Just got back from a family weekend in Ithaca, NY that included (as they all do) another visit to the ever wonderful Finger Lake Beverages. I have met a lot of helpful, knowledgeable and friendly folk in the corner of the world of beer that I have found myself in but I have to admit I think of FLB as my home shop even if it takes me three and a half hours to get there - if the lake effect snow isn't bad, that is.

This run, they had another great selection including well-stocked and well-priced Belgians, Germans, UK and US craft beer to pick from from which I snabbed about fifty new-to-me beers like the revived Blackened Voodoo, the potentially defunct Ichtegem's Grand Cru oud bruin and freakily labeled Dulle Teve by De Dolle. Oddly, the Ara Bier, another by DeDolle, while the neck label is fine, well, it seems to have a label that is, err, a digital picture of the normal label. Click for a bigger view. All the vital information is there. I didn't notice when I was on my merry spree but maybe a case got wet and this was the clever way the distributor saved the day. If not, it's the worst bootleg I've ever seen...well, after that cassette tape by "Brain Adam" I bought in Poland back just after the wall fell. I will report back.

Best of all, this is the third "wave through" in a row from customs man at the border...despite my full declaration and receipts visibly in hand. XOXO customs man.