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Jumping on a Plane to Colorado Springs

I am writing this while flying to Colorado Spring. I was planning a nice weekend away from work, but here I am flying to Colorado Springs to see about fixing our system. Hopefully, I will be able to resolve the failure at work and get back home quickly. The requirement for this trip came up during lunch, but I knew that it could happen at any minute. I just didn't expect the need to put me on a trip two hours later.

Bristol Brewing Company

On the other hand, I get the chance to stop by Bristol Brewing Company and try some of their beers. I know that they are releasing their XXX Warlock Double Imperial Stout tonight. My flight doesn't arrive until 8:20PM and Bristol closes at 9:00PM so I won't likely make it before closing. I can hope!

The XXX Warlock Double Imperial Stout has a kick you in the pants 18.4 % ABV (alcohol by volume), which took three years to brew. Mike Bristol has calls it “an epic labor of love”.

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Free The Hops Raffle Prizes Means Great Beers

You may have read in my previous post about the fundraiser held by Free The Hops at the The Flying Monkey Art Center.

Well, I bought a few raffle tickets at the event and won two of the prizes. Given Free The Hops is an organization formed to change the Alabama laws, you can guess that all the prize where beer in some form.

My father and I decided to have tasting at his house with our friend Bradley Smith. Bradley Smith established Custom Camper Covers in Huntsville, Alabama.

Duvel Belgian Golden Ale We started with Duvel, which is Belgian Golden Ale. It was an okay start, but it had off flavors for what some of us wanted.

Images Hoppy.Bottle
We moved on to tasting Terrapin's 2007 Monster Beer Tour. We started Big Hoppy Monster, which everyone enjoyed to my surprise. I was guessing the beer would be too hopped, but it was enjoyed.

All American Imperial PilsnerWe keep the train moving on our tour of Terrapin beers with our next stop being All-American Imperial Pilsner. This was a good beer to follow the Big Hoppy Monster.

At this point, we decided to shift gear and go aluminum. As in aluminum cans, which brings us to Oskar Blues Brewery's canned ales. We started with Dales Pale Ale, which was good. The flavor caught me off guard from what I expect, but I adapted.

The Old Chub Scottish Style Ale was next and enjoyed by all.

At this point, we switched back to our last Terrapin, which was the “Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Stout“. We knew this beer was off Bradley's scale. And, he agreed saying, “I think I will try another one.” The rich coffee taste drives the flavors in this beer. The body is not that heave, but it is not light either.

We went on, but the write will stop now.

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Free The Hops’ Huntsville Fundraiser

Draft Beer TableWell, I think everyone had a blast. The Huntsville Chapter of Free The Hops put on a great event to support the group's effort to change the Alabama beer laws to allow beers with alcohol above 6% and in containers greater than 16 oz.

Beer Tasting Table at Free the Hops

We received help from so many people to make this event happen. Olde Towne, Terrapin, Brooklyn Brewing, and Supreme Beverage helped by provide draft beer.

Many of our members brought beer to provide everyone a taste of what you could drink in Alabama if we get the laws changed.

The Sideshow at Free The HopsThe musical talents of The Sideshow was on hand to provide great music for the event. I think everyone enjoyed them and it has very nice of them to donate their services.

I have heard estimates that around 500 people joined our party/fundraiser.

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Free The Hops' Fundraiser on January 20th

Free The HopsI hope that you have cleared your calendar on January 20th so that you can make it to Free The Hops' Fundraiser at the Flying Monkey Art Center here in Huntsville, Alabama. It is great chance to try some great beers and meet other beer lovers.

It will be a great event!

If you don't know about Free The Hops, they are organized to change Alabama beer laws to raise the allowed alcohol percentage and container limit. These change will allow all the speciality beer that have come into the market place to be sold in Alabama.

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Another Year Gone Past

Ball DropThis year was been filled with lots of excitement and many changes.  This coming year looks to be even more exciting on the home front.

Hopefully, this year will be the year of the new house!  We have been busy getting the house ready with painting and patching.  But, we have much more to do to get it ready.

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Christmas with the Ronnings

Ronning FamilyKaren and I just got done celebrating Christmas with Karen’s family. Everyone had a great time.

We are looking forward to Christmas night at Terri and Frank Grayson’s house. Everyone come to their house after with Christmas with their spouse’s family. It is also a little adult time, because all of the children are exhausted from the day’s activities.

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The Season of Celebrations in the Allen's Family

Well, we have gotten to that time year for celebrations. Karen's birthday is month along both of my parents. The anniversary of my parents and my sister is this month, too. Oh, my brother-in-law's birthday is this month, also.

And somewhere in there, we will have Christmas.

So, I suggest you stop by the our photo web site.

http://www.theallens.info/photos/

You will also find samples of the photos on my home page:

www.brianallen.com

– Brian Allen

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Bristol Brewing Company’s Edge City Christmas Ale

Bristol Brewing CompanyWell, I am kicking back at Bristol Brewing Company’s Tap Room enjoying this season’s Christmas Ale.

The cinnamon and anise flavors are great in the beer. The malt flavor are strong, but every enjoyable. The ABV is around 6.4%, which is nice on cold winter’s night in Colorado Springs.

You need to check out Bristol Brewing Company at:

1647 South Tejon Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80906

You can give them a call at:

(719) 633-2555

They are on the web site at:

www.bristolbrewing.com

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Follow-up to Westar Christmas Party

Karen and I had a great time at Westar's party.

Our friend Larry Woellhart won a pair of airline tickets. His face just lit up when his name has announced.

They had a tuxedos contest, which brought in many tuxedos. We thought the best one was the bright orange one that someone wore, but he didn't win. The popular company graphic artist won wearing just regular tuxedo.

We called it a night early, because I had to catch a flight to Colorado Springs in morning.

– Brian Allen