This package was originally supposed to arrive on Friday, but unfortunately the FedEx guy showed up before my lunch time and I wasn’t able to be home to accepted the package.  So my poor beer had to sit in a hot truck all day on Friday and then in a hot warehouse overnight.  Sure one more day of heat probably doesn’t mean much after sitting in a truck coming all the way from California, but it still hurts a bit.  As for the beer, we drank the Pliny and the Blind Pig the night they arrived.  Both lived up to their reputation and were fantastic beers.  What did you enjoy this weekend?

Unless you’re a duck, it’s pretty miserable outside.  I’m pretty busy right now, so I’ll put a few pictures up that I think you’ll enjoy.

You may remember the package of pure pleasure I received a few weeks ago thanks to my lovely girlfriend.  Never one to leave well enough alone or to even be satisfied with what I have, I went ahead and bought some more beer shipped in from California.  What you see there is:

• Firestone Walker - Double Barrel Ale
• Stone - Ruination IPA
• Alesmith - Decadence Anniversary Ale
• Lost Abbey - Red Barn Ale
• Lost Abbey - Lost & Found
• Alesmith - Horny Devil

I’m also supposed to be receiving another very special package from Lost Abbey in this week, two 375ml bottles of Red Poppy.   You may be asking yourself, “Mike, what the hell do you do with all of this beer?”  Let me show you:

Well, I drink what I can and I cellar a lot of it for special and not so special occasions.  Bill and Ellie saw this a couple of weeks ago and Bill proclaimed that I was becoming one of those “crazy beer guys.”  The ones that will never be able to finish all of the beer they collect.  He may be very well right about that, because I sometimes I have a hard time bringing myself to drink some of this.  I especially don’t enjoy drinking it by myself, these are the kind of things you enjoy with friends that will really appreciate it.

I love alliteration, though this title sounds slightly erotic. It sounds like the kind of package that arrives in a nondescript box from the ABC Company. That being said, this picture is nothing more than beer porn.  Besides a minor shipping mishap, Irene did real good.

• Stone Brewing - Double Bastard
• Alaskan Brewing - Smoked Porter
• Stone Brewing - Ruination IPA
• Lost Abbey - 10 Commandments
• Alesmith - Yulesmith

My girlfriend Irene is taking a trip out to rainy Southern California to visit some family this weekend.  Being the wonderful beer nerd girlfriend she is, she’s going to try and pick up some beers for me and bring them home.  I made her a little list, I hope she pulls through.

• Lost Abbey Gift of the Magi
• Lost Abbey Devotion
• Alesmith Yulesmith
• Stone Double Bastard Ale
• Stone Ruination Double IPA
• Alaskan Smoked Porter 2007
• Lost Abbey Judgment Day
• Ballast Point Seamonster Stout

You ever notice how much I love bullet points?