Drum roll please….
…FINALLY…I get around to it! If you missed the meet, or are new to my blog and so on…read on and envy the time we had. So that on our next get together (next week sometime) you’ll make sure that your ass shows up. 
If you don’t know what group I’m talking about… it’s the KaBoga Austin Beerlings Group . If you love beer…not miller light…but beer, join our group. Being a part of our group if free for everyone, and every new member get’s a free round .
So we had our first get together last Tuesday, at the GingerMan in downtown Austin right on Lavaca street. Guys and gals, it was amazing. Not so much the place…though GingerMan’s really is great…but the company was fantastic. And THANK YOU Rob, I had NO the original flavors in many Belgium ales came about that way all the way from the 12th century. And that’s coming from a die hard Belgium beer nut!
We tried many a brew, got to know each other for the first time, and had some great conversation that wasn’t just centered around beer. Though back on the beer subject, I had a black IPA…yep a black IPA for the first in my life, and I’m a HUGE IPA fan. Rob, thanks for choosing those beers out for us…you hit the nail on the head with each of them. Great calls!
After many a beer, there was only one thing left to do. This is Austin after all, so the search for great food was on. Thankfully, this was Austin after all so the search yielded results in a jiffy. First stop was a Korean/Mexican taco & burrito fusion cart. At $2 a pop, fast, clean and friendly service for some spicy cilantro pork and beef tacos…it was EPIC. This was all on the way to the car mind you…
We then proceed to make our way to a 24hr diner/cafe which Martin recommended. GREAT CALL MAN! You’ll have to chime in here and post the name to the place because I already forgot. An unassuming and unpretentious place that looks simple and is simple. And simple is always best. Rather plain looking set of chips and guacamole & queso, but the taste and texture left little to be desired. Great way to wait for the rest of the food. Then came about my seemingly plain and “ok” looking turkey and avocado club. The sandwich was however…perfect. Now if I could just replicate the way the bun was toasted with the butter used and that specific smoked and shaved turkey…I’ll be happy. 
The night ended with a very well rounded choice for coffee at the Spider Cafe. Another great call by Martin! Coffee’s good, but it’s the envirmonet that makes the place. You go try finding like this in Dallas. Nope. It’s not what they serve, or how they serve it that makes the difference. It’s the people. It’s amazing what 200 miles south can make as far as some culture shock goes. Nothing like what you see or feel in Dallas…
But guys, something I got to add in here and talk about before I close this out.
A HUGE…HUGE thank you to Rob for putting in the thought and consideration when specially selecting beers for us to sample based on what we liked. That means a lot to man, seriously thank you! And Martin, not just a big thank you for doing the driving (my truck was in the parking garage), but thank you for showing me around and specifically showing me unique places around town. It was freakin’ awesome, loved dabbling in the culture a bit, and all the conversation. I’m not sure I’m ok with you being a Ford guy…but hell I think I can live with it. Huge thanks to you man, it meant a lot to me that someone who I’ve met for the first time would go out of their way like that. Means a lot to me man, and I won’t forget it. Thanks to you all for making it a great get together, the wonderful beers, and meeting great new people. That’s what it’s all about.
And YET AGAIN, another shout out to miss FoodDrinkLove (I’ll have to learn your real name one of these damn days), thank you for giving a shit and asking how the meet up went. The simple fact that even just one person that I still have yet to personally meet cares enough to even ask about how things went (she couldn’t make it this time around) is BIG! BIG guys…I cherish it. Thanks!
Which I want to talk about very quickly before I close this out for the night. Ladies and gents, if you’re coming out with us just to drink some damn good beer, awesome…but understand that it’s so much more than that. It’s all about the people, about meeting others with the same passions, and connecting with and meeting people you never would have before. If you’re not a people person…we’ll probably make you one into one. At the core it’s about the people you meet…and of course the damn good beer you drink along with meeting and hanging out with them .
Till our next get together sometime next week which I can’t wait for…cheers guys and thank you!
P.S. Sorry about the lack of pictures this time guys. I had my camera with me but just didn’t prepare for it properly. It was pouring rain when I got in and since I was borrowing the camera from a friend I left it in my truck because the last thing I wanted to do was ruin someone else camera. Next though…you can bet your ass I’ll be ready for it all and snapping away!!
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The Cafe that we ate at was Kerby Lane off of Guadalupe by UT campus.
Ya! That’s the one! Couldn’t remember it for the life of me! As usual, thanks man! They had some darn good fries for a diner.
Nice post. Your blog is really nice.
@Martin
That is really a nice place. I’m been there before and I can’t forget my experience on that cafe.
@Craft Beer
Thanks for the comment and the kind words!
I work hard at it, and it’s always touching to hear such words. Thank you!
The cafe was great, good service, good food, good environment and I great hours for beer drinkers!
P.S. Craft Beer, I’ve added your blog to my weekly reading list. Looks rather promising
Ilya
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