As some of you may know, I did seceuity clearance investigations for the federal government for 25 years. Once I had ot investigate a man who had worked at the Sierra Vevada Brewery in Chico, California. I loved the place. The workers were mostly in their twenties and thirties, and they loved what they were doing. There was an air of creativity and fun at the brewery, and it seemed like it would be a wonderful place to work. In recent years, they have developed a wide variety of beers, and most of them are very good.

There's a Trappist monastery not far from Chico, and they're in the process of rebuilding an 11th century monastery chapter house that William Randolph Hearst had imported from Spain. To help with the construction, Sierra Nevada Brewery developed a beer in conjunction with the Trappists. It's called Ovila Dubbel, and it costs ten bucks for a 25-ounce, corked bottle. I bought a bottle several months ago, and I've been saving it for a special occasion. Tonight's the night, since we're having salmon and corn on the cob.

And it's an absolutely wonderful beer. It's a bit sweet, almost like brown sugar - and every expensive sip is like a trip to heaven. I like it even better than that "other" Trappist beer, Chemay.

And the salmon will be ready in three minutes.....

Cheers!!!!

-Joe-