If I had written this yesterday, prior to my test results, you probably would have had a post ranting about how hard it is to sit through classes with people lecturing about yeast; about how complicated yeast can be. And how we had one instructor lecture for 2 1/2 hours about theories of yeast flocculation when the lecture was supposed to be an hour. By the way, I got the same information on Wyeast's website and read it in 10 minutes. And about how I probably missed at least 10 questions on the test (I actually counted 16 that I was unsure about). Yeast are complicated little buggers with their fermentative and respiratory qualities, and their sensitivity to pH and temperature. I know more about yeast than I ever thought I would need to know. And I still thought that I did horribly on the test...
However, I got a perfect score on the test (honestly, I have no idea how that happened). You will hear no more about it.
Anyway, I learned a few new things this week. Ready?
1. I definitely have a space bubble. Being crammed in a cattle car to and from school is getting really old. I don't like having people constantly bumping up against me! I need to find my Zen place. Those that know me, though, realize that I have no Zen place. I only have impatience. Thanks to my iPod and some choice podcasts, I have survived thus far.
2. Watching my wife fend off drunk morons hitting on her is really funny. Gina came to visit this past weekend. She really wanted to see Wrigley Field where the Cubs play. It's quite funny because it is literally in the middle of a neighborhood. There is NO parking. In any case, after she took about 30 photos (as she does), we went to Goose Island in Wrigleyville. Now, Wrigleyville is known locally by some as DoucheBagville for its impossibly high number of jackasses that frequent the local bars. Gina and I had a couple drinks and were getting ready to leave when two obviously fitshaced guys from down a ways at the bar came over and told her they were leaving. They thought that she needed to have the rest of their samples because they had to leave for a show. Then they saw her Black Butte Porter purse. I will be the first to say, that is pretty badass. My wife walks around with a purse made out of a Black Butte Porter bag made out of an old banner. She's pretty awesome. The, until now, reasonably cordial men decided they weren't leaving once they saw the bag. They really thought that she needed to go out with them. Then they decided that they were going to stay and hang out with her. I am about a foot away from all this mind you. Somehow, with a little verbal jousting, she not only managed to get them to leave, but got them to buy her an $8 beer! (Though they comment that they roofied her drink and would find her later...) While this was happening, the bartender brought me another drink on the house to consume "while your wife gets hit on". I do love that woman! She can verbally fend off even the most dedicated A-holes!
3. Seeing Gina was both a blessing and a curse. I would not have traded it for anything, but it's really hard to see her go again. She also brought two cards signed by all my friends from back home encouraging me to keep going. (Josh! Thank you brother! That meant a lot!) It was fantastic to know how much support that I have at home. I miss it all. I miss brewing and having family dinners with my friends at Brood Brewing and the Hendrix clan (corgis included). I miss jiu-jitsu and all my friends there (Brendan...keep the liver trained, I will be home sooner or later!) I miss working with the awesome people at GoodLife Brewing. I miss all my other friends. Jordan, thanks for watching the house, dogs, and keeping my hot tub in use. Mike and Ali thanks for all the texts and taking care of my wife while I am gone. You guys are all the best people I could ever ask to be around. I also really miss the mountains. It is as flat as roadkill here!
Okay. I digress. It was really great to have the wife here. She made me do all the touristy stuff that I probably would not have otherwise done. And I have to say, the Art Museum here is fantastic. A Little Dali and a little Picasso does the body good sometimes. Culture is good...
Interesting fact of the week: I met a guy on my way home from the concert last Sunday who told me that he could smell shapes. Yep...smell shapes. There are so many different kinds of crazy on the trains in the evening that I feel like I should bring popcorn for the show everytime I ride after about 10pm.
Beers of the week:
Two Brothers Bitter End: Drinking it right now actually. I still don't know where these guys are going with their beer, but this one is pretty good. Kind of like an english pale ale with more bitter bite. It's quite drinkable.
New Glarus Two Women: This was an all floor malted beer (look it up!). I was actually expecting more with all the hype surrounding this beer. It was very...meh!
New Glarus Spotted Cow: A "Wisconsin Farmhouse Ale". Basically, it was made with local corn and flaked wheat. It was a very pale beer that was easily drinkable with a little bite at the end. I would do this one again, but seeing as it's only sold in Wisconsin (and I am not going back unless forced) I will not be getting another.
New Glarus Raspberry Tart: No shortage of raspberry in this thing! It tasted like sweet raspberries with a sour finish. I didn't really know what to expect. I was hoping for more sourness, but it turned out to be rather good even without that.
Three Floyd's Alpha King: Ha! They say this is a "Pale Ale". This thing was hopped like it came straight out of the Northwest. It had a little more sweetness than I normally like, but it was really nice to have a "properly" hopped beer. (Man I miss The Descender IPA!)
Gina brought some beers from home too. I need to thank Curt and Ty from GoodLife for the Mountain Rescue. It was really good to have a taste of home.
Soundtrack of the week:
Lots of Brewing Network podcasts. It makes me think, which hurts, but it's probably good for me.
Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree. Just needed some weirdness I guess.
More Bon Iver of course.
Alright, that's it for now. I need to go see if I can figure out what a rectangle smells like. I am thinking chicken...
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