Little Man's Imperial Stout and The Red Scare

I have two new beers I have brewed, the details can be read on my website for homebrewing.  The first was a very high ABV of  9% Imperial Stout.  The etymology of the differences between the words "stout" and "porter" can be amusingly vague but an imperial stout is one with a high alcohol content.  This took a long to to brew and is taking even longer to develop any sort of carbonation.  Still tasty though.

The second was a copper ale I bottled last night.  I had fun making the label and given my initial tasting I will thoroughly enjoy drinking it as spring starts to swing around. 

1-28-12 Little River

The weather for this winter has been strange to say the least.  There has been little snow fall in Burlington, days that are unseasonably warm and rain in January.   Which means getting out on mountains is a bit more complicated because you are completely unsure if you will find ice, snow or mud.  Or all three.  I decide rather than hitting a mountain top to go to Little River and explore a bit.  There was about 4 inches of snow but it was so crusty on top due to recent rain I left my snowshoes in the car.

Sal was ecstatic to get out on the trails. 

It was good to see snow as well.  There hasn't been more than an inch in Burlington.

A trail sign that has seen better days.

I decided not to forge this icy stream to go up the cut off trail, who knows how solid the ice was adn dips in a stream where not what I was looking for.

There used to be a sawmill here but I didn't get far enough along the trail to find it. I did find this though, which I believe implies there once was a farm here.  Hardy folks.

12-27-12 Snake Mountain with Dani

A long time Vassar friend Dani came up to visit me.  In order to give her the full flavor of Vermont I took her to Snake Mountain.  There was some ice, some mud but as always a great view.

 The view...

 Dani, optimistic as always...

 And now the combination...