Gear & Beer For Whacky Weather 22Mar19

The increased wackiness of our (and everyones') weather, and likely increasing risk of hail on the north side of COS led me to consider hail mitigation for the camper. Sure I could claim it on insurance if it got irreparably damaged, I just couldn't replace this gem with anything like it. So, for $100 all in, I put a "hot tin roof" on the E1 for when it's in storage, as my spot is outside. It's decent 29 gauge corrugated galvanized steel so should be the protection I seek... 4 panels and a couple of ratcheting tie downs and I'm good. It will lengthen my retrieval time of the camper but not considerably.

For this install, during Craft Beer Week, I've paired the Space Camper Cosmic IPA, which seemed appropriately named, from Boulevard (KC, MO)... good (4.1 from me); it's a light blonde, very lightly hazy but juicy IPA at 5.5% ABV. Definitely worth a taste.

Also for the weather and as a "fix" for the Crusher's need for a new battery system to run the fridge and lighting I'm using more, I replaced the regular starting battery with a dual purpose (starting & deep charge use) AGM (absorbed glass mat) battery. I could've gone to a dual battery setup but the more expensive mod didn't seem worth it in this older vehicle. Nonetheless, the keen sealed non-maintenance Odyssey battery I chose was not cheap at $300, but it should cycle well with the fridge's needs while always delivering the CCAs needed to turn the Crusher's V8 over. My trips this year will put the car multiple days off the grid and I need some assurances.

To pair with this fine gear I returned to Colorado for a yummy NE IPA from WeldWerks aptly named Juicy Bits. This is a light golden, hazed out concoction of citra, mosaic & el dorado hops served in a 16 oz varsity can. This scores a very good 4.5 from me for a 6.7% ABV brew... way to go Greeley.

Somewhat forced by a pending trip of top biker mates to the Colorado Plateau, I added an extension to my bomb-proof Thule T2 hitch-based bike rack. This'll take the hitch  load to 4 big bikes in the back - and obviate the need for me to crawl on the roof of the Crusher or deal with thru axel adapters for bikes that enjoy that front end stiffness. Unused as yet and a limited use model but yeah - sweet.

Mating with this rig are two brews less worthy of note. Gone Tomorrow (3.0), is just that, Odyssey did not make hazy happen well enough with this "session" version, else I would've mated it to the Odyssey battery of course. And further, though decent, the FieldHouse Don't Drink The Juice (3.8) may be aptly named.