2366

No, that is not my Brownie Troop number (ha - I hated every single part of being in Brownies in like 3rd grade) and it is not the last four digits of my social security number.  It is not the model number on a new pair of shoes that I want to buy or an address to a great restaurant that I want to try in New York City.

#2366 is my Beer Club Membership number at the Hoboken Bar & Grill (HBG). 

*Que jokes about being Irish and drinking lots of beer*

What does that mean, you ask?  Well, allow me explain!

There may or may not be over 150 beers at the HBG to "taste" and check off your list as a member.  There are beers from all over the world and here is how it works:

You sign up to be a member and fill out a form including your name (Kathryn M. Noonan), your nickname (K. Noons - this will be important 150 beers later...), your birthday (February 28th), your T-shirt size (Small - again handy after the magical number of 150) and your beer of choice (Carlsberg - from my Ireland days). 

Then, you are given "The List."  It is a sheet of paper, populated on the front and back with beer after beer after beer.  They are categorized into various groups (lagers, ales, etc).  You chose a beer and initial next to it and then have the bartender sign off that you tried that beer.  You can try as many as you want each time you go to the HBG, but you have to finish the beer for it to count.

I tried two in my first sitting.  First, I went with was brewed in Lancaster (thought it would be best to start off with a PA choice - you know, repping the hometown team...) and chose the Strawberry Wheat Beer brewed by the Lancaster Brewing Company.  It was a nice refreshing beer and obviously with how much I love fruit - it seemed like the perfect choice.

My next choice was a little aggressive. I was intrigued by "chocolate stout" and thought - hey I just had a strawberry beer - why not top it off with some chocolate.  So, I went for it - Rogue Ale Chocolate Stout - and it was 22 oz.  The only thing I could compare it to - just because how dark and heavy it was - was a Guinness.  It was very good just very heavy.  And I am happy to have one of the "big guys" knocked off the list - there are a few more 22 oz-ers and then a 40 or two as well - yikes!

And here are the perks - as a member, you get 15% off all appetizers.  Once you complete the list - you get 20% off food at HBG ...FOR LIFE..., a t-shirt and your nickname on a plaque at the bar. 

SO here's to trying all kinds of beers - some I am sure I will hate and others that will become new favorites!