On Saturday August 12th the crew assembled once again for our 2nd Expedition. This time our destination was downtown Hayward for the 9th Annual IPA Festival at The Bistro.

Deb had some bridal shower thingy to attend so we had to heave-ho without her. Under the careful supervision of The Captain, The Navigator transported us downtown.

Hayward. Downtown Hayward. This place is really starting to come up. The city has spent a lot of time, money, and effort into revitalizing the downtown area and it shows. New businesses are coming in–bars, restaurants, shops and soon a movie theater. It’s becoming a newer, hipper place to hang out. It’s not bad, you know? I actually kinda like coming down here now. It’s almost to the point to where I wouldn’t mind living in one of the flats in the area.

Enough of that.

Our first stop was Buffalo Bills Brewpub. It was once a scummy dive bar, replete with sawdust floors and free peanuts in the shell (you were encouraged to throw the empty husks on the floor). But now it’s all yuppie-fied. It’s now slathered with Widescreen TVs, new furnishings, and an expensive menu. It’s definitely not my scene. The only beers on tap are ones that they brew themselves, right there in the establishment. They’re OK, nothing great. All in all, it’s still a decent place to sit outside on a nice Saturday afternoon in the summertime and have a pint.

The crew met James and Jen, also known as Fat Man (or Fat Gold) and his new bride, Fat Wife. Amy Bookout stopped by to say hi, accompanied by her son and some friends. Unfornately due to some misinformation they wouldn’t be staying (sorry Amy! I was only going by the information related to me by the folks at The Bistro!)

After lunch and some pints the crew set sail for The Bistro. The place was slam-jam packed. Over 50 IPA’s on tap. Oh, this could get messy. The Captain soon realized that we needed to cool out for a bit, so we once again left port for a bar down the street–The Stein Room.

Once known as Detton’s and once owned by Al Davis, The Stein Room fit the bill. We soon had pitchers of MGD and a handful of quarters for the jukebox and some pool. Not a bad music selection, but not enough old timers for my taste. I threw on some Frank Sinatra and settled into a few games of pool.

What’s this? What’s that? An actual working phone booth in the corner of the bar? Unbelievable! Sorry, no pics available.

The Stein Room was a fun place to hang out but those drink tickets for the IPA festival were burning a hole in my pocket. So the crew posse’d up and walked back up the street to The Bistro.

The festival was now in full swing. A band that played nothing but old Santana and Jimi Hendrix tunes was in the middle of a set. I sampled some more IPA’s and sat outside for awhile. I was in a good mood. The weather was perfect and the crowd was fun. It was one of those moments where it felt good to be alive.

When the band took a break I walked through the bar and out to the patio. Deborah! My sister, the Serving Whench was finally there, along with Geoff and Stacey and little Shannon. And holy cow, it’s Ernest Mayo, too!

The crew was in classic form. The IPA’s were flowing like wine, as we compared and tasted and discussed our favorites. And then Dave got “The Call”.

His wife was on her way back from San Francisco. No big deal, right? She’s going to stop and come in to hang out with us, right?

Wrong. She was going to do the drive-by thing. Pull up to the corner, Dave gets in, and they leave. She’s not stopping. No. Not even for one drink. Not even for a minute. So they couldn’t stay and David absolutely had to leave right this moment and that’s final.

And so it was that we lost The Captain.

James and Jen were exausted and headed home. Ernest Mayo needed to go as well. But Deb’s friend Jen showed up to lighten the mood.

Our day continued as the festival wound down. Their permit expired and the street once again became navagable. The tents came down, the stage was disassembled, and the brews were moved inside.

By this time it was close to 8pm and the crew needed food. Hmmm… yes, we need food. It’s been a good 8 hours since our last meal.

Anita met us for dinner at Buffalo Bills. What’s this? Nobody is drinking? Waters and iced teas filled the table. Oh Captain, where are you when we need you?

We ended our night at Geoff and Stacey’s house. Geoff is a brewer himself and had three homebrews ready to drink. A little Steel Pulse on the stereo and some pints… and then it was midnight.

And so we called it a night. And a good time was had by all.

We missed you, Captain. We were lost without you.

Click here for the pics