While we give a nod to Patricius himself, the once kidnapped and enslaved Roman Brit, who escaped from Ireland only to return years later to preach Christianity and drive the snakes of paganism from the Emerald Isle, let’s take a moment of respite to raise a glass to our fellow men and women and acknowledge we are all at sea on the same ship of humanity.   We are not usually open on a Tuesday, but well, would any bar in America really want to keep its doors closed on such a d

Still in winter’s grip on the farm. This icy spell is a bit more extreme than where I grew up but still I’m reminded of my childhood in England. I wrote about it a while ago: “There’s something about going out on a cold and frosty morning. Like icing on a cake, lawns and roofs sparkle in bright morning sunshine. Freezing air invigorates the lungs, sunbeams are warm on the back already and soon are turning ice to vapor wherever they strike the ground. Everything’s so fresh and

More fables from Fence Road, in winter's grip, hibernation and Ice Bowls. I wrote in November that we were in the in-between times, that being in between fall and winter. But I recently learned that this period, January and February, have also been called the in-between times…because for a time those months did not exist.   Back in Roman times there wasn’t much people could do in this period, so they just didn’t count it. Their calendar was 10 lunar months ending in December

We figured Christmas Day might be a good day to fly – going West to visit our girls in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Five years ago – remember? The riot at The Capital. I turned on my car radio to hear the Capital had been breached and immediately understood the gravity of the situation.

Kudos to the Tiger, keeping the faith and soldiering on in the flattening world of craft beer. Still cozy, colorful crowd, awesome 28 tap list – only the prices have changed.

By Tony Forder It’s the in between times. The leaves have fallen, and we’re not yet in winter’s full grasp although Jack Frost has visited a few times. It’s Thanksgiving time already, but I haven’t yet had to winterize the Limetree Café, my trailer.   The hopfield is dormant, goji’s, the last of the berries are finished. November brought us sustained winds, gusts brought down many trees and branches. The grounds crew (the pair of them) cleared the disc golf fairways and had a

There are courses everywhere now and you meet the best people playing disc golf. But, be warned, it’s addictive.

Falling for Kings As the season’s change here at the Oasis, the pace quickens on the downward slope to the opening of Fence Road Farm Brewery. The dampness of fall is in the air as we are visited by a prolonged bout of precipitation after a lengthy dry spell. The hops are harvested and the fruit, save the goji berries which come in late. We had our first frost.   Inside the brewery, the disc golf pro shop has been doing business for a few weeks. Brewing licenses are approved;

Excerpt from Early Days of American Craft Beer by Tony Forder In April 1992 I attended my first microbrewing conference, Brew Bayou, the...