Pain Relief, notes from the Rogue.

                                                            Calming seas. Sunrise in North OC. 9/10/2015                    -Dispatch photo

   Our trip to the 'Bury and the E-Sho' is coming up next week. Very stoked about getting wet again. Swell has been flat over the past week. Painfully flat. Well, not painfully for me. Actually, conditions like that relieve my pain of not being able to hit it. Hopefully the surf reports as of late will not be a precursor as to what the surf will be next weekend. Can't wait. I mean serious anticipation. Of the entire trip.

   Beer helps with the waiting. Tis the season. Sierra Nevada's Oktoberfest, a marzen full of brewing flavor layers. Pours a clear, deep gold with a finger plus head. Starts with the usual bready malty caramel, maybe a pinch of nutmeg or allspice, then the floral hop finish kicks in and stays for awhile. A bit rad. I like it! Strong fest bier offering at 6.0% alcohol, but the 30 IBUs of hops makes this a real "should try" for the season. Rated a B+.

Goose Island.  Maybe I have a personal twitch against these guys because of the whole "sold out to In-Bev" thing, but their Autumn Red Ale shows they still have the craftiness with 'em. More like an ESB if you ask me, this one pours a ruby-red amber, clear, with a finger plus head as well. Strong malt frontal assault followed with the spicy-pine and citrusy-tangerine of their Amarillo hops...all 65 IBUs of 'em. I had a couple of these from their Fall collection. Stoked that GI still seems to care for the craft. 6.7% ABV. Rated an A-.

"Give me oysters and beer for dinner ev'ry

day of the year and I'll feel fine, I'll feel

fine."     -J.Buffet, Tin Cup Chalice