Week 7 of the Year of Drinking Adventurously!
So beer! Yay! We have left the realm of exotic potent potables and returned to a place I am familiar with – the land of beer! You have no idea how excited I am! Or maybe you do, I haven’t ended a sentence with anything but an exclamation point so far!
The first entry in the brew department is Chili Pepper beer, a subgenre of the micro- or craft brew movement. According to Jeff’s book: 
Nothing pairs better with spicy food, than a chili pepper beer. In fact, it leaves wine in the dust, much to the chagrin of wine snobs. I went on a mission to find Left Hand Brewing Company’s Fade to Black Porter. My pals at North Penn Beverage had it in stock! Listen to the description: Dried ancho, smoked Serrano, and brown chipotle peppers, infused in a dark mahogany, medium bodied porter. The resulting brew balances the vegetal, peppery heat with a subtle smokiness, making it a good companion for rich stews of assorted wild game. It also kind of makes me want to go hunting. (Kidding!)
Alas, Harry, my situationally practical husband, pointed out that buying an expensive (ish) case of porter that only I would drink (because he is lame!), when we already have 2 full kegs of home brew and a case of Great Lakes Brewing Company’s Edmund Fitzgerald (which is also a porter), is kind of silly.
“But it’s for my blog!” I whined. “And it sounds so good!”
“Go look for it at Wegman’s,” he replied with a long-suffering sigh. “At least, you can buy just a six-pack.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. “No squirrel and turnip stew for you.”
But of course Wegman’s didn’t have the Fade to Black. Grr. So what I came home with was Tommyknocker Green Chile Lager pictured in the header. And it was not at all what I wanted. Now, I’m not going to bash the Tommyknocker* (cough!) because beneath the green chile flavor was a nice crisp lager. I would absolutely consider trying some of the other varieties they brew. They seem like a pretty cool little brewery. Of course, not one to waste beer, I will find a way to use the Green Chile Lager. It might actually make a good base for a marinade or be incorporated into an actual batch of chili. Nevertheless, now I really need that Fade to Black Porter! I considered venturing out in the snowstorm for it, but better judgement prevailed. Then again, if I’d ended up in a ditch, at least Harry would have to acknowledge that it’s never practical to settle for something you don’t really want.
Don’t forget to check in with Lula and see what she drank this week!
*A little folklore from the side of the bottle: “Tommyknockers slipped into the mining camps of Idaho Springs in the 1800s with the discovery of gold in our mountains and streams. Those mischievous elves, though hardly ever seen, were often heard singing and working. They guided many fortunate miners from harm’s way and to the gold they sought.”
Meg Sorick, Author/Artist 
Save a bottle for week 38. I think this will fit perfectly there. Or make a beerita… oh the ideas.
And tell Harry I’m shaking my head at him 😉
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Ha! I’ll tell him! And that does sound like a good idea. It won’t go to waste, not in my house!
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I cannot picture beer going to waste at your house 😉 And I’m pretty sure I’d be able to pick out cute Harry in a line up — we all know his eyes are blue! Beer does make a good margarita — I have a recipe that has Fresca and beer and some other stuff and its really good!
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Fresca! I love Fresca! That is an idea worth pursuing!
That man hates having his picture taken so my options are limited!
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He’s cute! If I remember, the recipe is 12 oz frozen limeade, 12 oz Fresca, 12 oz tequila, a 12 oz beer and lots of ice in a pitcher. So hardly any sugar or alcohol there cause you use Fresca, lol. But it makes a good drink!
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The “heartfelt” caption under your hubby’s picture is a hoot. I’m situationally practical too…in some situations at least. 🙂
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Right! When it comes to giant tvs and stereo speakers, all bets are off!
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Glad to see you back at Sensible Beer City. No more of these odd liqueur things, please! And, of course, you can never go wrong with a decent porter! (I admit to opening one last night)
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I love porter, especially in the winter. You will like the next 2 weeks installments, too, I think. No spoilers!
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Ooh…ooh…*on edge of seat*
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I don’t get it, when did men get practical and that too about beer!?! *shakes my head in dismay* 😛
Beer never gets wasted in a beer lovers home, you tell that to Harry, Meg! 😀
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Ha! It’s the whole chili pepper part! He doesn’t like spicy food so the thought of chili pepper beer isn’t appealing at all!
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It looks like it’s a nice twist on the beverage. Chili pepper and beer in one swig!
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Doesn’t that Fade to Black porter sound amazing? I’m so sorry I didn’t insist on it!
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It does! Wasn’t that a movie title, too? Any adult beverage with a reference to a film should be consumed. Like Rodan Red Ale. Yum.
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Is that a thing?!?
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No, but it really should be!
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You know… Now that I’m home brewing… 😜
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Yes! Godzilla golden ale is a must!
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That’s perfect! Mothra Milk Stout, Gidhra Three Headed IPA!
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I think we have a winner!
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Ooo Wegman’s. It’s sad how much that stood out for me lol. I’m not sure I would enjoy a green chile beer. Sounds like it would do terrible things to your stomach, and… you know. I must say – your husband is quite handsome! Even with his shades on haha
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Yeah the green chile beer was pretty bad. I love/hate Wegman’s lol! I can never find anything… And don’t I sound like a little old lady! Bah! Thank you – my hubs is a handsome guy and thank god he doesn’t realize it!
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Too late – he’s just read that last comment!
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Lol! You are assuming he reads my blog!
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