I was running late, but then my pal, Quintin, gifted me with a couple new ones that he was given recently.  I cracked open the pint can of Bright IPA from Tree House Brewing (MA) which was super hoppy and delicious.  And then I proceeded to take down the 9-man tourney for a tidy $600 profit!  Nothing like free brews and free money!!   Thanks, Q, for the beer and the bread!  

4/12 - I had the second gift beer from Quintin tonight at home while watching the Predators take on Colorado in Game 1 of the opening round of the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs.  It  turned into a rally-beer because we were down 1-0 when I opened it and we won 5-2 by the time it was empty! It was pint can of an imperial stout called PM Dawn from Trillium Brewing (MA) that was terrific.

4/14 - Thanks to my recent poker win, it was easier for me to decide today to bite the bullet and pay out the nose for a good seat to Game 2 of Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs for my beloved Nashville Predators vs. the Colorado Avalanche.  It was worth every penny as we rolled to a 5-4 win that wasn't as close as the score indicated.  I had a sweet seat about ten rows off the ice behind the defend twice goal and got to see two beautiful goals in the second period right in front of me including Viktor Arvidsson's (33 baby!) masterful unassisted coast-to-coaster that gave us our first lead of the game. 

Before the game (and before meeting Big Ben, our newest addition to the Instruments of Crime Aquarium inside Bridgestone Arena, I parked at the Nashville Farmers Market (for free) and had a couple  pre-game beers at The Picnic Tap including a decent Lift kolsch  and a really good Luna Lux IPA both from MadTree Brewing (Cincinnati).

The pre-game show included a very cool projection onto a curtain lowered just above the ice.  Brad Paisley killed it with his national anthem (also right in front of me) rendition.

Between the first and second period in Bridgestone Arena, I celebrated our first goal from Kevin Fiala with a can of Napolean Complex pale ale from Wicked Weed Brewing (Asheville,  NC).

Since my pal, Wayne (i.e. Catfish Man) and I weren't sitting together, we would meet between periods outside Section 110 in Bridgestone Arean where this cool new mural has been painted.  I celebrated our first lead given to us by Arvie (#33) at the second intermission with a solid Pinball pale ale from Two Brothers Brewing (IL).  

4/15 -  Holy Nirvana, Batman!  I headed back up to Hendersonville today to catch the political thriller flick, Beirut, which was pretty good, only to stumble upon Growler USA and their SIXTY beers on tap (photo above) in the same mall complex as the movie theaters.  How did I miss this place before and why have I never heard of it!!??  I had intended to go back by the local Half Batch Brewing after the movie, but had to check out this place instead.  Their beer list was very impressive and even included some Half Batch beers and many other local and regional offerings.  Their prices were good with $2 and $3 five-ounce pours to let you try several without getting totally snockered.  The food was good too.  I had an ahi tuna appetizer that was excellent.  I had three of their new-to-me 5 oz. drafts including a tasty Release the Kraken milk stout from DESTIHL Brewing (IL), a decent Hakuna Matata IPA from D9 Brewing (NC) and a nice Lost Hive pale wheat ale from Ghost River Brewing (Memphis).  I will CERTAINLY be back here ASAP!  

4/20 - I took the day off for my birthday, but didn't really get to do to much more than clean our house for upcoming guests and then drive to Chattanooga and back for our nephew, Matt's, wedding...yep, he's a bit of a pot-head and just had to get married on 4-20...

I did slip over to Lebanon Wine and Spirits and got some beer for tomorrow's activities and a variety  birthday four-pack for me to imbibe in today.  I started with the solid Cliff Jumper IPA from Country Boy Brewing (KY) and the tasty Offbeat imperial IPA from Bearded Iris Brewing here in Nashville.

Next up was the decent Rounding Third (2018) red IPA from MadTree Brewing (Cincinnati) with which I also toasted the opening of our pool for the 2018 season.  Cheers!!   My final selection was the excellent Maximus double IPA from Lagunitas Brewing (CA). 

4/21 -   Today was my "official" birthday celebration start and our first visit was for lunch at The Green Dragon Pub and Brewery down in Murfreesboro.  With my meal I started with the really good The Waldos' Special Ale (2018) triple IPA from Lagunitas Brewing (CA), then the tarter than expected Perservation ETF (2018) French-style Biere de Garde from Yazoo Brewing here in Nashville.  I finished with the super-citrusy Tenn SC imperial IPA (photo above) from TailGate Brewery also here in Nashville.

Our group moved on to the nearby Mayday Brewery next and had a few beers out on their back deck in the gorgeous sunshine.  While there I had their really good Silk Mill oatmeal stout and a solid Step Right Up Saison.

After a great visit to the Flashback Arcade in Murfreesboro to play Rampage and some other vintage arcade games, we headed back to Lebanon to  catch a showing of the new Rampage movie based on the same arcade game and starring The Rock and three BIG monsters.  It was a hoot, and afterwards we closed the evening out back at our place on the patio and around the fire pit where I had an outstanding Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Porter and an equally-good Brandy Barrel Aged Honey Ale from Goodwood Brewing also up in Kentucky.  Thanks to my friends Craig, Alison, Wayne, Danny, Brenda, Nate, Ginny, Bethany and my true love, Ashlee for sharing this wonderful day with me.

I want to thank my best friend, Wayne, for snapping this picture of my other best friend, Craig, and I battling on the Rampage machine at Flashback  just like we did 30-plus years ago in college in Cookeville which is where the idea for this whole goofy weekend of fun came from.  

See at the bottom of the poster, it was originally scheduled to debut on my birthday, but Hollywood moved it up a week without consulting me, but it all worked out for the best in the end.  

4/22 -  The birthday celebration continued today with brunch at City Tap in downtown Nashville with the addition of my friends, Doug, Wendy and Charly.  With my great Hangover Breakfast Pizza that I was sharing with Ashlee, I had a couple different IPAs from Nashville's own Bearded Iris Brewing including the Tunnel Vision and the Ever Clever DDH imperial.  Both were excellent.  Most of our crew went to see the new Amy Shumer comedy film, I Feel Pretty Next, which was pretty good and then it was on to the SOLD OUT show at Zanies Comedy Club with Billy Gardell (of "Mike and Molly" fame) who was hilarious as were his two openers.   We closed out the night a few doors down at Cilantro Mexican Grill (where I had an always-tasty Negra Medalo draft)  and watched the Predators wrap up their first round series against Colorado with a resound 5-0 butt-whuppin,!  What a great way to wrap up an excellent birthday weekend!

4/23 - Not a win, but a good second place finish tonight online.  Shoulda had first  (insert bad beat story here).  165 other players with rebuys and add-ons.  $6 investment.  

4/25 - I went and saw the excellent tear-jerker film, Lean on Pete, at The Belcourt Theaters tonight.  Beforehand, I stopped by Tennessee Brew Works in downtown Nashville and had a couple of their new-to-me spring concoctions including the very good Wildwood Flower blonde ale and the crisp, but disappointingly bland, State Park Blonde Ale.

4/26 - I went with my pal, Wayne, to opening night of Avengers: Infinity War in IMAX at Opry Mills.  What a great, bold and thrilling movie!  Probably my favorite one in the Marvel Universo so far.

4/27 - 4/29  We took sort of a whirlwind trip down to New Orleans for a long weekend in the Crescent City including our first-time attendance to Jazz Fest.

4/27 - We were going to drive our new car down to NOLA, but Ashlee had the brilliant idea that since we were going through Birmingham anyway, why not just take the Amtrak train down like we did at New Years back in 2014/15 and take the pressure off of driving, traffic, etc.  It worked out great with a lively ride down with several other nice folks having a good time and imbibing in adult beverages which you can bring on board en mass.  I got some nice beer birthday presents from my friends last weekend that I took along for the ride.  Pictured above is the bomber of  the very limited Eagle Rare Barrel Aged Navel Gazer stout  from New Height Brewing in Nashville that my friend, Nate, got me.  It was delicious and I even shared it with Ashlee and a couple of our seat-mates.

A had a couple more new-to-me birthday beers  from my friends, Danny and Brenda, on the way down as the scenery flew by like these stunning chalk bluffs along the muddy Tombigbee River in SW Alabama.   First up was a bottle of the tasty Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville. and then the solid Fancy Boy IPA from Blackstone Brewing back in Nashville.

4/28 - Our main purpose of the trip was to finally get a chance to check out the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival that always brings in a great number and variety of musical artists.  This year was no exception as we saw some really good new-to-us bands to start the day and closed out the evening with Bonnie Raitt and then Sir Rod Stewart who put on a helluva show in replacement of the ailing Aretha Franklin.  The layout and organization of the festival is great and we will definitely be back.  My only complaint was the lack of craft beer available.   I did find a RecreationAle IPA from Terrapin Brewing in Athens, GA, which I have had before and is solid, but I sure would have liked to have seen some local Crescent City brewers represented here.

One of the new-to-me artists that I really enjoyed was Andrew Duhon whose smooth voice sounded great among the paddocks of the horse stables at the New Orleans Race Track and Fairgrounds where the festival takes place.  I did find the Czech macro-brew Pilsner Urquell on tap nearby during the show and it was actually pretty good.

Oh, and the food's pretty good here in NOLA:  I had two cups of this shrimp and okra gumbo at the festival.

And the scenery's not bad either.  What a unique and beautiful place!

4/30 - I closed out the month with a viewing of the film You Were Never Really Here at The Belcourt Theaters.  It was intense and powerful, and will be hard to forget.  Beforehand, I stopped by the Hurry Back beer bar nearby and stumbled upon a "really happy hour" where Stone Brewing out of California was buying everyone's beer!  Even beer that wasn't theirs!  I started with a  Tangerine Space Machine IPA from New Holland Brewing (MI) that was solid.  I closed with Stone's own Tangerine Express IPA which was also very good.  Thanks to the folks at Stone's Brewing for the free beers and continuing to be my favorite craft brewer of  them all!