Road Trip '06: The Drunken Monkey

While we were driving from Pottsville to Centralia, we ventured through the town of Ashland and noticed a sign for a small bar along the main strip called "the Drunken Monkey". A sign out front proclaimed it was the "home of the Monkey Wrap" which really intrigued us and we vowed to check it out on the way back from visiting the adjacent burning mine town. After Centralia we figured we were ready for anything so on the way back we pulled up to the bar and parked right out front. Inside we were greeted with a suspicious nod from the bartender and several locals enjoying a mid afternoon beer as we ordered Yuengling drafts and proceeded to investigate the premises. There was alot of monkey paraphenalia ranging from stuffed animals to posters, so I assume the owner has some sort of monkey fetish. They did have a Rolling Stones poster on the wall, too. Turns out the delicacy that they are so famously known for, The Monkey Wrap, is actually a deep fried burrito. Go figure. I guess inflation has caught up with this booming metropolis just outside of Pottsville as the price of draft beer had risen dramatically to $1.25. Oddly enough, they had the same selection of pickled eggs and hot pickled bologna that seems to be such a great seller in the local drinking haunts of this region. And what oenophile would not love a place that has ice cold bottles of Boone's Farm wine in their take-out fridge!