A big wiener

This is what winning $800 on a slot machine looks like...

Between that and the free Giverny Suite upgrade @ the Paris hotel, all of a sudden I really love Vegas...

Happy Independence Day!

Sun, steaks, and a happy dog with his ball. That, a beautiful mountain bike ride, and blowing stuff up make for a great 4th. Hope you're having fun too.

It runs!

I got my old dirtbike running today.

It's a 1987 Honda XR200 that I bought brand new back then. It had been sitting for several years needing some TLC. I finally got around to it, and now I can sell it.

I rode it around a bit, and it's just as fun as I remember. Dirt bikes are so lively and nimble compared to streetbikes. I'm definitely going to have to get my dual-sport K175 Kawasaki project going once I sell the XR.

Proof

Just to show that I'm not making the running thing up...

Run For The Hills

The 8k trail run on Sunday was a ton of fun. Weather was awesome, and there was a huge turnout that raised over $5000 for the local trail group.

I finished under 45 minutes (44:54) which was my goal (9 minutes a mile) and I felt pretty good about. That put me at 13th place in my age group (30-39) out of 23 entrants and 65th overall out of 177 total. The winning time and new course record was 30:34 which is just plain crazy fast.

Tracie entertained our moms by (slowly) doing the 2-mile paved walk with them, and she even won some free coffee drinks from two local coffee shops at the post-event raffle, so that's a bonus.

Competition update

While I haven't done a car race yet this season (the weather is just finally getting decent for such things) I have done a few other competitions, as touched on briefly a couple of posts ago. Here's an update:

1. My first 5k -- on April 25th I did my first 5k road race. I managed to run it in an official time of 23:03, which was good enough for 3rd in my age group and 20th overall (out of over 300 folks). Not too bad. Unfortunately, running on pavement did not agree with my body and I ended up with tendinitis in my feet for a few days, which worried me a bit for my next event...
   
   
2. May 3rd -- the Mudslinger mountain bike race. For the first time in 20 years, I competed in a mountain bike race. I last did this when I was 19, and it was also a Mudslinger event. For this one, it had rained non stop for the three days leading up to the event, so there was definitely plenty of mud to be slung. The terrain was fairly treacherous due to that, and I've never seen so many crashes and the resultant pieces of bikes littering the sides of the trail. Thankfully I stayed on my bike and it was lots of fun. I ended up 9th out of about 30 in my category (Cat3 Men, age 35+). My new bike did very well too.
   
   
3. May 16th -- 27th annual Oregon Homebrew Festival. For the first time in several years, I entered one of my beers in the Oregon Homebrew Festival. I happened to have the timing right to have a beer ready for entry, and decided to put it in literally at the last minute -- I bottled it from the keg and took it down to the brew shop on the final day the entries were allowed. I'm glad I did -- I won the category! It was a Northern English Brown ale, and it won that category (English Brown Ales). I won the same category 9 years ago with a very similar beer, so it's nice to know I still have the skills even though I don't brew nearly as often as I did back then. I didn't find out until last week that this event was one of only 17 in the country to act as a qualifier for the "Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing" -- essentially the national championships of home brewing. So, by winning at this event, I have qualified to enter a beer in that category at this national contest in early 2010. It's very cool to be able to do that and it should be a great experience.
   
   
4. Upcoming -- 8k trail run race, May 31st. On Sunday I'm doing an 8k trail race. This should be more suited to me, and should be quite fun. I doubt I'll be competitive, 'cause there are some crazy fast trail runners around here, but it's for a very good cause -- the entry fee goes to the local trail maintenance group. I'm actually heading out today to pre-run the course as my last longer run this week.
   

I hope to get in a few autocrosses this year, probably one or two down in Eugene, and a couple of Oregon Region SCCA events at the great location they use in Packwood, Washington.

Thus ends the ridiculously long competition update.

Sean

New bike!

This time it's Tracie's turn. She just picked up this 2008 Specialized Myka Comp. It's her first full suspension bike. We'll be hitting the trails tomorrow for "Happy she's not a mother" day

Friday beer blogging, take two.

Deschutes Obsidian Stout/Hagen-Dazs Vanilla float. Mmm, dessert.

Friday beer blogging

After work Ninkasi Oatis Stout

Just a test to see if my new blackberry/blogger thing works...

Spring has sprung

It's spring, and all the local running/cycling events are starting up in full force. Having been out of shape for years, I didn't really pay attention to how much goes on around here with that stuff.

Now that I am in shape though, I can take advantage of it, so I just did my first 5k (3.1 miles) road race. I ran it in 23:02, which isn't too bad, but I was very slightly disappointed not to get into the 22 minute range. Not bad for my first race though. I do most of my running out in the hills on trails, and I'm really not much of a fan of running on the pavement. It's not as interesting, or or as challenging as doing hills. The race was fun and a good experience, I just doubt I'll do it again.

Next weekend is the Mudslinger mountain bike race, which will be interesting. I haven't raced bikes in 20 years, but I'm in better shape now than I was back then. I'm not as brave/stupid though, so it'll be interesting to see how I do.

That's just weird

I went for a trail run at lunch time a couple of days ago, and, since I was a bit toasty afterward, I drove back to work with the windows open.

I immediately had a massive allergy attack. Constant sneezing for about 15 minutes, then the delightful fun of a runny nose and sneezing for the rest of the day, and even overnight until I could get to the store for some (generic) Zyrtec©™. It was delightful.

So, you think, what's the big deal about that? Lots of people get allergies, you pansy.

Feh, I say to you! It's January! WTF?

I've been fighting "hay fever" my whole life. Done the shots, every medicine under the sun, etc. And, since I've always lived in the Willamette Valley of Oregon (the "Grass Seed Capitol of the World" as the sign on I-5 says), and I like it here, I've known I was stuck with that situation.

But I've never had an allergy attack in January. That's just plain wrong.

I think I'll blame Al Gore since he invented global warming. Suck it, Al, you fat bastard.

Post-xmas beer wrapup

Merry holidays and happy solstice. Bill O'Reilly can go fuck himself with the whole "war on christmas" crap.

Anyway, the advent beer calendar is over, and it was amazing.

The last few beers were:

Shmaltz brewing, He'brew, Jewbelation Twelve, twelfth anniversary holiday ale -- 22oz bottle, 12%abv. 12 malts, 12 hops, 12%abv. They probably should've put this in a 12 oz bottle, to be consistent, but the 22oz bottle was definitely pleasant. A very nice, strong ale. Almost too strong, but good flavor. The 12s could've been a bit much, it probably would've been just fine with four of everything, but it works.

Deschutes Brewing Company, The Abyss, 2007 release -- 22oz bottle, 11%abv. This is a just plain amazing beer. I've actually been saving one of these 2007 editions since last xmas, so I haven't opened this one yet. I'll probably wait for a special occasion, but now that I have two bottles, it's going to be harder to hold onto them both.

Mikkeller, Santa's Little Helper 2008 -- 750ml bottle, 11%abv. This was a pleasant surprise. For a young, strong beer, it was pleasantly crisp and dry, but with great flavor. Highly recommended.

Castle Brewery Eggenberg, Samichlaus Bier, 2007 bottling -- This is "the definitive" xmas beer. 14%abv, 11.2fl oz bottle. The strongest lager in the world. Aged 10+ months before it's bottled, it's still worth holding onto like you would a wine. I've had previous year's bottles, so I'll see if I can hang onto this one for a while to let it mature a bit. It can be a bit overwhelming when it's "young" but it's still good.

Oh, and my home brewed English brown ale (recipe several posts below) is in the keg, and some bottles have gone out to folks for the holidays. It turned out quite well, good malt flavor, dry and crisp, with just the right amount of hoppiness. I was a bit worried about the hops, since I'm using my homegrown hops that I don't know the exact acid content of, but they seem to be right where they should be for the somewhat-subtle style.

Overall the advent beer calendar was a great gift, and was hugely enjoyable. Thanks Trace!

Again, happy holidays, and may all your beers be yummy.

Mmmm, beer...

Yet another beer update.

Tuesday: Anchor Steam -- Old Foghorn, 12oz bottle, 8%abv. A very nice barleywine. Nothing extremely special, but quite pleasant and tasty.

Wednesday: Russian River Brewing Company -- Pliny the Elder double IPA, half-liter bottle, 8%abv. This was a pleasant surprise. "Pliny" the elder, according to the always historically authoritative beer label, was a Roman naturalist born in 23 A.D., who helped to name/identify hops, and also saved people from the eruption of Vesuvius. Regardless of what the man did or didn't do, the beer was good. Extremely hoppy, lots of good hop aroma and flavor, and assertive bitterness. Quite pleasant, if you're into hops (like me), and you'll feel smarter after reading the label.

Today's beer: Theakston -- Old Peculier, "traditionally brewed Yorkshire ale". I haven't opened this one yet, and have no idea what to expect. If it's anything like the rest of the beers in this calendar, it'll be good.

I'm giving up beer.

Hah, as if.

My liver and waistline will probably appreciate this month being over though.

Saturday's beer: Caldera Brewing Company, India Pale Ale (IPA), 12oz can, 6.1%abv. These Caldera beers are good, but it's just plain weird to pour a real beer out of a can.

Sunday's beer: BrewDog, Paradox Speyside, 11.2oz bottle, 10%abv. This was delightful. It's an imperial stout aged in Scotch whiskey barrels. Recommended to be served at room temperature, which was a good recommendation. It was very tasty, and I just wish the bottle was bigger.

Today's beer: Full Sail Brewing, 21st birthday Doppelbock, 22oz bottle, 8%abv. This is a special release for Full Sail's 21st anniversary. I've been really impressed with the Full Sail beers over the last several years, and this is no exception. I'm not normally a Bock or Doppelbock fan, but this one is great. Good malt profile, crisp, clean, rich, just overall very nice. Full Sail had a bad span of years a while back, but ever since they became employee owned, they've been producing good stuff. Glad to see their 21st birthday pass with a good brew to mark the occasion.

Yes, thank you, I will have another

Yay, more beer!

Yesterday's beer was: Alesmith, Yulesmith Holiday Ale, 8.5%abv, 22oz bottle. I like Alesmith's beers, and this was no exception, quite yummy.

Today's beer: Caldera Brewing Company, Pale Ale, 5.4%abv, 12oz can(!). Haven't had this one yet, and other than being one of the few "real" beers available in cans, and the little I've read about it at the linked site, I don't know much about it.

Oh, and I couldn't wait, I'm drinking the Double Bastard mentioned previously -- I'm pleasantly surprised with its quality. Very nice beer. I remember the previous one I'd had as being overly harsh, but this one is more subtle, if you can use "subtle" to describe a 10.5%abv beer.

Yes, more beer

Today's beer: Affligem Noel, Christmas ale brewed with spices. 750ml bottle. 9%abv.

A very tasty Belgian ale. Kind of in between a dubbel and a trippel. Very flavorful and just overall quite pleasant.

But then again I've imbibed almost the whole thing, so perhaps that's clouding my judgment.

Yet Another Holiday Beer Update

Today's beer: Unibroue, Don De Dieu (Gift of God), 9% abv, 750ml bottle (25.4 fl oz). This is a "triple wheat ale", and is quite nice. If all wheat beers were like this, I'd drink wheat beer.

Thankfully, the French Canadians produce something other than Celine Dion.

Monday Beer Update

Saturday's beer was: Avery Brewing Co., Anniversary Ale Fifteen, 22oz bottle, 7.68%abv. An "Ale brewed with spices, herbs, and figs" according to the label. Also from the label:

15 years of brewing! You know what's been the best part lately? Tons of experimentation! For the past couple of years, we've been working with several strains of brettanomyces (wild yeast). We found one and deemed it the best for it's [sic] 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, we've created FIFTEEN -- a unique drinking experience inspired by the wild farmhouse ales of Belgium. Though immensely complex today, more flavors will emerge with time, so throw a few bottles in your cellar for future celebrations. Thanks to all of you who have made our 15 year ride possible!
Peace to all and follow your dreams!
Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, malted wheat, hops, black mission figs, hibiscus flowers, white pepper, and a very unique strain of brettanomyces yeast.

(Note that the misplaced apostrophe not only occurs on the label, but also is on the linked web page above. A nice touch of consistency, at least.)

The description's a bit over the top, but what can we expect from marketing people. I haven't opened it yet, we'll see what it's like later.

---

Edited to add:

I'm drinking the "Fifteen" now. It's a very nice ale, but as over-the-top as the description is, the beer itself isn't all that crazy. The bret yeast is definitely noticeable, but as to the rest of it, it's just a very nice, clean, crisp ale. Yeah, it has a bit of fruit and funk, but if they hadn't told me it was brewed with white pepper, hibiscus flowers, and figs, I wouldn't know. Don't get me wrong, it's a very nice beer, it's just not really as crazy as I expected it to be, given its description. (note proper lack-of-apostrophe in that "its")

---

Sunday's beer: O'Hanlon's Brewing Company, Ltd., Thomas Hardy's Ale, 8.5oz bottle, 11.7%abv. I've had a previous year's version of this one. This is the 2006 edition, and if the last one was a proper indication, I'll probably hang onto this one for a couple more years before I think it's ready. I can't find a home page (quickly) for the brewery, but you can see what The Independent says about the beer.

Today's beer: Lagunitas Brewing Company, Lumpy Gravy. I'm drinking this one right this second. It's a variety of brown ale, but otherwise is hard to describe. It's tasty though. Named after the Frank Zappa album, and I believe was released on the 40th anniversary of the release of that album. A great album, and a tasty beer.

Speaking of brown ale, I made one yesterday, here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 9lbs 2-row pale malt
  
• 1 lb 80l crystal malt
  
• .5 lb chocolate malt
  
• 4 oz Goldings hops (home grown!)
  
• White Labs WLP002 English Ale Yeast
  

Process:

1. Steep grains at 154 degrees for one hour.
   
2. Mash out
   
3. Sparge, extracting approx 7.5 to 8 gallons of wort.
   
4. Bring to a hard rolling boil
   
5. Boil for 15 minutes
   
6. Add 2 oz Goldings (bittering)
   
7. Boil for 45 more minutes
   
8. Add 1.5 oz Goldings (flavor)
   
9. Boil for 15 more minutes (75 minutes total boil)
   
10. Start chilling and add final 0.5oz Goldings (aroma)
    
11. Transfer to fermenter, pitch yeast and aerate.
    

It was a good brewing session with no surprises. The wort tastes great, and the yeast is happily working away right now, so I'm hopeful it ends up tasty. Should be done in time for Xmas, especially since I force-carbonate.

Another beer update

Today's beer is: Fuller's -- Vintage Ale Limited Edition, 2006 release, half-liter (16.9oz) bottle.

As shown on the linked page, this is a fancy bottle, in its own little box. Since this is the 2006 release, this one is already properly aged so I'll probably go ahead and drink it shortly.

Since I haven't been drinking each beer on its own night, I'm ahead a couple of bottles. Tonight I opened the Ninkasi Total Domination IPA, which I've had before. Tasting it, the easiest way to describe it is by reference -- if you've had the much more common Bridgeport IPA, just imagine that, but the volume bumped up about 25%. The color, aroma, flavor, and bitterness are quite similar between the two, there's just much more of them in the Ninkasi beer. I like the Bridgeport, so the Ninkasi is quite nice.

Edited to add:

From the tasting notes at Fuller's site:

Vintage Ale 2006
This full-bodied vintage is brewed with Fuggles and Super Styrian hops that create a tapestry of rich, spicy flavours. Orange, citrus and fruitcake notes are all present, and are balanced well with the biscuity, creamy malt flavours leaving a soft and warming finish.

We'll see if that's true soon.