Beer

So we get up this morning to find out that 2 blocks from our hotel the cast of Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley are in town for the dedication of a statue of the Fonz on the Riverwalk. The event was called "Bronze the Fonz." We caught the last 2 minutes of Henry Winkler's speech about how great Milwaukee is and some rhetoric about the future of the children. It seems the one full day we chose to visit was a celebration of these shows being based in Milwaukee. There was a custard social at a park where the the cast would sign autographs if you paid for a t-shirt or a poster. We didn't think it was worth the splurge to meet Penny Marshall & Ralph Malph. We would have another run in with the cast later in the day. But seriously today was all about the BEER. Ethan is currently struggling to compose this latest entry while eating pretzels.



aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, you guys tourists or what?


After lunch at the Milwaukee Ale house we strolled over to the Lakefront Brewing Company for a tour, and some sampling of their fine products. Big thanks to Dave Kaplan for deeming this spot a must on our visit. This place was a trip. As part of the tour our guide demanded that our glasses be filled for the duration of our visit, uh if you insist..... Not only did the taps pour often, but the beer was really really good. We met some nice folks, ate a bunch of pretzels, and talked about beer. Below are some photos of our tour guide along with some of his enlightened words regarding the brewing process. This dude was hysterical. Lakefront IPA is our new favorite beer.



"Here beer is like food, we like to think of it as liquid bread"




"The tour is pretty simple- we make it over there, and drink it over here."


After a quick stop at the hotel we were off to the corporate offices of the Miller Brewing Company. Our old friend Ethan Ganot (thats right another Ethan!) currently works there. He also has in his posession an ID badge that grants him and guests access to to the company bar. Translation- free beer. Yeah, this day had already been declared "awesome" before we peaced out of Miller headquarters to go watch the Brewers play the Astros at Miller Park. Solomon's mother Ronni's maiden name was Miller.


Brian and the Ethans spent the evening in beautiful Miller Park, 11 rows back in left field. As you can probably guess, We had some beer at the game. We also had brats. Unfortuantely the Brewers lost to Astros 5-2. There was a Guillermo Mota sighting, and the Italian Sausage emerged victorious in the sausage race during the middle of the 6th inning. Miller Park is gorgeous. It is Huge and the crowd was way more involved than in Pittsburgh.


The sausage race. Notice the sombrero on "Chorizo"


Upon our arrival at the ballpark The Cast from Happy days was being paraded around the field in old school automobiles waving to the crowd. We weren't too disappointed to have missed Potsie sing the National Anthem. Richie Cunningham was nowhere to found.



Brian & the Ethans


After the game Ethan G took us to Brady St. for some Frozen Custard, a Milwaukee specialty. Unfortunately there wasn't any beer there. Big props to Ethan G for inviting us to the company bar and joining us at the game, good times.

At this moment both of our fucking heads hurt.
Diggin Milwaukee, now sleep................