New Year, New President, New “Blather” Links

The fourth Monday of a month is for “blather” links; things that I want to share that don’t really fall into the food, beer, or science categories of the blog. Also, new year means trying new things! I decided it might be interesting to end these posts with links to some of what I’m currently reading and listening to. Please let me know what you think!

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All of Me

This little blog has existed for almost seven years now. I’ll be honest, that kind of blows my mind. It’s had numerous lulls (most of 2011 comes to mind, as does one of my most recent posts), but I keep coming back to it and I keep going with it. There aren’t a lot of things in my life that I can say that about.

Lions and science in general, as referenced below. Beer? We’re not that far along yet, but I’m still entranced and I think we’re in it for the long haul. Bill? More than double that in time, at this point (if not romantically for about half of it).

I started this post almost two years ago. I’m not sure why or how it fell off my radar, but in looking through my drafts, I came upon it again.… Continue reading →

Washington D.C.’s Cafe Berlin

While I continue to feel like I need to write deeply profound things, and thus continue to not find them, Isis reminded me of something important:

A group of friends and I had a really great meal and beers and banter at a restaurant yesterday. Enough so that I should tell you about it. Damn shame I didn’t take any pictures, though. I was too busy having fun!

So, here’s the fast details:

Cafe Berlin
322 Massachusetts Ave, NE

Washington, DC 20002

Everything they had on draft (7 taps) was a German import of some type. My Metal Curator and Beer Pal D (MMCBPD) and I shared three beers and while all were solid one, the Hofbräu Delicator, was just out of this world.… Continue reading →

A Time for Everything

It’s a snow day here in Portland, Oregon. We got somewhere between six and nine inches of snow last night. Maybe even more, but given how bad I am at estimating sizes of things1, I won’t try harder to be sure.

It’s not the first snow day we’ve had, but somehow it feels more like a snow day than any other. Maybe it’s how damn much snow is out there, or maybe it’s how quiet it is inside. I’m not sure. Nor am I sure if I care to figure out the “why” rather than just experience things as they are. In this case, it’s a snow day kind of day. I have tea. I have an urge to write. My tea is in a new, fabulous mug from the fantastic Deb Cooperman, and it’s encouraging my tea-ing and writing.… Continue reading →

Beer Trade for Others!

Intro/TL;DR

One of the best parts of being a part of the beer community is that, generally, people are very friendly and they want to share a beer with you. And if they can share a beer they LOVE with you, so much the better. And so, I want to organize a large beer trade, with a twist. The traders are all sending to one person with the expectation that a different person will be sending them beer. I invite you to join in by filling out this form and I’ll get organizing.

Some Background

I’ve done a few trades in the past. Nothing huge, and never super organized. Just one-offs with friends in other cities to get badly missed beers not in our home markets, or with online only friends to share fun beers.… Continue reading →