I'm home! Having some dinner and a nice Belgian Ale. Anybody want to hang out?

[Aristus]

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. That sounds wonderful, my dear Aristus!

How was your day?

[Aristus]

3. Not too shabby.

Had an interesting patient in today. I hadn't seen him in a while. Turns out he's been over in the Phillipines for the last year, doing missionary work. I found it odd that he's over there, bringing hope and comfort to people living in poverty and despair, and then he comes back to the States, and he's homeless again.

Super-nice guy. Glad to have him back...

[HarveyDarkey]

2. So, which nice Belgian ale?

I just finished a so-so imperial IPA.

[Aristus]

5. Sophie.

It's wonderful.

Equal parts malty and hoppy. With a lemony topnote and a clean finish.

It's like a good woman. Blond, full-bodied, robust, with a good head...

[HarveyDarkey]

7. Never heard of that one

I know of Sofie from Goose Island, Who's the brewer?

[Aristus]

8. That's the one.

Sorry, the label is with the bottle in the glass recycler, so I didn't get the spelling...

[one_voice]

10. I always think it's...

interesting the way beers are described. I don't like beer, at least not much. Sometimes if it's really really cold (the beer)I'll drink it. Or with crabs, beer and crabs go together. Or beer and a boxing match.

But I don't know 'good' beer. My granny use to drink rolling rock--yeah I know--after she cut the grass. I will drink that occasionally, mostly because that's what I know.

I'm kinda cheap--ha let the jokes begin--when it comes to drinking. I like some top shelf stuff, but for the most part, I'm cheap.

[Aristus]

12. Beers, certainly craft beers and microbrews, are starting to

earn the same distinctions as good wines.

For too long, mass market beers have cheapened the image of brews, turning beer into the undermarket slop of beer-bellied boors.

Craft brews are a reminder that beer is a working man's (or woman's ) drink; made by and for working people. And brewers are craftsmen; no less than carpenters, bricklayers, pipefitters, or iron-workers. And they take the same pride in the craft as the craftsmen I just mentioned.

I like a good beer, made from an old recipe, with the best ingredients, and brewed with pride.

Damn. Sounds like the intro to a book, doesn't it?

[one_voice]

14. Yes it does sound like an intro..

to a book.

I'm going to have to try some of the ones I see you and other talking about. There's a micro-brewery (that's what they're called?) not far from me. It's a little restaurant/pub and they brew all their own beer right there. You can see where it's done. Maybe I'll try some of those.

I'm not much of a wine drinker either. Good vs. bad for me is if I like it. I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a $250 bottle and a $25 bottle. My favorite wine is Moscato. I'm a pretty simple girl.

I like a nice scotch.

[Aristus]

15. Well, simple girl,

you hit the nail on the head. Never mind all the fancy stuff, topnotes and finish, color and nose. If you like it, that's the most important quality a beer, wine or scotch can possess. If you don't like it, all the flowery, descriptive language in the world won't change a thing.

Most microbrewerys offer a tasting platter; a rack of shot-glasses each with a sample of the brewery's offerings. This way you can choose which style you like best before buying a big, honking pint of it that you might not finish. Give them a try.

Oh, and if you like scotch, try Lagavulin. It's a single malt scotch. That high-tension stuff from the Outer Islands. It's very smooth, and simply wonderful. A good reminder of why the Scots call whisky "The Water Of Life". A very special quality of Lagavulin is, when you crack the seal and twist the lid off, the peaty liquid smells like a campfire. I recommend it.

[one_voice]

16. I knew I liked you for a reason...

Lagavulin is one that I like.

On that note, I'm off to bed. Enjoy your beer and relaxation. Hope your day runs smoothly tomorrow!

[Aristus]

17. Someone else who likes Lagavulin. Good! Here's a nightcap for you:

Good night...

[olddots]

4. I'd like 4 thorazines and a drool cup

just kidding hard day ----I'll be over in a few minutes with an attitude change and snacks ......

[Aristus]

6. Welcome!

Sorry to hear you need the Thorazine. It'll make you too pooped to party...

[Sekhmets Daughter]

9. Hey there Aristus

I'll join your party as I enjoy some bourbon!

[Aristus]

13. Hey!

How's your bourbon?

[HipChick]

11. I have a Flying Dog and Arbita TurboDog..

It's been a tough day..

[fizzgig]

18. a beer sounds good right now

my employees got done at seven, i was at work until 1030 doing the world's supply of reports.

being the boss sucks sometimes.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

19. One friend brough beer another droped by with ribs.

They decided that we needed a break from ramen and water.

Edit due to beer causes my typing to go bad!

[Aristus]

20. If your typing goes bad, then

you're drinking the right beer!