Passin' Time, the Rogue's notes.

See me ride out of the sunset, on your color TV screen...   -AC/DC, TNT
Sunset cruise on the St. Martin River, 4/27/2019.

   Atlantic's been creepin' up into the near 50F range. Expectin' the first ride of the year is right around the corner. Lately, just passin' time. St. Michaels the other week. Replenish the rum, wine and beer stocks. Enjoyed the streets, the sunsets, the food with the Wife. And the Rum. Also, took delivery of the jet-boat. Weather and water conditions weren't the best on that first run. Fact is, they haven't been since, but we still got back out on our own. The St. Martin's waters were enough to take it on an evaluation run. Demo all the bells and whistles. Approve the performance. Then just yesterday, our own solitary run. Found it was still rough on the Assawoman, but the river was protected enough to get our time in. Always a good reason to watch weather and conditions on the Shore. With bein' a boat owner, bay and ocean stats are more important than ever. 

St. Michaels Marina, Miles River. 4/2019

   Beer, the perfect supplement to passin' time. Couple local (sorta kinda) compounds to accommodate. Reaver Beach Brewing outta Virginia Beach sailed in with Ghost Ship, a sessionable Pale Ale at 4.5% ABV.  Aromas of pine and pear. Tasted additional mango with the citrusy hop finish. No IBUs listed but probably around the 40 mark. Poured a hazy orange-gold with about a finger and a half, off-white head. Refreshing and poundable. Rated an A-.

"Whoever makes a poor beer, is 

transferred to the dung hill."  

 -Edict of the City of Danzig, 11th Century

Next in line was Eastern Shore Brewing's Situation Critical IPA. 6.5% ABV, 65 IBUs. Proof that St. Michael's only brewery has been moving up in the world. Golden amber pour with rich aromas of grapefruit and grain. Tasted the classic hop pine and citrus combo with light grassy grains in the background. Made this a very good West Style IPA. Rated a B/B+.

Surf Check Shortie, from the Rogue's notebook.

   A surf check shortie, so to speak. Surf has been 'bout waist. Water still in the low to mid-40s. Air temps in the upper 40s. Said it in the past. Mention it again. I don't do hoods. So I wait. Besides, weather has been more overcast or rain than sun recently. Oh, well...April showers as they say.

Rare sun. Holidays lefties, 66th St., the OC. 3/30/2019

   Knob Creek and New Belgium Brewing. Got some brew. Threw it into some whiskey barrels. The result...Oakspire, Bourbon Barrel Ale. Hopin' this would warm when there was no sun. Poured a reddish amber with a finger high off white head. Could smell the bourbon...a lot more than I could taste it. Aromas of light hops (20.0 IBUs) and charred wood. Tasted notes of sweet toffee and vanilla flavors with an oakey, malty base. Lightly bitter finish. As I had mentioned, after a few swigs- not a real strong bourbon feel up front. This one trips ya up as you walk away. Sneaky bastard, this one was. No wonder at 9%. Eventually finished a six and I still wasn't sure about it. Rated a B-.

"Stick with the beer. Let's go and
beat this guy up and come back

and drink some more beer."

-Earnest Hemingway,

To Have And Have Not