Batch #118 - Occupy Anonymous Ale

I labeled this Anonymous Ale in moral support of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement.  In New York, Occupy protesters have organized themselves in the tiny rectangle of public space called Zuccotti Park, which they have re-dubbed "Liberty Park".  They have a community kitchen, a care station, a public library, sanitary facilities, tents for sleeping a few hundred people, and the entire perimeter a public discussion forum.  The Wall Street camp anonymous calls itself "The NYC General Assembly", and publishes views arrived at by democratic discussion and concensus, at http://nycga.cc

In particular, I am in support of the movement's claim that big business and big government are acting together in ways that dis-serve the vast majority and spoil the commons, if I may excerpt from the Declaration of the NYC GA:
"We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known."  Read the entire declaration: Declaration of the NYC GA

I admire these hardy souls who are resolutely preparing for Winter camping in New York City and elsewhere around the world, to bring attention to the injustices brought to us by corporations and government, and I will support their efforts to push for legislative change, but that may not suffice.

In addition, we must each recognize our support for "BIG" government and business in the choices we make every day.  STOP choosing to support "BIG".  Take our money out of the big banks and invest in our communities.  Buy local.  Know your Farmer.  Barter.  Press government to shift management of everything possible from the Federal level to the State and Local levels.  Press government and industry for regulations to outlaw pollution of the commons - including Nature AND the Economy!  And until these regulations have been achieved, I personally urge everyone to boycott "BIG", and choose "small".

The mask we are beginning to see used by the Occupy movement is from the film "V is for Vendetta", and is apparently based on a 16th century Englishman named "Guy Fawkes", who was arrested for trying to blow up the House of Lords, in order to assasinate King James I, in 1605.  His failure to accomplish the deed is celebrated in England on November 5 every year since, known as "Guy Fawkes Day".  His image has been used as a symbol of protest of oppression ever since.

Batch #117 - American Pale Ale

Bicycle touring adventures stir my soul, I readily admit, so please indulge me while I dedicate a second label to the Oregon tour, and my intrepid pals, Paul Andersen and Charlie Gillis.

Read Paul's essay in the Aspen Times Weekly,

“Touring Pandora: Adventure Bicycling in the Cascades of Oregon”

Download a "Google Earth" map of our tour, and have a look at the 3D terrain:
"Oregon Bliss and Euphoria Bicycle Tour 2011"

Batch #116 - Bliss and Euphoria

A bicycle tour with Paul and Charlie, from Prospect Oregon to Crater Lake, Diamond Lake, the North Umpqua Trail, then back over many hills to the South Umpqua River, then over the longest, highest pass back to Prospect, was among the most memorable tours I've enjoyed.  Good company of hardy lads, camping as we went, we enjoyed the backcountry of SW Oregon, the Huckleberries and Blackberries, the beautiful streams, the colorful trout, the natural hot springs, and the "Dread and Terror" section of the North Umpqua Trail, which Paul suggested be re-named, "Bliss and Euphoria".

Done.

MT

Batch #115 - Summer Solstice Belgian Brown Ale

This Ale celebrates our last backcountry ski tour of the 2010-2011 season, with a hike to the top of Mt. Sopris, and a delightful ski down the center bowl to Thomas Lakes, attended by March, Paul, Randy and me.  March graces the label, mostly because she's so much better looking than we old farts are.

Batch #114: Rye Ale

On a climb to the top of Basalt Mountain from the Permaculture Institute, there is a tree that has received a great deal of damage from tumbling rocks and boulders on a steep ravine above it.  One of these rocks appears to have been caught by the tree, whom I have named "Sisyphus" after the mythical character destined to push a large boulder up the hill, only to have it roll down again.

Sisyphus proudly announces my "Summertime Rye Ale", made with a good dose of sweet rye grain, a real thirst-quencher.

MT

Batch #113 - Watering Hole Summer IPA

Back into the swing of things, here is a 10-gallon batch of India Pale Ale, ready for Summer thirst-quenching.  The photo is a gift from Randy Udall, pictured here filtering water from a rare desert storm, a few years back.

Batch #112 - Amber Ale Duo

Due to popular demand (and the rapid depletion of Batch #110), half of this batch went into an encore of my Habanero Ale, now that I've found the "perfect" mixture of heat and thirst quenching qualities.

The other half of this batch went into a less than satisfactory attempt at bottling with CO2 gas and a "beer gun". Unfortunately, I attempted this on my own, and I am still a novice at carbonating with a can of gas, so the results were a mildly carbonated beer.  Well, here's to celebrating (and learning from) an occasional failure!

Batch #111 - Learning Tree E.S.B.

This Ale was brewed for the Waldorf School's fundraising dinner in March, so it was kegged, never bottled, and by the end of the party it was all gone.

Batch #110 - Habanero Red Ale - They're Baaack! Hotter than ever!

This latest batch of my (in)famous Habanero Ale, I have decided to call the bluff of all my dare-sayers, and pump up the heat!  It still won't damage you, but this one might send you to the sink for a cold water chaser!