Monday, December 14, 2015

Starr Hill Mango Genius

After an afternoon of stacking firewood and other yard chores, we decided to hit Capital Ale House for an early dinner on Sunday. (Or was it a late lunch?) While deciding on our beer selections, our server suggested a "mango habanero IPA from Starr Hill." I was intrigued but not convinced, so she offered a taster. After that I was convinced.

Some quick Google-fu at the bar helped me learn that the beer was called Mango Genius and was a collaborative effort with Brothers Brewing. The beer pours a bright golden color with a white head. The aroma is citrusy and fruit-like. Sipping the beer, the flavor is what I can best describe as tropical citrus "juiceness." The habanero makes its presence known at the end. A subtle warmth slowly comes into play in the finish. It never burns, but teases in the back of the throat.


This was an excellent suggestion and beer I'd definitely order again. In fact I did, to go along with a very spicy Mexicali salad. The salad, with copious raw jalapeƱos, went well with the "cooling" citrus fruit of the IPA. 

And that beer in the foreground? That's Colleen's glass of Heavy Seas Red Sky at Morning. This is a version of the brewery's delightful Red Sky at Night aged in Chardonnay barrels. Two excellent beers from two of our favorite breweries, with a Redskins win on the bar TVs, made for a enjoyable afternoon.

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Your Government at Work

Department of Homeland Security. The bureaucrats charged with keeping you safe.



Kelli Ann Burriesci, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Screening Coordination Officer of Policy, Department of Homeland Security, appears to have ascended to her highest level of incompetence.

Or maybe her parents made a large donation to the obama campaign. 

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Sheriffs Who Get It

Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, AZ might be the most well-known and outspoken Sheriff who regularly shows his support for armed, law-abiding citizens. However, he is not alone in speaking out. I've noticed a frequent news item recently about these elected officials.

Sheriff Clarke: The 2nd Amendment Is Treated Like the Constitution’s Bastard Child
Milwaukee County, WI

Police Chief Craig: Armed Detroiters cut terror risk
Detroit, MI

New York Sheriff Urges Citizens to Carry Guns After San Bernardino Mass Shooting
Ulster County, NY

Second NY Sheriff Urges Licensed Gun Owners to Carry Their Weapons
Sullivan County, NY

Florida sheriff calls on people to be ready to take on terrorists themselves
Brevard County, FL

Missouri sheriff discounts concealed carry permits to encourage armed citizenry
Laclede County, MO

Boone County Sheriff Michael Helmig calls on concealed carry permit holders to always carry gun
Burlington County, KY

NY Sheriff Urges Concealed Permit Holders to Carry 'at All Times' to Fight Terrorism
Steuben County, NY

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple: Bad Guys Win “When We Live In Fear”, Promotes Concealed Carry In His County Alongside Training
Albany County, NY

We the people are the first line of defense against thugs and terrorists. Law enforcement is rarely present at the start of a violent crime, rather arriving after the fact to take a report and bag evidence. These gentlemen are to be commended for speaking out and showing that the safety of their constituents is their primary concern.

All that said, it's sad that a law enforcement officer declaring his support for the Constitution is considered "news."

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Governor McAuliffe Fights Gun Violence

A most excellent analysis:
PRESS RELEASE

Governor McAuliffe Creates Gun-Free Zones to Stop the Carnage in State Agency Buildings!

Richmond, December 4, 2015:  Virginia Governor McAuliffe, in order to stop all the continued bloodshed in state-agency buildings, has made an EMERGENCY regulation to ban guns in those buildings effective immediately!

The reasons this is an emergency action are numerous:

* There has been a horrendous and eye-popping ZERO shootings in state-agency buildings!  The Governor plans to fix that problem with this gun ban.

* Virginia’s 400,000 concealed handgun permit holders, with a pretty much ZERO PERCENT violent crime rate, are clearly a serious and ongoing threat to all of our state agencies!

*  Likewise, off-duty police officers, another proven group of untrustworthy, unbalanced, and potentially murderous time-bombs, could start shooting up state agencies because of long lines. Only on-duty police should be allowed to carry a gun!

*  Importantly, terrorists and active shooters have shown NO interest in violating gun-control laws by attacking in gun-free zones.  Gun-free government buildings are especially safe from attack!

*  Anyway, it’s far safer for citizens to be executed one-at-a-time than for those same citizens to have a gun to fight back with!  Why, somebody might get hurt!  Only the Governor’s 24/7 security team needs guns, as it goes without saying that some lives are much more important than others.

*  As a bonus, the Commonwealth has a glut of chalk used to draw lines around dead bodies.  This will reduce those inventories, saving space in the State Police headquarters building!

To the blood-thirsty naysayers of his gun ban, the Governor says:

* I am NOT paying back Michael Bloomberg’s million dollar campaign donation by pushing his major issue - more gun control!  That’s merely a coincidence.

* I am not pushing Hilary Clinton’s favorite issue - gun control - because I want to be Hillary Clinton’s Vice-Presidential running mate!  That’s merely a coincidence.

* I do have a thorough understanding of state gun laws!  I know, for example, that it is illegal for Virginians to own machine guns.

All hail the Governor for doing SOMETHING to make Virginia safe from those evil and dangerous concealed handgun permit holders and off-duty police officers, and making state-agency buildings SAFE for active shooters and terrorists!

H/T to VCDL.

More on the executive order signed by Bloomberg's puppet in Virginia.

Monday, December 7, 2015

Blinded By The Light

I opened the beer fridge Sunday evening and was momentarily blinded by a bright light. I was temporarily shocked and confused. "What is that?" I thought.

Then I realized, it was an empty shelf! That light bulb hasn't been visible in a very long time.


The second shelf is not looking so well-stocked either. I guess I have some shopping to do.

Sunday, December 6, 2015

More Cookies & Beer

As the sun went down Sunday afternoon, I cracked open a bottle of Flying Dog Fig and Fennel Stout. This is one of the beers in the Flying Dog Holiday pack of beers paired with Otterbein's cookies, that we started exploring a few weeks ago.



Per the brewery's directions, I first tried the stout with Otterbein's Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. The beer pours a deep brown with dark red hint. Extremely faint roasted and dark fruit aromas were present. The initial roasted malt flavor was followed by some citric tartness and a dry finish. I happen to like figs, so I was disappointed to not detect fig, or fennel notes, in the beer. Sampling the Oatmeal Raison cookies brought out some mild dark fruit notes, but the cookies were the best part of the pairing.

Coincidently. Colleen was also baking Chocolate Chip cookies as we tasted the Flying Dog beer. So naturally, I grabbed some fresh-from-the-oven cookies to try with the beer as well. The warm, milk chocolate in the homemade cookies moderated some of the bitterness of the stout.

The stout was acceptable, the Otterbein's cookies delightful, but neither beat the joy of the warm, homemade chocolate chip cookies. The beer gone, I decided I'd pair a couple of fresh cookies with a bowl of ice cream later, after all, it is the Feast of St. Nicholas.


The beer, and Otterbien's cookies, reviewed here were promotional samples from the brewery. My impressions are provided of my own free will.

Saturday, December 5, 2015

What? Me Worry?

Meme of the Week.


Here's wishing you a stress-free weekend!

Friday, December 4, 2015

The Gun Control Song

Arguing with "brain dead" leftists is pointless. It's more fun to laugh at their so-called "logic" instead.



And already they are calling the San Bernardino terrorist attacks a "wonderful opportunity... to make changes" to our gun-control laws.