the ride is about 15 miles one way, and has a couple of decent hills along the way. the weather was partly cloudy and cool, perfect for a somewhat challenging bike ride.
the route
the Stallion
Ladyface (aka the best pit stop after 15 miles ever)
my preferred parking spotnothing cures a sore butt better than a beer....or three. i started off with Avery's Dugana Double IPA. i love Dugana and lately it's really been climbing up my ladder of top 20 DIPA's. i had a bomber of it last week, awesomeness, but it was even better on tap at LF.
i love my West Coast IPA hopbombs, but Dugana achieves a balance between the hops and the malt, that frankly, some West Coast DIPA's just don't have. Dugana is a very solid brew, and tasted PHENOMENAL after 2 hours on the bike.
Dugana, so tasty
i love my West Coast IPA hopbombs, but Dugana achieves a balance between the hops and the malt, that frankly, some West Coast DIPA's just don't have. Dugana is a very solid brew, and tasted PHENOMENAL after 2 hours on the bike.
Dugana, so tastynext i went with the LadyFace 1st Anniversary Ale. Dave, the head brewer at LF brewed this one to, as the name suggests, commemorate the one year anniversary since Ladyface opened it's doors. and apparently it was a successful first year, because they have already expanded the brewery, installed new brewing tanks, and doubled their capacity from 600 barrels, to 1,200 barrels. which is awesome because that allows them to keep Chesebro, (my hands-down favorite of their beers) available year round. wooo woooo!
the 1st Anniv. Ale is a Belgian-Styled Quadruple. it pours bright ruby red, and fairly cloudy. there is almost no head to speak of, and that's due to the alcohol content, this one clocks in at 11.2%. they did a really nice job with this beer. it has a great spice/banana aroma like all good quads should. the alcohol in the taste is hidden pretty well. yeasty, but not overpowering, nice sour finish, and great carbonation. thumbs up on this one.
the 1st Anniversary Ale, congrats Ladyface!
after awhile i gave it another shot. completely different beer! the nose had opened up. now i was getting chocolate and cocoa, roasted malt, and even some hops. the taste was way more complex as well. lots of coffee and chocolate, some bitterness, vanilla, and a slight bourbon burn finish. what was once very one note, had opened up to be a pretty complex, yet highly drinkable IRS. gotta let this one warm up.
Russian Lullaby, redeemed itself nicely
the LadyFace Big Board
after a few glasses of water and some time to get rid of the buzz, i headed home. and proceeded to freeze my butt off for the next hour and twenty minutes.
but still, pretty great day.
ps- i stopped at Susie Cakes to get Angela a slice of their FANTASTIC Celebration cake (and also to warm up). and the girl behind the counter threw in a free cupcake. high-five, universe!
the 1st Anniv. Ale is a Belgian-Styled Quadruple. it pours bright ruby red, and fairly cloudy. there is almost no head to speak of, and that's due to the alcohol content, this one clocks in at 11.2%. they did a really nice job with this beer. it has a great spice/banana aroma like all good quads should. the alcohol in the taste is hidden pretty well. yeasty, but not overpowering, nice sour finish, and great carbonation. thumbs up on this one.
the 1st Anniversary Ale, congrats Ladyface!next i had to try LF's new Imperial Russian Stout, Russian Lullaby. this one is also a beast at 9.9%. it poured almost jet-black, some dark brown hints along the rim of the glass. not much of a nose, some coffee, caramel, etc.
upon the first sip, i was very underwhelmed, it just tasted like coffee and the body felt way too thin for an IRS. this was surprising as the bartender and some other folks at the bar had spoken highly of it.
then i figured out the problem. this thing was served WAY too cold. it was almost as ice cold as the my first beer, the Dugana, had been. so i decided to let it sit for about 20 minutes, while i played backgammon on my phone and avoided the gaze of the drunk older woman sitting next to me. taking breaks to put both hands around the glass occasionally, and give it some heat.
upon the first sip, i was very underwhelmed, it just tasted like coffee and the body felt way too thin for an IRS. this was surprising as the bartender and some other folks at the bar had spoken highly of it.
then i figured out the problem. this thing was served WAY too cold. it was almost as ice cold as the my first beer, the Dugana, had been. so i decided to let it sit for about 20 minutes, while i played backgammon on my phone and avoided the gaze of the drunk older woman sitting next to me. taking breaks to put both hands around the glass occasionally, and give it some heat.
after awhile i gave it another shot. completely different beer! the nose had opened up. now i was getting chocolate and cocoa, roasted malt, and even some hops. the taste was way more complex as well. lots of coffee and chocolate, some bitterness, vanilla, and a slight bourbon burn finish. what was once very one note, had opened up to be a pretty complex, yet highly drinkable IRS. gotta let this one warm up.
Russian Lullaby, redeemed itself nicely
the LadyFace Big Boardafter a few glasses of water and some time to get rid of the buzz, i headed home. and proceeded to freeze my butt off for the next hour and twenty minutes.
but still, pretty great day.
ps- i stopped at Susie Cakes to get Angela a slice of their FANTASTIC Celebration cake (and also to warm up). and the girl behind the counter threw in a free cupcake. high-five, universe!
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