Little More Time, from the Rogue's notebook.

Straining to keep it semi-clean... small, knee-slapper swell. 14th Street Rocks, 4/18/2021. 

           

         Couple weeks back from Florida. Still waiting for the OC's section of the Atlantic to warm over 50F. Been hovering in the upper 40's. Hasn't helped that the evenings' air temps have been in the lower to mid 40's. Early morning ride to work. 7AM. Malibu's Surf Report on local Ocean 98.1FM. Daily tracking of the temps of Ocean Blue. Skirted just above the 50's before dropping back down due to a cold front. Didn't improve the conditions either. Knee high or less. Semi-clean to junky. Weekend. Mid-month. Walked the dog. Checked the surf. Can't be in it? At least be by it. Need a little more time.

   Little more beer whilst I wait. Started with a Japanese import. No, not Nissan. Hitachino Nest Beer brought to the US by Kiuchi Brewery. Located in Tokyo Station, Tokyo. Their Espresso Stout brought on a deep, mahogany pour with a 2-finger, light brown head. Dark chocolate, strong coffee, and caramel in the nose. Light espresso, mocha, and roasted malts in the flavors. Aftertastes of caramel and roasted bitter coffee. Very smooth and light making the 7% ABV a dangerous afterthought. 36 IBUs added to the bitter end. Nice all-around stout. B+/A- rating. 

   Got the next beer earlier in the year. A send-off to the pandemic. Ale Asylum's Fvck Covid 2.0. Outta the Cheese-Head state of Wisconsin. A New England Hazy Pale. Basic at 5% ABV, and an estimated 40 IBUs. Poured a cloudy yellow-orange, with a fizziness of a finger-plus, white head. Thin lacing. Hoppy, malty aromas with scents of orange and grapefruit. Tasted like an English Pale, with the bitterness in the front. Finished with guava and citrus on the back. Good, not great. Rated a B-.

Turn on the good times,

Turn off the TV,

Yeah, the only BS I need

is Beers and Sunshine.

-Darius Rucker

Sunshine Bender- Floridays Pt. 2, from the Rogue's notebook.

There's something about this 'Monday, it's a most peculiar gray.
Strolling down the avenue that's known as A1A. -Jimmy B.
Cruisin' the crowds, bars, shops, and beach of our peace of A1A. Ft. Lauderdale oceanfront, 3/22/2021.

   When it came to doing a South Florida bender, we got lucky and did it right. Sunshine every single day. When the Atlantic gives you dumping waves- bodysurf. Or bask in the sun. With a cold beer. Or tropical drink. Eat local. Drink local. We did. Every day...to the last. 

   Coconuts. Walking distance from the Towers. South Florida's seafood and views of intercoastal at their hottest. Badass tarpon included. The first, the last, the best.

Mojitos on the water - check!

Coconuts -dining on Ft. Lauderdale's intercoastal.
Be Nice at it's best, 3/21/2021.

Stone Crab...check! Became our staple.

First local bottle spotted. Miami's

Veza Sur Brewing. Spanglish Latin

Lager. Light tropical aroma. Smooth

first swig. Crisp, refreshingly bitter hops

in the finish. 18.0 IBUs, 4.2% ABV.

Excellent warm weather brew.

Rated a B.

Not too tart, not too sweet...
Key Lime Pie, my, my my!

Next day, a visit to the "ritzy" Burlock Coast, a Prohibition Era themed restaurant with a stoked ocean view. Hooked us on Mai Tai's. Reeled us in with their grilled octopus, and seared catch of the day - Mahi and Salmon. Took advantage of the combo. 

"If you can't get to paradise, I'll bring
it to you." - Don the Beachcomber
The Mai Tai

Bottle speaks for itself.

Funky Buddha Floridian.

A sweet Heff. 5.2% ABV.

12.0 IBU Cloudy straw yellow.

Finger-plus white head. Mild

hops, light banana and citrus.

Popular with the locals. ads every-

where. Smooth, fresh. Rated a B.

Early A1A waveforms. The Towers, 3/23/2021.

More native tickets to collect. Cubano style. Early morning sunrise followed up with 925 Nuevos Cubanos. Served up the famous cuban coffee (got two...needed two), Pastelitos (quava and cheese pastries) for breakfast, and a South Florida El Cubano sandwich. Good stuff.

 

Cafe Cubano. Much needed AM start.

El Cubano.

Teal, blue-green body surf day.

     In Hollywood, Florida, another must visit saloon. Literally one TV at the bar. Rickety boardwalk with tables facing a flock of sailboats at rest on the intercoastal. A senior birthday party on a couple of docked boats. Known for their fat-ass burgers. Le Tub.

Surf 'n Turf on the Right Coast's
Redneck Riviera. Mahi and an Burger.

Nosh with a view...what we came to Florida for, 3/23/2021.

DUDE!...Add another horse to that chariot! Intercoastal and Las Olas Marina, 3/24/2021.

   Day 5. Neighborhood watch...by bike. Nuthin' like being nosey around the local money pits. From big boats to big homes surrounded by big palms and big condos. Ocean on one side. Intercoastal on the other. Lotta Stoke on these streets. Finished up at Lauderdale's oldest house on the beach.

Casablanca Cafe', seafood with a Mediterranean twist. Chill atmosphere. At the bar- a lineup of drinks to match the well known Florida Grouper-blackened, and a rockin' Blue Crab Crusted Mahi-Mahi. 

Groovin' cafe', 3/24/2023.

Hollywood Brewing's Mango IPA.

Dank and tropical. Copper pour with

a 2-finger, off-white head. Mango,

and grapefruit up front, with a malt

backbone. Bittersweet in the finish

6.2% ABV, 55 IBUs. Nice India Pale.

Fit the trip. Rated an A.

Mahi 'n Grouper...the bender continued.

Kelly's Landing - more Stone Crab.

Sign says it. Past it everyday. Waited
until the end. Best? no. View, yeah,
absolutely. Con Murphy's Irish Grill
on the beach, 3/26/2021.

Lobsta' Mac...bowl of stoke!

   Day before the last...Kelly's Landing. New England style seafood PLUS more Stone Crab. Of course. Finished our week at our local Irish pub. Con Murphy's. Located in the Towers. Musta past this everyday. Nothin' fancy. Had us a Reuben, and Lobster Mac 'n Cheese. Few brews and frozen libations of course. What an incredible bender of a trip. Beach, pool, food, drink, sun, fun. Stoke- off the chain! Couldn't ask for better. Even made a parting stop at Coconuts for handful of Stone Crab claws before our flight out. Back to the Eastern Sho'. Gotta wait for the OC portion of the Atlantic to get up past 50F. Until then, thinkin' about Florida's aquamarine. 

Father Francisco Belgian Golden

Ale. 8.6% ABV, 30 IBUs. Wynwood

Brewing out of Miami named this

after a priest that set up a Miami 

River mission. Golden amber pour.

'Bout a finger thick head. Had that

Belgian yeast tastebthat I'm liking

more and more. Sweet, some orange,

some grain. Light hop finish. Dean,

our waiter, recommended. 

Dangerously smooth. Rated a B+/A-.

Everybody knows... a little place like Kokomo,

Now if  you want to go and get away from it all,

Go down to Kokomo  -Beach Boys

Hangin' loose with Maui Nix.