Harry's Alehouse Bourbon Barrel Beer Dinner

We capped off last weekend with an enjoyable event at Harry's Alehouse. The "Bourbon Barrel Beer Dinner" promised interesting beers and good food. As we were seated our server let us know that the first course would start in about 20 minutes, and he then tempted us with a couple additional barrel-aged beers that weren't to be featured in the pairings. Naturally, we couldn't resist ordering both the Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout and the Goose Island Bourbon County 2017 offerings.

Checking in at 11.7% ABV, Founders CBS has been brewed only three times since its introduction in 2011. Brewed with chocolate and coffee, the beer is aged in bourbon barrels that previously held maple syrup. An annual release, the Goose Island Stout is also aged in bourbon barrels, and boasts a big 14.1% ABV. Both beers are much hyped and sought after by craft beer aficionados. We enjoyed both, but picked the Founders CBS as the better, and worth seeking out again in the future.

Those palate primers finished, it was time to for the main event to begin. The first course featured Baked Brie en Croute with Tangerine Honey Marmalade. The beer pairing was Alltech Brewing Kentucky Rickhouse Series No. 6 Tangerine Cream. Alltech is a combination brewery and distillery located along Kentucky's Bourbon Trail. The beer was a bright golden color with a creamy citrus aroma, and a moderate 5.5% ABV. The flavor was that of a classic creamsicle, if it was made with a hint of bourbon. This was certainly an unusual, but tasty beer. The flavors of the brie and marmalade was similar and compatible.

Next up was a French Country Salad made with Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbed Goat Cheese, Toasted Walnuts and a Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette. The featured beer for this course was Allagash Curieux. Curieux is a Belgian Triple, 11% ABV,  that has been aged bourbon barrels for seven weeks. Besides the expected bourbon notes, there are hints of coconut and vanilla in both the aroma and flavor. The salad was especially flavorful, and made even more enjoyable by the paired beer.

It was about this time in the event, that we started discussing how this was not a "sampling" dinner. We were being served full courses meals and respectable servings of the beers. It was going to be a long evening!

The main course featured Blue Mountain Barrel House Chocolate & Coffee Aged Dark Hollow. This was paired with a Coffee Crusted Prime Cut Porterhouse with Grilled Asparagus, Duchess Potatoes and Dark Hollow Demi-Glace. Dark Hollow is one of my all-time favorite Imperial Stouts, and this version was extra rich in roasted coffee and chocolate, with hints of vanilla and oak. As much as we enjoyed this spectacular 10% ABV beer, the star of the course was the steak. 

The "coffee crust" added an extra kick to the flavors. The steak was huge, tender and cooked to perfection. We saw several attendees asking for "to go" boxes. Not us. This was a feast to be enjoyed in the moment. Thankfully the service, which up until now had been almost too quick between courses, slowed to allow us to linger over this course.

Eventually it was time for dessert. This was a classic French Apple Raisin Pie with a Cream Cheese Topping. In a break from the beers served previously, the pie was served with a cider. Moonlight Meadery Them Little Apples is a created from fresh cider, blended with honey and sugar at the meadery and allowed to ferment in Rye Whiskey barrels.

The honey sweetness comes through in the flavor of the cider, though I didn't detect the affects of the barrel aging. The pairing didn't come off as well as the others, but that could be simply my preferences for less sweet beverages. That said, I had no trouble finishing any of it.

The dinner complete, Colleen and I decided to linger over coffee and continue our fun date night. Before we left home for the dinner, we had discussed how neither of us felt particularly motivated to go out for the evening. However, in the end, we were delighted to have struck with our plans. It was a most enjoyable finish to the weekend.

This was the third "beer dinner" we've attended at Harry's Alehouse, and I think the best and most extravagant. The service all evening was attentive and friendly. Harry's events are reasonably priced, a lot of fun, and there is no skimping on the servings of food or beer. We're definitely looking forward to the next event.

What's In A Name?

Observant visitors to these Musings may have noticed a change in the past couple of weeks to the title bar above. The earliest writings on the blog dealt mostly with craft beer, especially the burgeoning craft beer scene in Virginia in general and the Fredericksburg area specifically, hence the original name of the blog. Over time, other topics, including the shooting sports were mused upon with increasing frequency.

Over the years, I've considered adapting the "branding" to better reflect the content. There have been a number of complaints over the years from craft beer fans disapproving of my interests. Interestingly, I've received no complaints from fellow shooters over the beer, food or political commentary. In fact, while socializing at the range, it's not unusual at all for the conversations to veer towards the delights of fine ale.

In order to better encompass the topics at hand, the title of the blog has been changed to "Musings Over a Barrel." That update reflects both of the main topics of discussion here, and allows for future ruminations on other spirits as well. (Someday perhaps I'll also find a new header graphic.) Unfortunately, the complexities of Blogger and RSS feeds means that changing the base URL would come with the added effect of breaking the feeds of current subscribers, as well as web references. Eventually, I may sort that out, but for now the old URL remains.

However, the blog is simultaneously reachable via a new address: www.musingsoverabarrel.com. For those of you who so kindly link back to this site, I would be most appreciative if you would consider updating your links to Musing Over a Barrel, at the new address.

Cheers!

Stupid Mice

Dear Garage Mouse,

If you are intent on eating my bird seed or grass seed, we'll certainly do battle. But if you start chewing up my target supplies, you will be met with extreme prejudice.

And so it begins.

A Wet IDPA Match

I awoke on Sunday morning to the sound of rain, and it wasn't light rain. Grabbing my phone I quickly checked for any word of the scheduled IDPA match at Cavalier. I saw a post on the club's Facebook page that simply, "Make sure you are ready for some rain." It's been since September when I was last at Cavalier, and I was relieved that the match was on. However driving through the intermittent heavy rain on the way to the range I was admittedly having second thoughts.

Three quick, fun stages awaited the 26 dedicated shooters who showed up despite the wet weather. The first stage our squad shot was a complex course of fire with six different points of cover from which to shoot the 6 paper and 4 steel targets. The winding path through the walls left from last weekend's USPSA match provide some moderate leans and tight shots. I shot the stage 2 points down, but ran the course much slower than I would have liked.

The next stage started by engaging two paper targets on either side of the bay, before moving forward to the end of a wall. From that point we found three steel and two more paper targets. Moving to the opposite side of the wall, we finished on two remaining paper targets.

The final stage was shot while seated. For this course, the shooter and the paper targets were under cover. The four targets requiring three hits each, and four falling steel made for a quick run. I was happy with my run, except a couple of the steel targets jumped out of the way of my bullets, requiring some make up shots.

The match ran quickly with the small squads. We were done shooting in just over an hour. Even with the constant rain, and associated troublesome plastic bags and wet pasters, the match was a lot of fun. Thanks to the dedicated match staff who came out despite the inclement weather we got in a great morning of shooting. After a lot of tire spinning, and back and forth rocking, I was able to extricate my vehicle from the muddy parking area and head home to a warm cup of coffee.

Overall I was pleased with my accuracy, just 4 points down for the match, finishing 9th of 26 overall and 2nd of 6 in SSP SS. I did shoot more slowly than I would have liked, and wasted some time on make up shots that I didn't need. This was just the first match of 2018, there are many more to go and there will be much practice time in between. Now it's time to prepare for next weekend's match, weather permitting.

Saturday Range Time

After a much-needed relaxing Saturday morning sipping coffee, Colleen and I headed down to Winding Brook Indoor Range for a little shooting time. The morning rush was still clearing out, but we got a couple lanes with very little wait.

Starting out with my target set at 10 yards, I gradually worked out to 20 yards. I was using USPSA paper practice targets, and managed to keep most of the hits in the A zone, slipping a few outside at the furthest distance. Using the turning target feature, the sessions capped off by practicing quick hits on the target from low ready. 

At one point I noticed clouds of paint coming off the side wall of the range. Someone a few lanes over had their target at about 5 yards, but was bouncing hits off the wall 15 yards down range. I stopped shooting and looked over as the observant range officer very quickly attended to the situation. When I brought my target in I found a copper jacket remnant embedded in the cardboard. Such are the pitfalls of an indoor range.

It was a fun hour shooting, and even a pleasant couple hours in the car driving to and from the range. That's two visits to the Ashland range this month. If this keeps up I may have to buy a membership. 

Five O'Clock Friday: Laughing at Criminals

If they were smart they wouldn't be criminals.

The prayerful thug, John Bell, was on probation for an aggravated robbery he committed in 2015. Another career criminal proving once again that the revolving door probation system presents a real threat to civilized society. 

No Brewery Visit on Monday

Returning from a fun four-day "escape," Colleen and I were passing through Harrisonburg, VA on Monday around lunch time. Remembering there are a number of breweries in town, none of which we've ever visited, I did a quick internet search.

Well, that's disappointing.

We did have a tasty lunch at Union Station Restaurant where I enjoyed a Deadly Rhythm Pale Ale from Pale Fire Brewing. Coincidently, I began the weekend with a Red Molly Irish Red, also from Pale Fire. Both beers were quite tasty. We will need to plan a return to Harrisonburg to check out more Pale Fire beers — when the brewery is open!

12 Gauge AR-15

Remember when the leftist media warned us about the dangers of the chainsaw bayonet AR-15 accessory?  In another riveting piece on evil "assault rifles" we are shown the dangers to innocent fruit from the 12 gauge loaded rifle.

I can just imagine to smug satisfaction in the newsroom over that exposé.