going, Going,GONE, the Rogue's notes

    From the start of June to the end of June.  The rubber has been peeled off.  Summer has come to the 'Shore.

Holidays 66th, 6/5/14

45th Street, 6/19/14

Rt 90 Bridge, 62nd St.  6/25/14

   The colors of Summer.  Fresh fruits and veggies.  Strawberries, 'lopes, watermelon, and grapefruit.  Yeah, Grapefruit!  Two brew hits I've found this summer.  A slammin' double IPA and a smooth Shandy. Starting with The Stochasticity Project, Stone Brewing's answer to the summertime blues.  Grapefruit Slam IPA, 95 IBUs of dry hopped goodness.  The 8.2% alcohol level won't take ya much passed the bomber level.  Notes of lemon citrus and pine, but an intense aroma and taste of grapefruit.  No surprise as this semi-sweet badass concoction is brewed with grapefruit peel.  Plenty of up front caramel maltiness provides balance.  One and a half finger head and excellent lacing  followed a cloudy amber-orange pour.  Rated an A.

"It's not how many, it's how tasty."

-Keegan Fowzer

Cutting the grass the other evening and wanted a smooth refresher that wouldn't knock me out when I was done with the lawn.  Traveler Beer Company's Illusive Traveler Grapefruit Shandy.  This is not a fancy craft beer, but it fills a niche.  Not too fruit juicy, and not too fizzy either. Pours a hazy/pulpy orange with a thin head; very little lace.  Thin feel with a lemon-grapefruit aroma.  Only 7 IBUs so not hoppy dry, but a refreshing grapefruit bitterness.  At 4.4% ABV...have another.  Rated a B.

Happy Dad, notes from the Rogue

Fun, semi-clean knee to thighs before the onshores rode in.  Early AM Castles, 6/15/2014

   Another nice Sunday morning session.  Water now in the upper 60's so I've traded the rubber suit for the 'prene top and trunked it.  Sliced a few both ways this morning. Got on 'em and stayed warm. Awesome start to the AM before my coffee.  Nice way to begin Father's Day... full of stoke.

   Hercules, Great Divide Brewing's double IPA and one of a trio of IPA bombers my son brought in for Dad's Day.  Outta Denver, Herc packs in 85 IBUs of hop muscle for a powerful bitter pine punch. Orange-amber pour with a one and a half finger tan head. A spine of biscuity caramel sweetness with a creamy feel and just a light boozy taste. 'Round a late dinner with my boy, a nice beer to end the day with.  Rated this an A-.

"Stop whining."

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

Sunday Sesh, notes from the Rogue

Love a clean greenie full of stoke.  Castles 39th Street, 6/8/2014

   Following a three week dry spell, I was parched.  So, after getting juiced on some awesome waist high sets Thursday, a Sunday AM promise of clean green focused my efforts to get up early enough to take advantage.  Note here...I am NOT a morning person, (though morning conditions tend to be the calmest and most favorable).

Thirsty Thursday.  Holidays, 66th Street.  6/5/2014

BenJammin, my nephew, showing up promptly at 7am this morning.  Damn it, boy!  Just like a good Navy man. Ready to slice into a few thigh-plus highs. Didn't blame him. Lite ESE winds made for warm, clean conditions... mental note to ditch the full suit for the summer.  Just a stunning morning on the beach at Castles.  Surfed a couple of hours.  Squeezed what we could outta some sweet little walls.  Had waterside seats to a local longboard contest. Perfect conditions, some incredible talent. Finished the morning with a couple of scrapple, egg and cheese sandwiches at Anthony's on 17th.  A Sunday session that fired up the rest of the day!

Eat up!

   Capped off the evening's Happy Hour with a tasty local pale ale from Fin City Brewing.  White Marlin Pale, a somewhat hazy amber pour with about a one finger head, weighs in at 50 IBUs.  Bursting with citrusy hops and notes of bitter orange, the caramel from the three different malts rounded out the crisp finish.  5.6% ABV provided an opportunity for another.  Nice brew.  B+ rating.

"Yes, we only serve cold beer. No, we

don't know when your food will be

ready."             -Bill's Restaurant