How to survive pour weather

While much of Savannah runs around in various stages of panic as the Blizzard of 14 approaches, I can remain calm, maybe even jocular. Why? I have seven growlers carefully arrayed in the beerafrator, surely enough to get me through what, if local television coverage is to be believed, is a storm of epic, perhaps even biblical, proportions. My wife and daughter bought several of these – Jailhouse Breakout Stout, Victory DirtWolf Double IPA and Jekyll ‘Merican Amber – for me during their recent three-day shopping campaign in Atlanta. I purchased the others – Highland Cold Mountain Winter Warmer, St. Feuillien Saison, Blanche de Bruxelles Biere Blanche and Dogfish Head Hellhound on My Ale – at our local Beer Growler, which is located on the ground floor of Drayton Tower. If we’re snowed/iced/overbloviated in and have to await rescue, I’ll save the Hellhound for last. It combines three of my great loves – beer, blues and history – and does so with incredible style and panache. It was first brewed in 2011 to commemorate the 100th birthday of celebrated Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson. It boasts 100 IBUs, rates at 10 percent ABV and contains a delightful Dogfish Head touch – dried lemon peel, an homage to Blind Lemon Jefferson, Johnson’s friend and fellow bluesman. Bring on the blizzard! At least until the weekend, when it’s supposed to be in the 70s, and I can get back on the bike.

Catch the Tour Down Under

For those of us who love cycling, this week represents a rare opportunity to see a stage race on television. The 2014 version of the Tour Down Under, which is, of course, contested in Australia, will be shown on a daily basis on NBC Sports (channel 220 on Direct TV; channel 33 on Comcast). The segments will air at 4:30 p.m. today through Friday; at 2 a.m. Saturday; at 11 p.m. on Sunday; and a highlight show will be broadcast at 10 p.m. on Sunday, 9 Feb. 14. Many of the sport’s big names and big teams are on hand, and the venerable combination of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen will handle the commentary. The network also has ambitious plans for the rest of the season. Other events on its schedule, which runs through October, include Paris-Roubaix, Fleche Wallonne, Liege Bastogne Liege, Tour of California, Tour of France, U.S. Pro Cycling Championship and the UCI road cycling championship. Questions? Comments? Drop me a line at cyclechuck@comcast.net.

Climbing the Muur

Climbing the fabled Muur

Chuck in June of 2012, nearing the top of the Muur of
Geraardsbergen, a long, steep, cobbled climb that often
determined the winner of the Tour of Flanders.

Rare sight: a Westvleteran six-pack

We were able to purchase beer at the abbey's gift shop.

The history of Chuck, so far

In 2012, on a tour of Belgium with a group of fellow cyclists, I was fortunate enough to visit one of brewing’s holiest sites, the abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren in Flanders. Some 30 monks live here, praying, meditating and producing Westvleteren 12, a Trappist ale that’s widely considered the best beer in the world. That tasting was certainly the apex so far in a beer-chasing journey that began in 1965, shortly after I graduated from high school in Belleville, Ill. Though Budweiser and Busch were the dominant beers in that market, I also often quaffed such regional brands as Stag, Falstaff and Sterling during a couple of “Animal House” style years in college. Then, in 1968, I enlisted in the Air Force and over the next eight years served in munitions supply and sampled beers in a variety of locales – including Coors, Hamm’s and Olympia in Colorado; Pearl and Lone Star in Texas;  and Tiger, 33, Singhai and San Miguel at several bases in Southeast Asia. When the Craft Beer Revolution began, I enlisted in that as well. Those experiences prepared me for my dream assignment – “dean” of Brew U, a monthly feature in the Savannah Morning News that discussed, sampled and recommended distinctive styles and varieties of craft beer. Sadly, after a run of a couple of years, someone at corporate apparently realized, “OMG, we’re paying this guy to drink beer,” and that gig came to a end. Still, I love to talk about beer, and can often be found standing in the aisle at Habersham Beverage, or leaning on the counter at The Beer Growler, pondering the ever-increasing choices that are now available. Questions? Comments? Drop me a line at cyclechuck@comcast.net.