San Francisco Friday Things

King Tut!!! We took the bus to Golden Gate Park and the De Young Museum. The exhibit was amazing. It was brilliant. Of course, the biggest and coolest items do not travel but they had some very cool items. We then saw the Amish quilt exhibit was very remarkable and so cool to see textile art that was made 50 -100 years ago but so fresh as to design. I wandered around as well and saw the famous Peaceable Kingdom by Hicks.

In the park, there were statues of Robert Emmett and Robert Burns. How cool was that. We then walked to Haight Street and had lunch. We shopped along the street. Magnolia brew pub was visited and we tasted their Oyster Head Stout 4.9%(local oysters thrown into boil), Cole Porter 4.8%, and Dark Star Mild 3.6%. We then walked to the Toronado Bar and made happy hour. cash only and a great bar. We met a journalist who was interesting and convinced to try some of the local bars. We did it was okay. The great thing about it was that K and I bought some really cool hats that we not have bought had we not walked to this bar.

Behind things

It has been awhile since I posted so here goes. We went to San Francisco for a long weekend. We visited Anchor Brewing, Muir Woods, John Muir's home, the King Tut Exhibit at the DeYoung Museum, Haight Ashbury, Toronoado bar, Magnolia Brew pub, and 21st Amendment.

Thursday, we arrived but had been delayed by fog. We made it to our hotel and then took the bus to the Anchor Brewery just making our 1:00 reservation. This brewery is old school. 100 bbl brewing kettle, open square fermenters, old style small batch conditioning tanks, and an old bottling line. Really good tour and then a tasting of everything they had on draft or bottle. So we tasted Steam, Liberty (1st IPA brewed in the U.S.), Humming, Bock, Porter (1st porter brewed in the U.S. in a long, long time), and the Old Foghorn Barleywine.

Afterwards, we walked to the 21st Amendment for a sampling and calamari. The beers we sampled were SFO organic olden ale ( crisp, clean 5.1%), Hell or Highwater Melon Wheat (refreshing 4.9%), Golden Doom (Belgian golden ale 7.5%), Holiday Spice Ale (clove, nutmeg 8.0%), Oyster Point Stout (sweet toffee, coffee, made with oysters 5.4%), Cranberry Cider (two Rivers Cider Co. Sacremento, 6.5%), and finally Old Portrero Rye whiskey made at Anchor. What a lovely dram. It was so good I had to buy me a bottle.

Solstice Things

We had our Solstice Party last night and it was a very good time. We had great friends, great cheeses, and of course great beers. I will tray and remember all of the beers. Andrew brought a German Christmas Alt that was very delicious. Dave, Tom, and Gene brought two beers, a hefe and a doppelbock both very tasty though I enjoyed the doppel more as it had lots of tasty notes and mouth feel. Here is the list for the rest:
Granite City 1000th batch double IPA
Summit 90/s Scottish Ale
Summit Great Northern Porter
Summit Winter Ale
Rahr Winter Ale
St. Landelin French Christmas Ale
Golden Carolus Christmas
Duchesse de Bourgogne
Monk's Cafe Sour Red
Trader Joe's 2007
Trader Joe's 2009
Wreck the Halls
La Chouffe
Bell's Winter White Ale
Samuel Smith's Winter Ale Welcome
Samuel Adams Winter Porter
Killer Penguin Barleywine
Santa's Butt Winter Porter
Moylan's White Christmas Spiced Winter Lager
Southern Tier Chokolat
James's Double Brown ale
Barley John's Wild Brunette

Advent Season Things

On 3 Dec. I played bagpipes and talked about Scotch whisky. Aberfeldy 12, Oban 14, Bunnahabhain 12, and Laphroaig Quarter Cask. It was a fun evening and fun to share my experiences with Scotch whisky especially from Islay. We went to see Robert Robinson at the Dakota. He was with Sam Reeves on piano. Brilliant! Sam is brilliant. Robert is brilliant. Great evening. Colder than a well diggers arse.

At 3 pm we drove to St. John's in the Wilderness for Nine Lessons and Carols. Absolutely beautiful!

Friday is our party. The solstice party for 2009. I think I deserve a bottle or two of expensive Scotch whisky to celebrate my 60th birthday. Port Ellen? Caol Ila? Laphroig 30? Ardbeg?

Flu Things

I am so sick of being sick with this bloody swine flu. I have been out of work all week and I am still coughing and draining a wee bit. I am still tired and still feel lethargic about it all. It has been a royal pain in the buttocks. I was lucky to have one of my staff send me a link so I could access my email account at work and get some stuff done. I did catch up on my viewing of dvds, some painting, and some reading. I missed out on a play at the Guthrie Theatre, celebrating my friend's 40th birthday, playing bagpipes, drinking scotch, and making .... At least, I am still alive so far.

Halloween Black Beer Things

Went into an ale house to get some beer,
the publican says, " we serve no red coats here".
Went to the Blue Nile on Halloween Eve on Friday, to taste Al's wonderful selection of stouts and porters. I was not disappointed. I dressed as a doctor and put on a troll mask. When I arrived I passed out candy bars to the patrons and no one recognized me till I demasked. Great fun and I received a a pint of Great Northern Porter for my effort. James, Brent, Doug, Colleen (later), Katherine (later), Thom, Andrew and Dan (his friend)were there. It was a good night. After the Blue Nile, K and I went to james & Marthas for a Halloween party where we met Eddie and Eileen. It was a splendid evening.

Here is the list for the beers at the Blue Nile. I was able to try some of all of these beers. They are listed in order of their ratings from the Center of Porter and Stout, Mpls. Chapter. [Three stars *** indicates the best beer, two ** indicate great but with some reservations, and one star * okay.

Sinebrychoff Porter ***+, Darkness 2009 ***+, Bells Expedition Stout ***+, Lion Stout***, Goose Island Bourbon County Stout*** (This is a sipping beer).

Flat Earth Black Helicopter**, Summit Great Northern Porter**, Nogne-O Porter **, Surly Darkness 2008 ** (Sweet), Surly Bender**, Troubador Obscura**, Bell's Rye Stout**, Founder's Breakfast Stout**

Tyranena The Deil Made Me Do It *, Southern Tier Oat, Imperial Oatmeal Stout*.

These are great beers and it was ery sad that I became sick this weekend on Saturday and couln't get back there to try a few more sips of my favorites.

Fall things

I have been working on putting away the gardens at home and at DeDe's. It is sad to see the flowers all gone with the bees, hummingbirds, and finches. There is more raking to do and a bit more putting the beds away for their long winter's nap. The lavender need to be protected and some of the other flowers.

Darkness Day is tomorrow Thom and I will pipe for it and perhaps get some bottles for drinking or the chance to buy some. We are also going to the St. Paul Whisky and Scotch Fest. Wow! a long day!
The Ommegang Rouge is so delightful that given enough money I would drink it for weeks.