A Hero Has Passed

Not exactly booze related, but B. James and I have drunk much-a-bourbon while jam'n together on our guitars. That's as good of a reason as I need. Tonight, don't forget to toss one back in honor a legend who passed away earlier today.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_en_ot/us_obit_les_paul

So long, Les Paul

I see your comic, and raise you a second...

Ha ha, more comics of relevance.

http://www.octopuspie.com/2009-08-05/313-it-gets-the-job-done/

Leads to...

http://www.octopuspie.com/2009-08-10/315-stuff-u-need-2-kno/

Now, this arc means a lot to me as my grandparents used to bootleg beer on the big island of Hawaii (the old country, or territory at least; stupid hukilau). Anyway, so this fine tradition of bootleg beer touches my family, where my grandfather would make his father's recipe, and his island wife, 15 years his junior, would serve it to his friends. Luckily this included the local revenue man, so they never got caught.

Least Interesting

It deals with beer and not posting to your blog. How appropriate!

I owe you all an update, GBBF, BrewDog

Well. I owe you all an update. I've been to the GBBF, which was awesome and totally changed my mind about CAMRA. Roger Protz's beer seminar was awesome, and we tried beers from all around the world. It totally went against the jack-booted CAMRA persona I was expecting. His new book, A Life on the Hop is also pretty good. This is a good man who loves beer, and I'm impressed and thankful to have met him.

(I didn't make this, sorry. But it is what I saw after the Baltic Porter to finish)

We started with a Brakspear Triple, followed by a Budvar. Then some Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Orval, Salvator and finally a weird Polish Baltic Porter. The festival was awesome and there were some great beers. I stuck to the Milds mainly, as I can't get them at home and was on a bit of a mission, in part from the brew club I belong to. The championship beer was excellent, the Rudgate Ruby Mild. Full reviews forthcoming next week, but I have to say I was impressed by the festival and wrong about CAMRA.

(Pork and Pulchritude)

We also did a BrewDog tasting, which was great. The Atlantic IPA wasn't as amazing as I'd hoped, but it was definitely unique and punishingly hoppy. Some of the other beers were astounding, especially the honey infused ale. Full details on that are also forthcoming.

However, I'm off to San Francisco in the morning and can't wait to try some more new beers. Suggestions encouraged in the comments section. I showed up at my in-law's at 2am last night, and my mother-in-law asked if I brought any beer. I hadn't but a quick trip to the store landed us on Duvel richer, which is good, if a tad young and alcoholic.