The Holy Grail Pub, where you don't need to know the air speed velocity of an unladen sparrow (African or European).

Our shenanigans today were actually quite shenaniganful. On the way home I said to Dave "this was the best lunch ever." 

We went a bit far afield today, up to Epping NH and the Holy Grail Pub (be forewarned, the website has music so don't have your speakers cranked all the way up the way I had mine). My friend Carrie had mentioned it as a possible destination. I knew 45 minutes would be a bit of a haul, but the website looked like it would be right up our shared alley. 

The building is a former church, converted to a lovely high-ceilinged bar and restaurant, with stained glass and a choir loft for extra seating. The light in the room was ... well, "heavenly" due to the gorgeous sunny day. I wanted to sit in the patio area, due to the lovely weather but Dave wanted to go to the bar.

Gloucester, or Glosta. Depending on whom you ask. Cape Ann Brewing Company Visit

Lately in my head I've been hearing songs of summer's end. 

A consistent one is "Summersong" by The Decemberists. Thinking of the lyrics "Summer arrives with a length of lights / And summer blows away and quietly gets swallowed by a wave" made me think that it was high time we lunched by the sea, by the harbor, by the water, something... before summer actually does get swallowed by a wave.

At the Newburyport Brewfest a few weeks back we met the fine folks of Cape Ann Brewing Company and enjoyed their Greenhorn Double IPA greatly. I figured it was high time we paid them a visit for lunch. 

Haverhill Brewery Brewfest - September 24, 2011

My family went out to eat last night and we chose The Tap, the brewpub attached to the Haverhill Brewery. Upon entry, I was happy to see upon entry that we have another brewfest to look forward to at the end of September.

There will be two sessions, an afternoon and evening, with food, live music and brews from up to 20 local and regional craft breweries from Sam Adams to Clown Shoes and Ipswich Ale to Notch to Martha's Exchange and John Harvard's.

I'm hoping to take Dave to the early session. Tickets are available online at their website. Maybe we'll see you there for some shenanigans.

Most Expensive and Most .... Alcoholy

Watching James May Drinks Britain, which has grown on me after 3 episodes, I have to admit it, Oz and James in their little caravan trip focused on two beers that I probably will never, ever have.

First was from Boston Brewing Company, called Utopia. It is listed as the beer with the highest ABV on the market at 27%. It is banned in 13 states, and costs $150.00 a bottle.

Up until this point, Boston Brewing Company (makers of Sam Adams) and Dogfish out of Delaware were battling one another for the title of highest ABV, and so far BBC keeps the title, Dogfish won't be trying to beat that amount.

Second was from Carlsberg in Denmark, and is called the Jacobsen Vintage No. 1. It takes the title of most expensive beer in the world.

The bottle itself is pretty much over $100 of the cost due to the beautiful custom artwork and the material it is made with. It is 21% ABV, and is only available (if you can find it) in Denmark.

Ponder these things over your next locally craft brewed treat.

Come. Sit. Stay. Shenanigans at the Barking Dog, Amesbury MA

Jess was working in Newburyport so we opted to stay local but have her be a "bus wanker" as they say on the Britcom "The Inbetweeners" and take the MVRTA to us, instead of us coming to her. 

She's only here for two more weeks, and I think on Monday that's her last day in Newburyport at that job, as they hired a full time person to start for the fall, so our shenanigans can officially go far afield starting next week. 

So staying local meant we could sit in our cups and linger over lagers and ales at the Barking Dog Bar and Grill, sister restaurant to our Amesbury foodrinkery of choice, the Ale House. 

We arrived early, greeted by the lovely bartender Danielle who was attentive and kind even when the bar started hopping around 1pm. I started with the Notch Session, Dave started with his best friend, Chimay. I hadn't had the Notch before, it was bubbly and hoppy. Very good. And... Chimay is Chimay. Belgian, Traditional, Trappist, History in a glass.

It's a beautiful word... "shenanigans..."

Thank you Matt Smith, aka "Dr. Who" and the creator of this lovely little gif for giving me the validation that indeed shenanigans is a lovely word.

It is 7am on Friday, and I'm pondering where to take Dave today. I've long promised him a trip to Bowdoin, to where he went to college but that may have to wait. We may possibly go afield to Gloucester to the Cape Ann Brewing Company, or to the Barking Dog in Amesbury, where we haven't yet been because we always land at the Ale House.

Decisions, decisions, for our Shenanigans...

Happy International Beer Day

I didn't get to celebrate shenanigans with Dave today due to recovering from surgery. BUT... my son informed me just now that today is International Beer Day, so I wholeheartedly encourage all the two people who read this blog (one of them being Dave) to celebrate wholeheartedly.

If you doubt my honesty, you can visit here and read about International Beer Day. 

Shenanigans to resume on Friday of next week, most likely. I doubt my surgery will prevent me from shenanigoing out into the world.

Cheers.