greatmoonzini

All said I had am amazing relaxing 4 day weekend. I am finishing it off with this fine bottle:

Molasses, coffee, toast, bitter chocolate, malty, toffee, vanilla, espresso, caramel, figs, dark fruit, brown sugar, and oak are all words you could attribute, and many already have, to this fine brew. $20-22 for a 150 ml is still a little steep but I found it worth the price. Fantastic winter time beer to warm you up at 11.2% abv. This is the rich end of stouts, a place where hops are used and but not tasted, where the mouth feel is closer to oatmeal than water, and where words like clarity are laughed at because I swear this stuff sucks up light. Serve in a brandy glass or at least your widest red wine glass. Okay, if you must and least put it in a tumbler to let it aerate enough as you drink it. Let it warm up from the fridge for 15-30 minutes. You'll thank me.

If you're not a beer drinker or if you are and also love a good hard cider this is the best I have found by good measure:

Erin is allergic to all kinds of wheat which means no beer for her so we have tried at least 20 different varieties of hard cider and this is our winner. J.K.'s is all the right mix of sweet and tart and honest to goodness apple flavor all while being made from only juice from organic apples and yeast (no sugar added!). From orchard to bottle all from the same people ("Grown, Crushed, Fermented, Bottled on the Farm"). Even this video from J.K. himself describing the how they keep the farm organic is wonderfully awkward and amateur yet is completely to the point:
http://organicscrumpy.com/mpg_media/Koan_almar.mpg
It's these kind of bearded obsessed farmers and brewers I love love love to support especially when they make a superior product. The price for a 150 ml is only about $5-6 which is really good by my standards. I've paid more than twice that for a crappy tasting Normandy style cider. There is also a Winter Solstice style J.K.'s out for the season which has added spices similar to what you would add to normal cider (clove, allspice, cinnamon, etc). It is definitely tasty but I still like the original a tad more. While you can drink some of the better known ciders out of the six pack bottles at least humor me and try this in some stemware or at least a glass. If you want hot cider simply pour a bottle in a sauce pan, put your favorite spices (see suggestions in other parenthesis above) in some cheesecloth and bring to 155 F. Cover and cook for a good 30-60 minutes depending on taste and stir every once in a while.

I have had really good luck finding both of these brews at Northern VA Wholefoods and Total Wine stores.

that's right kids, @ 7pm. on the menu from chateau 3221:
mixed-veggies & greek olive humus
tofurky & pan-seared (or mashed?) potatoes
chocolate/peppermint cookies
soy nog*
apple cider*
*opt brandy

hopefully the gang will pull through with their dishes, or at least show up. ha, if we get 3 we'll be doing at least as well as last year. i'm not worried about it though, more perplexing is the xmas potluck at work. i volunteered to bring homemade bean & rice burritos and my coworkers volunteered... candied yams, stuffing and "mystery dish." yikes. to be on the safe side, i'll have a plate of pre-ordered tamales from little mexico, so i won't feel completely far from home.

charlie brown style ( wah wah )
happy belated to kae and burks. hope you had some rockin' times. best wishes to the blacks on their nuptials. sarahy, post pictures! and happy holidaying to everyone. <3