#266: Fairport Brewing » White Buck, Whipple Bros., Peter J. IPA, Apollo 8 (visit)

After far too many times passing by Fairport Brewing on holidays or late at night on the way to or from visiting family, I finally had a brief moment to catch up on what my former hometown was offering up as it's local brews between lunch and dinner with my sister & crew.

White Buck (Wheat Ale) ABV: 4.3% | IBUs: 20 | Rating: 8.0
A start. Big banana bread flavors, lively carbonation, mild yeast notes and even a bit of green pepper threaded through. Easy finish with a sharp start.

Whipple Bros. Ale (NYS Local Ale) ABV: n/a | IBUs: n/a | Rating: 8.2
A solid, biting bitter of an ale with a clean mouthfeel. A firm, traditional american pale offering.

Peter J. IPA (American IPA) ABV: 6.0 | IBUs: 60 | Rating: 8.5
An inviting and interesting IPA that isn't trying to be west-coast. Sweet malts peak through the plentiful hops with notable nectarine flavor and nutty hints, even sunflower seeds. A worthy variation.

Apollo 8 (Double IPA) ABV: 8.0% | IBUs: 90 | Rating: 8.4
For the finale, we have an all-Apollo hopped-DIPA. A smooth, growing bitterness and dryness spills from the deep, hazy amber brew, filled with boozy esters in the finish. Mild pith and rind notes continue to rise throughout. This one shows it;s IBUs and ABV. One for the straight-ahead hop fans.

In addition to their own brews, Fairport also has Galaxy Brewing's phenomenal Andromeda IPA and an offering from Keuka as well. Interesting to see more small breweries offering other neighbors brews on their line. I'm a big fan of collaboration in whatever form it takes, so kudos there as well.

Looking forward to how this brewery develops!

#265: High Water Brewing » Hop Logic (DIPA)

High Water Brewing » Hop Logic (DIPA) | ABV: 9.5% | IBUs: 45 | Rating: 8.9/10

Over the weekend, I was in Rochester, catching up with my sister & family in the states from the UK. We decided after a morning & early afternoon of kids-focused activity, it was time for an adult beer and beverages. Tap & Mallet, here we come.

My first brew was a solid, low ABV Berliner-style from Jacks Abby (review to come). Choice #2 was quite a bit more difficult with T&M's plentiful draft offerings. My partner & I ended up tasting their DIPA, Barleywine, and Baltic Porter - all of which were worthy candidates for a final round. To my own surprise, I passed up two of my favorite stiles for the Double IPA. It hit the spot just perfectly.

Lush, heavenly sweet malt flavors slammed with wonderful ruby red grapefruit notes - like hop nectar. Highwater packs 5 types of hops into each batch and you can tell they've done their homework, whichever they are.

Big notes of ripe apricot and resin, make way for subtler notes like vanilla. Not sure how the bottle compares this draft choice, but I'll be looking to find out soon.

Hop Logic is powerful, strong, but expertly well-balanced. A hop-head's treat, but still accessable to any bold beer drinker. Cheers!

#264: Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde

Bandwagon Brewery » Sour Blonde (Aged - Wine Barrels, 4 Months)
ABV: 6.0% | Rating: 9.0

It's been... a while since I've posted about Bandwagon. Over the last year or so, I've personally found many of their draft offerings - their own and others - inconsistent, young, or even occasionally disappointing. I hate to hate on local, so I keep my blog mouth shut from time time to time. Their beers that are on, are really dead on, so I always keep a hopeful, open palate.

It was time for some post-birthday shenanigans with some very close friends who recently turned 21 and were up for exploring a bit of what downtown Ithaca had to offer for beer.

I snagged a flight of top notch brews from Cortland, Dogfish, Troegs, and the only flight that included this sour as I will always try a sour, from any brewer. I was glad I did this time around especially...

This fantastic sour kicks off with an earthy funk of Brett and backed up with firm, supportive malts. The funk really gets in there, in the nose, taste and exhale.

Notes of white peach, sour white grapes, and wet hay make for a killer tartness amongst heavy easters and a chalky dry finish. Way in the back there's even notes of sour dark cherries and red wine notes.

Once again, when Bandwagon is on, they are really on. A sour worth seeking out.

#263: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Chico King (3 Floyds Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Chico King (3 Floyds Collaboration)
ABV: 6.5% | IBUs: 45 | Rating 9.2 (Draft @ Ithaca Ale House)

Another birthday Beer Camp brew, down at Ale House, this time in collaboration with the lauded 3 Floyds. My only 3F experience so far has been a De Struise collaboration down in Philly. It was fantastic, but I'm still highly jealous of my mid-west pals with ample experience.

A hazy exterior and fluffy heads reels me in. This unreal pale is incredibly smooth, packing hoppy, cool, and spicy flavors. Backed by high carbonation and a big malt backbone, this King is rustic and dry. Lots of dry resin notes in fact, augmented by serious rind notes and amped up herbal and pine.

A solid hop heads dream...

In the bottle... the story is a bit different, as with the Yonder Bock. Still comes off a hazy amber (with a bit more bubble) and thick white head, but not nearly as complex and boisterous as it's draft counterpart. The big malt and huge hop notes are rolled way back and a bit lack luster.

Not sure if my palate wasn't into it this time around, but the story brewing here seems to be check these Beer Campers out on draft & bottle/can for the full experience.

#262: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Yonder Bock (Cigar City Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada / Cigar City » Yonder Bock (Tropical Maibock)
ABV: 7.7% | IBUs: 45 | Rating: 9.2

Continuing down the Beer Camp rabid hole, I took my birthday day-off lunch down at Ithaca Ale House, which to my pleasant surprise had both Yonder Bock and Chico King (coming soon...) on draft. This Maibock takes a tropical nod with the use of aromatic and highly sought after, Equinox aka 366 hops.

Served up in a 10 oz., Yonder Bock hits the stage with a huge malt nose of sweet ripe red apple, pineapple and other tropical fruit notes.

This one is on, so incredibly tasty with a big,wet malt start, drying finish and flip of spice in the tail. A wonderfully balanced brew yielding a dry mouthcoat of pleasant spice and silky mouthfeel.

Flavor notes of guava, passion fruit, and ripe apple are countered by that touch of hop bitterness & spice that Cigar City does so well.

The can spells a bit different story. Yonder Bock pours out a deep, bubbly amber with a fluffy, lacy off-white head. Bright tropical aromas are immediately apparent followed by flavors of smooth, bitter hops and slight booze notes in the finish. Silky, but dry once again in the mouth, but the flavor is a bit tipped on the minneral / hop-forward realm comparied to draft.

Overall, on draft is far preferred, bringing out much more malt beauty, but a solid collaboration regardless.

#261: 21st Amendment Brewery » Lower De Boom (Barleywine)

21st Amendment Brewery » Lower De Boom (Barleywine)
ABV: 11.5% | IBUs: 92 | Rating: 8.6

Continuing on our 21st Amendment double-header, we have Lower De Boom -- an American-Style barleywine packed with citrusy Pacific Northwest hops. I'm a bit more of an English-style BW fan myself, but I trust these gold-mining San Franciscans. It's worth noting the relatively plain golden can (which goes with the story) that you might just mistake for an energy drink on the singles shelf. The box however, stays true to 21st's artistic nature, with a classy color print on raw cardboard.

Lower De Boom itself breathes life with a murky brown body with just a ring of head. A pungent nose of pineapple follows bursting with hoppy citrus and caramel.

Down the hatch, it's full of big,  burly, sticky flavor. Notes of pinnapple, dank hops, hibiscus rush out of the gate, giving this barleywine an herbal, dry finish. Further in, it's more abrasive nature takes hold, with hot booze notes and just a tad medicinal in the finish.

Overall, a dense, hot brew not intended for the lighthearted drinker. A serious beer with that may be a bit over the top for it's own good, but worth a try.

#260: 21st Amendment Brewery » Monk's Blood (Belgian Strong Ale)

21st Amendment Brewery » Monk's Blood (Belgian Strong Ale)
ABV: 8.3% | IBUs: 34 | Rating: 9.2

Time to talk about a couple 21st Amendment seasonals. This brewery consistently issues some of the best artwork in the industry - boxes & cans alike. Monk's Blood is no exception, with a detailed yarn of the founders as rebellious monks. Humorous and worth a read, but the beer itself is no joke (ouch...).

The real story finds Nico Freccia and Shaun O’Sullivan traveling to Belgium, inspired by monks hardy, fasting beers, resulting in a stellar brew packed with candi sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean, and figs all aged in oak.

This hefty brew rolls out with a big, fruity Belgian noise. Notes of fig are present, but they're not particularly sticky. Earthy aromas sneak in as well beside sweet hay, dried fruit - especially cherries, and a hint of vanilla; all augmenting a lively brown body of beer with fluffy brown head perched on top.

Past the eyes and nose, this one is a real treat for the palate. Lively carbonation and a medium-light body leads this one easy down at first, followed by a wave of spices, oak, and sweet vanilla flavors.

Dynamic, complex, and aromatic in it's flavors, this strong Belgian-style has wispy flips of sweet candied sugar and fig harboring deeper tones of earth, mild booze, and wonderful blooming esters.

Overall, Monk's Blood is a damn good beer and fully recommended.

#259: Founders » Dissenter (IIPL)

Founders » Dissenter (Imperial India Pale Lager)
ABV: 8.7% | IBUs: 70 | Rating: 9.2

I found myself lucky enough to enjoy Founders' latest Backstage Series on draft and bottles within a weeks time. At first, I thought an IPL was a bit lackluster for the series, compared to some of the jaw dropping creativity in previous editions, but then seeing the word 'Imperial' and that Founders' hadn't released a lager in twelve years... I trust those Michigan folks with what they're doing. And rightfully so.

A highly alluring plume of huge aromatic hops is apparent event from a distance, emitting from a translucent golden body and fluffy, fading, lacy head.

Grapefruit, pith, and grass notes are abound in the nose with a touch of resin.

For the bottle, the flavor is tight and bitter, even venturing into mildly astringent with it's dry finish. The body is light and quite lager-like, sporting a mild mouthcoat for such robust hop-forwardness.

Ongoing swarms of yellow grapefruit and tons of rind flavors delightfully pummel the palate with the very slightest flip of sweetness on the finish, that's just faintly apparent in the nose as well, reminiscent of mild honey.

On draft, the nose is a blend of juicy citrus and herbal notes in the nose followed up all smooth, hoppy, and spicy. Prickly carbonation kicks off each sip, then settling in, and drying in the far finish.

An excellent, well-balanced and unique hop experience that's not too punch-in-the-face. Worth checking out on draft and bottles.

#258: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Yvan The Great (Russian River Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada / Russian River » Yvan The Great (Belgian-style Blonde)
ABV: 6.3% | IBUs: 50 | Rating: 8.8

This one one of the top 3 beers in the Beer Camp box I was pumped for. Our here on the East Coast and especially Upstate NY, bottles of Russian River are hard to come by, outside of Sierra Nevada's other collab, Brux.

A hybrid brew featuring Belgian yeast and plethora of hops, this pale Blonde has a clear, golden-straw body topped with fizzy, lacy head.

Belgian spice and yeast flavors swirl with notes of peach skin and lemongrass, all wrapped in quick, prickly carbonation ending in a semi-dry mouthcoat and finish.

Crisp citrus hops follow with distinct orange notes and slight tropical flavors. Yvan The Great (reference to Yvan De Baets, of Brasserie De la Senne) is beamingly bright and grows a bit grassy.

I was lucky enough to have this on draft and bottle and the experience was for all intents and purpose identical. While I was hoping for something a bit more groundbreaking and adventuresome from Russian River, this is still one of the standouts of the box so far. Nothing that I'll plead to go year-round, but worth checking out on several occasions.

#257: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Electric Ray (Ballast Point Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada / Ballast Point » Electric Ray (Imperial Pale Lager)
ABV: 8.5% | IBUs: 70 | Rating: 8.9

I have to admit that I am enjoying this Lagers rebirth - from the staggering number of brews Jack's Abby is slinging, on to Founder's latest Backstage Series release (coming soon...). When I heard that two hop-forward Western U.S. breweries were collaborating on an IPL jacked with Cascade, Zues, Nugget, and Northern Brewer hops, it peaked interest for sure.

Electric Ray serves up with a fluffy, ivory head crowning a deep amber body with hot fumes of piney, spicy hop aromas. Quickly taking the first sip, this collaboration is damn tasty.

Firm, growing hop presence starts off the ride with a rising heat in the finish. Big, bursting citrus flavors weave with inferred notes of chili spice, all supported by a healthy malt backbone. Strong grapefruit and floral flavors continue throughout, but are never overwhelming.

Hot-hop, med-high booze India-Pale that's well balanced and done right.

#256: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Torpedo Pils (Firestone Walker Collaboration)

Sierra Nevada / Firestone Walker » Torpedo Pils (Czech Pilsener)
ABV: 5.2% | IBUs: 45 | Rating: 8.5

Next up, Sierra Nevada fills their Hop Torpedo with New Zealand hops for a hop-forward take on the Pilsner style.

Torpedo Pils kicks off with a bright, Euro-hop nose. It sparkling aromas of kumquat and a soft, grassy or herbal note that I can't quite put my finger on. Alluring none the less. All these fuming up from a translucent straw body topped with a fading, fuzzy white head.

Onto the palate, it's a swirl of soft flavors and mildly lively carbonation. Tender balance of tropical New Zealand hop notes with a wonderful ride of light malt sweetness in a flip on the finish. There's dry, zesty lemon notes up front, with a mild, soothing finish.

Overall, a solid, understated brew.

#255: Ithaca Beer Co » Hopfenstopfen (Dry-hopped German-style) & Intensify Forward Firepower (Rye IPA)

Early in the week I stopped into the Ithaca Beer taproom to drop off posters for an upcoming show and got delightfully delayed in my errands by two tasty new brews. Oh, and they have a taco truck out back now. Tacos & beer and wide open spaces. This place keeps getting better. No taco pic, sry.

Hopfenstopfen (Dry-hopped, German-style) ABV: 4.8% | Rating: 8.9
I think some of my favorite Ithaca Beer brews are their hybrid-styles. This deep, transparent golden straw-colored beer (tasting glass) is brewed only with German hops - and I believe abiding by German purity 4-ingredient law, but then bastardized by dry-hopping with an extensive amount of American hops.

The result is that crisp, bitter, deeply refreshing that is remarkably German, amped with an aroma and boldness that is deeply American-style - but also not overly hopped. A good use of Euro hop character and exactly the beer to finish off a long day and start an enjoyable, but productive evening.


Intensify Forward Firepower (Rye IPA) | ABV: 7.9% | Rating: 8.6
Running counterpoint to Hopfenstopfen, Intensify Forward Firepower (yay! more Star Wars references) is a big, bold, booze of a beer. Dry, scorched rye flavors kick things off with a coarse and chalky mouthfeel that hangs around. Thick and mildy hazy, this Rye packs a punch with distinct earthy, herbal notes and firey booze heat. Another solid, strong 5-Barrel from IBeer.

#254: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » Myron's Walk (Allagash collaboration)

Sierra Nevada / Allagash Brewing » Myron's Walk (Belgian-Style Pale Ale)
ABV: 5.3% | IBU: 38 | Rating: 7.9/10

On to box break bottle #2, we make our way north with Allagash - of which we'd just enjoyed their White the night before during our bottle share (pics soon), thanks to friends who'd just returned from New England.

This particular collaboration is a low IBU Belgian-Style pale brewed with coriander. Out to the glass, it's a hazy straw body topped with a finger of fluffy white head. The nose is quite soft, with a hint of citrus, yeast, and grape skin. It's aromatically mild for any Belgian-style, especially anything marked Sierra Nevada.

The taste at first was a bit polarizing and it wasn't entirely clear the direction they were aiming for with this collaboration. The hop bitterness clashed just slightly with the coriander, diminished further by a slight copper taste. The finish, dry and mildly piney, but still retaining some metallic notes.

Myron's Walk improved further through the bottle/glass with soft citrus esters rising in tandem with pleasant Belgian yeast notes, subtle lemon pith and a touch of grass.

Overall, an OK beer that is just a little too much Sierra Nevada and not enough Allagash. I had high hopes for this one that fell short. If this one shows up on draft, I'll give it another try for sure and report back.

#253: Sierra Nevada Beer Camp » There And Back (New Glarus collaboration)

(Last week yielded some nice scores to say the least including a 2014 box of Beer Camp...)

It's Beer Camp time. 2013 was a little bit of a let down, with only three varieties, all of which were hop-centric. Mind you, they were tasty, but two were the same offering as 2012 - which also had an impressive Pislner and Oatmeal Stout.

On to 2014, we have a true collaboration box of 10 unique bottles and 2 cans that flaunts a who's who of U.S. craft breweries. While 2013 boxes lingered long into the summer & fall, best of luck to everyone seeking a pack and don't sleep on it.

Sierra Nevada / New Glarus Brewing » There And Back (English Bitter)
ABV: 5.6% | IBUs: 40 | Rating: 8.7/10

My partner & I first crossed paths with New Glarus at a bleary eyed dinner, crossing Wisconsin on our way to a wedding in Minnesota. We were both pleasantly surprised by their tasty, English-leaning brew style. While their sours have not graced these lips yet, I'll jump at any chance to taste what they're up to.

There And Back seemed like a solid place to start in such boisterous box. The English Bitter-style brew pours out with a rising, fluffy white head, that boasts plenty of lace, atop an amber body.

Aromatic notes of malts, herbs and fruit kick off a highly fragrant offering. There's a touch of soft peach and other white fruits tucked in there that are just lovely.

Down the hatch, it's a delightfully agreeable beer. Bright and toasted bitterness shines throughout, briskly hopped with alfalfa-like notes.

Wonderfully complex balance and quite drinkable, it's a true collaboration, balancing Sierra Nevada's bitter-enthusiasm and New Glarus' restraint and precision. It likely won't be the stand out beer of the box, but for the style it's notable.

#252: Stone Brewing » Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier Black Rye Kölsch

Stone Brewing » Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier Black Rye Kölsch
ABV: 5.4% | IBU: 40 | Rating: 8.4

Rick Blankemeier & Robbie Chandler were the winners of Stone's Spotlight Series brewing competition, with their Spröcketbier Black Rye Kölsch. The concept of a dark Kölsch struck me since I first saw this one a few weeks (months?) back.

Spröcket kicks off with a soft, mild, malt nose with a breathe of cool, herbal notes. On to the palate it's full of roasted flavor and firm dark malts, but goes down effortlessly smooth. The body is light up front with a slowly drying, coffee-rye spice finish.

I could see Porter fans lining up for this one, though it has a bit more bitter, Euro-hop bit and light on it's feet. Overall, an agreeable winner and unique concoction. Not one to elbow-down for, but worth a try especially for a share with other enthusiasts.

#251: Ithaca Beer Co. » Cascazilla (Cask on Cherries & Wood) & New Scout (Barrel-aged Dark Beer)

Our Albany/Schenectady pals Grady Stiles were on their last tour this past week; Ithaca being the final stop. When their Thursday night Rochester gig fell through, we figured we'd make the most of it with gorges & beer.

The tapline was full of seasonals, 5-Barrels, and old favorites were on tap, including White Gold, Old Scout, Intensify Forward Firepower, Country Pumpkin & others above, plus their latest cask offering, their mighty Cascazilla on oak & cherries.

This Cascazilla variation works well on cask - cloud-like soft carbonation floating dark cherry notes which peak through, dry, hoppy goodness. English-style malt/hop balance with a growing dryness and dark fruit wisps of sweet, tart, and earth.

Sipping through samples of their latest 5-Barrel offerings, it was a tough call between their Intensify Forward Firepower (packed with hops, rye, and booze - very tasty) and their barrel-aged New Scout. In the end.. barrels win.

New Scout is fine, dark brew goodness with plenty of deep, roasted malt flavor and distinct oak notes. A drinkable, no-nonsense summer dark beer that's plenty roasted with a touch of smoke.

#250: Shmaltz Brewery Co. » Visit & Tour (St. Lenny's, Slingshot, Rejewvenator 2014, Death Of..., Jewbelation Reborn)

Back in mid-July, my partner and I decided to skip out of town to Albany to visit friends and swing up to Clifton Park to visit the new Shmaltz Brewing Company site.

For those out of the loop, Shmaltz (and their He'Brew line) were a contract brewing company from 1996-2013 when they the launched this new site, with their aptly named Death of a Contract Brewer Black IPA.

The brewery itself is nestled in new industrial/commercial park among plenty of greenery and a few residential and business pockets. Inside, rustic barrels and tables - even a wonderful old door used as a table, are augmented by modern seating areas for an inviting, comfortable, and varied tasting room.

He'brew St. Lenny's (Belgian Rye IPA) ABV: 10% | Rating: 9.2
I've enjoyed this one before, but not on draft, and it does up the ante. St. Lenny's introduces itself with a big, hot nose of rye spice and malt sweetness emitting from a deep amber body and ivory head.

The rye / Belgian-style hybrid flourishes with expected elements of both styles, flecked by notes of cinnamon, sharp and bitter hops, pine, and even star anise, all delivered with prickly carbonation, concluding in a drying finish. Solid and worth seeking out above the bottle.

He'Brew David’s Slingshot (Hoppy American Lager) ABV: 5.5% | Rating: 8.7
This one took us both by surprise. Flavor-packed lagers are on the rise, but I wasn't expecting this from a summer offering.

Slingshot kicks off with a sharp hop nose full of rind, pith, and herbal pine. Onto the palate, it's a strong, dry, bitter beauty that's unabashed in flavor, but retaining a light, summer-ready body. Hints of sweet, raw coconut peak through bitter piney hops that distinctly lack typical citrus notes. The finish is delicious, building subtlety sweet notes of apricot.

He'Brew Rejewvenator Dubbel Doppel 2014 (Dubbel) ABV: 8.0% | Rating: 8.5
East meets west in this 2014 edition of Rejewvenator, combining Merlot and Concord grapes. This fruit dubbel serves up a dark amber with an ivory head that has just a touch of pink to it.

For a fruit beer, the nose is surprisingly transparent, but onto the tongue, it's a burst of hybrid flavors. Smooth, wine-like dark fruits play with a drinkable malt backbone that is midly dry and semi sweet through the mid & finish. Bright and vapory up front. Overall, one of my partners favorites of the day but a bit underwhelming for me personally. It's well balanced and crafted, just not quite my cup of tea.

(tour break)
After the first two rounds, we started chatting more in depth with the head taproom manager about Ithaca, a few places in upstate that may have some unique barrels, and general beer-geekery when he offered to take us on a tour of the new facility.

One of the key things I learned was that, while their Coney Island brand was sold to Boston Beer Co., they're still brewing it, including their barrel aged offerings. We got to see Terrapin Reunion collaboration magnums and barrels that were about to launch and learn more about what's coming next for Shmaltz.

It was of the more in-depth and knowledgeable tours we'd been on and he was quick to answer any question with quality, unscripted info. On our way in, we filled our glasses with some of their commemorative brew...

Death Of A Contract Brewer (Black IPA) ABV: 7% | Rating: 8.9
As expected, Death Of... serves up jet black with a tuft of head. The nose is green full of grassy hops. It's a robust Black IPA packed with plenty of roasted goodness, strong citrus hops, and some wonderful esters and just enough booze peaking through the veil. At $5 a piece, it was a steal so we grabbed four bottles.

He'Brew Jewbelation Reborn (Strong Ale) ABV: 17% | Rating: 9.1
And her we have the major reason I wanted to head to Shmaltz. Jewbelation has been one of my favorite insane-ABV brews for several years now and the chance for it on tap was a big draw. This 17th anniversary brew is 17 hops, 17 malts with a matching ABV.

Jewbelation pours up an opaque brown with a ring of head. A potent nose follows, full of vanilla, oak, and bourbon. The taste is an epic hop vs. malt battle, fueled by huge notes of boozy alcohol. It's sticky, silky body spawning notes of grape, ripe red fruits, and sweet vanilla all threaded with a hot booze and wrapped up in an arid finish that adds a touch of whiskey spice.

It's a booze of a beer and not for beginners or delicate palates. Two samples were the limit, so I got both and a bottle for the collection at home.
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Overall, a wonderful visit. Friendly, knowledgeable staff that we'll absolutely be visiting again. They stated the taps change daily (we'd just missed Reunion '14 going up the next day) so frequent visits sounds like they still be worthwhile and varied. It's worth noting at the time they only pour samples, but they're generous with rotating glassware you get to take home.