Boss Tom's

Exciting news at yet another Boulevard Beauty forthcoming.

Skool is in Session

Hearing the term Session Beer kicked around a lot recently in the Beer-Geek-O-Sphere, I decided to check it out and its kinda what I thought. A beer that you personally would/ could throw down given a block of time without getting too hammered. Harkening back to Phase 1 of personal beer metamorphosis, Munich Lagers come to mind, particularly Augustiner; smooth full bodied sweet maltiness with no hop bite. Good luck finding it anywhere around here. Paulaner Lager is a decent substitution and but finding it fresh and ready can be challenging. I suspect most of the Bavarian Lagers either get stale on the way over, or are watered down for American tastes. I've been generally unimpressed relative to what I remember drinking in Deutschland in the early 90s.

Visiting The Big Island in 08 I naturally gravitated to Kona Brewing discovering LongBoard Lager; a traditional malty sweet low hopped Lager perfect for warm beach "sessions". Outstanding. I'm also happy to report that Metcalf Discount Liquor now stocks the great Wisconsin brewery Sprecher, which features Special Amber, another great American Lager in the Bavarian tradition.

What's your session?

Double Rock & Rye

So this Saturday I turn 41 and go non-stop for the weekend. Friday night Stacie and I hit Lucky Strikes in the P&L for some bowling and good times w/ the Centurians. Naturally I spend a lot of time hanging out with Walt from 360 Racing, b/c, uh, well we both like to race bikes and talk about how awesome we are! Really swank with nice couches to lounge in the alley pits. My skillz are not quite up to Jesus Quintana, but hey, I bowl twice a year. A fresh later of snow greets us afterward; my visions of a monster Sat am MTB ride are crashing down, but hope springs eternal.

Dutcher calls Sat am and luckily he's got the mojo so WE ARE ON! SMP has a nice 1 inch or so of powder and we're the first on so conditions are pretty decent for a very solid near two hour ride. Dutcher just built up a classic 2006 Epic frameset, returning to our/ his glory days of riding one of the greatest bikes ever made. We encounter Studnicki on the trail and shoot the breeze on our last lap. The Polar Plunge people are out there in shorts jumping in the semi-frozen lake...and I thought I was hard core.

Colin takes me to the College Hoops experience at the Sprint Center which is super cool...again, I have zero skillz left on the hardwood. Colin smokes me in some one-on-one on six foot goals. I took my revenge in pop-a-shot. Good time.

Saturday evening TLux from BLVD produces some fine Smokestacks for the big game, including the Collaboration Imperial Pilsner from Jean Rock. I sample my first Templeton Rye; impressed and getting dialed.

"A double rock 'n' rye, and... seven Carlings. Otis! My man! You girls come here often?"

Luckily the Hawks pull it out in overtime as I nearly suffer the season's first heart attack.

Sunday is the GroundHog Run; no trouble peeling outta bed but a little ragged to crank it up having done zero running speed work. Surprise BT is there with Becky. The Biz Journal crew Dre and Terry, my Teammates Susie and (non-running lazy) Rob Schultz, and coworker Ann so its a great time hanging out in a cave on a Sunday morning. I manage to rip a PR shaving nearly a minute off last year. 41 ain't so bad.

Belgian Toothpaste

Weather iffy for today, but any chance to roll outside would be taken. A rude winter recalibrates your concept of pretty "nice" conditions: 50, wet, windy as hell, sand and salt -- a wonderful spring day compared to recent weeks.

Many reasons to roll aside from simple opportunity, Langland and my January Birthdays and getting the Phreds together after a long hiatus. Throw in a post ride KU hoops game with libations with the boys and this is a stellar afternoon.

Sliding outta the parking lot on up Renner to the park is always a gut punch to start a ride, esp w/ ridiculous south winds in your face but damn it feels good to spin it up. Dutcher shows up and we are wearing the exact, and I mean exact, kit details, only our respective team colors. I shouldn't be surprised.

Unpleasant drafting with a stream of back wheel slop hitting your face, or maybe grin and bear it. This must be like a Belgian Spring Classic, faces caked in mud, sand, and salt; streams that line your bike on up your back side, and caking your shoes. These are the hard man rides that lay the foundation for those blissful warm summer nights.

Feeling good, putting in miles, stretching out the sticks, and taking a couple digs. Seems like an eternity.

Collaboration is Here

http://kcbeerblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/evening-with-steven-and-jean-marie-part.html

Not a huge fan of Pilsners either, but this compelling. I met Rock at BLVD during collaboration week and he was quite engaging. Can't wait to sample this.

I Rode Outside Today

Holy Cow! Sun and ridable roads never seemed so sweet. The 20 year winter from hell has taken its toll. Sandwiched between an analysis of the deficiencies of Chicago economic theory (Efficient Markets -- even the name seems quaint and seriously amusing at this point) -- and a bout with Wakarusa Lager (also seemingly contradictory sweet dark lager with a bright bitter Styrian Hopps finish), the road was bliss.

These Are the Days

When you find out how much you can stand your trainer.