December 30th, 2008 by sarah
I started celebrating New Years Eve the day before, stopping by Capone’s for a promising lineup of Christmas and Winter Ales. I ordered a four top of Jenlain Noel, Corsendonk Christmas, Summit Porter, and Tsjeeses.
Not a bad selection if I don’t say! The Jenlain Noel has a spicy, slightly bitter citrus zest blended with a dark fruit and roasty flavor. It is a very drinkable beer with the cherry and plum flavors balancing the dryness. The Corsendonk Christmas has a huge malt profile with a molasses sweetness paired to a spice, possibly anise (black licorice like), and ginger. The carbonation can be a little overwhelming initially but does subside. The Summit Porter is a deeply roasted coffee, oatmeal, and chocolate smell and taste. It can be a little acrid, such as burnt coffee, but I am also a Starbucks addict, so I savor a dark coffee.
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December 23rd, 2008 by sarah
My family occupies much of the lower 48, so most holidays involve some travel either in the air or by car, to celebrate with my family. My normal 30 minute workday commute is already long enough to evoke higher blood pressures and the toot of a horn now and again (to draw attention to my one finger wave), so it’s no surprise a longer road trip can cause some stress. I love driving- it’s the other drivers that annoy me. If the roads were perfectly clear and paved with elevation changes and chicanes similar to a nice road course, a 6 hour journey would feel like a jaunt. But having driven through most of the country, I dread some road trips simply because I’ll have to pass through states where driver’s licenses are offered as prizes in Cracker Jack boxes.
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December 22nd, 2008 by sarah
With temps in the single digits, I’m chiseling ice off my windshield like a trekker at the summit of Mount Kilamanjaro. The windchill is so bitterly cold I briefly contemplate peeing on my leg to warm myself up, only to realize it would ice over so quickly I’d just end up with a frozen line of yellow snow congealing my pants to my body. I weigh the pros and cons of getting my car unstuck from this frozen tundra of a driveway. Maybe I should go back into the house, throw on some flannel PJ’s, eat Lucky Charms with a milk stout, and watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Then my one defrosted brain cell reminds me it is the night of my favorite watering hole’s customer appreciation Christmas party. Visions of tulip glasses dancing in my head, I continue scraping until the sheet of ice crashes on the ground like jagged pieces of glass.
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December 18th, 2008 by sarah
With the Patriots, Dolphins, and Jets sharing the top spot in the AFC East, there’s no question some contention exists between the teams, but the bitterness has been brewing for many years. It all started decades ago. >Belichick was Bill Parcell’s protégé in numerous coaching positions (Special Teams, Linebackers, and Defensive Coordinator) when they were both employed by the New York Giants from 1979-1990, save for a one year stint with the Pats in 1980 for Parcells. In 1991, Belichick became head coach of the Cleveland Browns and Parcells stepped down from coaching due to medical reasons, becoming a football commentator for NBC.
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December 15th, 2008 by sarah
My nametag doesn’t occupy a particular barstool at my local bar, but I am a frequent visitor as Imbiber of the IPA, Paramour of the Porter, Savorer of the Schwarzbier, and all the styles in between. My bar tab is under a certain piece of male anatomy had it been tossed into the air, earned after a night of earnest sampling. For my 23rd (again…) birthday, I was greeted by a small gaggle of friends gathered at “My Special Place” for a surprise party.
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