I’ve experimented with different types of homemade teas using a spearmint and peppermint base, given my garden is a prolific producer of these mints.
My Concoction
My most recent concoction entails boiling mint and grapefruit skins. The end result is delicious and almost indistinguishable from a strong IPA (India Pale Ale) beer that has gone a bit flat. But, that almost doesn’t matter.
Favorite Beers
Some of my favorite beers have been Stouts infused with nitrogen, such as Guinness Irish Stout, and the low carbonization Russian Imperial Stouts such as Old Rasputin1Given my last post referenced the Indigo Girls, I probably should mention the band references Rasputin in its song, “Closer to Fine.” by Old Coast Brewing Company.
It’s got a big, creamy head. It sticks to the glass, laces strong. It’s black, with a very deep blood red hue to the edges where the light can penetrate it.
Standard stout, sweet caramel aroma with coffee, and some unexpectedly light-hearted hoppy freshness.
Then you taste it and it’s like drinking a coffee-chocolate cookie. Alcoholic, liquid cookie, but still.
Valeblog: “Old Rasputin Russian imperial stout“
I also like strong IPAs from craft breweries. For example, the Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA by New Belgium Brewing Company comes to mind. The brewery now offers up all sorts of fruity Voodoo Rangers, according to its website.
However, I haven’t tried any IPAs recently, or any beer for that matter, since I basically stopped drinking beer and alcohol probably a year before the inception of Covid. I don’t care for the negative effects of alcohol. Even the alcohol in just a beer or so is bothersome, for the most part. I suppose if I’m on vacation or retired, then I might not mind the negative effects as much. Who knows?
Recipe
Anyway, my recipe, like the life I live, is simple.
Step 1
Gather some grapefruit skins…
And dried peppermint, of which I have plenty.
Step 2
Boil the ingredients in a container.
Although the picture indicates that I already poured the beverage into a pitcher to chill in the refrigerator, I had done so after letting it sit for several hours to cool to room temperature.
Step 3
The final step is to enjoy an ice cold pint or two of the homemade IPA-like beverage in a Notre Dame glass mug.
Accidental Teatotaler
I guess one could consider me an Accidental Teatotaler at the moment, given I don’t drink alcohol, don’t smoke, and don’t do drugs (prescription or recreational). I remind myself of that song by Adam Ant from 1982, “Goody Two Shoes.”
Song: “Goody Two Shoes”
The song also reminds me of the massive peer pressure, for better or worse, that one feels especially in primary and secondary school, but also in adulthood. Apparently, Adam Ant’s life inspired some of the lyrics he wrote, because he didn’t drink, smoke, or do drugs at that time:
Goody two, goody two, goody, goody two shoes
Goody two, goody two, goody, goody two shoes
Don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?
You don't drink, don't smoke, what do you do?
Subtle innuendos follow
There must be something inside
According to Genius lyrics’ annotation,
This line references the everlasting intrusion by the press into Ant’s personal life, which he preferred to keep private. He stayed sober his entire career, consuming no drugs or alcohol. This led to predictable questions from the press; if he didn’t drink or smoke, then what exactly did he do?
Evidently, there were other popular muscians who led a clean life during their heyday, include Morrissey of The Smiths, Angus Young of AC/DC, and the members of the band KISS.
Footnotes
- 1Given my last post referenced the Indigo Girls, I probably should mention the band references Rasputin in its song, “Closer to Fine.”
