Ettal Helles

In Portsmouth VA this week, working aboard an US Coast Guard cutter (for the first time, actually). This is to install a new system, and to the prove to the Dept. of Homeland Security folks that we know what we are doing, and that they should bless the new-fangled system in all it's glory. But since I wasn't informed of getting thrown onto this project until this past Friday (I flew out of SD on Monday), and the fact that the engineering behind this system has been quite half- and quarter-assed, it's not a matter of *if* DHS tells us that we're all fucked up, but *when*. 

So, after working some 13 hours today, my partner and I called it a night. Whatever happens tomorrow, happens. But in the meantime, I was tired, starving, and thirsty! Thankfully, my hotel is across the street from one of the best beer bars in the entire Hampton Roads area: The Bier Garden. Had a nice goulash, and a few other beers. But seeing as how this is such a diehard Germanic place, it seemed inappropriate to not get at least one German bier. Enter: Ettal Helles. 

A very nice beer, that only proves/reinforces the idea that good quality ingredients, in the hands of skilled artisans, can create something altogether nice. Not even the most ardent of Helles aficionados would find much here to go crazy about -- but, at the same time, I like to think that the very same aficionado would give this a thumbs up. I know I do. 

A real nice [fresh!] Helles. Sometimes coming out to the East Coast has it's advantages. 

//TB