Temporary Restoration, the Rogue's notes.

In the Cat's shadow; April A-frames touch down within reach. Roadways...30th Street break. Ocean City, 4/8/2016.

    Been and back. Five nights and days. Me and my Chi-Town Fiance'. Filled with real estate negotiations, contractor deals, Family, Friends, and a cure...the Coast. The lineup was not empty. A few rubber clad souls took advantage of the somewhat clean conditions. Like to say I was tempted, but with the water still around the 47F mark I just say no to the hood and headaches. Couldn't help but stare though. And snap off a round of pics. Beach restoration crews were hard at it getting the dunes repaired and beaches ready for the summer crowds. They do a nice job. Unfortunately it is all only temporary; the mending of the beach and the cure.

"There's something about the beach that feeds your soul, keeps you young, and demands your return."
-Backshore

   Put the house up (for sale). Made fix-it arrangements. Spent time with my daughter and her family. Dinner at my brothers. Night out with my surf buddy, Tom. Time with our neighbors. Went down to the beach. Gotta say, I spent the weeks looking forward to this trip. And when we got there, we were like a whirlwind. So busy. Days were like minutes and it was over in no time. When the house sells, we'll be looking for a place in the OC. Townhouse or condo. We talk about when we might return. Could come back to stay sooner than later if everything aligns; like sweet front-side sets lining up on the horizon. As in perfect surf, it's the timing. For now, we focus. Key to success. And sanity.
   To help provide sanity assistance, this post has three in the lineup. Expected first in the chute was Indiana's Three Floyd's Alpha King. A Pale Ale by name, but an IPA by construct. A big beer with a big hop profile at 68 IBUs. Full of resiny pine and orange-mango-citrus aroma and flavor. Light sweetness of the malt without an overpowering bitterness. Poured a hazy amber-red with an off white finger and a half head. Substantial lacing. Not for the faint of blood at 6.66% ABV. Good shit! Rated an A+.

Flying Dog's "I need to drink in some summer now" brew is Fever Dream, Mango-Habanero IPA. Perfect for this trip, 7% ABV makes it dangerous enough to put one in a dream state if more than enough are consumed. Tempting. Rusty copper pour with a one-finger fluff khaki head. Fair lacing. Sweet malt up front with pineapple citrus in the aroma and hop bitterness. The habaneros stung in the back end, but without being distracting. I rated this one a B+. Wanna bring out the sweat without the humidity? Drink a couple of these.

Lastly, another EVO Craft Brew. They turned their star Caribbean Stout into a Russian Imperial.  Like a servant defected, come back as a comrade master. Almost mutant-like. Rise-Up R.I.S. Pours thick and viscous. An opaque brown tinted black with a brown 2-finger plus head. Thick brown lacing. Lots of organic coffee in this badass beer. Tastes of roast toffee, rich dark chocolate, and strong coffee. Nice hop bitterness (40 IBUs) in the finish to balance the boosiness. I had bought this one during our Snow-Storm trip in January and let it rest until this trip. At 10% ABV, it is better suited for cooler weather (it was in the 30's on a couple of nights). I believe in an ice-cold beer, but it seemed like the more I sipped on this one as it warmed, the more chocolaty it became. Nice. Rate a B+/A-.

"Oh, this beer here is cold,

cold and hop-bitter, no point

in coming up for air, gulp, till

it's all--Ahhhhh!"  -Thomas Pinchon