A Rush and a Push

i woke up today and saddled up. lots to do much to do lots to do. i clothed myself and tried to tame the hair on my head, and oddly, the only thing i could think of was Valeir Extra.

truthfully, i did manage to get my teeth brushed before my eyes lifted to the heavens and my stare pierced the middle-distance. but after that, i remembered in a rush how the delicate hop-spiciness of the beer swirled itself around my tongue like a sensuous wisp of wet sexiness.

i started painting walls, one of which was orange. in the light, it almost resembled my date from last night. and then i started staring out into the nothingness all over again.

if you'd like to become a nuissance to passersby and start gazing wistfully out at the world while dreaming of about a dream...have a drink.

we have it, and it's called Valeir Extra.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3463/50435

Long Time Coming

slack is as slack does, and i've been so slack that i've become slack at even being slack. dang!

here's the newest news straight from the mouf of me. no smoking. not even in the bathroom. we are so non-smoking now that we only have three ashtrays for emergencies and special "last-wishes" requests for dying passersby. it's pretty sweet. but now i can smell again and sometimes that's a curse...especially if you live where i live.

in other news, it's COLD outside. well, it certainly isn't warm, at least. i mean, if i were naked on the street and not being chased down benny hill style, i'd say certain parts would be best served covered. and in response to aforementioned small numbered temperatures, i'd like to offer a suggestion for adult libationary relaxation!

drink all of the st. bernardus abt. 12 you can find! the fine juxtaposition between malt and dark brewers sugar is a divine union that can only be described as holy. we have lots of it...for now.

Feild Caught Game Dinner Was Amazing

Let's get ready. Myself, Andy from Ska, Front Staff Amanda, Katie and Katrina, Chef Corey and Jason. Cheers













Glassware ready














First Course Antelope Carpaccio















Muskovy Duck and Beet Salad














Sides Ready

Wild Board Leg, Potatos, Blackberry BBQ Venison Steak













Chow down





























Those Aviator dudes were meat drunk. Thanks Mark, luv ya back.

Spyk

Saison de...saaaaaay!

so mark and galen of aviator brewing; together with david from the times and everyone's favorite funny-man come GM of the pit, lee robinson, got together a few weeks ago and brewed up something fantastic.

they stirred wort, they stared into the darkness as foam rose in a threatening hot-break. sweat streamed from faces and gauges were thumped and twiddled for hours and hours before the resulting sweet water was laid to rest in a giant fermenter made from an old dairy tank.

the result? saison de aviator royale. now on draught at the times and ONLY at the times. i honestly feel like i've been kissed on the forehead by a cute little booze cherubim. really? yes. really. holy cow, holy cow and holy cow.

saaz, northern brewer! rochefort 10 yeast! coriander at boils end and a healthy dose of imaginative nurturing and now you get to drink it. it's good. it's quenching. i feel like a mill-worker when i sit down to have a sip. it's been a hard day and the sun has sapped my energy. the first thing i want to do when the horn sounds is have a beer...and this is THE beer for me.

photos of my own personal dreamland

and oddly enough, that dreamland is the raleigh times bar.

i know, i know...many of you can be heard saying "but jay, you work there. how can it possibly fulfill dreams for you?" to which i should be noted as shouting in response, "because it is my favorite place to be whether working or just talking about beer and thinking about beer and studying beer and dissecting beer and dreaming about what beer should end up on the tap-line next!"

and so the other day, i was playing around with my 50mm and 85mm lens' and found that if you unmount them, turn them around and shoot that way, you get an almost macro effect. with the 50mm lens, i took the pic of the masthead piece on our tap tower. the other is just an ethereal photo done the same way with the other lens. it's a shimmering glass of Ertveld Witte by Pierre Celis.

all i know is that if Pierre Celis and Richard Avedon would be my grandfather's, i'd be pretty stoked!

Jolly Friday

Hi all,

We are very proud to introduce a fantastic new draft. Once again an exclusive we brought it in with the help of Ron the brew master of Jolly Pumpkin. Aged in large oak casks and refermented in the keg, Calabaza Blanca is a Belgian Biere Blanche. Spiced with orange peel and coriander, you'll find it refreshingly tart, with a wonderfully dry finish. Coming in at 4.8% ABV this is a perfect summer brew. The oak is very subtle and adds just another layer of complexity without being so extreme.

It has taken months to get this beer here as Jolly Pumpkin is a very small artisan brewery and it came down to one conversation where I said "Come On" one last time then Ron was silent for a second and finally replied "Ok, I'm getting in the truck now and finding my kegs". He usually only kegs for his folks in Dexter Michigan. I feel very blessed and thankful, you will too.