Do It Again, cuts from the Rogue's notes.

Well I've been thinking 'bout all the places we've surfed and danced and

All the faces we've missed, so let's get back together and do it again. -Beach Boys

Ice, ice, baby... overnight sub-zero temps and an insta-freeze morning. No wake zone.
Delevan Lake, Wisconsin. 12/19/2022

     Yuletide. Time to do it again. Holiday travel. Friends. Family. It's sorta kinda a journey. More like an adventure. Cruisin' west in the brand spankin' new Explorer.

Allegheny duck dive. Tunnel to the West.

Fifteen hour trip to Geneva Grand. Gotta be smooth. Right? Running ahead of schedule. Not so much. Picked a up a sharpie along Chicago 94. Snow flurries, and high speed traffic. Not good conditions to hang out on the shoulder in... add a flat... even less so. Tis the season for Good Samaritans. IDOT plow and service drivers stopped by, whipped out a jack, and within an hour we were back on the road. Lake Geneva, an hour late, and in need of a new tire, our number one hostess and compatriot in all things festive- CB, had the company, spread, and libations to put the distractions of the odyssey behind us and get to it! Arrived on a Saturday night. Did a tire search the next day.

 Nothin' like a new SUV with special "All-terrain's" to extend our stay through the weekend. No worries. Our hostess had us covered. Always does. Gave us more time to enjoy the LG.

Yards Brewing. Long

Jawns Winter Lager. 

6% ABV. 16 IBU. One

of this year's favorites.

Smooth with a hint of

 spice. Rated an A.

Egg Nog cortado at the Avant Cycle Cafe. Drink(several) and greet with Mr. C. at the Geneva Tap House. Lake front dinner at the Getaway. Like I said... all things festive. Christmas on the LG.

Avant...hellooo Cortado!

 

Stayin' in the good graces.

Abbey Dubbel. Belgian

style Trappist from

Flying Fish. Dark fruit,

malt, little sweet. Light

Belgium taste, but solid.

7.2 ABV - not a session 

brew. 9.1 IBU. Rated a B.

Pour your own... a REAL celebration of beer!

Lakeside Christmas stoke.

    Headed to Chi-Town's western suburbia to close out the holidays. Winter storm Elliott swept through with enough wind and snow swirling to create near blizzard conditions and bring temps below zero for a few days before and through Christmas. Seems like we get it like this every other year. No worries. Chicago's Chriskindlmarket. Had an Aurora, IL version! Caught the action just as the colder front moved in.

Chriskindle treasures.

Solemn Oath's Hidden Hand
 Brewing. Certified Foeder Boy.
Oak (Foeder) aged Dunkel.
Chestnut pour. Bready.
Nutty. Malty. Light cocoa.
Fresh. Dry finish. 5.2% ABV.
Decent. Rated a B/B-.

Then hunkered down in 'Oz (Oswego, IL). No wizard. Home of the Irish-Italian In-Laws. Just as hard to keep up with. Regardless. Plenty stoke, food, and alcohol to warm our crowd. Family. Ain't nuthin' like 'em. Ample distance to create a wistful separation, but that is probably a good thing. All just annoying enough to need the space. Can't stand to live without 'em though. Good thing we have the Yule. 

Bartender exceeding...step on up!

Golden haze. White fizzy

head. Piney, grapefruit aroma.

Heavy citrus and pineapple

flavors. Light sweetness with

hints of coconut. Shorts

Brewing Snow Globe.

Not for the faint of heart.

8.1% alcohol.73 IBUs.

A- rating.

Lemont, IL's Pollyanna
Brewing. Keep It Easy. A 
Midwest tropical. Coconut 
Cream Ale. Aromas of grain
and coconut. Carries over into
the taste. Sessionable at 5.1%.
Lightly hopped at 18 IBUs to
provide a smooth finish.
Gave a B rating.
 

                                                                                       

Critics weren't big on this

bold Stout brought in by

War Pigs USA. Thick black

pour with a dense brown

head. Plenty of burnt coffee

and roasted malt. Warming at

 7.2% ABV. Loved the strong 

hop bite (61 IBUs) in the

 finish. Rated a B+/A-.

Dig it!

            

Michigan's Frankenmuth Brewery.

First timer rated from this place.

Christmas Town Ale. Hazy reddish-

brown. Allspice. Cinnamon. Cloves.

6% ABV, but tasted light (danger

Will Robinson!). Some brown sugar.

Caramel malts. Warming. yet crisp.

Dry. Not overly bold finish. Hopped

at 24 IBUs. Nice Christmas brew. 

B Rating.

                                        

After. More stoke. More food and brew. More time. More Family. More Yuletide. Yeah, I know.... too cold for the Atlantic's swell. Gotta get back to the gym. Time to get to it again. 

  

Berlin holiday stoke.

Rippin' 'n Twistin'

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

                     

Sly Fox Brewing's annual
Christmas Ale. Another warmer
at 6.5%. Clear, deep amber pour.
Aromas of spice and nutmeg.
Detected some ginger in the taste.
Toffee and caramel malts. 30 IBUs,
but did not get the the hops so
 much. Little on the watery side.
 But, an okay holiday ale. Felt the
spirit with a C+/B- rating.

"I steer a little, but the reindeer do most of the work." -Santa, Violent Night
Tracks in the December sand. Malibu Beach, 12/28/2022.