The Beer Set the Tone — The Cigar Did the Rest

With a couple of beer-centric “holidays” falling this past week, I turned my attention to hoppy beverages and their cigar accompaniments. For “New Beer’s Eve” on Monday, I was in the mood for something light and refreshing, still easing out of the indulgence of Easter weekend. A leftover Pilsner Urquell in the fridge fit the bill perfectly.

Choosing a cigar to accompany a lighter beer gave me some pause. A crisp, herbal pilsner calls for restraint; anything too bold would quickly overwhelm its clean malt character and Saaz hop profile. I settled on a lighter-bodied cigar with a creamy, nutty profile and reached for a Davidoff Signature 1000 — a cigar I typically reserve for morning or afternoon smokes, often paired with a cup of creamy coffee.

The pairing proved both enjoyable and surprisingly refreshing. The Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, with Dominican binder and fillers, delivered a smooth, coffee-leaning profile with gentle sweetness and just a hint of pepper. That touch of sweetness played nicely against the pilsner’s bitterness, creating a balanced, complementary experience. My only disappointment was the brevity of the 5 5/8 x 34 panetela — barely a 25-minute smoke. I was sorely tempted to light a second, but resisted.

The following evening, “National Beer Day” called for another moment on the porch. With cooler temperatures settling in, I reached for something darker: Bell’s Christmas Ale. Despite its seasonal branding, it’s a fine Scotch Ale and one I enjoy well beyond the holidays. For the cigar, I chose a Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto.

This fuller-bodied cigar brings notes of cedar, earth, dark cocoa, and a touch of spice. Its blend, featuring a 10-year-aged Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, a Honduran Broadleaf binder, and fillers from Honduras and Panama comes together in a rich, medium-to-full-bodied smoke, one I often enjoy with bourbon or rye.

The Scotch Ale brought a deep malt richness to the pairing. Layers of caramel and toffee complemented the cigar’s cocoa and cedar notes, while the beer’s body stood up well to the cigar’s strength. It was a satisfying match, particularly as the evening chill set in. After flirting with 80-degree days just a week prior, we found ourselves under a freeze warning — a classic Virginia spring.

These beer “holidays” served as a welcome prompt to explore a couple of thoughtful pairings. Even after years of enjoying beer — this blog evolved from that passion — I find that discovering the right cigar match still takes a bit of time, a bit of patience, and more than a few moments staring into the humidor.

And it’s always worth the effort.

Cheers!

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A Christmas Eve Eve Smoke: Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary

It’s the calm before the storm. The evening before Christmas Eve is a moment I especially look forward to and savor. Once the Feast of Christmas arrives, the house comes alive with activity — family, food, drink, and all the merriment that accompanies the celebration. On this “Eve of the Eve,” I try to slow things down with a relaxing cigar while anticipating the days ahead. It’s also a reminder that there are still a few gifts left to wrap, though that’s only a brief distraction.

This Christmas Eve Eve, I decided to crack open a box of Oliva Serie V 135th Anniversary Edición Limitada that I’d picked up last month. I’ve always enjoyed the Serie V line, and this anniversary release offers a fun variation.

The 135th Anniversary is a limited-edition take on the standard Serie V, released to honor the Oliva family’s 135-year legacy in tobacco farming, which began in Cuba. First released in November 2021, the cigar is now a recurring limited release. The 5 1/2” x 54 vitola features a tapered foot, with the ring gauge narrowing from 54 down to roughly 30 at the tip. The blend remains familiar: an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos, just as in the regular-production Serie V.

I paired the cigar with a seasonally appropriate Christmas Ale from Bell’s Brewery. Styled as a traditional Scotch Ale, it delivers rich toasted malt and caramel notes. Despite its lighter appearance, the beer is full-bodied and warming, clocking in at a robust 7.5% ABV. It’s a fitting sipper for a cool winter evening, and one I look forward to picking up each year. Its malt-forward profile stands apart from the spiced “Christmas Ales” that dominate the shelves this time of year.

An 80-minute burn time lined up perfectly with the pacing of the Christmas Ale. The cigar burned evenly, if a bit faster than expected. While milder at the outset, the Serie V 135th Anniversary quickly settled into its familiar richness. Notes of cocoa, coffee, and roasted nuts paired perfectly with the beer’s deep malt character.

A special cigar, a seasonal beer, and the quiet anticipation of the holiday combined for a relaxing and flavorful smoke and sip. With the rush of Christmas just around the corner, it was an ideal way to wind down before ramping up.

Is Christmas Eve Eve officially noted on the calendar? It certainly should be.

Cheers!

Foundation El Güegüense with an Octoberfest Märzen

Sometimes you just want a big cigar and a beer. The El Güegüense Toro Huaco from Foundation Cigars is a hefty 6 x 56 cigar that fills the bill. It's a great candidate to enjoy on a warm afternoon of sipping beers. The Nicaraguan puro has a Corojo 99 wrapper and binder, and the binder is a blend of Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 tobaccos. A chocolate brown wrapper is somewhat bumpy with the rough inner leaves seemingly trying to escape. Despite a rough appearance, the oily wrapper held everything together and the cigar performed without issue. This is a medium bodied cigar. A blend of cocoa, espresso, sweet chocolate, nuts, accented with along mild pepper spice combined for a complex and flavorful smoke. 

I look forward each fall to the Ocktoberfest beers that many breweries release, even if they do show up in the summer. In especially enjoy the Märzen style beers over the more grain forward "fest beer" versions. Bell's Brewing Octoberfest is one that's generally easy to find.

The beer pours a coppery orange color with a thick and persistent white foamy head. The aroma of caramel and malt great the nose. A malt forward flavor profile is balanced with biscuit and caramel sweetness. It worked quit well with the chocolate and espresso notes in the cigar.

The umlaut accented names in this pairing may have been a coincidence, but in a sense, it was a sign of a pairing made to happen. 

Cheers!

Saturday Pleasures

Last Saturday began with more purge-related chores, this time focusing on the garage. Even though I've stuck to my vow made years ago that our cars would be parked in the garage, the space for them as gotten ever tighter. After several hours of work, we had made significant progress. I am happy to say we can easily walk around the vehicles now, and the cars' proximity sensors complain just a bit less when entering the space. 

After a run to the local Goodwill shop (not all the unneeded items are being disposed of) we stopped for a much anticipated lunch. We were looking forward to the advertised "Burger of the Week" at Harry's Alehouse. The tasty burger was topped with creamy Parmesan-garlic sauce, crispy onion rings, and bacon, all served on a potato roll. But the most exciting part was that our Marxist-leaning governor has "granted" permission for his subjects to dine while seated at a bar for the first time in over a year. 

An appetizer of fried pickles, the burger, and refreshing beverages, enjoyed at our favorite seats, all combined for an extremely pleasant afternoon. I went back to an old favorite, Bell's Two Hearted IPA for my libation.

Arriving home, we headed to the porch to listen to music and relax, where I enjoyed one of my favorite smokes. I've written about the Black Label Trading Company Bishops Blend a number of times in the past. I had smoked the last of my stash of the 2020 release, but I recently picked up the last of the remaining stock at my local shop, so I get to enjoy this one a few more times. And enjoy I did, right down to the still tasty nub.

At the end of the day, we had a welcome sense of accomplishment, and relief, at the progress made in our purge project. That joy was magnified by the sense of normality of enjoying some tasty beer and food, all free from arbitrary restrictions and senseless rules.

Bell's Hopslam and A Balmoral Cigar

Not too long ago, I found a lone can of Bell's Brewing Hopslam Ale hiding in the back of the beer fridge. I was excited as I thought I had consumed the last of the supply I acquired in Spring 2019. Those cans were some of the last available after Bell's announced they would no longer ship their beers to Virginia. 

Hopslam is an annual release from the Michigan brewery. The Double IPA at one time seemed like it had almost a cult following, and the retail price reflected the demand. In more recent years, my impression is the price had moderated somewhat. The newer distribution in cans helps to preserve the beer so those cans that get lost in the recesses of the fridge stay pretty fresh.

The beer pours a golden amber with a sticky white head. The aroma bring citrus and honey to the nose. The taste is bitter grapefruit, with a honey and fruit background. The mouthfeel is sticky and oily. It's not a beer to guzzle, but one to sip and savor.

My cigar pairing this time was the Balmoral Anejo XO Nicaragua Rothschild. The Nicaraguan Habano wrapper encased a Brazilian Cuban seed binder and a blend of Dominican Republic Olor, Nicaraguan, and Brazil Mata Norte fillers. The cigar's flavors are somewhat muted by the beer's lingering remnants on my palate. The smoke brought notes of milky coffee, toffee, sweet fruit and a touch of pepper. My glass of ale lasted for about half the smoke, at which time I switched to simple water. The flavors of the medium-bodied cigar stood on their own a bit more once the beer remnants faded. Throughout the smoke, I found this to be a quite enjoyable cigar.

It doesn't appear we will be getting Bell's in Virginia again for awhile, as the legal battle around Virginia's three-tier system stretches on.

And the Beat Goes On

What day is it? I hardly know anymore. Yesterday was the same as the day before and tomorrow will be the same as today. I was greeted Saturday morning with this announcement regarding the MD State IDPA match.

We knew it was coming, but now it's real. No joy in Mudville.

Most of Saturday was spent pressure washing our deck and screened porch. As mentioned previously,  it's where we spend our time these days when I'm not working, and often when I am. After that chore was done, it was time to sit in the sun and dry out. My beer fridge is getting empty again, but there were still a few cans of Bell's Hopslam Ale to be found. The 10% ABV Double IPA was just the thing to ease my aching back after riding the pressure wash wand all day. To go with the strong beer I pulled out a CAO Flathead 554 Camshaft. The dark Maduro Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and the Nicaraguan filler create a rich coffee, leather, and pepper favor profile that grows in strength as the smoke progresses. I was quite pleased with the pairing.

My after dinner smoke was one I've been looking forward to since I picked a couple up on a trip to Northern Virginia last month. Fratello Cigars puts out some of my favorite blends, including their D.M.V series, and in 2019 they released the second round in the series. The "Virginia" blend features an Ecuadorian Corojo wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder, with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The medium bodied smoke presented copious amounts of smoke, a great burn and produced mild roasted, sweet, and nutty notes. Fatigue was overcoming me and the accompanying beverage was a simple carbonated water.

The next morning, since attending religious services is still a crime in Virginia, a live feed of Palm Sunday Mass on TV had to suffice. That meager substitute for the real thing completed, attention again turned to chores around the house. The first of which was to clean the yard of the spring leaf fall in preparation for the first mowing of the year. The leaves tackled, I started looking at the list of chores to take on next. Colleen said, "Why don't you relax and have a cigar? You don't have to do chores all weekend." Well, I don't have to be told twice. (Actually, she did tell me a couple times before I relented.)

I enjoyed the Fratello DMV stick so much the day before that I lit another and sat in the sun, enjoying  my newly washed deck. The sunny temperatures in the 70's led to the first "t-shirt weather" of the season. I actually ended up with a little sunburn on my head and neck from sitting out.

After a foray into the apocalypse for supplies, I retired again to the screen porch to enjoy a book, a cigar, and a beer or two. I grabbed a Liga Privada T-52 from Drew Estate to enjoy with a Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA. The dark, full bodied cigar was tempered somewhat by the bitterness of the IPA. It was still a very enjoyable smoke.

That smoke and drink finished, the aroma Irish Beef and Guinness stew simmering inside began to reach my nose. Colleen soon joined me outside and confirmed dinner was at least an hour away. She also had a much deserved beer in her hand. Not wanting to leave her to drink alone, I grabbed another Northern Lights IPA and a Rocky Patel Tavicusa to accompanying it.

Soon we headed inside for a wonderful meal of the stew and fresh baked Irish Brown Bread. It was certainly a fine cap to the weekend.

That's all I know this week. For those waiting to hear tales of the range, believe me, I am anxious to tell them to you. Until then, it's chores, beer, whiskey, and cigars and more social distancing.

Good Beer and Sports Celebrity Sightings

A lack of blogging recently isn't an indication of a lack of life activity, just the opposite in fact. It means I've been too distracted by life to sit down and write. We were out of town last weekend, in part to attend the Spring Game at VA Tech. I was pleased we had reservations at the same hotel at which we found good beer last year. Before I even checked in at the front desk I detoured to take a peak at the taps in the lobby bar. I was not disappointed.

Colleen and I visited lobby bar in the evening to relax over a few beers. Three of the offerings were old favorites, along with one new to me beer. I tried a sample of a local beer, River Company Dumpster Dog Porter, but opted to go a more hoppier route. Colleen enjoyed a pint of the Porter. I couldn't resist a pint of an old favorite, Loose Cannon from Heavy Seas, and later a pint of Bell's Two Hearted Ale.

As we were enjoying our drinks and talking with other guests, there was suddenly a lot of excitement in the lobby and bunch of folks leapt from their seats. Buffalo Bills Quarterback Tyrod Taylor was checking in to the hotel. He posed for a few selfies and things quieted down. For a bit anyway, until Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Bruce Smith walked in. He too posed for selfies and signed autographs and the lobby calmed once again. Seattle Seahawks player Kam Chancellor also made a pass-through of the lobby.

The commonality among the players is of course, they are all VA Tech alumni, in town for the Spring Game. In all honesty, if it wasn't for the other fans at the bar, and some quick Google searches, I wouldn't have known who they were, not being a big sports fan. Nonetheless, it added some excitement to an already enjoyable Friday evening.

A Bell's Brewing Break From Cabin Fever

Friday Night was the "Bell's Dirty Dozen" tap takeover at Capital Ale House, so Colleen and I headed downtown for some good beers and a meatless dinner. The roads were clear from this week's snowstorm, and with more snowfall headed our way Saturday, this was likely to be the only break from the Winter doldrums we'd have this weekend.

Before we got to the beer menu, we needed to order food. We struggled a bit with the menu during this Friday in Lent. Perusing the appetizer menu we paused at the tasty Fried Pierogies; Fried potato and onion pierogies topped with applewood smoked bacon bits. And the soup special on Fridays is Scallop Chowder, with bacon. We finally settled on the Spinach, Crab & Artichoke Dip appetizer and Fish & Chips as our main course. Now on to the beer.

Twelve Bell's Brewing beers were offered, some new, some we've enjoyed before. We selected a few that we planned share during the evening. I had already decided I would start with the seasonal Hopslam Double IPA. This is an intensely hoppy beer, one whose popularity I believe is enhanced by its limited availability. I refuse to pay $20-$30 for a six pack, but do try to enjoy it on draft each year. Colleen ordered the Third Coast Old Ale Barleywine. This one has some nice dark fruit and is mildly flavored, as Barleywines go, but quite enjoyable. 

Also on tap this evening were some interesting beers from Perennial Artisan Ales of St. Louis, Missouri. When we were handed that menu, our decision making was thrown for a loop, since we now had more options to process. (A good problem to have.) Colleen ordered Perennial's Vermilion Barleywine. This one was a little more robustly flavored than the Bell's version, with rich, dark fruit and molasses notes. After much thought, and a recommendation from a friend, I opted to stick with Bell's and ordered Roundhouse IRA, an "India Red Ale." Slightly sweet and resinous, the flavor of the hoppy red ale was at first hidden by the lingering flavors of the barleywines. After a few sips my palate "reset" and I enjoyed the full flavors of the beer.

There were still many interesting beers to try, from both menus, but one can only do so much in a sitting. I decided to wind down with a Bell's Kal-Haven Ale. This Rye Ale is fermented with Brettanomyces yeast giving it a funky, sour flavor. The sourness worked well with the breadiness of the rye. It was certainly a switch from the evening's previous beers. I lingered on this glass for quite a while, sipping slowly and enjoying the interesting flavor of the sour ale.

It was an extremely pleasant evening, and a great relief from being cooped up by work and weather. As I write this post on Saturday morning, the snow is falling steadily. (And another planned trip to the range cancelled.) I guess as ProudHillbilly noted, February is hibernation time. But hey, I don't have to like it!

A Dark Beer Evening

We went down to Capital Ale House for dinner and a beer or two last Friday. Due to the crowds, we were seated in the dining area instead of taking our preferred bar seats. The table servers are generally clueless about what's on tap, especially with regard to anything not listed on the (often outdated) beer menu. The dining table servers are well-versed in the food specials, but that's not really why we're there, is it? But, this is not an insurmountable problem, I simply make a point to review the tap handles myself whenever we end up at a table.

During my walk of the tap lineup, I spied a handle for Great Divide Yeti. It's been a while since I had this Russian Imperial Stout from one of my old favorite breweries. My first beer of the evening was an easy choice. This pitch black beer smells of dark roasted malt, espresso, dark chocolate, and a hint of smoke. The flavor is slightly sweet, with espresso and bitter chocolate notes. At 9.5% ABV it's a sipper, and was as enjoyable as I remember. Great Divide produces a number of versions of Yeti, including barrel-aged versions. Sipping my glass of Yeti the other night put me in the mood for tracking down a few of them once again.

My next beer choice was a bit more daunting. Do I repeat a beer I've enjoyed recently, while it's available, or try something new? I noticed on the menu that Sierra Nevada Narwhal was listed as an "upcoming" beer. Since the list was a couple of weeks old, and some of the other upcoming beers were already on, I took a shot and ordered the Narwhal. Unfortunately, our server returned with the news that it wasn't available. But for bonus points, he did return with samples of two other Stouts he suggested I might want to try; Blue Mountain Dark Hollow and Bell's Expedition Stout. Having had the Dark Hollow frequently, and recently, I opted for Expedition Stout. (Although I enjoyed the taster of the Blue Mountain beer as well.)

Bell's Expedition Stout is another dark Russian Stout, but one that takes "dark and bitter" to the next level. The aroma has roasted malt, and dark chocolate, with boozy underpinnings. To no surprise, the flavor profile continues with the same theme. The roasted malt, dark chocolate and espresso flavors are strong. The alcohol level makes its presence known in the flavor as well. A thick mouthfeel and a long-lingering bitter finish completes the picture. It's no secret that I like bold-flavored beers, and Expedition Stout met that preference quite well.

As an added beer bonus, Colleen was enjoying a flight of St. Bernardus beers; Witbier, Pater 6, Prior 8, Tripel, and Abt 12.  She graciously shared the flight with the rest of the table. It was a treat, and very interesting to sample most of the St. Bernardus lineup at one time. The Christmas Ale was listed as part of the flight as well, but was unavailable. Capital Ale House substituted N'Ice Chouffe, the Christmas Ale from Brasserie d'Achouffe, adding to the evening's beer variety. Not be daunted, we picked up a bottle of St. Bernardus Christmas Ale over the weekend for our upcoming Christmas celebrations at home.

As with most evenings at Capital Ale House, we left with full bellies and with memories of great beers.

Anniversary Date Night Beers

Colleen and I took advantage of our anniversary falling on a Sunday this year to squeeze in an extra Saturday evening date night. We headed downtown to J. Brian's for an early dinner and a couple beers. Perusing the beer menu I saw a listing for Honker's Ale, a beer name I couldn't place. A quick Google search on the phone informed me this was an English Bitter from Goose Island Brewery in Chicago, IL, so I gave it a shot.

The beer pours a bright, translucent copper color with a thin head. The aroma is mild with caramel and biscuity notes. The flavor is earthy, slightly sweet malt. A mild hop bitterness completes the flavor profile. The finish is clean with very little lingering bitterness. Mouthfeel is thin. At just 4.3% ABV, Honker's Ale would be suitable for multiple pints. I enjoyed my glass, but had gotten tempted by Colleen's choice of Oberon Ale from Bell's Brewing Company.

I'm generally not one to select a wheat-style beer when ordering, but after stealing a few sips of Colleen's pint, I opted to get one for myself. Bell's Oberon is a slightly hazy, straw-yellow color with a thin head. The aroma is wheat with a hint of citrus thrown in. The flavor is a subtle blend of wheat and earthy yeast, along with some hints of pepper, banana and a grassy hoppiness. Bell's Summer seasonal checks in at 5.8% ABV.

Both beers I enjoyed this evening where relatively mild, especially compared to my usual preferences. However, they both proved to be ample accompaniments to the flavorful crab drip appetizer, as well my "white pizza" entrée featuring goat cheese, sautéed onions and bacon. Good beers, good food, and most especially, the company of my beautiful wife of 29 years, made for an exceptional dinner date.

Bell's Hopslam

Colleen and I headed down to Capital Ale House Wednesday evening for their Hopslam Ale tapping. This seasonal beer from Bell's Brewing is very popular and six-packs on the store shelves go quickly. So quickly in fact that I never even bother trying to claim one. The CAH event was a great opportunity to enjoy this sought after beer.

Hopslam pours an attractive translucent golden orange color with a white, sticky head. The extreme clarity is atypical for a Double IPA. The aroma is a blend of citrus and honey sweetness. It's pleasant enough, but in the taste is where this beer truly shines. So many Double or Imperial IPAs tend to extremes; either towards bold hops or very sweet malt. Not so Hopslam, which is extremely well-balanced.

There's a blend of citrus and pine hops provide a bitter start which is quickly mellowed by the sweetness of the malt and honey. The 10% ABV is carried well, showing its warmth respectably. Mild bitterness lingers in the finish, but is short lived. In the end, the palate is left clean. A sticky lacing remains behind on the glass.

We ordered an appetizer of Rauchbier Cheese Dip served with warm pretzel bread to enjoy with our beer. The smoky, slightly bitter dip and salty bread complimented the beer nicely. When I finished my glass, there was still plenty of dip and bread left. I had no choice but to enjoy a second glass of Hopslam while we finished the food.

There's a mystique that surrounds Bell's Hopslam that gives it the reputation of being a "flavor bomb" or "palate wrecker." Personally, I find all the flavor components to be in balance. This is a big flavored beer, but hardly overbearing. However, it is one of those beers where you just keep repeating, "Wow, this is good" through the whole glass. The Hopslam "legend" and reputation is well-deserved. Who knows, maybe one year I'll make the effort to acquire some for my home refrigerator.

Beer and Food Tasting Event

This weekend we held the first of two beer and food tasting events we donated to benefit the school's fund raising activities. These tastings are always a lot of fun to do, and always a lot of work. Admittedly, I had the easier part. I selected the beers and did a lot of talking about them. Colleen spent the day before, and the morning of, cooking all the food to be served. She also worked in the kitchen to prepare the dishes for serving. Food serving, and clearing between each course, was handled deftly by our son.

I selected beers that were readily available in our area, and represented some of the variety of American Craft beer. Of course, there were many beers I could have included but we did want these folks to go home eventually!

Jomo Lager

Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, Virginia

Amber Lager (4.6% ABV)

Paired with Artichoke Dip and Tortilla Chips

Prima Pils

Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, Pennsylvania

German Pilsener (5.3% ABV)

Paired with Cheddar Bacon Bites

Port City Optimal Wit 

Port City Brewing, Alexandria, Virginia

Belgian White Ale (5.0% ABV)

Paired with Peaches and Cream French Toast Casserole

Bell’s Pale Ale 

Bell’s Brewing, Kalamazoo, Michigan

American Pale Ale (5.2% ABV)

Paired with Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Dale’s Old Chub

Oskar Blues Brewing, Longmont, Colorado

Scottish Strong Ale (8% ABV)

Paired with Spicy Beef and Provolone Ciabatta Panini

Flying Dog Wildeman

Flying Dog, Frederick, Maryland

Farmhouse IPA (7.5% ABV)

Paired with Olivada and Mozzarella on French Bread Crostini

Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout 

North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, California

Russian Imperial Stout (9.0% ABV)

Paired with Brownies and Ice Cream

Brooklyn Local 2

Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, New York

Belgian Dark Ale (9.0% ABV)

Paired with Stilton Cheese, Sugared Walnuts, and Pears

Whatta Weekend!

Our son was camping with the Boy Scouts this weekend, but there was no time for romantic candlelight dinners and lazy evenings in front of the fireplace for us. Friday evening we worked at a "Casino Knight" the Knights of Columbus was sponsoring in to support our youth group participating in Work Camp this summer. I helped set up Friday afternoon, then worked the bar all evening. The evening was spent pouring lager for volunteers and players; Boston Lager, Yuengling Lager, and Michelob Ultra (barely a) Lager. Of course, there were a few, ahem, "off-menu" beers available to the bartender and those in the know. :-)

On Saturday morning, we rose early to start the day. I did sneak off for a few hours to meet up with some new shooting friends at the local indoor range. That was a blast (pun intended.) After a couple hours at home, Colleen and I were off to volunteer at the Bingo Hall in support of our son's high school. That made for another long evening. This is the second time we've helped at this activity, and I must say, it's a whole new world for me. Those people are serious about their Bingo! (And it's a successful, and much needed, fund raiser for the school.) The only downside of the evening is the frequent venture into the smoking section of the bingo hall. It's more intense than any smoky bar from days past.

I did have time for a pint of New Belgium Snow Day with some leftover pizza as a late-night treat before heading to bed. I had found a forgotten case of this winter delight in the basement this week and it was just the thing with which to unwind.

Sunday morning we arose bright and early for Mass. Okay, perhaps not so much bright, but early. Our son was due home mid-morning so we went to an early Mass in order to be available to pick him up. While driving him home we experienced the second batch of smoke-drenched clothes this weekend. I must say the camp smoke is much more pleasant than the cigarette-based version we had the previous night!

After a quick trip to the grocery store I settled down for some relaxing reading napping. Later Sunday afternoon our regular shooting friend came to visit and we headed out to the range. We worked in the pistol bay for awhile, before heading over to the shotgun field. The shotgun is a new weapon we've started working with to increase our skill set. It was a good time shooting at static clays, while moving and reloading. That's a subject for a future blog post so stay tuned.

Home from the range, I cracked open a Bell's Pale Ale and threw some steaks on the grill. Both the steaks and the beer where products of the grocery store run mentioned above.

We probably couldn't have packed anymore into the weekend. Two events for good causes, two range trips, some good beers and good food made for two fun days. That's what weekends are all about!

Ah, Monday. Time to start planning for next weekend.