WTF

I always love a good beer with a clever name.

Wilco Tango Foxtrot (7.8% ABV)
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Petaluma, California

The Sun is UP!

Taco Tuesday? Sure, I will come in for lunch!

Today was a good day.

I began my day sitting in mountains of traffic while attempting to make it to the complete other side of Phoenix from my house by 9:30am. Good thing I had the foresight to bring a large cup of homemade coffee, just the way I like it.

It's funny because somehow, with the sunroof open, sitting in traffic doesn't seem like nearly as much of a waste of my life so much as it suddenly represents a small portion of your day where you are forced to sit alone and deal with all your thoughts.  And thankfully, the City of Phoenix has a ban on texting/mobile device surfing while driving.  So you aren't even able to read the paper on-line or check up on what everyone you know, but don't really care about, is doing on Facebook.  I mean sure, I check my Facebook account as much as the next person, but when it comes down to it, why?  Do I really care what other people are doing at that exact moment enough to possibly wreck my car?  No, not so much.

Anyway, point is, I was forced to sit in traffic this morning with nothing more than my delicious coffee, the sunshine pouring through the mega sunroof of my Subaru Forester along with the amazing 60 degree breeze and my trusty radio.  Oh, and a numb left foot from riding the clutch for an hour.  I was forced to sit there with my thoughts and I concluded that despite the terrible traffic and numb left toes, I love my life.  I love everything about it.  And I am very lucky to be blessed with such a wonderful family, daily life and group of friends across the country.

About an hour later, I arrived at my destination and met my Corporate Job boss on-site to check out part of a project I have been working on for the past 8 months.  We spent 30 minutes on-site and then were done for the day.  And since I only work there part time these days, I was done for the day.  So on my way home, I decided to check in with my new amazing Fitness Job boss and pick up some fliers to distribute and help promote my Brunch Ryde on Wednesdays at 11am at In The RA Fitness (www.intherafitness.com). 

Cask IPA (left) vs. Trooper IPA (right).  You be the judge.

I got my fliers and hit the streets of Central Phoenix (in a car of course because no one walks anywhere in this city).  After surprisingly being turned away by 3-4 small local hipster businesses, I finally had some luck at some small bike stores and coffee shops.  Then I pulled into a few bars but quickly realized that none were open at 1030am.  After driving around for a bit more, I found myself at the SunUp Brewing Company, located in the same building where Sonoran Brewing Company used to live.  Hmmmm.  There were all sorts of signs outside designed to draw me in and low and behold, they worked!! 

I sat down at the bar and chatted with the friendly bartender, January.  I asked her what her favorite beer was and then ordered it. Turns out the Trooper IPA (6.2% ABV) is not only a crowd favorite but it is pretty much exactly my speed.  When it comes to IPAs, I tend to need training wheels. I can't handle the overly hoppy beers that taste like I imagine chewing directly on a hop would.  Anyway, the Trooper was not overly hoppy but definitely more hoppy than not.  After I got about 1/3 of the way through my beer, she asked if I wanted to compare it to the cask IPA they had on tap.  Absolutely!  So I ordered the Tuesday Tacos too.  I was given a small sample of the Cask IPA and it was very subtle and delicious.  In fact if she hadn't told me it was an IPA, I'm not sure that I would have known right off the bat.

Both beers were exceptionally good and I can't wait to enjoy some more of the IPA tonight that I brought home in a growler with The Husband.  My rating for the Trooper IPA = 4 of 5.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night...

After a lazy Sunday afternoon, The Husband made dinner and cracked a bottle of Le Merle, a 7.9% ABV Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale from North Coast Brewing Company in Fort Bragg, California.

Pours up with a significant amount of head, even when not poured vigorously like shown in the photo below.  Citrus flavors are light and sweet, yet also appropriately tart.  This was an easy drinking beer for sure.  So easy that our puppy conveniently knocked mine over such that it spilled into his dog bed.  He spent the next 30 minutes or so licking his doggie blanket in the spot where the beer spilled.  Clever little sucker.

This was our second attempt at enjoying the Le Merle (the first attempt was stupidly after we had arguably had enough beers for the evening to begin with, so we didn't really experience it so much as we did just consume it).  I will absolutely buy this one again and keep it around for a rainy day or a gem to take to a dinner party to appeal to the masses.  But I suppose we'd have to get invited to a dinner party first.  Hmmm....

Until then, I leave you with one of my favorite Beatles songs: