Beer Journal #66: Genesis, Rocky Mountain IPA, Red Banshee, Jazz, Grateful Red & More

Grateful Red
Red IPA
Capital Brewery
Middleton, WI

Label info:
5.3% ALC./VOL.
"While the fiery red hue may deceive you of its inherent hoppiness, the play of toasty malt flavors with sharp, resiny hops will bring you to the strangest of places, if you're drinkin' it right."

Nude Beach
Summer Wheat
Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point, WI

Label disclosures:
5.2% ALC BY VOL
Ale with natural flavor added
Brewing excellence since 1857
Point * Well Made  

Goose IPA
Goose Island Beer Co.
Chicago, IL * Baldwinsville, NY * Fort Collins, CO

Label stats:
5.9% ALC/VOL
55 IBU Rating
"Bright citrus aromas * BOLD HOP FINISH
Winner of six Great American Beer Festival Medals. Category: English Style IPA-2012: Gold, 2009: Silver, 2007: Silver, 2004: Silver, 2002: Bronze, 2000: Gold
Hops grown for Goose Island at Elk Mountain Farms
Contains: Wheat
This beer will remain brewery fresh for 180 days after the bottled on date: 13FEB15
Est. 1988" 

Raspberry Ale
Ale with raspberries added
Dark Horse Brewing Company
Marshall, MI

Label offerings:
Alc. 5.0% by Vol.

Jazz
Amber Light Beer
Dixie Brewing Company, Inc.
New Orleans, LA
by
Joseph Huber Brewing Company, Monroe, WI

Label stats:
4.13% ALC./VOL.
"Average analysis: Calories 92, Carbohydrates 2.8G, Protein 0.9G, Fat 0.0G per 12 fl. oz serving
At only 92 calories, this award-winning beer retains the taste and character of full-bodied lager but with a New Orleans touch, making it a truly unique light amber beer.
The century-old Dixie Brewery was almost destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, but restoration is underway. With the help of our friends, we're working hard to re-beer New Orleans and the rest of the country."

Schlafly ESB
Extra Special Bitter
The Saint Louis Brewery, LLC
St. Louis, MO

Label facts:
5.8% ALC./VOL.
30 IBU
"For best flavor, keep refrigerated.
Bottled with love on 11/03/2014.
The combination of malts and hops creates a toasty, fruity flavor. Available seasonally.
Schlafly ESB may have the word 'bitter' in its name, but the key to this style is balance."

Traverse City Cherry Wheat
Malt Beverage Brewed with Cherry Concentrate
Atwater Brewery
Detroit, MI

Label info:
Alc. 4.5% by Vol.
"Brewed in Detroit.
Beer is good. Enjoy responsibly.
Bottled on March 15."

Sharkinator
White IPA
Lost Coast Brewery
Eureka, CA

Label talk:
"India Pale Ale, Beer brewed with Natural flavors.
Our Great White taken to the next level by dry hopping it with Cascade, Crystal, Chinook and Citra hops.
Drink it all, we'll make more."

Blonde Bomber
American Blonde Ale
The Veteran Beer Company
Cold Spring, MN

Label exam results:
ALC. 5.0% BY VOL.
Made in the USA
"Drink responsibly. We do."

Tangerine
Tangerine Wheat Beer
Lost Coast Brewery & Cafe
Eureka, CA

Label info:
Alcohol by volume 5.5%
617 4th Street, Eureka, CA
"Beer with natural flavor added
A crisp citrus beer with a hint of tangerine.

Van de Velde
Belgo-Pale Ale
Ale Syndicate Brewers
Breese, IL

Label talk:
ALC. 6.4% BY VOL.
IBU 26 * OG 1.061* 15 degrees Plato
Best served at 46 F
"We love two things: our city, and good beer. Chicago isn't gentle. It's got audacity, grit, and grace. At Ale Syndicate Brewers, we make craft beer that's distinctly Chicago. We are dedicated to strong flavors, pure ingredients, and the power of coming together around something that we all love.
Van de Velde Belgo-Pale Ale blends the subtly spicy and fruity flavors of Belgian yeast with a smooth, slightly sweet malt character. Add in the bold, bitter profile of American hops and you've got a complex, ambitious but still approachable brew - not unlike the early Belgian-Chicagoans of Logan Square who inspired its name.
Hey Chicagoans, please recycle.
Bottles are good; glasses are better. Enjoy this beer in a 16 oz. US tumbler."

Down 'N Dirty
Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
Tyranena Brewing Company
Lake Mills, WI

The label boasts:
Stout brewed with cocoa nibs
"When the railroad was completed between Madison and Milwaukee in 1882, mucky soils in the glacial swamp near Lake Mills made the tracks most unsteady. A bridge-tender stood guard, 24 hours-a-day, to warn oncoming trains of the danger ahead and caution them to slow their pace. One engineer chose not to heed this warning and the locomotive lost control and tumbled off the bridge into the mud below. The train is said to be forever entombed deep in the muck along the present day Glacial Drumlin trail. We brew Down'n Dirty Chocolate Oatmeal stout thick and black like the glacial muck."

Red Banshee
Red Banshee Ale
The Fort Collins Brewery
Fort Collins, CO

Label stats:
"A striking ruby hue and spicy floral nose punctuate the pleasant sweetness of this brew. Crystal malt coalesces with the earthy flavor of Willamette hops. A hauntingly beautiful combination."

Rocky Mountain IPA
The Fort Collins Brewery
Fort Collins, Co

Label info:
"Massive floral aroma lures you in while hop bitterness and malty sweetness mingle in symmetry. After all, great balance is Key when you are standing on three legs."

Genesis
Dry Hopped Session Ale
Shmaltz Brewing Company
Saratoga Springs, NY

Label stuff:
5.5% Alc. by Vol.
"L'Chaim! To Life!
HE'BREW
The Chosen Beer
Malts: Specialty 2-Row, Munich, CaraMunich 40, Wheat, Dark Crystal
Hops: Warrior, Centennial, Cascade
Dry Hop: Centennial, Cascade, Simcoe
KSA Kosher Certified,
 Rabbi Approved

Creating a Story Based On Three Random Words

I pulled three words out of the blue: dandelions, dump truck and mailman. I rolled them around in my mind and came up with this short creative writing piece.

                                                *******

My mail comes at 2:30 every day, Monday through Saturday. Getting it from the mailbox is one of the highlights of my day. Often, I meet the mailman at the box and we exchange meaningless banter. Somedays, I only wave from my porch.

Do you get the drift? I'm a loner. I'm most comfortable passing my time in solitary confinement at 718 Elm Street. I have plenty to keep me occupied, especially at this time of the year with Spring springing up in expected and unexpected locations. Why, I discovered a tulip plant on the south side of my house that I didn't realize was there. I suspect it's been there for quite some time and I simply forgot about it.

Simply forgot. Dang, there's nothing simplistic about forgetting. I dislike the act. For one thing, it threatens my sense of control and peace of mind. When I catch myself at it, I fear I'm slipping off the "top of things" where I've always prided myself on being. 

Let's sweep the subject of forgetting under the rug to address another matter. I'm being held hostage by a grand assembly of dandelions gathered en masse on all sides of my house. I'm not defenseless. I ransacked my garage and eventually found my handy-dandy dandelion spade. When I mount my counter offense, I'll need a dump truck to haul the mangled corpses away. In a week's time, I'll be crippled by the work and my yard won't look much better, sporting brown divots where the yellow weeds previously grew. 

Excuse me. I hear the mail truck.

Beer Journal #65 : Gnarly Oak Winter Bock, Hayseed, Cane and Ebel, Hop Sun, Sawtooth Ale & More

Gnarly Oak Winter Bock
Monroe Brewing Company
Monroe, WI

Label offerings:
5.5% ALC./VOL.
Premium Beer
"A classic lager made in the traditional German style. It has a malty sweetness, a dark rich color and is lightly hopped. Made with select caramel and black roasted barley and a combination of Columbus, Zeus and Cascade hops.
15 OB, 62.5 RDF, 34 Color and 25 IBU.
Pairs well with rich roasty food like duck or roasted pork shank; also great with cured meats. Serve as a dessert beer with German chocolate cake or a dried fruit tart."

Hayseed
Smuttynose Brewing Company
Hampton, NH

Label stats:
"Come visit our brewery and restaurant at Towle Farm in Hampton, New Hampshire. And check us out online at smuttynose.com for events, releases and great Smerchandise in our e-store. As always, thanks for saying:
Make mine a Smutty!" 

Cane and Ebel
Red Rye Ale
Two Brothers Artisan Brewing
Warrenville, IL

Label info:
ABV 7.0%       IBU 68

"Dry, but with a creamy touch of Thai palm sugar and the spicy tang of rye, all balanced by loads of the wackiest new hops we could lay our hands on. Yep, it's an original. And that's no sin."

Continental Lager
Church Street Brewing Company
Itasca, IL

Label accolades:
ALC. 5.3% BY VOL.      IBU 39
"Righteously Good Beer!
Smooth and drinkable, yet malty and complex, with a noble hop punch, our Continental Lager marries four German malts with three German hop varieties to create our ultimate pilsner. A great beer to kick back with anytime. Enjoy!"

Viven
Porter
Product of Belgium

Label stuff:
7.0% ALC./VOL.
Viven 1999
The art of Belgian brewing
Ale

HopSun
Seasonal Summer Wheat Beer
Southern Tier Brewing Company
Lakewood, NY

Label wisdom:
ALC. 5.1% BY VOL.
"Brewed with 1 variety of hops and 3 types of malts" 

Monarch
White Beer
Two Brothers Artisan Brewing
Warrenville, IL

The label reveals:
ABV 4.5%     IBU 14
"Monarch White Beer celebrates the anniversary of Jim and Jason's first brew. This classic Belgian-style white beer is brewed with unmalted wheat, a touch of oats, and then traditionally spiced with coriander and orange peel for a crisp, refreshing taste and spicy aroma."
Best by: 07/10/15

Sawtooth
Amber Ale
Left Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, CO

Label goods:
ALC. 5.3% BY VOL.
"Brewed on the banks of the mighty St. Vrain. This amber ale is the perfect balance between malt and hops. A great session beer.
Enjoy at: 50 degrees F in a pub glass.
Ingredients: Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, malted wheat, hops and yeast."

Magners Irish Cider
Wm Magner Ltd
Clonmel, Ireland

Label findings:
4.5% alc/vol
Imported
Since 1935
"Created by William Magner in 1935, Magners Original Irish Cider is an authentic premium cider made in Ireland.
A blend of seventeen varieties of apples creates the unique, distinctive and refreshing taste."
Nutrition Facts: Calories 150, Sodium 35mg, Total Carb 14g, Sugars 12g

Maibock
Blonde Bock
Summit Brewing Company
St. Paul, MN

Goodies on the label:
ALC. 6.7% BY VOL.
Ingredients: Water, barley malt, hops & yeast

The number 50340736 is in small print at the top edge of the label. (Probably not intended for my eyes) 

Cranberry Special Ale
Made with Real Wisconsin Cranberry Juice
Sand Creek Brewing Company
Black River Falls, WI

The label doesn't tell me the alcohol content or anything else about this cranberry ale.

Mai Bock
High Gravity Lager
Atwater Brewery
Detroit, MI

Label information:
Alc. 7.5% by Vol.
Bottled in February 2015
"Brewed to welcome the spring season!"

Wrens, Sparrows and Their Houses

I love wrens. My father did too. They're so darn cute and their song is spectacular. I'm thrilled that a pair are building a nest in one of our birdhouses. I bet this wren is thinking, why don't they make these openings wider? But once inside, after the eggs have been laid, I'm sure he's glad it's small. 

Where there's a will, there's a way.

He was so proud of himself, he took time to sing a few refrains from his front porch.

Checking the roof for leaks?

No rest for this fellow. Out he comes to go in search of more nesting materials.

Gusty winds lifted his feathers.

Lo and behold, a few yards away from the wren's house, I saw a male House Sparrow coming and going from this birdhouse that hangs from our Pin Oak tree. 

The expectant mother viewed me with curiosity.

It was a warm day so I spent my lunch break on our screen porch out of the sun. If I hadn't been there, I would have missed all of this activity. 

Baltimore Oriole, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Red-Bellied Woodpecker and Robin

This Baltimore Oriole is holding on to the wire from which the feeder is hanging with his left foot. You can see raindrops coming down.

That's grape jelly he's diving into.

Robins often appear watchful. I feel like I better behave when he's got his eye on me.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks sure like being photographed, posing and smiling without pause.  

Yes, your left side is beautiful as well.

The male House Finch on the left is very curious about what's happening on the other side of the feeder.

Excuse me, sir. You've got something on your lower lip.

This peanut feeder attracted a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

This grosbeak appears to be quite drenched by the ongoing rain.

Today was a fun day to be looking out at the backyard.

Beer Journal #64: Spring Belle Saison, Ol' Reliable, Porter Joe, Yankee Buzzard, Illusive Grapefruit Ale & More

White Hatter
Belgian-Style White Pale Ale
New Holland Brewing
Holland, MI

All the important label info:
"Flavorfully blends the soft malt, fruity esters and delicate spicing of a Belgian White with hoppy citrus notes of an IPA. Pleasant hints of tropical fruit are framed with orange peel, chamomile, coriander and grains of paradise.
Pairings: fish, grilled chicken, hard cheeses."

Illusive Grapefruit Ale
The Traveler Beer Company
Cincinnati, OH

Label facts:
--Ale brewed with lemon peel--
with natural flavors and grapefruit juice added

Conway's Irish Ale
Great Lakes Brewing Company
Cleveland, OH

Label words of wisdom:
6.5% ALC/VOL
"Like the very popular Pa Conway (the owners' grandfather who was a 'meat and potatoes' kind of guy), the toasty flavor of our Irish-style ale makes it a real 'meat and potatoes' kind of beer. Or, environmentally speaking, an 'all natural, locally raised meat and organic potatoes' kind of beer."

GOLD MEDAL WINNER
World Beer Championships

"Named after Patrick Conway, the grandfather of co-owners Pat and Dan Conway and a Cleveland policeman who directed traffic for 25 years near the brewery, our ruby red ale is a medium-bodied beer with a toasty flavor.
In keeping with the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516, this beer is traditionally brewed from all natural ingredients: barley, hops, yeast and water. No chemicals or preservatives are used."

Yankee Buzzard
American I.P.A.
Wisconsin Brewing Company
Verona, WI

Label info:
ALC 7.1% BY VOL       IBU 60
WBC 002

Porter Joe
Coffee Infused Beer
Wisconsin Brewing Company
Verona, WI

Label details about this beer:
ALC 5.2% BY VOL
" Locally roasted coffee is cold-infused into our Brown & Robust Porter for the best of both brews! Java dances with malt, creating an aromatic, flavorful and irresistible beer. Cheers!"

OUR CRAFT. OUR PASSION. YOUR BEER.

WBC #006

Golden Amber Lager
Wisconsin Brewing Company
Verona, WI

Label offerings:
ALC 5.5% BY VOL
WBC #001

Ol' Reliable
Munich Style Laber
Wisconsin Brewing Company
Verona, WI

Label stuff:
ALC 4.8% BY VOL
WBC #008

Chief BlackHawk Porter
Tyranena Brewing Company
Lake Mills, WI

Label words:
"In 1767, a great Sauk leader known as 'Black Sparrow Hawk' was born. Strong beliefs, independent thinking and an unwavering commitment to his family and his people earned him a reputation as a man of integrity and courage. In 832, along with 1,200 of his people, Black Hawk was driven from his ancestral home during a war that bears his name. We celebrate this Sauf leader and his courage with our Chief BlackHawk Porter, the kind of beer that makes you say Ma-ka-tai-she-kia-kiak!"

"Chief BlackHawk Porter is a robust black and sharply bittersweet ale. This style was traditionally the session beer consumed by the porters in London." 

Spring Belle
Saison with Flowers
Boulevard Brewing Company
Kansas City, MO

Label wisdom:
"Spring Belle marries the crisp, spicy flavor of a traditional farmhouse saison, with its citrusy hop notes, to the fresh floral aromas of chamomile, rose petals, and elderflower."
"Boulevard Brewing Co. Since 1989"
"Malt beverage brewed with natural flavors"
"Contains water, barley malt, hops, yeast, and natural flavors."

Challenge #9: Mentally Strong People Don't Resent Other People's Success

Amy Morin instructs us in her book, 13 THINGS MENTALLY STRONG PEOPLE DON'T DO:

"Challenge #9: It takes strength of character to feel genuine joy and excitement for other people's success. Mentally strong people have this ability. They don't become jealous or resentful when others succeed (although they may take close notes on what the individual did well). They are willing to work hard for their own chances at success, without relying on shortcuts."