Gone Groove, the Rogue's notes.

Like the fields on '50 ready for harvest, and the advancing Front that would cover the Shore, there is no escaping the Fall.
Thursday's drive East.  10/2/2014

   Toasted corn fields.  Leaves turning colors of amber and gold. Colder nights. Ocean temps dropping.  Sunset coming earlier. Small crap to big drivel. This is what I'm dealin' with now.  Drove the thirty down to the edge Tuesday, with surf reports dealing waisty forecasts.  Not so much.  More like knee...at most.  Slop. A north, northeast slop.  I'd say shit, except on this particular day I needed the Atlantic more to wash away the stress of the work day than to exhilarate.  As always, it met the need.

Knee high stress relievers.  47th Street, 9/30/2014

   On Thursday I did my weekly surf and chow. Conditions were like Tuesday on steroids with a similar chop grown to about chest high and a strong north to south sideshore current that made paddling feel like trying to move on an escalator in the opposite direction. No rip for help.  And, it was all but impossible to hold position.   An unusual storm front brought with it stalwart onshore winds.  Light rains that seemed to turn on and off every 10 minutes or so. An almost effervescent mist hung in the air through most of the session. I was glad I wore my rubber top. On point with my opening line...I feel it. The summer groove is gone.  Autumn is afoot.

A rainbow offered promise, but the Atlantic forced a drifting grind for every ride.  Early sunset forced an early departure (below).  Approximate Holidays, 67th to 65th.  10/2/2014.

  Tres apres brewskis this post around.  Make sense?  Autumn does bring in some nice ones, and Oregon's Rogue Ales & Spirits owns their own farm to grown their own pumpkins and brew up a very nice Pumpkin Ale  At 25 IBUs the hops do a nice job of finishing off the vanilla, cinnamon, ginger and clove.  Pours a brownish orange with a finger and half head.  Rated a B+.

Deschutes Brewery has it's summer ale; "end of summer" ale in this case...Twilight.  More of a Pale here.  35 IBUs provide a very refreshing end of day brew.  And the 5% ABV makes it extremely sessionable.  Pours a bright gold with a two finger head, very good lacing.  Clean finish. Rated Twilight a B.

I had Innis & Gunn's offering Thursday evening  with dinner.  A small brewery out of Edinburgh, Scotland, these guys brew a mean, "light" IPA.  The Toasted Oak IPA is full of piney, citrus aromas, but scaled back at 5.6% ABV.  Brewed in oak barrels, the notes are an earthy toffee and grapefruit.  More of a zestiness than bitterness.  No IBUs listed but I'd say around the 45 to 50 mark.  Pale-gold pour with a thick white head.  Perfect with my wings.  I rated this'un an A-.

"One love.  One heart.  One beer'"

-Bob Marley