The Fortune Teller

Merry Christmas AND Happy Holidays!

Very Bad Elf Special Reserve Ale (depicting a wayward elf celebrating Christmas a little too early) from the Shelton Brothers.

NOW

If you want to get more done, be mindful. If you want to have more time, be mindful. Mindful means one thing at a time. 8->

Shiatsu Sam

No words for my Shiatsu experience at Great Jones Spa but if I had to choose one, transcendence.

Based on the traditional Japanese technique designed to balance your "ki", or vital energy, Shiatsu harmonizes breathing, energy meridians, and vital points on the body to develop vital force and aid the body in healing itself . Shiatsu therapy combines traditional massage techniques with stretching and weight counterbalancing to encourage greater harmony of energy, circulation, flexibility, and postural integrity. Using elbows, knees, feet, fingers and thumbs, the therapist concentrates on your body's acupuncture points.

Beer & Cheese

On December 7th, I went to Hop Devil Grill for a Beer and Cheese Tasting hosted by Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster, The Brooklyn Brewery. We tried:

Brooklyner Weisse with Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog
Local 1 (new!) with Brillay-Savarin
Brooklyn Brown Ale with Ossau Vielle
Brooklyn East India Pale Ale with Mrs. Quicke's Cheddar
Brooklyn Monster Ale 2005 with Emmi Cave-Aged Gruyere
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout with T.H. Stevenson Stilton

If you want to know about beer and food, Garrett Oliver is the source.

In late October, Chris Bauweraerts and Pierre Gobron of Achouffe brought their house “Chouffe” yeast to Brooklyn Brewery, where together with Garrett they brewed the new Brooklyn Cuvée d’Achouffe. Pierre Gobron’s recipe is based on an old Belgian specialty from the Walloon region, and is brewed with Belgian dark candi sugar syrup and a dash of organic Spanish thyme (herbs were once commonly used in European brewing). The beer has a full honey color, a spicy nose from the Chouffe yeast, and an herbal note from the thyme. The palate is dry, with raisiny dried fruit character in the center, leading to a crisp, mildly herbal finish.

Vitamin Beer?

Datamonitor forcasts the Top 10 Food and Beverage Trends in 2007... at #10: "Better for You" beer, Stampede Light, claiming to be the "first-ever government-approved vitamin beer" with its B-vitamins, folic acid and folate. Joseph Owades is even involved. You can't find this beer in NYS, but click here for where to find.

Thanksgiving Tailgate

Circle C at Moonlight