Rumor And Sigh

   So, have you heard any rumors about a beer fest being held in Limerick lately? Been waiting for details and who might show up? Well, you're going to have to keep waiting a little bit longer. We are in now, what is known as the ligation stage. You know, the real fun stuff, LCB, lawyers and insurance. It is a land use issue as where does a licence end and begin kind of thing. Hell, if it was just beer and food, it be done by now. Or to put it in street terms, it is called covering your ass. So please forgive me for my silence, it is a necessary evil. Or a blessing.

In other semi important news, a meeting was held for the staff of TLBL at the corporate offices of Kepler Mountain Resort and Casino . On the docket was why great travel stories of the last two plus years were never completed. It was brought up by a staff member, that looking back causes severe pain and memory loss. A few chuckles were heard in the background. It is highly possible that some staff members may be let go or just outright fired. One can only hope.

Fresh Start

View from our room

Wake up everybody no more sleeping in bed, we got to get some food at Snooze, so we can go out drinking again. Okay, it's not quite the same remake as the Roots version, but it works for me. So, after a good night of sleep, we awoke to one hell of a view from our lovely place at the Brooks Tower Condos.What a great visual to start your morning with. While everybody was getting ready, it was now time for me to prepare for the day by checking out some new beer places in the Westworld magazine.That reading thing does come in handy at times.

 We then strolled downtown to one of my favorite breakfast places ever, Snooze. They opened up right before I last came to Denver, a little over 4 years ago and I was blown away. Now it was time to see if it would do same for my traveling companions. As you can plainly see, it was some good eats. Who else has fresh poblanos as a side for your breakfast tacos?
 Oh, and those pancakes may have put a weaker man in a sugar coma, but the esteemed Mr. Kulp took it down. But there was one small problem. We were stuffed. To the gills. Like, I can't move anymore. So after several minutes of trying to get our shit together. We finally, with the help of a crane, got up and ventured out upon the streets of Denver.




 

Juan's breakfast tacos

We decided to stroll down Blake Street and what to our wondering eyes did we find, Breckenridge Brewery. It's 11:30 am and besides, it's always Thursday somewhere. I think in hindsight that this was more of a ploy to sit our fat butts down and continue digesting our giant breakfast than it was to drink beer. But beer was ordered, albeit a small one and a once over was given to this huge place. So after paying our tab, we started our stroll down Blake and saw the Falling Rock sign, and I uttered these famous words "I wonder if they still have Publication and Saboteur on?" Their answer was yes, and our answer was, where do you want to sit? So we grabbed a table outside and enjoyed a couple of beers and some beautiful warm weather. After a couple of hours of beer bliss, we forcibly remove ourselves and continued our walk down Blake to a brand new place called Freshcraft. They have been open for about three weeks, and in the next several days we were to become some of their best customers. The reason we came at this time was a session happy hour, a sandwich, fries and a 5% beer for $8.50 and a house made pickle to boot, which is oh, so good. After making ourselves very happy and full, we then met up with the RJ team for a trip to the Vine Street Pub for a beer or two and a snack, then we were off to the Cheeky Monk for some dinner and a special tapping of Three Cheeks To The Wind, a super small batch of beer brewed by Avery for their 3rd anniversary. It is all about timing folks. As we got seated outside, our waitress asked us for our beer order and we all ordered that. It wasn't on tap yet, but should be in two or three minutes. Sure enough about 10 minutes later we all had a glass and she proceeded to tell us that there were people at the bar that didn't get any as it was only a sixtel and it kicked in three minutes. Well, dinner was great, and the beer was damn good and the company wasn't too shabby either. So we all took a bus back into town and I headed off to sleep land after another tough 12 hour day, but the RJ team talked my companions into a so called nightcap at Rock Bottom. (remember the RJ line from the last story about wolves?) Which lasted well over two plus hours. Another lesson learned, the hard way of course. There would be plenty of more lesson to learn along the way. But it sure beats working.

Baby Steps

  Lets face it, a day without breakfast is like a day on vacation without beer. So after dropping off the bags, we hopped on the 16th Street shuttle and shuttled our way into Dixon's for some much needed food. Half way thru breakfast, the RJ team stopped by to see what we were up to the rest of the day. For those who do not know, RJ stands for Rick and Jeannie. Damn good folks. ( Who later on in these stories might turn up more like friendly wolves in sheep's clothing. You will find out the reason why soon enough.)  We had plenty of time to kill as our room wouldn't be ready until three, so after breakfast, we strolled  up 16th street to stretch our legs and get a lay of the land near the capitol area. We were quickly reminded of the term "city block"once we arrived there. We kept walking uphill in the blazing sunshine and it seemed liked we were getting nowhere fast. Until my faux daughter spotted a beer sign in a window up ahead.

  Uptown Brothers was the name and in we went hoping for the best. Our hopes were met quite nicely. Another fairly new place in the slowly up and coming Colfax Avenue area. Good beer selection and better yet was some of their mac and cheese. Now I wasn't all that hungry, but when the bartender says it is made with the three kinds of cheese, including smoked Gouda, well, I had to do what I had to do. App size please. The results, it was wrong, oh so very, very wrong. So wrong in fact, that when I came back a two days later, I had it again just to be sure.
 
So we left there and did our running around and got back to our room with just enough time to put stuff away and head down to the epicenter for the week of beer events, Falling Rock. The RJ team


Where evil lurks at every tap

was already at the bar chatting up the bartenders. Their kickoff of events started at 5, so it wasn't crazy crowded just yet. The chalkboard said it all for me, Russian River Publication. Never heard of that. It reminds me a bit like Dreamweaver unfiltered and gently caressed with funk. How can that be a bad thing? What was a bad thing however was something we would end having on a daily basis there. Odell's

Saboteur. We had the chance to try this back in June at Capones when they came in for a rare visit. And now it would be on tap for a solid week here.



Doing what they did best, drinking Odell's



 Darkness has slowly started to fall and so was our eyelids from lack of sleep. The RJ team suggested one more stop, Rock Bottom. But, as we made our way up the street, the road crews were working nearby , so I said let's check out the Mellow Mushroom. Rick than orders a pitcher of Twisted Pine IPA. (See what I am talking about) We somehow finish that, cry uncle repeatedly and stagger back to our rooms for some much, much needed sleep. It was to be an early night. Like I keep saying,  it's a marathon not a sprint.





TNSC Meets GABF

OMG, ILMAO, WTF, IDTM, SFS, FSF. Guess em all and when a prize. On Monday the 13th, three crazed people meet at the ungodly hour of 5:30 am and drove like bats out of hell to catch a 7:50 U.S. Air flight to a warm and sunny Denver. It was hard to believe that we actually left early and arrived early. Speaking of early, another group had left a few days earlier to do some "hiking". If by hiking you mean elbow pads, pint glasses, tulip sniffers, bottle openers and seat cushions. A couple of days later, another batch of fresh TNSC troops arrived. And on Thursday, Pookie De Miel came out to torture, I mean play with us, damn keyboard.

This is not their story, hell, it is barely mine. No kids, this will be the story of TNSC meets GABF. In technicolor and 4D where available.

This photo does not lie. It was a dry heat......

What Will The TNSC Do Tonight To Celebrate?

A drinking holiday in August? Hell, we would have cleared our schedules if we would have known that or better yet, could remember that. You may go here for more important details

Late Breaking News From BCTC

I just obtained this video from Wiki Leaks which show what really happens on Sunday morning at the campsite.

It's A Mad Matt World! Update!

Mathew J. Guyer, proud proprietor of the Beer Yard and, a all around good guy, is making his long awaited
return to bar tending this Monday night, July 26th at CAH, to help raise money for Habitat for Humanity.
30% of all proceeds that day will go to this fine organization. Mr. Guyer will be slinging barbs, jokes and drinks, literally, from 6 pm to 9 pm. If you can't make it between those hours, do not worry my friends. You can still help out the cause by stopping in anytime that day and writing Habitat on your check.

Now for the most important of all the news, what the hell will be on tap for this occasion?
(Sorry kids, no Brotherly Suds, but Victory instead)
St. Feuillien Cuvee de Noel
Troegs Mad Elf
Victory Summer Of Love Golden Ale
Ex Porter (collaboration of local beer writers, bar owners and Mr. Beer Yard himself)
Scratch 31 A firkin of Oaked Aged Citra of Brotherly Love
Scratch 31 Citra of Brotherly Love

There will also be a full moon that night which may lead to some howling. A whole lot more howling might be happening Tuesday morning, I reckon.
P.S. Rumour has it that the esteemed Jack Curtin may show up. May God take mercy on our souls.

Rip Van Blogger

Yawnnnn. I just took a two month nap under the tree at CAH and I woke up to some very strange news. Someone said that PBW was still going to be in June. Really? No, really? I see I am going to have to tell another children's story  a little later on this week, entitled "The Emperors New Clothes"

Do You Saison?

Today at Mr. Matt's "I Owe Dan A Beer" Capone beer emporium, is his Saison event. Looks like he is slacking a bit with only 15 of them today. What about those other 15 taps? I guess am I going to have get to the bottom of this glass, I mean this. Sunny days and Saisons. Is there anything better? So here be the total tap list for the day.

McKenzie Saison Vautour "Gold Medal winner ! Congrats !!!!!!!

Jolly Pumkin E.S. Bam

Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere

South Hampton Publik House Saison

Heavy Seas Red Sky At Night

Saison Dupont

Lost Abbey Carnevale

The Bruery Saison DeLente

Sly Fox Saison Vos

Great Divide Colette Farmhouse Ale

St. Feuillien Saison

Yards Saison

Ommegang Hennepin

Jandrain IV Saison

Russian River Damnation

Atomium Grand Cru "From Belgium"

Duvel Green

Brouwerij St Louis Gueze

Allagash White

Koningshoven Quad

Fruli Strawberry

Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop Ale

Left Coast Hop Juice Double IPA

Oude Beersel Framboise

Founders Double Trouble

Bear Republic Crazy Ivan IPA

South Hampton Double White

Rogue Shakespeare Stout "On Nitrogen

Beer And Cheese

Is there a better combo in the history of mankind? I think not! So on Wednesday night at Ye Olde Craft Ale And Lager House, located in Limer-ford, there shall be a right smart bit of cheesy shenanigans going on with New Hollands beer guru, Dr. Joel and Calkins Creamery. I hear that their cheese is so good even the lactose intolerant crave it. And for the good Doctor, he is bringing several rare cases of beer to pair with said cheese. I think Homer said it best, mmmmmmmmm, beer and cheese. Or maybe that was just me.

Updated! Here is the lineup for tonight!

Poet Oatmeal Stout with Noble Road (soft, ultra-creamy, bloomy rind, mushroomy flavor)

2. Imperial Mad Hatter with Lida Gold (Montasio: hard italian with late fruit notes, washed with olive & tomato)

3. Mad Hatter with Misty Morning (naturally aged Welsh Cheddar)

4. El Ole Mocho with Udderly Hot (Havarti with Pocono-grown chili peppers)

5. Golden Cap Saison with Skinners Falls (unpressed basket Tomme - dry and earthy)

Look, Up On The Blog

"It's a bird, it's a plane, it's fucking words! Yes, fucking words, strange visitor from another planet who came to earth with little powers and abilities far beyond mortal cats. Fucking words, who can change the course of mighty livers, bend aluminum foil in his bare hands, and who disguised as "The Cooler Monster" from CAH, ill mannered blogger for a great bistro, fights the never ending battle for the TNSC. And the American Way.

PLCB On My Back

What more can anybody say about the cluster fuck that was going on in the local beer world? I think this sums it up pretty nice.



But just like in politics and horse racing and maybe even the final four, I think it is time to judge the ponies or in this case, all the stories of whodunit.

Don, Jack, Lew and Bryan scheme it up, to have something to write about during what would have been Beer Week. 1.2 million to 1

A local distributor. 1000 to 1
Not buying this one at all.

Avoidance Fee aka bribe. 750 to 1
Sounds good at first but just doesn't pan out in the long run.

Lee Harvey Oswald. 500 to 1

Local Bar Owners. 125 to 1
I didn't get my Pliny ain't washing.

Some Obnoxious Customer. 100 to 1
This had the early lead in the beginning, but is sinking fast with the latest going ons.
You don't get this kind of action getting thrown out of a bar.

Disgruntled Ex Employee or mole. 75 to 1
Keep your friends close but your enemies closer.

Union Contractors. 50 to 1
From the movie Eraser, "Nobody fucks with the Unions"

PLCB. 10 to 1
Once you piss off the mighty PLCB, no matter what the infraction, you my friend have started a shit storm of epic proportions.

This really happy go lucky person. 5 to 2
This was from December and whoever it is has been talking smack since this moniker first appeared early last year. Knows way too much to be a nobody. Please read all of their fine posts and let the guessing begin.

I must have heard half a dozen names and just as many scenarios why they would do it. But I ain't starting no holy war among bar owners and such pontificating their names here.

When I ran a Google and Bing search of Mr. Brenden Hartranft, there was a lot of love for our friend, but there was also a lot of real haters, going all the way back to his Khyber Pass days. Could it be the same people? Why was I searching his name to begin with? I swore with all my heart that he wrote an opinion piece for either the City Paper or Philly Weekly a couple years back where he ripped the PLCB a new one. Either I am dead wrong or it is hidden deep in the confines at one of those papers.

So what will really come from all this at the hearing on April 13? Not a hell of a whole lot I think. Maybe a little lipstick here and there to appease the public. Maybe some midterm election posturing. But I would find it awful hard to believe if things really changed all that much.

Young At Heart

I got to watch the last 40 minutes of a show on PBS last night called Young At Heart. It was a documentary about a group of senior citizens who travel around the world and sing renditions of rock songs. I laughed out loud at some of their antics, until the last 15 minutes or so, when the ugly realities of life strike the group. Watch this amazing song and see if you can keep a dry eye.

Happy New Year!

Welcome aboard the crazy 2010 train. A mere 10 years after the world was going to end (1999) and just two years before the next so called destruction of mother earth (2012), New Years Day has now become a bigger drinking day than the fabled night before. Is that any way to keep a New Years resolution? Assuming of course that your resolution was to eat better and drink less, and that all time dreaded word, e x e r c i s e. Instead there are beer events galore for even the most beeriest of geeks. Lambics at the Tap And Table, Stouts at Monks, Anniversary parties at Local 44. What ever happened to staying at home and sleeping on the couch while pretending to watch football? Is nothing sacred anymore?

Me, myself and I only have a couple of resolutions this year. Here they be in no order what so ever.
1-Finish what I have started. No need to explain this one.
2-Write at least 100 posts this year. No cheating with one line ones either.
3-E x e r c i s e. No, not the let's go and join the gym thing. Maybe just some some yogurt and Kung Pao to start.

Well, there is three off the top of my ever balding head. There is probably more, but let us not get crazy and all on the first day of the new year.

Gelukkig Nievwjaar Voor Iedereen!