So here’s what I mean. Normally when you take a day off, it’s to do something. Either go somewhere, or do something. Do some work around the house, or go Christmas shopping, or something. Nobody ever takes a day off to just sit around and read a book or play a game. Well, except Jacob Thompson; there’s an exception to everything.
But I did today! Didn’t do anything. Finishing up a book; completed the Witcher Heart of Stone expansion pack. That’s it. Didn’t clean up any room; didn’t do anything useful at all.
It was marvelous. I may be able to get used to this.
I cooked, though. Southern green beans, New Youk Times’ Scalloped Potatoe Gratin, and a nice 1-1/2″ thick pork chop with a cider/maple pan sauce.
Modern Methods, my local brewery, has this really good New England IPA that’s called hopfart. NEIPA is really not my favorite style – sorry, Bobby – but this one is pretty good.
The ur-NEIPA is Alchemist Brewing Heady Topper. For those of you that I know likes beer and doesn’t know the story – which is, maybe, an audience of one? – Heather, Corey and I went to Vermont in 2013 and had a wonderful time in Burlington. Very walkable town with much good food and beer. Went to Magic Hat; I worshipped at Greg Noonan’s Vermont Pub and Brewery; drove to Ben and Jerry’s. On our way back to the VRBO there was this sign that said ‘Alchemist Brewery, so I turned right. And there were people lined up to get beer. There was apparently a two-case limit of this beer called ‘Heady Topper’, which was apparently a thing – and I just didn’t know it. See here
We got a four-pack and took it back. That was probably a sin.
NEIPAs have very little bitterness and a huge amount of hops aroma. Hops are very insoluble, so if you want bitterness you need to add them early in the boil, and if you want aroma you add them late. a typical NEIPA is all late hop addition, and massive quantities of that.
But anyway, I digress as much as it is possible to digress.
Hopfart is a good NEIPA, and along with it came a graphic novel. I have trained myself not to say ‘Comic Book’.
Adam, *please* get excited about hops again! <old man> When I started brewing, there were five hops. Now there are five hundred! </old man> But I get the IPA thing. Soon I will be travelling to a small town brewery where there are no IPAs, and five Saisons.
Well, I guess it never went away, really. But the pinball league did, for a couple of weeks. Too much going on at Birdfish around the holidays. But it’s back! https://business.facebook.com/birdfishpinball/
And I came in second, on my first night after retirement. I suppose it’s because I didn’t have to worry about getting home for work the next day. Like Dana or Doug would ever beat me in anyway. But still, it’s the principle.
Moral victory. Got a prize. The person who won was Alek. Aleksander Kaczmarczyk. One of the nicest young guys I’ve ever met. A regular; he’s been coming here for the last three years – originally, his dad drove him because he was too young to drive.
I’m probably eating my last regular breakfast tomorrow, because I do not plan on getting up on the ugly side of 9AM with any regularity. So I’m going to have to start making omelets for lunch.
Shred your own cheese. C’mon. It takes ten seconds. You won’t have sawdust or cornstarch in your omelet, and pre-shredded does a terrible job of melting. I’ve got a go-to aged gouda that is great in an omelet. Think about it. What’s the idea behind pre-shredded cheese? You don’t want it to clump together. What do you want to do with melted cheese? You want it to clump together.
Corey and I have a tradition of sharing a Corsendonk Christmas every year. I always buy one the year before and let it age. This year’s was especially tasty, and I suspect we didn’t drink it in 2020 because… well, because 2020.
