.: March 2009

3.23.2009

3.21.2009

Mikkeller imperial Oatmeal Stout is brewed with one of the world’s most expensive coffees, made from droppings of weasel-like civet cats. The fussy Southeast Asian animals only eat the best and ripest coffee berries. Enzymes in their digestive system help to break down the bean. Workers collect the bean-containing droppings for Civet or Weasel Coffee. The exceedingly rare Civet Coffee has a strong taste and an even stronger aroma. Basically I drank poop.

Edelweiss Beer Weissbier Hefetrüb is naturally cloudy, with a distinctive fruitiness and a light banana-nose. Refreshingly sparkling, this wheat-beer impresses by spicy flavours on the palate. Edelweiss Beer is brewed in Kaltenhausen, a small, idyllic village at the foot of the Untersberg, located in the middle of the Alps, not far from Salzburg in Austria.

15 years of brewing! For the past couple of years, Avery has been working with several strains of brettanomyces (wild yeast). They found one and deemed it the best for it's tart flavor and funky, fruity aroma. Adding black mission figs for a subtle jammy aspect, hibiscus flowers for an herbal bouquet and hazy sunset hue, and white pepper for a bit of spicy twang, they have created FIFTEEN...a unique drinking experience inspired by the wild farmhouse ales of Belgium.

Signature Ale is a pale golden colored ale capped with a prodigious rocky white foam. The hops come together in a blend of far east spices and new world citrus which are tempered by an underlying subtle tartness from the yeast. These notes would be out of balance were it not for a generous maltiness that holds the beer in check without becoming too sweet. Designed with a resinous hop quality in mind, we believe this to be a new world example of old world exploration. You can't get this anymore but you can get a version that is brewed by a guy from Allagash and Dirk from De Proef...wait maybe you can't get either of them. sigh. IT IS MY FAVORITE!

Fantome Printemps is a light, fruity and champagne-like. Fantôme brews special seasonal beers, never repeating a recipe from year to year. This one is for spring . . .

Dobbel Dram is an IPA that features wild hop that grows along the banks of a Norwegian stream. Their kettles can't handle all the hops so they use mash hopping for a perfect taste and aroma. (not sure what this means)

Check out the quad cam app for iphone.

I lurve it.

3.20.2009

50.

Labels: flowers. herbs, spring

click photo for larger view

Bryan and I spent the entire day on Thursday planting and cleaning the yard. I planted an entire box of Arugula this year because last year I only planted one plant and it was definitely not enough. I planted some more herbs, marigolds, perrenials and pansies. I finally fixed the two person rocker that Leslie and Mike left and I also gave it a cushion for added comfort. Spring is my favorite time of year and I don't have to go back to school until April 7th. I'm super excited.

I don't want to think about school at all. I have a bad taste in my mouth about panel every time and this one didn't help. I am going to try to filter out the bad stuff and just remember that I am learning a lot and that I believe in what I can do and that is all that matters. I don't ever want to work for a big corporate agency anyway. I want to be my own boss. I want to design beautiful things. I'm stubborn and I know what I want. I also know that someday I will have what I want. I will design things that make people smile and feel good.

The older I get the more disappointed I am in other people.