One of the biggest side perks of going on the road with Rip and crew is the different food and drinks we get to enjoy along the way. The cool thing about going to Brooklyn a couple of times a year is that we know we’re going to get some of the best of both. This trip didn’t disappoint.

I’ve tried to cut down the alcohol these last few weeks in attempts to drop a couple pounds (which I haven’t) and help my training (which it has.) So my glass of a decent, standard merlot on Friday night was a special treat. Saturday night’s group dinner landed us at Sheep’s Station again and I remembered they had a  good IPA so having a couple of beers was also fun. For some reason, they brought us out a tray of beers after people started leaving so I was in the process of splitting one with Wolf’s girl (who’s awesome by the way), Cara. Little did I know, that their table was booby trapped with a divot and my half ended up on my sweats. See here:

So I got to smell like beer and sweat the next day, awesome. Afterwards, I was able to stay up a few extra minutes to hit some of Rip and Stef’s bourbon and rye that they picked up at The Whiskey Shop when they hit town. I really liked a new one (for me) named Pine Barrens. It’s from Long Island Spirits and distilled right there on Long Island. I’ll be looking for a bottle here in Milwaukee or will need to order one.

A trip to Brooklyn wouldn’t be proper without a visit (or two) to Prime Meats and a trip to Prime Meats wouldn’t be acceptable without one of their Prime Manhattans. They have completely spoiled me on Manhattans and this is the only place I’ll drink one. I’ve tried them other places around the country and they are completely unacceptable. So I had two. Completely scrumptious.

We all met up after on the rooftop patio of our hotel to ensure that Rip’s liquor wouldn’t go to waste before he left. A taste of Johnny Drum before we opened the bottle of Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout one of the attendees brought for Rip from North Carolina. We all had a taste and though sips are all that’s needed from this heavy Stout, it’s very good and a lot of fun.

All in all, we had a very diverse tasting throughout the weekend.

OH! Just because they’re so cute, here’s Cara and Wolf…