DerekRx

I'm quite saddened that the trip is over for you guys and I'll be Gundam-less and Vertical loopless for a few weeks until the recap and update. On the other hand, at least now I can stop pricing flights to Tokyo for a bit and concentrate on some other trip ideas! "Let's see, leave here at 6am, spend 18 hours on a plane, arrive in Tokyo at 2pm the next day, spend 3 days in Tokyo, spend another 18 hours on a plane, arrive back stateside, have 4 hours to get to work; all with taking only 2 days off. Worth it? Probably"

Tonight's random selection Its a lager. Not as good as their Dark Lager, but not too bad either. Victory Lager

Sounds like a much better New Years than I had. I may have to look into flying to Tokyo next time I'm faced with the decision to go to SoCal, Florida, Japan, or some local place at New Years.

No one got drunk, though we all did take a nice 2-5 hour nap when we got home. As far as beer festivals, don't worry Soeren, you'll have one at work again next October.

Where was the propriator of the establishment anyway? And I finished off the night with a Hobgoblin And we ended up watching coaster videos As we drank, our true nature came out Followed by one of Tom's favorite Belgian's, some Saint who isn't the Pope It was then time for some trivia Then I was offered a Magic Hat Batch 372 Pretty good stuff, especially for the kit being over a year old and using generic yeast. Watch out Wally, you've got some competition! Here he comes with a free sampling Why he was outside brewing his own Irish Red Ale

I had to celebrate New Years Eve Eve the only way I know how! I recently heard that BBW's brewer, Lewis, was leaving for Dogfish Head. I had to get some of his last brews before he goes. His replacement comes from Pyramid Brewing in California. Anyone hear anything about it? Ah, and the fridge is still fully stocked. Let's try to make a dent in that, shall we? Sam Adam's Winter Lager is up first Let's have a try! Then I decided that since I was nearby, I'd break into my Regional Rep's house to steal some of his A-list passes. Then I got sidetracked and ended up in his bar Then I get reunited with my Mug and we share a CH-47 IPA I start off by going to Bethlehem Brew Works for my free pimp goblet full of Devil's Hearth

Part 2: Great Beers of America After doing the Great Wolf Lodge, we made our way over to Split Rock for their annual Great Beers of America festival. There's a good number of different breweries represented there, though most of them are local microbrews. Other big boys do come out though, like Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Mike's, etc. Finally, about 35 samples later, Tom and Adam remembered they needed food. Sadly, Tom dropped most of his gyro on the ground Why yes I am! Not really good stuff, but a very appropriate name! ACE Buttmonkey Beer, bringer of happiness Starting.....to feel.....slightly.....intoxicated Wow, this looks like a great booth! One advantage I found out was that if you have a girlfriend or wife, they probably won't drink the heavy beers and then you get their sample too Ah! That explains everything! Let's get in line, then start some random chants Wow, there's a long line forming at Dogfish Head, wonder what all the fuss is about? Well, more like "too many glasses, not enough hands" I show off my ingenious new sampling glass If only they were at the event, they could have brought Soeren with them, and some Hefe too! Even Bethlehem Brew Works came up and brought out some of their brews, Apricot Coriander and Fegley's ESB Enough beer and no food and Derek will end up with a Crickett Hill tattoo Here's the Beer Monk, who looks sorta like Dave Thomas's long lost relative Ramstein had some pretty good German beers. The Winter Wheat Doppelbach was awesome Some random turtles enjoy watching drunk frat boys stumble around Rogue shows off their collection. Gotta love the Dead Guy Ale Things are starting to get crowded, though never as bad as on a Saturday Ellen doesn't understand "drink in moderation" Here Wally, Sierra Nevada came out just for you Stone came out for the party too. Their smoked porter was pretty good One of my favorite locals, Victory, brought their Hop Devil Another local, Lancaster Brewing Its been almost 24 hours since we've been to Weyerbacher, so we make it our first stop An early lunch service is held at St. Elissa's church I start off the day preparing for all the beer, kielbasa, gyros, and other evil foods that inflicted a 3 month case of heartburn last year

Looks good, Broccolius. Yet another set of videos that really captures Japan's awesome culture. Oh course, its also helping capture my travel funds and vacation for the next couple of years!

Thats good news. I was just thinking "don't they already have one?" and the answer is no! Any idea where they'll put it. I think it'd make the most sense to put it in the back of the park near Comet and the water rides. Hopefully they won't go pull a total Six Flags and just plop it down in the old parking lot like they are the SLC!

While I'm no longer a passholder (its just way too much money, I'd rather have a 10 day parkhopper with no expiration, thank you) at least this is good news for the people planning on going in March. I'm still probably going to wait until I have total confirmation that it is opened during my planned trip before I, um, plan my trip. I may just have to plan on going in early April once we know for certain that is is scheduled to open that first weekend. Then again, maybe I'll wait until May, who knows!

Guess who got paid today and went beer shopping!? I went local themed this round, picking up a variety pack of Victory and another one of Tröegs. At least I'll have plenty of choices for New Years. Tonight's selection, Tröeg's Lager. Its Bavarian Style, but it doesn't wear Lederhosen,kinda like Sören!

Yeah, as amazing as the queue is, its dark in there, there's a lot of detail, and I honestly can't imagine anyone with that much time on their hands to film the entire queue with good lighting.

Its dinner time! Beer, pizza, and a camera phone. (I think I'd drop $600 camera phone before I'd sacrifice my beer or pizza!)

"Beer!" by Psychostick

Sons of Plunder by Disturbed

I've always been a whore, but I have my limitations. I won't pair up with some freaky person to ride coasters at a fair, nor will I bribe a kid (or parent) to ride a kiddie coaster with them. And, if I'm at Kings Island, and the ride has more than a 20 minute wait, I don't need the credit, I'd rather just leave the park altogether and go someplace that I like

Looks like you guys had another great day. Atomic coaster is totally bizarre and fitting for Japan. Every time I think about pushing off my Japan trip another year because the coasters just look weird and not too thrilling, you guys keep pulling me back in with talks about the people and food, etc. At this rate, I'll have no vacation days to plan US trips until like 2033!

^^^^ Wow, that has got to be some of the strangest counting logic I've ever come across! If you seriously count like that, even Jeff Johnson could take lessons from you. Still, its your count, however you want to do it is fine. For me, each track is a credit, regardless of what its neighbor looks like. Relocated coasters do not count Freefalls do not count Mobius racers are 1 credit total powered coasters do not count Steeplechase is 1 credit total Alpine slides are alpine slides, not coasters. If you ride something both forwards and backwards, its still only 1 credit

Starting off the night with my last Weyerbacher Autumnfest. Its going to be a long 8 months before I can get this again. Looks like its off to the beer distributor tomorrow to pick up a case of something else, as I'm starting to run low again (down to only 9 varieties). It brings a tear to my eye, knowing how long I'll have to wait for this again Though its not Autumn anymore, this beer still rules My last bottle of Autumnfest

A Power Bomb would have been cooler, but he was pressed for time, so I understand. Gotta love it when a "bad ass" fan gets put in his place. Mo Ron!

Today was quite busy at work. So busy, in fact, that I didn't get lunch. So when I got home (an hour later than usual), I decided I was hungry and that I needed to eat. If only work would allow me to drink beer for lunch every day! Weyerbacher Winter Ale and horseradish cheddar beef stick, a happy "lunch" at 5:30pm

OK, I felt guilty for not drinking at all today, so before bed I was inspired to enjoy one of the aged goodness beers from Weyerbacher. Whiskey barrel aged beer at bedtime with nothing to eat since 5....I'll be sleeping good tonight! Cheers! Insanity was my plea

Tonight I drank nothing, to which I apologize. I sure know where I'm going this weekend though!

All I have to say is you guys suck for riding the Gundam ride without me. On the other hand, thanks so much for getting pictures of the Gundam ride for me! Keep having fun, and try to get some sleep this week at some point. Plese nuderstand if Gundam ride is no on trip Japan 2007, I go not on trip.

Rained here today too, all day. I'd like to think I had a small part in it, as I did my job yesterday by washing my car. At least the rain will wash away the cinders and salt and leftover snow from the roadways so my car won't get instantly dirty again when I drive it tomorrow. Didn't feel like Christmas today,