Whoa Nelly! Homebrew!

HOLY MOLY. I have not foodblogged in almost a year. Possibly due to other obligations, possibly due to lapsed veganism (this is, after all, a vegan food blog, cool guy). Anyhow, let's catch up.

I finished another semester at JCCC.
I fell in love. Big love.
I transferred to Rockhurst.
My man fell ill.
I moved back to Kansas City.
I tended bar.
I had the opportunity to care for said Big Love.
I hated Rockhurst.
I left Rockhurst to transfer back to good ol' UMKC.
I no longer tend bar.
I wait tables under a phenomenal chef.
Once again, I work for and am surrounded by Italian dudes, personally and professionally. This is ok, for it is all I know.

Somewhere in there I was training for another marathon, but shit happens. In my life, it tends to happen a lot. Veganism lapsed, but I have access to way more amazing local, organic, lovingly-crafted foods than I did in Lawrence. This is saying quite a bit, because Lawrence is SUCH. A. GOOD. FOOD. TOWN.

I digress...

This post is about homebrew. And my life. Here's what's up:

I do not hover over my cell phone when I am on the clock. I've been in service off and on (all of two years off) for ten years now. It's unprofessional to even have it on me, really; but circumstances being what they are, I do keep it in my pocket and I check it when I am able to unobtrusively do so. Sue me.

Those few of you that know me personally know that Big Love is going through hellacious medical treatments. The last time he had a fever and was in the hospital, he was in the ICU for 5 days. It was a Big Fucking Deal. Long story short, I got a text from him in the hospital as I was wrapping things up with my last table tonight and dashed off. After a quick whore's bath in the sink and a change of clothes, I was on my way to the hospital when he called me to tell me he'd been released.

Wonderful! The last thing I want to see is my rock not at his best. But what now?

Homebrew. My uncle's homebrew.

My uncle Pat is getting increasingly creative with his hooch-craft, and I am in possession of quite a bit of his beer. And it's good. Really good. Tonight I've sampled a tart, dry cider and a nut cream brown ale. The cider is not a sweet cider, but the aftertaste is leaves and jonagold apples. Hopefully my brother will forget I have this, because I don't want to share and I'd like to cook some greens in it. I'm thinking collard or mustard greens, splash of cider, ground pepper and a shitload of garlic.... maybe smoked Central Soyfoods tofu.

As far as the nut cream brown ale goes (way to say something inadvertently sexual, Margot)... I'm not sure. It's like a heavier, less skunky, creamier Newcastle. I'm thinking desert applications, but I'm also a little drunk. What say you, internet?

I do have some other interesting pale ale blends, but I suspect those would be best suited for drinking.