A Pair of Graduations

I had offered to let Jenn go down to her sister’s to celebrate the graduations of our niece and nephew, but it was Mother’s Day weekend and she wanted to be with the kids. No problem, what’s another 1000 miles on the car, especially when it comes to spending time with family. So we headed to JMU for Erin’s graduation first, which was rainy, then windy, and then sunny. It was a nice ceremony, and we had a great party afterwards, it was really nice to meet her friends. Jacob and I went downtown and found Cally’s Brewpub which I stopped for chocolate milk and a beer sampler. I really liked their Smokin’ Scottish, a Scottish Ale with a strong peat flavor that was amazing. I’d have been in heaven to have a brewpub in Blacksburg when I was in college.

Next it was back to Manassas, and we celebrated Mother’s Day together with Jenn’s mom and sisters. It was a great day, especially having Jessica go for her first pedicure with the ladies. It was neat to see everyone together. Cathy recommended that I check out Total Wine, and I was able to find some great beers. I got Terrapin’s Rye Squared and Gamma Ray (a Wheat Wine similar to the one brewed by Smuttynose), Starr Hill’s Lucy (a sort of lime shandy), and The Brewery’s Saison De Lente. A nice selection for me to bring home and share with my friends.

Monday was Jonathan’s ceremony, and I was able to check out two sister restaurants. The first was the Sweetwater Tavern, where I got to try the Yippie-E-I Springbock while watching Jessica eat crab balls for lunch. She takes after her mother, she has expensive tastes. I’m not sure if it is progress for her to order an $8 dollar appetizer instead of a $5 kids meal. For dinner we went to Mike’s American Grill, where I got steak and got to try the Mike’s American Lager and their American Ale. Since Mike’s is associated with Sweetwater Tavern, you’d assume they brewed Mike’s beer. No, it was Old Dominion, go figure.

We went home the next day, stopping at the Iron Hill brewery in Wilmington for lunch (I got to try their Wee Heavy on cask). It was a great weekend, and a long trip. – 5492

"Who does not love beer, wine, women, and song remains a fool his whole life long." – Carl Wor