Bustin' Out, the Rogue's notes.

We're bustin' out of this serious joint
             It was too square for me, do you get my point.  -Rick James
Ophelia bustin' out, but still making her presence known. 9/25/2023.

     Another Tropical making it's presence known. Been busy. The warm Tropics bustin' out. Throwing storms at us left and right. Lee was last week. Ophelia this week. I'll take it. Maybe they'll move some sand and push that break away from the shore. Water's still 'bout 70...maybe 68, 69. Running that boarder of adding rubber. The counterclockwise turn of Ophelia brought us nor'east winds. Surge with higher than norm tides. Howling winds. And a nefarious swell. She wasn't lettin' nobody surf at the moment. Gave it a day. Or two. Cleaned up. Unless you're at Assateague- still gotta look for that ideal break in the OC.

Slappin' the Right Coast's a$$ as she swings by. Ophelia whippin' up an on-shore frenzy. 9/22/2023.

     Nuthin' like a beer or two that'll calm the inside despite the swirl on the outside. 3rd fall beer of the season. Block House. Part of Iron City Brewing. Pumpkin Ale. Great aromas of cinnamon, all spice, and pumpkin pie. The flavor exhibited similar with nutmeg, and more pumpkin. However, the finish was a bit too sweet. Yeah, for me that's saying something. Trailed off a bit flat as well. At 7% ABV, it was dangerous, and the sweetness would add to the potential headache of a few. Approximately 20 IBU. Not much bitterness on the back end. Poured a bright amber, with an off-white head that dissipated fast. Rated this one a C.

The following brew, though heavier, soothed the stormy soul. Smith Island Oyster Stout. Cape Charles Brewing's answer to calming the turbulent waters dredging up the bottom... maybe loosening a few oysters. An almost black pour with a 2-finger, dense brown head. Aromas of licorice and expresso. Taste included burnt coffee, toffee, and semi-sweet bakers chocolate. Light salinity from the oysters joined the 50 IBUs of hopping. Gave a bitter yet smooth, dry finish. 7.4% ABV kept me to enjoying just one for the moment. Earned a B/B+ grade.

Ophelia's super high tide- to the edge of the docks- made neighbors appear to walk on water.
St Michael's River, Shell Gut Point. 9/23/2023

Michigander High, the Rogue's notes.

"Water is the reason of our birth; it is the healer, the destroyer, and the final consumer." -N. Singhvi
Day One sunset over Lake Michigan. Newcome Beach, South Haven, MI 

     Writing this post, was trying to determine if we were on the East Coast of Lake Michigan - cause it was the east side. Or the West Coast, cause we were facing west. Sun sets in the west. And in SOHA - that would be South Haven. Michigan. Sun was settin' over the Lake. West Coast it was. Destination. Vacation. Beercation. Wedding? Yes. Our daughter was dropping into the wave of commitment. A good man. Will keep her safe throughout the ride. Jazzy stay. Impressive quarters. Iconic Lake Michigan views. Brazen week. Great celebration. Good beer. Of course.

South Haven's own Brewpub.
Place was a dive. Loved it!

South Haven Brewpub.

The first. Put out Kilt Commando.

American Strong Ale. An 8%'er

that'll give you a run for your money.

Deep red pour. Dense, finger thick head.

Roasted malts and caramel in the nose.

Sweet caramel spread on burnt toast in

the flavors. Hopped at 29 IBUs for a

 sharp, bitter bite in the finish. Nice

offset. Rated an A-.

Lake home away from Seaside home.

First Fest Bier of the season.

Drachen Futter...dragon fodder.

 Drink to the peace offering from

Three Blondes Brewing. Poured

an orange-amber. Finger+ fizzy

white head. Grains and grass in

the aromas. Tasted of biscuits and

malt. Dry, but a nice pairing with

chicken on the barbie. 5.9% ABV.

12 IBUs. Rated a B-.

Growing Michigan's SoHa one beer at a time.

Just add water.

        

      

Pride grows- the new Mr. & Mrs. 9/16/2023

Silver Harbor - good beer, great food.

Silver Harbor Brewing's

Shipfaced. Powerful

12.6% Barleywine. Muddy

brown pour with tints of

plum. Thin, beige head.

Smells included sweet

toffee, plums, malts. Flavors

 of molasses, old rum, more

roasted malts. Strong.

Bitter (60 IBUs). Little off

on this one. Struggled

with the aftertaste.  

Rated a B-/C+.

Michigander high...Silver Beach's ankle rollers. St. Joe Lighthouse, St. Joseph, MI 9/18/2023.

Slice Of Calm, the Rogue's session log.

"Don't underestimate the physical workout of SUP boarding. Those who paddle
daily are building muscle and improving balance. Yeah, like that." -J. Huber
Take a breath- post session sunset. Shell Gut Point, 9/5/2023.

     Getting back from work. Pre-sunset time. 6-ish. Checking out the flashes of the river between the waterfront houses on the approach to home. A near windless evening. Warm, mid-eighties. Water was glassy. with only a slight ripple. Upper 70's temps maybe. Opportunities for a paddle are not that difficult to ID. Gotta have more internal motivation. Was time to pull out the "J. Styks." Sliding the board in from my neighbor's step-down. Pushed off and was standing, paddling out towards the east buoy. Swung around and inward towards Moonshell Cove. Skimming along the the back canals. Water slapping against the hull of the board with each slice of the paddle through the calm of the water's surface. Along the west side of Teal Circle, Around the salted cul-de-sac of Moonshell. Out the mouth of the cove. To the east buoy and back to the step down. It was peaceful. But, more ripple would have given more challenge. Just sayin'. Hell, still a great core workout. Still got wet. Love the water.

     Great sunset. Early September. Good timing for the season's first pumpkin brew. Always look forward to this style. Burnish Beer Company's Brew Goblin Pumpkin Ale. Dark amber pour. Thin, off-white head. Fine lacing. Malts, nutmeg, clove, and pumpkin in the nose. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger in the flavors with a strong malt spine. Not as much pumpkin in the taste. 18 IBUs gave a nice hop offset in the finish. Rated a B-/C+. Not the best in style. But at 6.8%, worthy of another... just one more.

     For my Wife's B-Day a week or so ago, did a daytrip down to Virginia's Eastern Shore. Chincoteague Island. She'd never been. Been a while for me. Drove across a long, over-bay bridge into the quiet resort. Offbeat little beach dives and water front cottages would make for a relaxing weekend at some future course. Even had a brewery. Done! Gotta go back.  Black Narrows Brewing. Good lead into the next brew review and a nice post SUP session beer. Salts. Oyster Gose. More of a tartified wheat beer brewed with oysters, oyster yeast, and their brine. Poured a pale, straw yellow, with a less than finger, fizzy, white head that burns away fast. Aromas of grain, wheat, and oyster shells just pulled from the bay. Tasted tart. Refreshing. Flavors of tart wheat and brine. Definitely get the salt of the oysters. More bracing than bitter at a low estimated 10 IBUs. At 4.4% ABV, even a 16 ouncer is worth two or three. B+/A- rating.

 

"Working the water is rarely easy, and never forgiving, and yet... they bring an embodiment of Chincoteague
to the world in a half shell."  -Tom's Cove Aqua Farms & Black Narrows Brewing
Signs of the Watermen, Black Narrows. Chincoteague Island, VA. 8/26/2023

Idalia's Scorn, the Rogue's session log.

Bitter seduction calling- could feel the pull. The rare semi-clean roller in Idalia's Nor'east swirl. 
 48th Street break, 8/31/2023.

     Packed the Explorer. The 7'4" Shell. Rubber top - maybe. Water in the low-70s. Trunkin' it. Drive up to the break on 48th. And there it was. Even though she had reduced from a Cat 4 Hurricane to a tropical storm, Idalia's scorn could still be seen in the empty lineup.The 10th storm of the season Third hurricane. Sloppy, sectioned swell with the occasion siren's point break. Would've listened in my younger days. But... A voice in the back of my head. Or was it just behind me. Sounding vaguely familiar. Almost like... my wife. "Breaking on the beach. No one out. Belly Busters. Tuna tacos and wraps." Another call. More alluring than the break. 2 blocks away. Done! Warming crab soup. Tuna wrap. Local beer.

     Okay. So I didn't follow-up with a lighter beer. Actually got heavier. Go big. Stay home. Baltimore's Pariah Brewing Company. Char. An American Strong Ale. Rye Whiskey burnt barrel-aged brew. 8 years. Big 12.7% hitter. Tons of roasted malts and hops. Notes of cherry, burnt oak, stone fruit, caramel coconut, and heavy rye whiskey-alcohol. Flavors of vanilla, caramel-toffee, and a 60 IBU resinous finish. Tinged with an oaky-whiskey-boozy backbone. Not the best to prop yourself up on. But, plenty enjoyable if you wanna feel the swell of the ocean without gettin' outta your seat. Dark, murky-brown pour, with a thin, beige head. A definite sipper. Very enjoyable. We had an upper sixties night. Felt warmer on this. An "A" rater.

"We don't trust camels, or anything
that can go a week without a drink."

             -Anon.