Monday (and Tuesday, as it were)

Relaxing, that’s what Monday was.

A leisurely drive along US Highways 29 and 15 from Charlottesville, VA to Frederick, MD. A stroll (albeit a short one due to the blast furnace heat) through the streets of Frederick. Lunch at Brewer’s Alley.

Brewer’s Alley is one of the best brewpubs I’ve ever had the pleasure to visit.  Like Hyde Park (NY) Brewing Company, they have exactly 6 of their own brews on tap at any given time, but they are uniformly tasty. And the food? The food is fabulous!

Once I finished up in Frederick, I continued north on US 15 to Camp Hill, PA, just over the river from Harrisburg, home of one of my favorite haunts on trips to/from Virginia, Appalachian Brewing Company. ABC also has only their own brews on tap, but typically 12-14 of them! They do a wide variety of styles with several “standards” and a series of “seasonals” – one for each month of the year.

ABC was doing a good business when I arrived around 7:15pm. I had hoped to just grab a seat at the bar, but it was standing room only and I was lucky to even get a table (and they do have a lot of tables). Because I wasn’t really hungry yet after the fabulous lunch, I just had a bowl of Ground Beef & Prime Rib Chili and a couple of pints. I would have liked to eat and drink more, but that was all I could stomach, so to speak!

Today, Tuesday, was the drive home. Traffic was uncharacteristically cooperative and I made good time. Alas, I’m done with brewpubs for a while.

Friday it’s off to Vassar to pick Ian up and then we head off to Cleveland for his college orientation session. Check back on the weekend for more travel news!