Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day! I'm having an ale, Yulesmith Holiday Ale by Alesmith Brewing Company in San Diego, which I bought at the brewery last week. This is really nice ale with 8.5% alcohol. I almost get slightly tipsy on just a pint of ale before July 4th dinner. Of course I'm alone, so not a big dinner, small dinner in my apartment.

The Road to Escondido

"The Road to Escondido", if you hear this and remember it's the title of J.J.Cale and Eric Clapton's collaboration album, you are a very good music fan. I also have this album and are wondering where Escondido is. Escondido is here. After my business I visited Downtown Escondido and then, Stone Brewing Company in Escondido, one of the top American micro breweries. Oh, Alesmith Brewing Company is also one of the top. I bought some ales at both breweries. I can show them next time.

PS: Thank you, Mr.Moribeer, I visited both!

San Diego, California

I left Los Angeles for San Diego early this morning. It's only 100 miles but I took a break twice. Anyway, I arrived San Diego at around 9am. I visited Seaport Village, Downtown, and Coronado. I found Coronado was a piece of heaven. Coronado is a kind of marine resort, but I found a lot of business chances here. Yes, this is not my vacation, of course, it's a business trip. It seems nobody believes me.

I finished my business earlier than expected, and I went to Alesmith Brewing Company. It was unexpectedly very near to my hotel, Holiday Inn Select at North Miramar. I had 2 cups of Friday Specials Summer Yulesmith 2007 Double IPA and a cup of Yulesmith IPA. Oh my god!, What an ale! Oh! Ah! I can't stop it.....

The Companion® 2 Series II multimedia speaker system by BOSE

I got The Companion® 2 Series II multimedia speaker system by BOSE today. BOSE doesn't sell at discount. I bought it at Best Buy, but it was a suggested retail price itself. They are clever.

I was shut out from my office this morning. My office is an Executive Suite, so I can access my suite 24 hours, 7 days. But the door from the elevator hall to the suites was closed and locked. I don't know why, it should be opened. Anyway, I can't work in my office today, maybe tomorrow too. It could be a trouble for me, because I went home earlier on Friday, you know, it's TGIF (Thank God It's Friday). I have something to finish before Monday. Anyway I can't help it. I went to Best Buy and got speakers.

I'm alone in my office, listening to music every hour, everyday, when I'm in. I usually listen to Deep Tracks, 40 Ch of XM Radio or Concert Vault. I have to listen better sound.

I had a lunch at Yoshinoya, Japanese beef bowl restaurant, then went back to my office. But the door was still closed. Oh my goodness! Now, I had no option but to go to golf course. My game improved significantly at Alondra GC. Just 15 minutes from my office and weekend fee is only $28, very flat course without waters. I didn't keep my score but I remember it was 44, 40. The course is very flat, but it's hard to hit greens in regulation with 6729 yards from blue tees.

For dinner, I went to Inaba, Japanese restaurant, with my old friend with his family again. I had a glass of Sapporo draft beer and Suishin、Japanese sake. Torrance is really nice place to stay for Japanese people. I can live here very conveniently, as almost same or better than in Japan.

Today's beer

I had Samuel Adams Brown Ale and Honey Porter today. Really nice ale and porter. I didn't eat much and I'm going to have Wente Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon from now. This winery is located a few miles away from the San Francisco Bay and has a golf course designed by Greg Norman. I liked this course.

Tosatsuru Junmai-Ginjo

I have Tosatsuru Junmai-Ginjo shu now. Junmai-Ginjo shu is premium sake which is made only using pure rice and carefully fermented to create a refreshingly fruity aroma and mild flavor. This is a gift from my friend in Japan who came to LA on the last weekend. Thank you, Mr. H!

Gordon Biersch Marzen

I have Gordon Biersch Marzen this evening. Gordon Biersch Brewing Company, San Jose, California was near to my office when I have stayed in San Jose. They had a nice restaurant too. I will visit again sometime in near future.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

I have Sierra Nevada Pale Ale now. I ran out ale. So I bought them at Seven Eleven next to my apartment. It's very convenient but they don't have many kinds of ale. But it's OK, because Sierra Nevada is one of my favorites.

Long Hammer India Pale Ale

I have Long Hammer India Pale Ale now. The Redhook Ale Brewery, Inc, Woodinville, WA is doing very good job. I like them.

Neil Young & Sierra Nevada pale Ale

Neil Young's favorite beer is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, I believe. When I watched "Silver & Gold" for the first time, I realized it. This is a solo performance on May 29, 1999 at the 2,000 seat Bass Concert Hall on the campus of the University of Texas. There is another story about Young & Sierra Nevada Pale Ale here.

Sierra Nevada Brewing was founded in Chico, California. This ale is now one of national brand, and I can buy it here in Atlanta.

Samuel Adams Black Lager

Oh my goodness. I forgot to tell you what I had yesterday. That's Samuel Adams Black Lager. In Japan there is Yebisu "The Black", which is the best black lager in Japan, I believe. I can't say which is better. The mug on the picture? I bought it at Epcot of Disney Resort in Orlando, Florida, which is made in Germany with glass made in Italy.

Samuel Adams Boston Ale

I had Samuel Adams Boston Ale this evening. I'm very good today, ale is very fine! The glass today is....just a glass I bought at Publix.

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Samuel Adams was founded in Boston in 1984, which is now national brand in the U.S. I bought Mix Pack the other day. Yesterday I had Boston Lager first. This is real good lager, not water like Bud or Coors. I believe this is the best national brand lager in the U.S. When I visited Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas, they gave me a glass.

Sweetwater and Sterling

This evening, I had Hummer White Pale Ale of Swetwater Brewing of Atlanta. Then, 2004 Vintner's Collection Cabernet Sauvignon of Sterling Vineyards in Sonoma, California, one of the best known wineries in Napa and Sonoma area. I usually buy $10 or below wines at Publix. But today is the day of our company's fiscal year end. So I bought more than $10 wine today. There was no party at our office, so I had those at my apartment alone.

We had a very hard time in this fiscal year. So this is not a cerebration. I just cannot help to drink everyday. Yes, I am a mild alcoholic.

Red Brick Peachtree Pale Ale

It was more than 80 degrees today. I needed air heating last weekend but it seems spring has past very quickly and summer is around the corner. Cherry is in full bloom now.

I had two bottles of Red Brick Peachtree Pale Ale this evening. Atlanta Brewing Company (ABC) was founded in 1993, and until September of 2006, ABC beers could only be found in the metro Atlanta area. Now they’ve expanded into Alabama, Tennessee and Florida and will be in the Carolinas early in 2007. I have a US made steel mag, next to the bottle in the picture, which requires a bottle of ale before first use. It means I had to keep the mag with ale overnight, and I gave up an ale next morning, then I can use the mag. It needs aging with ale.

India Pale Ale by Sweetwater Brewing Company

I like bitter and dry beer, espacially ale. I had a Indai Pale Ale of Sweetwater Brewing Company last night. This is really bitter. If you like it, Coors or Bud is a kind of just water.

firehills went to Ginza Lion Beer Restaurant

This evening I went to Ginza Lion beer restaurant in Ginza, Tokyo. My three friends gathered today, who I worked with together in Hong Kong around 1990. They are still in same company, although I quit the company and joined completely different type of company. I had more than two liters of Yebisu draft beer, one of Japanese premier beer. It was a time of supreme bliss.