Sometimes I Don't Get This Bike Riding Thing

Great ride this morning, I think I've found the perfect 35 mile loop around Falmouth (except for Currier Road, that road sucks). 1 hour 50 minutes, 18.2 mph average, legs felt great the entire ride. It was one of those mornings that I felt like I could keep going all day.

But here is what I don't get. I almost didn't even ride this morning. Yesterday was not a good food day, I drank four IPA's last night, and went to bed late. Maybe the daily bike commute is actually paying off, who knows.

Stonedog Brewery/Waquoit Bay Brewing Co.

After a lot of talk and a little research, my buddy Dan and I brewed our first batch of Pale Ale in February. We bottled it up last week, and it is currently aging in my basement. I have to admit that I cracked open a few bottles Saturday night, and was quite pleased with the outcome, nice hoppy aroma, and time will only improve it. Dan's got a Pilsner fermenting now, and I brewed up five-gallons of an Oktoberfest yesterday. Below are a few pics of the beer in the primary fermenter.

The wort (unfermented beer) just after I poured it in the glass carboy.

8 hours in the fermenter. The yeast has settled to the bottom and is really starting to go off.

30 hours in the fermenter. The airlock is bubbling once every second, which means the yeast is doing its thing.

Once the fermentation stops, I will transfer the beer to a secondary fermenter, and let things settle out a bit before bottling. Next up is a hoppy IPA, lots of Cascade hops if I can find them. I would also like to try a Stout or Porter before the warm weather arrives. We haven't settled on a name yet (all brewers need a name), but for now beer brewed in Dan's kitchen will have the Stonedog label, and I'm calling mine Waquoit Bay Brewing (named after the tidal bay near my house).

Listening to: The Clash- London Calling

That's The Way, Patriot!

Man. Power.

I know it's just a beer ad, but I love the message. No lycra clad racer riding a $3000 ti bike, just some guy who looks like your next door neighbor, flannel shirt and an old single speed. Just wish it was for a better beer. If more people left the car at home for errands that were less than two miles, it would do wonders. Plus, who doesn't love riding a bike in the snow?

"That's the way, patriot. Let the OPECs keep their gasoline. We'll just tap into a far more efficient energy source."

Listening to: Lucero- Tennesee

The Heat Is On: Speedys #44 Hot Sauce

Flavor. A few weeks back I ordered a couple of bottles of 2drunk2shift's homemade habanero hot sauce, and let me tell you, this stuff delivers. Tonight I tried it on some mini beef tacos I made for dinner, and the combination of carrots, habaneros, red peppers, and peaches (!) made for some swell eats (and it made the Harpoon Dark Ale go down even easier). Like a little Friday night party in my mouth. If you are lucky, you might find some of this hotness in your stocking.

Get yours by emailing Jimmy @ rooster790cc@yahoo.com.

Listening to: Elton John- Madman Across The Water

Pub Names

A buddy and I were recently discussing possible names for pubs, and we decided that if we owned a drinking establishment in Dallas, Texas we would definitely call it "The Grassy Knoll Pub".

Got any good names?


Listening to: Wilco- Sky Blue Sky