10/11/2017 The Big Texan Brewery, 7701 Interstate 40 Access Rd., Amarillo, TX 79118 phone: 806-372-6000   website: BigTexan.com/Brewery/
Hours: 7AM TO 10:30PM

Okay, picture this.....John Candy, who was one of my favorite actors, attempting to eat the 96'er steak in the movie, "The Great Outdoors". Now every time we drive to Tucson from the Chicago area we drive right by The Big Texan Steakhouse & Brewery located right off interstate 40 in Amarillo "By morning" Texas. Doesn't matter what time of day it is, the parking lot is always packed and every time I say, "Lets stop", but for some reason we don't......I want to get where we're going, I've got a hankering for an egg McMuffin, we're in the wrong lane, the sky is blue.....you get the idea. Well this time, no excuses and even though this iconic restaurant has been grilling the steak the size of your head since 1960, it was in 2011 that they started brewing their own brew. The Hoppin Brewery Tour strikes again in the great state of Texas.

I snap the out front sign selfie and head for the door. The first smell as I enter is that big, big, big steak! I look left then right, thinking I'm going to get run over by a huge steak with hooves running to someone's table and that I'm going to see steak knives the size of a machete. Once my eyes adjust from coming out of the bright Texas sun and I'm able to focus, I notice an actual gift shop to my left with everything in it the size of Texas....big foam pink cowboy hats, cork six shooter, a stuffed armadillo . I take 10 steps in and to my left we have a big arcade shooting range, like one you'd see at a state fair. I start checking my pocket for quarters but quickly come to my senses and power through. I turn to my right and there it is, like an oasis in the desert.....the bar with people, some with cowboy hats, laughing, smiling and drinking craft beer. I shuffle up to the bar, standing room only. I take a picture of the craft beer board and from every angle I notice a large light reflecting back at me. Everyone is looking at me and I smile back but no one returns the smile. I suddenly feel as if I'm in an episode of the Twilight Zone hosted by Rod Serling. I study the beer board and I order and pay for a pint of Whoop Your Donkey - IPA. Have I been on the road too long? Do I have spinach caught in my front teeth?

To my right I notice an 11 foot grisly bear. Come to find out Mr. Gris has been here a long time and didn't have much to say. I take a sip of my ice cold Whoop Your Donkey IPA - hoppy, fruit and floral with a smooth finish and walk around the corner. To my left I see a mounted buffalo head wearing one of those pink foam cowboy hats. Come to find out Mr. Buff has been here a long time as well and also didn't have much to say. I finish my pint, set the empty glass on the bar and head for the door. Once outside I snap a picture of the enormous 12' x 20' metal Texas beef steer, maybe it's actual size, I don't know . I jump in the passenger side and tell Kat to hit it. Once on the highway I start to feel normal, whatever that is.

Next stop Roswell, New Mexico. Maybe we'll see an alien!!!

Until next time and remember.........

Go get'cha one!!