Find A Way, notes from the Rogue.

"It's a wonderful metaphor, catching a wave, for how you can look at other challenges in
your life."  -Jeff Bridges
Pinching the lip of a semi-clean, knee to thigh-hi right. Holidays 'n 66th, 9/24/2020.

   Equinox. Equal time of light and dark. For my weekly, post-work sessions it means my time in the water grows increasingly shorter. And colder. Not cool. Still trunkin' it, now with a rubber top. Water's zippin' across the top of the 60's. Empty lineup. For some, not worth the effort. For me, the water temps, the conditions, they don't matter. As long as the light of day allows...somehow, at least one day during the work week, I make the point to find a way.

   Also find a way to seek out unique brews. Started with a locally brewed Coconut Golden Ale...South To Somewhere courtesy of Lewes, DE's Crooked Hammock Brewery. Poured a clear amber with about a finger-thick, dense, beige head. The aroma of coconut was what hit first, followed by scents of orange and mango. The taste was malt forward, bready. The coconut flavors tended to fade, but the tropical fruit tones remained along with an peppery, lightly bitter (18 IBUs) hop finish. At 4.9% ABV, a nice post surf brew. The can typified Crooked Hammock's beach graphics. Gave it a B rating.

A brewery of big beers new on my radar- Elder Pine Brewing & Blending originated in the Baltimore suburb of Gaithersburg, MD. Nordic Brume was a double dry-hopped IPA featuring Kveik, a Nordic strain of yeast that gave rise to a brew that burst with notes of pineapple, juicy orange, lime, and papaya. The dry-hop process exploded the tangy grapefruit presence that had the IBUs soaring into the 70s minimum. Each sip had a silky feel due to brewing with wheat and oats. This "fit for a Viking" brew clocked in at 7% ABV, so more than a couple would knock a few of those Norse ships off course. The can featured a Drakkar Longship as if it were just arriving in the new world (yep, my interpretation). Nice. Like the big beers. Rated an A.

"Party like a 

Viking, err...

maybe not."

-C.Kinnee

Lost Time, notes from the Rogue.

Fire in the sky, early AM Pre-Paulette sunrise, St. Martin River. 9/10/2020.

   Family medical concerns, work, weather. Some time on the Bay. No time on the Ocean. Almost a month since my last surf. Knowing life's priorities is s necessity. Still... it is lost time. I feel it. The water has hovered in the lower 70's, but with September deepening that will soon change as well. Hurricane Paulette made here way across Bermuda and off to the north of us, giving a couple choice days of swell recently. Clean, head high. Then waist high. Then gone. Yep, missed it. 

   During this time, did find a new brewery near by! First pumpkin beer of the second season- known for pumpkins, marzens, and like the upcoming weather changes, all things heavier and darker. Sinepuxent Brewing on Stephen Decatur Highway about midway to Assateague Island. Owned by a good friend, Mr. C., I knew of the upcoming brewery, but did not realize they were brewing yet. Situated on Sinepuxent Farm known for it's organic produce. Wife and I actually stopped by for an acai bowl at Pablos, situated on the same farm (a lot goin' on). Upon walking up to order, the "Beer Available" naturally caught my eye. Then a display can exploded and caught my shirt and shorts. Promptly our friend got me a replacement shirt to help advertise his establishment, and a draft to boot!

Turns out the weekend was a "soft opening." Naturally, we left with an acai bowl, two crowlers and a promise to return. Sin Brew's Pumpkin Spice Ale weighed in at 6.3% ABV with an estimated 30 IBUs. Poured a medium dark amber with a finger or so beige head.

Sinepuxent Brewing,
9/12/2020.

Fragrant smell of pumpkin, nutmeg, and allspice. Goin' down, a light taste of fresh pumpkins, with a little cinnamon and nutmeg. As they have been working with Evolution Craft Brewing on their first batches I was surprised that this did not have an overly hoppy bitterness yet it produced a smooth, fresh finish. As the seasonal first, I rated it a B+. 

"I'll arm wrestle you for

that last beer!" 

-On The Water Mgmt.

On the water is always better...leaving the Verrazano in the rear
view. Sinepuxent Bay, 9/13/2020.