from the twisted minds of snm
Great weather today sunny start, clouds moved in afternoon. Cool, not cold. Hit the Lost Lake trails. Unfortunately Akron rolled out front tire on a rock and went dirt surfing. Cut knee, scuffed forearm & chin, cracked helmet and worse injury is banged wrist. After patching homie up, the rest of us went out for more of Lost Lake.
Post ride meal was sand which/burgers/soup past the bookstore. Cows ice cream to finish the evening.
The crew has arrived uneventfully, 4 of 6. This year looks to be a wet trip. The Washington to BC border crossing was incredibly fast, only three cars in front of us. Usual stops in Bellingham, Squamish to do some shopping. Hit up Peaked Pies in whistler for dinner.
 Grabbing Subway on way to border they had the ethnic flavored chips. Decided to try these. I don’t know what they are supposed to taste like, but these were nasty. Couldn’t finish them. I don’t think even a starving Chinese monkey would eat them. Zero monkeys.
Yes, October is six weeks away, close enough for me. This years Oktoberfest from Sierra Nevada was brewed in collaboration with German brewer Mahrs Brau. Pours a brilliant clear gold with light head. Beer is grains, malt and grain aroma. Balanced bitter that does not linger. Crisp easy drinking. Sneaky, at 6% ABV it’s got a bit more but not enough to initially notice. Perhaps because of it being post ride, but I’m feeling quite jolly.
Don’t know if its the alcohol talking, but I’m about ready to give this 4 out 4 Oktober monkeys! I might be overly enthusiastic having a good honest beer. No overloading of flowery hops, no guava/pineapple/grapefruit/cucumber. But I’m really enjoying this!
Ran to 7-11 to grab some snacky bits to go with lunch sandwich, Lay’s is doing a bunch of ethnic flavor chips. Tikka masala flavored potato chips. Tastes quite tikka masalaey! Only downside was burping up the flavor after finishing lunch.
3 out 4 Physics TA monkeys
It seems they are casting about for the next “hip” beer, and if it’s wheats I won’t complain much. A seasonal from Full Sail, pours cloudy bright yellow, small head. Definite citrus aroma, orange flavor, followed by balanced bitter and finish with the wheat/grain. Medium mouthfeel lightened by crisp carbonation.
Nice easy drinker. The orange is strong, but it still keeps its wheat ale character. 3 out 4 blood orangy monkeys.
Sorry, a week late. July 30 this year was unagi day. Wait, I thought you said cow day? Well, doyo, despite the day being a Saturday, actually is the 18 day period before the changing of the season. The days are assigned signs of the Zodiac, thus the ushi/ox/cow day. The ushi no hi is supposed to be the hottest day of the year. It may not actually be, but it’s close enough. Oh, the zodiac only has 12 signs, so yes, there actually can be two ushi no hi’s.
Yes, IPA. Every variety pack now wouldn’t be complete without an IPA, yay. Pours clear amber, small head. The moment the cap was popped could smell the hops. Hop aroma accompanied by its bitter. There is a little bit of grain flavor that shows up and there is no hint of skunk. Fairly light mouthfeel.
As IPA’s go, I can actually tolerate this and drink it.
2.5 out of 4 IPA disliking monkeys
Next in the Fullsale “mashup” is a lager. Pours a clear bright yellow with small head. Balanced hop, touch of funk in initial aroma but does not offend, bit of bitter carries through middle and tapers, a bit of nut in the finish. Clean. Another easy drinking “session” beer.
Not terribly complex, but I give it a 3 out 4 cruising monkeys.
Showing up at Foodland are beers from Oregon brewey Fullsail. Picked up the session “mashup” pack. 11 ounce bottles, the cream ale pours a clear medium amber, very light head. Bitter hop aroma but not strong. A bit of grain in the finish. Medium mouthfeel. True to the session idea, it’s easy to drink, nothing to forward, but there’s enough to keep it enjoyable.
3 session monkeys out 4,