WHO?

Obama could not make it to this beer summit but there were plenty of wonderful ladies and gentleman enjoying sample beers from over 60 different local breweries.

WHAT?

With over 200 different brews to be sampled from the two ounce beer mug given upon entering, and 210 minutes – it’s a monumental seasonal event filled with heart laughter, glowing faces, and merriment. Not to mention the good eats, live music, and the cigar vendors.

VENUE:

Yeah, it’s in a giant castle – where else would you enjoy fantastic brews by the people that make them?

SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND.

A word to the wise – do not operate heavy machinery after the three and a half hours of drinking beer, even if it is out of a two ounce cup. By the end of the night, most were slightly slurring their words – not exactly becoming – but not exactly avoidable with the amount options available. Plus, think about it like this – if there are 60 brewers and you try each, that’s 120 ounces of beer; but each brewer has multiple styles – there were over 200 beers available to try. 400 ounces or more, in under 210 minutes? Yeah, don’t worry – there are plenty of hotels within walking (or zigzagging or stumbling) distance from the castle.

AND THE WINNER IS…

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane…wait was I supposed to take the other left at the fork in the road to get there? Hmm, I did not make it to 400 ounces (barely to a quarter of it) but even so, high-octane brews likes these will make details [slightly] fuzzier with every two ounce mini-mug of magnificence. To remedy this, the Beer Summit offers an application to record notes about the samples. However, with as many quality brews available, it is hard to keep track of each one – but here’s a list of the brewers that seriously stood out as favorites:
1. Cody Brewing
2. Cape Ann’s Imperial Pumpkin Stout
3. Backlash Convergence
4. Mayflower
5. Trinity IPA
6. Lacunitas IPA
7. Woodchuck

Day Five

The Kegman made it down to the southern part of Texas.  While stuck in traffic in Houston, we had the opportunity to watch the Houston Airshow near NASA Space Control.  As traffic continued on and the entertainment had passed, we dropped our friend Tom and we headed into the valley; talk about a lot of flat land.

I guess when they say everything is bigger in Texas, that even means sunrise and sunset.  With absolutely no traffic on Route 77 South, we made great timing and got to view an incredible sunset.

After cruising through Texas, we made it to South Padre Island where it was over 90 degrees with a nice breeze.  Although the drive was nice, the views were tainted due to the Red Tide that has struck the beaches.  Unfortunately, this has caused fish to die off due to the oxygen levels as well as the increase in bacteria.  You can still find people walking along the beaches as the surface is still beautiful.  As heard from the local populace, hopefully the upcoming coldfront will change the location of the bloom.

After visiting the beaches, we decided to have dinner at Dirty Al’s and get the Botana Platter.  Talk about a meal fit for a king.  The dish included twenty shrimp, ten fish fillets, ten oysters and a platter of battered fries we couldn’t finish.  The food was delicious, and, most likely, straight from the coast.

What would you have done?  We drove twelve hours and it is our favorite place to eat in the Valley.  While walking around town after dinner, we saw pelicans flying in formation as the sun set.  You could also see the shrimpers going out through canal.

This weekend is upcoming weekend is Sand Castle Days.  It sounds quite simple, but just wait until see you the some of the pictures.

K

Day Four

Today was College Football Day in Texas.  As we were in town on this fine Saturday, we figured we would take in the SMU vs. UCF football game.  Arriving at the SMU Boulevard an hour and a half before kickoff, we were able to see all the great tailgating events in action.  The anticipation for the game ran strongly throughout the campus way before it had begun.  You could smell the CMU spirit in the air.  Perhaps the reason is that it looks like the SMU football team is coming back as a powerhouse in Texas.

Which college shows their football pride the best? I’m curious to see who you think has the best tailgating events in the world of college football.

What better way to mix the atmosphere of college football and Texas than by having a Watermelon Habanero Lemonade?  The name might throw you off a bit, but it was in fact a delicious beverage!  Intrigued by this concoction, I was able to find the recipe:

4-5 cups chopped watermelon

Juice of 2 lemons

1/8 tsp chopped habenero peppers

If you are feeling brave enough, test it out yourself! I’d love to hear everyone’s opinions of the twist on this traditional beverage.

We made it back to hotel, after watching SMU defeat UCF 38 to 17.  It was such a fun experience capturing the CMU spirit and listening to the SMU band.  On this particular Saturday, the alums brought their horns and drums, and put on a performance during halftime intermission.

Similar to before, when arriving back at the hotel, another set of black vans had pulled up with what appeared to be another musician.  This time, with the aid of my brother’s expertise, we made it up to the Hospitality Suite.  To our surprise, it had turned out to be ZZ Top and Don Henley who had arrived.  Kegman and Mrs. Kegman were able to have some cold ones and talk to all the band members.  What a once-in-a-lifetime kind of deal!

After quite some time going back and forth, it was time to hit the road to Houston.  In our travels, we decided to stop at Pollo Campero, which I was at first skeptical about; it turns out that it happened to be the best fast food I have ever had!  To make it even better, they were serving up beers South America.  Has anyone here tried Pollo Campero also? Your thoughts?  I’d like to know what you think is the best.

Day Two

After an fine evening out on the town in Nashville, it was time to hit the road again the next morning.  Making good time without any traffic, Kegman and Mrs. Kegman arrived in Memphis at just about lunch time.  The first stop was Beale Street, where the Kegman was able to see the rich culture that has survived for over a century.  Some of the sites include the Orpheum Theater, Church Park, and a few blocks loaded with restaurants and bars.

Kegman had wandered off to a quaint area named Riverside Park, where him and Mrs. Kegman stopped to have a bite to eat.  Quite different from Central Park which Mrs. Kegman was acclimated with, you could see numerous paddle boats going up and down the Mississippi River, as well as boats of various shapes and sizes.

It was very tempting to stay a while longer in Memphis, as the culture is so vibrant and the people are so friendly.  Not to mention, while taking in some of the sights, you could always hear some great, authentic Memphis blues playing around the corner.  Nothing could be better than free live concerts, even in the middle of the day, every 100 feet or so.

When they felt they had captured enough of Memphis for one afternoon, the Kegman was headed to Arkansas.

After arriving early in the evening, Kegman and Mrs. Kegman had decided to spend the night in Hot Springs.  To all of you who think the names sounds a bell, you’re absolutely right.  The late Al Capone helped put Hot Springs on the map, where there is now a casino in town.  Simply for the irony of the situation, Kegman decided take a shot at a slot machine, in which he lost a dollar in Capone’s memory.  Kegman decided to have dinner at the casino that evening, but it quickly proved to be an poor choice in restaurants.

Day Three

The Kegman’s woke up bright and early to hike to the top of Hot Springs National Park.  This is the spectacular view that was seen at sunrise.

Just to top the morning off, we were greeted with hot, hot steams flowing down the mountainside.  A spectacular image of mother nature at her best.

After making our way back down from the mountains, Kegman and Mrs. Kegman were ready to roll out of Arkansas.  The next destination on the map being Oklahoma.  After driving for the rest of the morning, we made it to The Sooner State for lunch.

For lunch, we decided to go take a trip to the end of the Trail of Tears in Broken Bow, just over the border in Oklahoma.  The most fascinating aspect of the restaurant was that everything off the menu was made with hamburger. Kegman treated himself to the hamburger steak, while Mrs. Kegman chose the lighter hamburger salad.

After dinner had ended, it was time to be on the road again.  Headed south towards Texas with open roads, Kegman had made it to Dallas by eight in the evening.  Right in time for the party at Cafe Pacific, which turned out to be a magnificent place in Highland Park.  The one thing you need to be careful of though is people driving on the sidewalks.

Food, drinks, and laughter was how we spent a majority of the evening, finally making it back to the hotel around midnight.  During the same moment we had made it back, a secret band had pulled up in a series of black vans.  Unfortunately, the hotel staff would not disclose the name to us.  What a way to end an eventful day.

K

Although it took him a little while, the Kegman now has an official blog.  Make sure to check back often to see what Kegman has to say about all things beverage.  Whether you are a fan of beer, wine, soda, or seltzer, we’re be brewing up some news for you.

Currently, the Kegman is on the road, traveling throughout the United States, with a final destination in Texas.

Day One

Departing from Connecticut, The Kegman, accompanied by Mrs. Kegman, drove 16 hours through most of the east coast, before veering west towards Tennessee.  Just in time for a night full of music and culture, Kegman rolled into Nashville to visit Broadway Street.

As pictured, one of the first stops was Roberts Bar.  We had such a great time at Roberts Bar, which is located right in the center of what the locals call ‘Nash Vegas.’  If you are planning a trip to Nashville anytime soon, Kegman gives this bar two thumbs up.  Great food and live music, all under one roof.

Mrs. Kegman was stunned by the vibe the city had projected.  No matter where you are in Nashville, you should be able to find a band playing.  The competition is intense, as bands battle it out for tips and audience members.

After taking in the city and listening to some great local artists, we walked over the Grand Ole Opry just around midnight.  To add some more flare to the night, Mrs. Kegman concluded our evening by playing the accordion on the front steps.  Minutes later, I could see the security guards appearing out of the darkness; instead of giving us the boot, they simply wanted to listen instead.

That’s all from the day one of Kegman’s adventure.

Stayed tuned to see where the Kegman will be next.

K