DerekRx

Today it was off to Knoebels for a few summer rides, but first, a stop at Selins Grove. Then it was off to Knoebels for some fun in pretty perfect weather and a Cream Ale for me to call it a day at SGBC until PPP. Second round saw Greg and Heath going with porters, Greg the White Horse, Heath the Organic Baltic Heath agrees that the IPA one brew that goes great with the hand pump The place was hit pretty hard from Friday and Saturday (as usual), but we still managed to score some of their fantastic IPA, this time on cask I would say the hop vines outside are ripe for the picking, meaning soon shall come their hop harvest ale, the Hop Nouveau Back to the little brewery in the basement, Selins Grove, one of the coolest microbreweries ever

Um...it's the SUMMER. Every freaking day has a chance of thunderstorms with this humidity, so if you feel like risking it, just go. Otherwise just sit at home and keep saying to yourself "gee, maybe I should have gone to the park." No matter what park it is (except for Knotts), they usually don't close stuff unless there is lightning in the area, or hail or torrential downpours, and once the storms pass, they reopen things as quickly as safely possible, as they know the reason you're there is to have fun and ride stuff. I'm pretty sure it's even noted on their website and in the park guide map. You've been to the park before, you should know there are plenty of indoor places to seek out until the bad weather passes. If it rains, maybe you can call on some mutant to shut off the rain, or seek shelter until it subsides. However, if you do go, and it does thunderstorm horribly, just tell the ops your story about how far you traveled to ride the stuff, maybe they'll let you on anyway. And if you get struck by lightning, you can sue or something and get loads of money! It really is silly to be asking in here if you should go or not, it doesn't always depend on protocol, but more on the actual weather. If you have that much pull with your family as to whether or not they do something, I'm just gonna start calling you Veruca right now.

Since it's soon time for Anniversary 11, I figured it was as good a time as any to enjoy some of my last of the Stone 10th IPA. Tonight would be that night. As it ages, it's definitely more alcohol tasting, but still packs a great hop punch. Hopefully the 11 is just as good as the 10. Great stuff, but being an IPA, they really shouldn't be aged. Time to put more of this to rest.

Tonight I was going to head down to Capone's for some Bell's goodness, but then realized I've got plenty of Bell's around here! (sorry, Matt ) Instead, some work friends and I went to Union Jacks to enjoy the nice weather for once this week, and when Tom (the owner) found out I was there, he broke out the awesomeness!! and this be my Hop Stoopid face. Loaded with pine flavor, this double IPA really packs in the forest. Union Jacks rules in my book, and I can't wait to go back! and to end my night, what's that making a special undocumented appearance on tap once the Sly Fox Chinook IPA kicked??? Why it's none other than Lagunitas' Hop Stoopid!!! None other than Dave, who last tried the Stone Smoked Porter 10 months ago. The anise, coffee, and alcohol really come out in this beer Meanwhile, upon my recommendation for one of the top beers in America, the Stone Imperial Russian Stout would be enjoyed by... This, my friends, is the face of shock, as I've finally found a Southern Tier beer that I didn't loathe Next for me would be the Hop Sun from Southern Tier, an American Pale Wheat Ale where Dave went for the Dale's Pale Ale from Oskar Blues. I shoulda went that route instead of earning the credit ...the Snapperhead IPA from Butternuts in upstate New York. Farmhouse?? IPA?? All Malt??? WTF!?!?!!? next in line, some canned micros. For me, some blah IPA... and his wife, and a great nurse, Roni loved the Orange Blossom. Score more points for me! Dave dug the Mocha The Buffalo Bills Orange Blossom and Rogue Mocha Porter would be for some work friends... Upon seeing the list, my first move, of course, was the Naked Elf by Troegs, woohoo!! The "current" draft list, though something on it is about to kick... A Friday night in the summer, no better place than Union Jacks on the Manatawny

I decided to make last night Sweetwater night since I enjoyed both those brews Joe got me a few weeks ago. Yup, this one is good in its own way too. Excellent balance Followed by the 420 Extra Pale Ale It's got a different taste from a lot of IPAs, great grapefruit taste and nice fizzy carbonation First, the IPA, which I really like

Beautiful photos, Hanno. It was great meeting you at Kennywood.

The Boardwalk does have a wavepool, but it doesn't contain major waves of any sort, just gentle stuff. I wouldn't bet on seeing a bigger wavepool coming next season to Hersheypark, that area just doesn't work with the other waterpark attractions. Though the Boardwalk did show that the public really loves waterparks (duh, you're breaking new ground there, Hershey) I still don't think next season will focus on expanding it.

I can't access this area, so perhaps they found out about the glitch and corrected it. Looks like we have a name now for the ride (haha to Clementon for changing theirs to J2!! ). From what I've seen in the teaser, I could really see Tsunami being a nice name for a ride with blue track and a major wave of a first drop ala Maverick.

Last night I decided to break out a bottle of some Clipper City that I got a couple of weeks back. I tried the beer before at a beer fest many years ago, but didn't remember that much about it, let's see how it is. an ok beer. Not really as flavorful as some of the other imperial stouts out there, but still on the good side Next, Clipper City's Heavy Seas Peg Leg Imperial Stout. Been awhile since I've had this This is just really enjoyable. Light in body with good lemon and honey tastes to help balance out the light hops and malt First, some Reading Premium, don't want to start too heavy

Still cool and rainy yesterday, time to warm up with some Imperial IPA, Sly Fox style nice and hoppy, but I won't make Nicole try this one just yet and easy to drink. More flavors come out as it warms up It's no Hop 15, but it's still pretty darn good Last year's Odyssey, using 10 different hop varieties

Proud of you drinking a Killians, not quite. But it's understandable for a chain restaurant, you drink what you gotta drink. Probably your best option there, so all is forgiven. Great pictures thus far, I shall sit back and wait to see if anything you do impresses me on this trip.

^Um, nice thought, but Nantimi is actually the adding of all the founding parnters of the company's last names together. NANavati TInley MIller

I'm still leaning against a hyper or a dive machine because the park and township never had a meeting for zoning permit of something that tall. I'm also thinking against B&M at this point based on price. As much as the park and guests love Great Bear, I can't see them adding another B&M major investment right after their 100 years waterpark expansion. Thus I'm still hoping for an Intamin, as they are usually much cheaper than B&Ms AND the park has good experience with Storm Runner. And based on the "perfect 10" hints, I'm shooting for a 10+ inversion multilooper, though would be quite content with something smaller with a Maverick drop and a few inversions and hills. Whatever it is, I really don't think it's going to be all over the park, more centralized around the Western Chute Out/arcade area.

Time to finish up my variety of Southern brews tonight with the final Atlanta Brewing beer, the Red Brick Ale. I may get wet, but at least I'll be happy! well, since it's raining hard, I think I'm gonna end up like this dude on the Troegs Dead Reckoning Porter label, may as well drink one Pretty tasty though, nice fruit flavors and brown sugar/molasses sweetness with a nice bitter hop balance Red Brick Ale, Beer Advocate says it's an English Brown Ale, even though it's more amber/red in color

Yesterday after a very wet and crowded day at Hersheypark, we decided to hit up the nearby Appalachian Brewing in Harrisburg for dinner and brews. and Nicole also went the dessert route, grabbing the Framboise lambic. Very sour and tart, but had better raspberry taste than the peche had peach for dessert, Heath went with the Peche lambic. No Lindeman's, this was served a little too cold and needed time to warm up before the peaches came out another tasty brew, nice and crisp Next for me, the Dom Blonde Kolsch. A little description of it I went with the Mad Cameron Belgian White. A little taste of hotdog water, but pretty good and spicy. Didn't taste anything what I'd expect Cameron to taste like Heath started out with the Susquehanna Stout, served on cask this time. Hopefully the hearty stout will warm him up an impressive assortment, including their summer, a Belgian white, their marzen, and 2 lambics. Back to ABC, let's see what's on tap this time

Last night was more time hanging out at Heath's, to drink some of the stuff I purchased a few weeks ago at Capones. Back to more Oberon before we drained the keg and called it a night. Meanwhile the girls enjoyed some sangria Um, yeah, glad we only got 1 small bottle of this Next, Weyerbacher's newest brew, their 12th Anniversary, called Twelve fittingly. A Rye Barleywine?? OMG this was incredible. One fantastic double IPA using 15 different types of hops, the most prominent being that usual San Diego style hop Now for that Capones stuff. Hop 15 from Pizza Port! One of the best beers out there and it tastes good too! We'd have a few pints of this throughout the night It's cute AND easy to use! But before we drink the Capone's stuff, Heath got a mini-keg of Bell's Oberon a few weeks ago

Great Bear at a very crowded Hersheypark, backrow around 3pm in the rain.

Just got back from Hershey today where I saw signs of the future. It really doesn't look like anything will be affected other than the wet/dry slides. Canyon River Rapids doesn't look to be going anywhere. Unfortunately, I ddn't take my camera into the park, so my camera phone photos will have to suffice. This group of plants is doomed too. But all in the name of Intamin multilooping hyper aquatrax goodness Over in front of the Chute Out we find all sorts of markings. Expect the one game booth (milk can) to be removed as well The Western Chute Out looks to be as doomed as ever, with the actual announcement sign ON the slide tower

mmmmm, Intamin multilooper.

Just chilling at home on this Friday evening. Even a double shot of this won't last long! To stick with the pale ale theme, time for a double helping of Shelter Pale Ale from Dogfish Head Pretty good pale ale, good citrus flavors but not too bitter First up, the 420 Extra Pale Ale from Sweetwater Brewing

Yay! Jerkki did the update, now I don't have to! Great meeting and hanging out with you guys, we'll definitely do some more hanging in the park next year up at Canada's Wonderland and Waldameer.

Another Southern sampling last night from Atlanta Brewing. and that shock was followed by coughing and crying. Wow, 90 minute broke Nicole! Nicole, on the other hand, wasn't too impressed. She can tolerate IPAs now, loves stouts and imperial stouts, but is just shocked by the sweetness of an imperial ipa One terrific imperial IPA, good balance but loads of sweetness Next up, time for some 90 minute Not too much banana flavor, but plenty of lemon. Actually pretty good, but it had some weird bitterness in its finish that tasted almost like peanut skins Atlanta's Summer Hefeweizen, really hazy and orange juice looking, but lemon smelling

"To Be Loved"- Papa Roach

^^Joe, glad you enjoyed the Nectar, as that was my last bottle for the next 5 months or so. I'll make sure to save a couple more bottles for you next time. ^Nice to see you drinking stuff from my neck of the woods, I'm surprised Stoudts distributes down to FL. Last night I went with more Georgian brews. First up, something from Atlanta Brewing, a microbrewery only I believe (no brewpub), followed by a place that is very close to moving to their own brewery/brewpub. Thanks, Joe! Just an excellent brew. Really great flavors from the rye compliment the hop characters nicely. I can't wait to visit their brewery next year! Time for a real pale ale, the Rye Pale Ale from Terrapin Brewing Not bad, but a little lite on the hops. Has a very bready aftertaste First, Atlanta Brewing's Peachtree Pale Ale. No peaches were harmed in the brewing of this beer, it's just the name

italintl.com/detail_page.php?record_id=1002 Makes me wonder if Dorney is planning on getting rid of Laser at the end of the season. That would suck, as it's the most forceful ride in the park, and one of the best coasters. It's only downside is it's location, next to old kiddie rides and nothing else. Better ride the crap out of it now while I still can.