Beers #218-242: October & November

More of the 2013 backlog ...

#218/365: Allagash Black:
From bottle. Rich roasted malt aroma with licorice and coffee, bitter chocolate. Some Belgian-like esters and a hint of lactose. Dark brown-black clear with thin tan head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Starts with carbonic bite, rich roasted barley and licorice. Mild bitter chocolate and coffee with bitter-sweet finish. Fizzy carbonic after with nutty sweetness.  Foreign Stout  68/100

#219/365: Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA:
On tap at Twisted Jimmy’s. Big hoppy spicy aroma with a little bit of sweetness, biscuit, peach, and candy corn. Hazy amber orange with creamy lacing white head. Medium heavy body with medium carbonation. Starts medium dry with orange and peach fruity character. Malty sweet with light fruity hops. Bitter finish but not harsh. Alcohol warming with lingering bitter after.  Imperial/Double IPA  72/100

#220/365: Efes Dark:
From bottle, courtesy of John C. Rich malty double decoction aroma, like Doppelbock and mash. Coppery-ruby brown clear with thin light tan head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Starts malty with mash and Twizzlers. Nutty with some paper. Sweet malty after and light sweetish tang. Watery finish.  Dunkel/Tmavý  58/100

#221/365: Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale:
From bottle, courtesy of John C. Nice sweet brown sugar, fruity hops - quite aromatic. Coppery amber clear with foamy lacing off-white head. Medium heavy body with medium carbonation and alcoholic warming. Starts malty and sweet with brown sugar, hop resin, grapefruit. Sweet finish and syrupy after.  American Strong Ale  78/100

#222/365: BrewDog/Mikkeller I Hardcore You:
From bottle. Sweet with brown sugar, syrupy with lots of fragrant herbal hops. A little muted in the nose with perhaps a little oxidation. Dark amber hazy with thin off-white lacing head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation. Sweet start, thick and sugary with good bitterness throughout. Finish is sweet with candied orange, and peach notes. Robust bitter character at the finish with sweet lingering after. Imperial/Double IPA  78/100

#223/365: 21st Amendment Marooned on Hog Island:
From can. Roasted barley, licorice and coffee. Mild smoke and bitter chocolate. Boozy. Dark brown-black clear with cocoa lacing head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation and alcoholic warming. Starts and stays sweet with chocolate and licorice. Lots of roasted barley and chocolate malt. Lactose sweetness and medium hop bitter finish. Alcohol sweetness and warming.  Foreign Stout  82/100

#224/365: Anderson Valley Heelch O'Hops:
On tap at Brunzies. Really fruity and sweet, rose, peach, orange and pineapple and some resin. Medium golden amber clear with pillowy-foamy white lacing head. Medium body with medium carbonation and light warming. Starts moderately sweet with lots of sugary-juicy hop flavor, fruity notes and bitter undertones. Medium bitter finish with sweet after and dry bitterness. Nice IPA.  Imperial/Double IPA  82/100

#225/365: Southern Tier Warlock:
From bottle. Roasted malt with rich sweet pumpkin pie spices. Mild nutty notes, chocolate. Dark brown-black clear with thin tan head. Medium heavy body with medium carbonation and light warming. Starts sweet with lots of pumpkin flavor, chocolate and molasses with nutty character. Bitter roasted malt and hop bitterness at the finish. Dry bitter sweet after with pumpkin pie spices lingering. A stouty version of Pumking, basically.   Imperial Stout  80/100

#226/365: R.J. Rockers Son of a Peach Wheat Ale:
From bottle. Nice sweet and musky peach nose. Ripe and fruity, mostly peach aroma with a little bit of hops. Cloudy amber with some floaties, topped with off-white lacing head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Starts moderately sweet and fruity with lots of peach flavor. Dries out quickly for watery wheat ale flavor, ending with bitter astringent finish and mild fruity after.  Fruit Beer  62/100

#227/365: Heavy Seas Mutiny Fleet The Greater Pumpkin:
On tap at Twisted Jimmys. Really nice bourbon aroma, oaky with vanilla and lots of pumpkin spices. Deep amber hazy with thin off-white lacing head. Medium watery body with heavy carbonation. Starts sweet with bourbon, vanilla, pumpkin pie spices. Smooth oaky notes with warming and bourbon finish. Nice pumpkin beer.  Spice/Herb/Vegetable  78/100

#228/365: Heather Ales Alba Scots Pine Ale:
From bottle, courtesy of Frank. Sweet Twizzlers aroma, caramel and cherry wood. No hop aroma. Dull brownish amber hazy with thin off-white head. Medium watery body with medium-low carbonation. Starts and stays sweet with lots of Twizzlers and cherry. If there is spruce, I can’t discern it from other flavors and the sweetness. Light astringent cherry wood finish with nutty bitterness. Sweet after.  Traditional Ale  48/100

#229/365: Otto's Tequila Barrel-Aged Double D IPA:
On tap at Otto’s. Nice spicy oak aroma with a hint of tequila, grassy with vanilla. Hoppy, hoppy, hoppy nose, but smooth. Medium body with medium carbonation. Dark amber with lacing white head. Nice tequila taste, but not overbearing. Oaky, spicy, vanilla and floral hops. Nice hoppy presence throughout like normal Double D. Mild alcohol warming. Nice smooth finish and after.  Imperial/Double IPA  84/100

#230/365: Shipyard Double Old Thumper Ale:
From bottle, courtesy of John C. Mild hoppy note, sweet malt and light alcohol, raisins and biscuit. Dark amber hazy with off-white foamy lacing head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation. Pretty bitter throughout with biscuit and caramel notes. Bitter finish. Not bad but not one I’d seek out on a regular basis.  Barley Wine  66/100

#231/365: Church Brew Ichabod's Revenge:
On tap at Twisted Jimmy’s as Pumpkin Stout. Nice pumpkin pie aroma, sweet with some beany hops and dough. Dark black opaque with thin off-white head. Medium bodied with medium-high carbonation. Starts moderately dry and roasty with good pumpkin pie spice. Mild hop bitterness and thin sugary notes with light nutty spicy bitter finish. Smooth after.   Stout  68/100

#232/365: North Country Mothers Milk Stout:
On tap at North Country. Nice mild chocolate nose with sweet lactose and a hint of smoke. Nutty, coffee with molasses. Dark black opaque with thin lacing head. Medium creamy body with light carbonation. Starts moderately sweet with sweet malt chocolate and some nutty coffee. A little hop and nutty bitterness to it, too. Finish is semi-sweet with mild sugary tang. Smooth after with coffee and cream.  Sweet Stout  70/100

#233/365: North Country Dark Ages Ale:
On tap at North Country. Roasted grain and light burnt nose, a bit of molasses and chocolate. Dark ruby black clear with thin head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Starts moderately sweet with roasted and toasted malts. Chocolate and molasses. Quite a good bit of smoky acidic tang of black malt. Bitter hop and barley finish with lingering bitter after.  Schwarzbier  66/100

#234/365: Victory DirtWolf:
On tap at Twisted Jimmy’s. Really juicy hops, floral and fruity, piney and orange. Dark golden clear with light haze, topped with white foamy lacing head. Medium heavy with medium carbonation. Starts moderately sweet. Lots of hops flavors here, piney, Concord grapes, oranges. Big bitter finish and after.  Imperial/Double IPA 82/100

#235/365: Tröegs Scratch 99:
On tap at Twisted Jimmy’s. Strong spicy aroma, coriander and bitter orange peel. Wheaty malt tang. Pale golden cloudy with thin white lacing head. Medium-light watery body with medium-high carbonation. Starts with wheaty tang and light acidity. Coriander with bitter orange peel, very herbal and floral. Fruity tart finish with lemon notes and watery astringency. A dim wit.  Belgian White (Witbier) 50/100

#236/365: Tröegs Scratch 116:
On tap at Twisted Jimmy’s. Great floral-herbal piney hop aroma. Kinda dank and funky, too, with sulfury notes. Mild sweet aroma on top of that. Medium-dark amber hazy with thin off-white lacing head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Starts with nice orange and tropical fruit undertones. Big fresh hop flavor, with citrus, pineapple, and mild caramel. Finishes with bitterness and light sweet after.  India Pale Ale  78/100

#237/365: Victory Winter Cheers:
On tap at Brunzies. Aroma of talc, wintergreen, and coriander. Reminds me of Army foot powder. Meaty with some sulfur notes, some citrus. Hazy golden amber with thin white head. Medium-light with heavy carbonation. Starts moderately sweet with light carbonic gaseousness. Coriander, mild sulfur, and sweet citrus notes. OK wheat ale, a little watery at the end.  Wheat Ale  58/100

#238/365: Erie Brewing Johnny Rails Pumpkin Ale:
On tap at Brunzies. Nice nose of pumpkin pie spices, sweet and spicy. Medium amber clear with thin white head. Medium bodied with medium carbonation. Pumpkin pie spices, medium to heavy sweetness with light nutty and hoppy bitterness. Smooth finish and after, well balanced.  Spice/Herb/Vegetable  78/100

#239/365: Smuttynose Gravitation:
From 2013 bomber. Caramel, mild neutral fruity character with some cherry wood. Vaporous with alcohol and heavy duty esters. Raisins, plums, brandy. Beautiful lustrous deep amber-mahoghany clear with thin off-white lacing head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation. Alcohol warming. Starts pretty sweet but not cloying. Caramel, biscuit, cherry and cherry wood. Medium sugary tart notes, light tart tang and medium hop bitter finish. Warming sweet-bitter after.  Abt/Quadrupel  74/100

#240/365: New Glarus Unplugged Old English Porter:
From bottle, probably 4+ years old. Nose is tart and mild funk, with a distinct metallic note at first which died out. Oaky with cherry aroma, like a chocolatey Flemish brown ale. Medium-dark brown clear with thin light tan lacing head. Medium watery body with medium to soft carbonation. Starts with soft acidic tang, much like Flemish brown sour, acetic with chocolate malty notes. Caramel and biscuit, too. No hop bitterness. Finish is chocolate with oak and wine-like tartness and fruity acidity. Smooth Tootsie Roll after.  Porter  80/100

#241/365: Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine:
From bottle at the Knick. Rich aroma, vinuous. Plum, raisin, oak, vanilla, molasses, soy sauce. Sweet and vapory. Nice nose. Dark brown-black clear with no head. Heavy oily body with medium carbonation and alcohol warming. Starts and stays sweet, big malty flavors with raisin, tobacco, plum brandy, oak and vanilla. Bourbon notes. Lingering sweet character and light bitter after with lingering sweetness.  Barley Wine  82/100

#242/365: Straub 1872 Lager:
On tap at The Knick. Mild beany noble hop aroma with a little corn sweetness and carbonic gaseousness. Rich amber clear with thin white head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Mild amber lager with mellow sweetness and moderately assertive bitterness, hint of nutty astringency. Finish is medium bitter with fairly clean after. Muted malty-corn sweet notes. Kinda like a richer Yuengling lager.  Pilsener  54/100

 Up next ... the rest of the 2013 backlog.

Beers #152-171: Miscellaneous Summer Tastings

Some more ratings from June & July at various locations ...

#152/365: BrewDog Original Dogma:
From bottle, courtesy of dpjuart. Rye, green peppercorns, floral with pineapple, lemongrass, allspice, and sassafras. Deep coppery amber clear with foamy off-white lacing head. Starts and stays spicy with herbal notes. Smooth and sweet with lasting herbal and bitter finish. Fairly clean after.  Spice/Herb/Vegetable  72/100

#153/365: Evil Twin Yang:
First beer tried in my new Spiegelau IPA glass. Sweet caramel and toffee, mild Twizzlers and brown sugar. Aromatic floral-fruity hops and tea with candied oranges. Hazy orange amber, dark with amber creamy lacing head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Alcohol warming. Starts and stays sweet with brown sugar and candi sugar, alcohol, and neutral fruity character. Floral hoppy character with oranges and apricots. Sweet finish with alcoholic warming. Medium bitter after with sugary tang.  Imperial/Double IPA  84/100

#154/365: Heather Ales Grozet:
From bottle, courtesy of Frank. Light earthy sewage notes. Wheaty with an astringent tang. Hazy-cloudy pale amber with thin white dissipating head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Starts medium dry and dull with wheat and a flat hop bitterness. Light bitter berry flavor. Sulfury-sewage aroma permeates the flavor, too. Astringent bitter after.  Traditional Ale  32/100

#155/365: Just Beer Horseneck Golden IPA:
On tap at Benjamin’s. Mild floral hop aroma with some butterscotch and biscuit. Medium amber hazy with thin off-white lacing head. Medium body and carbonation. Starts dry with lots of hop flavor, light carbonic acidity and medium biscuit sweetness. Big finishing hop flavor with lasting medium bitter after.  India Pale Ale  64/100

#156/365: Blue Point Rastafa Rye Ale:
On tap at the Knick. Really nice floral hoppy aroma, sweet with caramel and some brown sugar. Spicy rye grain notes. Hazy medium amber with thin off-white head. Medium body with heavy carbonation and carbonic fizz. Starts medium sweet with biscuit and toffee, light spicy character and decent floral hop flavor. Light sweet finish and smooth after.  Specialty Grain  58/100

#157/365:  Nøgne Ø Imperial Stout: From bottle, 4 or 5 years old. Smoky roasted aroma with toffee, vanilla, and a bit of oak. Dark black opaque with no head. Medium heavy body with medium carbonation and alcohol warming. Starts sweet with chocolate, vanilla, oak, and toffee. Big rich malt profile with medium dry bitter roast and some hop bitterness components. Finish is sweet with alcohol notes, roasted bitterness and coffee. Smooth sweet after.  Imperial Stout  84/100

#158/365: Fat Head's #1:
On tap at Mad Mex, Cranberry. Pleasant floral-sweet malt notes with honey, jasmine, and yeast. Mild bubblegum esters. Medium amber clear with light haze, topped with thin white head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Starts and stays sweet with lots of floral and fruity character, yeast, and bubblegum. Smooth sweet finish with no bitterness.  Saison  72/100

#159/365: Dark Horse Artic Dekoorc Eert:
On tap at Mad Mex, Cranberry. Wonderful hoppy apricot aroma. Fruity and fresh with light resin and light sweetness. Medium golden amber clear with thin head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Mild sweet starts with tons of hop flavor. Apricot and resin, big bitterness throughout. Finish is apricot and mild sweet with big bitter. Medium bitter after.  India Pale Ale   72/100

#160/365: Hill Farmstead What Is Enlightenment?:
From growler, courtesy of Peter & Yolanda. Beautiful hop aroma - piney, apricot, pineapple - sweet and luscious. Pale golden haze with thin white lacing head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Starts medium sweet with tons of hop flavors. Mild bitterness but intense flavor. A delicious APA and a real treat to try.  American Pale Ale  92/100

#161/365: Otto's Arthur's Imperial Red:
On tap at the brewery. Malt roasty character, nice sweet notes. Mild fruity character, nutty with medium hop aroma. Floral. Dark ruby-amber clear with thin off-white lacing head. Medium body with cask carbonation. Starts malty with roasted grain and lots of fruity notes. Floral hops, bitter throughout. Finish is smooth and nutty with tons of great hop flavor.  Amber Ale  78/100

#162/365: Goose Island Night Stalker:
On tap at Zeno’s. Sweet with licorice and molasses. Chocolate, coffee, cream, and smoke. Alcohol vapors. Dark black opaque with thin than head. Medium-heavy watery body with medium carbonation. Chewy. Starts and stays cloyingly sweet with soy, molasses, licorice, chocolate, and syrup. Big sweet finish and after with cloying sweet soy notes.   Imperial Stout  76/100

#163/365: Elk Creek Great Blue Heron Pale Ale:
On tap at Zeno’s. Rye, malted grain, spicy hop nose. Medium amber clear with some haze, topped with thin white head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Starts with spicy rye notes, dry grain, and pale malt sweetness. big hoppy presence but not harsh or overpowering. Nice pale ale.  American Pale Ale  72/100

#164/365: Church Brew Coconut Stout:
On tap at Benjamin’s. Light roasted malt with a bit of acrid smoke, lactose sweetness and a hint of coconut and chocolate. Dark black opaque with creamy light tan lacing head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Starts medium dry with roasted and lightly burnt malt. Coconut flavor with some coffee and chocolate, and a bit of carbonic acidity. Finish is sweet with coconut and vanilla and mild nutty bitterness. A little watery.  Sweet Stout  64/100

#165/365: Ommegang Fleur de Houblon:
On tap at Zeno’s. Nice floral-fruity nose, like a traditional saison. Honey and bubblegum and spice. Mild hops. Light golden clear with some haze, topped with thin head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Starts medium sweet with dry hop flavor, bubblegum, and wheat. Fairly dry finish with smooth sweet after.  Belgian Ale  80/100

#166/365: Old Forge Celestial Blond Ale:
On tap at The Knick. Mild sweet wheat aroma with some coriander and orange. Honey. Golden amber clear with light haze and thin white lacing head. Medium body with medium-high carbonation. Starts sweet with bubblegum, coriander, and honey. Some yeast and fruity esters. Finish is dry with a little honey and mild hop bitterness. Nice but a little too sweet for my taste.  Belgian Ale  66/100

#167/365: Straub IPL:
On tap at The Knick. Rich malty lager aroma, like a heller Bock with lots of fresh grassy hops. There is a note of oxidation here, however not detrimental. Medium-dark amber clear with thin off-white lacing head. Medium-heavy watery body with medium carbonation. Starts medium sweet with rich malt notes and a bit hop bitterness - like a hoppy Bockbier, basically. Some oxidation notes. Big bitter finish and nutty sweetness, with lingering bitter notes.  Premium Lager  58/100

#168/365: Southern Tier 2X Stout:
On tap at The Knick. Mild rich malty nose with lactose, coffee, and chocolate. Pleasant, but not assertive. Mild oak and vanilla. Dark black opaque with beautiful light tan creamy lacing head. Medium body with smooth nitro carbonation. Starts sweet with lactose, chocolate, toasted and slightly bitter malt, and a hint of coffee and smoke. Smooth and sweet with pleasant nutty sweet finish and clean after.  Sweet Stout  80/100

#169/365: Marzoni's Hoppy Wheat:
On tap at the brewery. Nice fresh hop aroma. Citrus, pine, grass, and a bit of wheat tang. Medium amber hazy with thin white lacing head. Medium-light body with medium carbonation. Starts with mild wheat and pale malt sweetness. Huge hop flavor throughout with mild bitter finish and after. More like an APA than a wheat. Refreshing and delicious.  Wheat Ale  82/100

#170/365: New Holland Imperial Hatter:
On tap at Twisted Jimmy’s. Nice hoppy aroma. Spicy and piney with mild sweet caramel and toffee. Deep coppery amber clear with thin head. Medium-heavy body with medium carbonation. Starts somewhat sweet, sugar and caramel. Big hoppy flavor with smooth after and a bit of warming.  Imperial/Double IPA  76/100

#171/365: Lancaster Boss Hog:
On tap at Benjamin’s. Mild hoppy nose, not what I’d expect from IIPA. Deep amber clear with thin head. Medium bodied with medium-high carbonation. Very mild beer for IIPA. Malt sweetness with butterscotch, caramel, and light hop bitterness. Very little bitterness anywhere, with sweet smooth after.  Imperial/Double IPA  60/100

One More Reason to Despise the PLCB

So we went to State College yesterday to visit the Arts Fest and People's Choice Festival (in Boalsburg) and so there had to be the requisite stop at Otto's for a bite and pint. I enjoyed the Munich Dunkel and a pint of Arthur's Best Bitter, and held back from getting some 2009 Jolly Roger. I was disappointed to see the Triple D IPA gone from the menu, and hope it'll come back again for me to try.

The reason for the snide title, however, is because of the ludicrous classification of Otto's new venture, Keewaydin Cider. It's available in 22 oz. bombers for just over $6, and you can get a taste of it - it's good. However, after dinner as I was about to settle up, I learned that those handy 22 oz. bottles can only be consumed in the restaurant! Why? Because the PLCB considers their cider to be a wine, and therefore Otto's lacks the correct license to sell it for take-out. So Woodchuck and Bulmers and tons of other ciders are fine to buy in sixpack stores - but somehow PA-made Otto's Keewaydin cider is a wine.

I wish Otto's the best of luck in unloading over 700 cases of this stuff by restaurant-only consumption - hopefully they can sell it to other restaurants? Or maybe I'll be able to go to the local liquor store soon and buy some.

Brewery and Brewpub Operations: Day 6

Today was the first day of field trips. Tom started early and left at 6:45 with his group to go to Red Star Brewing in Greensburg. Afterwards, they were going to go to Rock Bottom in Homestead at the Waterfront.

My group left just a bit later at 7:20 and drove to Marzoni's in Duncansville. Bill was brewing a batch of Avalanche IPA today and we arrived in time to see the transfer of the mash liquor to the brew kettle. Bill graciously and patiently answered several questions from the students, gave them a tour of the facilities, and then took us to the bar for a sampling of the Marzoni's lineup. Today's specials were the Scotch Ale and a great Maibock. After the sampling, several students took turns raking grain out of the mash tun.

We left Marzoni's at about 11:15 and drove to State College. We arrived at Otto's Pub & Brewery at 12:15 and started with a round of drinks and lunch. The Bourbon Barrel Aged Jolly Roger was still on cask, but unfortunately the Double D IPA was off tap for a few hours. After a terrific lunch, we got a tour of the brewing operations. Charlie was off premises today at a fly fishing tournament, so Nick was happy to step in for all of the questions from the students.

A big thanks to all of the brewers and other staff today for their patience and great hospitality.

Zeno's and Otto's Never Fail to Please

Yesterday, my wife and I went to State College for the first time (together) since last year's Arts Fest. After enjoying a good lunch at Faccia Luna and driving around to see what had changed, we parked downtown and did some walking around and shopping.

Of course, after walking around for a while, one does tend to build up a thirst. So into Zeno's we went for a refreshing draught. I was anxious to try a couple of Zeno's brews - brewed by Otto's. The first was the Rye Ale, a nice specialty grain brew that was very nice - great hoppy character. The second one was a Schwarzbier aka Black Lager. It was a bit sweeter - almost like a porter - than other German Schwarzbiers that I've had, but very tasty. While I was drinking those, my wife enjoyed a glass of Dupont Avec les Bons Voeux saison from draught! Delicious.

As I ordered our first round, I notice a gentleman sitting at the bar taking some notes on the beer he was drinking. I struck up a conversation only to find out that he was another RateBeer user (frothingslosh) from Greensburg whom I'd talked to on the site several times but never got to meet in person. Small world.

We left Zeno's and did some more stuff down town, then I got dropped off at Otto's while my wife did some more shopping at Target, etc. I walked into the bar, only to sit down next to frothingslosh again! Luckily, the Bourbon-Barrel Aged Jolly Roger Imperial Stout was still on cask. Absolutely delicious and sublime. Following that, I had some cask Arthur's Best Bitter.

All in all, a successful beer day. After a quick appetizer, we headed over to see the new Star Trek movie, which was really good despite the fact that neither of us is a Trekkie.

Looking Forward to Brewing Again!

Crikey! It's December already. Time is flying. So, I've not brewed since April, and the secondary carboy now has some nice mold growing on the top of the last beer I made. I'm still going to try to keg the stuff to see how it goes, but I've distanced myself enough from that batch that I won't be horribly upset if it gets trashed (though I'm hoping it's not).

On Friday, Erick and I went out to our local homebrew store to pick up some carboys I need for a chemistry experiment (non-brewing, unfortunately) and we each placed an order for some supplies. Erick's going to brew the IPA we made back in January, in addition to a Belgian white he's going to make for his wife. I'm going to try an Abbey Dubbel for a change, and may or may not add some spices to it. We'll see.

Some local beer news of late: The Coney now has a Marzoni's tap (Avalanche IPA), which many of us here are extremely about; Marzoni's also has now two really tasty special brews on tap: Hoppy Saison and Bill's 5th Anniversary Barley Wine; Otto's has a great apple-flavored tripel available; and Scott at East End has been busy creating some great stuff for the holidays.

Our December homebrew club meeting is just going to be an unofficial gathering of whomever can show up - it's busy this time of year with holiday and family obligations. I finally signed up for a subscription to Brew Your Own, since I keep buying it at the newsstand price.

Over the holiday break, I'm hoping to get down East to see some friends of mine, including Jon, and to visit some fine brewing establishments.

Other excitement lately is that I finally got out for a day of deer hunting this year - the first time since 2000 or 2001. My cousin from Ohio got the one 8-point that roams our hollow, but I had a great time. Tomorrow, I was supposed to go to jury duty, but because this is finals week I was granted a pass. Bummer, because I could have sat on a murder trial (though I have an idea that lawyers aren't too crazy about having academics on juries).