Hallow Shore, from the Rogue's notes.

Sunset on the Assawoman. Mouth of Herring Creek, 10/22/2017.

First time out, near keeper Flounder...just under 17". 

My unimpressive Sea Robin.

   A quick run through the last couple weeks of October. Different water time... Limited it on my surf. However, some flounder fishing in. Incredible day on the bay . Visited a few old haunts during homecoming at my former College. Glory days past. A crazy All Hallows Eve in Berlin Maryland. Quite the spectacle. Granddaughter loved it as did my wife and daughter. Really something to see and already on schedule for next year.

WMC/McDaniel Homecoming, 10/21/2017. 

   Beer. First up. Clipper City Brewing, aka Heavy Seas. Their October seasonal Treasure Fest. Got a sixer of this one. An Oktoberfest Lager coming ashore at 6% ABV (like the pun on the whole heavy seas thing). For the Oktoberfest time of year this one, though not the traditional marzen, was very smooth drinkin' with a nice 35 IBU hop bite in the finish. Put together with German malts and hops plus an added American dry hopping on the tail-end. Pepper and malt in the aromas. Spiced apple and toffee were detected in the flavor. Well balanced without getting crazy. Poured a shimmering amber with a finger plus head. Rated a B+.

Closed out the month with another of Oregon's Ninkasi brews. Aptly named Dawn of the Red. Big red IPA. Poured a hazy burnt orange. Finger thick, off white head. Thin lacing. Notes of malt and some pine in the smell. Drank this brewski when we got back from the whole Berlin TOT (tricks or treats) revelry. Damn! That was one well put together Halloween blowout. Once again, I digress. Really nice pour, but this tasted more like an English IPA. The 77 IBUs did their job in the bitterness department. Not much sweetness from the malts. More resin than citrus. A big beer without big taste. 7% ABV. Not a six repeater. Rated a B-/C+.

The End Is Beer!  -ANS

   The Coolest Small Town in America, Berlin, MD. Host to Tuck Everlasting and The Runaway Bride. Whose borders include the OP.  Keep your porch lights on ifn' you're treatin'. Off, if your out trickin'. This town literally shut down streets, let skeletons out of the closets (and trunks), and stirred up the dead. One of the best Halloween hooha's in the US of A!

                                     

The Point

The search for candy knows no end.
Berlin, MD 10/31/2017

Tale Of Two Weeks, from the Rogue's notes.

"It was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness..." -Charles Dickens
Turning into the wind under the dim of evening; chop 'n slop at 66th and Holidays. 10/11/2017

   Two weeks whose conditions couldn't have been farther apart for this area. This time of year dusk is a blue-grey streak that accelerates with each passing day. Time in the water during the week (post workday) means heading out just a bit earlier than usual. Truly losing the advantage of DST. Week of the 11th. Overcast most of the day. Rainy. Offshore winds whipping in multiple directions. A sloppy mess out in the break. Water still warm. Around 70F. Air about mid-70's with 90+% humidity. Waves jacking up, then losing power with the backwash echo of swell bouncing back from shore. Really had to be quick jumping on these. Set up for a frontside takeoff and suddenly the wave would reverse direction and break left...on my head in some cases. As the sky dimmed (there was no sun) I saw a fast right outta my periph, spun, and managed to snag the curling lip as the wave began to collapse on itself...pretty frontside that I entwined myself around, slashing around the tight wall before finishing off close to shore. This one was a loner. Muscled a couple quickies thru the session, but spent most of my time shuffling up and down the lineup trying to get position. I remember thinking that despite the wind, rough conditions, and pelting rain, this was somewhat of a fun surf. Never really got frustrated as I had other times.

Leftovers after the door has closed. Finishing up in the mush.
Holidays, 10/19/2017. 

   The week of the 19th. Frustrated. Semi- clean. Thigh plus. Breaking right...when they weren't closing out. Power loss as they neared the low tide shorebreak. Water had now dropped into the upper 60's. About 68. Wife had advised to stick with the rubber top. I went with the spring suit. Should have listened to the Wife. Not comfortable in the spring suit. Add the fast fade of the evening sunlight... I just could not get position. Either too far past the break, or too close as the next set jacked in front of me. Did manage a couple tweeners (between a waist and a knee). Missed on quite a few. Late and then dumped on quite a few. Again. That inner kook. Been a rough season getting back in the water. Have loved every second. Not over yet. 

   Two nice beers this time 'round. guaranteed to take the chill off. Harpoon's Flannel Friday. An ode to the autumn cool down. Their 5.7% fall seasonal. Poured a hazy amber with a finger and a half white foam head. Fast dissipating lacing. Aromas of toffee, with light citrus. Tasted of toasted caramel malts that provided a light sweetness the finish. At 35 IBUs, enough bitter pine hops on the back end to crisp this one up good. Not always a Harpoon fan...but I really liked this one. Easy drinkin'. Rated an A.

I had the Gulden Draak (namesake of some gold dragon on top of a belfry) at a tap house after a surf session earlier in the month. Now this one will really take the chill off at 10.5% ABV.  A dark Strong Belgian Triple with a cloudy ruby-brown pour. About a half a finger tan head. The scent of banana, toffee and the all too familiar Belgian yeast. Really hung there with the first taste. Some chocolate covered cherry. Some coffee. Roasted malts. A little spice and clove. More of the Belgian yeast. Somewhat boozy (big surprise). Rounded out with a light 18 IBU hop finish. Brewed by Brouwerij Van Steenberge. Be vewy, vewy, careful... quick with the hammer to the head! Rated a B+.

"There's only one thing I hate
more than lying...Bud Light, which

is water lying about being beer." 

-Ron Swanson

   

Short Work, notes from the Rogue

"We love surfers...for the same reasons we admire excellent soldiers: because despite themselves they

 have bowed to a force much greater than themselves, which in this case is the wave, and submitted

 to the gnarly rigors of its discipline."  -Peter Heller, Kook.

Wading to submission. Holidays, OCMD. 10/5/2017

   Wow. Already October. My mid-week surf time has been in severe decline with harvest time (that rhyme was mine). Conditions have been pumpin'. Sometimes clean sometimes not. Fairly active 'Cane season. I can say, unlike our southern neighbors (prayers to Gulf Shores and vicinities, Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia), we've been fortunate. Taken it a lot on my head this season. Very green still. Rides come, but few. Like my sessions. Part of the problem. Water still warm; 'round 70F. Last week, Maria closeouts. Hard to judge in the dusk. Easier to get rolled. Maybe good that darkness fell fast. Made short work of my surf time. Made short work of me. Nightfall comes fast. November ends the mid-week sesh. Gotta clip the coastline earlier if I'm gonna see to get position much less get any decent rides out of it.

   That time of year to hook up with the Autumnal brews. Like my sessions...getting darker. Over the past weekend the wife and I did our annual pumpkin hunting trip. Quite a few of 'em out there. Missed on a few prime targets, but finally bagged the gourd of choice and some color to help display the prize.

Tiki Punkins? Tiki Punkins! Elmers, a Delmarva classic.

Perfect brew to accompany? Outta Seattle. Elysian Brewing's Punkuccino. 6% ABV is enough to warm ya as you hunt for that prize mount. Poured an opaque brownish-black with light floating sediment..assumed that was the pumpkin. Thick tan-brown fingerish head with sticky brown lacing. The fragrance of coffee is prominent with a pumpkin background. 


Not classified as a porter or a stout, but this is more than an ale...closer to a porter. Plenty of Pumpkin, cinnamon, and espresso in the flavor. Nice clean finish at 20 IBUs. Rated a B+/A-.

   In Chicago last year I did this Octoberfest by New Glarus. Staghorn. Went fairly well with burgers and brats. Pale amber with about a finger white head. Grainy aromas with a hint of spice. Malty, lightly sweet, nutty taste. Some carmel. Even at 6.25% it tasted a hair weak though. Not very intense (15 IBU) on the hop side. Rated a C+.

Spilling a beer is the adult
equivalent of losing a balloon.
                      -Anon.

Happy hunting!

Counterclockwise Swell, notes from the Rogue

The left hook. Northeast spin off Holiday's and 66th. 9/28/2017

   Better session to partake in as of recent. Somewhat decent surf courtesy Hurricane Maria. Not to order though. Shit-ass lefties. Always end up getting thrown around by 'em. When these somebitches come up the coast we get the backside of the counterclockwise spin. Which in effect gives us nor'easter swells. Gives me backsides. Only way to do better is to take more. Only way to get better is to stay wet. Let the water move you.

Tough season. Doin' weekenders soon. Equinox past. Standard time comin'. Weather should remain mild for a tad longer. Humidity high, but then so remain the temps during the day (mid 70s). Coldest at night has been upper fifties. Seems the water cools as the nights cool... still hanging between 69F and 70F. Easy to get out with minimal rubber. Hey! I'm just grateful to get out.

"Exercise is medicine....movement is life."  -John Dadataki

Couple of A listers this time around. Both IPAs...go figure. A newbie brewery for me, Ninkasi Brewing, Eugene, OR. Home of the Ducks. Really smooth taste to this Northwest IPA. Liked the hit of resiny pine and floral citrus with a bit of sweet about it. Even at 81 IBUs, not overly bitter. Poured a deep copper. Light haze. Not quite a two finger head. Even lacing. Scent of orange and grapefruit, even at 6.8%, I'd have me another, and another, and... Gave this an A-rating.

My other big weiner, was Two Hearted Ale by Michigan's Bells Brewery. This IPA poured a nice hazy amber with a lasting two finger head. The 7% ABV was not overwhelming or boozy. Nice balance of mango and grapefruit bitterness (55 IBUs) and lightly sweet malt backbone. I've seen the reviews that call this the #1 beer in America. And, Lord knows they market the hell out of it...the $hit is everywhere. However, while I don't necessarily agree it's the best, it is a damn good beer. A-rating number two.

"Curry. Beer. Chutney tray.
Beer. Rock Music. Craft beer.
Talk to me."  -Terry Tibbs