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 Road Trip
2003
The World Beer Festival
Durham NC
So many beers…. So little time!!!
On Friday October the 3rd 2003 fourteen
members of the Teays Valley Beer Drinkers and Homebrewers Association
converged on Durham North Carolina for the 8th Annual World Beer
Festival sponsored by All About Beer Magazine.
Click Photo to Enlarge
The caravan trip down from Hurricane, WV was easy
with more than enough chit-chat over the walkie-talkies to keep everyone
laughing. I still can’t figure out how no matter what position Cody’s car
exited through the toll booths he ended up owing everyone a beer. The trip
went quickly and soon everyone was hungry so our first real stop was in
Pilot Mountain North Carolina (the infamous “Mount Pilot” from the Andy
Griffith Show) which is located just south of Mount Airy (Mayberry) where
Andy Griffith grew up. The “grub” was solid and quick and we sere soon on
our way again.
The next stop on the way was to the infamous
JR’s
Discount Emporium in Burlington NC. If you have ever traveled on any major
highway in North Carolina you’ve undoubtedly seen the ubiquitous JR signs
everywhere. Being a cigar smoker I receive JR’s catalog every month and was
overjoyed by their larger than a Kroger store walk-around humidor where tens
of thousands of cigars are available. But, cigars aren’t the only thing
JR’s have at this gigantic store. It’s kind of an outlet store for
everything from toys for the kids to toys for the grownups. Chuck bought a
new cowboy hat and lizard skin boots. Cody was walking around wearing a
“do-rag” cap and motorcycle jacket that made him look like a vicious
Chihuahua. They also had motion signs that everyone loved but no one could
afford. A NASCAR section was available for those who into that sort of
thing, a section for books, and a section for clothes of all shape and
sizes. All of this just touches the tip of the JR iceberg. You could spend
hours in the store and still find a nook or cranny where something catches
your fancy. I have to admit, I found my new “favorite” cigar there,
CAO
Brazilia.
Click Photo to Enlarge
Arriving at Durham NC about six thirty p.m. we
quickly found and checked into the
Durham Downtown Marriott
on Front
Street. The Marriott proved to be one of the most friendly and
accommodating hotels we have ever stayed at, but more about that later.
Meeting in the lobby a little while later the group ambled down the road to
the restaurant district where we split up, half eating Mexican food and half
going for Seafood two doors down. I can’t speak for the Seafood, but the
food at the Mexican restaurant was some of the best I’ve eaten since we
moved “Back East” from California. The plates were as big as the steering
wheel on my Jeep Liberty. The service was quick, efficient and the
margaritas were loaded.
Click Photo for Series of Pictures
After dinner the whole group met back up at the
bar located between the Mexican and Seafood restaurants where Denny, Allen,
and Dave proceeded to give the locals a lesson on how to shoot eight-ball.
The bar was crowded and these guys put on quite a show. The rest of us
enjoyed the Yuengling,
Guinness, and
Sierra Nevada among the other numerous
micro’s on tap. What they didn’t have on tap they had in a bottle. I
noticed William sucking on a bottle of Monty Pythons Holy Ale. The evening
was capped off when Allen sunk eight balls in a row. Kathy, Marg, Chuck and
I headed back to the hotel where Chuck and I enjoyed a couple of hand rolled
Cohiba’s before calling it a night.
Click Photo for Series of Pictures
The next morning found the entire group at the
hotel restaurant where we feasted on a breakfast buffet that featured hand
made omelets. At 11:45 we all gathered in the lobby and the hotel
graciously offered us the use of a shuttle van to take us to the event. We
piled into the van and the driver took us to the old
Durham Athletic field
(the one used in the movie Bull Durham) for the event. As the line moved in
we were told that you MUST have an ID to be admitted. Linda had forgotten
to bring hers so the shuttle driver took her back to the hotel and again
back to the event. Now is that service or what!
Click Photo for Series of Pictures
It was 74 degrees and not a cloud in the sky as we
followed the crowd onto the baseball field. As you entered the stadium you
were issued a perfect sized tasting glass courtesy of All About Beer
magazine. A tent as large as a circus was set up with almost 100 booths
representing breweries from all over the world. Each booth offered several
selections and there was a separate tent for cask conditioned ales.
Surrounding the main tent were food booths, vendor booths, and a cigar
booth. Randy Whitt played country rock and
King Ayoola played reggae in the
background. Our group broke up and spread out but kept in touch by use of
the walkie-talkies. In the main tent there were four isles with the inside
isles having booths on both sides. We made it down two rows before we had
to take a break. Stacks of chairs were available so we set up in a circle
to compare notes and I enjoyed a CAO Brazilia. I have to admit, by this
time I was getting pretty tipsy and we weren’t half way through. Thank
goodness for the break.
Click Photo to Enlarge
After the break we attacked isle three. By this
time most of the crowd was a bit jovial and everyone kept asking us about
the tee shirts we made for the trip. I think we could have sold a bunch of
them had we taken extra. Again, you name the beer, they had it. We
finished the third isle and had to take another break. Allen and I headed
over to the cigar booth where he treated me to a
Romeo y Julieta . As we
left the cigar tent we went over to the All About Beer tent where we met
publisher-editor Julie Bradford.
Click Photo to Enlarge
From there we headed to the cask conditioned where
we were treated to excellent ales, then headed back to take on the last
row. About half way down the row we got the sad news that time was up. So
many beers, so little time. Thank goodness the shuttle van was waiting for
us.
Click Photo to Enlarge
As we headed back to the hotel there was still one
thing we had to try, the famous east North Carolina Barbeque. Tim went on
the internet and it seemed the place to go was the “famous Bullocks”. When
we got back to the hotel we asked the concierge and he said it was indeed in
the area and that if we knew what time we wanted to go he would have the
shuttle take us there and if we call them when we are done they will pick us
up. I mean really, this is over the top service or what! We all went up
for a quick nap then met back in the lobby for dinner. The shuttle was
waiting for us.
Click Photo to Enlarge
We arrived at Bullocks and the line was out the
door and heading well into the parking lot. Inside they had signed photos
of every movie star or politician who ever came through North Carolina.
Apparently they all loved the barbeque. I was not so impressed. Over all I
will give Bullocks two (2) stars. The first star is because they moved the
line very, very quickly. I figured an hour wait but I don’t think we waited
fifteen minutes. The second star is because they had food and we were all
starving. Other than that I can honestly say I’ve had better barbeque at a
go-mart. The meat was dry, the slaw was average to below average, the hush
puppies were as big as my little finger and they put out
Texas Hot Sauce for
barbeque sauce. Heck, I can buy that stuff at Krogers. So, if you’re
heading to North Carolina for “famous” Barbeque, look somewhere else than
Bullocks.
Arriving back at the Hotel, most of us went to bed
but some hit the bar for a nightcap. Once again the Hotel gets praise from
me. It is nice these days to have a bar that allows someone to enjoy a
cigar (a
Flor De A. Allones 98 Maximo) while having a drink without having
to stand outside on the sidewalk.
The next morning we all got our walkie-talkies
tuned in and the cars lined up for the drive home. Heading up the road we
were worried because Allen started having car trouble. A quick stop at a
gas station for some transmission fluid and we were back on the way.
Click Photo to Enlarge
One more quick stop at JR’s then off up the road.
We stopped at the
Sagebrush Saloon and Steakhouse outside Winston-Salem for
lunch. This time we spent an hour waiting for a table even though the
restaurant was half empty. You explain it, I can’t. Another half hour was
spent waiting for the food to arrive then another long wait for the check.
I had the “half pound” burger and a sweet potato. The half pound burger was
a 1/8 lb patty and a ¾ lb bun. However the sweet potato was easily a pound
and a half. On the positive side the beer was cold and fresh (hair of the
dog).
Click Photo to Enlarge
Back on I-77 for some reason Cody ended up owing
everyone beers again for his toll booth exits. Between chatting on the
walkie-talkies we listened to and discussed NFL scores all the way back. We
finally arrived back in Hurricane at about 7:00 p.m. tired but happy.
First of all I want to thank everyone who went.
You guys are what made the trip. You went with the idea of having a great
time and accomplished it. Next I want to thank All About Beer Magazine for
a splendid event. I don’t know how you could have made it better. I want
to thank the Durham Downtown Marriott for their over the top service and
friendly and helpful staff. All I can say is wait until next year!!!
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