Not Just a Beer Brewer/Drinker

Much like many other famous beer drinkers/brewers, I too gaze at the sky in wonder...how did I fall? was my cellphone in my back pocket? what was the abv on that last beer I drank? is beer on other planets;) I noticed on my 3 miler tonight that Venus is awesomely close and will be until June. Take a stroll and check it out by looking in the western sky. You can't miss it, it is the largest brightest planet in our solar system and glows a wicked orange.

Dirty Box Turtle!!

Buddy of mine picked up a Brütül for me for Christmas and I finally got around to trying it for the first time this past weekend. This thing is awesome and pours the best black and "anything" I have ever seen so instead of a black and tan, I have created the Dirty Box Turtle, Terrapin Rye Pale Ale and Guinness. This is proof that drinking beer is not only heart-healthy but an art form;) Get one for your favorite liquid bread lover!

Event Annoucement

After several inquires as to St. Patty's Day gatherings, events, etc. I have concluded that the TnDC chapters will meet this year at the Olde Auburn AleHouse. For the last 3 years it has been a mind-numbing stress release-fest that has made many of us swear off of dark beer until at least 9 months later (when the stout mouth monster begins to rumble again). So pick out your favorite green T and get ready for some Irish Car Bombs at the same ole watering hole before we are all scattered like Leaves of Grass-- Walt Whitman- ca. 1855

'"drink green today, pee green tomorrow"--let the countdown begin'- Junk ca. 2007

Our Tastes-- BareKnuckle Stout

BugMan1109 dropped a dime on me about a new beer put out by A-B called BareKnuckle Stout. So last night just before going to meet some friends I checked out the only place within 100 miles of me that has it, the Kaffee Klatch. Yeah I know it sounds like an STD, but the trip was well worth it. Oelfeekee- Rocket City chapter (formerly AU chapter still High Springs subchapter) and I met down there and grabbed a pint. This beer is awesome considering it is extremely mass produced. Probably one of the best stouts I have ever had. Even a non-stouty drinker (frankie jay chicken hater) would like this brew. It of course had the usually neat rolling upward of the bubbles, probably due to the nitrogen and the head was 1/2" thick. Aroma was slight at best but that may have been because the Klatch was so smokey you could have cut a doughnut out of the air. The taste was only slight coffee, cool but not cold and the best part was the lattice. This stuff left a smooth white foamy lattice with every sip and by the time I got to the bottom there was a last sip of chewable foam! It looked as though the pint had been painted on the inside. Obviously, it doesn't take much to entertain me and at only 4.2%abv I'll be sneaking back for more.

Groundhog Day!!

Today is Groundhog Day!! According to both representative's Punxsutawney Phil (above) and General Beauregard Lee (below) we'll be having an early spring. Many of you probably didn't realize The South has it's own prognosticator of winter's end. Thank goodness, we're going on our 2nd day of snowfall today with chances again next week here in the Rockey City.

No Mush Without The Push!!

One of the many new ideals my 17K has paid for this fourth and final year. I started to short change this day, but this rotation lived up to its expectations and then some. My preceptor, we'll call him D-dub, to protect the innocent, is a master of clinical knowledge and mental annihilation of his students. Today's weather is a metaphor for this month in IM, mentally I had prepared myself for the 15F bitter cold with windchill of 4F, I was strong and resilient. But when it came time to step from my warmed silver tiger tamer the awesome force of the strategic numbing cold struck away at my codsack relentlessly. Yeah, that's exactly my month. Having said my peace I learned that:
1. You don't chase an NH+3 level even if it is 591 as long as the patient has no AMS
2. Tap water enemas of 150-200mLs or lactulose 300mLs in 1L of H2O is not only easy but good clean fun for the nurse and patient
3. Doctors don't always know their drugs
4. There is a difference between "pimping" and "grilling" students, during grilling you feel as though you have been eaten alive, not just "hoed" out
5. *Drumroll please*, your preceptor does want you to feel loved, just not by them and you can't start anything with anyone else because it's like cheating on them;)
This month every time I have reached into the fridge, I've heard the collective sigh of the specialty six-pack I bought at the New Years when it's the chocolate milk I pull out because I simply can't spare the neuron. Today, when I looked in I realized that it's nothing that a banana bag times 3 days and PRN ativan won't take care of. They scream, "Yes, we'll give you transient gastroenteritis!! We may cause your AST to be at least 2x your ALT in the short run because in the long run your liver won't be able to mount that kind of response, and we can cause hypertension/tachycardia due to central nervous system dehydration. But hold us, we'll make you happy, you'll see." So tonight Brooklyn Winter Ale is my hemlock and Gurkha Reserve Perfecto #2 is my firing squad smoke.

Brew Batch #19 REINKE'S REVENGE 2006

Reinke's Revenge 2006 went to bottle this morning with the help of PhatDaddy of the Montgomery chapter. We got 2 Grolsch pints, 1 clear and 47 wonderful long-neck brown in standard black crowns. FG 1.022+0.00 @62F giving this one a higher content than last year 8% (as opposed to 7.7%, I believe). this may be due to the fact that I let this one ferment all the way for 2 months. I must say I have this recipe under my belt fairly well even though I only make it once a year. We'll crack one open in a month to see how it's doing.