Blistering Heat

It is going to be blistering hot for the next few days, so staying indoors later in the day seems to be in order.

It seems like mother nature is retaliating with forest fires, floods, hurricanes, earth quakes and general devastation all around America and Canada, so I suppose I shouldn't complain about a transitional heat wave.

Included with the heat is high humidity which creates a morning haze.

The nice neighbor farmer's heifers are spending more time around the water tank and looking for shade earlier in the day.

As if they didn't have enough irritation with the heat, the flies are also challenging for them.

With the heat I'm up at dawn to top off the water tank and water the smaller trees.

Another result of the weather is that we are getting peaches earlier from the peach tree here on the farm.

Peach cobbler sounds good.

Craft Beer Quest 2

Last week I took a couple of days and covered 340 miles on another quest to find the best craft beers, this time in central Nebraska.

The first stop was the Thunderhead Brewery in the very small farm town of Axtell.  The brewery has expanded to a couple of other larger towns while still brewing in Axtell.

It is located in a renovated metal industrial building with limited decor.

There was a reasonable selection of beers, including the flavor added beers, which I consider an adulteration of traditional beer.

I was generously given several samples and settled on a pint of the Hefeweizen, which ranks as one of the better wheat beers.  I also tried a pint of the dark wheat, which was equally as good.

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The next stop was the Lost Way Brewery in Holdrege, where I was able to find electric hook up at the nearby city maintenance yard for $10.

It is a relatively new brewery with a modern decor.

While they did have a limited selection of beers I was able to find a very good oatmeal porter.

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The final brewery was the Canyon Lakes Brewery, right on the edge of Johnson Lake south of Lexington. 

I camped in the campground managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks. I'm not terribly fond of their campgrounds. While they are always nice and well maintained they are expensive for an electric only site at $40, plus a $6 daily entrance fee.  Since I was only staying one night and was on a mission I paid the fees.  The other bonus was that the brewery is directly across the street from the campground.

Canyon Lakes is another newer brewery with a modern decor and very inviting setting.

The selection of traditional beers was limited and I opted for the Hefeweizen.

I was intrigued enough by the coconut porter to give it a try.  Not unlike other flavored beers, the coconut added flavoring detracted significantly from what was an otherwise well brewed porter.  If only the fees at the campground weren't so high this brewery would be considered for another visit.

I haven't made any decisions on where the next quest for the best craft beer will take me as I have tried most within a reasonable driving distance and have tried all in the area, including Kansas.  Maybe South Dakota?