Let's define "douchy"

Here's what's douchy. When your husband goes on a road trip to a brewery you enjoy (and have not yet visited), during their Oktoberfest, blogs about how great it is, and brings you home an empty stein. AN EMPTY STEIN. No 'to go' six packs, no 'sampler pack'...an empty stein. Thanks, baby. I now have something to tell the judge at our divorce hearing.

My only consolation was the Oktoberfest at Hofbrauhaus went well and is now over. I'd like to address some tomfoolery that's been going on down at HB. Twice in two weeks we had drunk fools forget their potty training. (Both #1 and #2.) Really, folks? I know beer is fun and being drunk is fun, but poop only goes in a toilet. That's a rule. And the fighting when intoxicated...just because you're wearing an "Afflicted" tee doesn't mean you can get all Kimbo Slice in the biergarten. Nor does fighting impress the newly crowned and multi-talented Miss Oktoberfest.

Oh, one more thing...stop whining about $5 beers! A plastic cup of crap light beer that's been sitting in the basement of (enter name of sports stadium here) for heaven only knows how long is $7.

Now, on to the beer conversation. Oktoberfest is gone (wipes tear from cheek). But the consolation prize is pretty good. 1810 Prince Ludwig is a bit fuller and a bit hoppier than the traditional HB lager and by far my favorite of the speciality brews. Go get one. Or two. But not so many you forget where to poo.

Oldie but Goodie

I'll be brief today, with a lesson I won't soon forget. Sometimes in my quest to find my favorite beers I forget about the old standards. I'm writing about Yuengling. It's 'old' because they've been making it since 1829, and 'standard' because it really is one of those beers that I compare others against. I surprised my friends by ordering a tall, cold lager with a 15 beer tap list in front of me. Sometimes I take for granted that I've found it in bars all over the country and that pretty much get it whenever I want it. Good beer doesn't have to have snazzy labels, snappy names or only be found in Angkor Wat. I don't mind trying the weird or new, I'm willing to sip the duds and bad batches. Variety may be the spice of life, but knowing you've got a beer that's always going to taste good is golden.

Labor Day Nerd-Fest

I didn't have a beer at a single Labor Day cookout, campfire, college football game or picnic. Instead I drank in the people-watching at Dragon*Con in Atlanta. "Whaaa?" you ask. Dragon*Con is the sci-fi, fantasy, all-things-nerdy convention. And let me tell you, there is no shame for letting your geek/dweeb/dork/freak out for a couple days here...in fact, it's the 'mundanes' (those not in costume) who are the outsiders. (I wore my Merlotte's t-shirt- tell me you've read Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series or at least have seen True Blood on HBO!)

After dodging a gang of steampunkers and getting my picture with DoubleMeat Palace Buffy, R2D2 and the guys from GhostHunters we hit up a place called Mellow Mushroom Pizza. I hate to steal a phrase, but the pies were FIERCE. And they make their own Bogart Brew. A medium pale ale that has a perfect body for washing down some slices of pepperoni and olive.

http://mellowmushroom.com/#/store/index/downtownatlanta

Lucky for me the rest of Atlanta also features a decent line up of beers. Sweetwater Brewery makes a full and lively 420 Extra Pale Ale. (I didn't find it as hoppy as they describe it, but I liked it!) Almost everywhere we ate or drank carried it, but I had to hit "The Vortex" to get their IPA, which had a fine burst of hops and clean finish.

http://www.sweetwaterbrew.com/

"The Vortex" has an attitude and a fabulous beer line-up (plenty of international labels!) with reasonable prices and a burger called the "Double-Bypass." As you see in the pic, my husband couldn't resist...in lieu of a bun you get two grilled cheese sandwiches. Seriously, guys only a double-bypass? Quintuple is more appropriate.

http://www.thevortexbarandgrill.com/

Try it out and if you don't like it, complain to them...I dare you.