A nice Saturday afternoon with nothing on the schedule seems too good to be true. We're going to run some errands, do some beer shopping, and then head to Bluefin for sushi - tonight's our 11th wedding anniversary! Last year, we threw a very nice party to celebrate a decade of marriage. Today, it took us until 1:30pm before one of us mentioned "happy anniversary" to the other. Eh, we've been busy lately. In lieu of gifts, we're combining forces to get a new camera. We're due for something more serious than the current point & click that gets thrown in the pocket when we head to a tailgate. If anyone out there has suggestions for an easy to use yet high quality camera, please let us know!
With the weekend comes beer, and today's beer is another Trappist, specifically the Extra from Brouwerij der Sint-Benedictusabdij de Achelse. Say that one three times fast. This beer shows off a mahogany color in the glass, with a thin but persistent head. It gives off aromas of sweet malt and stone fruit, and the taste is light, but filled with candi sugar, malt, stone fruits, and caramel. Maybe not my favorite Trappist, but I'd still drink this one every day of the week if I could.
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| Sorry - drank, then got the phone out. Oops. |
Current leader in the blog clubhouse for the longest name, this brewery traces its roots back to 1648, when monks built an chapel, and then an abbey. Beer production dates back to 1852, and was halted in 1917 thanks to World War I. Brewing didn't resume until 1998, and monks from Westmalle and Rochefort assisted in the efforts. Good teamwork, monks! Despite the long name, it is the smallest of the Trappist brewers.
Thing to Think About Today:
It's obviously a big day due to our anniversary alone, but when you throw in Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, it's quite the event. I missed the actual race today due to us being at dinner, but in the spirit of one of the greatest traditions in sport, let's let Hunter S. Thompson bring it home today. Thompson is one of my all-time favorite writers, as his frenetic pace and part journalism/part personal experience way of putting himself in the middle of his story allowed him to create beautiful prose. His article The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved is writing - not just journalism - at it's absolute finest. Thompson was a native of Louisville, and provides a most unusual take on the event, as only he could.
Without further adieu, please do yourself a favor and read:
The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved (with original illustrations)
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| Hunter S. Thompson, obviously. |
Camera you will love...
ReplyDeleteCanon Rebel T-2i (Current Model)
Owned Model is the T-1i.
Both are excellent. Of course I would go for the newest model. Let me know what you think.
BTW, Thanks for re-earthing this little slice of Hunter