OSV Surf Check, the Rogue's notes.

Folding close to shore; rippled greenie read to pop. North Beach, AI. 2/4/2024

      This time of year I get to the beach maybe once a month. Maybe. Air's cold... high 30s/low 40s. Ocean's cold... low 40s. Don't matter what the swell looks like, it ain't happenin'. But. Wildlife au naturale- always worth a gander. And if I can get a surf check in? Win, win. Weekend afternoon trek to the MD side of Assateague Island. Surf was sloppy. Maybe waist plus, but it was sectioned chop with few hard sought opportunities. All the way up to the OSV border. Plenty else to see. Ponies were out. Wild turkeys stoppin' traffic. Sun. Sand. Dunes. Time to get wet is a bit far off. Still love the beach.

On the watch.

     Thinkin' these post posts need to be more water centric, you know? Off season hits, and I tend to focus on the beer. Not that I'm swearin' off beer. No no. But, like drinking 'em, more than two a post becomes a tad bloated. Just sayin'. A New Year's resolution, stick to two per. Onward- Goin' through the cold weather beers. I mean, it's still winter, right? Alaskan Brewing is easier to find in the Mid-west. Closer to Alaska. 2013 Vintage Smoked Porter. Man! Where's the bar-b-que when you need it! Perfect pairing. 6.5% ABV gave a warming touch to the evening. Pitch black pouring with about a finger thick, beige head. Notes of smokey molasses, leather, and mocha in the nose. Flavors of coffee, semi-sweet dark chocolate, more smoke in the malts, and a hint of cherry. Bitterness from the cocoa/coffee, and 45 IBUs worth of hops to close. Liked the finish. Smokiness was fairly strong. Like I said, needed that BBQ to offset. Yet, a solid bomber. Rated a B.

    Schell Brothers... a sorta East Coastal construction company with my kind of PR initiatives. Tipsy Blokes Beer Company collabs with local brewers to come up with a set of brews that not only reels in potential home buyers, but also beer enthusiasts (add 'em to the call list) as well. Frank and the Brit. An English style IPA brewed in partnership with Rehoboth's Revelation Craft Brewing. Strong hop notes up front as advertised by the 60 IBIs. Piney. Resinous. Dry. Light sweetness from the malts that were present as well. Aromas of melon. Light citrus. Caramel malts. Poured an amber-gold with a 2-finger, off-white head. Not a stand-out, but relaxing. Decent IPA. Rated a B-.

"Beer: the silent therapist."
-Anonymous