My blog n'at

Upon reading an article in the Post Gazette we found out that Vintage Estate in Boardman, Ohio was ranked as the number 1 beer store in the world. You read that correctly, THE WORLD… in Boardman, Ohio! If you’ve never been to Boardman its basically strip mall heaven. Take Upper Peach in Erie or say 19 in Cranberry and multiply that by 10.

We’ve always heard about this place but never traveled. I guess we thought it was farther than it really is plus we think “Ohio? that’s another goddamn state!” (see, I’m a geography whiz). Turns out that it’s only 30 minutes from Cranberry TWP where we have SIDT Studio A. That’s right, it’s faster for us to get to Boardman than it is to Monroeville, Murrysville or anything in the South Hills.

We arrive shortly before 7pm at a store front that looks the size of Bocktown. Walking in the clouds parted and angels sang from the heavens. Immediately to our right were shelves of beers that we have never seen in PA; most importantly The Bruery.

That gives you a rough layout of the store. Its wall to wall beer and even more wine in the middle.  There is a tasting table in the back and also a bar in a side room that serves drafts and incredible flatbread. You can purchase a bottle and drink it in store but someone at the bar has to open it for you plus there is a small corking fee. Even with that the prices were considerably cheaper than PA. Keep in mind PA’s bullshit system for selling beer and the incredibly high tax (Johnstown flood was 74 years ago and we still pay on it). Hopslam in Pgh – $4.75/bottle | at Vintage Estate $2.99.

Vintage Estate is beer heaven and you need to visit. They have roughly 748 different beers and I would say 80% are ones we can’t get in PA. Its a short drive and if your significant other is giving you grief there are strip malls galore to keep them occupied. Downside, your beer wont be stronger than 12%abv. You’re not getting DFH 120 Minute here.

Here you go… The Beer List (some were doubles and triples):

• Alesmith Horny Devil
• Alesmith Speedway Stout
• Alesmith Wee Heavy
• Avery Hog Heaven
• Avery Salvation
• Avery The Reverend
• Allagash Curieux
• Birrificio Le Baladin Super Baladin Ale
• Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel ! Rigor Mortis Abt Abbey Style Brown Ale
• Brew Kettle Dark Helmet Imperial Schwarzbier
• Cantillon Classic Gueuze Ale (aged in oak barrels)
• Dark Horse Amber Ale
• Dark Horse Crooked Tree IPA
• Dark Horse Raspberry,
• Dark Horse Scotty Karate Scotch Ale
• Dark Horse Too Cream Stout
• Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti
• Kiuchi Brewery Espresso Stout
• Kiuchi Brewery Japanese Classic Ale
• Kiuchi Brewery Red Rice Ale
• Kiuchi Brewery Sweet Stout
• Kiuchi Brewery XH (matured in sake casks)
• Left Hand Brewing Company Fade to Black
• Mikkeller It’s Alive Wild Ale
• New Holland Charkoota Rye Smoked Doppelbock Lager
• Ommegang Biere de Mars (Batch 2, October 2008)
• Rust Belt Brewing Coke Oven Stout
• Rust Belt Brewing Old Man Hoppers IPA
• Rust Belt Brewing Rusted River Irish Red Ale
• Stone Brewing/Brew Dog Collaboration Bashah
• The Bruery Hottenroth
• The Bruery Orchard White
• The Bruery Saison Rue
• The Bruery Rugbrod
• Troegs Javahead Stout

July
Began the month with recording at the BeerDependence Day celebration at Bocktown. Attended the Penguins Stanley Cup DVD Release Party. Started a contracting job at EDMC that would become the longest month of my life and that’s all I’m going to say. Enjoyed my first ever bowl of Pho. Rocked the Beer on the Bay festival in Erie which the videos are epic and may never be released. End the month being interviewed by KDKA for the Craft Beer Summit.

August
Won a 2009 Mustang! Bees invade our bathroom (landlord still has yet to remove the dead bodies). I got a full-time job in social media/web dev that has turned out to be freaking cool plus I’m on a rockstar team. Threatened Lushie with divorce after she gets rid of the Back to the Future marathon channels.

September
Attended “Best of the Burgh” at the Warhol with sickpuppy, PittGirl, Woy and Rachel. Go big time and hosted Beer School at the Cabaret downtown to a sold out crowd. Teaspoon hits 17lbs.

October
Hosted 2 sessions at Podcamp Pittsburgh 4. Should I Drink That passed 500,000 download mark. Pens start defending the Stanley Cup. Revised Google Maps errors. Celebrate 4 years of marriage with Lushie. Lay the smackdown on poor fact checking by the Post gazette about Erie. Teaspoon goes pumpkin farming.

November
I blogged the whole month. Seriously. Bought a X-box. Teaspoon’s first Thanksgiving. Wonders of fatherhood and a kid who grows like a weed. Craft Beer Dinner with Lew Bryson, Education on the Pittsburgh Potty. Making your own Bacon. BEER AT GIANT EAGLE! Yinz Bowl 2.o

December
Still living it for 5 more hours. Remembering dad on his anniversary. Hosted a Christmas beer sampling at Bocktown. Saw KISS in concert. Teaspoon’s first Christmas. Finished the school year with a 3.65GPA. SNOW!

So what do I have to look forward to in 2010?  Come back tomorrow and find out!

You’re reading that right. I won a 2009 45th Anniversary red Ford Mustang. Every year the parish I belonged to in Erie gives away a new car to the person with the lucky raffle ticket and this year it was in my pocket. Kinda.  Since I moved to Pittsburgh in 1998 I haven’t had many chances to return for the festival because of obligations in town so Mom will buy tickets for myself, my brother and all of our kids. The running joke with many of us from the parish is that it is never anyone young or local who wins the car so I’m proud to be the one to end that tradition. Well the never young at least.

My phone rang Sunday night around 10:20pm with a frantic mom on the phone. I forgot that the festival was going on and thought something serious had just happened.  Here is how the call went:

Mom: Douglas, are you sitting down? (great way to start a call eh?)
Douglas: ummmmm yeah. what’s wrong
M: You will NOT believe who won the car
D: Don’t really care but who? I’m watching TV.
M: IT WAS YOU!!!
D: STFU! I did not! No one ever wins that thing!
M: You did and you need to come to Erie and get it!
D: OK but mom… what car is it? (Seriously, I didn’t even know what car it was this year)
M: 2009 Mustang!  Here talk to Bill (member from the church). He’ll give you the details.

From there the dream quickly began to change. I had the choice for $10,000 or the car. The catch, the Mustang is a coupe and has NO room for a baby seat. There I sat speechless, father of a 5 month old and in dire need of a new family car. I would call Bill back in the morning and tell him my decision. Before I was even off the phone Facebook and Twitter was already buzzing from people at the festival announcing I was the winner. Calls and txt messages started coming in faster than when Teaspoon was born.

I can already sense everyone reading this going “oh no…”

After much debating, calming down and thinking logically we had made the decision. We have to trade in the car. If I this was even 1.5 years ago it would be a no brainer to keep the car (even store it) but the responsible father in me says “trade it in and get something for the family” and that’s what we did. We have 2 cars already with high mileage that we dumped a good chunk of change into this summer (nice when you’re laid off, huh) so we thought this was the sign.

This past Monday I drove up to the dealership with Lushie, told them I was trading in the car and needed to find something new. We spent the next few hours car shopping and test driving before we settled on a vehicle. (Now I’m not telling you what we’re getting cuz I know you crazy ass stalkers will get all “OMG! it’s spoon’s car! Hurry up get a picture and add it to our shrine because we crazy ass”. Yeah I don’t need that.) We would trade in the Mustang and one of our cars, which we owed on, for a new ride. Now it will be a couple weeks for the title transfer but until then its sit and wait as I know the anticipation will kill me. The way we saw it was “We got rid of the old high mileage car which we owed on for a newer vehicle and long kickass warranty and no car payments.” Besides, I won a car!

While it’s bittersweet to make this trade I did have to laugh at this fact. My dad worked that car booth at the festival for over 30 years and was the voice of the festival which could be heard for up to 5 blocks away. Now 3 years after he passed, his son wins the car.

(testing the beds while at Beer on the Bay 2, Erie PA 2009)

Craft Beer Fest Road Trip Season is here and 4 more are on the calendar. Being a craft beer podcaster is a tough job.

Things are changing which is why I haven’t been blogging lately and you’ll find out shortly.

Very very soon… this is gonna be great!

So far I have:

• Started the gym thing again
• Stayed offline as much as I could while on vacation (not including job searches)
• Got the layoff (as in unemployment, not a typo’d playoff) beard started
• Watched a lot of Welcome Back Kotter
• Had a vision of how this site will be redesigned
• Made the rough sketch of a business idea that I’ll probably never do because it’s so badass the world couldn’t contain its awesomeness. Srsly.
• Created a baby registry and will have it public shortly.
• Registered for baby CPR classes
• Came up with another idea for a blog, just need a name for it.
• Kept my promise of 2009 being a bigger year for SIDT

OK that last one is vague but it has to be for now. How do we top being in national publications? You’ll find out shortly. Somehow I have been sucked into the enjoyment of new media marketing and pushing SIDT further. Sponsors maybe? exclusive road trips? bigger contests? Subscribe and you can have the next 11.5 months to find out

Here are some more random things…

• My bowling still is the sucketh. Maybe if I actually bought a decent ball and had time to practice I would be better. Maybe I could bring world peace but I don’t see that happening either.

• All of my in-laws are Penn State fans. I grew up loving and attended PITT. You can imagine what my holidays are like. 80 million vs one. Lushie eggs them on.

• We had an incredible meal at a new local restaurant. Manager asked me to suggest a new craft beer menu. That’s right, hell hath frozen over.

• Listening to Pearl Jam’s 10 and VS right now. I’m not kidding. There hasn’t been a greater band since.

• Bitch all you want that the Pens are the sucketh right now but they’re only 7 points out of first in the Atlantic or 3.5 games to you baseball folk. Beating Atlanta last night was like Kramer fighting kids. You’re expected to win and all it does is build confidence for playing Nashville, the “How did you get invited to the party?” of the NHL.

Escape is never the safest place. A dissident is here.

(Favorite pic I took on the trip. Sergels Torg at night)

No doubt that “Välkommen” (Welcome) is what the Pens saw as they landed in Sweden this past week for a special season opener along with the Ottawa Senators in Stockholm. Since pictures of the Pens trip are well documented I thought I’d share my pics from when I was in Stockholm. I fell in love with the city when I was there in 2006 and honestly would move there if it was an option. Then again, they do get worse winters than Erie but it was an incredible experience.

I was never a fan of the architecture in European countries until I experienced it first hand. I was also blown away by the culture of the residents. Everyone was polite, well groomed and spoke English very well. Their dependence on public transportation was impressive as most rode the subway system or rode bicycles.

If you’re going to make the trip though, the only way to go is first class but avoid the Philly airport of you can. Place is a mess to get around and go through customs

Photo album from Stockholm 2006

Skal! (cheers!)

We watched Bella this past weekend and made sure it was filled with activities to keep a 2.5 yr old moving.

Saturday was an interesting day. We spent the bulk of the afternoon at our community pool which neither of us knew about prior to this weekend. What a great place for a family. Lushie and Bella played in the sand, in the water and on the playground while I got to lay back in the pool while soaking up the sun and listening to music with laps shortly following. I have to give a lot of credit to the community for putting this place together. Clean, large and not only very family friendly but also adult friendly. I may have to hit some night time swims after work. My joints felt like a million dollars.

Late Saturday we came back to the house after hopefully tiring Bella out so she would nap. This would be when I had my first experience with Noggin, the Latina Whore (as BurghBaby so lovingly calls her) known as Dora and her pimp Diego. I’m not a fan of making the TV a babysitter for a kid (ahhh the 80’s were great for that) but I do think that, like everything else in life, moderation is good. Personally I found Dora annoying as hell but Bella likes her so I sat back and watched.

Sunday morning we packed up the car and headed to Erie so Bella could see the beach for the first time. The weather all week long was positive and wouldn’t you know it, Sunday turned into a 60% chance of rain. We decide to make the trip up anyways and meet up with the rest of my family who already was up for the weekend.

We’re 30 minutes into our stay at Presque Isle, my brother has dogs on the grill and the day seemed to be going great until Mr. park ranger showed up with some troubling news.

A storm had formed over Lake Erie and was being pushed down from Canada. Per the Life Guard Weather Center Doppler Radar it was big, red and due within the hour. He also suggested that we pack up and get the funk out while we can because it’ll be the end of the world. We oblige and as we’re about to leave the winds kick up and the monsoon hits. Trees are falling down, people are driving like morons and Bella kept saying “WHOA”! I can only image how cool it must have appeared to her.

We head back to my moms and spend a few hours visiting before heading back to Pittsburgh. It was a fast but eventful weekend. Anytime we get to watch the little squirt though it’s a good time.

The long awaited review of the beer fest weekend from July 25-27th is here. This is your belated Humpday Happiness as next week we will be going back to beer reviews.

The Meter Maid
Sickpuppy and I arrived in Erie on Friday afternoon so we could pick up the prizes for our contest winner which included a 1 night stay at the Avalon. The meter I pulled up to had 9 minutes left and we were 1/2 a block away from the hotel. We hurry in check reservations and then run back. The meter maid was in the process of writing me a ticket when I ran up. Told her that we just came in from Pittsburgh, spots in front of the hotel were full and I just had to check reservations. She said “put a quarter in NOW!” She rips up the ticket and with a sneer she says “I’ve had a bitch of a freaking day and want to go home”.  She walked away.

Walk down Memory Lane
Friday night we went to the BrewErie for dinner and a few drinks while reconnecting with our friends there. It’s not everyday that I absolutely rave about food but goddamn you need to see this

That would be the special from the BrewErie. Along with that, and many fine beers was the legendary Beergarita and fresh from the test labs was the Bloody Weizen (1/2 bloody mary, 1/2 wiezen and rimmed with Old Bay).

Sickpuppy has never been to Erie with me before so being the host I thought it only fitting that I take him on a quick tour of some of my old stomping grounds. First stop was The Shaggy Dog (which is now The Dog) where it all began for me in the mid 90’s. I had my first craft beer there. I hustled pool from frat boys there. I made great friends and I still think back fondly. I also haven’t been back since my going away party in 98. The Dog was a walk back in time as very little has changed there. The hole in the ceiling I put is still in the back, the pool tables look the same and the bar is just as I remembered it.

We talked to the bartenders and instantly hit it off. They ran down the history of the place, since I had left, and it seemed like the bar was a goner until current owner Kenny bought it over a year ago. I have to give props to the staff for being top notch to us and treating us to an entertaining evening. If you go there look for Dill, Bryan and Tomy. Tell them SIDT sent ya   The plans they have for remodeling the bar are similar to what we discussed 10 years ago but I think this group may be able to make it happen. Oh I will be back!

We ate a fat chick and LOVED it!
On our way back to crash for the night I decided there was one more place to stop at to finalize our tour. Jimmy Z’s Time Out Tavern in Wesleyville. My brother and I hold this place near and dear because it’s the only bar open on Thanksgiving and close to our mom’s. Every time we’re both in town for the holiday we HAVE to stop. Drinks are cheap, food is good and the crowd is filled with the same regulars every night (well when we’ve gone) in the same seats.

Sickpuppy was diggin this place as a capper so we had to do the soon to be traditional famous SIDT Flaming Dr. Pepper which you can see on video here from a bar in Pittsburgh. We chat up the bartender for a bit and decide that we need a shirt. We tell him why we’re in town and want something unique to take back.  That’s when we bought this shirt.

Now the kitchen was closed so we couldn’t order one but come on, that’s pretty damn funny.

We left and went to crash and go over notes for the next day which you will read next…

For the full gallery of the weekend click here.

You’d think after a bloggers conference that I would be all gung ho about recapping everything that happened, the people I met and afterthoughts. Yeah well life decided that it was going to step in and put the kabash to that plan. Since it’s been over a week I’ll do a brief recap.

Rust Belt Bloggers
The meet and greet was Friday (7/11) at the BrewErie. It was a good icebreaker to hang out over fine craft beverages with Dale Hannah, Jim Russell, Chris Briem, Michael Mahler, Locobone and Justin. Saturday was the main event and in addition to the Friday night crew, we were joined by  Phil Kidd, Janko and Hunter Morrison (Center for Urban and Regional Studies at Youngstown State University) from Youngstown and our Pittsburgh blogger in podcamp crime, Cindy. Most of the meeting was giving our introductions and a brief overview of who we are, our backgrounds and what we’re looking to accomplish. I was hoping that Erie would have had more of a presence since they played host but I also understand people were called away for the weekend. eh, it’s the first one, they have time to redeem

The surprise of the summit for me was the pitch thrown out by Youngstown. Yeah I know, you’re thinking “wtf, Youngstown? Isn’t that a haven for mobsters“. That was my thinking also until I talked to these guys. I was 100% sold that I need to get up there and check things out. The youth movement (40 and under) have taken over the city and it’s now a hot bed of untapped resources to make a viable force. Did I mention they’re opening a new brewery too Listening to how passionate they are about Y-town I was ready to go that day. Again, that is saying A LOT for me!

Overall I think this was a great starting point for those of us in the Rust Belt to get moving forward (and… DRINK). The key item is that it doesn’t turn into another “yeah, we had this idea once” and then bask in the gloriousness of that weekend. It did show me that I have an interest in redevelopment, just a matter of finding out how to use my skills to be effective.

Reunion
Sunday (7/13) was an interesting day. My brother and I (pictured above) went to our grade school 50th anniversary reunion. I haven’t been in the school for at least 10 years so it was entertaining to walk around with my bro and his friends while talking about memories. I think what amazed us more was the fact the nuns were still teaching there. Some of the same ones that my bro had in 1972 and I had in 1990 were still spreading the word. The only other person from my class was Wendy who helped organize the event. We may have to go track down some folk and crack skulls.

Crazy insane editing
My company had it’s yearly internal fair to show employees what all is going on with the company and host demos so we can see our products in action. To me this an enjoyable and educational event as there is always something new I get to play with.

3 days before the event I was recruited to film interviews with 10-15 people talking about a certain product. Filming started Monday and ended Tuesday at 2pm. As luck would have it I came in at 7am Wednesday and my encoder blew up as I’m trying to edit, leaving me at work until 8pm. Thankfully SIDT Studio A was open at 11pm so I sweet talked sickpuppy with craft beer to let me come over and edit. Around 5am we wrap up and I take a 15 minute nap on his couch before heading back into work. I handed over the video at 8am and took a much needed afternoon off to sleep. The feedback on the video was incredibly positive so I’ll be pushing to do this more often. I was considering throwing it up on You Tube but there’s that whole internal only thing. Now about getting that new equipment…

The weekend that was
I stayed offline as much as i could, went out to eat a few times, built some kickass kitchen trashcan hider thing, drove to Grove City Outlets and North Country Brewing, dominated a game of Trivial Pursuit and completed my first week of classes.

cheers!

I’m heading to the South Hills tonight from the north and plugged the address into Google Maps. It told me to…

ummmmm yeah. Either Google Maps 1) thinks I drive Death Proof 2) is out to kill me 3) is trying to thin the heard.

Here are the next 3 steps I should follow. The grand finale will be crashing into the 51 ramp.

With it being Easter weekend, Lushie and I drove up to the frozen north that is Erie PA to spend time with family. That right there may cause some giggles but rest assure this was no boring weekend and you’re about to find out in a 2 part series.

Due to a final (got a 90! wooha!) I had Saturday morning our trip was delayed an extra day. We had planned driving up on Friday so things would actually be ready on time (for Saturday as my mom’s house becomes a warzone for 5 adults and 3 kids) but instead I was in front of my laptop writing my last reviews for the semester. Oh plus I met up with Woy, Victoria and a cast of other for Happy Hour at Mad Mex the night before.

Saturday we rolled in mid afternoon and chilled for a bit. What surprised me most was that we had 4 inches of snow at our house in Pittsburgh but Erie had little to none. Odd indeed. The temp though was as cold as expected pushing the 32F mark. After my brother’s family arrived we did a once over of some things we might need for dinner and headed to Wal Mart in Harborcreek. In case you didn’t know, there are 5 Wal Marts in the greater Erie Area (including Edinboro). Yup… 5.

Most of you know that Wal Mart isn’t exactly on the threshold of the top of the gene pool. This past weekend in Harborcreek it was very apparent. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of normal people that shop there but good lord on this particular day it was booming with oddities. I saw couple people that I have known for years and talked to a little bit but also there were many moments that I was watching the cart because of the homeless crackhead convention walking around. Think I’m being harsh? Keep reading…

As we’re in checkout this older guy dressed like a bum keeps staring at us. At first I’m thinking “please baby Jesus don’t let this be a fan of the show.” until I realize he’s looking right at Lushie’s purse. We keep scanning items on one of those piece of shit self checkout machines and he keeps circling us. Everything was fine but the Smores Skittles fell out of the bag and we put them back in causing the head cashier to give us stink eye. As we’re leaving I see Crackhead getting closer and closer to us. I hold onto Lushie’s purse and tell her that if his hand touches this cart I’m taking him out. Yeah I was lookin to beat someone with our newly purchased “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?” board game. Fitting since this guy apparently wasn’t.

As we hit the door I hear “Wal Mart Security, sir please stop!” I thought it was me but here they were scoping out the crackhead. We keep walking and saw this guy being asked questions outside while the rest of the security team searches him only to find a big bronze tin. The crackhead then takes off his stocking hat and THROWS it at the young guard. Apparently he thought it was a magic hat that would stop all in their tracks.

We watched the leg race (the guard was laughing as he kept pace while calling the cops on his cell) which wrapped around the parking lot and down onto Buffalo Road. Moments later we saw the state trooper haul ass and catch the guy only yards down the road. The pic above is the crackhead getting caught and being placed in the car.

moral of the story… hats don’t kill people but crackheads running into traffic are worth 50 points.

up next – Easter Mass behind SpazLady