This is the first day in 2020 that actually feels like winter. It's seventeen degrees (which is pretty coincidental given today's beer) and it's been snowing off and on. Michelle and I have a fire roaring in our stove as a way to stave off the cold.


I feel secure in breaking into Perennial's 17 on a day like this. The beer was a Christmas gift from my folks, and I'm sure it'll be especially good on a day like today, which calls for a strong stout. Let's see if I'm correct in that assertion.

Just before the calendar turned, an old buddy of mine swung down to the Greater Cincinnati area for a visit. He and his girlfriend were in-state visiting his family for the holidays and they came down to spend the day exploring the Queen City with me (don't worry--this wasn't a spur-the-moment thing that put me and Michelle out; he and I arranged their visit months in advance).


I think they enjoyed their time here. Even if they didn't, I sure enjoyed the time I spent with them. The icing on the cake was that they brought along a few bottles for me to sample. Today, I'm breaking into one of them; the other'll be featured closer to Halloween (because it's a pumpkin brew). Oh, did I mention that they live in Portland, Oregon? Because that's where they live. This is a Portland brew you can't get around these parts, which makes me all the more excited to try it. So, here we go. Breakside's Salted Caramel Stout.

The best part about New Year's Day is that I get the day off. I woke up this morning about 7:30 (Michelle and I went to bed around 1:30 last night after ringing in the new decade with pizza, beer--cocktails for her--and Jersey Shore). I played a little bit of video games this morning, took Lottie for a walk, cleaned out our garage (which has accidentally become our enormous junk drawer), dealt with a bunch of our brushline, and built a Gunpla. I'm pretty tired.


After the day I've had, I'd say it's time for some comfort. Here's where the first post of 2020 comes in: Dogfish Head's Suddenly Comfy, a beer that came out in October and sold out pretty immediately around here.