Beer Club VICTORY!

Ahhhh!  We finally got our 25 beers for the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club!  Hello Koozies!

#24: New Belgium Ranger IPA.  With the Fat Tire craze that has swept the south over the past year, we thought we'd give another New Belgium brew a try.  Two thumbs up!

#25!!!!!  RED OAK!!!!  We knew we were gonna save one of our all-time favorites for the big 2-5 and here it is...RED OAK.  Yay!  It was hard not to order my go-to beer every time I went to the Mellow Mushroom, but it was fun sampling all kinds of new things! 

So there you have it, friends!  25 beers for the Winston-Salem Mellow Mushroom Beer Club!  

Here is a quick re-cap of our journey....
(it's also fun to see the evolution of Trey's facial hair over the past few months...from no beard to beard to no beard)

1, 2, 3 MM Bogart, Battlefield Bock, Highland Gaelic

4, 5, 6 Brooklyn Brown, Magic Hat #9, Sexual Chocolate

7 & 8 Black Mtn Bitter, Pilot Mtn Pale Ale

9-13 Natty's Buckshot Amber, Duck Rabbit Amber, Rogue Dead Guy

12-14 Sweetwater 420, Sweetwater IPA, Sam Adams Noble Pils

15-18 Lagunitas IPA, Smuttynose Brown, Big Oak, Bell's Two Hearted Ale

19 & 20 Great Lake Dortmunder Gold Lager, Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit

21-23 Hummin' Bird, Mad Hatter, Golden Cap

Ribs, Beer Club & Nathan's Famous!

Summer is FINALLY here!!!  Trey and I kicked off the season by attending the Twin City Ribfest (held right here in Winston-Salem, NC).  We were pretty excited to go because we'd never been to a ribfest before.  Unfortunately, it was kindof a let down...I mean we got there, paid money to get in, paid money for an 'over 21' wristband, paid too much money for one beer, and walked around the entire festival in about 15 minutes. 

BUT...The ribs were good.  Really good.  There were probably fifteen vendors there from different places around the southeast and we just happened to choose Big Boned BBQ Co. by a random decision.  One thing I wish I did do though was buy the '2 bone coupon' where you could go around to different booths and sample 2 ribs at almost every booth. 

BEER CLUB: 21-23

We are almost at 25 beers at the Mellow Mushroom!  Those will definitely be celebratory brews next week after we spend the weekend moving from one apartment to another.  Fortunately, our new apartment is about three blocks from the Mellow Mushroom and now we can walk there (...which could be a good thing or a bad thing...I'm not sure yet).

Beer #21: Hummin' Bird!  Yet another 'Red Oak' beer.  It is a light lager that is refreshingly smooth on a hot summer's day :)

Beer 22: New Holland Mad Hatter.  An IPA that's pretty darn 'hoppy' but pretty darn delicious.

Beer 23:  New Holland Golden Cap -a Saison Ale (yeah I don't really know what that is either...).  It was okay, just not what I prefer.  BUT it was on special that night!

Charlotte Nathan's Qualifier 2010

Well, this was the third year in a row I've been to the Charlotte Nathan's Qualifier and every year, someone different has won!  I would like to thank whoever decided last year to move the contest inside, because it was very awesome once again being in the cool mall instead of outside in 100 degree weather.  Good call. 

Some of the rumoured entrants (Wing Kong, Juliet Lee) didn't show up at the contest so it was pretty clear from the get-go who was going to win: Pat.  He ended up eating 30 hot dogs & buns which was enough to qualify for Nathan's on July 4th.  I think someone ate 13, Richard Foley ate 11.5, Super Paul ate 10, and that's all I could really figure out.  The one & only drawback to having the contest in the mall is that the sound from the speakers really echo and it is hard to understand the announcers.  I attempted to 'tweet' the contest but it is hard to multitask.  Jamie usually does the cell-phone tweeting, but she couldn't make the contest this year. 

The 2010 Nathan's Famous shirts are pretty cute this year.  Supposedly you can buy them at Old Navy but I went to the one in Concord Mills after the contest & no such thing was to be found.  In other news, all 3 Hungry Sisters will be flying out to New York City on July 2nd and are super-excited about being in Coney Island once again on July 4th!!!

--Sadie

Happenings, Strawberries, and 20 Beers

It's been a while since we've had a 'real' post so here goes....

Eating Contests

Jimmy Johns: ahhhhh we were really excited with the announcement yesterday that there is going to be a Jimmy John's Freaky Fast sandwich making/eating contest in Charlotte!  The contest is during Speed Street which is a fun event in itself.  It is a festival held in Charlotte every Memorial Day weekend before the race (which race... I don't really know.... but it is a big one).  Anyway, the festival consists of live music, fun events, and lots of rednecks at their finest.  It's not to be missed!  We will so be there on Friday night to see not only the Jimmy John's contest, but to see EVERCLEAR.  THROWBACK TO THE 90s, YALL!  Holy crap, we can't wait!

Nathan's Qualifier, Charlotte:  Who is competing?  I have no idea, but we'll be there to watch!  Hopefully it will be inside again, because it was freakin' awesome to be inside the air-conditioned mall instead of outside.

Nathan's on the 4th:  We are planning on going again, even though no real 'plans' have been made yet.  Unfortunately, we'll probably fly this year because of time constraints, so no road trip :(

Life

Once again, life has caught up with us and we have been super-busy.  Jamie is getting ready to start an internship and will be finishing up her last semester of college; graduating in December.  I left the teaching world and got a 'real person job' as a Fitness Director at a local recreation center....and I must say it is the most awesome job ever.

Strawberries

Oh yall, I don't know what it is like in the rest of the country, but three of the best things about summer in the south are: locally grown strawberries, peaches, and tomatoes.  Strawberry season is upon us and I must say that they are so juicy and delicious this year, it almost feels sinful to eat them.

Beer Club

And last but not least, Trey and I have hit a landmark: 20 beers for our beer club!  We only have 5 more to go until we get our coveted Mellow Mushroom koozie!

#19 Great Lake Dortmunder Gold Lager: German-style lager brewed in Ohio.  Delightful on a 90 degree day in May.

#20: Mother Earth Weeping Willow Wit:  Brewed in Kinston, North Carolina.  I usually don't like 'fruity' beers, but this beer almost tasted like flowers!  It was unique and refreshing.  I didn't love it but I did enjoy it...if that even makes sense.

--Sadie

Beer Club 7 & 8

Just pictures...

#15 Lagunitas IPA

#16 Smuttynose Brown

#16 Smuttynose Brown

#17 BIG OAK!!!

#18 Bells Two Hearted Ale

Beer Club 6!

This was our first weeknight beer club adventure!  Ok so we intended on going to Subway on April 15th--tax day, to buy one footlong get one free.  BUT, the Subway near our apartment was so f-ing crowded we didn't want to deal with it.  We made an honest attempt to go to the Subway downtown, but it was closed.
Lucky for us :) the Mellow Mushroom is about a block from Subway.  Plan B: Thursday Night Beer Club!

Beer #12: Sweetwater 420. 

Hi Mr. Waiter, I'll have a workin' man's beer, please, because I'm still in my work clothes. 

I'd never had Sweetwater 420 before and it was DEEE-Lightful!

Beer 13: Sweetwater IPA

Sweetwater is the 'brewery of the month' at the Winston-Salem Mellow Mushroom so their beers were cheap(er)!  Out of the two, I liked the 420 & Trey preferred the IPA.

Beer #14: Sam Adams Seasonal (Noble Pils )...and this is what I look like after work...BUT the beer was fresh and tasty.

Beer Club #5!

With it being almost 90 degrees outside, we decided it was time to participate in beer club again!  Nothing beats sitting outside in the warm weather, sipping on some delicious brews. 

Beer #9: Natty Greene's Buckshot Amber Ale.  Brewed in Greensboro, about 20 minutes from where we live, this brew was smooth.  Would I get it again? Yes, especially if it was a special like it was last night at the 'shroom.

Beer #10: Duck Rabbit Amber.  I've had this before in a bottle and thought it was just ok, but let me tell you, it is pretty dern delightful on draft.  Yet another North Carolina gem (....we <3 supporting NC breweries!). 

 

Beer #11: Rogue Dead Guy Ale.  Not a N.C. beer, but still good and went really well with our pizza!

 

...yeah I don't have a lot to say about these beers.  I'm no beer connoisseur, but none were the best I've ever had.  Don't get me wrong, I'd try all three of them again, though!

--Sadie

Beer Club #4

Same seat, different night, different beer!

Theme of the night: get what is on special because it is the end of the month and we don't have a lot of money.

Beer #7: Highland's Black Mountain Bitter-Organic Pale Ale. To my knowledge, I'd never had organic beer until then. At first, I didn't really like it...but it actually grew on me towards the end. It is bitter (hence the name) but for those who dig the organic, I'd recommend it!

Beer #8: Foothills Pilot Mountain Pale Ale. I've had this one before at Foothills, but I got it again tonight for three reasons: it was only $3, we hadn't checked it off of our 'Beer Club' list, AND I just got a new job in Pilot Mountain so I thought this would be an appropriate celebratory beer! Overall a delightful beer, but out of the four Foothills brews I've ever had, it is probably my least favorite (1. Sexual Chocolate, 2. Oktoberfest, 3. Hoppyum IPA, 4. Pilot Mtn Pale Ale). However, I'm pretty excited to try their March seasonal--Foothills Red!

--Sadie

BEER CLUB! part 2

We ordered the same thing each round again...maybe this will be our beer club tradition!?


Beer #4: Brooklyn Brown Ale. Pretty tasty, very smooth, would order it again. Bonus:it was the special for the night so it was a dollar cheaper than the others! I'm thinking a stop at the Brooklyn Brewery next July 4th weekend for a tour/tasting is in order.

Beer #5: Magic Hat #9....'not quite pale ale'. Just okay. I hear people talk about this stuff all of the time & sometimes even see it in the grocery store. It is a little on the sweet/fruity side. Trey really liked it but I probably wouldn't get it again.

Beer #6: SEXUAL CHOCOLATE. OMG. If you live anywhere in or around Winston-Salem, you know this beer is a big F-ing deal, so I knew I had to finally taste it during beer club. Foothills, our local brewery, makes it once a year and has a huge release party when they first put it on draft. They also sell it in limited-release bottles and people line up outside for hours to get theirs...and they sell out really quickly--like within a few hours. ahhh it was everything I thought it would be and more. I mean with a name like 'sexual chocolate' how can you go wrong?

Two big thumbs up.

Not in beer club but worth mentioning: Burke St. Pizza garlic knots. Oh lord. After our night of beer sampling, we needed some good greasy food to soak up the booze. Out of all of the foods I've eaten since living in Winston-Salem, I'd have to say that these garlic knots are by far the most delicious thing I've tasted yet. I'm telling you, I have had my fair share of garlic knots and items of the sort, but I have never in my life eaten any so delicious as this (not even in New York). After they take them out of the oven, the pizza makers literally dunk these things in a tub of butter/garlic/parmesan/olive oil while they are still warm. Ohhhhh, it makes me hungry even looking at a picture of them.

--Sadie

BEER CLUB!

Trey and I are officially card-carrying members of the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club. To be in the club you have to drink different draft beers at one Mellow Mushroom location. Once you drink so many different types, you get prizes (a koozie, tshirt, your name on the wall, gift certificates, and most importantly, self gratification and pride). We decided to document our Beer Club adventures so we can remember which brews we like the best for future reference. Follow our journey to Mellow Mushroom Beer Club infamy!

Our first Beer Club night, we decided to order the same thing each round:

Beer #1 to wash down our garlic pretzels: We chose the signature Mellow Mushroom Bogart Pale Ale for our first beer-club-beer. It was delicious! I have never had this before but will get it again once I conquer 99 other types of beer.

Beer #2 & hello, pizza: Battlefield Bock, brewed right down the road in Whisett, N.C. The brother beer to one of my all-time favorites, Red Oak, the Battlefield Bock was one of the better 'dark' beers I've had, with a nice coffee/chocolate aftertaste.

Beer #3 and a happy smiley face: Highland Gaelic Ale...also brewed right down the road in Asheville, NC. Least favorite beer of the night, but still delightfully tasty nonetheless. Would get it again...probably should have had it before the heavier Battlefield Bock.

Check back soon for the next installment of BEER CLUB!

--Sadie

2k10 GOALS!

In the spirit of keeping up with our tradition...well I guess our 'every other year' tradition (2008 Goals) we've compiled a list of our goals for the new year.

10 goals for 2010
This year we hope to...

1: BLOG MORE (yes, we have been slackers lately)

2: Take a sisters trip back to Coney Island for the 4th. After attending last years festivities, we can't imagine spending our Nation's birthday any other way!

3: Attend the Lexington BBQ Festival

4: Be Krystal Bunnettes again

5: Go to Hickory Hops...beerfest!

6: Attempt the Big Cow Pile Ice Cream Challenge. Who knew that LINCOLNTON of all places had an eating challenge!?!?!?!?!?! And an ICE CREAM CHALLENGE?!? We are so there.

7: Celebrate Jamie's 21st Birthday in true HungrySisters style: a day of gamblin' and a night of pubcrawlin'/Go to Vegas for Jamie's second 21st birthday party at some point in the year

8: Eat at the Moose Cafe and indulge in everything southern.

9: Join the Mellow Mushroom Beer Club

10: Go to the gym every day to counter all of this food we are apparently going to eat/beer we are going to drink.

10.5: Be young, be foolish, but be happy.