Lake Superior Things

Went up to Hovland with Brent seperately. Stopped at Fitger's to pickup beer and drop off beer and have lunch. The wild rice burger is amazing. It is my ritual to stop at Fitgers on the way up for lunch and beer to start vacation. Vacation begins in Duluth when I see the delta of the St. Louis river and the Twin Ports, Duluth and Superior. Mentally I am on vacation. It has started for me. Also, When I see the Twin Ports and Superior disappear from my sight travelling 35 south it is the end of vacation. The last beer and lunch at Fitgers and it is adios for awhile.

The cabin number 4 is the cabin we are guests at in Hovland. It is a rustic little thing built for shorter people. The kitchen looks onto the lake and our own private shore/beach. A nice Duluth gabbro, igneous rock slab beach. We have several residents we share the area with i.e. a red squirrel (very crabby), chipmunks, birds (esp. sea gulls), some chickadees, and other creatures.

The weather was perfect. Summer had waited until we arrived. Actually for the week prior, the week of, and two more weeks the North Shore had a wonderful summer. The days were splendid being warm, sunny, and soft breezes. The evenings were t-shirt and shorts weather. I enjoyed the stars late at night nude. I woke up in the middle of the night and went outside to look at the sky and it was pleasantly warm. The stars were amazing with the Milky Way just fantastic.

I played bagpipes for our little community. They enjoyed it very much. I also learned how to operate and use my Victor VI Victrola. So I have been able to play my old records and enjoy them. Lots of fun as I have had my Victrola sitting for at least 10 and probably 15 years. I picked it up on Gold Rush Days with Ann one year. Noy knowing anything about Victrolas, I bought it and it proved to be a very good machine. Jon rearranged the arm so it was correct and replaced the reproducer with the correct one. Like bagpipes they have one volume and you control it by opening the doors or shutting them.

Our routine is to go to the Trail Center for dinner, Nanabijou for Sunday brunch, Grand Marais Farmer's Market, the general store in Hovland for bread and pastries, and lots of hiking the trail. This time we went to the wee little ECLA church in Hovland, Trinity. What a nice service by a pastor that was really a gift. She delivered a lovely sermon and the whole feeling of the community was really nice.

Usually we take in lots of hiking but this time no. I was forced with a sore knee to relax more which was great. I am not much for relaxing but when forced to I enjoy it immensely.

The time up on the North Shore is always magical. I love it winter , spring, summer, or fall.

Michael Jackson ScotchThings

I found the tasting notes of a Single Malt Whisky Seminar by Michael jackson held at Sherlock's Home on 11 October 1997. We tasted 8 whiskys; Invergordon 26 yr. single grain, Old Fettercairn 26 yr, Glendronach 15 yr, Dalmore 29 yr, Scapa 12 yr, Isle of Jura 30 yr, Bruichladdich 26 yr, and Laphroaig 15 yr. I piped at the event so I had a complimentary seating.

Invergordon 26 yrs, single grain, very rare, North of Inverness. Column distilling, pale in colour and aged in bourbon casks.
Old Fettercairn 26 yr. Highland, Eastern Highlands near Kirriemuir distilling since 1830's. Barley malt base like all scotch. Warm earthy, smooth, slight peatiness, good with food. It has a light body and a light colour.
Glendronach 15 yr., Highland, distilling since 1826, owned by Teacher's Scotch. This was aged in sherry, apricot and almondine notes, malty sweetness. Good for after dinner. These are direct fire stills.
Dalmore 29 yr, Highland, distilling since 1839. Aged in sherry amontillado casks giving it an orange marmalade taste and it tends to be good for blending.
Scapa 12 yr, Highland, Orkney Island. Salty tasting, aged in bourbon casks, slight peatiness with notes of chocolate and licorice.
Isle of Jura 30 yr, West Highland/Island Piney tasting and very smooth.
Bruichladdich 26 yr, Islay, Iron rock (?) and very smooth.
Laphroaig 15 yr, Islay, Peatiness, smoother than the 10 but not as smooth as the 30 yr.

It was kind of cool to find this a look back at the whole experience. I also have a signed copy of his New World Guide to Beer.

State Fair Things

Went to the State Fair with Nic, Angie, Damian, and Ava. It was loads of fun. We saw the horse, pig, sheep barns. I drank 4 glasses of milk. We saw Ann's memorial brick at the DNR building. Looked at the fish in the fish pond. Went to Heritage Square and International Square and shopped around. I almost bought one of those East African skull caps but Nic and Damian thought I should then dye my beard with henna and wear a Somali men's dress. I had thought about getting one because Phil thought I looked wise in it. He had bought an African hat like mine at the RenFest. We saw the art exhibit. It was good but not as good overall. The drawing that won was an amazing piece of art. Nic got a Marine t-shirt for doing 20 pull-ups.

It is good going with them because I can buy somehting to eat and share it with 4 other people. Otherwise, I would roll out of there and be a 200 lbs. fat blob. We ate pot roast sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, deep fried candy bars, corn on the cob, onion rings, garlic fries, mango green tea slushee, malts, and other things that I can't even remember.

RenFest Things

On Sunday 30 August, I poured beer, FlatEarth beer at the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee Minnesota with my friend Phil. It was Scottish weekend and FlatEarth Brewing sponsored the professional and amateur heavy games. It was a beautiful day for a games and a RenFest. The crowds were down due to the State Fair. We poured Belgian Pale, Ctygnus-X1 Porter, Element 115 (California common steam beer), and Bermuda Triangle Tripel. The tripel was nice and dry this year with very little residual sugars. The porter was very full bodied and tasty. The Belgian tasted very good. It was a beautiful day. Norm was there. He hasn't missed a beer tasting event in 16 years. Brenda (brent during the week) was there in his/her mini skirt, hot pink spandex tights and bandana. Brent the whiner was there with Jeff so it was a good time.

Ancient Wargame things

Some friends of mine came over and we played Warhammer Ancients. The Romans vs. the Viking barbarians. It was a close run thing. The Vikings winning at the very end. The scenario was a Senator from Rome was coming to relieve a garrison. On the march and not far from the castrum the barbarians attacked. Light troops had very little chance being blown away in the opening moves. The legionaries more than made up for it. They really kicked and held their own until they had no one left and another group of barbarians joined in the melee. Don brought rules, terrain, and the war dogs. He also brought some nice IPA home brew. We played quickly and remembered rules when we could. Next time will be different. SPQR

Great Taste Midwest Things

Great Taste of the Midwest was held in Olin Turnvile Park on Lake Monona in Madison Wisconsin on 8 August 2009. After sampling over 60 beers during the weekend, I picked what I thought were the best of the fest. Summit Kolsch and Oatmeal Stout (cask), Schaflys Kolsch, New Glarus Raspberry Tart, Dragonmead Belgian Wit, Surly Helles and Smoked Baltic Porter, Micky Finns Wit, Jolly Pumpkin Rioja Kriek, Mpls. Townhall Russian Imp. Stout with chocolate, and Dark Horse Stout.
The second best beers were Two Bros. Tripel & Domain du Page, Rock Bottom (chicago) Lemon Saison and Raspberry Saison (casks), Ale Asylum Tripel and Abbey, Fat Head Baltic Porter, DragonmeadScotch ale, Surly Oak Aged Bender (cask), Esser Pils, Jolly Pumpkin Maracaibo, Barley Island Single White Friar, Barley Johns Old 8 Porter, and Michigan Pierre Celis White.

I had some great beers at the Old Fashioned on Capitol Square. I don't remember the names but they were a dunkleweizen and a weiss. I also had an amazing perch fish fry dinner. WOW! It was delicious.

Clayton Things

I will write about my Scottish trip very soon but first I wish to write about a little beer fest I attended. On Saturday, I went to Clayton Wisc. to the Clayton Sportsmen's Club Beer Fest. It was a great blast. There were brewers and breweries from several places Northwoods brewpub, Leinenkugel's, Flat Earth, Mantorville, Sand Creek, Summit, Viking, and the Bud distributor. Funny Miller wasn't there. The fest was held from 12 noon to 6 pm. It was lots of fun, though it seemed that it was going to rain. The rain held off until the very end when the heavens opened up and there was a deluge.

I played bagpipes for a few times. They played horseshoes, actually there was a tournament. Viking brewery brought their cannon and fired grapefruit out over the swampy ground to the trees. I poured beer for Summit. Summit Oktober Fest won the most satisfying beer award for the day. All in all it was a great day and we had loads of fun. We met new people and made new friends but that is what it is all about. Finding the commonality in us and enjoying our differences. Clayton Beer Fest is on my list for next year.