Gordon Biersch HellesBock Tapping Party

Give it up to Gordon Biersch, they know how to throw a good party.  Last night was no exception as we were treated to a taste of their new brew and some good food.

I used to frequent GB in the SF bay area at their many locations.  So it is not surprising that it has recently become my go to spot of choice.  It also doesn't hurt that they have one of the best happy hours in town.

Last night was another tapping party, I had been to the Winterbock tapping party a few months back and had a great time.  Last night was for their German style HellesBock, a  nice hoppy number with ample bitterness, a nice amber in color, clocking in at 28 BPUs and 8% alcohol.

The brewmaster explained they made the beer to pair with the existing menu, as they had just revamped the regular menu and did not roll out a special menu for this particular beer.  We enjoyed their tapas appetizer (pita bread with olive tapanad, roasted garlic, sundried tomatoes & hummus), garlic fries and pepperoni pizza at last nights tasting.

Neal (@NealMason) joined me for last nights event and we hung around after it was over, meeting some of the other folks in attendance.  Although last night was not as jam packed as the Winterbock tasting, a good time was had by all!

Junior's Beer Tasting '09

We hope everyone can join us, please feel free to DM Pam or I if you have any questions.

I will be adding details to this as they emerge, for now hear is a partial beer list and some suggestions for selections you might want to bring along.

To Be Served:

Anchor - Our Special Ale 09
Deschutes - The Abyss
Hot Polish Voodoo (Mikey)
North Coast Brewing Co - Old Rasputin
Sierra Nevada - Celebration Ale 09 (Manya)
Stone Brewing - Mulitiple Selections
Widmer Brothers - Cherry Oak Doublebock

Suggestions:

Firestone - 13
Samuel Adams - Winter Lager
Sierra Nevada - Kellerweis

I am working on a cheese platter, I have some cranberry goat cheese, red wax gouda, smoked gouda, couple others I cannot recall off hand, also working on some spiced nuts and a few other snacks.

#BNBLV Week 3 - Still Growing

Strongbow Cider is the starting drink this evening, we filled up fast. Reserved three tables for us, they were full in about 45 minutes. Things are definitely growing around here, more laptops, more cameras, more people.

The owner of the Freakin Frog stopped in for a visit tonight, to say hello and check out the group. Also a representative from the Las Vegas Twestival, more info on that can be found here:

http://lasvegas.twestival.com/

Next up, Giddy Up Ale made with espresso, nice beer on the light side Belgium Ale, and dun dun dun the guy at the bar starts talking to me about it. He is drunk and annoying, the only thing I took from the conversation was a crack about "and I like to say from cocaine to Rogaine".

Later as the crowd at the BNB break into smaller groups, I wander up to get my second beer, trying to avoid the creepy drunk guy. Unfortunately he has another victim cornered who introduces herself to me in order to break off from him, and I am spotted. I get another 20 minute drunken tale, about what he did on New Years Eve.

After a long chat with @NealMason about World of Warcraft, it's time to head out to the Fail Kitchen to make some food for the work pot luck on Friday. But I cannot resist introducing drunk creepy guy to Neal and his friend Brian.

They thank me for this...

Needless to say, shenanigans ensued and I did not get out of their at my intended target time, but much later. Now officially named "The Creepy Guy", he set out on a barrage of victims and tirades that would make a sailor blush. But I will let the video evidence speak for itself, my poor quality cell phone vids can be found here on You Tube.

Monday Night Draft House

So, I cannot stand keeping my house keys on my car keys ring. Small car, short legs, the keys bump my leg when I drive. So I keep it light.

This however has led to me locking myself out of the house. We have to lock the door to the house, in the garage locked because my girl won't stop feeding the neighbors cats. Trust me all this randomness does collide into a point of commonality.

The neighbor cats think they live in our garage now, so girl also leaves the door cracked so they can go in and out as they please. Hence why the house door must be locked. Did I mention the pigeons?

So I have on occassion forgotten to throw my keys in my bag. Today was such a day. So with a couple of hours to kill I made my way to Big Dogs Draft House, our local watering hole.

Hey how can you say no to two for one burgers and cold micro brew. My favorite Red Hydrant Ale so not too bad a night for locking myself out of the house.

BNBLV Week Two

Another successful Beer N Blog in Vegas... details and editing later. It was another good showing and managed to meet some new folks tonight. Alas had to call it in a bit early.

We tried to gain some structure this week and plan for some constructive get togethers in the future. I am looking forward to seeing how the group progress and evolves. For now, we are definetly still growing and forming, the Tweets point to a number of people that still have yet to attend.

For now I will just sit back and watch it form, do my part as I can and enjoy the ride.