Plattepalooza Weekend

We awoke to gray and rainy skies. Threw some bags and other items in the car and started north up the Thruway. The rain slowly let up and by the time we reached Kingston, it had stopped and the skies began to clear. After a quick break for some tasty fresh baked goods at Bread Alone, we stopped and unloaded a few things at the house and got to Plattepalooza at 1 and it was already sunny with the last bit of overcast skies burning away:

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After catching up with some good friends, we ate some lunch on the deck. Then it was time to hop on the triple for a quick ride to the top. Then a walk staight down The Face trail, under the lift was a great way to cap off the afternoon.

It was a nice, crisp, cool night and the next day dawned bright and clear. The view off the deck of the Bearpen Mountain ridgeline:

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My 8 year old summed up the day and weekend by saying that “It felt so good to be back at our 2nd home, Plattekill!!”

Dogfish Head Brewery, American Beauty

Dogfish Head American Beauty branded

Dogfish Head From Milton, DE is one of the darlings of the craft brew industry., although given their growth and now ease of availability, they are about as mainstream as that term can apply to the craft brew world. Inspired by the Grateful Dead, brewed with Granola, it becomes an Imperial Pale Ale with 9.0% abv. It poured a nice copper color with a medium thick head and a malty somewhat floral nose. The taste was malt forward with some hoppy undertones. A bit too malty for my taste, but this is a well balanced beer that is quite smooth despite its’ relatively high alcohol content. It does have a nice, fun label.