Key To The Now, from the Rogue's notebook.

"I love the ocean. Anywhere near the ocean will do. Preferably the Atlantic Ocean." -Ben Fogle
Knee scrapers along the 15th Street Jetty break, 2-21-2021.

   I'd surf it. If'n it wasn't so cold. Atlantic ridin' that 39/40 degree line. Air temps were in the upper thirties. Light winds though. This time of year, winds kill. Lack thereof made walkin' the beach and checkin' the waves alluring. OC conditions left me wishin' for warmer climes. Floridays on the horizon. Checking all the So-Flo elements. Board rentals...surprisingly few places. Wave conditions are similar to here. Components- winds, tides, weather fronts, etc. Surf cam checks. Windy lately. Onshore. Small, blown out, choppy. Longboardable. But, it's warm...in the 70s/80s. Key to the now. 

   Speaking of the key...Lauderdale's got a few breweries to check out. Been surfin' the websites. In the interim, another trip to the Farm.

Sin-Brew's IPA has a refreshing balance of malt and hops. Poured a golden amber with more than a finger thick, off-white head. Aromas of citrus and pine, some pineapple. Light taste of signature hop grapefruit, some papaya, and a malt backbone. Drank it there, brought one home in a crowler. 6.8% ABV, so you'd be feelin' that crowler. An estimated 60 IBUs. Rated an A-/B+.

Also on tap at home...another winner from New Glarus Brewing. Fat Squirrel Nut Brown Ale. Tis the season when them squirrels, fat from gorging on nuts in the winter,  start comin'out. Sit on the deck, sippin's this cola-brown brew. Creamy, tan head. Notes of nutty malts and toffee in the nose. Flavors of cocoa, sweet caramel-toffee, and more of the roasted malt nuttiness. Bitter, yet bready finish at 30 IBUs. ABV set at 5.8% made for easy drinkin'. Rated an A-/B+ as well. Good beer. 

Damp Bones, from the Rogue's notebook.

 

Cold and damp. Where's the damn sun? Ice 'n slush covered canal, corner of The Point. 1/31/2021

"Last year I was surfing Boston Harbor and a chunk of ice 

the size of a refrigerator door suddenly rolled outta the 

water and struck the side of my surfboard. I didn't have 

enough time to react, so it cut right through my fiberglass

board and left a two-foot hole."  -Andrew Marsden, NE surfer

   September through December. Change of seasons. Summer to Fall to Winter, all with a celebratory flair. I mean, ya got three holidays in there. Still warm enough (at least into November), to surf without a hood. In many of the years, shortie or rubber top for most of that time. Labor Day- the grillin' send-off of Summer. Halloween's harvest and close of Savings Time. Thanksgiving...the beginning of the Christmas season. Then comes what feels like the longest span of Winter- January and February. March can be a drag, but at least DST returns.

Winter is, in fact, the shortest season. We're in he throes of it.

Taste of Winter.

Water's in the upper 30s (F). That's right, I don't do hoods. Don't surf with the ice flows neither. Daytime seems to hover around the upper 30s, lower 40s. A 50 degree'r thrown in here and there for the pneumonia factor. Nighttime upper 20s to mid-30s. Snow. Rain to wash it away. Wind. More snow. More rain. More wind. The only thing that sticks is the cold dampness to the bones. Permeates everything really. With more clouds than sun, it stays cold and damp. Hard to be active out-of-doors. Can't run outside yet. However, finally back in the gym. One set after the other. Push through. Stoke is 'a comin'.  Vacay time submitted. Headed to warmer waters. Trip to South Florida in the works for next month. Already found several potential board rental shops. Waves not the greatest in the Lauderdale area. Hell, after these bones are heated up even mushies will be welcome.

Our piece of the Right Coast in the throes of
the Short Season. Malibu's, 2/1/2021.

    Snow-day special. A Pennsylvania brewery I ain't heard of before. Levante Brewing Company. South Philly boys. West Chester-ish. Probably Eagles fans. That's ok. No harm. They make damn good beer! The Chief. A Left Coast IPA. Amber-orange pour. Light haze. Big 2+ finger, foamy, off-white head. Smelled of pine and the tell-tale hop grapefruit. Some maltiness in the scent. At 6.7% ABV, it was smooth going down. Juicy flavors of orange, and mango. Peppery spice, and resinous pine followed. Malty backbone to balance. Closed with that big tell-tale, 72 IBU, grapefruity hop finish. Rated an A. 4-pack of tallboys. Had given one to my Brother-In-Law. He concurred. Accuracy valued, essence required. C'mon March!

"No matter what life throws at you,
a cold beer will always help." -Anon.