Ross E. Lockhart's Blog, page 74

My tweets

Fri, 15:58 : Spending my morning tweaking the layout for The Book of Cthulhu, fixing jots and tiddles, before it goes off to the copyeditor. Sat, 04:22 : The only thing that would make the Real Steel trailer more awesome? If it was Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, The Motion Picture, instead. Sat, 06:24 : Fulci's The Beyond on TCM. Looks like I'm not going to bed for a while.

My tweets

Fri, 02:54 : RT @jon_armstrong: Grey and Yarn are now on Audible.com! Check out the podcast about the process! http://t.co/944t41h

My tweets

Wed, 15:30 : RT @Mazarkis_W: I am excited to announce that Night Shade Books will publish The Emperor's Knife in the U.S. The expected U.S. release d ... Wed, 21:24 : RT @johnhornor: Wow, The Book of Cthulhu table of contents announced. Holy crapoli, it's a great lineup. http://bit.ly/mbijbH Wed, 21:25 : Looks like the shoggoth's out of the bag. #BookOfCthulhu Thu, 00:20 : RT @molly_the_tanz: So of course I blogged about that ToC (and other awesome stuff) http://t.co/celP9OH #overthemoon

My tweets

Mon, 00:28 : How come nobody's yet produced a waterproof e-book reader for the bath?

Adult Beverage: High Water Brewing Retribütion Imperial India Pale Ale

It was a hot one today: 91 degrees according to the bank's digital thermometer downtown. At one point we wandered down to Petaluma Market pretty much as an excuse to enjoy their air conditioning. I grabbed the latest pair of Stone Imperial Russian Stouts (next week?), but wanted an IPA tonight. Then I spotted the umlaut. I'm a sucker for an umlaut.

Retribütion Imperial India Pale Ale claims to be "brewed for the true connoisseur of all things hoppy." Sounds like my demographic.

No idea what Retribütion is getting even for, but it pours rich amber with a frothy, off-white head that leaves a clean glass behind. Sweet and bright on the nose: caramel, brown sugar, and lemon zest. Taste delivers on scent's promise, adding rich toffee and a piney bittersweet bite. Agile mouthfeel; well-balanced carbonation and viscosity. Bitter against the palate and the back of the throat. The full Cali-IPA experience. Crisp finish. Leaves you wanting more. Retribütion makes a seriously pleasant California IPA: Big, Bold, and Bitter. Watch for this waterfall... It's worthy.

My tweets

Sun, 03:07 : RT @molly_the_tanz: Absinthe and gin, always a win. #poetryfordrunks

Adult Beverage: Alameda Black Bear XX Stout

Right now, I'm reading the first-draft manuscript of Bradley P. Beaulieu's The Straits of Galahesh, his sequel to this year's critically-acclaimed Russian-inspired epic fantasy novel, The Winds of Khalakovo. Even in its current rough form, this book's awesome, and I'm really looking forward to giving you the opportunity to read The Straits of Galahesh in Spring of 2012.

But reading Straits all day has left me a bit thirsty, in the mood for a Russian Imperial stout. Good thing Farb and Christine brought this Alameda Black Bear XX Stout when they were down last week. And who can resist a handsome, well-dressed bear, particularly one adorned with medals?

Black Bear XX pours deep, rich brown-black with a thick, cocoa-tan head. Sea-dragon lacing. Roasted malt, rich chocolate, and espresso on the nose. A decadent berry emerges as it warms. Turkish coffee on the tongue, sweet and rich and bitter. Bitterness attacks the palate on a wave of unexpected carbonation, aggressive and playful as it cascades down your throat. Wickedly smooth, with a lasting bitter crispness. This bear's got a gruff growl, but turns out to be rather cuddly.

My tweets

Fri, 18:17 : So far, my morning's been preoccupied with a doctor's appointment and a car wash. Now I'm home: time for some serious work-related reading. Fri, 20:32 : Oh, LiveJournal, why you gotta go and be such a wellspring of Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish spam? Fri, 20:37 : RT @NSBposse: The Night Bazaar: Rambling eBooks Public Service Announcement: I have a confession to make. I don't read ebooks.... http:/ ...

Adult Beverage: Ballast Point Big Eye India Pale Ale

Tonight, about five hundred miles south of me, my buddy Lyell's having a Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. I know this because I glanced at Facebook earlier tonite, where Lyell had posted a photo of his own Adult Beverage. Finally, the Internet has revealed its true purpose: knowing what your buddies are drinking!

I didn't have a Sculpin on hand (though I've reviewed it as a previous Adult Beverage), but in solidarity I've cracked open a Ballast Point Big Eye IPA. How does it compare?

Big Eye pours rich golden copper with a impressively-thick head What a texture! Beer moustache from this one for sure. Fruity and bright on the nose (could it be...? Hawaiian Punch!?) with underlying hints of pine. Sweet and bitter on the tongue: hops and sweet malt and a bitter kick in the teeth. The bitterness is the showcase here; dry-hopped bite so tart it hits Ruination levels. And great mouthfeel: Nice and creamy and thick and... Hey! Is that...? Citrus finish!

Oh, this is outstanding. Lyhillus, you gotta have one of these!

My tweets

Wed, 17:20 : "Goddamn these vampires. For what they've done to me." http://t.co/Y5Euo0n Wed, 22:28 : RT @nightshadebooks: John Klima and Bill Willingham know their fairy tales! Retweet to enter to win a copy of Happily Ever After http:// ...