There is a badge on Untappd called "Goose Island Migration". To earn this badge, you must go to one of the cities listed in the Untappd blog entry for this badge during the dates listed. The closest city to Dallas that is currently available for this badge is Oklahoma City. It is about a 3 to 3 1/2 hour drive north. Turns out, I could drive to OKC, drink a Goose Island beer and be back in time to go to my part time job. So, before 8 AM, I drove up to OKC to go to a beer bar called Tapwerks Ale House. I have heard good things about this place AND they open at 11 AM, so I could get there, enjoy a beer or two and then drive back home. When I arrived (at 11 AM), I was the 1st person in the place. I sat down at the bar and ordered an Oklahoma Flight. It came with 4 different OK beers from 4 different breweries. I also ordered a Goose Island 312 Urban Pale Wheat to earn my badge. As I chatted with Shaina, my bartender, she started pouring tasters of other OK beers to try. They also had a Founders KBS (11.9% ABV) which is a unique beer on Untappd I hadn't yet had (but now have!). Just what a wonderful morning. Shaina was a bit freaked out that I drove to OKC on what was arguably a poor day due to weather. But, as it turned out, was a PERFECT day to drive. I had a nice tail wind all they way there and got super gas mileage and then had a sunny only partly cloudy drive back, albeit with a head wind. Plus, I was home by 3:30, leaving me plenty of time to decompress and change clothes to head to my job.
A huge shoutout to Shaina for being a wonderful bartender who seemed just as excited to share OK beers as I was to consume them :)
If you are in OKC, check out Tapwerks Ale House. Listed as the oldest tap house in Oklahoma. Old building with a nice dark wood interior with lots of tap handles and even more beers than are listed on the online menu.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Sunday, April 3, 2016
So Many Beer Fests
We haven't been beer snobs for long - well, at least not in the greater scheme of things. Joe and I started our adventure at the Flying Saucer in Addison, TX about 2004 or '05. We haven't looked back.
We've tried (as far as I know) every style of beer we've come across; I'm sure there are more out there and more being developed every day. We've gone native on our travels, we've searched the back aisle at backwater beer stores, and yes, we've waited in line for rare beers...sorry Rev.
So as the beer scene in Colorado shows no signs of slowing, we are presented with an increase in opportunities. On the one hand, we get really excited about the prospect of new and interesting beers (with a slight trepidation that we won't be able to find something we've never had...never happens). On the other, it's getting harder to decide just which opportunities to take.
We've been to the GABF four years in a row, and when we hinted that we might not go to the 2016 event, there were audible gasps among our friends. On further reflection, of course we'll go this year. But in the meantime, we're going to the Breckenridge Beer Fest, the South Denver Beer Fest, Rails and Ales, the Beer Fest at Coors Field (during a Rockies game; and yes, they'll have more than just Coors Light), and also the Denver Summer Beer Fest. All of those events fall before the end of July. That's a lot of opportunity, especially considering there are many fests that we're passing on. Gracious.
So, are we beer snobs? A little bit. Are we beer enthusiasts? Definitely. Will we ever run out of new and interesting beers? Doubtful...but we're willing to keep trying.
We've tried (as far as I know) every style of beer we've come across; I'm sure there are more out there and more being developed every day. We've gone native on our travels, we've searched the back aisle at backwater beer stores, and yes, we've waited in line for rare beers...sorry Rev.
So as the beer scene in Colorado shows no signs of slowing, we are presented with an increase in opportunities. On the one hand, we get really excited about the prospect of new and interesting beers (with a slight trepidation that we won't be able to find something we've never had...never happens). On the other, it's getting harder to decide just which opportunities to take.
We've been to the GABF four years in a row, and when we hinted that we might not go to the 2016 event, there were audible gasps among our friends. On further reflection, of course we'll go this year. But in the meantime, we're going to the Breckenridge Beer Fest, the South Denver Beer Fest, Rails and Ales, the Beer Fest at Coors Field (during a Rockies game; and yes, they'll have more than just Coors Light), and also the Denver Summer Beer Fest. All of those events fall before the end of July. That's a lot of opportunity, especially considering there are many fests that we're passing on. Gracious.
So, are we beer snobs? A little bit. Are we beer enthusiasts? Definitely. Will we ever run out of new and interesting beers? Doubtful...but we're willing to keep trying.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)