Stumbo On The Go

06/05/2026

06/05/2026

There’s a list building of beers that The Brewer in the Brook is crafting that we are looking forward to. That Stars & Stripes Special Release is a month away with its fresh raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, and black berry flavors mixed with vanilla cake! BUT This Root Beer Float sour is definitely at the top of that list for me. Definitely looking forward to getting my hands on one.

06/02/2026

On our journey home from the Annual Smokies Trip, Stumbo On The Go made one final quest stop at a brewery that has been sitting on our must-visit list for quite some time.

And adventurers...

It did not disappoint.

Our destination was Fabled Brew Works, a fantasy-inspired brewery that feels like someone took a Dungeons & Dragons tavern, filled it with incredible craft beverages, and opened the doors to fellow nerds, readers, gamers, and fantasy lovers alike.

From the moment we walked in, we knew we had found our kind of place.

The decor is immersive, the atmosphere is welcoming, and every corner feels like it belongs in a campaign setting. Between the fantasy-inspired artwork, the cozy tavern vibes, dragon sconces, and the overall theme, it felt like we had stumbled upon an adventurer's guild hall hidden just off the interstate.

Mel, being the ravenous reader that she is, immediately felt right at home. Especially after recently reading a fantasy romance centered around DND. It was almost as if this brewery had been waiting for her arrival.

Since this stop had been on our brew list for so long, we decided there was only one proper way to experience it.

Flights.

A pair of flights.

Mel's journey through the realm consisted of:

• Itsy Bitsy Cider (a great hard apple cider that drank smooth, not dry. So good, she got some cases to go!)
• Itsy Bitsy Apricot Cider (that same smooth drinkability of it’s predecessor but with that apricot punch up)
• Black Sacrament Mead (The blackberries came through and the name of the sacrament fits perfectly with the flavor profile.)
• Barrel Aged The Elder Blood Mead (the heavy hitter of the two meads we had, you can definitely taste that barrel aged flavor and a nice touch of the raspberries.)

Meanwhile, I ventured into:

• The Witching Sour: Vanilla (crazy smooth and a perfectly balanced sour with the nice warm vanilla flavor coming in with every drink.)
• Harry Porter and the Maple Potter (You’re a Wizard Harry, this thing had that maple flavor, but the porter gave me the dark beer feels 100%, definitely what I was wanting from the dark beer offering.)
• Rockin' The Rainbow Road (No friends lost on this one, it hit perfectly with that rainbow sherbert type flavor profile. Clean, crisp, and flavorful, just the kind of sour I’m a fan of.)
• The Wicked 'Wich: Grape (THE ONE that broughteth me to this brewery and I was beyond pleased with its peanut butter and jelly goodness. Peanut butter in the front with the smooth grape jelly flavor in the back. I was soooo happy with it, of course I had to get some to go and crazy to think I SHARED THEM WHEN WE GOT HOME. Unheard of lol)

Now let's be honest… The fruited sours were what originally drew us to Fabled Brew Works in the first place.

Well… The fruited sours and the fantasy theme.

And thankfully, every single pour delivered exactly what we were hoping for.

The flavors were bold without being overwhelming, totally creative and fun, and balanced in a way that made each offering stand on its own. Whether it was the berry-forward sour creations (except for the Wick ‘Wich that hit you with the peanut butter up front with the smooth grape in the back), the dessert-inspired porter, or the beautifully crafted meads, every glass felt like it meant to be.

Helping guide our decisions were bartenders who were incredibly friendly and eager to share recommendations. As first-time visitors, that kind of hospitality goes a long way.

They helped point us toward some standout pours and also gave us another recommendation we absolutely couldn't ignore.

"Go try The Gobblin Goblin."

OF COURSE! Challenge accepted.

Even if it was raining.

So out into the rain we marched.

And honestly?

We're glad we did.

The Gobblin’ Goblin Food Truck isn't just a food truck parked in front of the brewery.

It's part of the story.

The truck is operated by the man responsible for Fabled Brew Works' mead program alongside his son, making it a genuinely family-run operation. Getting the opportunity to chat with them and hear how the food truck came to life added another layer of charm to an already memorable stop. And just like the brewery itself, the theme carries over perfectly.

The Gobblin Goblin serves up smash burgers, chicken sandwiches and tenders, buttery grilled cheese, appetizers consisting of deep fried pretzel sticks and cheese sticks, and an impressive lineup of house-made sauces including Buttermilk Ranch, All In The Family Ranch, Goblin Sauce, Caribbean Jerk Sauce, Not Your Typical Honey Mustard, and BBQ Sauce.

Naturally, we followed the path of the smash burger.

Mel ordered the BBQ Bacon Smashburger loaded with cheddar cheese, bacon, crispy onions, and BBQ sauce on a brioche bun alongside seasoned hand-cut fries.

I went with the American Style Smashburger topped with cheddar cheese on a brioche bun and served with those same perfectly seasoned fries.

Before we even took a bite, we noticed one of our favorite little details.

The Gobblin Goblin logo had been seared directly into the top of each bun.

It's completely unnecessary AND completely awesome.

The kind of small touch that shows somebody genuinely cares about the experience they're creating and that THEME.

The burgers themselves were excellent, but then something happened that elevated the entire meal. The owner's son appeared carrying a cup of Goblin Sauce. He confidently informed us that everybody dips their fries in it.

Well...

I started dipping everything in it.

Fries.

Burger.

More fries.

Possibly my finger at one point.

It reminded me of a certain one love chicken chain's signature sauce, but with more pepper, more personality, and a flavor profile all its own. We were also told it contains some of their mead, which somehow makes it even cooler.

Whatever magic is happening in that sauce cup, it's working.

I completely understand why it has become a crowd favorite.

Just when we thought our adventure had concluded, they brought out one final treasure.

Their Fritos Corn Salad.

A creamy elote-style corn salad topped with chili cheese Fritos.

Mel absolutely loved it! Every bite came with another compliment.

By the time we finished, she was already figuring out how to snag a makeshift cup lid to bring it safely home for the ride back.

That's undoubtedly a good sign.

When the dust settled and our quest came to an end, we realized something.

Fabled Brew Works isn't just a brewery.

It's an experience within a fantastical nerd haven.

Great craft beer.

Excellent mead.

Friendly staff.

A mystical family-run food truck.

Thoughtful theming.

And enough fantasy-inspired charm to make fellow nerds feel right at home.

The biggest surprise of all?

After mapping it out, we discovered it's only about an hour from home.

Which means this wasn't a one-time adventure.

We've already started discussing plans to return with our own guild of friends for another round of quests, sours, meads, burgers, and DEFINITELY THAT Goblin Sauce.

Fabled Brew Works has officially earned a place on the Stumbo On The Go To Go List.

Roll for initiative.

This adventure is worth taking.

05/31/2026

Alright… Stumbo On The Go would be seriously remiss if we made our Annual Smokies Trip without mentioning one of our all-time favorite beer and pizza combos in the Smoky Mountains— Smoky Mountain Brewery.

At this point, calling this place a yearly tradition might actually be underselling it.

We’ve been visiting Smoky Mountain Brewery for years—long before Stumbo On The Go was ever a thought—between both their Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge locations. It’s become one of those Smoky Mountain stops that feels like part of the trip itself.

And honestly?

There’s a reason.

Smoky Mountain Brewery has always had this awesome atmosphere that lands somewhere between cozy alpine lodge and lively brewery. The wood tones, the lodge-style feel, the buzz from the crowd, TVs on, fresh beer flowing—it all works.

And for us, with our love of Smoky Mountain cabins, that whole lodge vibe just fits perfectly.

It feels right at home.

Even better, we had an awesome waiter this trip who made the whole visit even more enjoyable. He kept us taken care of the whole time and somehow managed to work horror movies and music into the conversation, which automatically earns bonus points with us.

That’s a win.

Now I’ve mentioned before that Smoky Mountain Brewery is one of our favorite beer and pizza combos—and apparently they know exactly what they’re doing because even their merch pairs pizza and beer together like a perfect duo in one of the shirts we saw.

And honestly… they’re right.

For this year’s Annual Smokies Trip we kept our unofficial pepperoni pizza challenge rolling.

That way every pizza stop got a fair shot.

And Smoky Mountain Brewery absolutely held their own.

The fold was there.

The cheese pull was there.

Those classic greasy pepperoni slices our waiter proudly pointed out?

Absolutely there.

And that chewy crust finish at the end?

Chef’s kiss.

Now I’ll admit something controversial…

I’m a knife-and-fork guy when it comes to Smoky Mountain Brewery pizza… specifically.

Give me parmesan.

Give me a few strategic cuts.

Let me get the fold exactly where I want it.

That’s my lane.

Mel, meanwhile, stayed true to the fold like the pizza purist she is and gave me a playful little scoff at my method—which honestly feels fair.

Different approaches.

Same joy.

And there really is something perfect about a mid-day pizza stop after spending the earlier part of the afternoon doing moonshine and wine tastings along the Gatlinburg strip.

Pizza hits different after a little wandering like we did prior.

For beer this trip, we went with the Brewmaster Special—a Blueberry Ale.

And that one was a really nice surprise.

The ale flavor leads the way while the blueberry hangs in the background like the perfect backup singer—just enough fruit to brighten it up without stealing the spotlight.

Super refreshing too… especially after a day that already included moonshine.

Mel gave it her best shot.

She liked it… and more importantly?

She did NOT make “the face.”

And if you know, you know.

That face is the immediate giveaway when a beer doesn’t land.

So that alone counts as a win.

What’s really cool is Smoky Mountain Brewery talks a lot about simplicity, quality, hospitality, and respect as part of their values—and as longtime fans, we can honestly say they continue delivering on every bit of that.

The food has always been dependable.

The beer stays true.

The service is quick.

And the hospitality always makes the experience feel easy and relaxed.

That consistency matters.

Especially when you’re returning year after year.

There’s a reason Smoky Mountain Brewery stays firmly planted on our Stumbo On The Go “To Go List” every single Annual Smokies Trip.

Whether you stop into Gatlinburg or swing through Pigeon Forge, both locations know exactly what they’re doing.

Cold beer.

Solid pizza.

Great atmosphere.

And a Smoky Mountain tradition we’ll gladly keep coming back for.

05/30/2026

Today on Stumbo On The Go we made our way out to Bellbrook Brewing Company for their Dammit Debi fruited sour release—and while the beer was definitely worth the trip, we also got introduced to a food truck pairing that absolutely deserved a shoutout of its own.

That spotlight goes to The Food Dude Street Eats and Catering.

Set up outside the brewery and serving up smash burgers while everyone was enjoying pours of Dammit Debi? Yeah… Bellbrook Brewing definitely knew what they were doing with this pairing.

The Food Dude is run by Kevin Milstead and has built a solid reputation around the Dayton/Miami Valley area with pop-ups, public events, and catering—and after finally getting a chance to try them for ourselves, we can absolutely see why people keep showing up hungry.

As we were hanging out with our beers we kept noticing basket after basket of smash burgers being served out of the pop up gazebo.

And once you see that flat top working overtime and people walking away smiling with loaded burgers in hand…

Well…

You know exactly what happens next.

We had to jump in line.

The topping options were stacked too—lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, jalapeños, American cheese, pepper jack, Swiss, bacon… plenty of ways to build your perfect burger.

Mel found herself right at home and built hers with pepper jack cheese, bacon, and jalapeños.

And from the first bite?

She was sold.

The burger had that beautiful smash burger crust and was seasoned perfectly, but she immediately pointed out the bun before I even got a bite of mine.

“Buttery.”

And she was absolutely right.

That bun held up perfectly with every bite and had that rich toasted flavor that immediately makes a burger feel even better.

Plus with the pepper jack and jalapeños bringing the heat, she was in her happy place.

I kept mine classic with American cheese and bacon and I fully agree with her review.

The bun was buttery, sturdy, and exactly what you want holding together a smash burger stacked with flavor.

And the burger itself?

Smashed perfectly.

Great texture.

Great seasoning.

Exactly what you hope for when you order one.

What made it even cooler was getting a chance to chat with Kevin afterward.

He talked about how much he genuinely enjoys the whole process—the rhythm of seasoning patties on the flat top, building each burger, and creating that experience where customers get to watch it all come together.

And honestly… you can tell.

There’s real passion behind what he’s doing.

The kind of passion that makes a food truck memorable.

One fun thing we learned after we ate—Kevin’s got a signature move where he adds mayo and mustard to the buns before tossing them on the flat top.

Unfortunately we learned that after we finished eating.

Which means…

Yep.

Guess we’ll just have to catch him again next time and “research” that bun method properly.

We also kept hearing great things from folks nearby about his homemade lemonade who hit up his pop up before, so now that’s officially on the list too.

Between great burgers, great people, and a perfect pairing with Bellbrook Brewing’s Dammit Debi release, this one ended up being a really fun local stop.

Big shoutout to Bellbrook Brewing Company for bringing in a fantastic food truck pairing.

And shoutout to The Food Dude for delivering smash burgers that paired perfectly with craft beer.

That’s a combo Stumbo On The Go can definitely get behind.

05/30/2026

We made a stop at Bellbrook Brewing Company specifically for today and you already know what that means if you follower their page. Another Dammit Debi Day hit today at 12pm, and the next double release is finally here: Blueberry Cobbler and Cherry Cobbler fruited sours.

Let’s start with Blueberry Cobbler, because this one is the one that brought the cobbler flavor through and through. Deep, juicy blueberry flavor leads the way, rich and vibrant without going jammy or artificial. What really makes it sing, though, is how well it plays with that cobbler crust note much like the Blackberry did before it. You get this baked, slightly buttery, almost flaky impression that rounds everything out and makes it feel like a fork-and-plate dessert experience — except it’s cold, refreshing, and dangerously drinkable. It’s balanced, nostalgic, and exactly what you hope for when you hear “Blueberry Cobbler.”

Then there’s my personal favorite Cherry Cobbler..

The Brewer In The Brook does it yet again.

This one to me was the standout amongst the two. It honesty taste like I popped open a can of cherry pie filling and drank it straight back. It was just enough tart, it was natural, and beautifully supported rather than overpowering. It didn’t bring all of the cobbler flavor to my taste buds but asking around there were plenty of people agreeing with my assessment.

Together, this duo understood the assignment of being apart of the Dammit Debi series. The Brewer in the Brook has continued his understanding of flavors with these recent batches and the people who showed up today are definitely raising their glasses to him, us whole heartedly included.

Another fun addition today was meeting Dammit Debi herself! lol

She was so nice to talk with and super excited to share how the name came to be for the beer. Her name came up numerous times in Bellbrook Brewing Family’s household with her being the cheer coach for their oldest daughter. A name that stuck in the most playful way when our #1 Bartender in Dayton met Debi for the first time and informed her that he too had some cheer moves. He told he could do the leaping toe touch and when he was told not to do it behind the bar by one of the owners, he sneakily chose to do when she left the bar area, only for her to return the moment he landed from the attempt. Dylan was quick to point to Debi, the words Dammit Debi flowed out naturally enough that it stuck when the Cobbler fruited sour needed a name for the first time.

The name is definitely a playful nod, but daggone does it describe the positive reaction when you take a drink of these bad boys lol.

Fun to hear the story and to be able to share it as well. Also one of her favorite beers is Chasing Flamingos, just a little tidbit there.

If you make it in today for the release you too may get a chance to meet Debi and she too will share the origin story, she will probably do it more justice than hearing it second hand from me.

While you there, give both a try and let me know if you’re Team Cherry or Team Blueberry…

And grab a case to go 😉

Another review to come is for The Food Dude who set up to sling smashburgers and hotdogs for the event, so stay tuned for that, I got notes to get pieced together.

05/30/2026

Next stop on Stumbo On The Go’s Annual Smokies Trip brought us somewhere that was dangerously close to our cabin… and by dangerously, we mean the kind of close where you could absolutely see yourself becoming a regular real fast.

We found ourselves checking out PaPa Leones Pizzeria in Sevierville, and if you’re looking for a pizza spot that can feed the whole cabin crew without sacrificing quality, this one absolutely deserves a spot on your Smoky Mountain radar.

Papa Leone’s is a family-owned pizzeria serving up authentic New York-style pies just minutes away from Pigeon Forge, Dollywood, and Sevierville. Their whole approach is simple—big appetites deserve big flavor without overcomplicating dinner after a long day exploring the Smokies.

And honestly?

That mission statement checks out.

They make it easy too with family packs designed for cabins and big groups, from a quick family pizza night to enough food to feed a whole reunion. Order online, call it in, or order at the counter and they’re firing everything up fresh to order.

With the rain rolling in—heavy on the sarcasm there—we decided to duck inside and dine in rather than make a run back to the cabin.

The dining area had plenty of seating whether you’re rolling in with a full family, hanging with friends, or just grabbing a solo pie for yourself.

Before the pizza hit the table, we kicked things off with the house-made pizza rolls.

And no… not the basement-dweller frozen variety we all grew up tossing in the microwave.

These were crispy spring roll wrappers stuffed with pepperoni and mozzarella, served alongside marinara.

And we both immediately looked at each other and agreed—they were giving serious vibes of a certain famous spring roll from the most magical place on Earth.

Golden and flaky on the outside.

Loaded with pepperoni.

Mozzarella pulling apart with every bite.

And that marinara tying the whole thing together.

Absolutely solid start.

Then came the main event.

We ordered the 18-inch Papa’s Pepperoni and let’s just say Papa Leone’s wasn’t messing around.
When they say New York-style… they mean New York-style.

The FOLD, that slight grease drip from the pepperoni,
a beautifully seasoned sauce, and a signature cheese blend with an awesome cheese pull. Truthfully, it was everything you want from a proper oversized pepperoni pie.

Every slice had plenty of that zesty pepperoni flavor and enough cheese to make you immediately reach for another piece before finishing the first.

And here’s where I started kicking myself a little.

Because while enjoying that pepperoni masterpiece, I made the mistake of looking back at the menu.

And there it was…

The Sasquatch Pizza.

This bad boy comes with zesty pepperoni, sliced meatballs, italian sausage, mozzarella, shredded parmesan, and smoked provolone.

Pun intended, but it sounds and looks like a full-on smoky mountain of pizza goodness.

And I immediately knew… Yeah! We’re coming back for that.

No hesitation.

No debate.

It’s already on deck for a future Smokies trip.

Papa Leone’s absolutely earned a spot on the Stumbo On The Go “To Go List,” and I’m already counting down until we cross paths with that Sasquatch pizza.

Until next time, big guy 😉

05/30/2026

Next stop on Stumbo On The Go’s Annual Smokies trip brought us to one of Gatlinburg’s best kept little secrets — Alibi at The Coffee Syndicate.

Tucked right off the Gatlinburg strip, this hush-hush spot proudly claims the title of the first legal speakeasy on the strip and after finally stepping inside… we absolutely get the hype.

The experience starts before you even walk through the door.

Starting at 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, just head up to the velvet ropes outside The Coffee Syndicate and an inviting host will greet you, check your ID, and then… casually lead you toward the cooler.

And yes… that cooler.

Don’t panic.

That’s where the magic begins, not where you sleep with the fishes.

Step through to the other side and suddenly it feels like you’ve been dropped straight into another era. The lights are low, the jazz is swinging, and modern songs are transformed into smooth vintage-style classics. The whole room feels like stepping back in time. The only thing missing was a few flappers dancing through the crowd.

The space itself is a vibe.

Behind the bar? Shelves and shelves packed with bourbon and spirits as far as the eye can see. One look at the cocktail menu and you immediately understand why—they absolutely do not mess around when it comes to their liquor selection.

And because they know how to keep things fun, they even have a giant vintage bathtub setup ready for photo ops… with the perfect reminder posted in the rules in the menu. I say you gotta stay classy, not flashy. lol 😉

Naturally we found ourselves a pair of seats at the bar and got to take it all in.

And shoutout to the two behind the bar because “bartender” almost feels too simple here—they were true mixologists. Super knowledgeable, friendly, and honestly? A little intimidating in the best possible way considering how many incredible drinks they can whip up.

After flipping back and forth through the menu several times, I landed on the Clee’s Knees — their speakeasy spin on a Bee’s Knees.

Empress 1908 Indigo Gin, lemon juice, honey syrup, topped with a delicate lemon tuile honeycomb pastry and honey caviar.

It was citrusy, herbal, bright, and boozy in all the right ways. Every sip hit with layers of flavor and absolutely punched us right in the mouth—in the best way possible.

Mel went with the Bartles & Clyde, which may have also won points just for the name alone.

A prohibition-style riff on a wine cooler with sparkling moscato, peach liqueur, white peach simple syrup, frozen peaches, and a strawberry crown, all served in a vintage corked bottle with an iced crystal goblet.

Sweet, Refreshing, Peachy, and Dangerously easy to sip.

Meanwhile behind the bar the mixologists kept slinging beautiful cocktails while everyone around us tapped their feet and drummed along to the jazz.

And honestly?

This place won’t stay a secret for long.

By the time we left we were already recommending it to people we met along the way on our Smokies trip.

It’s really exciting seeing this little stretch off the Gatlinburg strip continue building into such a cool Italian food and drink destination.

And The Alibi?

Forgetta bout it.

…No but seriously—write it down, screenshot it, save it in your notes, tell your travel crew—whatever you’ve gotta do.

Find it near the end of the strip and go enjoy the experience.

We’re happy to officially add The Alibi to the Stumbo On The Go “To Go List.”

Whether you know your bourbons and gin cocktails like a pro or you’re cocktail rookies like us, they’ll gladly help point you in the right direction.

And trust us…

You’re gonna have a great time.