Not yet there, but I am in my way! I have a few days work planned for the Paso Robles area this next week! I am fortunate to be traveling with a good solid beer drinker from the plains of Saskatchewan – Gary C.
I will post my impressions and my choices at the pub very, very soon!
Drink Local and Drink Responsibly
Bishop
This newest addition to my recipe folder is just so smooth and nice. I checked on the new batch a bit ago and it is bubbling along nicely. So, from Kingwood, Texas, I wish all y’all a great New Year.
Drink Local and Drink Responsibly
Bishop
A couple of looks at the beer, nice lace and nice head, so dadburn good!
My wife and I recently visited the brewery located on State Street at the intersection with West Haley. My wife, the inveterate people watcher selected the high table located in the front window with views of three of the four corners of the intersection. The corner nearest us was blocked by the building’s corner pillar. State Street can be very entertaining! This evening was almost hilarious!
We sat inside with the thick glass between us and the crowds cruising up and down the street. The glass provided a very good sound barrier so we could talk about those entertaining us without offending anyone….we are not mean in our comments but some folks sure stand out from the crowd and yes, we do notice – sometimes out loud. When the migrating crowds had to stop for the lights to change the crowd would get deep and wide outside the window.
One thing that made it more entertaining were the antics of the panhandlers on the three occupied corners. One young man that appeared to be ADH to the max was actually working every corner and all the territory in between. I have to pat him on the back, he spent a lot of time on litter patrol and was constantly finding bits and pieces of trash that he tossed in the trash receptacle in the process of finding enough cigarette parts to make a usable stub. My wife commented on how unsanitary that must be. I didn’t say anything but in my mind I was chuckling! She will stumble and fall down stairs rather than risk picking up germs from the hand rail!
This is a beer blog isn’t it? Yes it is, we both sample two of the offerings – two each, so we tasted 4 of the beers brewed onsite. Kathy chose the Pomegranate Wheat Ale, the seasonal offering, for her first beer. She liked it and commented how it reminded her of Abita’s Purple Haze but with a definite Pomegranate aroma and taste. She remarked that it was just a one beer thing, not one for everyday drinking. Her second beer was the Santa Barbara Blonde a safe but tasty choice that went well with her Halibut offering. She gave top marks to the halibut and even shared one precious bite with me.
I had the Double IPA and it was very nice – loved the aroma- a nice floral scent and it had a crisp but very good bitterness that was not overwhelming. I tried the Rincon Red along with the Santa Barbara Burger – very nice and very California!
The wait staff is very knowledgeable about the beers and the menu – the hostess was very new, did not yet have much beer knowledge but demonstrated a zest for customer interaction and a willingness to learn. I gave out a few beer lessons that I am sure she memorized! We sat near her station and she was a great vocal participant in our observations of the ongoing State Street spectacle outside of our window side table.
State Street has become a great wine tasting venue featuring many of the local vineyard offerings. We didn’t hit the wine tasting trail. We stuck with what we enjoy….Kathy does enjoy a good Riesling but I can take our leave the wines, beer is my vice, not the only one, but the only one my wife will let me write publicly about……..Just kidding Hun!
The menu….pretty tasty
Brewing equipment – Brite Tanks used for serving the beer
The copper clad brewhouse
Drink Local and Drink Responsibly
Bishop
I have been idle with my beer blog for quite some time. I apologize but I needed to step back and look at what I am trying to accomplish and also ask myself, has my blogging created “a celebration of alcohol” and overindulgence? If you will, did my words allow someone to hit the “Tipping Point”, taking that step over the edge.
A sobering thought was in the Houston news recently. The article recounted sentencing for a 24 year old woman, driving well beyond the legal limit causing a fatal automobile accident. She had 21 drinks over a 4 hour period of time. She went well beyond the “Tipping Point”. She forever changed the lives of many and will now have 38 years behind bars to consider her fateful choices. How many opportunities were there to make a better choice or have others to step in and intervene on that fateful night a year ago?
I am not casting the first stone – I have been beyond the tipping point and for the most part, I had been “lucky”. Hindsight is so insightful, but for the grace of God, I could have been sitting in this young lady’s cell! I know for a fact that people, people that I love and care deeply for, that have gone beyond the “Tipping Point”! Loved ones that have taken risks that could have changed the lives of innocent people as well as altering their lives forever!
I have personally made bad choices, many of them were when I was a young man, but guess what, I continue to make poor choices with the my personal “Tipping Point”. Thank God those times are much less frequent. I will tell you and the rest of the world that the every time my wife and I have had cross words it was due to my being on the wrong side of the “Tipping Point”!. A handful of recent events with very close family members can all be linked to crossing beyond the “Tipping Point”!
I enjoyed my class reunion this past weekend. I knew full well that the bar would be open and I would drink a few beers. I had toyed with the idea of taking a cab but decided against it. So off I went. My first trip to the bar didn’t go well – depending on perspective. It was crowded, the bar tender ignored me and I was cornered by old classmates that distracted me with stories from nearly 45 years ago. The distractions continued and I had a great time. Somewhere into the third hour my best friend bought me a beer, the crowd was thinning and we were able to attract the bar tender’s attention! This beer turned out to be my only beer of the night….FYI, it really wasn’t a beer, it was a Coors Light!
I had a blast at the reunion. I had intended to drink a few beers but the swirl of old friends, great recollections, varying views of Father Time’s influence on others (not me of course), provided great enjoyment. No beer required. I could have easily had a handful of beers but after a bit it wasn’t the important part of the evening. I did want to dance with one of my classmates, I knew she could be a good swing partner. She had to leave early because she had flirted too hard, not with the guys, but with her “Tipping Point”. It was a bit sad but also a reflection of the evening for too many!
I won’t point fingers because three point back at me with a single one pointed at others. “I will try to not point fingers”! I have been very guilty in the past and I know that I will be confronted with my personal “Tipping Point” choices in the future. I like my beer, especially GOOD beers and the temptation is always one more beer away…Lets all help each other to be smart as we enjoy the journey!
I commit to helping others by modeling the behaviors to stay on the right side of the Tipping Point. I will not glorify the excesses that I have led me to the “Tipping Point” precipice. I commit to providing the support for those I love, help them avoid poor choices in the future!
Enough for now.
Bishop
Friday night in the Decker house was very pleasant. Our youngest son, Joe had just graduated High School and was on a six day trip to Mexico with family friends. Joe is off to Texas A&M in the fall so we are having a peak at the “empty nest” that many of our acquaintances have told us about. I won’t go into any details but I think it will be very, very enjoyable. You can’t wipe the smile off of my face…”nuff said”.
Back to the strange noises! My son is allowing us to bond and baby sit his dog…..hmmmm. She really is a sweet dog! At 3:30 this morning, this normally very quiet dog starts barking loud and with purpose. So, out of bed I stumble and look out the window where she is focusing her barking efforts. I flip on the backyard light and nothing. I thought initially that it may have been a raccoon or some other critter. I didn’t see anything but she was glancing out the window and toward the garage. Seemed a little odd but dogs will be dogs and their hearing is so acute….who know what was stirring her up.
Kathy quizzed me about what was stirring Sierra up and I told her that I was clueless. She said. “I know that, but what was she barking at?” The comment almost went over my head but standing nearly 6’3″ it bounced off of my forehead and registered as a little slam! Being the forgiving type I let it go.
I attempted to fall asleep but my mind was racing now. I thought I heard some voices, quiet but insistent, coming from the backyard. I tried to focus a little harder and the words began to take shape. The words I heard were like, “Oh, it so cold in here. Please takes us out of this cold place!”
That didn’t make a lot of sense, maybe I was dreaming! Then it as like I was hearing, “take me in your hand and enjoy me!” I perked up a little at that point! Then I figured it out when I heard, “We are waiting for you. We are cold and ready to be sampled!”
I grinned, I knew that the fridge, not really the fridge but those cold beers so lovingly placed in there this past week were calling to me. Much like the Sirens luring the sailors in Greek mythology! I put some wax in my ears and vowed to wait!
My friend John came by about an hour ago and I told him the story about the sounds emanating from my fridge. What a great friend! I had promised to leave the fridge alone at my daughter’s request but he stepped up to intervene and investigate for me. Thanks John.
The voices were real and while he was here we liberated a few of those crying out for our attention.
A suite of the liberated posing before some of Elephant Garlic I picked today.
A Greek Tragedy….the beers were packed tightly into the fridge. As I tried to liberate one next to this one….it bolted, landed on its head and leaked profusely. I was able to save a good portion of the contents! Insert smiley face here!
Those of you that drink good beers, don’t bash me too harshly. In my younger days I drank a lot of Coors before I knew better. It was cheap and easy to get! I remember a trip where Mike Rossi and I loaded up a couple of cases of Coors, $ 5.25 per case and drove south to pick-up Steve Murphy, one of our good buds that had moved to Palos Verdes Peninsula near Torrance Beach. I wonder if they both still remember the panic when that guy in the Gorilla costume tried to get into the car with us….or at least that’s how I remember the incident.
Last but not least…..Ashleigh and Ben, please forgive us for we have sinned and opened the fridge before the appointed time. (John did it!) Give me my penance! They really needed our intercession!
Heading towards a great Father’s Day!
Drink Local and Drink Responsibly,
Bishop
Proofreading and Editing provided by Lisa Decker
All is quiet on the homebrewing front, save for the cold Session Ale I am drinking this evening. While enjoying the cold one I was reading one of the blogs I subscribe to and they suggested looking at the 20 Most Popular Talks on TED…..What is TED? I am sure a few of you may be in the dark so let me share. From the “About” tab on the website;
Our mission: Spreading ideas.
We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we’re building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world’s most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other. This site, launched April 2007, is an ever-evolving work in progress, and you’re an important part of it. Have an idea? We want to hear from you.
The Twenty Talks link;
I listened to # 10 and # 14 – surprise, surprise and started # 11 – dry humor but I do intend to finish it.
From education to brain function to inspiring messages to techno-possibilities, this list represents quite a breadth of topics.
1.Sir Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity (2006): 14,850,200 views
2.Jill Bolte Taylor‘s stroke of insight (2008): 11,225,783
3.Pranav Mistry on the thrilling potential of SixthSense (2009): 9,897,347
4.David Gallo‘s underwater astonishments (2007): 8,204,051
5.Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry demo SixthSense (2009): 7,747,690
6.Tony Robbins asks Why we do what we do (2006): 7,564,235
7.Simon Sinek on how great leaders inspire action (2010): 7,539,516
8.Brene Brown talks about the power of vulnerability (2010): 5,861,510
9.Steve Jobs on how to live before you die (2005): 5,444,022
10.Daniel Pink on the surprising science of motivation (2009): 5,534,123
11.Hans Rosling shows the best stats you’ve ever seen (2006): 5,249,928
12.Elizabeth Gilbert on nurturing your creative genius (2009): 5,020,869
13.Arthur Benjamin does mathemagic (2005): 4,951,918
14.Mary Roach on 10 things you didn’t know about orgasm (2009): 4,793,334
15.Dan Gilbert asks: Why are we happy? (2004): 4,759,217
16.Keith Barry does brain magic (2004): 4,475,303
17.Stephen Hawking asks big questions about the universe (2008): 4,470,236
18.Johnny Lee shows Wii Remote hacks for educators (2008): 3,997,174
19.Jeff Han demos his breakthrough multi-touchscreen (2006): 3,982,775
20.Barry Schwartz explores the paradox of choice (2005): 3,836,350
So, here is the deal, beer drinkers get a bad rap in some circles as being crass louts! I know differently – my suggestion, drink another very good craft beer or better yet, a homebrew and fuel the mind with interesting “stuff”!
Drink Local and Drink Responsibly
Bishop
My American IPA is tapped and in the fridge.
I put this batch in 6L mini kegs dispensed with 16 gram CO2 cartridges. The dispenser has a lock on it to prevent accidental discharge. Why am I telling you about the lock…..more of a reminder for me. The last time I used the mini kegs I tapped the first one….a 5 gallon batch fills three of the mini kegs. – Well – I needed to sample the beer just because. I pulled a short glass off of the keg about 9:45 one evening, pushed the lever back to the closed position but, this is the sad part, it was very, very close to being totally closed. It was March 11th, the evening before my birthday and off to bed I went.
My son comes home from a date and at 11:30 or so goes to get something to drink from the fridge. There is beer all over the floor. The tap emitted a fine spray of beer inside the fridge, emptying 6 L of lovingly handcrafted beer all over. I told this story once before on this blog and if you remember – I have a loving and wonderful wife…..due to the proximity of the evening to my Birthday she let me sleep as she cleaned up the mess. I am still in her debt and may be for another 30 years.
By the way…this IPA is very nice – it is a kit beer but they can be very good! This one from Williams Brewing, an American IPA is top-notch as a kit beer.
Here is my Tap-A-Draft set-up in the fridge with the red lock set!
Beer in hte fridge…..tap lever in locked position! iPone photo
TTFN
Bishop
Bishop's Beer Blog 