Slice Of Calm, the Rogue's session log.

"Don't underestimate the physical workout of SUP boarding. Those who paddle
daily are building muscle and improving balance. Yeah, like that." -J. Huber
Take a breath- post session sunset. Shell Gut Point, 9/5/2023.

     Getting back from work. Pre-sunset time. 6-ish. Checking out the flashes of the river between the waterfront houses on the approach to home. A near windless evening. Warm, mid-eighties. Water was glassy. with only a slight ripple. Upper 70's temps maybe. Opportunities for a paddle are not that difficult to ID. Gotta have more internal motivation. Was time to pull out the "J. Styks." Sliding the board in from my neighbor's step-down. Pushed off and was standing, paddling out towards the east buoy. Swung around and inward towards Moonshell Cove. Skimming along the the back canals. Water slapping against the hull of the board with each slice of the paddle through the calm of the water's surface. Along the west side of Teal Circle, Around the salted cul-de-sac of Moonshell. Out the mouth of the cove. To the east buoy and back to the step down. It was peaceful. But, more ripple would have given more challenge. Just sayin'. Hell, still a great core workout. Still got wet. Love the water.

     Great sunset. Early September. Good timing for the season's first pumpkin brew. Always look forward to this style. Burnish Beer Company's Brew Goblin Pumpkin Ale. Dark amber pour. Thin, off-white head. Fine lacing. Malts, nutmeg, clove, and pumpkin in the nose. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger in the flavors with a strong malt spine. Not as much pumpkin in the taste. 18 IBUs gave a nice hop offset in the finish. Rated a B-/C+. Not the best in style. But at 6.8%, worthy of another... just one more.

     For my Wife's B-Day a week or so ago, did a daytrip down to Virginia's Eastern Shore. Chincoteague Island. She'd never been. Been a while for me. Drove across a long, over-bay bridge into the quiet resort. Offbeat little beach dives and water front cottages would make for a relaxing weekend at some future course. Even had a brewery. Done! Gotta go back.  Black Narrows Brewing. Good lead into the next brew review and a nice post SUP session beer. Salts. Oyster Gose. More of a tartified wheat beer brewed with oysters, oyster yeast, and their brine. Poured a pale, straw yellow, with a less than finger, fizzy, white head that burns away fast. Aromas of grain, wheat, and oyster shells just pulled from the bay. Tasted tart. Refreshing. Flavors of tart wheat and brine. Definitely get the salt of the oysters. More bracing than bitter at a low estimated 10 IBUs. At 4.4% ABV, even a 16 ouncer is worth two or three. B+/A- rating.

 

"Working the water is rarely easy, and never forgiving, and yet... they bring an embodiment of Chincoteague
to the world in a half shell."  -Tom's Cove Aqua Farms & Black Narrows Brewing
Signs of the Watermen, Black Narrows. Chincoteague Island, VA. 8/26/2023