Will run for beer!

It's been almost exactly three months to the day that I was inspired by Two Roads Brewing's Shore 2 the Pour 5K to get into a shape - a shape other than round - and run next year's race myself.

I am now 25 pounds lighter than that day and 17 pounds lighter than when I ran my first 5K two weeks later. I am in better physical condition than I've been in years - all due to exercising 2-3 hours every day and dieting. I managed to lose all that weight without eliminating beer from my diet. That's so not ever going to happen.

This weekend I ran another 5K; the first annual Beards & Beers 5k. Touted as "one of the manliest races you'll ever be a part of".  I don't know about that but there was beer at the finish. And that's all the reason I needed to participate.

Despite the frosty air, a lot of runners showed up to participate in the inaugural race. 

In attendance were many manly men sporting their No-Shave-November whiskers and lovely ladies donning (presumably) artificial facial hair.

Running alongside me were kindred spirits attesting to the fact that beer is the only motivation some of us need to cross the finish line.

How'd I do? Good for me, especially considering this is only my second 5K - 43:50.85. Thank you to my husband for hauling my fat ass across the finish line. Who ever's idea it was to put the finish at the summit of Mount Everest should be fired! Just sayin'.

The local breweries sponsoring the race were - Pioneer Beer, Olde Burnside Brewing, Hartford Better Beer, and Thomas Hooker Brewing.

I'd already had many of the brews being poured, so I focused my attention on those I hadn't yet had the opportunity to sample. I did, however, have at least one taste from each of the brewers.

Soft Spoken, a Biere de Table, by Thomas Hooker was my favorite beer of the day. It had loads of tingly champagne-like bubbles and a light wonderful Belgian-esque flavor. DE-lish!

A close second was The New Frontier, a double California style IPA, by Pioneer. Mmm, so crisp and fresh and hoppy. Yum!

Father Christmas Highland Ale, a Wee Heavy, Olde Burnside Brewing Company was also a very tasty offering!

Overall, it was a great day. A fun race for a good cause. And beer.

Nor'Easter

As my search for local winter beer continued, there was one beer that is an annual favorite that I hadn't gotten my greedy little hands on yet - Thomas Hooker Nor'Easter. You would think such a beer would be easy to find at any Connecticut neighborhood beer store. You'd think.

But nooooooooooooo. I went to my favorite beer store that has just about any beer I want. But not this one. It seems someone forgot to order it. Although they did ease my pain by offering me free samples of beer. That helped.

So, next I went to another beer store and then another and another. Does NO ONE have Nor'Easter? One of the most popular winter beers in Connecticut? Seriously??

Now I made it my mission to find some of this beer! I will not be denied! I finally found it at last store I looked. Isn't that always the way??

Nor'Easter (6.00% ABV) pours a rich clear amber with a wisp of a head that leaves nothing behind.

The aroma is malty and bready with a hint of spice and something else. The else is reminiscent of coconut.

The taste is super malty combined with caramel, cocoa, and mild spices.  Again, there is that coconut which is interesting and likable.  The finish is lingering malty sweetness.

The mouth feel is mediumish with moderate carbonation.

Nor'Easter is a smooth, drinkable beer. A good winter warmer.

Overall: good.