brrrrrrrring on the beer!

In keeping with tradition, I have put this off for as long as possible.

Since then:

* the holiday ale has been bottled (bottle-conditioned) and I have sampled a few, as well as given (probably too many) away. We are going to call it "Reinbeer 2009" or "Reinbeer 2.0", the jury's still out. Leah has been working on the beer label with phenomenal progress. However, I am starting a 2nd batch this weekend that I'm going to have to push. Considering, in visiting a few of the in-laws in the last couple of months, there were still bottles of last years porter that still have not yet been opened, so I'm not too worried about not giving it enough time to mellow. Fermentation was pretty much complete by the 3rd week on batch 1, and I'm thinking I will reduce the spices on batch 2 by a hair. And no, no wort chiller yet, but we have a nice new refridgerator that has ice-making capability so my water-baths should go alot more efficiently.

*I attended Marble Septemberfest (linking to another blogger's experience because, frankly, he blogs way better than I do!!) but missed out on Hopfest. I loved the "From the Wood #2" by Marble at Septemberfest - a bourbon barrel cask-conditioned ale with a knock-your-socks-off ABV ~9% and smooth whiskey like flavor that I immediately c0mpared to Crown Royal. Leah, my better half and consummate Crown Royal afficionado, agreed, and we proceeded to burn our cold hard cash on pints of that for the rest of the afternoon. It is worth noting that subsequent visits to Marble and sampling the "Wood" (I couldn't help snickering when I heard a bonny lass say to one of the bartenders "Gimme the Wood") that it had mellowed significantly since that first sip.

*I had to take Leah out for Indian food, since she had never been and I was hunkerin' for some curry, and discovered this virtually unknown Kenyan (yeah!!! I know!!!) beer Tusker. A light, unfiltered American Adjunct lager, with sweet, floral notes. Sweet on the tongue, with little dryness. Cool, refreshing, a good contrast-pairing for spicy food.

*And I have made the commitment to

1)improve my beer knowledge and join Dukes of Ale - the local homebrewers and tasters organization.

2) Begin studying to become a beer judge .

And 3) plan 2010's brews incorporating some new kit (including a notebook) for an all-grain recipe - given space available in our tiny, yet totally comfy and cute, place.

4) I have visited most of the breweries/brewpubs in the state, but there are still a few outliers I have yet to try - Wellhead in Artesia, and Three Rivers Brewery in Farmington, and Socorro Springs in (wait for it..... wait for it......) Socorro!. I will be posting my reviews in the newly discovered Beer Mapping Project!

made in Voyage!!!

Well, I'm not big on blogging, but I wanted to do this to create some sense of balance with "leah says...."'s blog. Not to give you the impression that I will be presenting some alternative sense of perception of life in contrast to hers.... I'm just expanding on her stuff, at the same time as promoting her blog. Leah is my girlfriend, who I looooooooove dearly, and I PROMISE!!! to make you vomit at times with my gushing over her.

So, we just got back from Taos' Spring Beer Fest held saturday night, March 21st at Taos Ski valley. I was a smidge skeptical because I really couldn't find out prior to the event which breweries were gonna be there... Let me tell ya, I was impressed!! Here's a short list (from what my beer-befuddled mind can muster, my apologies if I forgot anyone) of who was there:

New Mexico Breweries

• Chama River
• Marble
• Blue Corn
• Santa Fe
• Eske's
• Rio Grande

Colorado Breweries

• Left Hand
• Breckenridge
• SKA
• Odell
• Great Divide
• New Belgium

California Breweries

• Stone
• Pyramid

Oregon Breweries

• Full Sail

Montana!!!?!?!?

• Big Sky

Others

• I saw a table that was promoting Guiness and Murphy's, but never visited it...

Some favorites you ask? Well I had never tasted Stone's Porter ( http://www.stonebrew.com/tasting/smoked/index.html) and walked away really impressed with it. Also the Big Sky "Moose Drool", ( http://www.bigskybrew.com/index.aspx/Our_Beers/Moose_Drool )I was uber impressed with - I think I went back 3 times. Also, Session Lager by Full Sail ( http://www.fullsailbrewing.com/session.cfm?CFID=6421463&CFTOKEN=50713031) was really tasty and I DO intend to pick some up for our next dinner on the patio.

Leah was in love with Marble's Apricot Sour, a seasonal they had just released this last week. And I did hear some buzz about a Raspberry, I do remember tasting it, but can't remember who produced it - probably because, I'm sorry, it just wasn't that memorable. Some other Fruit or Vegetable beers that I was fortunate enough to try were a Ginger beer, unfortunately I can't remember the brewery... And Eske's Green chile beer, which WAS spicy, and very interesting - I just can't see myself drinking a whole pint of it - but in the spirit of open-mindedness, when I do visit Eske's I will ask them what type of pub fare they like to pair with it. I was floored though when Leah's mom Linda said she "...really liked that 'bastard' beer up on the second floor". We both LOL'd when we realized she was talking about Stone's Arrogant Bastard ( http://www.arrogantbastard.com/index2.html).

On the way up to Taos on Saturday, Leah, myself and her mother stopped at 2nd St. Brewing ( http://www.secondstreetbrewery.com/ ) in Santa Fe for an early lunch and to sample the fare (er... tranlated "beer'). We did a sampler, which for those of you who don't make breweries very often, is a tray of small samples of a brewery's offerings. We all really liked their Old Pecos Porter and the Cream Stout. I did have their Irish Red with my reuben, which was very drinkable (the beer, not the reuben). I also had to get a t-shirt!!!

We came back a little hung over on Sunday, but had to stop and eat at Michael's Kitchen in Taos. Apparently alot of the locals go there, as well as the tourists, 'cause the place was packed!! and after our late breakfast we made our way home to 'Burque. Despite our condition, Leah and I worked on our patio garden when we got back.

Not bad for a weekend if I do say so myself.... Until our next adventure.