Sonoran I#ebri@tor (Inebriator)

On a dreary overcast Saturday afternoon, I threw a giant hunk of meat in the crock pot.  After looking though our beer choices, I selected the I#ebri@tor (9.1% ABV), an Imperial Stout, from Sonoran Brewing Company in Scottsdale, Arizona. Then I decided I'd try to turn my crock pot beef into a beef pot pie of sorts (as I had no potatoes -- and no clue how -- to make a proper Shepherds Pie).

The beer poured up nicely after we pulled the mystery beef pie out of the oven.  It was thick, heavy and rich smelling.  The Husband said it smelled exactly like black licorice but I didn't get that.  I smelled lots of dark rich chocolate/wood/coffee/everything that you think you should smell with a beer like this.

As we sat down to eat, we read the bottle.  It describes this beer as "a thick, chewy body which matches the heavy flavor" and "what's not noticeable as the syrupy brew coats the tongue is the 9.1% alcohol."

This description is spot on. 

I'd absolutely buy a bottle of this beer again for an beef dinner occasion.  One small glass was enough for me.  I felt like I needed to run my mouth through the car wash once my glass was empty.

Suburban pizza

In an attempt to help introduce new people to my new favorite neighborhood pizza joint, we met a few friends at NY 54 after work on Friday for happy hour/early dinner (with kids...happy hour becomes dinner).

Drop Top Amber Ale (5.0% ABV) from Widmer Brewing Company in Portland, Oregon

While their beer selection is not the best, their pizza is very good.  Hopefully everyone else in our neighborhood thinks so too so they can stay in business.  We need less chains and more yummy local spots.

Thirsty Thursday

When I moved to Phoenix in June 2004, I didn't know anyone other than my cousin.  I was on my own.  I made my first friend in a bar and he was a member of the University of Texas Alumni Association - the Phoenix Texas Exes.  So I started going to weekly "Thirsty Thursday" events with him and eventually, we grew into a great group of us similar in age, life and interests who worked hard and partied harder.

But over time, that group fell apart as one by one, we grew up, got married, moved away and had kids.  However, this doesn't mean that the tradition has to die.  It just has to evolve.  So, I have a good friend that lives nearby who also likes to drink and get out of the house and away from her kids (Dear kids:  I promise that we love you lots, but we need time to ourselves too.).  Recently we started meeting one night a week for a drink.  Last week the venue was her choice and this week was mine.  After going to spin class, I decided we should go somewhere that wouldn't mind me in my workout clothes. We ended up at our neighborhood bar, Cogburns Big Wings, which happens to be the perfect neighborhood bar.  A large variety of beers are on tap, the beers are cheap, the wait-staff is scantily dressed (and probably still in high school) and there are plenty of tvs, pool tables and video games to keep you occupied.

After getting a great workout, I was able to enjoy some good laughs with my above mentioned friend, catch some of the basketball games on their 90 televisions and enjoy a Cutthroat Porter (5.1% ABV) from Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado on Nitro for $4 a pint.  Mmmmmmm.  Cheers to that!

In honor of all my former Texas Exes cronies ... this one is for you.  Long live Thirsty Thursday!

Yellow Snow haiku

Powder of the gods.

Do not eat the yellow fluff --

drink a beer instead.

Yellow Snow IPA (6.2% ABV) from Rogue Brewery in Newport, Oregon.

This is a solid IPA.  Not my favorite, but the Husband really enjoys it.  He did not give it a numerical score, but he did drink the entire bottle minus the one glass on the left in the photo above.  That should say something.

Damn. I wish we had purchased 2 or 3 of these...

While in Pagosa Springs, my sister and I scored a pretty sweet beer from Ska Brewery's local series.  The Sethvleteren 8 Belgian-Style Organic Dubbel Ale (% ABV is unknown).  This beer is part of the nineteenth installment of Ska's limited-edition, locally inspired line of beers.  This particular brew is based on a recipe from homebrewer Seth Townsend, winner of Ska's 3rd Annual Homebrew Competition.

After reading a bit about this beer on the inter-webs, the name is allegedly a play on Westvleteren 8, a rare Belgian beer that is something of a Holy Grail for beer geeks. These beer geeks apparently consider the Westvleteren 8 to be one of the best beers in the world.

We opened this beer early in the evening on New Years Eve and staged the photo to try to capture the beautiful mountain sunset off the back deck of our vacation home.  The sunset was as beautiful as this beer was delicious.  It totally left me wishing I had bought another one or two to bring home with us to enjoy again another night.  Oh well, now I know and next time I will have to remember to trust the local series.

Big Swell is actually fairly swell after all

Apparently Monday was a hard day at work for both of us because Monday evening consisted of a can of Big Swell IPA (6.3% ABV) from Maui Brewing Company in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii and Angry Birds at the kitchen counter for the husband.  I did dishes, made lunches and folded laundry.  Seems fair, right?  I think we were both in bed by 10pm.  We are so cool.

Anyway, as I've mentioned previously, I am not normally a fan of the IPAs but this one was good.  As the name would suggest, it was big in flavor but somehow, not too bitter or overpowering.

2 bikes and a 5 Barrel

The Husband's prized 2009 Pivot Mach 429 on back of car after ride

A few weeks ago we started this new thing, called "drop the baby off with Grandpa and Gramma and then go ride our bikes together."  I'm still a beginner and the Husband is quite the good rider.  He rides at least 3 times a week (on a good week).  So he's been slowly teaching me the ropes and very patient with me while I get more and more comfortable on my bike.

After dropping off the baby for some quality time with the grandparents, we hit the Hawes Trails system in northeast Mesa on a perfectly overcast 65 degree Sunday afternoon, complete with light drizzle.  We rode for 7 miles on some familiar trails and some new trails (new to me at least).  The Husband recommended a trail that he previously told me was "too technical" for me.  But today I was riding better and faster and so we gave it a whirl.  We made it to the top and enjoyed some fantastic views of Red Mountain and the surrounding mountains and boy did I wish I had a beer in my pack once we got there.  I definitely could've used a little extra energy for the ride back to the car.

While unloading the bikes back at the Casa, we each cracked a 5 Barrel Pale Ale (5.2% ABV) by Odell Brewing Company in Fort Collins, Colorado.  The Husband describes it as having a healthy hoppy bitterness with floral fragrant aftertones.  A quality easy drinking lightly-hoppy beer.  Lightly hoppy enough for me to enjoy it also.  A solid beer without being too heavy or hoppy.  Pairs very well with a football game and our freshly made guacamole and tortilla chips.

My 2009 Specialized Myka hanging by rear wheel on wall in garage