We attended our first-ever Music City Brewers Festival in downtown Nashville this weekend. This was the festival's 9th year and why we haven't been before is because it usually conflicts with our trip to Asheville to attend the Bele Chere Festival (see previous blog), but the stars (and calendar) were aligned right this year to allow us to do both on consecutive weekends. We opted for the evening session which sold out over a month ago so as to escape some of the brutal summer heat and humidity, and it turned out to be the right choice. It was another hot day in Middle Tennessee as we headed downtown to check in to our hotel, the Hampton Suites, just a few blocks away from the festival which is held in the Walk of Fame Park. But after a light dinner with our friends, Nate and Ginny, at the quirky little downtown restaurant/bar, Past Perfect, the temps starting falling as the sun was setting when we all got in line for the 6 PM entry into the second session of the festival.
The festival itself is great. Tons of microbrewers from across the country showed up and your ticket price got you all wanted to taste of their great products. For more on the beer itself, check out Rob's beer blog. The layout of the tasting tents encircled the park allowing for easy access and very few lines. Limiting the number of tickets also make it an enjoyable, not overcrowded, event. There was live music and good food for sale as well. We had a great time and even though a threatening thunderstorm prompted us to leave a little before the 10 PM close of the festival (believe us, we were done anyway -- did we mention the beer was really flowing?). We ambled back to our room which were very happy to have (did we mention the beer was really flowing at the festival?).
After the brief storm had passed, Rob's poker buddy, Ryan, invited us to over to his new condo in the Encore Development next door to our hotel, and we got to enjoy a spectacular view of downtown and the beer festival as well which was still going on down below. Ryan talked us into going over on Broadway to the "Trailer Park Bar" - it's actual name is the Paradise Park Trailer Resort and it's exactly what you think it would be. Cheesy, loud, overcrowded and steamy. Just as you would expect on a summer Saturday night in downtown Nashville...did we mention the beer was really flowing at the festival? We hung out there for a while until we had enough and headed back to our nice, quiet room.
Our checkout time was noon and we just made it out of the room. Did we mention the beer was really flowing the night before?
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