Saturday, April 6, 2013

Trails & Ales -- Leg 4

Tuesday, April 2nd

Daily totals:

- 11 miles (7AM/4PM - all trails!)
- Spider Bite First Bite (Pale Ale)
- Spider Bite Boris the Spider (Russian Imperial Stout)

Trails:


An hour's worth of morning miles in one of my favorite trail section at the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. Lush Rhododendron groves, mossy paths, natural tree root staircases all tucked into a small nature preserve along the wetlands on the banks of the Connetquot River. In total, there's just about 3 miles worth of lopping trail in this section, but the diversity of terrain and setting in each corner is so great that it makes it easy to get lost in there for hours, just "playing" in the woods. The morning jaunt in the trails here served as a location scout for the afternoon's film shoot, which would be taking place on the same pine needle paths and mossy landings of this hidden gem of a training ground. That run/film session would expand into yet another section of my beloved Greenbelt Trail system, but I'll save the verbal description of that beautiful landscape and provide some visual stimulation, courtesy of what the lens captured. Video coming soon, but in the meantime here are a few still frames from that ethereal sunset session in the trails of relentless forward motion...




Ales:

A double serving of the same trails should only be matched with a pair of craft concoctions from the same micro brewery -- The choice of the evening: Spider Bite Beer Co. (Holbrook, L.I.)

First Bite Pale Ale
5.5% ABV


This Pale Ale packs a punch of great flavor, decent hop character, and goes down quite easy. Though it weighs in above the 5% mark, I'd still consider it a very sessionable beer. It's surely one to be enjoyed on at the dinner table, a cool spring evening, and even the hottest of summer days. First Bite would cater to a wide array of palates and taste buds -- a solid ale from a fine brewery who has made the image of a spider somewhat likable again. TRY THIS BEER.

Boris the Spider (Russian Imperial Stout)
10.0%ABV


This delicious sludge is not for the faint of heart. At first pour, I thought my friend had handed me a bottle of Aunt Jemima as some sort of joke. A thick, blacker-than-black, liquid flowed slowly from the mouth of the bottle, creating a carmel-colored head atop it's midnight body. When my nose first breach the aroma that escaped from the abyss I was certain I would not be a fan of this one. "Trust me," said a fellow craft beer enthusiast. "You'll enjoy it." WOW. Not what I was expecting. This powerful stout was like nothing I've ever had before in it's category. I myself am a big supporter of Guinness, but this glass of dark stuff was in a league of its own. Tangled up in a web of rich, complex flavors and amazing maltiness, Boris the Spider is a real treat for lovers of the dark stuff out there. If you like Guinness, or if you want to take your taste buds on an adventure, there's a discovery awaiting in the glass if you do so dare to depart into the depths with Boris the Spider. RECOMMENDED FOR STOUT LOVERS LOOKING FOR AN 8-LEGGED KICK.




**Notable mentions from beyond borders: Alchemist Heady Topper (An incredible Double IPA from Warren, VT. I have no words, other than "GET ME ANOTHER ONE!)

Also from the Green Mountain State, Lawson's Fine Liquids Kiwi Double IPA (simply HOP-tastic!)


Hit the trails and discover some ales...

Stay Relentless, folks!

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