The week after quitting my job was a little stressful, even though I knew I was leaving my position.  I wanted to make sure everything was organized in a way that I could hand it off to my little boss, and he could, in turn, hand it off to my replacement when s/he starts.  What was most awkward for me, though, was that 5 days after I gave notice…which was 5 days full of copying files, organizing notes, and writing down details…Hubby and I left DC for a week on the Jersey Shore.  The vacation was planned long before I knew I was starting a new job, and I certainly wasn’t going to lose the deposit and miss my vacation.  So, off we went!

The four-hour drive was mostly traffic free, but the weather was not cooperating.  After a summer of very little rain, drops threatened to become a down pour almost the entire time.  Thankfully, as we arrived, the rain stopped long enough for us to unpack the car, walking the 3 miles round trip on the Promenade, and grocery shop.  Hubby and I were on our walk back from the liquor store, with some wine and beer in hand, when the drops started falling.  And, as soon as we walked into our home-away-from-home-for-the-week, the skies opened up.  It clearly was a sign that I need to crack open my beer, grab my book, and sit out on the porch to settle into the first night of vacation.

The Flying Fish Brewing Company Extra Pale Ale (brewery) is from a New Jersey brewery and is an American Pale Ale.  The beer was a light golden yellow with a small layer of head.  On the nose, there were citrusy aromas—lemons and orange peels—with a touch of yeast.  In the mouth, there were lemons, oranges, and a bit of baked bread.  The beer had a light body and good carbonation.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine.  At $10 for a six-pack of glass bottles, this beer was a nice way to start off the vacation. I picked something that was local to get into the spirit of the location, as well as to try something that may not be as readily available at home, and it was a good choice.  I wouldn’t say it was my favorite beer and I probably wouldn’t go searching it out as I do with some others, but I enjoyed it while reading on the covered porch and watching the rainstorm, as well as while watching Hubby grill hot dogs and corn.  The beer was very food friendly, a nice compliment to the cookout food.  It was perfect for what I was looking for.

Question of the Day: When you go on vacation, do you try to drink the local wines and beers or do you stick with the breweries and wineries you know? 

Price: $10
Purchased at Montreal Liquor Store
Overall: 3 Corks