Drinkin' the roadie way!

If there's one thing I like, it's traveling.  But there are actually multiple things that I like, and beer is one of those additional items.  So a chance to do both at the same time...well, that's just great.

I drove a super luxurious leather interior conversion van, complete with flatscreen AND VHS player, down to our great nation's capitol on Wednesday evening for a few days of work.  On the way, the crew requested a stop to pick up some six packs of Hop Devil.  Good call.

Once we got settled in, our crew chief/head beer aficionado guided the way to Argonaut, a cool little bar in DC that has about a dozen taps and roughly as many food items.  It was tempting to order one of the tried and true A-grade beers on the list (I'm looking at you, Stone IPA), but then I remembered my early days of drinking, when trying new and/or local brews was what it was all about.  So with my dinner, I ended up with a pint of DC Haus Public Ale.  Good choice!  It was a nice orangish with just enough of a head to look good and smell great, but without having to wait for it to settle.  Nice mild citrus smell, with a taste to match.  Nothing earth shattering, but a delicious pairing with a bleu cheese burger.

After Thursday's show, two of us sat on the bench outside the hotel in the warm 2:30AM air and sipped Hop Devil while discussing the merits (and the not so great parts) about the day's work.  Maybe drinking after working 17 hours on only two glasses of water was a pretty bad idea.  Whoops.

Friday saw us drive through Maryland and Delaware, and our intrepid crew chief used his fancy iPhone to get GPS directions to Whole Foods.  Oh, how I love thee.  At the time of visiting, I was scheduled to be taking a train, not the van, back to town, so I only bought enough for the next two days.  I ended up with the van after all, but I also still have money.  So...win?

So, Friday afternoon!  Sitting in a super, super sketchy hotel somewhere in Philly, just a few blocks from Eastern State Penitentiary.  In my room is a bucket full of ice for what will be my three Friday drinks: A Harpoon UFO White, a Saranac Adirondack Lager, and a Tyskie (Polish Euro Pale Lager).  While all good choices, I wish I'd known what the weather was  going to be like.  With howling winds, rain pelting the window, and deep rumbling thunder rolling through the city for hours, a cold porter would have really hit the spot.  And the Tyskie was consumed while Skyping with a Polish friend - appropriate!

After Saturday's show, I had three bottles left to go through.  I already decided to save the bottle of Theakston's Old Peculier for home, as it was one of my first self-discovered brews that I really liked, and it's been years since I've seen it.  Drinking it from the bottle in a hotel just seemed wrong.  But I had another Polish brew to reach for - Zywiec - which tasted mighty good after a 16 hour day at an outdoor venue.  And to close it off, a bottle of Spaten Lager.  Another brew that I've been neglecting for far too long as a solid, if somewhat basic, offering.

So there you have it!  Five days of drinking my way down and across the region.  Where will my next adventure be?  Who knows!  But for now, there's some New Glarus Moon Man in the fridge that waits patiently for the next night at home with the grill.

Summer Party Beer Cooler Party Party Yeah!

Alright craft beer adventure curiosity world (Ahem, Kevin), I'm back, rested, and ready to spill the beer beans (semi-frequently, so check back)!

Yesterday the Pennsylvania Yankee Wisniewski Household had the pleasure of having a large Lamanna-based part-ay.  This was a perfect time for me to try and create the perfect beer cooler.  The beer-drinkers in the fam run the gamut from straight up Bud in a can to through-and-through snobbery.  A mix of Bud, middle-of-the-road beers number two/three, and high-quality IPAs were a must. Below is a picture of the finished product; in the cooler there were at least two of each type. BEER PARTY SUCCESS!

You win some, you booze some

Whilst on a recent super poopy then even more superly awesome trip to Boston, I wandered into one of those mythical "Trader Joes" places that I keep hearing about.  After completing mission number one - the acquisition of pre-assembled raw ingredients for guacamole - I strolled to the opposite end of the store.  The end with the beers and the wines and things that grocery stores in PA just don't get.

To really drive home just how much more wonderful it is to shop at a Massachusetts Trader Joes than any local store here, the beer they had was not only present, but it was cheap!  $8.50 for a six pack of Harpoon isn't exactly the deal of the century, but it beats the $11 it costs here - if you purchase it by the case.  But then the real shocker called to me - $2.29 bombers of house brand beer.  I scooped up one of each, just because.  There's still an IPA and a Chocolate Stout in my fridge, but beside me now is an empty bottle of Heavy Lift Vessel - a beer with no style listed on the label.  Worth a shot, right??

Turns out a shot is about all this beer was worth.  Listed on BA as an American Strong Ale, I was hoping that I may have found the poor (or cheap) man's Arrogant Bastard.  Sadly, no.  Despite being a scant 7% ABV, there really wasn't anything going on in this bottle except for a syrupy sweetness and some hot alcohol.  I'd keep reviewing, but this is one of those rare instances where there really just isn't anything more to say.  Cloying sweetness.  Boozy heat.

Oh well.  There are still two more to try!