The beer: Ipswich Route 1A Double India Pale Ale
The commentary: And, lo, on the fourth day of the fourteen billionth (or so) year, the Mercury Brewing Company opened (soft-opened) its Brewer’s Table pub and restaurant, and it was good.

Well, decent. Still some kinks to work out like the lack of a children’s menu, any vegetarian options other than salad (not that I mind) and, seemingly, a reliable hostess. My burger was pretty good but A’s salmon was barely cooked and lactose-intolerant G’s giant meatball (who needs a kids menu?) came smothered in mozzarella cheese despite our request. I also suspect the “pints” total twelve ounces, much like at Nebo near my office. Otherwise? You’re goddamn right we’re excited to have a proper fucking brewpub a ten-minute walk from our toilet. I’ve an upcoming day off and will absolutely stop in for a bit to check out the bar scene, which was pretty lively during our Friday-night visit. I should bring along a measuring cup to suss out those pours.

How did you spend your playoff bye week? You say your team doesn’t account for this every January? Shame. Bengals–Steelers was everything we wanted and more. What I would give to have the Steelers (whose offense I respect) limp into Foxborough for the AFC Championship after another slobberknocker against the Broncos next week. Seahawks–Vikings was odd too, with a kicker regressing from probable game MVP to goat (not GOAT) after that laces-in affair. And who knows what to make of the Seahawks and the Packers? I guess more teams should run the be-present-during-an-offensive-collapse defense. Surely, this flawless strategy offers no countermove, rendering the tournament a formality. Too bad there are only a handful of MVP-worthy quarterbacks in their way.

Up next: No more Pink Floyd talk, alright? Cheers!