@WB, it does have some batchwise variation, depending what they are dumping in the Cuyahoga that day, hence WTBs comments, but can be very tasty. I like it better than Moerlein.

I still think I can taste the difference between Redhook ESB or IPA brewed in Woodinville, vs their NJ or some craaazy shiat location on the Eastern Seaboard. They sure did take the edge off some almost 20 years ago. *Wipes eyes*

I have yet to try HofBraueHaus in Newport, NKY. That might be a fun surf report field trip, if anyone else is taking their meds, and feeling solvent enough to buy us all beers.

Greg

My wife’s family planned a reunion (on her mom’s side). My Mother-In-Law is 83 and her baby brother is 82, last living of a family of something like 15 kids. We know several of my wife’s first cousins, knew of several first cousins we never met, and had heard about dozens of others that we had never met. We are discussing Moundsville, Glen Dale, McMechen, Benwood, Roney’s Point, Wheeling, West Virginia vicinity.

Cousin Peggy, recently retired, decided to plan this thing, rented a shelter, and called up just about every relative she could think of to get names, addresses, etc. of the “unknown” second and third generations, sent invites, and hoped for the best. Surveying the oldsters in advance, it was determined that the most recent “Kestner” family reunion was in 1969. Imagine, 40 years ago.

Like any other family, we had heard stories about drunkenness, debauchery, jail sentences, car crashes, divorces, step and half siblings, people still pissed off about a $20 loan from 50 years ago that was never paid back, etc. We had no idea if we were going to party with Charles Manson or Lindsay Lohan. Some of the stories are priceless and we learned about some of my wife’s second and third cousin’s childhoods that were unbelievable tales.

I am the type of guy who likes to be prepared for any event, so I brought 5 cases of Yeungling Lager (my contribution all properly iced in coolers), my wife was bitching and complaining that I overbought, of course, as usual.

And my Mother-In-Law dispatched me to Kroger’s for 48 pieces of fried chicken. I took a huge old GE electric roaster that holds about 25 gallons capacity pilfered from my Grandma’s house when she died about 10 years ago.

I decided last minute to go back to Kroger’s at the last minute and buy more chicken (additional 60+ pieces) to fill this mammoth roaster to capacity. Again, my wife complaining that I am overboard, out of my mind, wasting money, being an idiot.

Everybody and their brother showed up in 95 degree heat, introduced themselves, brought family photos from generations past others never knew existed. We had a crowd of 100+. 83 year old Mother-in-law and Uncle Gene, age 82, were the stars of the show.

I was complimented on the choice of beer (they drank every one of them thus requiring an additional beer run), and they raved about the chicken surveying the crowd for the recipe (and who prepared it) thus surprised that it was Kroger’s). I took home a completely empty roaster and empty coolers.

Met some super interesting, some successful, some real characters and had a blast.

Long post. Tired. Over and out.

@WB in OH – I didn’t see anyone on the top of our building (or any of the other downtown tower buildings), but no one seems too happy about the Browns right now. Is it too early in the season to say ‘maybe next year will be our year’? (In the spirit of full disclosure – while I live in Cleveland now, I am from Indy, so the Colts are my fave team.) Also, I like Shiner Bock a lot. Other local beers I really like – Abita and Newcastle Brown Ale (Yumm-o!).

Jason – I am concerned. Are you trying to tell us through TFM that the she-male cubano in Miami was really the Cruiser? Did he tell you he was doing research for a movie, but the movie has never come out, and you are feeling used and dirty? Is it all just a haze of mojitos and dirty thongs? Stretch the kink out of your back, wipe the piss off your face and tell us all about it. We’re here for you Jason. We’re here for you.