DerekRx

"Soul on Fire" - HIM

I am in awe of Chuck's cooking, Christmas town, and just having enough enthusiasm to set up a tree. I'm waiting for all my ornaments of yesteryear to act together and make their own tree to occupy. Good PTR, Chuck, I know where I want to stay when next I find myself in Williamsburg!

^Thanks go out to you and "D" for saving me the hassle of time and gas in order to check out State College. If a "top beer bar" can't even keep their HopDevil from getting defaced, it ain't worth my time. Now I remember one reason why I chose University of Florida over a full scholarship to Penn State. Just hanging at home tonight, watching the last of the new episodes of TV for the year, enjoying some good brews. Holy moley! This thing was weird; at first it tasted like soy sauce as it was too cold, but after it warmed up, cherries, smoke, chocolate, coffee, and alcohol were abundant. Well, it's a Duck-Rabbit, and in this particular case it's a Rabid Duck Russian Imperial Stout or is it a rabbit? Next up, is it a duck? Yup, good stuff. Definitely different from other harvest ales in that it's a different kind of flavor, but it sure beats Southern Tier's attempt! Starting off with some Founder's Harvest Ale, while it's still fresh

On Friday Nicole found out she was getting hired at the company she temped for, so on Saturday she wanted to celebrate. Off to our favorite place, The Drafting Room! yup, fine stuff here too. lots of anise and bitter coffee flavors. and to keep warm, let's go with Troeg's Scratch #5, an Imperial Stout The final bottle of this in my stash is now gone, but it was just as good as the first Today was kinda dreary out, better stay inside and enjoy some good stuff, like Terrapin's Rye Pale Ale and for dessert, some Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence, a Belgian stout. Very roasty flavors and a good chocolate syrup finish and I went with the pan seared salmon with potatoes, tomatoes, and artichokes. Yummy! for dinner, Nicole went with the (Holy) Diver Scallops in a pumpkin cottage cheese sauce with pasta, sundried tomatoes, and stuff Nicole opted to go with the Weyerbacher Autumnfest, an Oktoberfest with some good sweetness But eventually decided on the Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse, a weizenbock brewed by Brooklyn Brewing. Good hoppiness mixed with some yeastiness, though the alcohol really came out as it warmed up December brings us into Christmas Ale month at TDR, even though the board still says Brown Ale. For the first time in a long time, I actually had trouble deciding what to get Back at TDR for another night of great food and assorted microbrews

I'm still not a huge fan of 90 degree banked turns, but the rest of the ride impresses me, with the tunnels, airtime, twister section, and best of all, 2 trains!!! This ride will definitely work well for attracting people to Waldameer, let's just hope the park will be able to handle its new found popularity.

10/10 but I guessed on the most inversions one. I must be losing my love for them or something.

Saw HIM last night at the Electric Factory in Philly. To end their set, a little mood music for the Funeral of Hearts only downer was that they didn't really move around on stage much, just stood there and played. HIM sounded great, and did lots of our favorite songs, including Wicked Game and Soul on Fire Opening band, Bleeding Through was pretty hard metal, not exactly the same genre as HIM

Last night we headed into Philly to go to a concert, but on the way we needed some food. Luckily traffic worked in our favor for the first half the journey there so a little impromptu stop at Rock Bottom was in order. Then it was off to the Electric Factory to see H.I.M. rock the house No camera, only the cell phone's crappy one, but here's me and my newly brewed and tapped Steamin' Demon, a good floral hoppy California Common/Steam beer.

^^Sweet, looks like you guys had fun, despite the loss. Tonight it's time to have me some Head, it's been a while. Though it's a bit old and super foamy, it's still one hopped up wheat beer, and goes down easily. Three Floyds' Gumballhead, and what a head it is! What were you thinking!?

Tonight I went out to dinner at a nice restaurant with mom. Besides great food like bacon wrapped beef tenderloin, they also had a pretty full assortment of Victory beers like Hop Devil, Hop Wallop, Storm King, and Golden Monkey, as well as some Stoudts and a few Belgians, so I know I'll be willing to go back there. Getting home though, I knew exactly what to drink, as I don't want it to sit for too much longer and go "bad". Darn good stuff. Still not as good as Sierra Nevada's Harvest, nor as good as Port Brewing's Wipeout, but it's not shabby by any means Time to enjoy more High Tide Fresh Hop Ale from Port Brewing

^Looks like a pretty sweet place with a nice variety and some unusual food to boot. Looking forward to seeing more stuff. Glad to hear you made it down and back safely.

Keeping it simple tonight, staying at home and enjoying a full sized helping of Troeg's latest scratch. This one is darn good stuff. It seems the larger volume this time made it taste better to me. Packs a nice citrusy sweetness to it, and gets even better as it warms up. Scratch #6, a Dortmunder Lager.

Tonight I got a very special chance to check out the newest local brewery before it officially opened. They were doing final checks to make sure everything was ready to go for their grand opening, and invited me and mine to check out the place. Of course I was interested, but the complimentary food and drink would bring out others too. And so, let's check out the newest brewery in the area, Iron Hill's Lancaster branch. and as with many media events, I got a nice gift for being a guinea pig; a pint glass and a $10 gift certificate which I will definitely use on my return visit to Iron Hill's Lancaster branch sometime soon! and to go along with it, a nice raspberry wheat ale. Nice, lite, and refreshing While I went with the Jamaican Jerk Pork Loin Chop in a mango sauce with pineapple salsa and sweet potato fries. It was spicy and fantastic! Nan opted for the small salad for some reason Our appetizer was some really great bruschetta with a balsamic drizzle As far as right now, I decided to start out with Ironbound, their pale ale. This time around, I actually enjoyed it, good citrus and grass hops with some earthy maltiness Everything that is served at this restaurant is brewed here. They've got plenty of things fermenting for future consumption The second dining area is located off to the other side of the bar, and right in front of the brewery This dining room is located right next to the kitchen, a trademark at Iron Hill Plus there are tables in the bar area as well The bar area is located in the center of the restaurant, and has a good amount of seats The draught list, just the staple beers at the moment Training in progress, but they'll open on Wednesday evening for everyone upstairs from the restaurant is resident housing. How awesome would it be to live above a brewery for your remaining college days!? Parking is in the back, which gives you a nice view of the brewery area as you walk towards the entrance Located at Franklin and Marshall College is a whole new shopping area with restaurants too, like Iron Hill

Yesterday it was time to head back to Union Jack's for their Thanksgiving Hopfest. 14 different double IPAs from across the country all on tap ready to pummel my tastebuds with pine and citrus. and while Nicole didn't find any double IPAs she loved, she did manage to tolerate the Hoptimus Prime, and enjoyed a Buffalo Bills Orange Blossom Cream Ale as well as a Lindemans Framboise and as expected, the Pliny was just amazing. So good I decided to get a full glass instead of going for the 3rd flight The Victory Hop Wallop was a nice relief from the other stuff. A great balance but packing lots of hops, just what I like I also didn't really care for the Lost Coast Double Trouble. A nice start, but it had no finish whatsoever. The Paper City Blonde Hop Monster wasn't much better though. Too light, not enough hops On to flight 2, in which I switched out the Butte Creek Organic Revolution for the Paper City Blonde Hop Monster since the Butte Creek was just plain awful when we had it last. But the Hoptimus Prime was my favorite of this flight. It was nicely sweet yet hoppy. The Hopsickle was as tasty as usual, as was the Moylander. Both loaded with piney freshness We'll start out with the first flight, featuring both Moylans, Stoudts, and Hoptimus Prime and some Norcal stuff came out for a visit as well As did some local doubles, like Stoudts and Legacy's Hoptimus Prime Yes, that's right, Pliny and 2 Stone's showed up for this battle A look at the list of hopness Here's the reason we're here, more hop goodness A nice sunny Saturday, what a better place to be than the Inn on the Manatawny

Today I had to work but luckily I got done early, and have enough time to pick up something just recently released. and to end my short trip, a Kipona Fest, their Oktoberfest. Really good stuff, and unlike the German versions, this was lower in ABV and safer to drink For the first time, I sat in the actual bar area I started out with the Coconut Porter, a homebrew winner. This stuff was awesome, tasting like a liquid Almond Joy As usual, lots of fine stuff on tap, including some stuff I haven't tried yet While in the area, may as well stop off for lunch at the nearby ABC While here, I may as well try the 2007 Mad Elf, since it is now that season. This stuff is just great, lots of cherry and honey tastes. I may have to pick up a sixer and save a bottle for Joe First up, the newly released Scratch #6, a Dortmunder, Sweet! While not as good as Great Lakes, it was still wonderful and it turns out there were plenty of other people there wanting samples and growler fills of their fine ales Back to Troegs, it's been too long. Lucky for me, they decided to open for the Black Friday crowds

It's Thanksgiving, and while I'm giving thanks for random things, I'm thankful that Pennsylvania gets such a wide variety of brews, despite the fact that you have to either buy by the case or seek out 6 pack shops (which are few and far between). Today I'm tapping into something all the way from North Carolina, Highland Brewing's double IPA. and yes, definitely it's hopped out, but still very sweet with its nice malty balanced backbone. Happy Thanksgiving everone! Kashmir is Highland's regular IPA, but since this is a double IPA or an Imperial, this is the Imperial Kashmir IPA, a limited release using over 200 lbs of 5 different hop varieties.

Bubba, I applaud your ability to wear BOTH Eagles shirt AND hat (perhaps this is just a precaution in case they win against one of your teams and you're forced to 'Trojan Horse' to protect yourself upon exit) outside of Philadelphia. Please, come visit us, I shall hook you up with both an Eagles game and some awesome brewpubs prior to and aftermath. Tonight is Tuesday, which means while Nicole is free to do her favorite thing, I'm off to do my favorite thing (but since all the parks around here are closed, I "guess" I have to drink instead) But the small glass of the Cask Scarlett Lady ESB with Pumpkin Spice I had was pretty darn tasty! I must say, the caskness really makes these pumpkin ales taste better. More places need to do this for the style! and so, the 2007 Winter Ale is what I grabbed first. While very good, it still wasn't as hoppy or as chocolate as either of Troegs renditions this year As expected, even though they "brew" the same stuff year after year, they switch up the recipes. While last year's Winter Ale was a Cocoa infused Brown Ale, this year we see a porter being brewed Because it was on my way home, but 4 minutes from Union Barrel, I decided to see what Stoudts had on tap The place was empty. In fact, I was the first pint of THE DAY!!! at 5:30pm!! Just shows you that this time of year the weather blows around here. As for the beer, it was pretty awesome, as I was told. Really powerful, yet with an earthy feel and malty sweetness, and at 8% it really warms you up for the brutal cold approaching Adam made me aware of the Double Barrel, and so I must partake in this new brew, a Vienna Style Lager from the PA master of German-style, Tom, himself! We'll start off in nearby Reamstown, 10 miles away, to enjoy something that is new for the wintery season at Union Barrel

Not drinking anything new yesterday or today, just some great stuff that I've had before. I must have had this for a while, because it really had a high alcohol taste and the hop presence was a little weak, but it's still good stuff, just a little stronger than usual Even I'm amazed I forgot I had a stash of Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA in the basement. I really need to investigate down there more often! Some people don't like it, but I think it's quite frankly fantastic. Lots of hoppiness, but also a little bit different and unique, making it stand out Yesterday I decided to crack open one of my bottles of Stone's 11th Anniversary Black IPA

More stuff from Philly! Even Nicole liked it, and she's not a big fan of the pumpkin ales and to end our night, some of the Presidential Pumpkin Ale. Really good stuff, great pumpkin and spice flavors with good maltiness for a liquid pumpkin pie Rainbow roll, crunchy spicy yellowtail, and since we're in Philadelphia, a Philly roll of Salmon and cream cheese and it went great with our food selection of sushi. While I decided to grab the Hop Harvest IPA. Not as good as other wet hopped ales from this year, but still nothing to scoff at Nicole immediately chose the Manayunk Lager, a really good, sweet Oktoberfest A nice fall selection of brews to embrace But we're not done yet! Thanks to some traffic on the Expressway, we decided to pull off for some more food and drinks at Manayunk Brewing And all the places were great, definitely deserving their rankings The place is equally as small as the other places we hit today, but it was a quieter vibe Something tells me Nicole has a new favorite place to eat when we go to Philly and for dessert, Rogue Chocolate Bread Pudding with Allagash Cherry sauce Foodwise we decided on the black olive and red pepper tapenade and the ewephoria, a cheese from the Netherlands with hints of caramel, served with apples. Excellent! Nicole went with Unibroue's Apple Ephemere. Not as apple tasting as Lindeman's or other lambic makers, but still good stuff Since we sat so close to the bar, I knew this was on tap, so I went with the Bell's Expedition Stout. Yum as expected The beer list is pretty sweet, though they aren't all on draft Especially when the beer is all awesome micros and Belgians! Tria, #39 on the list offers cheese, beer, and wine. Who wouldn't love that?! While in Downtown Philadelphia, just a few short blocks away from Nodding Head we encounter another top place for a beer in the US

With time running out on the nice weather for the year, we decided to head into Philadelphia yesterday. Even though I've lived nearby for most of my life, I never did anything in Philly other than the zoo and sports arenas, so what a better time to check out the history in the city as well as the city's awesomely renowned beer places! We'll skip right to the beer since this is the beer thread after all. Enjoying our favorites at Nodding Head, BPA and Grog Their own tap handles. Too bad they didn't bobble like the Wobbly Bob does at Union Barrel A nice old-fashioned bar with enough seats for the locals and then some In the back quarter of the place you'll find all the brewing equipment Not too many tables, but they sure are comfy seats The place is pretty spacious when it's empty The the Oleo Kolsh style was really light and easy to drink, with a nice citrus finish The Elsinore was pretty hoppy too, but more in the English style The 60 Shilling Scottish Ale didn't really taste like anything to me But Nicole really enjoyed it the Grog English Brown Ale won some awards, but it wasn't my cup of tea The BPA (Bill Payer Ale) was really hoppy for a pale ale First up, the 700 Level, dedicated to the memory of the Vet. Pretty light stuff with good floral hops Not knowing what would be good with them no longer brewing Hoptimus Prime, we went for the sampler. Pretty big samples, at 7oz each Only 6 beers on tap, as the Wumpus was kicked the night before. What shall we get As you enter and go upstairs to where the establishment is, you're welcomed by the case of nodding heads A few short blocks away we found ourselves at Nodding Head Brewing The taste pretty much went sour apple, candy corn, basement. Couldn't go to Monk's without getting one of their own special brews. The Monk's Flemish Sour Red Ale is made just for them by a brewery in Belgium Much bigger than the US micro section, but they've still got plenty of awesome things, like Pizza Port and Russian River This here would be the Belgian section. Joe would probably like it here Their bottle list is pretty spectacular too The place is known for its mussels, so there's some seating too for actual food eating The place certainly isn't big, and is fairly crowded for a sunny Saturday afternoon We decided to sit towards the front bar. Nicole grabbing the Kasteel Rouge again, a Brown Ale aged in cherries. I went with the Rogue Imperial Porter, John's Locker Stock Release #16, a Baltic Porter. Tasted like toasted marshmellows Another shot of the back bar The back bar offers a more micro selection, but as less seating The front bar's tap list, mostly Belgian stuff The place is tiny, but they've got 2 different bars, both with different stuff on tap. This is the front bar First stop, Monk's Cafe, #18 on the best places to have a beer in America list, and the reason why PA gets Russian River in the first place

I don't know if it'll be the best GCI, but it will definitely be the best woodie in that park, and one of the best coasters there as well. Just another excuse to get back to NorCal in 2009!

To finish off Wet Hop Harvest Week, it's time to enjoy one of the first to bottle theirs and manage to keep that awesome fresh hop flavor, Great Divide's Fresh Hop Pale Ale. While still not as awesome as Sierra Nevada's, it's definitely up there, and covers all the basic flavors of hop: grass, pine, and citrus. Let the weekend begin, and soon into un-beer threaded territory! Fresh Hop Pale Ale, with a head that would make bubba proud

^Woohoo, Matt found an IPA he doesn't hate! Well, at least you found this out before your big weekend plans, thus ruining even more pictures (which we're still predicting will happen). Maybe you should ask for multiple cameras for Christmas. Tonight I decided to try something new from Founders, their take on a wet hop pale ale. Being as awesome as Founders is brewing some stuff, what are the chances this stuff will rock too? Smells really good, but sadly the taste was a little weak. Not much malt at all, not too hoppy either, but easy to drink. Definitely not the Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale, that's for sure. Oh well, this was Founders first shot at it, maybe it'll get better next year. Founder's newest brew, their Harvest Ale, made with fresh wet hops

Tonight I attended a drug rep dinner where we listened to a presentation for new treatments for certain types of cancer. While not required to go to these, they are sometimes enlightening, and usually somewhat fun. Plus dinner and drinks make it well worth it!, especially if we go to a place with good food and a nice selection of beverages. Dinner and drinks is always a good way to end a rough day at work for a nurse, especially when the drinks can include mojitos and apricot sours Really sweet with loads of raspberry goodness and, of course, for dessert, some Lindeman's Framboise To accompany my crab cakes, I went with the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale 2007, served on tap. Meanwhile Sue looks on with sadness as her Cosmo hasn't arrived yet Yup, still very well balanced between malt and hops and a good beer to enjoy with appetizers like bacon wrapped shrimp, brie, and stuffed mushrooms Continuing from Victory night, I started off the evening with a HopDevil

If I recall back to 1999, yes, there was a series of overflow switchbacks there. Not necessarily where FU is, but maybe parts of it (like the first drop). The second overflow, I think, is still there, to the left of the castle (all it happens to be is just posts with ropes). Rumors back in 1999 were that that would eventually be turned into a Vekoma Mad House themed to Merlin, but that never came to be. As far as roping off the steps at the entrance, I believe that was because people would cut thru there to get into the queue instead of going thru the proper entrance (where the op can see if you've got loose articles or don't fit the height requirements, etc).