This brew is one of my yearly favorites cinnamon and nutmeg. What could be more festive?
Something to take off the chill!
Beer
Can’t fish! Chores were the order of the day.
Marylynn and I took advantage of a warm November day and got the Christmas lights up. Certainly better than other years when we could not feel our fingers. Cleaned the garage so that we could fit a car in. Then took a run to the dump before the rain. Then spent the afternoon and evening sorting and cataloging fly-tying material. Of course, I enjoyed a local beer. All in all, not a bad day, but I would rather be fishing.
Flannel Friday
Today was the first day I felt the need to wear flannel; it is Friday. So it must be “Flannel Friday”
The new wood stove is cranking, so it is warm inside, but there is a nip in the air outside. This is one of my favorite beers. Makes me feel warm and comfortable just like an old flannel shirt. To the people that have not been brainwashed by the IPA crowd give it a try.
Summer is over in New Hampshire!
I went out to fish today. Probably one of my last days in the official trout season. Just a couple more weeks left. It seems that weather and schedules conspire against me.
After a full day of downpours, which we need, fishing was tough. First I went and checked out the Ammonoosuc River up in Bretton woods. Checked a few places where I had done well though out the summer. All washed out. So I moved on to a new location in the Zealand Camp ground area in the White Mountain National Forest. The Zealand River is much smaller than the Ammo and a river I wanted to check out all summer but “you don’t leave fish to find fish”.
This is a beautiful area. I would love to camp here next spring. No fish. The water was still high for a small stream. I was battling high winds and temps in the low 40s. I tried my hand at a very small stream that comes down off the Presidential Range in Jefferson Notch. Mount Jefferson to be exact, Jefferson Brook. The weather had gotten worse. Fog or light rain the dirt road Jefferson Notch Road seemed to be getting slick. The stream is a high gradient pocket waterand water fall stream. I fished a few pockets. It was hard to get any kind of drift in the fast water. The weather got the best of me and I decided to move on and find some fishable water.
I move over to the East side of the Presidentials to Pinkham Notch. The weather was much better on this side of the mountains. Sunny scattered clouds, no rain or fog. It was like the mountains squeezed the rain out of the clouds on the west side. it was still a bit cold and the wind was gusting hard. I did really well here all summer, so I was optimistic. I started fishing where the New River comes into the Ellis River. The water did not seem as high and I could get some good drifts with a heavy tandem nymph rig. I fished down the river for about a quarter of a mile. Drifting my rig through every slot, pocket, and run I could. Not a tap. I tied on a Mickey Finn streamer and worked my way back upstream swinging that streamer through some of the pools and runs. No Luck. I decided to call it a day.
Finished up my day with a local Coffee porter watching the clouds drift by. Hopefully, I’ll be out again next week.
Did I pick this location for the outdoor scenery or the beer?
Marylynn and I chose the White Mountain area of New Hampshire because of how beautiful it is and how we like the great outdoors. Fishing skiing, hiking, and kayaking are all great things to do. Little did I know I chose a beer heaven. Three breweries within 20 minutes of the house. There are many more great breweries throughout the whole state of New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, all very close. Most places that sell beer, which is everywhere, sell all the local beer. We could have easily chosen this place for the beer alone.
3-minute walk
10-minute drive
20-minute drive.
Magically Bullicious is Magically Delicious!
I have been in a rut lately when it comes to tasting new beer. I have been usually been picking up a six-pack of an old stand by to enjoy while unwinding from a day’s work. I picked this up on a whim to enjoy after some yard work. Bolero Snort Magically Bullicious. I might have grabbed it because it reminded me of one of my favorite childhood cereals, but this was good! The brewers did not overdo the mix of ingredients. It was a light-colored stout with coffee, cocoa, vanilla, and milk sugar. I would consider it a dessert beer. Something to enjoy in place of a slab of cake. When you want to have one or two after dinner this beer is a good choice.
Winter
Winter is the time to check your equipment, tie flies and brew some beer.
Winter Beer
It is cold and dark out. A crackling fire is burning in the fireplace. To me, that means enjoying a nice dark porter in a snifter while reading a Keith McCafferty novel with my dog at my feet.
The porter style of beer is probably my favorite. It is a dark, rich beer with a thick feel . Depending on the brewer, there are notes of dark breads, chocolate and/or coffee . Not much hoppy bitterness should be present . I serve it in a snifter on the warm side with a nice creamy head. This way I can smell as well as taste this robust style of beer.
Put on your favorite slippers, stoke up the fire and enjoy a glass of this wonderful treat.
Beer lovers you all need this!
I just got my New Jersey Craft beer membership renewal. For $25 you get tons of discounts, a phone app that will help you find the best beer bargains around and a newsletter with a list of beer events. All beer lovers should jump on this it’s a great deal!
newjerseycraftbeer.com
Spring 2017
Things have changed. Down to one job, brewing my own beer, and its just wifey and I at home. Got out on the stream once this spring so far. Two nice browns on a small wild trout stream/ April 8th is the official opening day Of trout season here in NJ. ( although I fish all year where its legal.) I will will not partake in the opening day festivity.) I will be working at Ramsey Outdoor helping others get ready.
We started brewing back in August. So far we have brewed 3 batches. Two of an Amber Ale that we call ” Burns’ Brewhouse Fossel Stone Amber Ale” and one Porter we call “Burns’ Brewhouse Firepit Vanilla Porter”. So far we we have gotten rave reviews, but who complaints about free beer.
Tap 'n' Trout 