chuckography

Beards and Beers....

OK, many of us have heard about the (CSU) Charleston Southern University professor who got fired because of beer.

No, not for drinking it.

For having his picture plastered on cans of the evil stuff.

Seems the school, formerly called Baptist College of Charleston, is very stern about drinking and, I guess, anything at all that has to do with it.

The man has a great beard but it was carefully groomed for the photo shoot and REALLY grabs your attention!

Associate Professor Paul Roof does not look like his in his everyday life, on or off campus.

I wore a beard for five years - but never came even close to the class main man's lofty hirsute grandeur.

In fact when I shaved it off, my friends eyed me suspiciously and asked if I was wearing a new sweater.

Or maybe a flashy (narrow knit) tie.

I had to remind them I used to have a beard!

For half a decade.

Hairy faces on beer labels is hardly new.

This poor Scot has to juggle a hefty glass of foamy thirst-quencher AND a set of bagpipes.

More than likely, while wearing a kilt and topped by a jaunty tam 'o shanter.

Last time I held a mug that large was at Okktoberfest in Munich. Which, of course, happens in September.

People don't tend to make fun of a sturdy bearded lumberjack on the front of Timber Beast Rye IPA.

Especially if he has a double-head axe resting on his plaid-shirted shoulder.

And a knit cap.

(What's with beer and guys wearing facial hair AND a hat?)

Babe the Blue Ox often would be included in the image of axe-toting Paul Bunyan.

Well, I lived in Minnesota for a year (yes, it was Winter every day) and the image has stayed with me.

Even in the heat and humidity of a Charleston August.

Another bearded beer that caught my eye is Rico Sauvin, an American IPA with an ABV of 7.60%.

This was some quick research conducted in the fairly new TBC (The Beer Cellar) near 1050 E. Montague in North Charleston's Park Circle area. It's Suite "D" so come around the corner. You'll spot it easily. Has a tiny wooden deck.

The two owners were patient with me and my camera as I moved things around to get shots of hairy faces on labels and posters of beer cans and bottles.

John Judson, left, and Ryan Hendrick, have put together a large assortment of craft beers - and growler fills - in a rather small space.

They quickly picked up on where I was going...linking beers and beards.

Well, they have a right to be as they are involved with both.

(Click on the photos for more detail.)

Like most people, I keep two empty growler jugs, cushioned, in the trunk of my car.

This way, when I come across a tasty draft beer new to me, I can have a bottle filled, sealed and take it home.

Hmm, my new diet has really slammed that shut but I'm working on eating more veggies to offset the carbs and sugars that make beer taste so good!

My bare-faced approach to this posting has NOT tempted me to re-grow my beard.

In the past it was thick and dark blonde.

Now, it would be salt with no pepper.

Labels: Against The Grain Brewery & Smokehouse, associate professor, Baptist College, CSU, growler jugs, John Judson, Paul Roof, Rico Sauvin, Ryan Hendrick, S&P, TBC, The Beer Cellar, Timber Beast

posted by chuckography @ 7:40 PM 0 Comments

An Early Birthday Celebration....

Colonel Michael J. Colburn, USMC, was the "leader of the band" and it was quite a musical evening.

The United States Marine Band was in town at Charleston Southern University last night.

It was my first time on the campus but I followed the crowd and eased my way to a seat in the front row of the balcony at Lightsey Chapel.

Duh, of course I had my camera.

As many people know, I'm a former Marine and November 10 my Corps turns 236 years old.

This evening of military music was a great way to mark the upcoming birthday in a special manner.

A member of my Photography Group - also a former Marine - responded when I posted I had some extra tickets.

The concert was free but you had to arrange tickets in advance.

It was a near sellout. All the seats downstairs were filled and there were just a few vacancies in the balcony.

I remembered that John Philip Sousa had led the band known as "The President's Own."

The grand old "March King" composer was the 17th Director in the late 1880s but the band was created by an Act of Congress in 1798, more than 200 years ago.

It's mission - then and now - is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

My evenings at the White House and at Corps Headquarters on "I" Street in DC have not happened yet so this probably was my best bet to hear them play.

The first half of the show was Sousa marches, overtures and other military tunes.

Some of the symphonic melodies reminded me of concerts at the old Memminger Auditorium when I was in high school back in the 1950s. Yikes.

The second half saluted the era of the "Greatest Generation" with the music of the 1940s. "Roadies" dressed in Marine utilities hoisted a large xylophone onto the front of the stage for several selections by SSgt Jonathan Bisesi, soloist. He played well-known classics for that very resonant instrument.

The evening ended with a medly of songs for each branch of the service. We stood proudly for the Marine Corps Hymn.

I had owned a set of "dress blues" back in the day but I had never seen such bright scarlet tunics as worn by the members of the orchestra.

Pretty snazzy guys and ladies!


(Please do click on the photos for larger vews.) It was a bright and colorful and patriotic and nostalgic evening. Charleston was fortunate to be a city on the 2011 National Concert Tour. Thanks CSU.

Labels: Charleston Southern University, CSU, John Philip Sousa, Lightsey Chapel, Scarlet tunics, SSgt Jonathan Bisesi, The President's Own, United States Marine Band, xylophone soloist

posted by chuckography @ 7:58 PM 0 Comments