The homebrewing bug.

When in DC a couple weeks ago, Duke (one of the few "regulars" who leaves comments on our blog - come on, people, leave a comment!!!) had brought 3 bottles of his latest homebrew for Chris to try. The liquid, pictured at left, was consumed heartily tonight. Duke's Porter (or whatever he named it) was a tasty concoction of roasty malts and just the right amount of hoppiness to cut through. He had discussed the lack of oomph in the color, but regardless it was a tasty beer. Good job Duke!!!

In other news, James of "James and Monica" is down here this weekend visiting his parents in Gibsonville (Monica and the boys certainly came along too). On Wednesday, a trip to Triad Homebrew Supply was in order as James is getting back on the homebrewing bandwagon. The hop bines growing along his fence beg to be thrown into a boiling cauldron of beery magic. So Chris and he went there and bought some supplies for him to reach his goal of homebrewing with his homegrown hops. Chris had done the same thing last year here.

A pale ale and an IPA recipe were purchased at Triad for personal delivery back to Alexandria. Chris nabbed some books (Radical Brewing and Designing Great Beers) and also a new racking cane with tubing. There are the makings of a smoked porter recipe dying to be brewed in the Gordon garage fridge, and one day quite soon those grains and hops will become delicious libation.

Updates on the results will follow soon...