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August 2, 2007

Long Hammer IPA**

A log of enjoyable brews, dedicated lovingly to Saint Brigid of Kildare*

Long Hammer IPA**
---> by Redhook Ale Brewery

Hoppy, dry, slight citrus tang.
Only lightly bitter.   Very drinkable.
IPA's are often quaffed from a snifter-like glass, which provides maximum liquid surface and a space for the nose to draw in the aromatic subtleties. I prefer it from the bottle, however, because i am not overly fond of the hoppy bouquet, which, for me, often overpowers the taste.

Beer Bunny gives it 1.5 ears up.

7.5 on a scale of 1-10.

APV - 6.51%
IBU - 38.5
Calories -186
Carb - 12.23 g

* (Naomh Bhríde, 451 – 525 CE), a joyful, generous, beer-loving woman, an Irish Christian nun, abbess, and founder of several convents. Also known variously as Saint Brigid of Ireland, Brigit, Bridget, Bridgit, Bríd or Bride.




It is said that she would change her dirty bathwater to beer for thirsty masses and visiting clerics. She is also credited with penning a poem that begins with the following lines: "I should like a great lake of ale, for the King of the Kings. I should like the family of Heaven to be drinking it through time eternal." This one's for you, Dear Bridget. Cheers. :)

** IPA ~ India Pale Ale

Known more colloquially as IPA's, these distinct brews trace their origins back to the 1700's and the days of sailing ships and long voyages. When shipping standard beer into hot ports, it almost invariably arrived as a sour, flat, and undrinkable ale. This was especially true when shipping from the United Kingdom into India. After a very rough six month voyage at sea, marked by huge temperature fluctuation, the product upon arrival was always a disappointment. As a result, the brewers resorted to the only tools at their disposal at the time to guard against spoilage: hops and alcohol. By increasing both, the beer could survive transit quite well. The result was a very bitter pale ale with a high alcohol content.

Variations of IPA's are now commonly available from many micro-breweries, and provide an interesting and often unique taste experience. Two important scales of measurement for IPA's are IBU (International Bitterness Unit) and % ABV (Alcohol By Volume). A modern benchmark for this style of beer is considered by many to be 75+ IBU's and 7.5% ABV.

August 1, 2007

The Greatest of These

If I speak in the tongues of humans and angels,
but have not love,
I have become sounding brass or a tinkling symbol.

And if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge,
and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.

And if I dole out all my goods, and
if I deliver my body that I may boast
but have not love, nothing I am profited.

Love is long suffering,
love is kind,
it is not jealous,
love does not boast,
it is not inflated.

It is not discourteous,
it is not selfish,
it is not irritable,
it does not enumerate the evil.
It does not rejoice over the wrong, but rejoices in the truth

It covers all things,
it has faith for all things,
it hopes in all things,
it endures in all things.

Love never falls in ruins;
but whether prophecies, they will be abolished; or
tongues, they will cease; or
knowledge, it will be superseded.

For we know in part and we prophecy in part.

But when the perfect comes, the imperfect will be superseded.

When I was an infant,
I spoke as an infant,
I reckoned as an infant;

when I became [an adult],
I abolished the things of the infant.

For now we see through a mirror in an enigma, but then face to face. Now I
know in part, but then I shall know as also I was fully known.

But now remains
faith, hope, love,
these three;

but the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13