The Tiki Barn - Bar # 87

Gee, this is great....we just went out last week for a Retired Guys Beer Afternoon!  We were active the 2nd Tuesday because Terry had to postpone our normal schedule due to his involvement with the Cancer Society's Relay for Life fund raiser held on the 10th and 11th of this month. While our scheduled time out as a couple of men bonding is important, it is pretty obvious that finding a cure for cancer is more important.  That event raised over $716K.  Way to go Terry!

This is the third Tuesday of the month so I (Garry) get to drive and to choose where we go.  Based on a recommendation from my son who joined us last week as a "retiree in training", I chose the Tiki Barn located in Ephrata. The outdoor bar/deck is just behind and a part of the Olde Lincoln House.  It is an excellent location to drink cold beer on a hot summer day as it has a well shaded bar area as well as a sun drenched deck.  The deck itself is located on the eastern side of the barn so does enjoy shade in the latter part of the afternoon and thus patrons won't have to slather on the sun screen for a relaxed early evening out.

The barn had a nice selection of 10 beers on tap with only two of them being the typical Coors Light and Miller brands.  All others were of the "craft" variety easily allowing us to have two beers to our liking.  There was also a reasonably large selection of bottled beers so everyone should be able to select something to suit their taste buds.  For those who aren't beer drinkers (is there such a person?) the bar appeared to be complete in the availability of stronger spirits.

Typically, we do not purchase food as we like to focus on the beer but I could not help but notice the inviting aroma of some hot wings being thoroughly enjoyed by another patron sitting at the bar.  If they taste anything like the aroma, I will enjoy my next visit!

Everything about the bar was clean and that description includes the men's restroom.  There was an unusual limit placed on the ladies restroom as recorded in the photo below.  I'm not sure why but pictures don't lie.  Ladies, make sure you take care of business before you go to the Tiki Barn!

The Deck at The Dutchmaid Motel - Bar # 86

Today was a day with a "first" in our quest to visit all the great beer establishments in Lancaster County.  We had the pleasure to be accompanied by Garry's son, Jason.  It was a great afternoon to drink some beer in magnificent weather and take a youngster under our wing and educate him about the fine art of male bonding.

Today we visited an establishment attached to a motel in Ephrata known simply as "The Deck".  From route 272 it doesn't look like much, but when you are on the deck it feels like an area of escape removed from Lancaster County.  There are two bars, palm trees and other shrubbery that insulates you from the outside world.  The staff was very friendly and welcoming.

As the bar did not have three stools open when we arrived, we elected to sit at a table.  I do not know the exact number of beers on tap.  The usual suspects (Coors Light, Miller Lite, Lager) are on tap.  The waitress easily recited their draft beer list until we heard something to our liking.  The Deck also seems to have a wide range of canned beer.

The Deck appears to be very popular among the local community as there were probably 20 patrons enjoying refreshments and the spectacular weather.  This is by far the busiest of any establishment we visited at 3:00 PM on a mid-week day.  While the establishment is physically some distance from our homes, it is worth the approximately 15 mile drive.  Other than the moderate traffic noise from the highway, The Deck serves as a very good think tank for problem solving and discussing the merits of a retired life style.



Copper Hill Public House at Crossgates Golf Course, Millersville - Bar # 85

Life is good!  The month of May has 5 Tuesdays, so we had 3 Retired Guys Beer Afternoons.  On this Beer Day we traveled back to a previously visited location, but now under new ownership with a new name, Copper Hill Public House.  The pub, on the Crossgates Golf Course, has a new and fresh look complete with, you guessed it, a copper top bar.

With the weather being very summer like we asked to be seated on the patio overlooking the golf course and were completely accommodated when we requested a table in the shade.  Even though the table was at the farthest point from the main dining area, the staff was very cheerful and eager to please.  Our server was a completely delightful young lady named Lyndsie (that is the correct spelling) who was very attentive without being overbearing and spot-on when delivering more beer just as we finished our first.  At her recommendation, Garry and I both ordered the lunch special.  It was a turkey sandwich with bacon, tomato and lettuce served with a pickle and house chips.  I never met a sandwich containing bacon that I didn't like and this was no exception.  Good call Lyndsie!

All in all, this was a very enjoyable beer afternoon that happened earlier in the day than other beer days because of a Relay commitment on my part that warranted me being completely sober.  We again enjoyed beer and friendship and solved the world's problems.  You may thank us later.

One final note; as we were leaving I had the privilege to speak with another of the very capable staff members who recognized me as we entered.  Tammie, who I haven't seen for a couple of years, but is friends with two of my children, commented to one of her co-workers as we entered, "It must be Retired Guys Beer Day".  We must be kind of, sort of celebrities!

Thank you to Copper Hill for an enjoyable Beer afternoon and a special "Thank You" to Lyndsie and Tammie.