Beer Review: Bristol Chritmas Ale

According to the Brewers Association, Colorado has a brewery for every 42,000 residents. In contrast, the Sooner State averages 416, 000 people per brewery. Perhaps that gives you an idea of the prominence of the microbrewery in Coloradan culture. Thanks to my sister- in- law, I now have a number of brews to try from the Centennial State that are unavailable in these parts.

This one from Bristol Brewing Co. in Colorado Springs and is a spiced lager. The beer pours out dark brown to black and it smells like a grandma's kitchen on Christmas. The clove and Cinnamon hit you right away on the taste. Banana, ginger bread cookies, brown sugar and other familiar but elusive flavors in the background. A speck of hops in there to keep it real, but any more would have ruined what they were going for. "Liquid pie" is what I would rename this one. A nice treat to get your holiday spirits up.

Merry Christmas!

Jolly Old Saint Nicholas must have stopped in Colorado before he got to T-Town.

May the blessings of Christmas be with you today and always. Cheers!

One man's junk...

I used to work in the landscaping business, and one of my more menial tasks was to run brush to the dump. I always made it a point to check the area where they lined up all the discarded bikes and other equipment, in the hope of finding a road bike to take home and restore. These were the undergrad years when buying a road bike, new or used, was out of the question. Most of them were trash to begin with or so far gone as to be completely useless, but one day I found this beauty waiting for me.

I didn't know it at the time (or until yesterday, actually), but it was a 77' Raleigh Professional, one of the better road bikes you could get back in the day. Other than a little rust on the frame, and two worn and flat tires, it was in fine condition.
Thus began a partnership that has lasted nine years and is still going strong. It has been a commuter as well as an exercise bike, sometimes both. I had to replace the original rear derailleur when it exploded on me in an intersection (yikes!), but otherwise it has held up very well.

The Professional has some sweet decor.

Old school gear shifters on the down tube can be a bit awkward at times. One upside is that they actually allow for greater flexibility in the adjustment of the derailleur.


I love the feel of the firm and smooth Brooks saddle. As you can tell, I have not taken very good care of the leather.

Not sure if these were the original break levers.

The new rear derailleur doesn't match the beauty of the original.

The wheels might of been replaced at some point, for I doubt that Shimano was part of the original unit.

With my new Trek road bike, the Raleigh has become a commuter again. Every now and then I flirt with the idea of selling it to get something more suited to the potholes and cracks of the streets in Brookside, but in truth such an act would be treacherous after all these years together. I've also considered turning it into a touring bike, or (not sure if this is even possible) a cyclocross bike. Whatever I end up doing with it, I'm sure it will be around for many more years.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Cheers!

Anticipation

Advent is the season of anticipation. In these darkening days we have the opportunity to rediscover the joy of waiting for for what is most important in life. Next Monday, I return to New England to catch up with the family.  But I also await a reunion of sorts with those faithful companions of childhood: the salty air, lonely winter beaches, windswept dunes, stone walls, tall oaks, moss covered granite and winding roads of Westport, Massachusetts. Absence truly makes the heart grow fonder.

Westport Harbor. Photo from the public domain.

Beer Review: Nutcracker Ale

Nutcracker Ale is a winter warmer offered by Boulevard Brewing in Kansas City. It pours an amber color and you get a whiff of fresh hops. The taste is bright citrus at first, followed by sweet malt...some spice and a bit of alcohol. Juicy fruit and other pleasant flavors emerge on occasion. I've found that this beer is better served at cellar temp. The overall effect is, well, warming. The kind of beer to drink if your in the mood for brandy, but would rather have beer. Very good.

Props to Boulevard for having the gumption to slap a "best by" date right on their bottles.

Go Short, Go Long, Go Very Long!

Found this on Fleet Feet's website yesterday. January 28th. A full month before Post Oak. On the river trails. Sign me up!

Its nice to see more races with options.