We traveled to Chattanooga, TN since it is the closest place to get any of the beer made by Stone Brewery. There is one thing that came out of California that I like, other than fake blonds with fake............nevermind.......... and that is Stone Brewery beer. The Smoked Porter is second on my favorites list of beers. I've sampled a lot of other smoked porters with most tasting like the liquid smoke flavoring you can buy at the grocery, but Stone's is exceptionally well balanced and is great with a wide menu of food choices. A few other beer flavors Stone makes that are currently in the fridge are Arrogant Bastard, Double Bastard (very good and usually one is enough), IPA, IPA Ruination (nice aroma but will make your tounge holla), and of course the Smoked Porter. All are over 6% and can only be purchased in liquor stores in TN but not with regular beer since the government has an old law on the books prohibiting the sale of alcohol content above 5% unless you have a liquor license. And, if you plan to sell both you must have separate buildings where access restricts the purchase of both at one sales point. I still want to try the Alaskan Smoked Porter since it is supposed to be the original, as the story goes: a brewer asked someone that was smoking salmon if he would mind smoking the hops he was to use in his next batch of beer, the guy agreed, and hence we have enjoyed "smoked" porter since then. Only a beer drinker, mountain biker, or combination of the two would come up with something that crazy and make it work.
I'm now deep into my second week of vacation --> that I've really needed to recharge. Unfortunately, I've taken time off the bike as well and have not de-assed the couch as planned to ride every day. It's just easier to sit in front of the TV and veg. Lacking motivation for sure of late, but I've been able to read some of the books and articles necessary for next quarter's classes. There's been a few days with good mileage but mostly just spinning on the trainer for an hour or more after morning coffee.
We went to see No Country for Old Men a few days ago and it was a cool movie. At least I thought so. One I'd like to see again. I'm kinda slow getting things unless I read it once, but this movie was drawn from more than the simple idea of "hey, lets have a psycho hit man snuff people in weird ways while chasing down a satchel of money." It has some biblical associations in the interactions of simple folk who are touched in a collision of fates. The ending is one that will leave you thinking "WTF?! Is that it?!" And, it took me a few hours to finally put the pieces together and have it all make sense. Slow I may be, but I've talked to others who just didn't get it until I explained a few things to them. Then the light came on and they were no longer disappointed in how the movie ended.
Right now the sun is shining, there's no clouds in the sky, and I have the roads all to myself since the world is returning to normal after the holidays. I should be out there spinning away with my iPod blasting "Indifferent to Suffering" by Chimaira, but today I'll chose the trainer instead of the 15-25 mph winds and 29F temperature we currently have as I write this. The high is supposed to be 39'ish and I had enough wind and cold yesterday on the New Year's Day ride blocking the wind for a few stragglers for 14 miles at the end of the ride. "What don't kill ya makes ya stronger...." Uhmmmmm............why risk it today? There's black-eye peas with ham and Smoked Porter in the fridge............what was the number for Jenny Craig again?
2 comments:
I had the number written down, but I think I ate it....
You like one more thing that came out of California. Think about it. I'm sure you'll figure it out! ;)
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