MORE FUZZY RELATIONSHIPS
Hiking, Football and...BEER!

On New Year's Eve Eve, as part of a local club hike on the leg-challenging, steep streets of Pottsville, PA, we toured the Yuengling Brewery. Yo, not just any brewery, mind you, this is "America's Oldest Brewery" located in Pottsville proper and dating back to 1829. Settled by German immigrants, this anthracite mining region has a rich past: http://www.easternpa.com/pottsville/walk.html

As for football: between 1925 and 1928, it was home to the NFL's Pottsville Maroons (Boston Bulldogs, later), a top-notch team involved in a controversial season with the Chicago Cardinals. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pottsville_Maroons

Under 5th generation family owner, Dick Yuengling, the beer company expanded distribution of their PA beers to include the Mid-Atlantic and the South with Georgia holding out for the moment. Try all their great flavors if you can find them: http://www.yuengling.com/ If in Eastern PA, visit Pottsville, have a brewery tour beer sample, and hike near-45deg. grades of cracked and uneven brick sidewalks as training for Borah Peak and Katahdin via the Knife Edge.

HAWAIIAN BREWS

And The Most Southern Bar in U.S.A.

Back to the rental car: Before returning it at the Kona airport, we'd hoped to have dinner at the Kona Brewpub. But, it began to rain hard in Kona and our windshield wipers quit. Then, with our heads out the window, it was a 7-mile race in commuter traffic to the airport before it got dark. Never mind calling the rental company for a rescue - we didn't have all day.

Nevertheless, earlier we did have lunch and a Kona beer in Na'alehu at the "Shaka Restaurant and The Most Southern Bar in U.S.A." before our venture to South Point. Kona brews are outstanding and several of their products were tried while on the islands except their "coffee" flavored. Other local brands sampled were from the Mehaha (Mauna Kea Pale Ale) and Keoki (Keoki Gold) breweries - all nicely crafted.

Some islands brewery links:
http://www.konabrewingco.com/tap.html

Also, Suck Em Up:

http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/dining/beer/

MORE BEER DEBATE
For Chris in Merry Ole England

In the new October issue, Men'sJournal provides the 3rd of their beer ranking articles. This time it's back to American brews. Their top 25 choices starts out: 1. Firestone Walker Pale Ale (CA), 2. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (DE), and 3. Stoudt's Pils (PA). You can access their site http://www.mensjournal.com/ for the 2004 (America)
http://www.mensjournal.com/feature/0407/bestBeer.html and 2005 (World)
http://www.mensjournal.com/feature/0507/bestBeer_world.html lists, but you'll have to spring for the current issue to see the '06 picks.

Others of the 25 include Avery Mephistopheles' Stoudt (CO), Great Lakes Holy Moses White Ale (OH), and Victory St. Victorious Dopplebock (PA). It's got to be that the guys naming their new brews quaff generous samples in the brewery break room while brainstorming for a catchy label.

Now it's time to sit back and wait for catchy "Comments" by Chris of Yatton, Ale Aficionado. TTT

THE BREWPUBS OF ASHEVILLE
Is there a future for "Pub Pointing"?

Previously, for an after-summit amber reward, we mentioned PubQuest (See blog post Jun 15) as the primo info/location source for watering holes featuring locally-crafted beers. If you're attending the NC HP Konvention, here's the brewpub info for the Asheville area:

http://www.ashevillepizza.com/ http://www.frenchbroadbrewery.com/ http://www.highlandbrewing.com/ http://www.jackofthewood.com/ http://www.pisgahbrewing.com/.
Additional Asheville pub info: http://www.classiccitybrew.com/asheville.html

For a comprehensive Asheville guide: http://www.asheville.com/.

Is there a future for Pub Pointing? According to julie@pubquest.com, there are no organizations for brewpub collectors that she knows of. 'Nuff said....

COMPLETED YOUR HP QUEST? THIRSTY?
Find brewpubs at Google Maps

You've just returned to the trail head after chalking up Humphrey Peak and are thirsting goodly...but not for water. Fortunately, there are 3 brewpubs in Flagstaff to choose from to top off your day. Early last June, we needed to skip the AZ high point for 7ft. of snow still in the saddle, but had a good time at the Beaver Street Brewery & Whistle Stop Cafe in town, anyway.

In the July issue of Outside (P.26), mention is made of the web site PUBQUEST with a nifty locator which "pinpoints 1,500 microbreweries and bars across the U.S." Beam it up, get out of the big brewery taste rut, and sample some finely made local beers. Our Beaver Street experience included a few of those and good food, too, not uncommon at these brewpubs. Seek 'em out nearby for a post-peak reward or as a pit stop on the long, dry drive between conquests.
PubQuest - In Pursuit of the Ultimate Brewpub
http://outside.away.com/index.html

Don't you drink? I notice you speak slightingly of the bottle. I have drunk since I was fifteen and few things have given me more pleasure. ~ Ernest Hemingway