Trivia, Beer and Hymns and a Red Wine Hangover

Last week was such a fun week. The release of Pequod on Thursday, Trivia and “Red Wine Hangover” on Friday, the Wild West charity event followed by “Montez and the Groove Machine” on Saturday, then, Beer and Hymns on Sunday. Not to mention Mayday’s participation in The Gatsby Party to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. So much going on and so much more planned. Now that the weather is warming up plan to spend some time on the fantastic Mayday deck. I love the view of the courthouse from my spot on the deck.

The performance by “Red Wine Hangover” on Friday was phenomenal. Ozzy did the vocals on their song “Spins” and he killed it! I had so much fun and even had to break down and dance a little on the last song. Hard to resist the urge to move to great music, especially when there is so much energy in the room. I’m pretty sure the crowd was equally as impressed. There was a large turnout that kept the beautiful ladies behind the bar incredibly busy, but they rocked it!!

I met Mr. Dylan Hagewood on Thursday. He was full of fun and very interesting conversation. This dude knew a lot about seed. He sells the seed that grows the barley that is malted to brew the delicious Mayday beer. “He is Genesis and I am Revelation” as Ozzy says.  The interesting people that come here are part of what make my job so much fun.

I always meet cool people at Mayday, like Ashlie and Frank. They are a fascinating, eclectic, hippie couple that are always smiling and fun to hangout with. I had no idea, but Ozzy says they play great bluegrass music. Catch their show on April Fool’s Day at 6:00 at the brewery. Then there is Vanessa and Spencer whom I met on one of the fabulous tours. They were doing an excellent job of adding spice to the tour. Keeping up with Ozzy on a tour can be challenging, but they nailed it. Group participation is always welcome. By the way, I also got to help out Saturday with some of the activities, and.even got to go behind the bar for a few moments…that was definitely a very proud highlight of my day. Haha.

Come out this week and experience all the fabulous activities, music and people at Mayday. The St. Patrick’s Day party on Thursday will be great. Music will start with Irish tunes from Festivus Players at 4:30 then at 6:00 “Tom Mason & The Blue Buccaneers” will having everyone singing like a pirate. There will be  beer specials and delicious Irish fare from the My Roots Food Truck. I expect to see you there and meet some more cool people. And don’t miss out on a tour and a loving hug from Ozzy.

First I have to say a big “thank you” to Lee Rennick for a very sweet story to add to our blog last week. The love is very much what we want you to feel when you experience Mayday. We love every one that enters our doors and want to make sure you know it. It’s engrained in the energy. There are so many lovely stories that tell the wonder of the Mayday experience. I mean “beer, hugs, and rock n’ roll” …does it get better?

While it has been a nice couple of weeks off, it’s time to get back to work. The stories keep coming. Even Trip Advisor is helping. The weekend after Valentine’s Day, Heather and her husband were searching on the internet for places to go near Cookeville and Mayday came up. They made their way to the ‘Boro to celebrate a late Valentine’s Day weekend, and came by Mayday. Heather said she “loved Mayday” and is definitely coming back. Just like that a new fan of Mayday is born! They were lots of fun also and made my job of finding a good story easy. Those are my favorite to share. Thumbs up to Trip Advisor!

I met regulars Scott and Hillary last week who have come to the brewery since the beginning. Scott discovered the brewery through one of the many art shows that happen here. Since his first visit he was hooked, and has been coming a few days a week since. He even introduced the brewery to Hillary, who lives about 45 minutes away. She makes her way to the brewery as often as she can. Despite the distance she loves the atmosphere and enjoys the company of the people.

Since the weather was so beautiful this weekend, who could resist trying to break the Giant Jenga record or playing a friendly game of darts? Just so you know Olivia and I, along with two other fellas, hold the record for the tallest Jenga tower. That had some tense moments.  The entire room, including the band, was completely taken by what was happening. Where else would you find such a community spirit? Definitely a fun bucket list achievement.

Come out this weekend and hangout with us. The killer band “Red Wine Hangover” will be jamming acoustic with us Friday evening. Then Yoga on Saturday at 1:00 in the brewery. $10 gets you an hour of yoga and a pint of beer at the end. Brewery tours are Saturday at 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00. Then Montez and the Groove Makers funk it up at 6pm. The weather is finally warming up to enjoy some beer out on the patio and have the doors open to let in the fresh air. Make it a part of your weekend’s experience and share your story with me. I look forward to seeing your lovely faces.

Celebrating Life at Mayday

I have to admit that most people wouldn’t think of having a memorial for their husband at a micro- brewery. But then, my husband, Jack, and I are known for not always following convention.

Jack didn’t want to do anything upon his death, but there were too many friends and family who needed a chance to say good-bye. So, his family and I discussed having a Life Celebration instead.

 Since he loved a good beer and German food, I threw out having a party at Mayday Brewery. I knew Jack really liked their beer. His family agreed. As one of his visiting fraternity brothers said at the event, “It is so Jack.”

We had our celebration on Saturday 2/20/2016. Ozzy and his staff were great. We shared the tasting room space from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on a Saturday. That allowed us to take over the main sitting area. We played Jack’s favorite music over the sound system, and showed a slide show of his life and loves on the big screen. Local caterer, Jo, from Jo’s Cakes & Catering created a German feast that passed the test of his German-born family. Mayday staff kept the beer flowing.

 The atmosphere was perfect for Jack’s eclectic tastes in music: including classic German oomph, Frank Zappa, A Pirate’s Life from Disney, Shout from Animal House, Parliment, Trisha Yearwood, Village People, Coolio, and the a piece from the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. The laid-back atmosphere was a great way to say good-bye to a man who began every dinner we had out together with the toast, “To life.”

 As she was heading out, a friend told me that when she passed she wanted me to put together the same thing for her. “I mean exactly the same, same food, same location, same beverages, same music. Just pictures of my life.”

 Ozzy, we might be starting a trend here.

Mardi Gras, Boro Art Crawl and Hot Chicken on a Waffle

 Wow! Last week at Mayday was amazing! Huge crowds, great music, way cool art, Hot Chicken Waffle Sliders, and tons of fun! In just the few short months I've been here, I've developed a sense of ownership, a feeling that I want Mayday to do well and succeed. I want everything to look good and be nice and everyone that comes to enjoy themselves. That's part of the attraction to Mayday and I am so excited when I see huge crowds of people come out. This week was an example of how great the experience can be. I am fairly certain many people that came out agreed.

The week started with a Fat Tuesday Mardi Gras celebration. Tim Carroll and Luella treated us with a wonderful show that night. They were so much fun and their old-school rock and roll sound was great. There were several new people and a very nice crowd for a Tuesday.

Friday was the Boro Art Crawl which was huge! Friday night had a packed house of lots of new people. There were all kinds of beautiful art on display, some body painting and very interesting people. My friend Linsey came from Paducah to hangout and check out Mayday and loved it. Everyone had such a good time and was so friendly and happy. The Chocolate Raspberry Stout small batch was delicious also. "Thelma and the Sleaze" rocked it late into the night to benefit “Reclaim Ourselves.”

Saturday began with Yoga in the brewery at 1:00 and was followed by the “Love Bites” Anti-Valentine’s Day Party. It was also a full house and lots of fun decorations. My Roots Food Truck introduced the Hot Chicken Waffle Sliders which were a huge hit! I think they have decided to keep those on the menu for a while (just in case you missed out). “The Secret Commonwealth” put on an excellent show and there was lots of fun playing darts and drinking the amazing Red Hibiscus Sour. 

I had such a good time this week, and loved seeing everyone else having a good time as well. Mayday has so many fun things planned, so get out of the house and come by. More great music and fun is scheduled for this weekend. I will be there both Friday and Saturday so make sure to introduce yourself and tell me your Mayday story.

Terronn - A Mayday Treasure

Enjoying the beautiful snow days? By the way, have you met Terronn? If no, then you are missing out. If yes, then you'll know what I'm expressing here. In the previous two blogs I elude to the community; family feel of the Mayday experience. This time I wanted to focus on Terronn, a Mayday Treasure that embodies all of the those qualities that help make the experience.
Terronn first visited in May of 2014. In the beginning, he started a few scattered visits, but then became more regular as he started to develop friendships with the staff and customers. One day he offered Ozzy his assistance with anything he could do. It didn’t take long for him to receive a text from Ozzy asking him to be the guest pourer on the Saturday tours. The rest is history!! The Mayday Treasure is born.
The motto of Mayday Brewery is "Beer, Hugs, and Rock n' Roll" no one embodies this motto more than Terronn. In fact, Terronn and Ozzy were the welcoming committee that greeted me on my first visit. That was definitely a very memorable impression. A quick visit to check out a new place turned into a 3 hour visit and fabulous conversation with Terronn. His very friendly, open and welcoming demeanor topped that visit as one like no other and ensured my return to Mayday. Now each time I walk in I receive a huge bear hug, a smile, and a sincere "How are you?” from this tall dark and very handsome man. Trust me when I say that doesn't happen just anywhere.
Terronn is super cool and always smiling and happy. His energy is enough to make anyone surrounding him smile and experience something special. In his time at Mayday he continues to see the growth of the community within the brewery. Many more people are on board to volunteer their time to help create a very special place for the city of Murfreesboro. He gives everyone who meets him a wonderful sense of happiness and community spirit. Ask Terronn why he volunteers at Mayday, he’ll tell you, ‘See that guy right there (points at Ozzy)? I love that guy and I love the people that come into Mayday.”

Terronn pours his love into Mayday and on the tour he’ll be pouring delicious beer into your glass. His face lights up when it is time for the show and it would not be the same without his humor and smiles and energy. He thoroughly enjoys volunteering his time and you can feel his love with every glass poured. But I don’t want to give too much away. You just have to be sure to experience for yourself and I think you'll agree. So be sure to come out this Saturday and experience Terronn, The Mayday Treasure, for yourself! Don't forget your hug either. As always, fun times, good music and excellent food to be enjoyed at Mayday.

Wednesday Night - Date Night.

Hello, it Stephanie, Mayday's guest blogger here with another peak into the Mayday Experience. 
Wednesday nights in the 'Boro...where do you go? What do you do? It's hump day, the beginning of the downhill slope towards the weekend. Yes!! So, why not start the descent with some delicious beer and great company? Especially when it's 2-for-1 pints at Mayday. That's what I'm talking about! My recent Wednesday night visit was loads of fun and very interesting. I met even more really cool people and enjoyed some delicious beer and hilarious conversation. Wednesdays really give you the family feel of Mayday. You will meet several of the "regulars" and find plenty of fun conversations and activities. There is nothing like sitting at the bar and cutting up and getting to know the staff and person sitting next to you. I love to talk beer and Kelsey is full of very interesting beer knowledge. Not to mention local homebrewers that will come in and spark up very conversation about their recent brewing experiences. It is so much fun to hear the different things each person learns and shares in their experiences. Really shows how the brewery promotes community relationships.
Which brings me to another very interesting conversation I had with Mike. While  watching a game of darts, I asked the participants what they liked about Mayday and what makes it special. In response, Mike said, "It's the best place to bring your Tender date." Haha....what a killer quote. It took a few moments for me to stop laughing and write that down. Just a perfect example of the fun you will have there. My experience at Mayday has proven that as an accurate statement. It is the perfect place to bring any date. As soon as you walk in the energy of the environment instantly creates a calming, welcoming feel. You can relax and enjoy your date, play some games, listen to good music, and get a good deal on drinks. I say you have a very, very high chance of a successful date.
Speaking of fun dates, or just hanging out with cool people, there are tons of activities at the brewery to help make these times awesome. It is most certainly a very interactive, open and friendly experience. You can enjoy a very entertaining game of darts (a blog dedicated to Darts Etiquette 101 is coming...hilarious stuff), or Giant Jenga. You can pile into the round booth with a group and play one of many board games available. A perfect opportunity to squeeze in next to that date. What a great place to just hangout and chill! Its family. Its home! "The cheers of the 'Boro" as Mike says. I'm sure many other people agree. I definitely do.

If you haven't been on Wednesday night then you should start this week. Like I said 2-for-1 pints, fun people, fun games, fun times!! A great mid week relaxation experience and great way to start looking forward to the weekend. Get you some delicious food, delicious beer, and a stellar experience. Then make plans to come back Saturday for the tour and enjoy some killer music!!!

The Mayday Blog is Born Again

Hello all of you lovely readers. My name is Stephanie and Ozzy has asked me to take over the task of writing the blog for Mayday Brewery. I'll start with a brief introduction of myself. I was born and raised in the beautiful Murfreesboro, then moved to Paducah, KY in 2005. There's not much of anything going on in that tiny city, but that was where my story began. While there I started a cute little family and now have 3 super cool children. I was also introduced to powerlifting and am now a competitive powerlifter. Way cool, right?! Then, I went to my first brewery and instantly fell in love with craft beer. Also in my time there I became quite a foodie and reconnected with my hippie side, spending as much time as possible seeking adventure, exploring nature, appreciating art and developing a unique palette for food and beer. November 2015 I moved back home and this is where my story starts a new chapter.  Murfreesboro has completely changed over the last 10 years, and I have lost contact with many of my old friends. This was leaving me feeling as though I'm the new kid in a new city and trying to find a cool place to hangout. My brother had told me of Mayday so I looked them up and paid them a visit.
When I go to a brewery it is 75% the experience that hooks me, even when it comes to tasting the beer. I walked in at 4:30 on a Thursday with no idea of where I'm going or what to expect (my favorite way to embrace the experience). The first thing I saw was the very interesting entrance and the checkered walk path. Then  I turned the corner and  saw a super rad mural and the curvy checkered path continues. As I'm walking towards the tasting room my mind is just going wild with the brilliant stimuli already observed. I was full of energy and excited to see what was beyond the next door. As soon as I enter the tasting room I am greeted by the beautiful Emily, who knows her beer well (always an excellent quality). The entire space from the entrance, to the brewery, the tasting room and outside space is incredible! Then it's time to taste the beer...AMAZING! I'm sold!
After introductions and conversation Mayday volunteer Terron explains the Saturday tours and  lets me know that I have to check one out. Unfortunately my schedule would not permit me to attend until this past Saturday. WOW, WOW, WOW!!! Up to this point I had only been able to come on a few weekday evenings, and my experience was awesome every time. Everyone at Mayday (from Ozzy the owner to the bartenders, and the customers give off a very welcoming, super cool, chill vibe that anyone would love. I've met really cool people and made some new friends. But, the tour  takes the Mayday experience to a whole new level. It makes this place truly a one of a kind brewery that stands above any of the many breweries I have visited.
 On other brewery tours you walk around and listen to someone give interesting facts about the building, what they do and their brewing process and maybe a little taste of one of the beers. That's it, simple, cool knowledge and you've been in the space they brew their delicious beers. The Mayday tour is a whole new reality you will not find anywhere else. Ozzy is amazing! These tours all about loving the people, and creating an awesome time for them. He is full of life and energy and love and makes sure that you will be also. This tour is phenomenal. Every person has the ability to be an active contributor to this energy. Ozzy brings an element to your brewery experience that can't even be described with words. Just "you have to experience yourself to understand!" On this tour you will get some really cool facts and learn how the brewing process works, but in a way no other brewery does. Not to mention “ample samples” of their four core beers poured by Terron who isn’t shy in adding his wit during the tour. These tours have so much going on it is hard to take it all in on just one tour. So, plan to take more than one. It will be worth every penny and second spent doing so. I met so many people on this tour and discovered that several people had taken the tour several times. That is how rad this is. In fact, before taking this tour I've had multiple conversations with many people I meet through work that told me how crazy these tours are. This weekend I met folks from Hendersonville who brought their visiting relatives down through the snow to take the tour. So, clearly, Mayday Brewery rocks! I've been to breweries (both big and small) and none of them even come close to creating the experience of Mayday. Part of life (the most important part I believe) should be creating fun and happiness and making wonderful memories. What better way than in the presence of an awesome environment and phenomenal company and delicious beer? I'm already planning a gathering there with my friends from Paducah. Mayday has amazing local musicians play on Fridays and Saturdays with quite a variety of different musical styles.  And if you get hungry, My Roots food truck is there serving delicious food everyday that Mayday is open (try the veggie spring rolls...my fav!). Oh...and can't forget yoga in the brewery every other week. .

Mayday is also an excellent place to host a private event. They rent the space after hours for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, showers, reunions, and even memorial services. So, come by and check them out. Support the local businesses and musicians and the community and embrace the uniqueness of Mayday Brewery. I plan to write more of these blogs and would love to include you in them. The community is what helps perpetuate environment of Mayday, so make sure I get to meet you. Here are some fun pictures of recent tours. Come join one of them Saturday at 3:00, 4:00, and 5:00! Super excited to see you out there!