The Off Season, the Rogue's notes

Rare "Off" curl. Clean, waist-high winter break off Malibu Beach. 7th Street at the OC, 1/26/2020.  -Malibu Pic

  As I write this, I can say I've been contemplating what we mean by offseason. A central Right Coast resort area during the winter. Empty streets. Empty lineups. Can be hair drab. Rain for a few. Sun for a couple. Temps in the 30s-40s. Day or night. Water's near 40F. Couple, three days with decent swell height, usually due to a passing front. More flat days than not. Lookin' on the swellinfo cam this morning there was about knee to thigh clean rollers, probably six or so out for a surf. Felt the pull, but it don't matter to me this time of year. Too cold for my blood. Not into hoods. At this point, every time you gotta duck dive it's like your head's in a vice, regardless. Fugetaboutit. And trying to stay in any kind of shape? Especially without getting outside (I've forced a run on a few cold nights)? Very painful the older I get. Can't help but feel off. My off season.
  There is one elixir that helps from time to time. Beer. Nuthin' better in the Off season than a double IPA. Takes away the chilly edge. One of my absolute favorite local beers, and a robust Double IPA in it's own right, Burley Oak's 100 tops my list. This time around, triple dry hopped with with Australian Vic Secret hops. A milkshake style DIPA that clocked in at 8.5% ABV, and their hopping process reduced the bitterness to 25 IBUs for a very smooth finish. Poured a milky pale orange with a less-than finger thick, white head. Thin lacing, but plenty of effervescence. Big tropical citrus notes in the aroma...pineapple, orange, some breadiness in the background. Tastes had tons more pineapple, orange, and grapefruit. Zesty pine and resin from the hops. Some light malt. Creamy yet dry. Refreshing. Very smooth. Rated an A.

   The resort coast of southern Delaware is replete with bars and restaurants. Obviously, the brewpubs are my attraction. SoDel Concepts outta Rehoboth Beach runs a good chunk of 'em including their own brew house, Thompson Island Brewery. Wife and I met good friends of ours out there to get the run down and gotta say the place was super. The beer was pretty damn good as well.

After doing a tasting, ended up throwing back a couple more pints and leaving with a four-pack of my own. Good Times Double IPA (again with the DIPA). Poured a very hazy, almost milkshake style orange-amber with a heavy, finger and half thick, off-white head. Smelled of grass and pine with a grapefruity-melon punch. 

Taste was heavy in additional grapefruit, melon, and pineapple. Some biscuity malt. Bitter orange and lemon hoppiness (estimated at 50 IBU) in the finish. Not quite as smooth as Burley's 100, but even at 8% ABV I had no problem drinking another. Rated the beer a B/B+, and will definitely return to the brewery!

"I just did an interview where I
was asked whether I drink beer or
whiskey, and I was sad to reveal I'm
 pounding spring water."
-Brad Delson, Linkin Park