Beer and Bacon Festival

fieldgrade

fieldgrade

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Some of you know that I take a certain degree of pleasure in occasionally disparaging my town of residence after 28 years because of it's airport-concourse-like ambience and sense of community. It's best known as the Containment Area, not to be confused with Clayton, "Cary Like Area Yankees Trying Out Now."

All that said, and shockingly, I discovered they had a Beer and Bacon Festival just a couple of miles from my house today. Who'd a thunk it?

http://beerandbacon.com

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They also have a bourbon and bbq festival or something like that.
I get headaches when I mix a bunch of different beer or liquor and the food always sucks!
Meh.

Personally, I'd stop at Danny's and have some BBQ, then head up to that MAC place for a few IPAs
 
Danny's is good but the Brew N Cue has em beat ! They also have tons of beers....
 
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Danny's has been extremely popular with all the folks not originally from NC, particularly Eastern NC, but they haven't figured out Eastern style NC 'cue. I don't think they have even tried, because they have such a following for their other styles of 'cue.

Heck, we bought our smoked Thanksgiving turkey there. I stood in line that morning with dozens of other old guys whose wives had pre-ordered, since the novelty of all that Turkey Day prep had worn off after 30 years.
 
fieldgrade said:
Danny's has been extremely popular with all the folks not originally from NC, particularly Eastern NC, but they haven't figured out Eastern style NC 'cue. I don't think they have even tried, because they have such a following for their other styles of 'cue.

Heck, we bought our smoked Thanksgiving turkey there. I stood in line that morning with dozens of other old guys whose wives had pre-ordered, since the novelty of all that Turkey Day prep had worn off after 30 years.
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Lucky for us there are many choices for tood bar b que around here. You can about get any style you like now.
 
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I've done the beer, bourbon and b'cue festival up there a couple times fieldgrade. It was good, but it was in the summer and f'ing hot and muddy both times after a storm. You are probably close enough to walk it, which helps. I'd spend the extra money on the VIP tix for the Friday night if they have it. Cooler and less lines. For me I'd probably spend the money and get a room over there somewhere next time. We had a neighbor pick us up, but with traffic and drunk walkers it was a pain in the butt.
 
fieldgrade said:
Danny's has been extremely popular with all the folks not originally from NC, particularly Eastern NC, but they haven't figured out Eastern style NC 'cue. I don't think they have even tried, because they have such a following for their other styles of 'cue.

Heck, we bought our smoked Thanksgiving turkey there. I stood in line that morning with dozens of other old guys whose wives had pre-ordered, since the novelty of all that Turkey Day prep had worn off after 30 years.
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Danny's is mediocre at best. There is really zero exceptional barbecue joints close by.
 
Agree the festivals are overrated and overpriced, but Big Mike's Brew'N'Que in Cary is pretty exceptional IMO... Everything I've had there has been excellent...
 
bigfelipe said:
Agree the festivals are overrated and overpriced, but Big Mike's Brew'N'Que in Cary is pretty exceptional IMO... Everything I've had there has been excellent...
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I've not been there, and can see a Containment Area gathering of the CFF faithful sometime soon.
 
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Yeah Danny's isn't really NC style, which is what I like about it. Given the choice,
CZfool68 said:
I've done the beer, bourbon and b'cue festival up there a couple times fieldgrade. It was good, but it was in the summer and f'ing hot and muddy both times after a storm. You are probably close enough to walk it, which helps. I'd spend the extra money on the VIP tix for the Friday night if they have it. Cooler and less lines. For me I'd probably spend the money and get a room over there somewhere next time. We had a neighbor pick us up, but with traffic and drunk walkers it was a pain in the butt.
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If you say Danny's is mediocre, and the beer and BBQ festival is "good", then I am seriously questioning your taste bro!
 
fieldgrade said:
Danny's has been extremely popular with all the folks not originally from NC, particularly Eastern NC, but they haven't figured out Eastern style NC 'cue. I don't think they have even tried, because they have such a following for their other styles of 'cue.

Heck, we bought our smoked Thanksgiving turkey there. I stood in line that morning with dozens of other old guys whose wives had pre-ordered, since the novelty of all that Turkey Day prep had worn off after 30 years.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's not NC style.
I've tried bbq all over the countrty, and NC style is my least favorite. Sorry fellas. That said, I like it, but just not as much as ribs and brisket.
The best NC style I have had has been at private cookouts.

In fact, I could never understand the BBQ sandwich on a hamburger bun with a bunch of mayoslaw on it. Not good, until one day at the NC Fair, Big Mike had his food truck there. I got a BBQ sammich with slaw just to kill my hunger, and it was one of the best BBQ sammiches I had ever tasted. Man it was GOOD. So that won over on that type of stuff. He later opened his little place in Cary. Mikes elevates it a bit.
Live right by Allen and Sons. So mushy pork soup with extra vinegar is right down the street.
 
Now gentlemen, I am trying to be respectful of other non-eastern style cue in my commentary. Remember where you are (Eastern NC) and don't be dissing my cue.

;):cool:

Some of us hold a special reverence for the ethereal mix of Eastern style 'cue and slaw in equal portions. Which by the way, we were making before all y'alls covered wagons were even packed to head west.
 
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NKD said:
Yeah Danny's isn't really NC style, which is what I like about it. Given the choice,


If you say Danny's is mediocre, and the beer and BBQ festival is "good", then I am seriously questioning your taste bro!
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It is Beer and barbecue. If ingesting enough beer the quality of the 'cue doesn't really matter that much. It is more of a drinking and music event than a food event. It is like fair or carnival food.
 
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NKD said:
Yeah, it's not NC style.
I've tried bbq all over the countrty, and NC style is my least favorite. Sorry fellas. That said, I like it, but just not as much as ribs and brisket.
The best NC style I have had has been at private cookouts.

In fact, I could never understand the BBQ sandwich on a hamburger bun with a bunch of mayoslaw on it. Not good, until one day at the NC Fair, Big Mike had his food truck there. I got a BBQ sammich with slaw just to kill my hunger, and it was one of the best BBQ sammiches I had ever tasted. Man it was GOOD. So that won over on that type of stuff. He later opened his little place in Cary. Mikes elevates it a bit.
Live right by Allen and Sons. So mushy pork soup with extra vinegar is right down the street.
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Is this the same Mike that recently opened up a place in Beaver Creek over in Apex? I went to that place for lunch and tried their 3 meat plate or whateve they call it. Think it was brisket, pork and chicken. It was all flavorless but very tender. So tender in fact is was mushy as if it had been steamed or sitting in a bunch of juices. Seemed to habe zero smoked or woods flavors. Seemed like oven cooked food instead of barbecued meat.

Haven't been back. I should probably try them again, but it was such a let down I hate to give them any more money. But they do have beer so maybe I'll give them one more whirl.
 
fieldgrade said:
Now gentlemen, I am trying to be respectful of other non-eastern style cue in my commentary. Remember where you are (Eastern NC) and don't be dissing my cue.

;):cool:

Some of us hold a special reverence for the ethereal mix of Eastern style 'cue and slaw in equal portions. Which by the way, we were making before all y'alls covered wagons were even packed to head west.
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You mean right after the African 'transplants' showed your ancestors how to cook it right? :D
 
CZfool68 said:
You mean right after the African 'transplants' showed your ancestors how to cook it right? :D
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We appreciated it so much we let them teach us how to play the banjo, too.
 
CZfool68 said:
It is Beer and barbecue. If ingesting enough beer the quality of the 'cue doesn't really matter that much. It is more of a drinking and music event than a food event. It is like fair or carnival food.
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Yeah I agree, that's about it right there.


CZfool68 said:
Is this the same Mike that recently opened up a place in Beaver Creek over in Apex? I went to that place for lunch and tried their 3 meat plate or whateve they call it. Think it was brisket, pork and chicken. It was all flavorless but very tender. So tender in fact is was mushy as if it had been steamed or sitting in a bunch of juices. Seemed to habe zero smoked or woods flavors. Seemed like oven cooked food instead of barbecued meat.

Haven't been back. I should probably try them again, but it was such a let down I hate to give them any more money. But they do have beer so maybe I'll give them one more whirl.
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Never heard of that place. But I have never had anything over cooked at BigMikes in Cary.

Thats actually my complaint about most BBQ I have had here: over cooked to death. Overcooked to be mushy. Ribs are not supposed to "fall off the bone" and many people screw those up, too!
 
fieldgrade said:
Now gentlemen, I am trying to be respectful of other non-eastern style cue in my commentary. Remember where you are (Eastern NC) and don't be dissing my cue.
;):cool:
Some of us hold a special reverence for the ethereal mix of Eastern style 'cue and slaw in equal portions. Which by the way, we were making before all y'alls covered wagons were even packed to head west.
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Well, our "covered wagons" came from deep Alabama in 1969, but I can tell you being honest didn't make me all that popular in California either!

But I would love to see you try and sell that to a Texan!
 
NKD said:
Yeah I agree, that's about it right there.




Never heard of that place. But I have never had anything over cooked at BigMikes in Cary.

Thats actually my complaint about most BBQ I have had here: over cooked to death. Overcooked to be mushy. Ribs are not supposed to "fall off the bone" and many people screw those up, too!
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I think it is the same guy. I'll have to try it on more time. Then again, I am a barbecue snob so maybe it is me.
 
NKD said:
Well, our "covered wagons" came from deep Alabama in 1969, but I can tell you being honest didn't make me all that popular in California either!

But I would love to see you try and sell that to a Texan!
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Bah, a Texan isn't worth impressing.
 
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CZfool68 said:
I think it is the same guy. I'll have to try it on more time. Then again, I am a barbecue snob so maybe it is me.
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Looked it up: same guy.

Truth: nobody in the history of the world as we know it is a bigger food snob than @bigfelipe !

Maybe you should give it another try. But, now with the food truck and two restaurants it's possible quality has fallen. I hope not! Been about a year since I had even been to the one in Cary.
 
NKD said:
But I would love to see you try and sell that to a Texan!
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What's that old saying? "The only thing that comes from Texas is steers and..."
Nevermind. lol

I just like poking anybody who disses eastern NC style cue with a sharp stick since apparently we are the only ones who like it.
 
fieldgrade said:
What's that old saying? "The only thing that comes from Texas is steers and..."
Nevermind. lol
I just like poking anybody who disses eastern NC style cue with a sharp stick since apparently we are the only ones who like it.
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Hahaha! Better than Cali, it's just ......... there.


I hope I didn't give the impression that I couldn't choke down about ten pounds of BBQ NC pig, because I can and do, quite often I might add!
 
fieldgrade said:
What's that old saying? "The only thing that comes from Texas is steers and..."
Nevermind. lol

I just like poking anybody who disses eastern NC style cue with a sharp stick since apparently we are the only ones who like it.
Click to expand...

There is no other kind of bbq. If you like true pork bbq you owe it to yourself to go to the Skylight Inn.
 
If yall want to go to a real BBQ festival the VA BBQ Festival is the only option. It is well worth taking time off of work. I do hate that it is in VA.
 
CZfool68 said:
Yep, Blues bar or barbecue I'm looking for the old white haired black guy. That is usually a good sign of quality food and music. Hasn't let me down yet.
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Good country bars and BBQ tend to have the same guy except white. The older the fart the better the hog.
CZfool68 said:
Yep, Blues bar or barbecue I'm looking for the old white haired black guy. That is usually a good sign of quality food and music. Hasn't let me down yet.
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The whole hog ENC bbq I have had cooked by black folks has too much sugar in the sauce for me as a whole. It may be something passed down locally but I prefer to leave it out. The quality of the cooking is top notch though. My buddies and I have been known to cuss each other out about this.
 
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NKD said:
Hahaha! Better than Cali, it's just ......... there.


I hope I didn't give the impression that I couldn't choke down about ten pounds of BBQ NC pig, because I can and do, quite often I might add!
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When I lived in CA there was a great barbeuce joint in the town I lived in. But the guy was originally from TX. Bubba Paris has a place in SF that is pretty good. And there used to be a place in South San Francisco that was excellent. But the lady that owned it only cooked a certain amount each day and then close up. Had to get there early. Plus it seated about 10 people. I'd usually just do take out there.
 
fieldgrade said:
What's that old saying? "The only thing that comes from Texas is steers and..."
Nevermind. lol

I just like poking anybody who disses eastern NC style cue with a sharp stick since apparently we are the only ones who like it.
Click to expand...

I should be much fatter because I haven't really ever had an barbecue style I thought was bad. They all have their places. I'm an equal opportunity eater as long as it is done well. I've had some crappy 'cue, but it was on the cook, not the style.
 
CZfool68 said:
When I lived in CA there was a great barbeuce joint in the town I lived in. But the guy was originally from TX. Bubba Paris has a place in SF that is pretty good. And there used to be a place in South San Francisco that was excellent. But the lady that owned it only cooked a certain amount each day and then close up. Had to get there early. Plus it seated about 10 people. I'd usually just do take out there.
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Couple places in Oakland are very good, too. I tried not to venture over the Bay Bridge if I could avoid it.

Busters in Calistoga was my favorite. Always tried to make that part of the route on any motorcycle rides!
 
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