Hey, baby. It's the Fourth of July. And I love this country, in spite of a few ridiculously bad ideas (Prohibition, anyone?). After all, change is part of her Promise. So I figured a selection from 21st Amendment Brewing was in order. What better than Brew Free or Die? Rampaging Abe Lincoln on the label [...]
We just got back from Janine's house and a 2nd of July backyard barbecue, and are now settling in and watching the Giants and Tigers on TV. And I had a Shock Top earlier with my black bean burger, grilled zucchini, corn on the cob, salad, and assorted appetizers, which was a nice little summer [...]
"Ooh, Lucky 13's a blonde now," was my thought as I grabbed this off the shelf at Petaluma Market. Only tonight, as I cracked it open, did I notice the ".alt" Usenet flashback aside, I was confused. "But... She's a blonde," I said. Doesn't ".alt" code dyeblack hair and tattoos? In any case, Lucky 13 [...]
It was a hot one today: 91 degrees according to the bank's digital thermometer downtown. At one point we wandered down to Petaluma Market pretty much as an excuse to enjoy their air conditioning. I grabbed the latest pair of Stone Imperial Russian Stouts (next week?), but wanted an IPA tonight. Then I spotted the [...]
Right now, I'm reading the first-draft manuscript of Bradley P. Beaulieu's The Straits of Galahesh, his sequel to this year's critically-acclaimed Russian-inspired epic fantasy novel, The Winds of Khalakovo. Even in its current rough form, this book's awesome, and I'm really looking forward to giving you the opportunity to read The Straits of Galahesh in [...]
Tonight, about five hundred miles south of me, my buddy Lyell's having a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. I know this because I glanced at Facebook earlier tonite, where Lyell had posted a photo of his own Adult Beverage. Finally, the Internet has revealed its true purpose: knowing what your buddies are drinking!I didn't have a [...]
We're over at Jan and Randy's for veggieburgers and the baseball game. I'm having a New Belgium Lips of Faith Super Cru. Super Cru pours ruby-golden with a full, quickfalling head leaving tendrils of lacing. Crisp pearskin on the nose. Sweet and fruity up front, bright and boozy with a quick Fat Tire bitter along [...]
I've know a few people who ran off to join a sideshow, and I once flirted with learning how to breathe fire, but I've never quite understood the distinction between "circus folk" and "carnies," even though Tod Browning's Freaks and Wim Winders's Wings of Desire are two of my all-time favorite flicks. Which brings me [...]
Jennifer's brother Farb just passed through Petaluma, and we had a great time visiting and attending a Giants game with him and his wife. They left behind a six pack of Deschutes Brewery's Green Lakes Organic Ale. Can't let good beer go to waste...Green Lakes pours a cloudy dark amber with a fluffy off-white head [...]
"Well the blood's in the water, and the shark's gonna come.And we swim in the dark, until our bodies are numb..."--The Mountain Goats, "In the Craters on the Moon"Pours deep brick red, topped with an impressive swell of frothy foam that clings to the glass like sea foam to a jetty. Slow, visible carbonation. Caramel [...]