Family Fall Picnic and Beer Tasting

Dozer loves his mommy

Kick off time for the festivities was set for noon but the party didn't really get started until about 1:00. That's O.K., it was a gorgeous day with a predicted high of about 75 degrees. The sun ducked in and out of scattered clouds all day and we even had a few raindrops. Fall was in the air and we were all feeling feisty!
For order of business, roasting the Brats! Also on the menu was 5 bags of chips (inside joke) vegetable platter, cheese and cracker platter, cucumber and onions, fresh tomato platter, chinese cabbage salad, BBQ chicken and Grandma Debbie's famous beans. For dessert, a big box of special bakery cookies, pumpkin pie, apple pie and amazing peanut butter bars hand baked by Ted.

Ted brought his Brewsky Broham drinking horn from his youth, engraved and everything!

A family favorite, thank you Grandma Debbie

This photo is not enhanced. The tomatoes really were this red. Yummy. Thank you again Grandma Debbie

I forgot what the 3rd B stands for, Brewsky Broham...................

After lunch the beer tasting began. Each entry was put into a paper bag and participants were to take tasting notes and rate their favorites from #1 to #7. Mary was kind enough to serve as bartender. Nice job Mary!!

Ted kept trying to get extra beer in his fancy mug by going over onto the wrong side of the bar.

Dalton takes copious notes and daddy smiles after draining his cup

Daddy tries to get the inside scoop by asking Mary to smell the next pouring

Dalton reads his copious notes

Debbie's turn to try and get the inside scoop. She says, "What do you think Victor?" She knows she is talking to someone with vast beer knowledge.

Ryan eliminates the risk of having to chase after young'uns while tasting.

RJ takes notes on the beer he sneaks from Uncle Ted's mug.

Each beer was rated by the group and then the bag was taken off to reveal the brew. Grandma Debbie and Papa Vic brought the Horseshoes and Handgrenades which was picked solely for its name. The least favorite was #1, a quadrupel Ale called Three Philosophers, which was a birthday gift that had been given to Louis that everyone agreed tasted like #2.  Get it, #2? Dalton and Mary contributed an IPA, India Pale Ale, called Twisted Thistle that everyone agreed tasted like it was made from cannibus rather than hops.The beer that received the most votes as favorite was also provided by Dalton and Mary and was Young's Double Dutch Stout.

Sierra and Papa Ron share a special moment

Insane beer drinking man

Alittle grass music, not Blue Grass Music, just grass music

And the fight is on. I told you folks were feeling feisty AND frisky. I think Sadie has Ryan with a left fish hook.

Smart move Sadie, step on the boot and then shove!

Opps, don't shove while he has a hold of your arm though.

And they are both down............

I think Sadie is winning

Dog pile!!

A little turn of the tide

And finally, Sierra and RJ win!!!

Such a sweet moment with Aunt Mary and Shasta

All our fellas. What a great group of men. Love them all.

As Vicki says, "our little Norman Rockwell boy."