Brews and Bands for Bart - The Beer Thrillers

Brews and Bands for Bart

BKline — Wed, 11 Aug 2021 22:00:00 +0000

Brews and Bands for Bart

Block Party of the Summer

How do you recognize one of the baddest and coolest party throwers around? By throwing one of the biggest and baddest bashes ever in his honor! Thats just what’s in store this Saturday at Tattered Flag. We’ve discussed Bartley Kaminski here on the blog before, in numerous different ways, but recently with his passing, and with the event here and various events in the distant past.

This event has been planned out for quite a while now, but has really blown up with Bart’s passing. Tons of breweries adding their names to the list, and lots of other additions, and add – ons and groups adding to it and showing up in various ways to help the cause. It looks to be one hell of a bash, and one hell of a way to salute, and remember Bart and to throw one final rad party in his honor and memory.

Bartley Kaminiski

We talked about Bart before here, and talked about his passing previously here: Farewell to Bartley Francis Kaminski. He founded Kollision Media, Hop Hedz Gear, and has been referred to as “The Willy Wonka of Beer Events”. I could go on and on about him here. He was just a great guy, the life of the party without being too much, and everyone who knew him, or even just met him at one event or the other has amazing memories or stories to tell about him. My buddy talks about Bart’s green – suit or green – man appearance at the Atlantic City Brewfest all the time. There was very rarely an event in the Central PA area where you didn’t see a Hop Hedz Gear stand or Bart himself. And I guarantee you there was at least one person walking around in a tee shirt or hoodie that he made.

I can’t do him justice here discussing his amazing life, but we can do him justice by having one heck of a party in his honor.

Brews and Bands for Bart

The final brewery list for Brews and Bands for Bart posted today (Wednesday 8.11.21)

Look at that line-up! And word is there might be more additions to come and stuff, even though this is the “finalized” list. And I’m sure some might have their own little additions or add ons or secret hidden stashes too.

Here is a full list with all of their Untappd links:

Word is also Lancaster Brewing Company, North Country Brewing, and maybe one or two more will be unofficially added. That is one hell of a lineup right there! With breweries from out of state like Tripping Animals (Florida) and much more.

And let us not forget the bands part of this event as well!

The music lineup for Brews and Bands for Bart at Tattered Flag this Saturday (8.14.21)

Also, as posted by Hop Hedz Gear on social media:

In addition to the 40+ breweries that will be attending the fest, we would like to thank our group of vendors who will be a part of the event! Thanks so Whimsical Wonders By Kris, Thicc Bois Glassware, D&S Cigar Lounge, Dutch Country Soft Pretzels, and Feathers Feed and Jerky. Be sure to stop by these booths, as all sales will have a portion of proceeds donated to the cause!

When, Where, How

When is this amazing block party bash? This Saturday, from noon to 4PM. Where is it? At Tattered Flag Brewery on South Union Street in Middletown, Pennsylvania (Dauphin County). How do you get tickets? Check out Hop Hedz Gear, or go here: https://shop.hophedzgear.com/products/brews-and-bands-for-bart

(UPDATE: Tickets have sold out. On the day of, they will have roughly 100 tickets for purchase at the door. This will be the only way to attend the event now.)

Tattered Flag and Breweries of PA Collab

“Hard Pills to Swallow” Tattered Flag and Breweries in PA Collab

Make sure to check out the Breweries in PA tent to find the special Hard Pills to Swallow Tattered Flag collaboration that they made just for the event. It is also available in cans, and you can purchase it through the statewide shipping “Supply Drop” that Tattered Flag offers.

More Information, Facebook Event Page, and Beer Thriller Links

For more information, you can read the event page description here:

“

“As you may know, in late February, Bart Kaminski was diagnosed with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer with Sarcomatoid DIfferentiation. A rare form of cancer that quickly spread to his adrenal gland, lymph nodes and surrounding bone marrow.To support Bart’s growing medical expenses, we are throwing a unique brewfest! It will take place on Saturday, Aug. 14 in the block in front of Tattered Flag Brewery and Still Works in Middletown. The event is $40 (in advance) or $45 the day of the event and that gets you a pint can glass and unlimited samplings. Food will be available for purchase.This event is co-sponsored by The Beer Busters Podcast who will be recording live at the event.We are going to have a fantastic line-up of bands! Noon – 12:45 p.m. – Shannon Bobb acoustic
1:00 – 2:15 p.m. – Colt Wilbur Band
2:30 – 3:45 p.m. – The Martini Bros.Breweries will be announced every few days. Here are the breweries that have already been announced:Artiface Ales & Mead
Big Dog
Boneshire
Breweries Of PA (TF Collab)
Chatty Monks
Dancing Gnome
Englewood
Evergrain
Fahnestock & Baer
Four Score
Funk
Human Robot
Lovedrafts
Levante
Lions Head
Liquid Noise
Mad Chef
Moo Duck
Naked Brewing
Our Town
Pilger Ruh
Pour Man’s
Raney Cellars
REHAB
Root Down
Rotunda
Samuel Adams
Seven Sirens
Shy Bear
St. Boniface
Stickman Brews
Stolen Sun
Tattered Flag
Tripping Animals
Troegs
Wingcraft
Wolf
Workhorse
Yards
Zeroday

Please help us do everything we can to support Bart!

Location: Tattered Flag Brewery
1 S Union Street, Middletown

The Capital Region’s first co-branded and co-located Craft Brewery & Craft Distillery.
@tatteredflagbsw
www.tatteredflagbsw.com“

The Event Page can be visited here: Brews and Bands for Bart Event Page.

Some previous links to articles on The Beer Thrillers where we discuss Bart Kaminski:

Some Tattered Flag related articles:

Thank you everyone for reading! And hopefully see you all out and hope everyone finds it in them to contribute and donate. It really does go to a good cause and will help the family immensely. Cheers all!

-B. Kline

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Hike: Governor Dick Tower Trail (Manheim, Pennsylvania)

BKline — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 00:48:00 +0000

The Tower at Governor Dick Park (Manheim, Pennsylvania)

A Need for Meditation, Solemn Reflection, and Tranquility

There are thousands of reasons to hike. And perhaps one of the biggest reasons is for a sense of alone-ness. A sense of being by one’s self, alone, in the woods, to reflect, to meditate, to be lost in one’s own head. This was my aim today. In the morning we said farewell to Bartley Francis Kaminski, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Palmyra. You can read his obituary here: Bartley Francis Kaminski (1977 – 2021). And you can read my farewell to Bart here on the blog: Farewell to Bartley Kaminski.

I’m not a big fan of funerals (who is?); but they are a necessary ‘part of the process’. Unfortunately in my life, I’ve been to far too many of them. I’ve been pall bearer more than I’ve been a groomsmen. I’ve been to more funerals than I have weddings. I think back to various family members and friends, Mike Drobenak’s, my Great Grandma’s, my Aunt Janet’s, my Grammy’s; last year in February I had two uncles (a Great Uncle on my dad’s side and my mom’s brother in law) both pass away a week apart – and this was before COVID / coronavirus hit.

I grew up with the Hummelstown Cemetery being my backyard (my parent’s backyard connects to it). I walked through it to get to my elementary school every day for school. To say death has been a portion, or thought, or part of my life, might be an understatement. But I also feel like this could be said for so many. Its one of the main leading thoughts for most people. Its one of the driving forces behind all of our decisions. Todd May’s work ‘Death’ is such an extremely good piece of work about death, that is should be read by everyone. Its both philosophical and laymen. Its technical yet beautiful. You can read my book review here on the blog about it: Book Review: Death (Todd May).

So after the conclusion of the ceremony and listening to the bagpipes playing ‘Amazing Grace’ coming to an end, I made my way to my car, and sat for a bit. Needing tranquility, needing to lose myself, I called up my AllTrails app and looked for something close by. I had brought clothes to change into knowing I would need to hike, my hike boots were already in the car, and my current stack of reading books were in the car (my current stack of reading books always travel wherever I go, no matter what).

Governor Dick

I have been to the Tower at Governor Dick easily a dozen or more times in my life. I’ve gone when I was a small child with my parents, I’ve taken my daughters and my ex-wife, I’ve taken my dog Leela, and I’ve gone with Ming. There’s a ton of different routes and paths and trails all leading up to The Tower.

The Tower (Governor Dick Park)

The Tower has gone through some changes over the years, they’ve fully enclosed the top to stop people from rappelling and climbing the walls of the Tower itself as if they were Batman or someone trying to break in or out of a prison. But the climb inside is and has always been the same (to my memory anyway). Claustrophobic, metallic, dusty, dirty, and most likely urine soaked on a platform or too. (Pretty sure that was the case today.)

The view at the top isn’t the most exceptional, but in the Manheim, Mt. Gretna area, its a nice and beautiful view. But its just what I needed for self reflection, meditation, and tranquility. A nice little breeze in the air, a beautiful view, direct sun, and I sat there with my back against the wall, reading, meditating, enjoying the breeze, enjoying the freedom, the sun, the peace, the tranquility, and the aloofness, the alone spirit of it all, letting my thoughts of life, Bart, death, and everything else just wash the stress out of me.

Hiking to The Tower

There is many paths and routes to get to the Tower, and you can start at various spots. Most people now usually start at the Conservancy Building (not 100% of the name of it), but its a lovely little spot where you can go inside (I believe it has re-opened ‘after’ COVID) where kids can go inside and do all manners of activities, as well as get to touch different animal pelts, see pictures, videos, brochures, animal bones, etc, etc, etc.

I took a different route this time. The map from AllTrails shows you the route I was hiking: Governor Dick Tower Trail (map). (Sorry, the screen shot isn’t working due to the way they have the map setup as a changeable feature, it turns it full grey in the screenshot. You can see the route I take when I post my route picture in just a bit.) Usually I can screenshot the AllTrails map, but for some reason, they have it on their website as a changeable piece, and so when you screenshot it, it just turns into a grey block. So, unfortunately, that won’t work for me to screenshot and post here. But from MapMyRun, I do have a copy of my hike, and thats practically the same as the AllTrails one.

Governor Dick Tower Trail

Hike: Governor Dick Tower Trail (Manheim, Pennsylvania)
Location: Governor Dick Park (Route 117 Start Point)
Near: Manheim, Pennsylvania
Length: 2.1 Miles (as per AllTrails)
Elevation Gain: 364 Feet (as per AllTrails) (not counting climbing the Tower)
Route Type: Out and Back
AllTrails Map: Governor Dick Tower Trail (Clarence Schock Park at Governor Dick)
AllTrails Description: Governor Dick Tower Trail is a 2.1 mile out and back trail located near Manheim, Pennsylvania that features a great forest setting. The trail is rated as moderate and is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and nature trips.

Hiking Governor Dick Tower Trail

My MapMyRun map of my hike to Governor Dick Tower and back on the Governor Dick Tower Trail

For this trail to the Tower, you start at a little pull – off along Route 117. Only one other car in the lot which is always nice, lets you know its going to be at least seemingly a relatively empty trail. (My preference anyway.) I arrived around 12:35 – 12:40PM after Bart’s services. Changed and put on my hiking boots and got my backpack loaded up with my books and some waters and Mountain Dews and started on the trail.

And, immediately regretted not having any bugs pray with. The gnats were absolutely… H – O – R – R – I – B – L – E ! Just the absolute worst. Like thick clouds of them the whole way to the Tower. I could swing my hand in front of me, open palm, and I was guaranteed to catch at least three or four of them, and smack another ten to fifteen out of the way. The trail started off as a stone slope upwards towards The Tower. The slope isn’t at too bad of an incline, so its a nice, moderate, relatively easy trail and path up.

Despite the gnats, it didn’t take me very long, maybe 35 minutes at most to reach The Observation Tower. Once there, I climbed up the old metal rungs of the ladder on the upward bound side and made my way to the top. At the top was a couple, sitting, enjoying the view, just holding hands, and I made my way around to the opposite side and sat with my back to the wall of the Tower ladder entrance / exit. I doffed my backpack and pulled out my books. For the next hour or so, I sat here, reading, meditating, thinking of Bart, of life, and of so much more that has been going on with myself, and my family, and just life really in general. In what might possibly have been the craziest years of my entire life – and this is saying something – I just stopped, sat there, read, meditated, and enjoyed the cool breeze at the top of the Tower. The gnats were gone, having left me alone, the sun was hot and shining directly on me, and I felt a very deep, inner sense, full resonating sense, of peace. For once.

Photos from my hike to the Governor Dick Observation Tower

Just before leaving and climbing back down, I saw a hummingbird buzz the cage that domes and surrounds the top of the tower. I tried to get a picture, but he flew away too quickly for me. But I did get to see him, buzzing up against the metal, and saw the beauty in his flapping wings. His energy and speed and quickness so evident. His energy reminded me of Bart. I don’t tend to look for portents and omens and all that, or to see signs and stuff, but getting to see the hummingbird did remind me of Bart, interestingly, after yesterday’s viewing and visit, Cliff Plank (current head brewer for Appalachian Brewing Company in Harrisburg) posted on Facebook how he saw an albino squirrel and it reminded him of Bart.

Another couple came up to the top and took pictures and went back down while I was reading. I think it was a daughter in her 20s or early 30s and her father in his 40s or 50s. They both said ‘hi’ and talked about the beauty of the area around them. They have been doing a different hike in a different Pennsylvania county every week, and this was their hike for the week.

While at the top of the tower, the books I was reading were: ‘Death’ by Todd May (I had finished it weeks ago, and you can read the book review here: Book Review: Death [Todd May], but felt like re-reading some passages in the wake of Bart’s passing), ‘State and Revolution’ by Vladimir Lenin, ‘Six Walks in the Fictional Woods’ by Umberto Eco, and ‘The Bomber Mafia’ by Malcolm Gladwell. (I’ll be posting book reviews for each of these in the future.)

Return Trip to the Car

After climbing back down, I hiked back down the slope, taking a slightly different route (the one actually listed on the AllTrails map, which has you take a slightly more scenic route, rather than fully up the rock slope) on my way back to the car. The gnats were present as soon as I got to the bottom of the Tower, and perhaps in even larger numbers. Made it to my car without incident and took off my hiking boots and then drove home, stopping at my parents, getting to see my little nephew and hanging out with him for a bit before he was picked up by my sister and brother in law.

Reflections, Thoughts, and the End

This was a needed hike. My 2021 has gone horribly awry from where I wanted it to go starting in March. And has not been the year I wanted it to be – at all; to say the least. I haven’t gotten to go to breweries like I wanted, and I haven’t really hiked as much as I wanted, or as I had planned. I’ve felt more isolated this year than in past years – including COVID central 2020. This hike was much needed. It was short, it was one I’ve been to many times, and it was on a day where I needed to reflect, to meditate, and to think. It was a recharging of batteries so to speak. A realignment with all things; instead of the Buddha under the Bodhi tree, I was Ben under the Tower’s cage. Maybe not similar, or an apt analogy, but it is how I spent some of my afternoon; reflecting and thinking, about life, about Bart, about death, about the meaning to things (and the lack thereof). Thought about cancer, about my mom’s cancer battles and the fear of it coming back, of losing my Aunt Janet to cancer, of my Great Grandma’s fight against Alzheimer’s and her loss to it, and so many others that I’ve known throughout my life who passed away to some form of cancer or another.

I think of Albert Camus and his absurdism, of Sartre and his existentialism, Kierkegaard and his thoughts about life and everything. These are the moments people need to make time for more. For reflection, meditation, self thought, to examine one’s own inner thoughts and life, to be a bit more Socratic. And thinking of Bart’s service, and of his life, it made me think about how we all need and should be more like him. Outgoing, cherishing the moments with friends, loved ones, living for the moment, helping others, extolling the virtues of those we are proud of, having fun, doing things out of our comfort zones, living life to its utmost potential. Bart did this, and more.

Farewell Bartley Kaminski

BKline — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:46:02 +0000

Bartley Francis Kaminski

This might be the hardest post I’ve had to make here on the blog. And to be honest, I’m not sure where to even begin really. At times, even as a writer, I find myself at a loss for words, and this is just one of those times. All I can do is express the most sincerest of condolences to all of Bart’s family, his friends, the community, and everyone who has been touched by his life – and that list is stretching into the thousands. He was a truly remarkable man, and we all lost a friend, we all lost somebody who was always there, always a fighter in the corner, always the hype man, always the party in and of himself. We all lost a part of us.

There is going to be a lot of people who could sum up everything about him better than I could, who knew him better, or longer, can do condolences and obituaries and memorandums better than I, but I will try and express my thoughts and feelings, and my perspective and getting to know him.

Firstly, for those unaware, Bartley Francis Kaminski passed away on July 22nd 2021 due to lung cancer. He fought hard, and he fought in the way we all would suspect Bart would fight – tough, hard, with a smile on his face, a joke, a laugh, and antics. He fought the fight millions have before him, and millions have after him, and its a fight that unfortunately no one has ever truly won. In a way, fighting cancer is a straight up fight with death itself, regardless of the cancer, regardless of the severity, its a fight and a struggle to maintain our humanity, and to maintain ourselves in the most adverse setting, in a setting where we already know the outcome ahead of time, and its a fight more to stay ‘us’ and stay ‘consistent’ than it is a true fight to win. Bart did this, he stayed true to himself, he stayed consistent, and he fought the fight of humanity, the outcome was the same as it always will be in the long run, but his fight was no less valiant, no less hard, no less deserving of our respect; in fact it was all the more hard fought, all the more valiant, and all the more deserving of respect, because he fought in his way, consistent, and he fought it as Bart would. Sadly, but thankfully, unhappily, but mercifully, the fight is over.

Hop Headz Gear logo

Bart was born on June 8th, 1977, and passed from lung cancer on July 22nd, 2021. He recently married his girlfriend Nicole. Bart was the founder for Kollision Media as well as Hop Headz Gear. He was the promoter for events far and wide, and was a selfless promoter for many people. Helping people with disabilities, helping people attend brewfests, and setting up brewfests. If you’ve gone to a Kegs and Eggs, or a Bacon and Brews event, Bart was an integral part of setting it up. If you’ve gone to the Mount Hope (Renaissance Faire) brewfest, the Lititz Brewfest, Ffej of July, the Lancaster Brewfest, the AC Brewfest; you’ve seen his tent, and seen him having a blast. My friends still recall him in his ‘green man suit’ at the AC Brewfest and his antics.

Today and yesterday, hundreds of people expressed their condolences, their gratitude, and their love for Bart on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and the myriad of other social medias. I will be posting some here, because they do such a better job than I ever will in expressing the love and gratitude for a man who was such a vital part of the craft beer community in Central PA.

Through these events is how I first met Bart, and I can’t even remember which event was the first one we met at, or exactly how many years ago it’s been now, I wanna say six or seven. It most likely started with buying one of his shirts, and talking beer, and all I know is, that I always looked forward to all of the various events, just to see him, and to cut the shit with him for a bit, to laugh with him, to make jokes with him, to see him smile, to hear him laugh.

I am going to post some of the tributes members of the community have shared about Bart below, with pictures, and then go into the Brews and Bands for Bart event that Tattered Flag is hosting after that. But I will give a quick little rundown for that. On August 14th, 2021, Tattered Flag is hosting an event called ‘Brews and Bands for Bart’ with the money originally going to Bart to help with medical expenses, etc, of his cancer treatment. Now however, unfortunately, that has changed, and the money will instead be going to his family to help pay for costs for Bart. The event will still happen, and will be an amazing memorial to a man beloved by the community.

Memorials and Tributes

Francisco Ramirez of Mad Chef:

Dan Baker and Wayne Baker of Beer Busters Podcast:

You can hear their podcast about the Brews and Bands for Bart event here: Beer Busters Episode 222: Brews and Bands for Bart.

Lisa:

Karl Larson:

David Rotunda:

Tattered Flag Brewery:

Kevin Keller:

This is just a small example of the outpouring of love and gratitude for Bart. And I think they all do an amazing job of showing the sheer amount of love, gratitude, respect, and admiration everyone had for him, in a way I can’t even begin to express. My apologies to anyone who thinks this is inappropriate or if I left anyone off, or if anyone doesn’t want their tribute shown (message me and I will remove it), but as I struggle through this, and struggle for the words and ways to try and express my own gratitude, admiration, and love for Bart, I find using the blog, and writing, and reading everyone else’s tributes and memorials and thoughts on him, is the best way for me to work my way through it all, and hopefully for others as well.

Brews and Bands for Bart

We’ve mentioned this before here on the blog, and on Facebook, but it needs to be mentioned as much as possible. As this is now going to be one hell of a memorial and party in the honor of Bart; and there is no greater way to pay him tribute than to have one hell of a party.

For tickets and more information, please go to Hop Headz Gear, and directly here: Brews and Bands for Bart – Tickets.

Obituary:

You can find an obituary for Bart here: Bartley Francis Kaminski.

Services:

Viewing:
Sunday
July 25, 2021
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Rothermel-Finkenbinder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc.
25 West Pine Street
Palmyra, PA 17078

Mass of Christian Burial Monday
July 26, 2021
11:00 AM
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
300 West Pine Street
Palmyra, Pennsylvania 17078

I want to once again express my most sincere condolences to Bart’s family, Nicole, to all of his friends. I can not express how much he has meant to myself, to this blog even. I remember talking to him about it at an event shortly before starting it, and how much interest he expressed in it, how he said he would read it, and just the hype he brought to anyone’s ideas. If we all just lived life to 1/3rd the fullest that Bart did, this world would be such an amazing place, full of love, happiness, and everyone working together and showing each other such gratitude, appreciation, and interest. The man was a ball of energy that he exuded on everything. I think my favorite quote about him was, “If you were around Bart and not having a good time, you had no one to blame but yourself.” And nothing could be more true.

Hopefully I will get to see you all at Brews and Bands for Bart. In the meantime, make sure to show love for each other, to think about how Bart lived, and fought, and let’s all be a bit more like him. Cheers everyone.

-B. Kline