My buddy Dave S. and I recently visited Fiction Beer Company, located in west Denver. As the name suggests, Fiction Beer is a brewery with a literature theme. Books and beer, now that’s a brewery right in my wheelhouse! The brewery is small, perhaps the word cozy would be a better word, yet comfortable with bookcases stuffed with books. There is an outdoor patio but since the wind chill temps were in the 20’s the day we visited we decided to pass. The staff was friendly and efficient.
I chose A Beer of Very Little Brain, their honey wheat ale (to spell 
it out, it’s a play on the title A Bear of Very Little Brain. You know, the book starring that honey loving bear Winnie the Pooh). I found it to be mellow with a medium malt flavor. The honey flavor was very subtle, because they don’t actually add honey to the brewing process; the flavor actually comes from the honey malt used in the brewing process.
A Bear with Very Little Brain comes in at 4.9% ABV with 25 IBUs. With its mild flavor and lower ABV, this is a beer you can drink several of in one sitting. That’s why it would be an outstanding beer for a hot summer day.
I give it a hearty four belches:
For those of you who are hop-heads, Fiction Beer has a very robust IPA selection. I can’t tell you if they are good or not, because as I’ve previously made clear, I ain’t into IPA’s.
Fiction Beer Company is a small, friendly local brewry that I heartily endorse and intend to visit again in the near future.
Fiction Beer Company, located 7101 E. Colfax Avenue, Denver
Road bicycles: once upon a time these were called “10 speeds”, for those of us old enough to remember that term. In the modern era most road bikes come with 21 to 27 speeds. Road bikes are the Ferrari’s of the cycling world, because they are fast and nimble (and not so very comfortable). They also tend to be very expensive!
Mountain Bikes (MTB): Mountain bikes are the Jeep’s of the cycling world. They are designed to go off-road and absorb abuse. The frames are much sturdier than road bikes, and most MTB’s come with some sort of suspension to soften the bumps and dips in the path. The three most popular types are:
Hybrid (also known as recreation/fitness/commuter) bicycles: These are the family sedan or SUV of the cycling world. They are very versatile and, perhaps more importantly, very affordable. As the name implies, hybrids are a cross between road and mountain bikes. They are almost as light as road bikes but their geometry puts you in a more upright (MTB) position so they’re more comfortable. They are great bikes for commuting and fitness riding. They come in two “flavors”, road or mountain bike style:
Cruiser/comfort: the mini-van of the cycling world. Built so the rider can sit in a full upright position, they are usually equipped with fairly wide tires and a wide, cushy saddle making them very comfortable bikes. They tend to be fairly heavy and slow. These bikes are for easy, fun rides around the neighborhood or heading to the local park for a picnic.
Adult onset diabetes has afflicted several members of my family, most notably my father. He was diagnosed with diabetes in his early 60’s, an age that I am rapidly approaching. If I wish to avoid his fate, I recently realized that I need to change my eating habits. Let me rephrase that: I have been fully aware that I need to make changes to my eating habits for a long time. What I finally realized is that if I don’t start making changes now, I will eventually have to make these changes when I eventually become diabetic.
