I will never regret the decision to hit this year's Cabin Fever show again. I believe my last installment had been 2008, and it was as memorable as ever. I can't even begin to enumerate the people I got to reconnect with, and others I officially met for the first time (Conroy, Clark). The whole thing was heartwarming.
We had an Ironguts moment provided by Keith K - he broke out a Wieland's HP cone. It wasn't too bad as late IRTP cones go: lots of carbonation, poured clear, and ample *ahem* flavor. Equal parts vinegar and baby oil, it slid down the hatch without much difficulty. I believe we had even had some new inductees into the Brotherhood, including Keith, and of course Aho took a pretty good swig straight from the spout. It may have sobered him up for a minute.
I got to pick up some cans I made a deal for last year with none other than Alex D, and I have to thank him for his patience while we play merry-go-round with an increasingly "fragile" postal service. Regardless, my old Michigan jones is getting a second wind these days. I was able to trade Taylor out of the Bantam.
It's hard to name a favorite in that batch because they are great cans on many levels. This is the third time I've owned the Foxy D quart, and any can with that sort of boomerang effect is probably meant to stay on my shelf. And so, it shall. The Schmidt's quart is a sentimental fave, Phoenix goes without saying, I'm pleased as punch with the half quart Goebels, and the 12oz Fox is an absolutely beautiful Stark can. But I must admit the small-labeled Schmidt's flat was probably my coup de gras. I never owned an example of this can first time around, and have seen so few of them over the years (maybe 5) that this was a real pipe dream turned reality. Just a nasty tough, completely overlooked Detroit can, and it's effectively a flattop version of the silver pinstriped cone. Here is a picture side-by-side with the considerably more common large-labeled flat from E&B just for comparison's sake:
No complaints here. If they told me they were doing Cabin Fever once a week for the rest of the year, I'd try to make all of 'em. Thanks to the Hoosier folks for putting on a great one, as always, and I already have it on the calendar for next year.
LEON.
