My first time

I was running around last Sunday morning trying to find a store that was open before noon to get some Christmas shopping done. Of course nothing is open before noon and because the retail clerks inside the Gap seemed unaffected by my hopeful stare, I decided to go into Trader Joe's to kill some time. There I saw it: the 2009 Vintage Ale sitting stacked 7 feet high in 750-ml bottles and corked. A quick look on the back revealed that the self-described chocolaty ale with a hint of citrus was brewed by Montreal house Unibroue - the maker of La Fin Du Monde, Blanche De Chambly and other fantastic beers.

I picked up three bottles - at $4.99 a piece these were really pretty inexpensive. I was ready to check out and already thinking about how early was too early to try this beer. After I plopped the peppermint Joe Joe Oreo clones and my bottles at the checkout, the clerk said: ``I have some bad news. You can't buy these beers until noon.'' See Simpson's Season 4, Episode 16 where Homer Simpson gives up beer for a month and after visiting an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting jumps out the window when Rev. Lovejoy tells the group that after the class they will never want to drink again. Defeated. I left - I couldn't wait an hour just to buy that beer. Oh, but it will be mine. And after I try it - I will try to make it myself.

So you see I really like beer. Not just the beer I make, but I like that a good bit. I am by no means an expert. A quick look through the Interweb will find you multitudes of people with more experience and expertise than I. I am writing this for posterity in hopes that my words find eyes connected to a like mind. I'll put up recipes, beer I've tried and like and why. And places you can buy equipment, materials and such. If you've tried the Vintage - let me know how it is.