struck oil

I felt like it was time for a nice black beer and one stood out immediately:

Chatoe Rogue.  I'm not protecting innocent or guilty, at least on purpose

As you can see, it's a big bottle, and a true black ale in the glass.  I was surprised that hardly any head appeared at first. It has a sweet malty smell when the bottle is opened, and at first tastes sweet, but there's an aftertaste almost like a rauchbier.  It mellows into a chocolaty flavor after a little sitting time and is oddly headier when warmer.

You can pretend you're a robot drinking oil

Fills that glass, like, four times

parks of madrid (sort of) - the British Cemetery

The British Government, over its time as the head of a world-wide empire, established many cemeteries in many places for its employees and others not able for whatever reason to be buried in local cemeteries.  In Madrid, for instance, a clerk of the British Embassy in the early 18th century died here and, not being Spanish or Catholic, couldn't be buried in a Spanish cemetery.  The Embassy wouldn't or couldn't send his body back home, so they buried him under a tree in the garden of their rented accommodations, and at midnight at that.  Somewhere around a century and a half later, the British Cemetery of Madrid was opened.

With a shield over the gate, so everybody knows who it belongs to

The first burial was in 1854, with plenty of curious spectators, so the story goes.  The grave stone has Excalibur carved in the top, Arthurian imagery being fashionable at the time.

Many families from outside Spain showed up in the 19th century looking for business opportunities.  Some were quite successful and have nicely kept mausoleums.

Not all stones are so well kept.  Some families have probably died out, or don't know they have members buried here.

Do not cry for me, you who so loved me.  I rest in the Lord and ask him that we be reunited in Heaven

Some stone have nice epitaphs:

"Released from Earthly cares and ties

Beneath this stone a tender husband lies

Short was the warning, quick the summons flew

Ere scarce his weeping friends could bid adieu"

Some are a little odd:

So...the apocalypse has already happened?

"Earthly duties" you say

Being the small cemetery that it is, a quick look could take only 20 minutes.  For the more curious it's easy enough to spend a couple of hours examining stones and enjoying the peacefulness.

america meid in espain

There are some things from your home that you'd rather not do without when you're an ex-pat.  They aren't absolutely necessary, but if you can find them, you snap them up.  That's why I patronize the import groceries for sodas and snacks.  Sorry Europe, your pickles just don't compare to Heinz hamburger slices.  Then one day I saw this in the cooler with the Dr. Pepper:

Apparently the makers are taken with the adventure and romance of Prohibition.  They named the beer after the leading proponent of the amendment and the website is a photo of 1920's gangsters.  And almost nothing else.  If you want to get some of this for yourself, you have to write to the email address and negotiate a delivery.  No info about what stores may have it, what bars stock it, what's in it, where it's made, nothing.  It's not entirely secret information; you can google up some interviews with the brewers, based in Galicia if you're curious.  I was curious enough to pick up a bottle.

The beer looks about as typical as can be - beer colored, beer-foamy when poured.  It gives off a sour, ale-y smell and is very bubbly in the glass.  The head isn't excessive and dies down pretty quickly, although the beer continues to be almost soft-drink bubbly.  As the smell would suggest, it is sour but with an almost oatsy undertaste.   Snacks like chips and olives moderate the sourness, making it much more palatable for me, and it becomes more bitter than sour after sitting a while.  To my taste, it's not a beer to drink on its own.  With a little food, it is refreshing and offers a nice balance to salt or vinegar, but by itself it's just the sourness of a self-proclaimed anti-authoritarian smugly flipping the bird at the gummint.

comfort beer?

Maduro Brown Ale:

I was looking for a darker beer, since my last tries had been lighter.  The label said what I wanted it to say, so home it came.  I don't know if I was extra energetic walking home or if my refrigerator is starting to develop epilepsy, but when I opened the bottle there was a small foam eruption.  I'm used to beers being foamy when poured, but this one was volcanic.  Fortunately, it didn't last long and most of the foam ended up in the glass anyway.

Yeah, that's kinda familiar

Once it had calmed down enough to drink, I found it to be a fine brown ale.  It has a slightly sweet smell, and nutty flavor like many of its type.  It's also opaque brown in color, which reminds me of some unfiltered Belgian beers, but without any of their sourness.  The label suggests serving with hearty Cuban food - or cigars.  I think I would be happy with a good chile to go with this beer.  It would be good for a meal, complementing without distracting or overwhelming the food.

Gotta wait 20 minutes for this