Starting The New Year Off Right

Colleen and I wound down 2010 as we typically do; enjoying a good beer, watching a movie with our son, and calling it a night as soon as midnight rolls around. I hadn't selected a special beer in advance of the evening, so I dug deep in the beer fridge and came up with a bottle of Great Divide Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout. Like many of the beers I've put away, I don't know where or when I picked it up, but it was an unexpected surprise. We enjoyed the beer with some artery-clogging queso and chips. Not exactly a standard pairing but sometimes you just have to run with the mood.

2011 also started in a typical fashion; the celebration of Holy Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Shortly after Mass I made my way the outdoor pistol range to partake in another passion. I had the range to myself and spent the next hour and a half practicing my target transitions and running sprints between shooting positions. Without even making a New Year's resolution I got in some good exercise to start the year.

Later that evening, the muscles in my legs began revolting, and it was confirmed once again that I really do need to exercise more. But no problem, those aches were easily soothed by ending this day with yet another good beer. This time I selected a favorite Virginia beer, Starr Hill Northern Lights. I've long been a fan of Northern Lights. It's a good IPA that's "up front" enough to satisfy my hop-head cravings, yet balanced enough to keep drinking without killing the taste buds.

The beer, it always comes back to the beer.