This time around he’s made a Winter Warmer style. Winter Warmer’s tend to have a bit higher ABV (this one is around 7%) where it gets its name is from the warming effect the alcohol provides. From beeradvocate.com:

These malty sweet offerings tend to be a favorite winter seasonal. Big malt presence, both in flavor and body. The color ranges from brownish reds to nearly pitch black. Hop bitterness is generally low, leveled and balanced, but hop character can be pronounced. Alcohol warmth is not uncommon.

Many English versions contain no spices, though some brewers of spiced winter seasonal ales will slap “Winter Warmer” on the label. Those that are spiced, tend to follow the “wassail” tradition of blending robust ales with mixed spices, before hops became the chief “spice” in beer. American varieties many have a larger presences of hops both in bitterness and flavor.

Average alcohol by volume (abv) range: 5.5-8.0%

When I started exploring and enjoying beer, one of the first big “hits” with me was a winter warmer style ale. The Moonraker Ale, by J.W. Lees & Co., introduced me to malts like I had never tasted before, and a smooth mouthfeel like I hadn’t ever experienced before. Though I’d have to go back and give it another go almost two years later, I’ve always been a huge fan of Porters, Stouts, and Winter Warmers.

So, lets see how Rob did this time! Read the rest of this entry »

CQ CQ CQ this is KJ4IKD. Calling all Windows 7 Users!

View Full Album

Just testing the Windows Live Writer, part of the Windows Live Tools on Microsoft Windows 7.

And…. I’ll make an edit and add this:

Having purchased the Windows 7 Professional through the student upgrade program, and with a Windows 7 Launch Party tomorrow, I was anxious to get it installed last night. Even though I ran into a couple of snags with the 64-bit download unpacking to a 32-bit XP system (see “Unloading the Box” error), and will make a post for how to get around that issue later this evening or tomorrow afternoon, I am overall happy with my $30 purchase. I wanted to go over a couple of things that I really enjoy having in a Windows Operating System. Having come from Windows XP (with very little experience in Vista) some of these things are bigger value-adds for me. Read the rest of this entry »

After a great weekend in the wet weather, my friends have had a chance to upload the pictures they took (at least a good handful of them) to their flickr accounts. Molly and I decided to leave our DSLR’s at the house being that there was another DSLR and a Point&Shoot already packed with the other guys’ stuff.

For the most part we followed the itinerary I outlined in the “Planning for a Backpacking Trip” post. Though, because we purposely didn’t take watches or cell phones we didn’t exactly stick to a schedule which meant we had to cut a couple of the bigger hikes out of the day(s). Part of it may have also been due to the literal downpour we received on Friday evening and Saturday morning. We’ll go back later one or two weekends to finish up the Cloudland Canyon trails.

With the successful trip, I’m going to be planning a “car camping” trip for sometime in Mid-December or Early/Mid-January so more of my friends can come along, and enjoy some better camp-cuisine. I’ll have a couple of posts related to that coming up soon enough.

View the full post for the pics from this weekend. Read the rest of this entry »

After his last brew, and actually on the tail end of while it was still being enjoyed, Rob (a.k.a. StubbornMan) mentioned that he was brewing a bitter. Having rushed to get clean bottles back to him so he could bottle everything on time, I was anxious to taste another example of a bitter. I gave him plenty of 22 oz. “bombers” this round of filling so he wouldn’t have to collect as many (and I figured that would mean more home brewed beer for me, HA!). With every chance I have to try one of his brews, I get closer and closer to buying my own set of home brewing equipment to give it a try myself.

From BeerAdvocate: “The Bitter style came from brewers who wanted to differentiate these ales from other mild brews, enter pale malts and more hops. Most are gold to copper in colour and are light bodied. Low carbonation. Alcohol should be low and not perceived. Hop bitterness is moderate to assertive. Most have a fruitiness in the aroma and flavor, diacetyl can also be present. These are traditionally served cask conditioned, but many breweries have bottled versions.”

I don’t think he has a name for it yet, but that doesn’t matter… Lets just cut to the chase, shall we? Read the rest of this entry »