Can't Forget Forgotten Boardwalk

It's been a very busy month, what with my wrestling/coaching duties occupying much of my time, but Sunday, January 28 would prove to be a most exciting and productive day.

First, yours truly and the missus scored tickets with great seats to watch the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers square off against the Nittany Lions of Penn State on the wrestling mat. More than 8300 rabid fans packed the RAC to watch the battle, and RU battled gamely against the nation's #1 team.

But the match was just the appetizer to what has become an annual trek to the Forgotten Boardwalk Brewery in Cherry Hill to participate in the Spice of Life event. The event, begun four years ago, attempts to support organ donation--especially of the kidney variety-- a cause very close to our hearts.

We attended our first "Spice" event when our oldest son went into ESRF--End Stage Renal Failure--and need to find a kidney donor. Seth Dolled, co-owner of Forgotten Boardwalk with the perennially young Jamie Queli, donated a kidney to his mom, Sharon--and saved her life. Dolled and Queli were also kind enough to donate beer (perhaps my favorite of theirs, 1916 Shore Shiver) to a fundraiser for our son. That keg was the first to kick at the event, too.

So we made the trek to honor all they do--and have done--for organ/kidney donation. And the specially spiced (get it?) beers that appear at the noon- 8 PM event certainly serve as a powerful draw for The PubScout. Considering that the place was still packed at 5 PM when we got there, their beers are a powerful draw for many others, too. Most of the proceeds from the event will go to an organization that encourages us to "Donate Life."

There was a section that provided free massages and a very neat machine that would scan your license and immediately enroll you in an organ donation system upon the event of your untimely demise.

We drank some superb beers, met old friends and new--like the new brewer Evan Wasylyk, who, judging by the beers he's making, is apparently very comfortable in the FB brewhouse.

The Shore Shiver was its usual wonderful self, and Wasylyk's spiced version with Szechuan peppercorns, Lemongrass and Thai Chili peppers was even better. Ditto the Growler's Mole Stout--regular Gravity Road Imperial Stout with the addition of cinnamon, chipotle, ancho, poblano and birds-eye peppers.

The missus got to see and enjoy "What the Butler Saw," and the 7.8% Imperial IPA called Come Quick Danger was also delicious.

We even got to watch a foot-billiards game in a new wrinkle that Queli and Dolled brought in. We met a heckuva nice gal named Maria (blonde, far left) and her soon-to-be-fiancee (though he doesn't yet know it).

Speaking of new wrinkles, the owners described what will eventually be their new "Speak Easy" in the brewhouse--a drinking emporium accessible only by a secret labyrinth and period-lit with special lighting. It's going to be so neat, I might be required to to get there more than once a year.