A Beard

I am about three or four weeks into growing a beard.  It's an interesting little journey so far.  In the past when I've decided to do this I usually jump ship on the idea around 4 weeks in.  Between the lukewarm response from my wife, the itchiness of the whole thing and the constant inane questions (Oh, are you trying to grow a beard?) it can be quite a test of perseverance.

I am envious of those who seem to be able to grow a beard almost at will.  I don't feel like mine is poor but it seems a bit harder for me than say my brother, who while being fairly civilized, has the follicles of a Cro-Magnon.

Regardless I will soldier on.  Below is some inspiration.

The Hunt

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of engaging in a pheasant hunt.  A lack of overall shooting prowess didn't keep us from taking nine pheasants and a quick little Chukar who almost got away.  We split the bounty, each walking away with two pheasants.(I got the Chukar).    No person was shot, a good time was had by all and a good meal was had by the missus and I later that night.

Churchill and a Tie

As of late I have been reading The Second World War by Winston S. Churchill.  Performing a random image search I saw something of note. It seems the man had only one tie.  Throughout his whole life, with the exception of him being in military dress, he always has on the same blue polka dot  bow tie.

Is this boring or is this supreme dedication to going with what works?

 

The Origin of Libation

Plan

Tools

Grain

Mash

Wait (Preferably with a nice Saison)

Collect

Boil

Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ferment

Enjoy

The Art of Brewing Beer is of the Upmost Importance to Civilization

I recently had the pleasure of reading an article regarding the history of the brewing of beer.  The author stipulates that the brewing is the reason for civilization.   At first blush,  I looked upon this statement with some skepticism.  The REASON for civilization?  This is a bold statement.  Certainly there needed to be more than this.  What of fire, and Agriculture! Metallurgy! The wheel! Religion! Certainly there needed to be more.  A pragmatist would say absolutely and unwisely relegate the art of brewing to footnote status.

Of course, if one is a bit more romantic,  the rise of civilization as a result of ale is a wonderful thought.  Certainly men could take on "more pragmatic" endeavors. But brewing, brewing was above them all. The noblest of endeavors.   In the long ago, before the discoveries of Pasteur, fermentation was a gift from God (It still is by the way).  And gifts from God are not to be taken lightly.   In this day in age there are certain things we as modern folk take for granted.  The first and foremost is the availability of potable water.  In the days of yore quite a bit more thought needed to be given to what one poured down his gullet.  If men didn't they died. 


Sneaking a drink of the Divine



Beer was a fine remedy for this.  No more worries about water.  More time to think about civilizing the wild. As bonus the beer even gets you drunk.  Rumor is the Mayflower stopped where it did because the kegs in the galley were kicked. Suddenly you have America.

If you ever have the time and inclination I recommend you make a batch of beer from grain.  When you get past the technicality of it all there is something mysterious, ancient and wonderful  about the endeavor.  It's like staring at a campfire or looking at the stars.    

At the very least the fruits of the labor will leave you inebriated.

Cheers!

The Blog

So I have finally gotten around to a Blog.  This is probably more for me than for you but if you find some reason to enjoy or take a bit from it all the better.  The spectrum of interests that one can find is staggering.  A subject  essential to one is nonsense to the another. 

Here are some musings, interests and opining.

Enjoy.