Oh my god, why did I not see a doctor about this years ago? I just gave myself a few sprays of Flonase and this New Belgium Skinny Dip is so sweet, and just a little grassy. Hurrah for blondes!

I won't claim that I suddenly have super powers, but it's clear that I'm a little out of practice when it comes to actually tasting my beers. I would have reflexively gulped this down if not for the smell.

And the doc said that the cumulative effect of this stuff is substantial (the Flonase, not the beer — but also the beer), so in between the spray and my neti pot I think I have my senses under control. No more Belgian Beer Fest debacles (about which more later).

Now if I could just figure out what makes me this way every winter... next stop, the allergist.

Labels: American Blonde Ale, New Belgium Brewing, Skinny Dip

My coworker Pete hosted a cookout yesterday, so I brought four beers: a Two Hearted, a Skinny Dip, and two Sierra Nevada Stouts.

I enjoyed the first two, as usual — I think the Skinny Dip may have been more subdued following the Two Hearted — and the Stouts weren't bad. Although as b/4, they weren't really interesting enough for me.

Several of his guests like good beer, and we had a brief conversation about the weirdness of Surly brews (if you don't like one, you can always plausibly claim that you just don't understand it), the upcoming Flying Dog mix-packs, and their fondness for the Flat Earth Black Helicopter, easily (because I hate coffee flavors) my least favorite local beer.

Later on I was offered a Stella Artois and I just couldn't refuse. It's not that Stella is better than the Two Hearted or the Skinny Dip, but on an intellectual level Stella is so interesting — with its references in Achewood, failed British ad campaign, and mysterious choice of green glass for the bottles — that I like it far more than I would an identical beer under a different brand name.

Labels: American Blonde Ale, American IPA, American Stout, Bell's Brewing, Euro Pale Lager, New Belgium Brewing, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Skinny Dip, Stella Artois, Two Hearted Ale

It's really grassy. Did I mention that it's grassy? So it's not really a good pairing with raspberry pheasant.

Labels: American Blonde Ale, New Belgium Brewing, Skinny Dip

Had a New Belgium Skinny Dip with dinner tonight. It was really good, light but full-flavored and delicious.

Labels: American Blonde Ale, New Belgium Brewing, Skinny Dip