Rich Pawlak

Oddly enough, Ive never stayed at the host hotel, but have been to a bunch of gatherings and receptions there. It doesnt matter; wherever you are the place will be CRAWLING with beer geeks! Nicest people in the world , and GABF weekend proves it.

Ive been to GABF 5 times so far, and its been a blast every year without fail. Pointers: DRINK WATER, for two reasons; the altitude will dry you out, and the beer will also dry you out; you're in for some extremely painful hangovers if you dont drink as much water as you do beer. GO TO PARTIES! Always a good gathering of beer folk at the unofficial bar of GABF, FALLING ROCK TAP HOUSE, 1919 Blake St., near Coors Field in the LoDo section of Denver . Owner Chris Black always brings out some incredible beers for the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights of the festival. And he has 64 amazing taps on which to put those beers! Also on Wednesday night there is usually a very nice open party at the host hotel (www.beertown.org should have the name of that hotel soon) as well as at the WYNKOOP brewpub just a few blocks from Falling Rock. Owned by the new mayor of Denver, too, so this year the party should be extra fun! EAT REAL FOOD! The Convention Center has typical fast food and sandwiches, nothing special, and that is just not fair. So get out to Denver and environs and have some GOOD food. Denver has the largest number of Vitenamese restaurants of any city in the country, and several of them are close to the Denver Convention Center. Right across from WYNKOOP BREWPUB is our favorite Denver dining spot: RODIZIO GRILL, a meat-lovers fantasy, done in the Brazilian style, with a gargantuan, and very well appointed hot-and cold salad bar, followed by cheese biscuits and the endless parade of rotisserie meats, fowl, seafood and veggies. Worth every penny of the $17.95 or so they charge, and a smart finish to a day of beer sampling. Take it slow here, take simply a slice of everything, and you wont be visiting the porcelain god. RENT A CAR and drive out of Denver during the day, to Boulder to the northwest (REDFISH is an amazing brewpub with all Belgian style ale and Cajun food and MOUNTAIN SUN brewpub is like stepping back into the 60's all tie-dyed and hippies, but VERY good ber and organic food) or Colorado Springs to the south (PHANTOM CANYON and NICHOLS brewpubs are top-notch, and the drive to Colorado Springs is spectacular) or Ft Collins to the north (home to the impressive NEW BELGIUM and ODELL'S breweries, both great visits and tours). Our small group has done day trips every year, and the amazing hospitality and bounties of free beer are very forthcoming that weekend. But remember, DRINK WATER, and pace yourself, you'll be driving! PACE YOURSELF! 1700 beers are just too many to drink in 3 days, so try sampling regions (how the festival is organized) of the country and beers you've never had, that's the fun of it. But drink that water, and pace yourself, or you'll get quite ill quite quickly. Friday nights at GABF they have been calling "Kids Night" with a much younger crowd attending with the purpose of drinking their money's worth. Lotsa vomitting after the first couple of hours, a good enough reason to cut out early that night and enjoy a nice dinner somewhere and beers at FALLING ROCK after dinner. BRING SOME CIGARS if you smoke 'em. There will be some terrific barleywines served at places like FALLING ROCK and they are a perfect companion to a good cigar. ENJOY!

McNally's is also one of the very few, if only, smoke-free bars in the city.

At our last DDC gathering, someone mentioned to me a Polish Social Club at Orthodox and Harbison whose crabs I believe Rick Nichols once wrote about. Does anyone know what this place is called? And how we might get in touch with them?

Summer AND Beer: Sierra Nevada Summerfest: Crisp, slightly fizzy, with a refreshing lightly nutty finish Victory Prima Pils: The classic pilsner, crisp, with a good hop bite Brooklyn Brooklynerweisse: Maybe thye best American-made German=style wheat beer, a perfect Summer quencher Dogfish Head Aprihop: A whopping glass of sweet hop goodness, with a sneaky apricot finish that is both subtle and clever. My current faves this summer, and I'm sure I'll find a few more.

Nice to see Herb's hair is growing back. Lab experiments are never pretty.

How long ago was this? Sounds positively weird.

Hell, girl, I'm already there! I think I live in NJ, dont I?

I hope there is never a chance for me to have a "last beer" in my fridge. I have a dedicated beer fridge (DBR), and it's stuffed with over 200 bottles; I cant drink them even remotely as quickly as I acquire them. Last beer I took from that fridge was tonight and it was a Stone IPA, from Stone Brewing co. just north of San Diego. A damn fine IPA.

The rolls that Italian People's Bakery in Trenton uses are, to me, way too soft and fluffy to be a true hoagie roll, and lack that nutty crust that rolls like Sarcone's, National, V&M and others have. They also BUILD a hoagie differently in Trenton, with too much shredded lettuce and onions for my taste. To me, the hoagie is about balance, and for me, the best I've had are Italians from Rocco's at The Bellevue or Reading Terminal Market, as well as Chickie's and Sarcone's Deli in South Philly.

Is ACME still around? I thouygh they went out of business a few years ago.. I used to love their beers, when I could find them.

In the DC area, you MUST try Tupper's Hop Pocket, sister brew to Victory Hop Devil, and also as good an IPA as is made in the US. It's made by Old Dominion Brewery in Ashburn, VA, a brewery that just doesnt known how to make a mediocre beer. A great brewery.

Check your pants, Latin Boy. (high hat barum-tish!) I'm such a kidder............

"Victory Hop Devil, from PA, perhaps the best IPA made in America" Just returned to from my monthly run for beer and wine and, lo and behold, the Victory Hop Devil IPA has appeared in our beer and wine store in Maryland. I picked up a six ($6.49) and will try it as soon as I can sit out on the deck in the SUNLIGHT and enjoy it. Thanks for the suggestion and can't wait to try it. I do love IPA's. Just poured a Victory Hop Devil into a very chilled glass and it was outstanding. Thanks for the tip - probably would not have tried it otherwise. For those who like lots of hops as I do, it was well worth the 6 1/2 bucks. Will definately keep several sixes in the frig. I dunno about that chilled glass thing; as a rule, it's not conducive to appreciating the beer. I find a chilled glass harshens most beers, gives them a metallic twist, plus the condensation that eventually forms will dilute the beer and not give you the beer as it was intended.

Do you have a death wish?

I have to say that the DDC dinner in Norristown at Michoaca was well-organized, but I do think that the size of our group overwhelmed the restaurant. It showed most in the entree plate. However, the seafood in cocktail sauce, the seviche, the nachos and the posole were all quite good, as were some of the tamales. But the size of our group simply was too much. I have been back to the place, and the food was terrific! But we were dangerous, and as a group, we took our chances.

oh god, you guys have McMenamin's back there now? I'm sorry.. I'll put Diamond Knot IPA, brewed in Mukilteo WA up to your Victory Hop Devil anyday It IS the shit. Thankfully McMenamin's Tavern is no relation to the Portland, Pac West chain of brewpubs, but I'd still like to visit them whenever I get out that way.

Isn't there a 120 minute IPA and a 90 minute IPA produced out of Connecticut or Delaware that is suppose to be the shit?? Dogfish head Brewing from Rehoboth, DE, produces a 60-Min IPA, a 90-Min IPA and supposedly soon, a 120-Min. IPA. I have had both the 60 and the 90, and both are quite good, really riuch and full in the mouth, but I still think Victory Hop Devil IS the balls.

How could you forget the fabulous Trenton Farmers Market?!?!? Truly one of the best Farmers Market experiences in the country! 900 Spruce St. Trenton, NJ

Yards ESA from Philadelphia, on the handpump at McMenamin's Tavern in the Mt Airy section of Philly. Victory Hop Devil, from PA, perhaps the best IPA made in America Bell's Oberon from Michigan Tremont Ale from Boston Sly Fox Pils and Gang Aftly Scotch Ale from Phoenixville, PA Troegs Hopback Amber from Harrisburg, PA, on the handpump at The Standard Tap in Philly

In less than 10 days, we will once again experience Friday The Firkinteenth at the Grey Lodge Public House (6235 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia). a benchmark beer event in Philadelphia for the last 7 years. Every Friday the 13th, our buddy Scoats (owner Mike Scotese) brings forth almost a dozen (I think it's actually 11 this year) small barrels of cask- conditioned beer, arranges them around his bar and serves them up via gravity pour, to the giddy delight of beer aficionados from up and down the East Coast. This year, the lineup is really impressive, I think. You can check out the details of this year's lineup on the Grey Lodge's website, www.greylodge.com (check out the Random Bar Joke Generator, too!), and have your taste buds teased. If you've ever wanted to taste a selection of extraordinary local beers, served up in small servings for variety's (and safety's) sake, and served up as they were meant to be enjoyed, without extraneous carbonation, you will be rewarded with an experience like no other. I havent missed one of these yet, and every year, the selection and offerings get better and better. This is truly an epicurean event. It starts at 6PM on Friday June 13th, so get there extra early, it fills up quickly. Hope to see many of you there! (I have no financial or public relations interest in the Grey Lodge, but I do love telling people about the place, a truly unique part of Philly's hospitality sector.)

Knee surgery will do that to you, Herb. Remind me to show you next time we meet. Cheeky monkey.

I thought beers to qualify must stay with cetain alcohol content parameters. Does anyone know more about it? Checked out the Sam Adams 25% brew on their site. Is it really a beer? from the picture it looked more like a spirit, it was poured like a fine brandy. Also there seemed to be no bubbles and no frothy head. Totally confused! Sam Adams Utopias has been out for some time now, introduced about 14 mos. ago. Drinks , tastes , feels like a spirit, though it is indeed brewed and aged. It follows their Triplebock, a tiny expensive brew, that, at the time , was the highest alcohol beer. Neither of these will ever be confused with a beer. On the upside, Dogfish Head Brewing of Rehoboth , DE, an idiosyncratic brewery if ever there was one, brews World Wide Stout, coming in slightly under the alcohol content of the Utopias, but it still drinks and feels very much like the beer that it is, and is sinfully, deceptively smooth, silken and delicious. And no, ther are no real, established ABV levels set for beer per se, it's just left to the creativity and silliness of the respective brewers to push ABV envelopes when they think it gets them the desired attention they crave.

Alcohol by volume (ABV) is not what you might expect in many beers. For example, Coor Light rings in at 4.8% ABV, while Guinness Stout comes in at 4.3%. Most people think Guinness is the stronger beer, but only in flavor, not alcoholic strength. Most Irish stouts that we see bottled in the US (Murphy's, Beamish) are similar to Guinness in ABV, and meant to be "session" beers, meant to be quaffed.

You gotta forgive Herb, Holly, he's a little slow. But gullible!