Beer, Baseball, and Tulsa

I spent last week in Tulsa working way too much and not having any fun.
Baseball
I did however take the chance to check out the brand new downtown ballpark for the AA minor league Tulsa Drillers. It was the season opener and inaugural night for the new stadium, and I couldn't get a ticket, so I just wandered around the outside of the ballpark. They were playing the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros AA) and the only player that I recognized was Koby Clemens, son of Roger "Roidman" Clemens.
From outside the fences, one can actually see a good bit of the field and game. I've had worse views of a game inside a stadium. As an added bonus it is only a 5 minute or so walk from my hotel, so I was able to casually stroll over, watch a little baseball, then grab some food from a nearby restaurant.
Beer
In general, the beer selections in Tulsa are a little limited. The best beer bar that I have found is McNellie's in the downtown area. They have a good beer selection from around the world and the US, and they even have Racer 5 on tap. They also carry beer from a local brewery, Marshall Brewing. I tried a couple:

• Atlas IPA - A 6.5% ABV amber IPA that has a good amount of bitterness, though it was lacking in hop flavor and aroma. Just a little more hop flavor and it would rate above-average. I've had this on previous trips and I have fonder memories, so this keg might have been a bit old.


• McNellie's Pub Ale - Malty and smooth drinking, this was much more pleasing than the IPA. It paired nicely with the taco and tamale dinner that I ate that night.

Other than some Shiner Bock and a few free beers at the hotel 'Priority Club' lounge, there was not a whole lot of beer-adventuring to be had. Next visit, I hope to actually sit down in their new baseball stadium and see if Bud/Miller/Coors tastes that same there as in other baseball stadiums around the country.