ULLR LIVES!

SNOW!! Finally!  

Shoveling out Rufus' kennel.

 Ready?!

 LAUNCH!!

All cleaned out.

 How much snow did we get, dude?

 ONLY 15 INCHES!?! I lost on the over/under!!

 15.5 Doodle! You and NOAA loose!

 Are you gonna throw a snowball for me to jump and bite at, or what?

 And another?

 Which way did it go, George?!

And Another?!?

One more time - my fur is freezing my eyes shut!

R.I.P Pat Morris - "Uncle Snack Crackers"

Boogie on, Pat!

 Tragic news out of Telluride. Long time fixture on the local scene, Pat Morris, passed away under sad circumstances last week. Known to some as the "Dancing Hippy" due to his propensity to get his boogie on during the Bluegrass festival, he was a constant source of energy at the show. More than ten years ago at the first Bluegrass Festival we attended, we noticed Pat on Sunday morning, as he was the only one standing and dancing during the opening set. A friend coined the name "Uncle Snack Crackers" for the exuberant Pat, and though it was never mentioned to him, the moniker stuck and was fondly recalled amongst a group of our friends many times in the last decade.

Since then, we have attended the festival many times, and were happy and excited to see him up front getting his groove on year in and year out. In fact, I became convinced, after years of observation, that this man and a small cadre of cohorts was actually a caretaker of the vibe in Town Park, and as guardian of this trust, had a hand in making sure that when energy ebbed, catalysts were brought to bear that would cause it to flow strong and free once more. Often, this was his ferocious right-armed jig and intensely staring eyes, moving rapidly through the dense crowd, defying all to deny the epic jam emanating from the PA, sweeping away the cobwebs of bad vibe as if the San Miguel were crashing through the audience, purifying and invigorating all in it's icy embrace.

Though I only conversed with him several times, the moments are fond memories. Anyone who can tell me four tales in a handful of minutes that all contain the phrase, "cause you know we were trippin", will certainly hold my attention and get a grin. We had already decided to skip this year's festival to spend time elsewhere this summer, and in a way, I am glad, as his absence would be like a hole in the crowd. According to the obituary, Pat's ashes were scattered above chair 9 a the resort. It wouldn't surprise me that if, when you're riding the chair, a faint chuckle is heard on the wind as it blows through the pines. That would be his style, passing along another good vibe.

The Pirate, Pat, and some dude up at Blues&Brews this past Summer (Yes, it snowed)

Rock it, Pat, wherever you may be.

2011-12 NFL Regular Season Roundup

Phallus in Wonderland

With the Vikes struggling to the end, and following the tragic and completely uncalled for knee injury to Adrian Peterson, (truly saddening that this had to occur on the tail end of a failed season), I turned my attention to my backup team, Los Bronco's. Unless you live in a hole, the name Tim Tebow is not unbeknownst to you. Following a stunning victory over the stealer's in the wild card game, Tebow and the Pony's got their asses handed to them in the divisional playoff by New England. With Bronco's VP of Operations, John Elway, firmly on the Tebow train, it should be an interesting off season for the team. We will see how our boy, Tim, progresses over the summer when he takes the field at Mile High next season. In other news, the flatulent Pack managed to pooch their shot at a return to the big game, to the disappointment of some. I guess I would have liked to see them go, but after watching the Patriots last week and the Giants this week in the NFC Championship, I think they would have gotten beat down by the beast from the East. The big game is up in two weeks in Indy, and could be a good one if El Gigantes show up to play football. they looked like a regimented unit last night, but still only managed to squeak by the 9'ers by a hair. But 'round here, I'm looking to next year when the Purple headed warriors will be super bowel bound! Until then, Go Vikes!

The Great Grain Heist of 2011

A midnight mission for 50lb sacks of malted barley for brewing. Thanks to all who helped set this up!

The Great Pagosa Grain Heist of 2011

Getting ready for the Holidays!

Winter is upon us

With her puppy

Mr. Puppy!

Snowy Doodle-face

Ferocious!

Ready to help with snow removal

Rufus playing his favorite winter game, bite the snow being flung from the blower

Our tree is up

Ta-Da!

Phil n' Friends in Denver, Feb16-18

Wow - Scofield, Haynes and Greene with Joe Russo!?! Might have to make the trip.

NOAA goes on record with La Nina predictions

Well, there you have it. NOAA has issued their official 2011 La Nina predictions here. I guess that we will see. Personally, El Nino and La Nina sounds more to me like El Caca made up by weathermen who won't admit that they are basically guessing on a daily basis.

Pack wins the big game, completes Vikings "Season of Shame"

Poor Vikes. I look at the 2010-11 season like I look at the Bush administration... It is highly unlikely that in my lifetime, it'll be this bad again. Go Vikes.

Hovenweep Natl Monument

A winter visit to Hovenweep with the dogs and the Schmig!

Brewing Surreptitious IPA

Brewed up a batch of IPA in the sun on the deck the other day with my snowy little brew buddy. It was based on a clone of the excellent Furious IPA, from Surley Brewing up in Minnestrohta. It called for bittering hops to 99 IBU's. This one;s gonna havve some bite!

Cuddle Wolf rareity in the wild explained

As it turns out, the Cuddle Wolf's long locks mate quite well with damp snow. Combined with his need to play at all costs, and a visit by his little buddy Sunny from down the hill, and you can see that he quickly changes from feared predator to helpless prey.

Cuddle Wolf's first big snow

2 feet of freshies put the puppy in wonderland.




He was a little unsure, then dove right in.









Frosty beard!



Who loves the snow!








Puppy in Wonderland!

Joe Webb, rookie no mo!

While it is wayyy to early to call Joe Webb road tested, he sure put on a solid performance last evening, including two completions for serious yardage and a sweet rushing TD. He definatly held up his end of the deal, as did the D both the line AND the backfield! Wow. Where has this team been all year!?

Ed Rendell, a democrat with balls.

The Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania, Ed Rendell, stepped up this week and called out the NFL for canceling the Sunday night football game between the Vikes and Eagles this week. The quote as follows:

"My biggest beef is that this is part of what's happened in this country," Rendell said.

"We've become a nation of wusses. The Chinese are kicking our butt in everything," he added. "If this was in China do you think the Chinese would have called off the game? People would have been marching down to the stadium, they would have walked and they would have been doing calculus on the way down."

Later on he name checks Bud Grant and Vince Lombardi. I like this guy.

Vinyl Picks for 2010, Pt II

Missed a couple in the earlier post here.



Hank III's third(?) studio album is solid country. He sticks to his favorite topics on this one, namely gettin' drunk and gettin' high, and it makes for some kicakass country music. Hope he lives to cut some more of these.




A remaster of this level has to be mentioned here. I don;t think there is much to say about Exile that hasn't been said, save for 2010 was the year I really got it for the first time, and now I'm hooked. While it was sweet to pick up a brand new 180gm pressing of this classic album, sonically, I think that the CD I have from the Virgin European pressing a few years back is superior. Looks for it.

December Brews 2010

This months brews in the primary. On the right is the Oktoberfest using the WLP820 yeast, and on the right is an Olde Ale using the Danstar Nottingham Ale yeast, but fermenting happily at 56 degrees. I am hoping to get a good dry finish on this one without the fruitiness that the Notty Ale yeast can add. I'll post more once these are done an tasted.

My take on Culumbarillo IPA

Columbarillo IPA
American IPA


Type: All Grain
Date: 11/2/2010
Batch Size: 6.00 gal
Brewer: Joe Mama
Boil Size: 7.97 gal Asst Brewer: Doodle
Boil Time: 60 min Equipment: My Rig
Taste Rating(out of 50): 45.0 Brewhouse Efficiency: 67.00

Taste Notes: Phenomenal grapefruit bitter, big hop nose and finish. A powerful IPA.

Ingredients

Amount Item Type % or IBU
11.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) Grain 68.75 %
4.00 lb Vienna Malt (3.5 SRM) Grain 25.00 %
1.00 lb Caramel/Crystal Malt - 10L (10.0 SRM) Grain 6.25 %
1.00 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
2.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
1.25 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (60 min) Hops 47.3 IBU
1.00 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
2.00 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (Dry Hop 7 days) Hops -
0.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (30 min) Hops 14.5 IBU
0.50 oz Simcoe [13.00 %] (30 min) Hops 13.5 IBU
2.50 oz Amarillo Gold [8.50 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1.50 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1.00 oz Centennial [10.00 %] (0 min) (Aroma Hop-Steep) Hops -
1.00 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc
1.20 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Primary 3.0 days) Misc
12.00 gm Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash 60.0 min) Misc
1 Pkgs American Ale (Wyeast Labs #1056) [Starter 125 ml] Yeast-Ale



Beer Profile

Est Original Gravity: 1.065 SG
Measured Original Gravity: 1.065 SG
Est Final Gravity: 1.015 SG Measured Final Gravity: 1.012 SG
Estimated Alcohol by Vol: 6.42 % Actual Alcohol by Vol: 6.92 %
Bitterness: 75.3 IBU Calories: 291 cal/pint
Est Color: 6.0 SRM Color: Color


Mash Profile


Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge
75 min 148.0 F
Mash In Add 20.00 qt of water at 160.8 F



Notes

Based on Culumbarillo IPA recipe from BYO mag - dude from New Mexico won the GABF pro-Am with this one. Nice work Herbal Joe!


Dry Hop Simcoe/Columbus pellets 11.6.10
Dry hop Centenial/Amarillo leaf 11.9.10
Keg 11.15.10 - to cellar.

Vinyl Picks for 2010

The following are my top picks for vinyl releases in 2010. All kick serious ass in their own right. Possibly to be included, but not yet in my possession, the 9 album re-issue of Bob Dylan's first nine albums in mono (HFS, right!), and Kid Rock's new release, Born Free (I am a sucker for Bob Seger and understand that this one includes NO METAL and NO RAP, so I bet it rocks!)

This release from Petty stands proudly amongst his best. ROCKIN! Great lyrics, great double disc 180gm presentation, Petty isn't missing a beat. If you love rock n' roll... and check out the picture on the cover. These guys know how to rock, and once again they throw down the gauntlet with Mojo.

My original take on this album, before I knew the story behind the recording, or the story behind the handmade axe that Young wields on it, was that "Le Crap" would be a better title. After reading the story, and listening to the mp3 at a good friend's house, the vinyl was put on order. Easily Young's most intimate album, this thing kicks ass with the same power of the soundtrack to the film "Dead Man". Brooding and introspective, recorded only at night by moonlight, Young lay's it down again on Le Noise.

I bought this and Dan Auerbach's solo effort from 2009 together. What a trip. How these guys can keep a 2-piece rock unit interesting is beyond me, but the proof is this the rock on this album.




Cadillac Sky's 2010 release, Produced by Dan Auerbach, is quite a jump from traditional bluegrass, and sounded great up on stage at the 2010 Telluride Bluegrass Festival. Check it out!

The old home place

Took a hike with the puppy this morning to the top of the ridge across the way. Great view of the house from up there.

Cuddle Wolf

The Cuddle Wolf takes a break from his prey to contemplate further acts of gentleness and Mayhem, his specialties.