59 - Bengali (Six Point) - 10.5M

The sun was bright but there was still a chill to the air. I needed sleep and rest. The morning run escaped me again but I did the math and figured I didn't need a colossal effort. I ran just once in the afternoon, ten and one half miles total. Some guy flew by me not once but twice. It brought a smile to my face. I could tell by looking at him he was a fit rec runner probably out for a hard three miles. After a shower I went with Bengali by Sixpoint Brewery (Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY). At 6.5% ABV this IPA has a very unique flavor, mostly in the after taste for me. If you want a traditional American IPA I wouldn't go for this, but it's certainly worth a try.

58 - Resurrection (Brewer's Art) - 14.5M

After a week of twelve hours days and tall pots of coffee it was a hell of a night to go for a workout. I met Justin at Lloyd Hall and we were joined by Charlie. We ran 15 minutes at 5:35-5:30 pace, took five minutes and then run 10 minutes at close to 5:20 pace. I ran a total of  fourteen and one half miles. It seemed appropriate to go with Resurrection Ale (7%) by The Brewer's Art (Baltimore, MD). This one wasn't my favorite but it was smooth and had a nice kick.

57 - Loose Cannon (Heavy Seas) - 11M

It was another long ass day but I managed to get on the road a little earlier than yesterday. Over the last forty eight hours I had drank enough coffee to kill a small horse so my legs felt fairly fresh. I needed another beer of substance so I reached for Loose Cannon IPA (7.25%) by Heavy Seas (Baltimore, MD). Nothing like a little extra hop at the end of a long day.

56 - Hop Explosion (Fegleys) - 10.5M

Work totally bent me over. After a thirteen hour work day I managed a sluggish ten and one half miles. The day's beer was Hop Explosion (7%) by Fegley's Brew Works (Allentown, PA). A quality IPA was a little light at the end of the tunnel at least..

55 - Ellie's Brown - (Avery Brewing) -12M

Tuesday night at Franklin Field and it was just twenty three degrees. Even by Maine standards that's some chill. We had six runners in our group and most of us used a full interval rest of three and half minutes. After a rest week this workout turned out to be mostly comfortable with the exception of the second interval which I led most of: 1600m: 5:00, 4:59, 4:59, 4:55. We added 4 x 200m after which just made me feel old and slow. It was a twelve mile day. For a post workout treat I grabbed the Ellie's Brown Ale (5.5%) by Avery Brewing Co. (Boulder, CO). This was good, but what can I say? It tasted like most other brown ales. Sometimes I just have the pallet of a sailor - yes beer me, yes that tastes good, yes more please.

54 - Seven Gates (Spring House) - 10.5M

It appears I lost my partner in crime on this running beer venture. It's still early, way early but I don't feel like throwing in the towel. I ran an untimed ten and one half miles. It was cold and windy again but I managed. For the nightly brew I went light and I went local: Seven Gates Pale Ale (5.6%), Spring House Brewing Company (Conestoga, PA). This was a pretty standard pale ale, not overly hoppy or floral. So in spirit this brew is crazy but in practicality it's not too scary.

53 - Blueberry Ale (Blue Point Brewing) - 12M

Warm temps and bright sun made for a pleasant, albeit wet run. After running twelve miles I bottled my first batch of beer. A quick smell yielded a familiar beer smell so I guess that's good. I tried out the Blueberry Ale (4.6%) by Blue Point Brewing Company (Rochester, NY). Unfortunately while the beer was still carbonated it smelled skunked. It didn't taste rancid but I couldn't taste the blueberry at all. Too bad.

52 - Narragansett (Lovecraft) - 10M

It won't be winter without at least one run in the middle of a blizzard. Every runner I passed (and there were a few) I made sure to say something encouraging. I'm not against the treadmill, hell, it can be a valuable tool but it's the real shit days that makes the runner the real deal. It was a great run until I got to the turn point and realized the wind wasn't sweeping across the path. It was a long five miles back with the wind mostly in my face but I survived and got ten miles for the day. The reward waiting for me at home, Lovecraft Honey Ale (7% ABV). That's right Narragansett Brewing apparently makes more than just watered down cheap beer. I'm not about to give this one an award but I will happily pick it up again, soon. It had a sweet finish. Highly drinkable. I could have used a little more body from it, but then again, maybe I've been drinking too many micro craft brews.

This artwork is just badass!

The beer heard actually looks like honeycomb.

51 - VJ Black Imperial Stout(Atwater) - 6M

It was another cold run in the ice box.  Just six miles this time, real easy. Too cold to go anywhere so I hunkered down with a pizza from Dock Street and this fine beer by Atwater Brewery: VJ Black Imperial Stout. Go big or go home with this brew packing 11% ABV. The boys from Detroit will put some hair on your chest but it's a remarkably smooth ride. Strong taste and an equally strong buzz, all and all a great end to the work week.

50 - 80-Acre (Boulevard Brewing) - 9M

DAY FIFTY: Damn! It was so cold I could smell Eskimo farts in the air. I wasn't the only psycho running outside but almost. With air tempt at fifteen degrees, twenty mile an hour wind gusts are devastating. I managed a nine mile run between neighborhood and cemetery loops. I was tired of looking at it so I finally drank the 80-Acre Beer (5.5%) by Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, MO). It was better than expected, which truth be told was mostly because I hate the label. How pathetic, right?

49 - Workhorse IPA (Laurelwood) - 8.5M

Another poor night's sleep. I wasn't sleep tired but the run was brutally slow. My legs were stuck in the shit bucket the whole way, 8.5 miles. In effort to salvage the day I tried the Workhorse IPA (7.5%) by Laurelwood Brewing Co. (Portland, OR). This was a brilliant IPA. Very drinkable for the ABV. Probably a good thing I only had one in the fridge, otherwise I would have been blasted.

48 - Hoss (Great Divide) - 12.5M

Everything felt a little flat today. After a poor night's sleep work seemed exhausting regardless of the amount of coffee I siphoned down my gullet. After grabbing a nap I chugged a little extra coffee and met the guys on the track. The workout was 5 x 2K (6:28, 6:33, 6:33, 6:31, 6:30) with a quick lap job between. I ran a total of 12.5 miles. I suppose it could have gone worse but I think I need a rest week. For the night's brew I selected the Hoss Rye Lager (6.2%) by Great Divide Brewing Co. (Denver, CO) and was immediately disappointed, the beer was close to flat. The born on date was 8/12/2014. Go figure. It tasted decent but a beer ain't a beer without that crisp carbonation.

47 - Velvet Merlin (Firestone) - 10M

It was a coveted day off holiday but a Monday is still a Monday. With the thermometer stuck in the teens I went into Center City to grab some groceries only to learn the grocery store was closed due to a broken water pipe. So I hit up a couple bottle shops to restock the fridge. Thankfully the run was a little less eventful, another eight loops in the cemetery for ten total miles. I went with Velvet Merlin (5.5%), an oatmeal stout by Firestone Walker Brewing Company (Paso Robles, CA). Not really sure about the name but it was a nice smooth beverage with some warmth to it.

46 - Oak Barrel Stout (Dominion) - 10M

It was cold, ice cold when I awoke at eleven am. The wind was howling something fierce and my phone read nine degrees out despite some strong sunlight. Time to separate the men from the boys. It made sense to wait it out for a few reasons. Nineteen miles and five pints of beer doesn't exactly leave you fresh and chipper. It was a bit of a gamble but I figured the temperature would rise throughout the day and the wind, well it really couldn't get any worse. The gamble paid off because I managed to crank out ten miles in a cemetery around four thirty pm. It was an old trick of mine. The woods and frequent turns in cemeteries provide decent cover and in Maine they were always plowed, making it a safe run when the snow banks overtook the sidewalks. The night's brew was Oak Barrel Stout (6%) by Dominion (Dover, DE). What's better on a frigid night than a strong stout with some vanilla undertones? Maybe an electric blanket, which I don't have anyway.

45 - Milk Stout (Lancaster Brewing) - 19M

The plan was for a morning run and then an evening Valentine's run at the Philadelphia Runner Store. I went a little further than planned and ran 9 miles in the morning. After a nap I realized that the afternoon run and party was actually out in Manayunk. With the time ticking I ran the close to seven and half miles out there, more than half of it at six minute pace. I made the run and clocked another ten miles, for a total of nineteen miles on the day. Five pints later and some decent conversations I was just glad to snag a ride back. For the days beer lets go with Lancaster Brewing Company's Milk Stout (5.3%). It was a good one, although I had two prior so it hard to articulate exactly.. or well just remember.

44 - Amber Ale (Duck-Rabbit) - 8M

I was dragging a little, mostly because it ended up being a late night and sleep was on a premium. I took a nap before running eight miles in the cold. For the night's bev I went with a Amber Ale (5.5%) by The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery (Farmville, NC). With a medium body this was a well built beer. Nothing flashy, just reliable.

43 - Christmas Ale (Sly Fox) - 10M

This week the Fishtown Beer Runners were meeting at Penn's Landing. The city has constructed a Winter Lodge, which was 'heated'. There was also ice skating but we just drank beer. After zigzagging across the city I ran a total of ten miles. There were several holiday ales to choose from. I went first with Sly Fox (Pottstown, PA) Christmas Ale (6.5%). This was a burst of holiday flavor. A lot going on in this brew. I followed it up with another by Shinner, Holiday Cheer (5.4%). This was another burst of flavor but it almost had a root beer flavor to it. Just when I thought the night was over more rounds were bought and I remember enjoying some Yards to finish off the night.

42 - Hop Hazard (River Horse) - 14.5M

The dismissal bell rang on time for once at my workshop of horrors. I seized the day and met Justin for a hump day medium long run. Not since marathon training had I found the legs to put this back in play. It was a honest run with Justin, 14.5 miles in 1:39:40. A hour later the beer was equally honest: Hop Hazard (6.5%) by River Horse Brewing Co. (Ewing, NY). After a long day a man just wants a beer that tastes like a friggen beer, not some junior high science experiment. If you ask me some of these crafties get a little too cute for their own good sometimes. Not Hop Hazard though. This one had a nicely balanced full flavor with enough complexity to keep me interested. Nothing too flashy or exotic, this one gets the job done.

41 - Pale Ale (Ballast Point) - 13.5M

Tuesday night at Franklin Field: 6 x 1K on 2:30 rest (3:07.2, 3:06.7, 3:03.5, 3:05.5, 3:03.0, 3:01.0), 1 x 4K in 13:40. I ran a total of 13.5 miles on the day. First true VO2 Max workout in a long time. The 4K was to help out a teammate on his marathon pace work and to get a little strength work after some faster intervals. The extra rest really helped during the workout and afterwards. I felt pretty decent on my way home for once. The beer was a Pale Ale (5.2%) by Ballast Point Brewing Company (San Diego, CA). This one was listed as a Kolsch Style Ale but I must admit I liked Killer Kolsch by Champion Brewing Company a lot better. This one was sweeter. It tasted almost like a cider to me.

40 - Ophelia (Breckenridge) - 10M

Ah, Monday. They have support groups for far less. I ran an easy ten miles. The day called for something light. Ophelia Hoppy Wheat Ale by Breckenridge Brewery (Denver) was a perfect choice. Very light on the IBU and an even 5% ABV. This one was very smooth, not too dry but not too sweet either. I could see this as a great summer beer.

39 - Ant-Venom Centennial IPA (DuCLaw) - 16M

I woke up early to meet the guys for a long run. As I prepared some coffee I discovered that the beer had blown the top off the fermenter. I quickly replaced the top with a run off tube and dashed out the door. Three and a half miles later I met up with the guys and realized I hadn't eaten anything or brought any gels. With a smaller group we started a little more conservative but after a few miles we back to the mid six minute pace. I turned off early and ran sixteen miles on the day, much faster than the previous Sunday. The day's brew was Anti-Venom Centennial IPA (6.5%) by DuClaw Brewery (Baltimore, MD). Pretty standard IPA, so really, what's not to like? 

38 - Stonefly IPA (Saucony Creek) - 6-7M

First double of the year, I ran six miles in the morning and seven miles in the evening. In between I brewed my first batch of beer! Things went pretty well, only one small boil over and it was prior to adding the malt and hops. I used a starter kit by Northern Brewer for a Red Ale. To celebrate I tried a new pizza joint (which left much to be desired) and I sipped the Stonefly IPA (6.8%) by Saucony Creek Brewing (Kutztown, PA). This one had some serious hop on it.

37 - Wild Blue (Blue Dawg) - 8M

Ran an easy eight miles while there was still some daylight. I tried the Wild Blue Lager (8%) by Blue Dawg Brewing (Baldwinsville, NY). At best this is a very fruity barley wine, at worst it is poorly flavored cough syrup. I can't emphasis the complete lack of resemblance to beer. I was disappointed just enough to want a real beer so I grabbed a Dales Pale Ale by Oskar Blues Brewery and threw on some Wrath of Khan.

36 - Old Heathen (Weyerbacher) - 11.5M

Windy and cold again. It could have been worse, I could be in Maine! I managed to stay on the path this time and felt a lot better with the wind to my back on the way home. In total I ran eleven and one half miles. On such a cold night I needed a brew with some substance. The Old Heathen Imperial Stout by Weyerbacher Brewing Co. (Easton, PA) was that beer. Deep, dark and warming. At 8% ABV this had a very nice delayed buzz.

35 - ACME IPA (North Coast) - 11M

I never sleep well after a night workout, it's a real double whammy. Trudging along on heavy legs things only got worse as I turned around halfway. By mile eight I was like a fish out of water, just flailing around. At one point I stumbled, lost my balance and went tumbling off the walkway for no apparent reason. It was shortly thereafter I came to realize just how tired I was. I stumbled the rest of the way home for eleven miles total run. After such a brutal run I needed a little lady lovin' so I grabbed the Acme IPA (6.9%) by North Coast Brewing (Fort Bragg, CA). For the amount of hops these brewers tossed in you sure won't know by the IBU. Yeah that's right, hunny you're just yummy.

34 - Recreation Ale (Terrapin) - 14.5 miles

Today the beer was greatly overshadowed by the run. I mixed and matched workouts with a couple groups: 3200 meter (10:53), 4 x 800 meter (2:34 per), 3200 meter (10:30?) for a total of 14.5 miles. I certainly felt slow on this one and I was dropped pretty hard on the last repeat. I needed something light so I went with the Recreation Ale by Terrapin Beer Co. (Athens, GA). At just 4.7% ABV it went down nice and easy. Other than that I don't have much to say about it.

33 - Killer Kolsch (Champion) - 10 miles

The weekend had left me broken. Skip joined me for part of my run. The wind was strong, like killer wicked witch strong. It was a sluggish run just over ten miles. After feeling at times near death it felt only appropriate to try Killer Kolsch (5%) by Champion Brewing Co. (Charlottesville, VA). I suppose it is 'Kolsch Style' because it isn't actually German. Real Kosch beers are fermented at higher temperatures, racked and then lager fermented. This was an excellent beer, smooth but with just enough character to keep me interested. Now I need to try some actual German Kolsch beers!

32: Mad Hatter (New Holland) - 17.5 miles

Five miles into the long run and I was feeling out of my element. The group must have been itching to run because the first few miles were immediately in the low six minute pace. After about five miles with the group I took the first turn off and headed back. Taking the long way back I ran a total of seventeen and one half miles for the day, most of it at a more modest pace of seven minutes per mile. For the day's beverage I went with the Mad Hatter IPA (5.8%) by New Holland Brewing (Holland, MI). This one was a pretty standard IPA. Frankly, I wasn't too impressed.