Make way for the Gubna...

When I set up this blog a while back, I figured it would be one way I would share my "altitude addictions" with friends and family.  Mostly I've stayed true to course...but sometimes change is good.  So with that, I'd like to introduce the Gubna.  For my non-Southern audience, that would be the "Governor."

As most of you know, I consider myself to be an amateur beer aficionado.  I appreciate microbrews from all across the country whether it's a porter, stout, india pale ale, amber, brown, red, pumpkin, winter ale, summer ale, lager - basically anything made by the smaller breweries.  Absolutely can't stand corporate beer - as in Budweiser, Coors, Miller, etc. or as Stone Brewing Company states on a bumper sticker - "fizzy, yellow beer is for wussies."  Not that I want to offend anyone who happens to think that's good beer...I'm just saying....  Anyway, I've been brewing my own off/on since 1995 and have an Imperial Stout that's aged nicely - a hopped stout that's mighty tasty when it's cold outside.  Friends of mine are also fellow homebrewers as well and have made some interesting brews that we share from time to time.  My appreciation for the finer arts of barley, yeast, water and hops all comes together once a year in downtown Denver at the "Great American Beer Fest".  As they advertise, close to 2000 beer samples in one convention hall...heaven!

So what's the Gubna you may ask?  Well as the ad says - "it's a hop grenade in a can."  As in a lot of hops...as in an explosion of hops in the back of your pallet...as in strong ale (10%)...as in beer happiness.  It's brewed by Oskar Blues in Lyons, CO - just north of Boulder - and is simply an innovative brewery/restaurant.  It's one of my regular stops when I'm coming back from Rocky Mountain National Park - great food, great music and of course, great brews.  Why am I writing about the Gubna?  Well, I stopped by my local liquor store this evening to use my $$$ dividend that adds up with each purchase and basically walked away with a free 4-pack of the Gubna.  I had one with dinner and all I can say is IF Oskar Blues Brewing is in your local liquor store...you really should try this or any of the other styles they make.  Simply amazing!  Very smooth taste, very strong hop character, and a mild citrus flavor towards the end.

So what's next for me?  I start "Basic Mountaineering School" as an assistant instructor on Monday.  This is the course I took as a student last year and was pushed outside of my comfort zone in a good way.  Now I get to do it all over again but on the other side teaching.

Sounds like fun....climb on my friends!