tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83040197515730310582024-02-20T17:31:01.096-05:00Family, Wine, Travel and The BombersPlease support the site and check out the advertisers located here. It does not hurt to click.Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-9427205765256477112009-03-09T12:11:00.004-04:002009-03-09T14:37:03.694-04:00<p style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Twitter Taste Live - Dogfish Head</span><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">First off let me say thanks to <a href="http://twittertastelive.com/">Twitter Taste Live</a>, <a href="http://www.dogfish.com/">Dogfish Head</a> and Ashley Routson aka. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Ashley%20Routson">The Beer Wench</a> for giving all the opportunity to once again come together on the interweb and get shitfaced.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here is a link to her most excellent rundown on what we drank that night.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://drinkwiththewench.com/2009/03/08/dfh-twitter-taste-live-recap/">The Beer Wench's TTL DFH Rundown</a></p><br /><br /><center><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And here are some of my pictures from the night, and one of the next morning.<br /></p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3341684738_002bf5ce6c_b.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3341684738_002bf5ce6c.jpg" width="400" height="301" /></a></p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Lineup: (right to left) Red & White, Fort, Palo Santo Marron</p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3341685630_c74b467a09_b.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3565/3341685630_c74b467a09.jpg" align="middle" width="400" height="535" /></a></p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3340855667_869b6f56f9_b.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3340855667_869b6f56f9.jpg" align="middle" width="400" height="534" /></a></p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3341687386_b6d44e7fef_b.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3396/3341687386_b6d44e7fef.jpg" width="400" height="534" /></a></p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3341688310_216238a09a_b.jpg"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3341688310_216238a09a.jpg" width="400" height="300" /></a></p><br /><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>This is what ABV's of 10, 12 and 18 percent will do to you.</b></p><br /><br /></center>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-75350972677815069372009-02-25T19:22:00.003-05:002009-03-09T14:51:08.131-04:00<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Volume to Weight Conversions</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Here is some volume to weight conversions I found online.</span><br /><br /><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour = 125 grams/4.5 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup cake flour = 110 grams/4 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup sifted cake flour = 99 grams/3.5 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup whole wheat flour = 120 grams/4.3 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup bread flour - 125 grams/4.5 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup oats, regular & quick cooking - 81 grams/2.8 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup granulated sugar = 200 grams/7.5 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup light brown sugar = 220 grams/7.8 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup unsalted butter = 228 grams/8 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup peanut butter, crunchy = 258 grams/9.2 oz</span></p> <p style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">1 cup molasses = 337 grams/12 oz</span></p> <span style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br /></span><br /></div></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-65155037138776290572009-02-24T11:50:00.008-05:002009-03-09T14:51:44.145-04:00<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Sunday Night Dinner and Wine</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">There was the smell of Risotto in the air at my place on this past Sunday.</span> </span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRpgLCy7o111DwQbAC_V2ykc4bpzviR75xBIU_rU76DQSkipqJFdwsasyFWnKWcY_tQ4l_FGdeEuhsgqeu198Mc5ZK0WystMTvvbh-HjxOSYTYyMNvopTFmEyLnshLykHZKIqCQ3kUM-h/s1600-h/P2222732.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRpgLCy7o111DwQbAC_V2ykc4bpzviR75xBIU_rU76DQSkipqJFdwsasyFWnKWcY_tQ4l_FGdeEuhsgqeu198Mc5ZK0WystMTvvbh-HjxOSYTYyMNvopTFmEyLnshLykHZKIqCQ3kUM-h/s400/P2222732.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306414571618214530" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Our first course was Risotto with shallots and asparagus. I started dinner a little bit early, knowing the hour I would need to make the Risotto. As the Risotto cooked I started the salad. Tonight's salad was a mix of Mango, Papaya and Grape Tomatoes over a bed of Mesclun greens. The dressing was a very simple Lime and Tequila vinaigrette. A side of Broccoli florets (the kids love it and would be mad if I did not make it) was also prepared as well as Garlic bread that would compliment the main course... Steak.</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciBA6n3DG1FnMWVv_vQ7GqbGaUWkTLsasq3IQh4TIqIQcbWlJiBHXKcuFjLcXy3EHHBeaLL2XGCQXx4j69rtk_NW734sUY-ewzqLPyXB3WewEwwdgUNtzUyDsozLHK07tWSaz-vy0iTFg/s1600-h/P2222740.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciBA6n3DG1FnMWVv_vQ7GqbGaUWkTLsasq3IQh4TIqIQcbWlJiBHXKcuFjLcXy3EHHBeaLL2XGCQXx4j69rtk_NW734sUY-ewzqLPyXB3WewEwwdgUNtzUyDsozLHK07tWSaz-vy0iTFg/s400/P2222740.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306414856543113346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I love Risotto and I am trying to get the rest of my family to love it too. My wife just can not be comfortable with rice that is creamy and thick. She likes her rice to be a longer grain, loose and have a buttery taste. My oldest son did not like the Risotto (because he hates Asparagus), but my youngest loved it. I told him it was like Oatmeal and he ate it up. I fear I may not be making Risotto that much in the future, it is just not worth all the stirring for just me. Well maybe it is :)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">While all the food prepping and Risotto cooking was going on, my steaks were seasoned with salt & pepper and resting to loose the chill of the fridge. Once the Risotto was just about done, I fired up my biggest skillet and got it as hot as I could. Once the pan had reached "temperature of hell" status I chucked in the beef. Oh how I do love the sounds and smells of a caramelizing steak. Not to long now, just about 2 minutes a side and into the oven went the pan to finish up @ 400 degrees for 5 more minutes. Yep we like our steaks rare with a nice crust on the outside. When they were done, out they came and in went the Garlic bread. The steaks were wrapped in foil to rest and the Broccoli was steamed. Last thing before the bread came out of the oven was to emulsify the vinaigrette and toss the salad. </span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XyLyS_qcnaJ_FwO3BNwLN5CS86jbB6M7pFH0jbzREfarH_z57T2UlA0ejE82Koe7Dzp9sdAtw5Y8bHIL0R7GpAnOREmg4RMcSsX6If5W0M_rQN4qTeq6j9y3bUkQyaJaoRGCMiAqr_sR/s1600-h/P2222734.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4XyLyS_qcnaJ_FwO3BNwLN5CS86jbB6M7pFH0jbzREfarH_z57T2UlA0ejE82Koe7Dzp9sdAtw5Y8bHIL0R7GpAnOREmg4RMcSsX6If5W0M_rQN4qTeq6j9y3bUkQyaJaoRGCMiAqr_sR/s400/P2222734.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306415211295836914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">With the Risotto on the table and the salad being doled out by my wife, I brought over the Broccoli, steaks and the Garlic bread (just out of the oven). The decanted and well aspirated 2000 Chateau Cote Montpezat was poured and I sat. It was a nice dinner and felt good getting back into the kitchen on a Sunday night. It has been awhile since I was cooking on a Sunday night, I had been doing mostly smoking during the daytime and did not want to cook at night as well. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What would I change? The salad need more texture. Maybe some crumbled Tortilla chips next time.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A review on the wine will follow fer sure!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5Ez7QwZHP1KO8fY5_1oDhCVv7_1_QcVJx6knpnN0aXkA4OE-XYR8xNoHZpz6ZzEAYvWeb5cx1odDnCPJiAqTIUmH7OZ6ta6cAlG6OGotfZxSYlTUWmdx6pir35BUtNfDJJz2u9mddVr8/s1600-h/P2222741.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5Ez7QwZHP1KO8fY5_1oDhCVv7_1_QcVJx6knpnN0aXkA4OE-XYR8xNoHZpz6ZzEAYvWeb5cx1odDnCPJiAqTIUmH7OZ6ta6cAlG6OGotfZxSYlTUWmdx6pir35BUtNfDJJz2u9mddVr8/s400/P2222741.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306415450185821714" border="0" /></a>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-10073311786320934432009-02-23T12:55:00.011-05:002009-03-09T14:52:39.931-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pwkE854793JGG1WZWyev2J-1ZexPnho-9Sq_Ek6SE01h-NdJ_7FV3vlV1EQfvNTlhhovea6iw7Xfib4sJh1Bi2_2sT81WSBppJINWM_0cZ9XcHOrACFXRF0c3tW8kL3j0kWEMnS3G2pT/s1600-h/P2162710.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pwkE854793JGG1WZWyev2J-1ZexPnho-9Sq_Ek6SE01h-NdJ_7FV3vlV1EQfvNTlhhovea6iw7Xfib4sJh1Bi2_2sT81WSBppJINWM_0cZ9XcHOrACFXRF0c3tW8kL3j0kWEMnS3G2pT/s400/P2162710.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306067825295813730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;" >The <strike>Bacon</strike> Breakfast Explosion</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Pretty much your standard Bacon Explosion that was introduced to us by Jason and Aaron over at <a href="http://www.bbqaddicts.com/">BBQAddicts.com,</a> but with a nod to breakfast instead. Here is the original recipe, <a href="http://www.bbqaddicts.com/blog/recipes/bacon-explosion/">Bacon Explosion</a>.<br /><br />The only changes I made with the original recipe were an addition of maple syrup in the middle instead of the spices and breakfast sausage instead of sweet sausage.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLU1LDzk96S1Vh5mumKbraUVD4NdciTvR0ixy6A3STTdE0UdpPuupz8OaxzMHyh2qYLsA2LuHXW5_SCQ1htmbOKK9siYNBreF-3jr6O4L8rDgN2VutBamVaq4p3Mp-f8FV7yEv4DYytpX/s1600-h/P2162676.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLU1LDzk96S1Vh5mumKbraUVD4NdciTvR0ixy6A3STTdE0UdpPuupz8OaxzMHyh2qYLsA2LuHXW5_SCQ1htmbOKK9siYNBreF-3jr6O4L8rDgN2VutBamVaq4p3Mp-f8FV7yEv4DYytpX/s320/P2162676.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306058275002254498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR_R2PZqiG8WXymLrCqnhJv_3VDV7D7UFWS40OCYF0Oj6_WYD3PEq6nDnt4EScFNP-iWZDeFq1nesKG2vHgOTfxyHOlbJ9Ml22feE2ANgU0KaQmL-ebv3u705fn2d_Op4dIYnCBif4Gwy/s1600-h/P2162677.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaR_R2PZqiG8WXymLrCqnhJv_3VDV7D7UFWS40OCYF0Oj6_WYD3PEq6nDnt4EScFNP-iWZDeFq1nesKG2vHgOTfxyHOlbJ9Ml22feE2ANgU0KaQmL-ebv3u705fn2d_Op4dIYnCBif4Gwy/s320/P2162677.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306058447140403746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Here we see the interwoven, full pound of thick slab bacon and the pound of Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sausage rolled out to a half inch thick slab.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnlB9ThCYKk8DlEuxtZ_gkVe8Z7gFbfZV128AUc5d3E1_qnM3EODVRLsW1Hww65-lIOrj7Wv5GoYlSVDGSPZZq72JjfLSiyxP4E8PuaxFiisGnenF99w7BEBT_FNnh39mJV1UrXTx7ea6/s1600-h/P2162675.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNnlB9ThCYKk8DlEuxtZ_gkVe8Z7gFbfZV128AUc5d3E1_qnM3EODVRLsW1Hww65-lIOrj7Wv5GoYlSVDGSPZZq72JjfLSiyxP4E8PuaxFiisGnenF99w7BEBT_FNnh39mJV1UrXTx7ea6/s320/P2162675.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306060315349469330" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28v1Jc58-UToKJ7sZrBIuHUQOudkt3ToItbnj1D-dkLyIkROhyphenhyphenkF7Tz3WB-S7Yn7uaofvgYpZjjVUS3z4lhOoiZ9TNsxbT0Z8vIL0q3DPXV5uSPLokosBMs6BVaw44MY73wfor4gWjlBh/s1600-h/P2162681.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28v1Jc58-UToKJ7sZrBIuHUQOudkt3ToItbnj1D-dkLyIkROhyphenhyphenkF7Tz3WB-S7Yn7uaofvgYpZjjVUS3z4lhOoiZ9TNsxbT0Z8vIL0q3DPXV5uSPLokosBMs6BVaw44MY73wfor4gWjlBh/s320/P2162681.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306060608878475330" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next we laid the sausage slab on the bacon weave.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-_q9l6svk8Lh5aufqWBhLSPhiw19es6GJutx-PLvQPVVNivNumzVbp7_N7PiDhrqyFi0tWIxxJ7sFah5asz3rSS8OcO_idKQPhAe-KWBZvQx6rgoC4fXDpN9GhcXS95sLVyPU875aPfx/s1600-h/P2162679.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-_q9l6svk8Lh5aufqWBhLSPhiw19es6GJutx-PLvQPVVNivNumzVbp7_N7PiDhrqyFi0tWIxxJ7sFah5asz3rSS8OcO_idKQPhAe-KWBZvQx6rgoC4fXDpN9GhcXS95sLVyPU875aPfx/s320/P2162679.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306061098824477810" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qie2KI9j-YrWLbyTBt5SxnehcQ-T-w2Tds6ZGfiTgUfD0D-Yn99-cLUqjVv7d8M1-8VcxBoQHlWhK7-9_yaogt8aWCzvZuGbqvU5VBi-PqFLgCR341aohsvAbWNxMuiDaxxUAK1aRYqS/s1600-h/P2162684.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qie2KI9j-YrWLbyTBt5SxnehcQ-T-w2Tds6ZGfiTgUfD0D-Yn99-cLUqjVv7d8M1-8VcxBoQHlWhK7-9_yaogt8aWCzvZuGbqvU5VBi-PqFLgCR341aohsvAbWNxMuiDaxxUAK1aRYqS/s320/P2162684.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306061386993228562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Then we cooked up some crispy bacon and crumbled it over the sausage<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHWZePlLVgtGAnOKIj1mWX-1i50OpOVCKKzxyI48jL7Kjf39R5LiJNb4-K_XheFcU7pp731Pel_hM-0saXd1fFKVFDIT8cgicAWPXtoE9Faa58kETuQLOueSOaX8HlhKW_IbL00SXEHjz/s1600-h/P2162686.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKHWZePlLVgtGAnOKIj1mWX-1i50OpOVCKKzxyI48jL7Kjf39R5LiJNb4-K_XheFcU7pp731Pel_hM-0saXd1fFKVFDIT8cgicAWPXtoE9Faa58kETuQLOueSOaX8HlhKW_IbL00SXEHjz/s320/P2162686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306061847291567586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sorry this is where you should see me applying the maple syrup, but I forgot to take the picture.<br /><br />Just sayin...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The we put some black pepper and maple syrup over the crumbled bacon.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PmGEQDKUBf2Xk0MikeO1tIZGbtqjDuvG1QAf4xti2Jjin74Czfm3lKRVZYJEylE4FuBkldGhpphMfz6i-U1l0DV3kUOorozd9TYAt3TlGZtprK9Gii01iZSZ87zLM5yNRo4mA2E67HKW/s1600-h/P2162690.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PmGEQDKUBf2Xk0MikeO1tIZGbtqjDuvG1QAf4xti2Jjin74Czfm3lKRVZYJEylE4FuBkldGhpphMfz6i-U1l0DV3kUOorozd9TYAt3TlGZtprK9Gii01iZSZ87zLM5yNRo4mA2E67HKW/s320/P2162690.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306063137105007858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbf-jVwjKsEjTcevDZuJ8awajMEzC3XgaVVXy0BogysJ01Krc1S6Wp5oO8lopWWtOYfRE8jBEAvoZAkcw_04E7t0OxgG7XiNIkbj4VguxQLFJYGHLuhMPw3FmMwz3Lhbgi45dhMP-LsSn7/s1600-h/P2162687.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbf-jVwjKsEjTcevDZuJ8awajMEzC3XgaVVXy0BogysJ01Krc1S6Wp5oO8lopWWtOYfRE8jBEAvoZAkcw_04E7t0OxgG7XiNIkbj4VguxQLFJYGHLuhMPw3FmMwz3Lhbgi45dhMP-LsSn7/s320/P2162687.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306062164129883586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With the sausage rolled up we place it on the bacon weave and use the plastic wrap to roll the whole pork joint up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFclk9-Bq1Gxtdo5VfQyQQnMW6zSdES1S6oofUI_aQALi8hQ68YbSjy0WpFIiArk0qu0O8IHCdXzTamdrJp1wUXYHTcjS6_Pt4p81IWLCYryuhU_TsJ5Lz9Aq28m-mnb_J23wZrXTtAKW/s1600-h/P2162695.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFclk9-Bq1Gxtdo5VfQyQQnMW6zSdES1S6oofUI_aQALi8hQ68YbSjy0WpFIiArk0qu0O8IHCdXzTamdrJp1wUXYHTcjS6_Pt4p81IWLCYryuhU_TsJ5Lz9Aq28m-mnb_J23wZrXTtAKW/s320/P2162695.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306063991029844850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuLVNo4yufvmkTTWUW8tOb79hscHukvOOwIjvN2sBxn4SmV-qQelmiV8z1CCcDoI_Y1sij4lnCAsgdUW61j3hY76T2CBxJdgYRzP3hGqLPzmMa-ytawSVmqpms8BDUxyCF52DZ14R4KZ3/s1600-h/P2162696.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuLVNo4yufvmkTTWUW8tOb79hscHukvOOwIjvN2sBxn4SmV-qQelmiV8z1CCcDoI_Y1sij4lnCAsgdUW61j3hY76T2CBxJdgYRzP3hGqLPzmMa-ytawSVmqpms8BDUxyCF52DZ14R4KZ3/s320/P2162696.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306064326272903314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With the temp probe stuck in the side, into the smoker it goes.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTLe9vOWI0tOmPSDEkYG7QGEkMXHEslDlpXJJKeLZV-2onThqms8MsEw_tI5ALt_who7WETgH-43RUtTxf600MU3sHrrM2Ic2HnwAsazcJvmETh6t58Zk8v-0QwSurYPr7MJVT6iWC4Ms/s1600-h/P2162700.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTLe9vOWI0tOmPSDEkYG7QGEkMXHEslDlpXJJKeLZV-2onThqms8MsEw_tI5ALt_who7WETgH-43RUtTxf600MU3sHrrM2Ic2HnwAsazcJvmETh6t58Zk8v-0QwSurYPr7MJVT6iWC4Ms/s320/P2162700.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306065001969482418" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1pu5BleIAGUxtBBDr3PablomtFpx5T1xlD1C0NNs2E0GZuMCJ4UwP6pjgAOtSY7Yks-5bMJ7u8GCeyCVqP1VcR2I7sSrg44QKvd-b1XwHJbndDqG2gjVvREUWAKQgFVSkSK1cxi2eYZw/s1600-h/P2162699.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA1pu5BleIAGUxtBBDr3PablomtFpx5T1xlD1C0NNs2E0GZuMCJ4UwP6pjgAOtSY7Yks-5bMJ7u8GCeyCVqP1VcR2I7sSrg44QKvd-b1XwHJbndDqG2gjVvREUWAKQgFVSkSK1cxi2eYZw/s320/P2162699.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306065353401192930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Once 165 degrees have been reached it is time to get it off the heat.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMf6WTRH34g2iOMqeFkCC8uTz7RxnjpX8pwACRJu8IeLXSROHkTZxLlESvM0jmpwVzuK5OFi2WC7K76qGFVR55CY1F8vOTfUS5NKCva5sH3q7tnX4xTvwCCTGJK22c6wD9Y2KGl8GV6Gc/s1600-h/P2162705.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 175px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMf6WTRH34g2iOMqeFkCC8uTz7RxnjpX8pwACRJu8IeLXSROHkTZxLlESvM0jmpwVzuK5OFi2WC7K76qGFVR55CY1F8vOTfUS5NKCva5sH3q7tnX4xTvwCCTGJK22c6wD9Y2KGl8GV6Gc/s320/P2162705.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306065772778651362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEaUWtTNHvTjki9QllZXZUTwe0A2ts4CvPPQDC3pkWgiufVWF-OlEcMkvYwOvi3ZNxHf9T9k-nQ3oQ9ytbefbZ8CblUXR1-RdkWGEK2O9cbS7FxoEpTlLmRMNTCi61uddQd6BoxyELvzV/s1600-h/P2162704.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEaUWtTNHvTjki9QllZXZUTwe0A2ts4CvPPQDC3pkWgiufVWF-OlEcMkvYwOvi3ZNxHf9T9k-nQ3oQ9ytbefbZ8CblUXR1-RdkWGEK2O9cbS7FxoEpTlLmRMNTCi61uddQd6BoxyELvzV/s320/P2162704.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306066119413279106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With the meat rested it is time to contemplate what to stick it in<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPRO05W81MK9SHKszt2EHyMeLV7sdlNv60GCOG4hCkCOmPaxmQSkFHbGTtPq5RjEJvfGDFunmIkjilua0sGRYsO3GjWWllGRql-tE18FsVbD1NsP9icoYCekW1c9Z7wG458t92Qk9aHEq/s1600-h/P2162708.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisPRO05W81MK9SHKszt2EHyMeLV7sdlNv60GCOG4hCkCOmPaxmQSkFHbGTtPq5RjEJvfGDFunmIkjilua0sGRYsO3GjWWllGRql-tE18FsVbD1NsP9icoYCekW1c9Z7wG458t92Qk9aHEq/s320/P2162708.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306067295709884594" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN8_ykDIDqEXgIILABPDCEIPkdsNhrWyna0NCKciw1r-dF25rVImu_ND0pkthVG68HGfIV0z5d6KsjKvCmL8Fl-B7N-Wg5yqIpAEzUJSxbzXKTnV1Kf8HIGiEJE6jGnCfayGiSsZseRi_/s1600-h/P2162707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 230px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGN8_ykDIDqEXgIILABPDCEIPkdsNhrWyna0NCKciw1r-dF25rVImu_ND0pkthVG68HGfIV0z5d6KsjKvCmL8Fl-B7N-Wg5yqIpAEzUJSxbzXKTnV1Kf8HIGiEJE6jGnCfayGiSsZseRi_/s320/P2162707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306066929229208690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With a quick honing on the steel, it is time to operate and assemble<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pwkE854793JGG1WZWyev2J-1ZexPnho-9Sq_Ek6SE01h-NdJ_7FV3vlV1EQfvNTlhhovea6iw7Xfib4sJh1Bi2_2sT81WSBppJINWM_0cZ9XcHOrACFXRF0c3tW8kL3j0kWEMnS3G2pT/s1600-h/P2162710.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pwkE854793JGG1WZWyev2J-1ZexPnho-9Sq_Ek6SE01h-NdJ_7FV3vlV1EQfvNTlhhovea6iw7Xfib4sJh1Bi2_2sT81WSBppJINWM_0cZ9XcHOrACFXRF0c3tW8kL3j0kWEMnS3G2pT/s400/P2162710.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306067825295813730" border="0" /></a><br />Is your mouth watering yet? Pork on a buttermilk biscuit, as close to heaven as you can get!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-76372775656092229762009-02-18T10:17:00.004-05:002009-02-18T14:29:58.722-05:00<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >What have you done...</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(psst, pass it on)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I take no credit for this… I saw it at <a href="http://femaleprodigy.com/">http://femaleprodigy.com</a> who got it from <a href="http://dizzybloom.tumblr.com/">http://dizzybloom.tumblr.com</a> who got it from <a href="http://wheremyboysat.blogspot.com/">http://wheremyboysat.blogspot.com</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bold </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">is the things you have done.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">45/50 I better get busy.</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">1. Started your own blog</strong> <em style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></em><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">2. Slept under the stars</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 3. Played in a band</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 4. Visited Hawaii</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5. Watched a meteor shower</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">6. Given more than you can afford to charity</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">7. Been to Disneyland </strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">8. Climbed a mountain</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">9. Held a praying mantis</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">10. Sang a solo</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 11. Bungee jumped</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 12. Visited Paris</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">13. Watched a lightning storm at sea</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">14. Taught yourself an art from scratch</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">15. Adopted a child</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">16. Had food poisoning</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">18. Grown your own vegetables</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 20. Slept on an overnight train</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">21. Had a pillow fight</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">22. Hitch hiked</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">24. Built a snow fort</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">25. Held a lamb</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">26. Gone skinny dipping</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> 2<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">7. Run a Marathon</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">29. Seen a total eclipse</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">30. Watched a sunrise or sunset</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">31. Hit a home run</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">32. Been on a cruise</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">33. Seen Niagara Falls in person</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">35. Seen an Amish community</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">36. Taught yourself a new language</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">39. Gone Rock Climbing</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">41. Sung karaoke</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 44. Visited Africa</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">45. Walked on a beach by moonlight</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">46. Been transported in an ambulance</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">47. Had your portrait painted</span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">48. Gone deep sea fishing</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">52. Kissed in the rain</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">53. Played in the mud</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">54. Gone to a drive-in theater</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 55. Been in a movie</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 56. Visited the Great Wall of China</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 57. Started a business</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 58. Taken a martial arts class</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 59. Visited Russia</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 60. Served at a soup kitchen</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 62. Gone whale watching</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">63. Got flowers for no reason</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">65. Gone sky diving</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">67. Bounced a check</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">68. Flown in a helicopter</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">69. Saved a favorite childhood toy</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">71. Eaten Caviar</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">72. Pieced a quilt</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">73. Stood in Times Square</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">74. Toured the Everglades</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">75. Been fired from a job</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 77. Broken a bone</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">78. Been on a speeding motorcycle</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 80. Published a book</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 81. Visited the Vatican</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">82. Bought a brand new car</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">83. Walked in Jerusalem</span></span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">84. Had your picture in the newspaper</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">85. Read the entire Bible</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">86. Visited the White House</strong><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">88. Had chickenpox</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">89. Saved someone’s life</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 90. Sat on a jury</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">91. Met someone famous</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: normal; color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">92. Joined a book club</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">93. Lost a loved one</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">94. Had a baby</strong><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);">95. Seen the Alamo in person</span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"> 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake</span><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">97. Been involved in a law suit</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">98. Owned a cell phone</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">99. Been stung by a bee</strong><br /><strong style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">100. Read an entire book in one day</strong>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-45468279748337949672009-02-17T08:50:00.016-05:002009-03-09T15:33:37.491-04:00<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">Snow Tubing</span></div><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">It Is The Closest My Wife Will Get To Actually Skiing</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >On Thursday the 13th of February we headed up t</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >o the Allentown area of Pennsultucky. Just north of Allentown is a nice ski area called<a href="http://www.skibluemt.com/"> Blue </a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.skibluemt.com/">Mountain</a> in Palmerton.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> This is where we would ski and snow tube for the next two days.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> We stayed at the Best Western in Allentown, right off route 22. It is on a pretty busy street, so at night the traffic </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">needs to be drowned out with the fan in the room. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The hotel is brand new and still had the new car scent to it. It had a nice indoor pool and a fitness center. Our room was on the 2nd</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> floor, nu</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXeuwk9rfXQWNdXfSGRq-f-ZjuqIwRhJueCzYzA34v7EM4UAudMvSAfqEdRCW2pgm3rMKU32CI2zGkla6bUETDltSmD_j1OwfE2WBuIu30eE0B-b17YCbOtPfNz-ERjD-grcnLzCmpb1Q/s1600-h/P2122622.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXeuwk9rfXQWNdXfSGRq-f-ZjuqIwRhJueCzYzA34v7EM4UAudMvSAfqEdRCW2pgm3rMKU32CI2zGkla6bUETDltSmD_j1OwfE2WBuIu30eE0B-b17YCbOtPfNz-ERjD-grcnLzCmpb1Q/s200/P2122622.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303791223768203890" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mber 224. Very clean, nicely decor</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ated and very comfortable. Equipped with a 40" LCD (but no</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> set top box or HD), a king bed and a full pull out sofa </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">for the boys. After settling in we headed down to the pool for a quick swim. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">After a dip in the pool I took some laps on </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the treadmill, and quic</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">kly made myself exhausted on </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the ellip</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">tical. Now that calor</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ies were sufficiently burned, I he</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">aded to the business center to hit up some free Internet. Brand new PC's</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> with laser printers and fax machines were at my disposal</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. After a </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">quick Facebook update and a couple of Tweets, I was back up in the room. I will skip my lone ski details and focus on dinner that night and the next day with the family at the tube park.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauQxalfd4bjBU0BZbAjaiEHVfyRhdc82ucBuoClifeBQKvWR9lXYQNoqXrIK3v1Wp-qHsQgtIxkh8KbyMewe8TgBlQNia2KhylOcejHR0eiiGt68gLFOtLHxH2piHM7ORBxP0nVzTFbIS/s1600-h/P2122651.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauQxalfd4bjBU0BZbAjaiEHVfyRhdc82ucBuoClifeBQKvWR9lXYQNoqXrIK3v1Wp-qHsQgtIxkh8KbyMewe8TgBlQNia2KhylOcejHR0eiiGt68gLFOtLHxH2piHM7ORBxP0nVzTFbIS/s320/P2122651.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303793221046420018" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Local Beer. It's What's For Dinner</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRDhQ9EVhwm9DHoZtBpwCE7qlFoUdqM5A9UYIOxZ4z_8I1_2mdnG5rCiWq-HBZXsXoPDLWyB9h0-flp8Q4KYwiIJb3LGdAQXRRd_Wn2_dX2UBG5bAd5PEpsDdFdKms41BM02fMrdOAGo3/s1600-h/P2122635.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaRDhQ9EVhwm9DHoZtBpwCE7qlFoUdqM5A9UYIOxZ4z_8I1_2mdnG5rCiWq-HBZXsXoPDLWyB9h0-flp8Q4KYwiIJb3LGdAQXRRd_Wn2_dX2UBG5bAd5PEpsDdFdKms41BM02fMrdOAGo3/s200/P2122635.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303791759888214754" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Dinner time rolled around and we were once again back in the room. I told my wife lets hit up the local</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> guide for a food recommendation. There were about 10 nice places to eat and we had to make the tough choice, but once I saw the local micro-brew</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and restaurant, how could I pass up some good local beer? The place was called Allentown Brew Works. I hit up the business center again on the way out to get directions and to make sure t</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">he place was not a total dive. It looked good on the w</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">eb, </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);" href="http://www.thebrewworks.com/allentown-brewworks/">Allentown Brew Works</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, and it was not to far away from the hotel, so away we went.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7luaciRy-dd0dS8wS3vJgtC2NVQ55rbXNNWLElbNtYhiDTLHLwgKxu9tgy3C4DzieP6WeK6mvyCOzB4Jb-VM-ja02MyFFIHOUD-V0okrZ-pRuuRpYn2QOg0BYEp4nuF1im0h3Ch0ctZAc/s1600-h/P2122633.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7luaciRy-dd0dS8wS3vJgtC2NVQ55rbXNNWLElbNtYhiDTLHLwgKxu9tgy3C4DzieP6WeK6mvyCOzB4Jb-VM-ja02MyFFIHOUD-V0okrZ-pRuuRpYn2QOg0BYEp4nuF1im0h3Ch0ctZAc/s320/P2122633.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303791959182897890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nyone who k</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nows me or any reader of this blog can tell that I lov</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">e beer, good beer. The first two types on my must drink list are Stouts and IPAs. The natural thi</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">nk for me to do was to cruise the beer menu and look for a Stout. On the "seasonal" page was a Stout that caught my eye, Blast Furnace Imperial</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Stout. Being an I</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mperial, I knew it would have a higher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_by_volume">ABV</a>,</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and I was right. At 8.5%ABV it was right up my alley. Served </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">in a brandy snifter it was full of chocolate, caramel and a bit of oatmeal/coffee. A nice smooth mouth feel gave this a great drinkabi</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">lity. A+ in my book. And to accompany the Stout I had a nice beer and cheddar che</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexIyesqnsUflbHCKX73vUiYXducsxVnQZOcOMRH3Nh_5QAUhN7rcX6Y36UU9Ng51LMRHbL3sAKLEewhiwAKCw5u1Z9wWhKAAD7eZWwbPNSzpIoSld-jbk39GZi4uCJL09VawiaZYZP8Wn/s1600-h/P2122639.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexIyesqnsUflbHCKX73vUiYXducsxVnQZOcOMRH3Nh_5QAUhN7rcX6Y36UU9Ng51LMRHbL3sAKLEewhiwAKCw5u1Z9wWhKAAD7eZWwbPNSzpIoSld-jbk39GZi4uCJL09VawiaZYZP8Wn/s320/P2122639.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303792497778973954" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ese soup. Perfect fit, the saltiness of the soup went very well with</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> the sweetness of </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">the stout. Next was my entr</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">e</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">e. I smoke a lot of meat at home, so naturally when I saw pulled pork on the menu I had to get it. This was probably a mistake on my part. You see their pulled pork was pretty good, but it was just not MY pulled pork. The battered fries were very good. And with dinner what did I drink? My other top two, a Double In</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">dian Pale Ale called "Hop'Solutely". This was PURE HOP JUICE. And wow what a color, I wish I could do a better job at describing it, maybe like a very dark raspberry ice tea. Brewed with Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo, Summit and Tomahawk hops and sporting an 11.5% ABV and an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Bitterness_Units_scale">IBU</a> of 74, this one was a</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> killer. I was in love from the first sniff. The grapefruit p</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJNsz06EhX6h-hO35oKILkowRPOEokadSnK6xJpMjXCtKvQZq49WXtgd9w0FsjYbrwJFijzrHsCLpTYcCVlSC4SDHs4RKLsHrwsicgbzcGhPis81-IzxmUQngXw7sDUS4aYF7tJmmyl9-/s1600-h/P2122643.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGJNsz06EhX6h-hO35oKILkowRPOEokadSnK6xJpMjXCtKvQZq49WXtgd9w0FsjYbrwJFijzrHsCLpTYcCVlSC4SDHs4RKLsHrwsicgbzcGhPis81-IzxmUQngXw7sDUS4aYF7tJmmyl9-/s320/P2122643.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303792738022226130" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">unched me in the face and then kick</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ed my ass when I sipped it. Perfect bitterness rounded out nicely by a stron</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ger then usual malt profile. This was one of the best <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_Pale_Ale#Double_India_Pale_Ale">DIPAs</a> I have ever drank. I wish they bottled it. A++</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We decided to skip de</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">s</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">sert as we were very tired. I contemplated bringing a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_bottle#Growler">growler</a> back to the hotel, but at around 23 bucks, I did not think I would finish the full 1/2 gallon so I was left</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> with only the pleasant hop finish in my mouth. If you are ever going to go skiing at Blue Mountain or have some summer time fun at Dorney Park, do yourself a favor and eat (and drink) at the Allentown Brew Works. (Sorry but the two beers I drank were on the seasonal menu)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_m_r40nBcXoZXKv_IQoa2AIrWmWz6Mk5VCXDvCHJdu4ZhAuPm4vOz4wRO7JIHlpNQvdnyXDaGLQ5wHlj5EM1uGkbg75mqHXIep_NyihRnAB_Hyj_wtybLy5GjUfTZCkcNKYkV66KZTuN/s1600-h/P2132657.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_m_r40nBcXoZXKv_IQoa2AIrWmWz6Mk5VCXDvCHJdu4ZhAuPm4vOz4wRO7JIHlpNQvdnyXDaGLQ5wHlj5EM1uGkbg75mqHXIep_NyihRnAB_Hyj_wtybLy5GjUfTZCkcNKYkV66KZTuN/s320/P2132657.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303793508023180786" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Awake, Awake, It I</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >s Time To Tube</span><br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Friday morning came quickly and we were all showered and headed down to the breakfast area in the hotel for some eats. If there was anything about this hotel to complain about it was two issues I had with the free breakfast. First the Belgium waffle mix was way to watery. It made the waffles like a balloon, nothing inside but air. And, secondly, the egg omelets were like rubber. But other then that I can not complain. it was clean and there was plenty of food to eat. Four types or cereal, bagels, muffins, hot cinnamon rolls, the rubber eggs, the waffle balloons, some fruit, etc., etc. After breakfast we went up to pack, check out and load up the van. Off we were and up 145 we went. It did not take long to get to the mountain, maybe 10-15 minutes. The road actually comes up o</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYj8yKJklx2STkpkT68Rz4o6V71JmRhuSRCRZBwPRtsQvPIMRPC7xIRgTUDpWck3T88qYwhntYK15Tt_AfwIc0p4y3aqM2Cn8LSxZER3Duh-BwngfnYt3Juu7dtFNIdInypj0wJxE2R7p/s1600-h/P2132660.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYj8yKJklx2STkpkT68Rz4o6V71JmRhuSRCRZBwPRtsQvPIMRPC7xIRgTUDpWck3T88qYwhntYK15Tt_AfwIc0p4y3aqM2Cn8LSxZER3Duh-BwngfnYt3Juu7dtFNIdInypj0wJxE2R7p/s320/P2132660.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303793917412801058" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">ver the mountain from the south and once you hea</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">d over the crest you make your way about 1.3 miles down to the Tubing Park.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Now mind you it was a Friday and most of the kids should have </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">been in school. Well they must have all cut out that day, they were here on the mountain. The ticket line was not that bad, but as we walked toward the first lift line, wow, it was then we knew it would be like Disney World (but without the nice weather and theme rides). The ski lifts did not take nearly as long as the tube lifts. The first one we got on was the family tube. It was a large tube that the whole family gets in (up to four) and then they hook you up to the lift and it pulls you up the hill. Once at the top there is a sign that says "Roll Out Here" and they mean it, you have to roll out at the top so they can unhook the tube from the lift. Once free you wa</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">lk over to any of the 20 trails and get in the tube and they push you down. But you must again wait on a line at the top of the hill before being pushed down. I timed the ride down, 15 seconds. You wait on a 20-30 minute line to go 1</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">5 seconds. At least in Disney the</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOrEAu1kt1Ja-0IUXnsWgh6dtSoVlNr7WSt9JRleDZw1L6VHB6Ycb3mmHE6oIptgFiE_yG5q_fvhkIm4uDxzqZVC-FW86m5PsYixqG-ZLAy4AMND1Uw_O5uhE_nA2u5Pi49inX6zQmrmt/s1600-h/P2132666.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOrEAu1kt1Ja-0IUXnsWgh6dtSoVlNr7WSt9JRleDZw1L6VHB6Ycb3mmHE6oIptgFiE_yG5q_fvhkIm4uDxzqZVC-FW86m5PsYixqG-ZLAy4AMND1Uw_O5uhE_nA2u5Pi49inX6zQmrmt/s320/P2132666.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303794395793282850" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> time you invest on the line gives you a return of around a 2-5 minute ride and sometimes longer. We did not go on the family tube again that day.<br /><br />Next we got on the single rider tube line. Once we secured a tube for each of us we settled in for the long wait. And while waiting on the line all the kids are getting impatient. There is a lot of parents yelling at the kids while on this line. My little one just sat in his tube or the verge of sleep the whole time we pulled him through</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> the line. This lift was a carpet lift. It is like a conveyor belt that you stand on and it pulls you up the hill. Think about an airport people mover. At the top you are allowed to anchor the tubes together and go down like a train. A lot of people were doing this. My wife and 3 year old tied up together. My 10 year old and myself went solo. We took a running start and jumped on the tube on our bellies and went down head first. Very nice. But then in like 12 seconds you were at the bottom and looking at the line again. Better off back at the Brew Works drinking. We went down a couple more times and got hungry. After a quick drive to the top of the mountain, we hit the lodge to get some food. Holy crap, the lines were even bigger inside. We decided the day was over and we would get something on the road. As I drove down 145 south, I was tempted to stop in the Allentown Brew Works again to grab a growl</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">er. I waved as I drove by instead. Looking in the back seat I noticed my little one was now asleep. I told my wife we would head towards home until he wakes up. He never did, all the way back to East Brunswick he slept soundly. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Well that pretty much summed up our little trip to Pa. We pretty much bummed around on Sat. that followed and on Sunday I was smoking some ribs. I had my wife's parents coming over to watch the Daytona 500 after the Ranger game. On Sunday while I was eating my baby backs all I could think about was how well a growler of Hop'Solutely Double IPA would have went down with the ribs.</span> Oh well, the <a href="http://www.averybrewing.com/BigBeers/seasonal/TheMaharaja">Avery Maharaja</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> was a good substitute.<br /><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yQYT5zaEie5vJW0ahM-lhwX9Rr_TQkMs5AYz-7txti8p6Cc8ilf2F1faqQJEywRTspODESJiAJS8RLoG1MNvwCuJF8zNhSwPrfz0udgxMgNcZpOaudKWKIpd8xgIy873O84REYPCP7NI/s1600-h/P2132673.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yQYT5zaEie5vJW0ahM-lhwX9Rr_TQkMs5AYz-7txti8p6Cc8ilf2F1faqQJEywRTspODESJiAJS8RLoG1MNvwCuJF8zNhSwPrfz0udgxMgNcZpOaudKWKIpd8xgIy873O84REYPCP7NI/s320/P2132673.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303794844995873106" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tired In The Lodge</span><br /></div><br /><br /></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-80885981008685313742009-02-12T09:20:00.006-05:002009-02-17T11:00:12.122-05:00<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">FRAMBOISE BOON<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jlEbUrLykDSphkYa362VghxtTzTesXaBFtjdhXDutVTCxVanJ38VvAeepisBvP2fhDvleo5_R6Z3Lur2d9uiWvImWCVQK9ozEZduXb8Ng7ucC8h5fziTGLkNneniKE1yNl9cwsIHv85i/s1600-h/flesBoonFramboise.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 116px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jlEbUrLykDSphkYa362VghxtTzTesXaBFtjdhXDutVTCxVanJ38VvAeepisBvP2fhDvleo5_R6Z3Lur2d9uiWvImWCVQK9ozEZduXb8Ng7ucC8h5fziTGLkNneniKE1yNl9cwsIHv85i/s400/flesBoonFramboise.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301927376749416146" border="0" /></a></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Traditional Belgian Lambic - 100% spontaneously fermented ale. Aged 2 years in oak vats. Minimum 200 grams of real raspberries per liter. Brewed in Lembeek, the village that gave Lambic its name.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Vessel was a 355ml wine bottle, stopped with a cage and cork. I removed the cage and to the </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgN-ZI4hjLHVjODk8oqO80F_O37rbkBHBukOw4WcgMX0Z_XY7May4B0jRDb8eztzZIS_CggxOxqCCyyl4pvt1zX96QPJNsasZgTTGhG-xUacq9W6SNcfYVqQiJ1jWXcxqv2Zv5KPOKgi9/s1600-h/P1012607.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgN-ZI4hjLHVjODk8oqO80F_O37rbkBHBukOw4WcgMX0Z_XY7May4B0jRDb8eztzZIS_CggxOxqCCyyl4pvt1zX96QPJNsasZgTTGhG-xUacq9W6SNcfYVqQiJ1jWXcxqv2Zv5KPOKgi9/s320/P1012607.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301927650292864034" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">amusement of my wife, shot the cork across the living room. I poured it into one of my larger bowled wine glasses. As the liquid filled the glass, the strong aroma of Raspberries filled the room. I thought we were in trouble. I figured a cloying, syrupy flavored raspberry soda was to follow. The color in the glass was a dark reddish-brown-, almost like an oxidized, older vintage wine. It had a short lived head that settled down to a thin ring with light lacing. A view into the side of the glass revealed a turbid, unfiltered look. The viscosity was thinner then I expected.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A couple of swirls and I planted my nose to the rim to get a sinus filled raspberry explosion. Like fresh raspberry juice mixed with raspberry sherbet. After the initial raspberry shock settled down I got into the secondary aromas. It had a very strong iron-oxide smell, almost like wet, rusty nails. Sour red fruits and citrus also played within my nostrils. The time had come to drink this over-sweetened raspberry soda. I put the thin rim to my lips and...</span><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFj4REHtHRhpVuXgZyQP3XYDuSCmeBVVbWLeBWqpijk6O85OHjlAJe6mqX35kVlydQYKJQhWqB8DJqFaVr_yMCxKUuWq36sJ6_yHykwNkBE6P4S2k6XiozraVv22e-XS6j8CjOtdvHDJu/s1600-h/P1012611.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRFj4REHtHRhpVuXgZyQP3XYDuSCmeBVVbWLeBWqpijk6O85OHjlAJe6mqX35kVlydQYKJQhWqB8DJqFaVr_yMCxKUuWq36sJ6_yHykwNkBE6P4S2k6XiozraVv22e-XS6j8CjOtdvHDJu/s320/P1012611.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301928792467958610" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">...boy was I wrong. This was not cloying at all, in fact it was dominated by bitter, sour red fruit. Sour raspberry, sour strawberry and a definite acidic citrus component. I sat for a minute and waited for the "beer" part to kick in. Waited. And I waited some more. Then finally I got the smallest hint of wheat, but not as much as I would have liked. I also missed the funky barnyard tastes and smells that lambics are about. The carbonation was right up there with soda. It was a little bit thin and really no finish to speak about. Very hollow in the mid palate. It drank like a value priced red wine.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Would I be drinking this again? Probably not. Was it a total loss? Nope. It was a decent drink while watching the Rangers beat the Capitals 5-4 in a shootout. I would still rather drink Lindemans Framboise with very bitter dark chocolate, though.</span>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-62561654889019030372009-02-01T12:43:00.003-05:002009-02-17T11:00:58.490-05:00<div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">The Bacon Bra</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1DlN-EjzFb4OCbTmju8j2AJ2paTJ8SBDX4yNGQVniQK7W0Ww2uiwgcDmt3F_dbKP6v81Zo3Lg4Db98_sDnpkqxIM_C2Lv8AJCHCOLyvaSWkH7oST9zHCkOlK-2MMVHog32XDdE-__dLZ/s1600-h/20080402-baconbra.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1DlN-EjzFb4OCbTmju8j2AJ2paTJ8SBDX4yNGQVniQK7W0Ww2uiwgcDmt3F_dbKP6v81Zo3Lg4Db98_sDnpkqxIM_C2Lv8AJCHCOLyvaSWkH7oST9zHCkOlK-2MMVHog32XDdE-__dLZ/s400/20080402-baconbra.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297886144901777954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Bacon, not just for consumption anymore.</span><br /></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-4694360165159401822009-01-25T08:23:00.002-05:002009-02-17T11:01:50.553-05:00<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprincipe/3224248170/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3353/3224248170_fbdfaa41a9_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cprincipe/3224248170/">These won't last long</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/cprincipe/">HotblackDesiato</a></span></div>Come on out from behind that TV Matt, you are not THAT shy. Those 6 bottle bags are great for carrying 2 bottles of wine and two glasses to you favorite BYOB.Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-17549527950513029592008-12-22T20:38:00.005-05:002009-03-09T14:54:08.549-04:00<div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Westmalle</span> Trappist <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Dubbel</span> Ale</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymDkx-g8WFXzPSFzdox-vIwg2t4Kv6nHlnH_zNX09hCcvTmXdcsaT5ad7DY_4i4fhQnYlBkffhLy6sZDr4PP78cxSOArSns4j6ydupk5yQJSWU4GNofwQUF5rjquZmGxnddXe7FLlH6A3/s1600-h/WestmalleDubbel.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymDkx-g8WFXzPSFzdox-vIwg2t4Kv6nHlnH_zNX09hCcvTmXdcsaT5ad7DY_4i4fhQnYlBkffhLy6sZDr4PP78cxSOArSns4j6ydupk5yQJSWU4GNofwQUF5rjquZmGxnddXe7FLlH6A3/s400/WestmalleDubbel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282807964771250818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Liquid:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Westmalle</span> Trappist <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Dubbel</span> Ale</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Stats:</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br />7% <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ABV</span><br /><br />1.063 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">SG</span><br /><br />Those are the only two specs I can find online. I would place the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">IBU</span> between 30-40.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Ingredients:</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Malts: </strong>?</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Hops:</strong> </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Tett</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Saaz</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Styrians</span> (as well as unnamed hops)<br /></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Yeast & Water: </strong>No record of the yeas, though we know it is a single yest. They get their water from an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">artesian</span> aquifer & then filter out unwanted metals.<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Notes:</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;">This was my first sampling of one of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Westmalle's</span> Ales. The only other Trappist Ale I have had is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Chimay</span>. I like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Westmalle</span> better. If you are not <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">familar</span> with Trappist Ales let me enlighten you a wee bit.<br /></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, or Trappists, are a contemplative Roman Catholic religious order, that follows the Rule of St. Benedict. These Trappist monks live in monasteries. It is in these monasteries that they brew these ales. There are under 200 monasteries left in the world, and out of that, only seven produce beer (six in Belgium and one in the Netherlands), these are known as The Select Seven. The first Trappist Ales were brewed to sustain the monks during fasting. The quality of these brews is very high and this is the main reason they have taken steps to protect the name from being used by outside brewers whether big or small. A foundation called "Internationale Vereniging Trappist" was set up and a logo produced to signify a true Trappist ale. There are only seven breweries that adhere to the strict standards and production criteria today, these are: Chimay, Westmalle, Orval, Rochefort, Westvleteren and Achel, located in Belgium, and LaTrappe in the Netherlands.</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;">Appearance: <span class="rkr">Deep, deep, reddish brown color with some burnt umber at the edges. The beer pours with an dense head of rich, creamy foam that lace down to the last sip. </span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;"><br /></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Aroma: Malty, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">bready</span> and a bit of fruit. Some citrus notes as well as caramel. It was probably not the best time for me to put thoughts to paper after drinking this ale as I am a little bit stuffed up with a head cold. Oh well.<br /></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Taste: Malty. Sweet malt. It has a nice freshness to it too. A little bit of that caramel as well. I have to admit that I poured the whole thing into my glass and allowed the yeast to join the party. I know this will give a more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">bready</span> taste and I like that. It also gives the appearance some cloudiness.<br /></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;">Mouth feel: Smooth with a good bit of carbonation due to the secondary bottle <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">fermentation</span>. Mouth coating but not to viscous or creamy. It hangs around and finishes with a nice dryness.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial;">I encourage all to give this style of brew a try. The single yeast, secondary bottle fermentation will give you a nice white bread component to it. Malt before hop, so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">hopheads</span> may not like this style.<br /></p><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >The Score:</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" > A-</span>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-41392412899030003492008-12-21T08:15:00.005-05:002009-03-09T14:55:16.023-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Rogue's Dead Guy Ale<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYvgTL68nQ21ivw_tQgU3ZZDRvaJUsZiNNJ-OAFFUu-5BrfiIBbcp-BKLYjXgG4eT6L7LfiyV6E8N04WHDLoPVMlJ3EOXDaDYrWqHZsA_09BhcFM-jXIuZ1MDPz7_qgeeH2J3wpAgy42x/s1600-h/deadguyale.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 118px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYvgTL68nQ21ivw_tQgU3ZZDRvaJUsZiNNJ-OAFFUu-5BrfiIBbcp-BKLYjXgG4eT6L7LfiyV6E8N04WHDLoPVMlJ3EOXDaDYrWqHZsA_09BhcFM-jXIuZ1MDPz7_qgeeH2J3wpAgy42x/s400/deadguyale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282241808292715202" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Liquid:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rogue's Dead Guy Ale</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Stats:</span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><br />16º PLATO </span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">40 IBU</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">78 AA</span></p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" > 16º Lovibond</span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Ingredients:</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Malts: </strong>Northwest Harrington, Klages, Maier Munich and Carastan. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Hops:</strong> Perle and Saaz. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Yeast & Water: </strong>Rogue's Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Notes:</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hope you like your German when drinking this one. This is done in the Maibock style, though not a true Maibock and you do not have to wait for April-May for this to roll around.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Appearance: Poured an off orange, butterscotch color. Nice creamy, two finger almond color head that dissipated to a healthy ring with good lacing.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Aroma: I was expecting more from this on the nose. The main component here is this malts. They are greatly overpowering, but the do stand taller then the hops. I also get a bit of apple peel on the nose.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Taste: Once again I think I was expecting more. Although not up to what I was expecting, it is still a very nice flavor. Not complex, but balanced and tasty. The malts dominate the hops all day long on this. Like I said I hope you are a fan of German lagers, hop heads need not apply. Once the initial taste of malt subsides you can now get a little bit of the hops with a very small treat of bitterness on the finish. There is also a subtle sweetness to this one. Maybe honey, maybe a little bit of the taste you get when you keep bread in your mouth and let the pytalin convert the starches to sugars. It is subtle, but present. </p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mouth feel: Very creamy with good carbonation. The hops tend to stick around towards the end and give you a little sampling of bitterness. Finishes dry and has good drink-ability. A six pack goes down with ease.<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was actually surprised that my non-beer drinking wife actually liked this. She said this is one of the few beers she could drink (along with a nice frambois lambic). Will I be drinking a lot more of this? No. But when I crave some of that malty Bock style brew, this may be where I come.</p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >The Score:</span> B-<br /></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /></p><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /></span></div></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-44045042711808260732008-12-18T18:50:00.007-05:002009-03-09T14:56:26.643-04:00<div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rogue's Chocolate Stout</span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8FDrh0d-0YKZNHVi-GLoqZ0kNReftj96RRNaHbahZQZmChSCaVnPTPuGIjPU6M_XZnpXXmSLLSKzhho-I8tH9KuAYxzA0fIFXqFPdoEVxblO7XjJPp8WbgQH3xz4qnhtFRmx4r8pT6e6/s1600-h/Chocolate2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 117px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8FDrh0d-0YKZNHVi-GLoqZ0kNReftj96RRNaHbahZQZmChSCaVnPTPuGIjPU6M_XZnpXXmSLLSKzhho-I8tH9KuAYxzA0fIFXqFPdoEVxblO7XjJPp8WbgQH3xz4qnhtFRmx4r8pT6e6/s400/Chocolate2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281288908814346882" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >The stats: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">15º PLATO</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">69 IBU</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">77 AA</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">135º Lovibond </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The ingredients: </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </span><p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Malts: </strong>Northwest Harrington & Klages, Crystal 135-165, Beeston Chocolate, Rolled Oats & Roasted Barley.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Hops:</strong> Cascade. </span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Specialty:</strong> Imported Dutch Bittersweet Chocolate.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong>Yeast & Water:</strong> Rogue’ s Pacman Yeast & Free Range Coastal Water.</span></p> <br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Notes:</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Appearance: Deep chocolate brown, almost black color. Three finger, foamy tan head which hangs around like old luggage. A slight cascade to the head but nothing like a thicker stout. No real lacing to speak of.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Aroma: Quality imported chocolate, like a very rich cocoa powder. Some hops but not to much other then the cocoa.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Taste: Dry and rich, sweet and bitter, if that makes any sense. High percentage cacao gourmet chocolate. I love bitter dark chocolate and this was right up my alley. It has a nice hoppyiness to it and enough bitterness on the back end to keep me anticipating the next sip. I can also get just a bit of oatmeal. I like this. I like it ALOT. It seduces you then keep you wanting more.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mouth feel: A bit thinner then some stouts but mouth coating and silky enough to supply a familiar texture. Leave it up to Rogue to put the "chocolate" in chocolate stout. I feel like I just bit into a Lindt gourmet candy bar. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Will this replace Guinness as my go to stout? No. Will it satisfy my craving for chocolate truffles? Oh Hell yea.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Score: <span style="font-size:100%;">A-</span></span></span><br /></span>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-48553902965771606772008-12-18T18:31:00.002-05:002008-12-18T18:46:46.901-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Don't Call It A Comeback...<br /></span></div><br /><br />Wow it has been a long time since I actually supplied some much needed keystrokes to this blog. The time has been spent drinking wine, drinking beer, eating fine foods, watching the Yankees miss the playoffs, watching the Rangers have an unbelievable start to their season and then become meh. I also have been spending some quality time with my family.<br /><br />I intend to contribute to the blog on a regular basis again. Hopefully it will be worth reading, but it probably wont. Enjoy!Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-24568983947327718192008-07-22T20:48:00.002-04:002009-03-09T14:57:32.225-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl6yxJOEa33Wm3qTpUZhIwtlB_L83Vo-MstSX5sXU-92O5r2JnIscbRB9UAIdmFN2HNGBsDgUhr24q4fG5Fomh0uehQx0dwAUDBjNIGbE16_Da_EhdNdmIsnMrhd4MhW_vpztC2hyphenhyphenIl79/s1600-h/marlstone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkl6yxJOEa33Wm3qTpUZhIwtlB_L83Vo-MstSX5sXU-92O5r2JnIscbRB9UAIdmFN2HNGBsDgUhr24q4fG5Fomh0uehQx0dwAUDBjNIGbE16_Da_EhdNdmIsnMrhd4MhW_vpztC2hyphenhyphenIl79/s400/marlstone.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226005165701944562" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">1999 Clos Du Bois Marlstone</span><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><ul type="square"><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=31414"><b>1999 Clos du Bois Marlstone</b></a><i> - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (7/22/2008)</i><br />This wine changes every hour. Popped and poured. Very red for a wine of this age, I was expecting a little bit of garnet or burnt sienna. Thin in the glass and a bit more transparent then I expected. Nose: Lots of tobacco. Like a handful of crumbled Lucky's. Some spice and red berries. Palate: Still tobacco, raspberries and some gamy meat. Smooth and thin with a bit of tannins. VERY dry. Cotton balls in my mouth. After about two hours opened it had a bit of poopy and garbage on the nose. I could have done without the garbage. No real heat despite the 14.2% ABV (except when consumed with dinner earlier). A little green on the finish after two hours, a bit of asparagus maybe. Nice wine, I would not mind a bit more length on the finish or a tad more complexity. I think I purchased this in 2004 from the Wine Library at maybe $29 to $35. <i><b>(87 pts.)</b></i></li></ul><br /><p><i>Posted from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cellartracker.com/">CellarTracker</a></i></p>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-20405262249976399872008-07-18T21:09:00.001-04:002009-03-09T14:58:37.699-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ22yI8T2Met06y02qeyJlF2VXBevD9QqFC-8tdvLMYMxIU74CNyf9ER7xd6vJAc4q3C_fInWdGKemlQBgFtM5DdhkZuO4YziPXPTdwJXlP2vBH2zomnhagfA7Au8VSFE9K7_nx6DVDCE/s1600-h/38902.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZ22yI8T2Met06y02qeyJlF2VXBevD9QqFC-8tdvLMYMxIU74CNyf9ER7xd6vJAc4q3C_fInWdGKemlQBgFtM5DdhkZuO4YziPXPTdwJXlP2vBH2zomnhagfA7Au8VSFE9K7_nx6DVDCE/s400/38902.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224526302836516866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><ul type="square"><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=362460"><b>2002 Cardeal Dão Reserva</b></a><i> - Portugal, Beiras, Dão (7/18/2008)</i><br />Nose: Very floral with plenty of Violets. There is also a bit of Port on the nose and blueberry pie filling. The nose is actually very good (after at least an hour or two open). Palate: Here is where the points disapear. A little Port, a little spice and some chemical reminiscent of a Cali Cab. Very dry at the end and that is good. Other then that, the finish is very short and light. I wish this performed better on my palate, but this is no Quinta da Cortezia Touriga Nacional. <i><b>(88 pts.)</b></i></li></ul><br /><p><i>Posted from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cellartracker.com/">CellarTracker</a></i></p>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-48015649313018925282008-07-14T21:53:00.002-04:002009-03-09T15:09:47.439-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx50763pG0Ri-YF58rwqqQFLM86bzn9oBy8dB4AzHuEStiyADEDXIwhZVmWfVVYl438vEtFWHVXQx-nIIM8IG6KScHN9LqM7QNHYn3Ji3QOY-5HqO_OjZ0KW3OnJWv2VkmrEbDotP405je/s1600-h/gavi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx50763pG0Ri-YF58rwqqQFLM86bzn9oBy8dB4AzHuEStiyADEDXIwhZVmWfVVYl438vEtFWHVXQx-nIIM8IG6KScHN9LqM7QNHYn3Ji3QOY-5HqO_OjZ0KW3OnJWv2VkmrEbDotP405je/s400/gavi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223053247398931266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><ul type="'square'"><li><a target="" href="http://www.blogger.com/%27http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=" 531173=""><b>2006 Franco M. Martinetti Gavi</b></a><i> - Italy, Piedmont, Gavi (7/14/2008)</i><br />This one is probably my new favorite white. Popped and poured then let sit for about an hour to open up. Nose: Initially it was nothing but Pineapple and pears. After a bit it showed incredible Honeysuckle and Lime along with the Pears and Pineapple. There is also some kind of candy from my youth but I can't put my finger on it. Very sweet and floral on the nose. Palate: It is like a very acidic Pear that someone poured Lime juice over, but not fresh Lime juice, instead it is the sweetened Rose's Lime Juice. Wow, this is good. Star fruit on the backend. Plenty of acidity to hold it together, and there is a little bit of fizzy-fizz on the tongue. 13% ABV and perfect balance and complexity. Martinetti Gavi FTW! <i><b>(92 pts.)</b></i></li></ul><br /><br /><p><i>Posted from <a href="http://www.cellartracker.com/">CellarTracker</a></i></p>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-87545248269896332272008-07-13T10:46:00.002-04:002009-03-09T15:07:35.215-04:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUI7fXVUwTndI05YZ_2lTzYfesZQXb3VdT68-HrPEhxrDWHc3u5nbxko_1wSyCVGyDEpWImRxWoVHHmJDWybB5KXrhyphenhyphen4wPcKM1g3IA8DN1hQ0GNWB1qIdEgU915Av3gtWnchRIV5AfGlw/s1600-h/FILE0030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUI7fXVUwTndI05YZ_2lTzYfesZQXb3VdT68-HrPEhxrDWHc3u5nbxko_1wSyCVGyDEpWImRxWoVHHmJDWybB5KXrhyphenhyphen4wPcKM1g3IA8DN1hQ0GNWB1qIdEgU915Av3gtWnchRIV5AfGlw/s400/FILE0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222510810820143506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><ul type="square"><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=404437"><b>2004 Château Petit Védrines</b></a><i> - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (5/25/2008)</i><br />Nice melon and mango on the nose plus a little petrol. Apples and mangoes with honey on the pallet with overwhelming green tea on the finish. Very nice. <i><b>(90 pts.)</b></i></li></ul><br /><p><i>Posted from <a target="_blank" href="http://www.cellartracker.com/">CellarTracker</a></i></p>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-4503863272387012382008-06-21T08:34:00.004-04:002009-03-09T15:06:38.729-04:00<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Our Night At The Carnival</span><br /><br />Our church hosts a carnival every June about this time. The carnival runs from Wed. to Sat. My wife works the carnival on Thurs. and Sat. night. This usually leaves Fri. night as a good night for the whole family to attend.<br /><br />We arrived at about 7:00 last night and headed over to the Beer garden to see my father-in-law. He is head of the "Brew Crew". They are the ones responsible for distributing the crap beer and wine that the hundreds of carnival goers love so much. Anyway...<br /><br />After downing a rather flabby and quite unappealing Placido Pinot Grigio we headed over to the rides. Bo (9) and Colin (3) went on one of the many rides that spin (it seemed that they all spun) and I received a call from my brother telling me he and his son, Michael (8), had arrived. We met up by the Zeppole stand and proceeded to watch the Yankee game on his Blackberry while my wife took the kids on the rides.<br /><br />When the growling in my stomach came calling we embarked on the very difficult task of deciding what of the many food items to eat. Ribs? Pulled pork from the pig roast? Italian Hot Dogs served by the Mayor or Sayreville? Sausage? Fish? Zeppoles? Candy apples? Caramel apples? Pierogies? Clams? Fried Chicken? London broil sammies? More bad wine? I had an Italian Hot Dog served to me by Mayor Kennedy O'Brien, <a href="http://tinyurl.com/5v2ppk">check him out here</a>. He is a republican mayor in a very democratic town. Anyway... The kids had sausage sandwiches and my wife just picked. Instead of crappy wine, this time I had crappy beer. Michelob. Enuf' said.<br /><br />After dinner more rides. And then a Yankee loss. And then... Zeppoles. Led Zeppoles. Good but heavy. They are still slowing me down this morning.<br /><br />Kris (my brother) left with my nephew and we soon headed out too.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here is Colin and Michael on the Tea Cups.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToLXiPSH_TmOXAYAa4yP2Ns0_pYT2xZL93QuPe3DJOLQy2TSEdjlkCdECn15bWTIz7JnmdDd2vOpIm7cBNsgAiIEvPjDvvIl4C7Q25aML6xRTkngeXZt0LzSU7ruitrenlLDIUTlHX2rU/s1600-h/colincarny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToLXiPSH_TmOXAYAa4yP2Ns0_pYT2xZL93QuPe3DJOLQy2TSEdjlkCdECn15bWTIz7JnmdDd2vOpIm7cBNsgAiIEvPjDvvIl4C7Q25aML6xRTkngeXZt0LzSU7ruitrenlLDIUTlHX2rU/s400/colincarny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214325144574960722" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-22662101697509290582008-06-09T18:26:00.002-04:002008-06-09T18:29:06.666-04:00<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This is just a test to see just how extensive the blog posting with Jott. Just wondering how many lines you can do. I know it only gives you 30 seconds, but this would be test, a test, test, test, test, and test, test, test, test, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and test, and test. Hope this all comes out. Hope that I can see it, was wondering about the formatting, and now I will end this so I can see how my blog post in. That's test, test, blah, blah, blah, test, test, test. Thank you. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.jott.com/show.aspx?id=3d4af61c-f027-44a0-acc9-aef7ac684d37">listen</a><br /><br />Powered by <a target="_blank" href="http://jott.com/">Jott</a></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-26034233040141191262008-06-02T22:10:00.006-04:002009-03-09T15:04:48.967-04:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >This one will be real short and straight to the point...<br /><br /></span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWYxKNg-FMsEXGAISNzTPb7i0mQskWRU1f0zAk46JRtgynlR-RwU-0dl1KWAfXp2aKlvhuOKHzaw1Ysv5Sl89dFT0gF3ZHIGoynA0qV9GYmoEHBaif3oB5mZzgVF__rxwwPYqtxR34NjV/s1600-h/6-2-08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWYxKNg-FMsEXGAISNzTPb7i0mQskWRU1f0zAk46JRtgynlR-RwU-0dl1KWAfXp2aKlvhuOKHzaw1Ysv5Sl89dFT0gF3ZHIGoynA0qV9GYmoEHBaif3oB5mZzgVF__rxwwPYqtxR34NjV/s400/6-2-08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207472173247221154" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKDauisX3nW2QuuWLak92HJImTnBMAIQ_3ExBHL075k8tVS4ZaeWOl00JhpCqmQ4hnjvOVzGLMR099CAYeb7-YQGtbav466QhvZXKXtsNOT8OcfwTgnTR5y6S3jsLheHSFf1RzHFiPN8u/s1600-h/farnsworth.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 113px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibKDauisX3nW2QuuWLak92HJImTnBMAIQ_3ExBHL075k8tVS4ZaeWOl00JhpCqmQ4hnjvOVzGLMR099CAYeb7-YQGtbav466QhvZXKXtsNOT8OcfwTgnTR5y6S3jsLheHSFf1RzHFiPN8u/s400/farnsworth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207472296373551106" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi_8cTbd4_F9Dnrm1N5zy1O5H5L9WXmvd7u9hImhqzRiQR8RoAdp9nbTb-TG3-l_5AVXSCZSky_sGYU7BdlSqkHyasqXHYnag2qs1Y8UgY8WOX8_YBED-e4l5hL467tSleB4ifxdqfPRH/s1600-h/Smiley-face.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi_8cTbd4_F9Dnrm1N5zy1O5H5L9WXmvd7u9hImhqzRiQR8RoAdp9nbTb-TG3-l_5AVXSCZSky_sGYU7BdlSqkHyasqXHYnag2qs1Y8UgY8WOX8_YBED-e4l5hL467tSleB4ifxdqfPRH/s400/Smiley-face.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207472956069258962" border="0" /></a><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4Z1IItJWlWAJwNzWWxG4QyEk_fGVR0Oowz7Pl1U9POcFfLdy0l0Hn4jNt1HV9vco3_CMGV5nvUNZCdeD4arvRSueQ80w0M5_KQB5s_KkXmG0BFZydn8HbLaqosavPi26yoD4LeocVfw1/s1600-h/hangmans-noose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4Z1IItJWlWAJwNzWWxG4QyEk_fGVR0Oowz7Pl1U9POcFfLdy0l0Hn4jNt1HV9vco3_CMGV5nvUNZCdeD4arvRSueQ80w0M5_KQB5s_KkXmG0BFZydn8HbLaqosavPi26yoD4LeocVfw1/s400/hangmans-noose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207472631373554386" border="0" /> </a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Any questions?</span><br /></div></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-29062988311692331112008-06-01T00:19:00.005-04:002009-03-09T15:03:40.569-04:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >I</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">t took 12 innings to get it done. 12 innings. Four and one half hours. But the Yanks have their first extra innings win. I d</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaZTUacfX-DgZHfNSy0GRrift5cPLIOsL8hrHRhUL5rTcoNTAiqPwIw1_Ww4JfSB6LqFrSjd4mvI0h8yctrmMINm3mX_rToqPAUEyIGs76cWnszlpnzTlAskF8wFRToQP4api_p2f7vys/s1600-h/5-31-08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaZTUacfX-DgZHfNSy0GRrift5cPLIOsL8hrHRhUL5rTcoNTAiqPwIw1_Ww4JfSB6LqFrSjd4mvI0h8yctrmMINm3mX_rToqPAUEyIGs76cWnszlpnzTlAskF8wFRToQP4api_p2f7vys/s400/5-31-08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206763088900649250" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">on't have any nails left on my hands thanks to Mr. Oh-len-dorf. I was about to start tying the hangman's knot once I saw Hawkins warming in the pen. Thank you Bobby for keeping Hawkins far away from the mound in this one. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Mo has something special this year. He actually looks better then he did earlier in his career. At the rate he is going he could land somewhere in the neighborhood of 45-50 saves. He has posted 45 or more saves in only 3 of h</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">is 13 years in the bigs. Also at the rate we are using him he could wind up with 50-60 games.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I was a good night. First Chili's, then Rita's and to top it off, a great Yankee win. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Did anyone see Cano pour cold water on Abreu while he was talking to Yes' very own Kim Jones? These guys are finally having fun. (And their not to boring either)</span>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-4138772614647150982008-05-30T15:55:00.004-04:002008-12-08T16:30:29.179-05:00Would you trust this guy with your palate?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNAH-fqbZGPZfZX-OSvLNA3QpEUVmZqW7kaFL4tWEnA2hyEYv0AuowS6hogM_mx1303I9v_Jsj5EMTLsegjo6mSlJlWHg8CojDsIXPoLMVNbHKXgdhe9mKbYn3R8HHvJ0voX1sLsYa0oP/s1600-h/GARYVEE.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXNAH-fqbZGPZfZX-OSvLNA3QpEUVmZqW7kaFL4tWEnA2hyEYv0AuowS6hogM_mx1303I9v_Jsj5EMTLsegjo6mSlJlWHg8CojDsIXPoLMVNbHKXgdhe9mKbYn3R8HHvJ0voX1sLsYa0oP/s400/GARYVEE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206262567740923714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Changing the wine world, whether you want peace or not!</span><br /></div>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-55621920089669382012008-05-29T23:09:00.003-04:002008-12-08T16:30:29.357-05:00Cerebus: One of my favorite comics...During its run, it did not get any better then Dave Sims Cerebus. I guess not all things from Canada suck. Here's the wiki: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebus_the_Aardvark">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerebus_the_Aardvark</a><br /><br />Anyone else love the little gray Aardvark?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zvFyMxhBCWeC8PgtwlWjdwugsEuPLZN6-RMrTyciaLs8VtphQXvnP6LlpBajbpgtLQ139dAXbSVYmjBEuwrcPAKp9aocW7KPcLWBjXlWwCHPyl0LVDiNZsxay37NuzTJi9RLbWNqoqzD/s1600-h/cerebus.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zvFyMxhBCWeC8PgtwlWjdwugsEuPLZN6-RMrTyciaLs8VtphQXvnP6LlpBajbpgtLQ139dAXbSVYmjBEuwrcPAKp9aocW7KPcLWBjXlWwCHPyl0LVDiNZsxay37NuzTJi9RLbWNqoqzD/s400/cerebus.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5206003573365830370" border="0" /></a>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-6463020692790276652008-05-26T21:38:00.010-04:002009-03-09T15:03:08.715-04:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I wont go nuts posting all my TN's (Tasting Notes) but here is a quick run down of the juice I consumed.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">2006 Tittarelli Torrontes Reserva </span><br /></div><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_-lVNObSng1UiWr3QJtDuxOkiTv4FQ62RNCkr1kRYAf2hmJXp0iWL3ACtLpJknGNtxJlF-cNiFdUdjn7LdZ4HkI7AjT19t-kCVuZgiXQpfTnB7KAXOf8NYbJLrISggah6JxMJ1v2lUMn/s1600-h/FILE0027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_-lVNObSng1UiWr3QJtDuxOkiTv4FQ62RNCkr1kRYAf2hmJXp0iWL3ACtLpJknGNtxJlF-cNiFdUdjn7LdZ4HkI7AjT19t-kCVuZgiXQpfTnB7KAXOf8NYbJLrISggah6JxMJ1v2lUMn/s400/FILE0027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204883265506406946" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ever since I picked up a Torrontes (thanks Gary Vee) I have been through about 4-5 different wineries with varied results. I brought home several bottles of Tittarelli from the Wine Lib when they had the all day event back in March and I now have none left. It is good, very good. People step away from the Sauvignon Blanc and try a Torrontes. It is what Argentina is all about. Nice floral nose with tropical fruits and peaches. Blue stone and peaches on the palate with nice acidity. I actually prefer this to Alamos. At 11 bucks you can't beat it. Drink it all summer long (when the WL gets it back in stock that is). 90 points .</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-size:130%;">2007 Turkey Flat Rosé </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu-hTnUaphTeln6l15lmrFVfd9tC1qJwFzjpVyhFIqyCqvU7q_DiA9IJCZ2P0ZArZXAeJe1MqCgnNiSpA1UEqrAuqDTQjDW8iIcR858-WfLZ0Cb_6N4ErCv8HBTa5DJXuALoRQ0-1-sxW/s1600-h/2007+Rose+web.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdu-hTnUaphTeln6l15lmrFVfd9tC1qJwFzjpVyhFIqyCqvU7q_DiA9IJCZ2P0ZArZXAeJe1MqCgnNiSpA1UEqrAuqDTQjDW8iIcR858-WfLZ0Cb_6N4ErCv8HBTa5DJXuALoRQ0-1-sxW/s400/2007+Rose+web.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204883269801374258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sorry for the stock image but I forgot to take a picture before we tossed the bottle.<br /></div><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Awesome color. Like Gary says, don't be afraid of the pink. A blend of Grenache, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Dolcetto. This is pure roses and strawberries on the nose. Not a sweet wine by any means. One of my guests thought it was White Zinfandel. I pulled up a chair and had a little discussion with her that opened her eyes to wine that actually taste like wine. This one was very complex and balanced. A bit of acidity, a bit of berries and some melon. A nice change for those women that poured a glass and was expecting sugar water. Once again 90 points.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;"> Jonesy Old Tawny Port NV</span><br /></div><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvipJH0E8VupJ2hO1JJoAqpL1Sz1Fb6zIh1WjXtd4E5j9QNyaZ1ZcxTyYQtdIiuFVF1yYy7ECdeAPtZeExGSh66bi9i7SPBGWAmxuM8vPslH8qS3-JCLQdfsXKAE3x-m-IZbkz4PrH8cEs/s1600-h/FILE0026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvipJH0E8VupJ2hO1JJoAqpL1Sz1Fb6zIh1WjXtd4E5j9QNyaZ1ZcxTyYQtdIiuFVF1yYy7ECdeAPtZeExGSh66bi9i7SPBGWAmxuM8vPslH8qS3-JCLQdfsXKAE3x-m-IZbkz4PrH8cEs/s400/FILE0026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204883274096341570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This one was weird. I have had many Ports. Especially Tawnys. But none this cheap, 8 bucks at the Lib. The color of this one could only be described as Coca Cola. It was darker then a Madeira. There was not a hint of Port on the nose. It was where Maple Dr. and Raisin St. meet. Wow. When I took a whirl all I could think about was uncooked ginger bread dough with maple syrup and raisins on top. It was 18.0 % alcohol and I could not even tell if there was any in it at all. A very different experience. Not a bad one, just different. 87 points (good QPR) </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">2004 Château Petit Védrines </span><br /></div><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujXLAqaCps2GrGMDvHSQJ6LUk3EfQnxRB3UNuBbfwXtPmqZbKozD1TAtehvxdHugqqI8rBB3emNEYrzL32mFvO142sxT2d8aTvnt3zDoIrpD4q9bGRfNsTYFyDUeJF0q4jBfryFXLfYdn/s1600-h/FILE0030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujXLAqaCps2GrGMDvHSQJ6LUk3EfQnxRB3UNuBbfwXtPmqZbKozD1TAtehvxdHugqqI8rBB3emNEYrzL32mFvO142sxT2d8aTvnt3zDoIrpD4q9bGRfNsTYFyDUeJF0q4jBfryFXLfYdn/s400/FILE0030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204883278391308882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This was a nice break from the norm. Whats the norm? Inniskillin Vidal Ice Wine. The Chateau Petit Vedrines Sauternes was a bit cheaper (14 bucks for a 375 ml) but was no less enjoyable. Nice melon and mango on the nose plus a little petrol. Apples and mangoes with honey on the palate with overwhelming green tea on the finish. I originally scored this a 90 but I am actually going to backslide to 89 points. I have had better Sauternes, but I have paid a lot more. Good QPR.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Now here is one we didn't drink...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:130%;">2007 Jorge Cabernet</span><br /></div><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B5dZ6LI7-4qRQDvUc2TbcHW2mpj0rINaHzjJesgehbINNN9bu355A86PT_okDHZviQzg9mF46yGNa6LpyqyaAQLhmXlmUMR4zYwNR30iZGO4yYPlJp_waL90gJbyvIFH9UUS_lZBH0pm/s1600-h/FILE0029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6B5dZ6LI7-4qRQDvUc2TbcHW2mpj0rINaHzjJesgehbINNN9bu355A86PT_okDHZviQzg9mF46yGNa6LpyqyaAQLhmXlmUMR4zYwNR30iZGO4yYPlJp_waL90gJbyvIFH9UUS_lZBH0pm/s400/FILE0029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204883282686276194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Like I said, we did not drink it, but I bought a couple of bottles due to the fact the procedes go to Jorgies charity. How good could this wine be anyway? Gary are you ready to put it on WLTV? 13 bucks for a good cause. Now I hope Jorge can get healthy and join the team on the field, we need him bad.</span>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8304019751573031058.post-32306964108404408902008-05-22T22:34:00.010-04:002009-03-09T15:01:19.052-04:00<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:180%;" >B</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >aseball like other things in life involves patience. Maybe that's what we need this year as Girardi finds his groove with his new team. It felt good winning tonight. Not just because it was a walk-off win. N</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVcrFztF7YxTQPvj9H1pFShPwL3_QBU2ZejfzXQhrzc5VNy-WLac1h4MclhR8W8hP0RCgvSppYiLI6Ml7S40Co-1OtDZ64L9QUGZIIDo4nPowEiRlBmwxv_uFOyhtf3LgFkO3IQ6_n0ae/s1600-h/5-22-win.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAVcrFztF7YxTQPvj9H1pFShPwL3_QBU2ZejfzXQhrzc5VNy-WLac1h4MclhR8W8hP0RCgvSppYiLI6Ml7S40Co-1OtDZ64L9QUGZIIDo4nPowEiRlBmwxv_uFOyhtf3LgFkO3IQ6_n0ae/s400/5-22-win.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203396223274480034" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >ot just because it was 2 in a row. Not just because IPK got himself in and out of trouble a couple of times and avoided a big inning against him which is something that has been plaguing him all year. Mostly though, it is Girardi that has me in such a good mood. He did what I wanted Torre to do so many times, show that fire in the belly emotion. He WAS Billy Martin tonight. He was there for his team. He lit a fire that sparked this team to its first walk-off win this year.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;">A series win. Wow, that hasn't happened all to much this year. Nice to see Veras pitch well in that spot. Krazy Kyle had another 1-2-3 inning. It is weird but we usually win games in which Farnsworth throws a 1-2-3 inning. Lets hope he fills Joba's 8th inning role with the results we have come to expect from Joba. Shelly Duncan proved that he has one hell of an arm. Two very important throws back to the infield keeping Payton on second in the sixth and holding Hernandez to a single in the seventh. All good plays, but I would have to give Abreu an some fanfare as his at bat drawing the walk and moving Matsui into scoring position was key to winning this game. And thanks to Robinson putting that bat on his shoulders for the first couple of pitches and waiting for that perfect pitch to go the other way. That's patience at the plate. A-rod should have have worked the count as well not just look for the game winning, walk-off dinger.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFa9ajIjEGNFWMLavXCr2ESi_AW0wa0nRo6gsQ3IGUqL-mT-A9kftgM9AEHmShDwWh1wt-z73cQlV4JhTCzO5ZxAcbwKvKjMxfrsUvZoE0HJWUZMGirF9R9LM4xuADxS6081TCgaH2WDH/s1600-h/martin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFa9ajIjEGNFWMLavXCr2ESi_AW0wa0nRo6gsQ3IGUqL-mT-A9kftgM9AEHmShDwWh1wt-z73cQlV4JhTCzO5ZxAcbwKvKjMxfrsUvZoE0HJWUZMGirF9R9LM4xuADxS6081TCgaH2WDH/s400/martin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203401806731964866" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >Billy would have been proud</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >In closing we would like to thank Mr. Girardi. Thank you for the show of emotion and the show you put on. It was funny seeing Ump Chris Guccione tell Girardi to "get the fuck out of here". Joe could have been out there arguing about anything. It was the act not the content that mattered. I know Torre has been ejected once so far this year, but not in this fashion. The Billy Martin fashion.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >Good show, good pitching, good game, great win.</span>Bo Carlsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06619892242599615582noreply@blogger.com0