Mike Gray Blog

Mike Gray Blog: Beer, Barbecue, Catholicism, and Other Interests

  • The Power of Flowers

    The Power of Flowers

    We bought this orange poppy a few years ago from the markdown rack at the Lowe’s garden center. It’s a complete outlier in the flowerbed and my personal favorite because its intense orange jumps out like an orange safety cone in the middle of comparably tame daisies out of control mint. This particular flower is…

  • Exodus 90 Reviewed: Why I’ll Do It Again (But With A Few Suggestions)

    Exodus 90 Reviewed: Why I’ll Do It Again (But With A Few Suggestions)

    I was on a flight last month part way into what turned out to be a 13-hour, multi-leg trip to get home from a work trip when the flight attendant asked the man sitting next to me what beverage we wanted and if we wanted the pretzels or the cookies. I sighed, ordered a black…

  • Keeping Light Beer Interesting: Brewing a Japanese-Style Rice Lager

    Keeping Light Beer Interesting: Brewing a Japanese-Style Rice Lager

    Over the last few years, I’ve worked on brewing an enjoyable light-colored, drinkable, lager. I’m trying to craft a beer that a fan of Budweiser or Coors would enjoy but with a more unique flavor profile. The first challenge, and it’s a big one, is making a quality light lager. Light lagers have nothing to…