Day12

Well--I am a day behind again but there is good reason...

First--an addition to the previous post--I could have edited it but decided to do it this way. New Belgium is now the third largest craft brewery in the U.S. behind Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada. They are looking at the possibility of opening a brewery somewhere in the east. When I told our guide that we were from Asheville, he said that is one of the cities he keeps hearing about! REmember you heard it here first. That would be interesting since it would not be as "local" as our current group of brewers. My take is there may be some resistance but their product is good enough to overcome it. Besides it would be a big operation to supply a number of states.

Another clarification--may be too much minutiae for some of you but I try to be comprehensive here. The Fat Tire label comment in the previous post--the bike gradually disappeared because it was on a trip. People are asked to write a brief story re: the trip. The winner will get a new bike.

Yesterday we dropped off the rental car at the Colo. springs airport. Pooh (Dick) picked us up and took us to lunch at the Blue Star Restaurant. They happened to have several brews on the menu. Priscilla went with the Bristol Beehive Honey Wheat which she really liked. I tried Bristol's Mass Transit Amber Ale which I found kind of bland and boring (should have tried a sample first). Pooh had Bristol's Laughing Lab Scottish Ale which he liked. I sampled it and agreed. Since it was only noon, we were only going to have one with our lunch...but I saw an intriguing one from Boulevard called Tank 7 Saison. When I asked about it, I was told it was "complex" and 8%. Had to try it and was not disappointed--it was very good.

Next we drove to the summit of Pike's Peak. At 14,110 feet, the combination of the Saison and the altitude made me a little woozy at first. It took us an hour to get to the top. They had just completed the annual climb contest--the winner made it in just under 10 minutes--a new record. Meagan--I am sure running your Camaro up there would be a blast.

Next stop was a new brewpub in Woodland Park. They were all German style brews which I assume meant abiding by the German Purity Laws. The Weis beer (wheat) was a good one to sip on the patio. The Dunkel dark lager--not so much. Priscilla couldn't drink it and neither could I. Many of you are old enough to remember the cereal commercial with the tag line, "Give it Mikey--he'll eat anything." Well, we passed the Dunkel to Pooh and he managed to drink it.

On to Pooh's place in the mountains. Saw mule deer and elk. He opened his fridge and showed me what he had accumulated from California and elsewhere. There has to be 15-20 different kinds of beer, only two of which I recognize from my collection. I looked at Priscilla and asked if she thought we could stay for another week...Tonight we eat Mexican so I will have hard choices to make. Last night was a wine meal (first taste of wine on the trip but Pooh is a wino with a cellar full so this was required).

Bill--thanks for your comment--the trip has been a great combination of sightseeing and brews.

Today we will visit a wolf sanctuary...