Fest-I-Val, notes from the Rogue.

The coming Winter Solstice; sunrise over the St. Martin. The Point, Ocean Pines. 12/20/2017

   The season of Festival is upon us. Prepped the landscape. Literally. Brought in my buddy, Tommy the Eye, to eradicate the weeds. Sacrificed a few perennials. Flycut the decorative grasses. All for winter prep. Put up the lights (thank God Tommy the Eye was there!). Trimmed the house. Daughter and Grandmini joined Tommy and ourselves for grub. The Spirit was full on.

"Scrooge wakes up and starts freaking out because the clock makes it seem like he slept straight through the next day...but, you know, once you start messin' around with ghosts and stuff, the clock is the least of your problems."
                                         -Shmoop, A Christmas Carol, Stave 2 Summary
   Time passes by quickly this time of year. First snow of the year. Christmas lights and Santa (2nd try was a charm) with the Grandchild.

Brother and I "chaperoning" the wives on a mid-month antiquing and shopping spree in Berlin, MD. Finished up the evening with a few brews. Before I knew it the water was nearing the fifty degree mark. The chances of a last surf fading.

As with Scrooge, the clock has been puttin' a nail in the opportunity coffin. What can I say? Call it a crutch for the weak. An excuse that only satisfies me. Regardless, the Season of Christmas, like this year as a whole, has been busy. No worries. We're on the Right Coast. Life is good. Next stop, the Chicago-side Family. Gas up for the Ride! The stoke of Christmas Fest-I-Val only gets better.

Christmas ready at the Atlantic Hotel, Berlin 12/16/2017

   It's Fest-I-Val! Plenty of brews to go 'round. Drink local. Ya see it everywhere and we enjoy ours...Berlin's Burley Oak Brewery. Put out a top of the line Sour Stout this year. Winter Eclipse poured a murky dark brown with a thin off white head. Notes of fruit and malt in the aroma with sour-sweet plum and roasted coffee in the taste. Warming at 6.6% ABV. Tart and bitterly refreshing at 36 IBUs. Rated an A-.

I had rated one of this brewery's beers a few posts ago. Out of Virgina, O'Connor Brewing sliced out a fair Winter Wit. Sweater Weather poured a bright, pale yellow with a fizzy, finger-plus thick, white head. Notes of bananas, bread, and yeast in the aroma. Tastes of citrus and coriander, lightly sweet. Not bad. Not used to this type of beer this time of year. Easy drinking, snow blowing beer. Rated a B/B-.

   Finally (but never the last), Virginia Beer Company's Rob Your Head Imperial Red Ale. A bring-back from Williamsburg, this bad-ass crashed in at a defrosting 8.4% ABV and a whopping 72 IBUs. Brewed for the turn of seasons as the cold starts to set in. Poured a clear, burnt red-amber with a two finger, frothy white head. Aromas of malt and pine with juicy grapefruit. The hop forward resinous pine and citrus shown through in the taste. Call it an imperial red amber ale, a big red IPA...don't matter. This is how I like 'em. To de-ice, I'd take this over salt (but not salt water) any day. Rated an A.

Cheesin' at the OC's Winterfest,
Northside Park, OCMD. 12/9/2017

Stoke Of The Season, notes from the Rogue

Racetrack Marine...ready to take on the high seas of Christmas. Rt. 589, 12/11/2017.

    Travel along Baltimore Avenue, Ocean Highway, or hit the Inlet and you are left with no doubt as to what time of year it is. The OC clearly has the spirit of Ho'okipa rolled out.  Christmas looming. Focus this time of year needs to be on enjoying the reason for the Spirit. Don't let the occasional choppy conditions stress.

The "List" still pretty much unchecked; always manages to take care of itself. Need to pull down those decorations and get the Point ready to be garnished up. This too will happen...with family. The coastal waters continue to hover just above 50F. It is their siren call for one last surf. Want to believe it will still happen. Days getting shorter. Opportunity to surf, fading. In the meantime, as I travel through town on the way to another surf check, I can't help but feel the Stoke of the Season.

   The dark days of Winter. Warmers to shake the on-coming cold of the season.For the most part. Chaos Mountain in Roanoke, Virginia brought in the three set Cocoborealis. Chocolate nibs on top of chocolate cocoa on top of roasted chocolate malts, brewed with hops and oats...a rich, filling Triple Chocolate Stout of a meal that weighed in at 6% ABV. Scents of coffee, plenty of chocolate, and light smoke. Poured an opaque black-brown with a less than finger thick brown head. More chocolate, coffee, and some cherry in the taste where any other flavor got lost. Slightly burnt/bitter, 31 IBU finish. Not bad. Rated a B-.

 Ninkasi has been showin' up quite a bit on my radar as of recent. Their holiday brew, Sleigh'r; a Winter Altbier that I had seen around enough to give the subliminal suggestion to add to my warmer arsonal. Nice chestnut brown pour with a finger-plus, creamy tan head. Aromas of nuts and toffee with a sweet chocolate and malt taste. 60 IBUs gave a refreshing hop tone to what is usually a heavy brew. At 7.2%, this was a heavy warmer to fight off the oncoming winter blahs. Rated a B+.

Heading to North OC. Love them lights Dude...Cheers!

Meli Kalikimaka!