THEARTOFCYCLING.COM

I'd like to announce the arrival of theartofcycling.com! I've had this idea for a long time and finally decided to drag the idea (kicking and screaming, I might add) out of the back of my head and onto the internets. The idea is simple. I love cycling. I love photography. I like to feast my eyes on other visual art too. Theartofcycling.com is a celebration of art, cycling, and the relationship of the two. This site is in its infancy and is sure to change and morph with time. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear from you! Email me at mitch [at] mitchkline dot com.

If you're an artist - photographer, videographer, painter, etc - send me links to your cycling-related art project.

Thanks for looking!

tt: bourbon county stout

Last night Zen's hosted a vertical tasting of this stout from Chicago. This was a rare treat, they started us way back in the 06 and worked our way up to the 09 release. Those teeney tasting cups didn't even know what hit em.... this is a big beer.

The head of brewing operations at Goose Island was on hand, enlightening us on this one of a kind ale. Just calling this beer is kind of misleading, in fact, the first time they entered BCS in the GABF, it was disqualified, there was no category by which this beer could be judged. Of course, now barrel aged beer is showing up at craft breweries everywhere. That's because it is totally awesome!

It was cool, everybody had a favorite year. I really appreciated the 06, it seemed like the older beer was more intense, with stronger bourbon and chocolate flavor.

I highly recommended this beer for a cold winter night.

The stats:

Alcohol by Volume: 13%

International Bitterness Units: 60

Color: Midnight

Hops: WillametteMalt: 2-Row, Munich, Chocolate, Caramel, Roast Barley, Debittered Black

Serving Suggestions:

Preferred Glass: Snifter

Preferred Serving Temperature: 40º

Food Pairings: Flourless Chocolate Cake

Cheese Pairings: Capriole Bourbon Chocolate Torte

Cellaring Notes: Develops in the bottle for up to 5 years

On the Player

Social Distortion - Mommy's Little Monster
Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
Brother Ali - Us

Workspace Photos

Love these workspace photos by Joseph O. Holmes.

Thirsty Thursday - Dale's Pale Ale

I remember the first time I tasted Dale's Pale Ale. I had just returned to Nebraska from a house-hunting trip in Denver and I had brought a sixer back with me to see what all the commotion was about. So I cracked one open the first chance I got and I'm here to tell you, I couldn't believe what my taste buds were telling me. This beer was good. Really good! And from a can. Its fairly balanced as we've come to expect from a Pale Ale, but I think it leans a bit more toward the bitter side, with a bitterness that sticks around for quite a while. Its hoppy! As the ring around the top of the can says, "A Huge Voluminously Hopped Mutha of a Pale Ale". It ain't no lie! I'm still in disbelief that such a tasty beer fits into those cans. The best thing is, its very convenient to take these little buddies into the woods on mountain bicycle adventures. And there isn't another beer I'd rather have along for a mid-ride break than Dale's Pale Ale.

Brewery: Oskar Blues Longmont, CO
Style: American Pale Ale
ABV: 6.5%

Thirsty Thursday - Ommegang Abbey Ale

Well, well, well, what do we have here? Its our first journey into the world of Belgian style beers. In this case, we're talking about Abbey Ale from the jedi masters at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY. I'm relatively new to Belgian beers, and the Dubbel has not emerged as my favorite Belgian style, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy Abbey Ale a lot! While this beer doesn't quite have the level of spices, fruitiness, and bitterness that I enjoy in, say, a Tripel, I enjoy the more subtle presence of these characteristics in Abbey Ale. Its definitely more of a malty, dry experience when compared to some of the other Belgian styles, particularly Tripel (my favorite style so far!). If you're looking to explore Belgian beers and you want to try every style, I'd say Ommegang Abbey Ale should be one of your top choices when looking for a Dubbel.

Brewery: Brewery Ommegang - Cooperstown, NY
Style: Dubbel
ABV: 8.5%

Slayer - World Painted Blood

Slayer - World Painted Blood hit the streets yesterday. Gollygee its fabulous, er, IT FUCKING ROCKS!!!

Thirsty Thursday - Old Rasputin

Old Rasputin just feels right at this time of year, especially when I'm staring out at 6" of fresh snow and the snow is still falling. Smooth, creamy, and just a little bitter, this top-notch Russian Imperial Stout is a must-try when the mood strikes. And at 9% ABV, you'll be nice and buzzed after one bottle, yessiree!

Style: Russian Imperial Stout
ABV: 9%
Brewery: North Coast Brewing Fort Bragg, CA

Music Monday

Ten albums and shows I listened to last week

1. The Jesus Lizard - Goat


2. The Jesus Lizard - Down


3. Baroness - Blue Album


4. Brother Ali - Us


5. The Disco Biscuits - 07/03/2008 Rothbury Festival


6. Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks #30


7. Helmet - Meantime


8. Jerry Garcia Band - 03/18/1978 Washington, DC


9. Nirvana - Nevermind


10. Parkway Drive - Horizons

Thirsty Thursday - Pliney the Elder

That's right, I'm all worked up into a froth about another Imperial IPA from California. This time around, its Pliney the Elder from those crafty folks at Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California. I enjoyed a couple of pints at Toronado in San Francisco last weekend as well as this bottled version here at home. If you've had this beer, I don't need to tell you how good it is. It doesn't get much better, with all of the usual suspects - hoppy, nutty, spicy, bitter, fruity, flowery - flavors present in this benchmark Imperial IPA/American Double.

Style: Imperial IPA/American Double
ABV: 8%
Brewery: Russian River Brewing Company
Location: Santa Rosa, California

TALISMANTATTOOMACHINES.COM

My good friend Aries Rhysing builds kickass tattoo machines. I just launched a new site for his new venture, called Talisman Tattoo Machines.

Music Monday

Its Monday, lets talk about some music. Phish just announced a fall tour. Slayer has a new album (World Painted Blood) coming out sometime this year. You can listen to some of the new album here. The new Avett Brothers album I and Love and You sure is a tasty one and has been in heavy rotation. The Disco Biscuits have been ripping it up, as always, and I've been listening to a few of their recent shows this week. Remember Temple of the Dog? Seems as though the found it fitting to stage a bit of a reunion at a Pearl Jam show in LA recently. I need to get my ticket to the Pixies Doolittle show! Hey, lets close the inagural Music Monday with a little Pixies, shall we?