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They're in America, they've just done a wild show and... well, there's always time for some alone time.

[NC-17] - 2,983 words - 1 chapter

a sweaty backstage hookup in all its glorious, filthy detail.

#noel/julian #public play #1k to 5k #rating:4

The re-individualisation of Ultra, by the guidance of Neon.

[NC-17] - 1,550 words - 1 chapter

gritty, desperate and real.

#neon/ultra #femslash #1k to 5k #rating:4

Pete has no shame; this may be a contagious condition.

[E] - 3,777 words - 1 chapter

i don’t usually post brand-new fics, but this is really, truly, unbelievably hot.

#pete/stitch #public play #1k to 5k #rating:4

A kerfuffle at a gig brings about a longed-for change for Noel and Julian.

[E] - 2,566 words - 1 chapter

that night, Julian was Noel’s hero. here’s what happened later on...

#noel/julian #1k to 5k #rating:4 #**may be locked**

Beer Camp Tropical IPA

This week when I was choosing a beer to feature I had a hard time deciding. In my fridge at home there are quite a few single bottles and cans but I had one of those moments were nothing I looked at seemed to appeal to me. So to choose I simply closed my eyes and blindly picked a bottle from the back. It only took me two grabs before I snagged a brew I hadn’t had before. This week I’m featuring Tropical IPA from Sierra Nevada. It is part of their Beer Camp series and has an ABV of 6.7%. Let’s get to drinkin.

The pour reminds me of jumping the hay bales at Claycomb’s farm when I was a kid. That same straw yellow color is echoed in the color of this beer. If you wanted to go more toward the namesake of the beer, I guess you could say that It has the hue of a golden tropical sun. There is also about a finger's worth of fluffy white head that holds on long enough for me to snap a few photos.

The aroma is immediately resinous. I picked up grapefruits, pineapples and other citrus scents with a hint of an evergreen forest in the background but it comes in just the right amount to not put off a casual IPA drinker. I can see why Sierra Nevada is calling this a tropical IPA with those fruit scents coming through.

The flavor is refreshing and tart. There is more malt than I was expecting with a little punch of citrus on the back of the tongue. That fruit zest flavor pops up again right at the finish too reminding me that this is in fact an IPA.

The mouthfeel is exactly what I look for in this style. There is a crispness that almost cleans your mouth by the end of the swallow and it doesn’t coat your tongue in over the top hoppyness.

Overall I’m giving Tropical IPA a 4 out of 5. It’s not my favorite IPA, heck it’s not even my favorite Sierra Nevada IPA, but it’s still a solid choice that I might pick up again if I saw it somewhere.

If you have had this latest edition to the Beer Camp series let me know what YOU thought of it. Send me a message and let me know your opinion and be sure to find me on Untappd, Beer Advocate and fresh this week I also joined RateBeer. Maybe we can get a trade together. So until next time, whatever your plans are this weekend don’t settle for crappy beer and be sure to drink responsibly.Thanks for checking in again this week and I’ll be back next time with another brew that’s new to me.

Cheers!

#first sip friday #Sierra Nevada #craft beer #beer #rating:4

Saboo gets a special delivery on Valentine’s Day

[NC-17] - 8,500 words - 4 chapters

chap 2 ~ chap 3 ~ coda

shamen. tentacles. everywhere. you know you want to read this!

#saboo/tony harrison #naboo/saboo #5k to 10k #rating:4

First Sip Friday - Rivertowne Sassamanash

Hopefully you all had a nice Thanksgiving holiday yesterday. My wife and I made the 2 hour drive to visit my parents in Maryland where we had all of the usual Thanksgiving offerings from turkey to pumpkin pie. That’s why for this week’s edition of First Sip Friday, she suggested I feature a “Thanksgiving” beer. At first I was having a hard time figuring out what exactly that would be. I mean, what beer really says turkey and stuffing to me? Then just by chance I was heading to Pittsburgh last week and mentioned that I wanted to stop at Rivertowne Brewing and my wife said, “Don’t they have a cranberry beer?” Why yes, yes they do. And that is why this week I’ll be featuring Sassamanash by Rivertowne Brewing because in our house, cranberry beer beats cranberry sauce any day. Coming in at 4.8% ABV also meant that I could enjoy it with Thanksgiving dinner and not worry about passing out in the mashed potatoes. So let’s put on our pilgrim hats and get into this beer.

The beer pours out a golden straw color with a very minimal head. If I close my eyes and try to remember what shade of yellow my old Pirates pillbox hat was when I was little, this beer is right about that same color. It’s such a sunny looking pint glass and after having one of their other fruit beers, Hala Kahiki which is a delicious pineapple ale, I’m surprised how clear it looks in comparison. It’s almost takes on the look of some of the local ciders that I’ve tried lately.

First off I pick up the cranberry juice in the nose. That sweet smell isn’t just cranberry cocktail though. It’s whole berries, skin an all. There’s even a whisper of citrus coming through in the aroma too. I’m chalking that up to the crew at Rivertowne using whole cranberries in juice instead of a flavoring. I haven’t read anything about them using oranges, rinds or anything but cranberries in this beer.

The first drink is malty and almost cracker like. There is a big punch of cranberry right away, but it is a balanced flavor that doesn’t make you pucker. Add that flavor to a nice carbonation that dances across your tongue and this is probably my new go to beer for Thanksgiving.

Overall I’m giving Sassamanash a solid 4 out of 5. I’m not usually a big fan of fruit beers but this refreshing brew is very good and I would definitely get it again. If you are up for a road trip, be sure to visit the Rivertowne production brewery in Export, PA or stop at any of their Rivertowne Pour Houses. I have always had great experiences at the pour house on the North Shore and the production brewery is so easy to get too, I’ll be taking the brewery tour very soon.

So have you had Sassamanash? If you did let me know what YOU thought of it. Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about and when you had this you thought something completely different. If that’s the case, send me a message and let me know.

So until next week, get out there and have some fun! Don’t settle for crappy beer and be sure to drink responsibly. If you braved the crowds on Black Friday, hopefully you found what you were looking for without too much craziness. My wife and I are off to The Knickerbocker Tavern where not only is it a Firkin Friday, but they will also be pouring Goose Island Bourbon County Stout on draft this evening at 6:30. If you’re in the area stop over and say hello! Thanks for checking in again this week and I’ll be back again next time with another brew that’s new to me.

#first sip friday #beer #Rivertowne Brewing #rating:4