2beerguys beer blog

Beer Me to the Apocalypse – a Journey of Metal and Beer

@twbdrapeau, @idrumtth

Hi there. My name is Chris Drapeau (left). I play the lead axe in international touring heavy metal outfit Thy Will Be Done and I’m really honored and excited to be writing for 2 beer guys! Just a quick history…and I mean quick! I’m a craft beer fanatic from northern NH. I now live in the beautiful coastal NH region where there is never a dull moment in the craft beer world. I met Sean Jansen and his awesome wife Amber at a beer tasting earlier this year. We like to drink beers together! There it is! Now…to the beer!

About a week prior to the kickoff of the “Party to the Apocalypse Tour“, my now dear friend Brandon Lundeen approached me via Twitter about my love of craft beer. This ferocious drummer of the band Trumpet the Harlot is also a big craft beer guy and suggested we see just what kind of artisan mischief we could get into as we rocked across the country.

As the tour made its way to the Midwest, the availability of breweries such as New Belgium Brewing and Great Lakes Brewing became frequent. First thing I had to do was get a Fat Tire to my lips as quickly as possible. Mission accomplished…what’s next? As the tour reached Cleveland Ohio’s rock club Peabody’s, a plethora of Great Lakes beers were at my disposal before and after the show. Cleveland has a huge craft brew scene that I hope to really explore more of soon.

Brandon and I found ourselves at one of the coolest bars for crafts that we had ever seen when we played Des Moines, IA. The stunning tap row (over 100 all American), knowledgeable and fun staff, and overall friendly vibes of the El Bait Shop made for an awesome pre-show experience. Decorated inside and out with old tackle, gas signs, bikes, and plenty of classic stand-up arcade games, this comfy tavern was only a 2 minute walk from the venue we played later that night! There’s a great craft beer movement in the Midwest and this bar’s selection of local (literally down the road) brews made that obvious; Peace Tree Brewing and Toppling Goliath to name a couple.

The tour has been on a short break and my band Thy Will Be Done and I have actually been so kindly welcomed into Brandon’s home in northern VA where he and I have been on a craft beer tasting frenzy. Visits to great bars like Capital Ale House in Fredericksburg, VA and DC area’s RFD Washington and Bilbo Baggins have offered me a lot of great beers this New England boy can’t get at home! I’ve been introducing Brandon to some of my favorites and he’s been showing me some of the local gems in the Virginia/DC areas. After the first leg of the tour and lots of build-your-own six packs from Wegman’s, we’ve compiled lists of our top ten brews of the tour thus far as well as some of our favorite beers in general. I’ve also made a list of some of the venues we’ve played displaying great craft tap rows and bottle selections.

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Chris’s Top 10 of the Tour. (1st ½)

10. Ranger IPA New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO
9. Celis White Michigan Brewing Company, Lansing, MI
8. Pumpkin Ale Schlafly Beer, St Louis, MO
7. Commodore Perry IPA Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, OH
6. Red Hoptober New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO
5. Hopsession Super Pale Ale Brau Brothers Brewing Company, Lucan, MN
4. Tank 7. Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO
3. Riwaken Dead Toppling Goliath Brewing, Decorah, IA
2. Rye Porter Peace Tree Brewing, Knoxville, IA
1. Middle Name: Danger DC Brau Brewing Company, Washington DC

Introducing: Brandon Lundeen of Trumpet the Harlot

10. Fat Tire New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins, CO
9. Pale Ale Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA
8. IPA Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA
7. Lost and Found Abbey Ale The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA
6. Tank 7. Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, MO
5. Hennepin Farmhouse Saison Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY
4. Hop Stoopid Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA
3. Levitation Ale Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA
2. Arrogant Bastard Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, CA
1. Brew Free! Or Die IPA 21st Amendment Brewing, San Francisco, CA

Top Craft Beer States of the tour

5.Kentucky
4.Wisconsin
3.Michigan
2.Ohio
1.Iowa

Top Craft Beer Venues of the tour

5. Station 58, Syracuse, NY (Saranac Brewing, Sierra Nevada,
4. Busters Billiards, Lexington, KY (New Belgium, West 6th)
3. Peabody’s, Cleveland OH (Goose Island, Great Lakes Brewing)
2. Regent Street Retreat (RSR), Madison, WI (New Glarus Brewing, Ale Asylum)
1. Spicoli’s, Waterloo, IA (New Belgium, Summit Brewing, Boulevard Brewing)

The second half of the tour began on November 13th at Hard Rock in Nashville, TN, and we are making our way across the southern part of the country. We will continue our beerventure as we bring the metal. Check out the remaining dates below and some photos from the 1st half.

Cheers and Stay Brewtal!

Chris Drapeau * Twitter: @twbdrapeau * Instagram twbdrapeau  * Untappd  TwbDrapeau

THY WILL BE DONE * Facebook thywillbedone * Twitter @TWBD

Brandon Lundeen * Twitter  @idrumtth * Instagram @idrumtth * Untappd idrumtth

TRUMPET THE HARLOT * Facebook trumpettheharlotpage * twitter @trumpetharlot