#563

The menu blurb for the Dubbel Play here at FSB reads as follows -

You'll get to first base with this Belgian-style dubbel ale pretty easily. The malt richness will be a big hit. The flavors of raisin, honey, and spice will be a an extra-base hit. Combine all that with it's alcohol warmth, and full body, and before you know it, you're glass will be looooong gone!

Here is what they need to add- This beer is damned good!

The 1/4" tan head disappeared within 2 minutes or so. On the nose, all the sweet tones were there. True to the raisin content, the color was a deep brown with a hint of purple. Very inviting. On the tongue, everything danced. Sweet honey, raisins and some spices (a mystery to me!) were all present. The malty finish and carbonation were perfectly balanced.

"Dubbel play?" No way. A home run for sure!

One minute left in the first period. No score.

At the FSB

Here I am! The FSB (Fort Street Brewery). It is game time. Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals. The Detroit Red Wings are up 3 games to 1 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

I have beer. I have technology (live blogging here). I have a hockey game!

What more could a "fair weather fan" like myself ever want?!

Flames

If you read yesterday's post, you saw I had some plans for Memorial Day.

We got the Kentucky Warbler at Maybury State Park (county bird #272). It was "grocery shopping birding". You know when you need to fine something in the store and you ask someone and they simply tell you where it is found? This was the same thing. The bird, a beautiful singing male, was seen within minutes. A stunning bird and a toughy for Wayne County.

The Summer Tanager? Well, no such luck. I am 0-3 with that damned thing on the Campus.

Dinner was a real treat. Both preparing and eating!

Mastering the Grill, a book I have recommended before, had a recipe I have wanted to try for a few months now - flaming brandy burgers. The key was to splash each burger with a shot of brandy! Now that was fun! Anybody who has ever played with matches or torched marshmallows on the the campfire would love this recipe! Basically, make some burgers (including minced onions, salt, pepper, and allspice). Just before you take them off the grill, throw on the brandy. The trick is to get the brandy on the burger to flame up (as opposed to splashing the good stuff all over the grill). Once the alcohol has burned off, you are left with a light caramelized sugar taste. Very cool. Oh yeah, use a kaiser bun.

The other fixings were quite good, too. The grilled squash and zucchini were pretty slick , but watch those pepper flakes! The dried mint did not seem to do enough to counter the nuclear leanings of the pepper. Plus, evenly distributing the flakes was a challenge. The white BBQ sauce was easy and good. Basically, mayonnaise and vinegar. Not bad!

What about that beer? Wacko? Yikes. Life beer #562 was simply not a good beer. A crash-and-burn for sure. Had the flaming brandy gotten out of control, dousing the flames with this beer would have been fine. "Junko" might be more appropriate. It was not something I would recommend. Magic Hat Brewing Company claims to have used beet juice (or sugars) during the brewing. I think it is a nifty little gimmick that fell flat. The drink itself is a fascinating shade of red leaning towards pink. Not much head. Not much lacing. Pretty bland to the eye. It was equally as bland on the nose and palate. Too much happening, but not much jumped to the front. Somewhere in there was a fruity taste. The carbonation was waaaaay too high and the finish was beyond dry. It was more acidic than anything. All in all, a poor beer. Ultimately, one could use it as an appetizer beer (the fruit and cheese thing). Not that you should, but you could. 2 out of 5. Maybe...

Don't Ever Forget

As you read this, I will likely be standing at Maybury State Park looking for a Kentucky Warbler. I need it for my Wayne County list. After that, the plan is to travel to the campus of the University of Michigan - Dearborn for another attempt at a Summer Tanager. This will be yet another try to find that bird; it just never seems to be around when I am looking for it.

Eventually, I need to make my way home. My parents and a dear friend will be over for dinner. Flaming brandy burgers and grilled squash & zucchini will be the main course. Grilled chicken with a white BBQ sauce is an option for those not wanting the burger. Of course, grilling for people at my place would not be complete without some fine crafted micro beers. I look forward to seeing what the Magic Hat Brewing Company has done with "Wacko."

But, I have not lost track of what tomorrow is or why we observe it. Freedom isn't free. I can do the things I enjoy because of the sacrifices of others. They trained. They struggled. They triumphed. They bled. They died. These men and woman have done these things, currently do these things, and will continue to do these things. We can never forget that. Ever.

To remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed in December 2000. It asks, at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "to voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps."

I know what I will be doing at 3pm. I hope you do the same.

Gonna Like This

I have the day off today. While lying in bed this morning, I heard something that just did not sound right. I won't say "explosion", but it was certainly one of those "What was that?!" sort of sounds. My ceiling fan slowly wound down to nothing. Yup, no power.

Ahhhh, but all is not lost. I am at Panera Bread checking email. I recently purchased an HP Mini 1000 for travel. I have always felt a bit lost on vacation not being able to check bird reports and eamils. I'm good now! Of course, when I turn this thing off, the sound of the Millenium Falcon will echo through a coffee house. R2-D2 greets me when I turn it on.

How cool is that?

Off to find some birds. May the Force be with me.