Bourbon Barrel Buddies

Mile:3,015

Florida was great. I spent some much needed time with my brother and his wife. We went fishing quite a bit, and I had the opportunity to go kayaking with some great guys on a creek that feeds into the St.Johns River. Tasting local fish and paddling through remote creeks are a fantastic way to take in any state's beauty. I was gifted a beautiful banjo from my brother, and have been pickin' and rollin' ever since.
It has been a truely amazing journey thus far. I left Florida earlier this week, and drove around nine hours to Topsail Beach in Eastern North Carolina. I spent the Holiday with my long time friends the Breckner's right on the beach. Tut and Ketza had a blast running mach 5 up and down the beach chasing bird, after bird, after bird. It's amazing to watch the sea life this time of year, with so many birds traveling south, you see more than you would expect with the colder temperatures. Speaking of temperature, and introducing beer into the conversation, I have found so many great websites and articles on beer and temperatures at which they should be sipped at. Of course it is all dependent on personal preference, but sometimes it takes following a guideline once or twice to decide what tastes better at what temp. I enjoy a nice IPA around 68 degrees, or room temp. It brings out all those bitter hops and aromatic blends. The colder it is, the easier it is to procure other attributes, but when your drinking a hoppy brew, you should do it justice by sampling it at a warmer degree. Light beers, like lagers and hefe's taste better colder. Bringing out that light carbonation that gives it little bursts of flavor upon drinking makes for fruity or sometimes oaky libations irresistable.
Back to Turkey day weekend. We drank a beautiful bottle of Macallan's 12 accompanied by a cigar, and discussed the various breweries like the Kentucky Brewery in Lexington. They barrel age an ale in bourbon barrels, bringing out a distinct oakiness that reminds you of the south. A whiskey bite with a smooth finish, incredible. The weekend flew by like I'm sure it did for most, and I packed up the circus show and headed to Emerald Isle to pick up a traveling companion to accompany me back through North Carloina before I head to West Virginia. After a quick visit with her family, and ten turkey sandwhiches later, we were off to Burlington before the next night in Boone. Those of you looking to stretch out a bit should consider western North Carolina. There are endless hikes, waterfalls, and breweries scattered about and most are within just a few hours from one another.
As the weather becomes cooler, I feel like I am feeling normal again. Normal is wearing Xtra Tuffs and wool socks, a nice down jacket, and a very hot cup of Joe, no pun intended...ha...ha...hmm..
The next month of the journey I will spend learning about eastern ales, and will spend time in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. I have some great friends in these parts and look forward to sharing a few cold ones with them. If you are at all interested in purchasing a Joey P. hand made crocheted beanie, or trading me a hat for a couch and some water for the dogs, please e-mail me at musherjoey@gmail.com. I will see you guys in a few, now I am off to go hiking with Tut and Ketza, happy holidays!

JWP