![zHops1.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeiqxMqNehBEkNUacw2opJevtfy2VpE4stkJp4r5WUJW8/zHops1.jpg) If it feels like months since your last Zeke's Sweet Hops, that's because it has been! Being a creature of habit, I got out of the habit of daily content creation in the summer with vacations, adventures and running a business that never sleeps. So, I am hopefully BACK and will start with a #beersaturday post. Beer blogging came naturally to me due to years spent brewing for myself, working with breweries on their technology & marketing, and the decades spent imbibing. Hence, the self-decreed title of the #Blockchain #Beerologist doing my best to consume, report and even brew to do that title justice. This week, I am relaunching the Hops with a trip to a fantastic regional brewery. ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) # Cowbell Brewing! ![IMG_8556.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmQKk7FRpXTH8rwcipsChnm8GbpJFR9C9uV27RER4nZwMR/IMG_8556.jpg) I have visited Cowbell Brewing https://cowbellbrewing.com/ a few times and even showcased them in a couple blogs in the past. They are approx. 45 minutes from home, in the wrong direction to anywhere, but I had taxi duty in the area and it would be rude not to pay a visit. Besides the new ownership from a couple years ago, I was curious to see whether anything else had changed. ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) # Can I Start You With A Drink? ![IMG_6283.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmeuDeejFEFsjGqCP2N13PnPMDvHMUfTqdo2jD8RzgGxKR/IMG_6283.jpg) Fits the bill so let's see what you have! The expected draft lineup, some new ciders and seltzers, drinks, wine, cocktails and dessert! We are just getting started so I better stick with the draft beer which drew me here. A couple new brew and some old favourites from which to choose. ![IMG_6284.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmd8XjNfnHeBSVnoMNvFw7TPBhMJmeEhJHXipYCQWGmipq/IMG_6284.jpg) After some careful consideration, I opted for the beer I have probably had the most rather than a new one. When all was considered, I remembered that there was nothing new and thrilling, and Hazy Days https://cowbellbrewing.com/products/473ml-hazy-days-hazy-juicy-ipa-beer-x-24 is among my top 10 regional IPAs. Besides that, it doesn't get any better than straight from the keg which was brewed 10 meters away. Delicious as expected! ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) # Light Snack? ![IMG_6286.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmNM2Zy6GcXRwrWXcabWbZBexWouaaSuycM6a5GMoSrJyU/IMG_6286.jpg) Let's take a look at the menu and see if anything jumps out at us. Appetizers, bowls and pizzas all do go great with beer. ![IMG_6285.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmV6ko6VgDnSJHxfrYn27gbz9WFfGqURagH6Lp6MZnkMNP/IMG_6285.jpg) Another page of slightly redundant categories (burgers are handhelds and this is all pretty much comfort food) and some pretty compelling candidates to help soak up some suds. ![69671142944__DF6235E6-203B-448B-AFD8-BB68802F7E8D.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmYoZvc5NLJ5K7rNS1c4gWjRg7Hqawwq5vnHydJZb1gUAc/69671142944__DF6235E6-203B-448B-AFD8-BB68802F7E8D.jpg) I was torn between one of 2 options and I love to use this opportunity for the opinion of the servers. James was fun company and gave some pretty solid advice. ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) # And the winner is... ![IMG_6290.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmUGnmQBoFsyDZ4G6WmG2HpdcfL2kbq8gumGuwjaMztZ5E/IMG_6290.jpg) In the end, I went for the Coney Island Dog as we are only a couple hours from the border near Detroit, where some of the best Coneys are found. $18 may seem a little steep for a hot dog but it is only Canadian dollars, you can see they go the extra mile with the toppings, and the neat little basket of fries is a nice touch. Tasty dog and great companion for the hazy IPA. ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) ![IMG_6293.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmWDSKSibvttm8QrvaVbpCgeRRY1f6kD7GAGonFBqUmQtt/IMG_6293.jpg) Of course I made my way to the bottle shop for some sodas for the fridge at home. I was a little disappointed to hear that the Growler section is a victim of Covid and there were no one-off, available only at the brewery bottles to bring home. Still, the new ciders would be a nice treat for my better half and I think I see a new IPA in there! ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) # Time to Hit the Road ![IMG_6294.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmPwrEycPiUiqiYJDMbrV6m83BipA69Kx9MsVkAz3fAiZU/IMG_6294.jpg) After my quick visit, I jumped on the winter roads which were still clear before the expected snowstorm. Cargo in tow and happy to be visiting an old friend again. I will have to leave you on a dramatic cliffhanger as to which pints I brought home with me so tune in next week and see if I have gotten back into my weekly installment of Zeke's Sweet Hops. ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) # #BEERSaturday! ![beerlife.jpg](https://images.hive.blog/DQmbHL35E8G99M56sG76E2scYSfac2idsU5Qf8pjyCqaGA4/beerlife.jpg) January sure was a long year ;) ! Warm up your liver and join @detlev and I at https://hive.blog/hive-187719/@detlev/bs-week-292 for this week's #beersaturday post. Grab a pint and join in the fun with a beer story of your own. This week of #BeerSaturday, I would like to invite one of my newest friends @go-kyo who is from Japan and leverages joy and profit out of @splinterlands and @actifit! Check her out and chug a Kirin! # Cheers to our global family of beer-drinkers!! ![ "text16.png"](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcvVqhGMbF1KAHTn9Wh8FiRhmpAbiEuAKerVM7ugDnXfX/text16.png) ![ "zekepicklemanbeerologist.jpg"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmS4jb1ZGPhTgyAgHhrH3zxFiytsKsLUFQtjDybWNuKV1R/zekepicklemanbeerologist.jpg) ![ "LL Mends banner.png"](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/jaynie/OJgcuXgd-LL20Mends20banner.png) _{JOIN US ON [DISCORD](https://discord.gg/By4EvZSfRx)} _{SUBSCRIBE TO THE **LIFESTYLE LOUNGE COMMUNITY** [HERE](https://peakd.com/c/hive-114105/created)} _{JOIN US ON [TWITTER](https://twitter.com/lifestyleloung)} ![ "image.png"](https://images.hive.blog/DQmXdD8hMvJbpLLzxhRodBLkP7J9urP5Nv3dH3z1P5QWSLz/image.png) # I am honoured to curate for: ![ "gPCasciUWmF5VZucjWuzmpXUomGMznGBossDDhhbxsv4o487wdZdsb3ASXRMf62sjs1HUwqb5DTZ2Zui3ZaiztAHSSu6S3QkVTp6wDRybhjkQBzs6LKK5dFVjUtX1HiTiYRVNg7aDm8JmQFBDq.png"](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcxEUtELm37XLu6j9kV8pwPngjKcwjYmfukLBcUPGiu5b/gPCasciUWmF5VZucjWuzmpXUomGMznGBossDDhhbxsv4o487wdZdsb3ASXRMf62sjs1HUwqb5DTZ2Zui3ZaiztAHSSu6S3QkVTp6wDRybhjkQBzs6LKK5dFVjUtX1HiTiYRVNg7aDm8JmQFBDq.png)

# My old #beersaturday drinkin' buddies still around?