Words Of Wisdom From Captain Picard On Mountain Biking

The "Almost" Daily Beer and Bike Log May 18, 2015

Well over the weekend got some Beer work done.

 I bottled my American IPA (the base of which may be used for some tweaking soon, but have to try the Everyday IPA from Brooklyn Brew shop to see which I prefer as a starting point) Also bottled our two Imperial Oak aged Brews. Now we wait the two weeks or so and see if they suck!

Also got to try a couple of new beers Lagunitas Maximus IPA 

and Boulevard Brewing Calling IPA  from their Smokestack series. 

Both will make the list as both were very good beers.

Been making my way through The Audacity Of Hops By Tom Acitelli which is a fun book about the rise of craft beer and Breweries,

 also Started to take in Designing Great Beers By Ray Daniels 

 trying to continually educate myself to get better at this. No Bike riding this past weekend, but I am determined to get some in soon. Even if it is just another ride with My daughter on the trail I am good. More to come....

Beers To Try Before you Die or the Beer Bucket 52 List 38 of 52 Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

Finishing this week off with my  4 way IPA  variety pack from Sierra Nevada I tried the Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA It has a Fruity citrus flavor that works together with the Rye (which is a more spicy flavor)  Together it makes ruthless a killer beer Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA

Now while I did not like it as much as the Blindfold Black IPA it was still a great beer

And while I think I liked the Hop Hunter IPA a bit better also (which got a 4 beer and a shot rating) I am going to go with a 4 beer rating on Ruthless. 

Excellent beer worth a try.

To view what all the ratings mean go to the 52 Beers to try Before You die Bucket list page

Disclaimer I am a beer drinker and a beginner home brewer the above is only my taste buds telling me what I enjoy, it is not the law or rule of the land, these would be the beers that I am grateful to have tried before the day comes when I pass on and meet my maker.

Top Ten IPAs By Thrillist

Follow the link to Thrillist Top Ten IPAs

I have only had 3 Beers in the top 10...Time for a beer or 7

Beers To Try Before you Die or the Beer Bucket 52 List 37 of 52 Sierra Nevada Black IPA

During my Sierra Nevada IPA or after my purchase of the 4 way IPA  variety pack tour 

I hit  the  Sierra Nevada Blindfold Black IPA

Holy Shit is what I have to say, absolutely awesome beer, it is like a stout and an IPA all wrapped into one. I said it yesterday Sierra Nevada does not disappoint and I think i found my new favorite beer from their line. Now I do have some others that have not been tried but as of now I m setting the bar and giving this bad boy a 6 Beer salute.

To view what all the ratings mean go to the 52 Beers to try Before You die Bucket list page

Disclaimer I am a beer drinker and a beginner home brewer the above is only my taste buds telling me what I enjoy, it is not the law or rule of the land, these would be the beers that I am grateful to have tried before the day comes when I pass on and meet my maker.

Beer School 101 From The Net How to make a dirt cheap ($5) mash tun by Black Mutt Brewing

As I started to put a One gallon brew system together I wanted to figure out the cheapest way to make a Mash tun, I have since decided to try a bag in my 2 Gallon Cooler (I will let you know how it works) But this was a very good video Blackmutt Brewing on Youtube 

He also has some other helpful brewing videos that are great if you are getting started like me. Anyway here is how to make a very inexpensive Mash Tun

Beers To Try Before you Die or the Beer Bucket 52 List 36 of 52 Sierra Nevada Golden IPA

Picking up a variety pack of Sierra Nevada a few weeks ago, plus a six pack of Hop Hunter by the same company I was on a mission to try all the Sierra Products I could since none had done me wrong yet. And the streak continues their Golden IPA was delicious. A very easy to drink IPA with that trademark hoppy flavor (in this case Cascade Hops) Golden is a great beer

I am going with a 3 beers and a shot  on this one, 

I have a couple of the 4 way IPA variety pack 

(keep in mind I have already tried the Torpedo Extra IPA  see the review here) 

Anyway I  need some room for better or not as good....

To view what all the ratings mean go to the 52 Beers to try Before You die Bucket list page

Disclaimer I am a beer drinker and a beginner home brewer the above is only my taste buds telling me what I enjoy, it is not the law or rule of the land, these would be the beers that I am grateful to have tried before the day comes when I pass on and meet my maker.

Beers To Try Before you Die or the Beer Bucket 52 List 35 of 52 Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. Zwickel Bavarian Style Lager

During my Very First Single gallon brew night I went to the fridge and tried to decide what I would drink, I went with the Local Urban Chestnut Zwickel Bavarian Lager. 

Lately I have been all about the IPAs and the Ales Because most of the Lagers I had been trying either did not make the list or were honorable mentions, But that was not the case with the Zwickel, man it did not disappoint. One of the better Lagers I have had in a while (that was not a Black lager, since I am usually a bigger fan of those) It was nice to slowley enjoy the Urban Chestnut brand as I cooked up my own IPA

Since I do not have many Lager up high on the list and since I have not had many that were close to the Zwickel I am going with a 5 beer rating on this one. 

It is well worth your time and I may pick up some more of this one for the coming summer months.

To view what all the ratings mean go to the 52 Beers to try Before You die Bucket list page

Disclaimer I am a beer drinker and a beginner home brewer the above is only my taste buds telling me what I enjoy, it is not the law or rule of the land, these would be the beers that I am grateful to have tried before the day comes when I pass on and meet my maker.

Beers To Try Before you Die or the Beer Bucket 52 List 34 of 52 Sierra Nevada Hop Hunter

In my magazines and time spent at the  store I kept seeing Hop Hunter By Sierra Nevada. I finally got around to trying some. I can say it was good, in fact very good. Now with that I don't think it is the best that Sierra Nevada Has to offer, I like some other that I have tried but have yet to post so I will save that for down the road. But Hop Hunter was a very tasty beer as a matter of fact I have had a few out of the six pack on nights I was to try other beers, so weel worth the time to enjoy a Hoptastic beer...

I am going to give Hop Hunter a 4 Beer and a shot salute,

 Sierra Nevada has rarely disappointed and they just keep the good beers rolling

To view what all the ratings mean go to the 52 Beers to try Before You die Bucket list page

Disclaimer I am a beer drinker and a beginner home brewer the above is only my taste buds telling me what I enjoy, it is not the law or rule of the land, these would be the beers that I am grateful to have tried before the day comes when I pass on and meet my maker.

The "Almost" Daily Beer and Bike Log May 8, 2015

Well two weeks off for the Birth of my Son and trying to play catch up. but even with all the excitement of having this baby boy, a toddler and teen issues all wrapped up in our house I found a little time to try some beers, bottle some others and even get my first Bike ride in of the summer.

I tried a few beers in my time off, as sleep was not on my side the addition of even a little alcohol was probably not always the best idea if I wanted to keep my eyes wide open. But I tried a few Sierra Nevada beers including 

Summerfest (yeah that was Father son Bottle time that day) Lager, Hop Hunter, their Black IPA, Golden IPA and Ruthless Rye IPA, also I had Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, 

Deschutes Pale Ale and Inversion IPA, Urban Chestnuts Zwickel Lager

 and my Very First Sweet Stout, 

which most of is now flat due to filling growlers from a keg and letting it sit for far too long.

I bottled some of our second brew the Imperial IPA (2 gallons) and the Imperial Peach flavored IPA (not sure how this one is going to go but worth a shot) 

I am waiting for our Imperial Bourbon Oak aged and out Light Oak Rum and Dark Chocolate IPAs and this coming week I Will bottle my first small batch American IPA so looking forward to trying all of those in a few weeks. 

On my final day off I took my toddler on a bike ride, It was great to get out with the wind in my face and at the tail end working my ass off, although I wish it were on the dirt and flying through the woods, time spent with one of the kids is always fun especially doing something I consider fun in and of itself.

So I have a bunch of reviews to write some of the beers above made the list and a couple did not, all were worth a taste, but a couple just did not give me that over the top experience I love...I just liked them. anyway Hope to get back posting this coming week.......So for now Have a beer and take a ride