Death and Taxes

Death and taxes, the two things that are sure things in life. That and the fact that my brother will ask for help with his taxes this time of year. I don’t mind since it is always a good excuse for us to get together, play some video games and drink some beer. And with Jenn and Jessica heading to Syracuse for the weekend, Jacob and I headed south. We cut through the mountains and stopped at Berkshire Mountain Brewing (http://www.barringtonbrewery.net/) for a pit stop. Jacob got his chocolate milk, and I tried Altbier. It’s a nice break for the trip, and we arrived at Dave’s in time for dinner (Jacob loved the white pie) and we got to sample several bottles while exercising Turbo Tax.

The next day we got up and hung out (FYI: Horde characters can’t make Epic gear for the Alliance), and got on the road for our journey back after lunch. We found the CT Railroad Museum, but it was closed. But it was a beautiful day for a drive and we made our way first to Granby, CT to check out Cambridge House Brewery (http://cbhbrew.com/). I tried their Pumpkin Porter (not too much pumpkin flavor) while Jacob got a brownie sundae. We got to watch some hockey on TV and the waitress treated Jacob like a king (a guys day, must of thought it was my turn for custody on the weekend). We then went to find one of Draft magazine’s recommendations, the Dirty Truth in Northampton.

The Dirty Truth (http://www.dirtytruthbeerhall.com/) is right on route 9 on the way into town, and it used to be owned by the same owner of the Moan and Dove (I got the impression that it was not a cordial breakup). The beer list was done in color chalk on a large blackboard, and they had food (their brunch menu looked great) to go with it. The place was dark (disappointing on a beautiful sunny day) but it was packed. I got the Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast on draft, the same beer that I had ordered years ago for Dave’s bachelor party. It was delicious, thick, creamy, and tasty. We then decided to get dinner at the Moan and Dove (http://www.moananddove.com/), which sounds funny since they don’t serve any food. However, there is a Subway next door (one of Jacob’s favorites) and I always bring in a sandwich to go with the beer. I got a beer on draft from The Brewery, a microbrewery from CA, their Rugbrod Rye. The beer fancied itself as a Danish Rye Brown beer, and it was excellent. The rye provides a spice that reminded me of a saison. And they had peanuts which Jacob shelled for me, something that he likes do (he doesn’t eat the ones he shells though).

We headed back, trying to see if we can kick up the mpg on the Civic Hybrid (we couldn’t, going up the Berkshires sure does take a toll). It was a nice get away, a guys weekend, and it was hopefully a foreshadow of things to come when Jacob gets older. - 5428

"I fear the man who drinks water and so remembers this morning what the rest of us said last night." – Greek Proverb