This past weekend, I started homebrewing a Belgian [dubbel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbel) — my first ever — and I was surprised at how quickly the fermentation got going, compared to the lazy sputtering I’m used to getting from typical IPAs. This is what it sounded like yesterday afternoon, after one of my trusty plastic stock bubblers got clogged with foam and I had to emergency-rig the fermenter with a makeshift [blowoff tube](https://beerandbrewing.com/when-to-use-a-blow-off-tube/) with a stopper I managed to find just in time. The bubbling ran steadily like this late into the night before calming down again this morning.

Fun times. I’m actually pretty excited about this one. 🍺


What it sounds like when the fermentation really gets going


Episode II: The Bubbling


This is what it sounded like in my backyard outside this morning.


Spring Is Coming


It was coming down pretty hard this morning, so I figured I’d switch on the recorder and let it run for a while, as I sat with a coffee and a book and 3/4 of my fellow Nunciatos — one of whom noted (rather brilliantly, IMHO), “It seems like when the rain starts, time stops.”


Twenty minutes of Northwest downpour, straight from my backyard.


Morning Rain


Snipperclips

Doodle-oodle-oo


With sincerest apologies to Mr. Williams.


The jagged, uncomfortable sound of learning a new tune.


Practice


Overheard this little guy out back this morning, doing his morning thing.


Woodpecker!


Toward the end of our first on day Kauai, we managed to find [The Fresh Shave](https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-fresh-shave-kalaheo-8), a little trailer parked in a patch of gravel alongside Highway 530 in [Kalaheo](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kalaheo,+HI+96741/@22.0426634,-159.5858023,12.05z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x7c070456fd3d5f5d:0xdb44269b0af6136!8m2!3d21.9286111!4d-159.5302778) that we’d read about in [*Lonely Planet Kauai*](https://shop.lonelyplanet.com/products/kauai-travel-guide-3). It’s run by a family [from California](http://www.thegardenisland.com/2017/01/04/business/local-business-expanding-to-california/), so depending on what you’re looking for, it might not quite bring the island-native vibe (tending a little to the Northwest-hipstery side, with the vintage trailer and sticker-mustaches), but hey — it’s amazing stuff nonetheless: made with all local and organic fruits and ingredients, an excellent treat after a day at the beach.



![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cnunciato-website-media/images/2018-05-29-16-07-09.jpg)

![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cnunciato-website-media/images/2018-05-29-16-06-08.jpg)

At six bucks a pop, though, Rebecca and I chose to forgo ordering for ourselves, so as you listen to this, and gaze at these photos (or worse, scroll through [Fresh Shave on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thefreshshave/)), just imagine what it felt like for us, watching them dive into these with such glee, and feel our pain. Parenthood, man — it’s all about the sacrifices.

And if you do make it to Kauai and go looking for shave ice, I should mention [Loco Coco](https://www.yelp.com/biz/loco-coco-shave-ice-koloa-2), too: it’s also a little trailer in a parking lot, this one just outside [Kukuila Market](https://www.yelp.com/biz/kukuiula-market-koloa-2) (a lovely little family-run grocer in [Koloa](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Koloa,+HI+96756/@21.9022894,-159.483178,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x7c071b22d045fdc9:0x3452c3c675d8981c!8m2!3d21.9066667!4d-159.4691667) that kept us all well fed — and [well-beered](https://konabrewingco.com/our-beers/) — for the majority of our trip), and was easily as good, if not [*mo bettah*](http://bigislandvacation.com/Da_Kine_Pidgin.html).

And if you find yourself *there* — or for that matter, even if you don’t — you absolutely *must* pick up a poke bowl from [Makai Sushi](https://www.yelp.com/biz/makai-sushi-koloa), which is probably the best food I’ve ever had in my entire life. But now I’m seriously digressing.

Anyway, on to the soothing sounds of childhood ice-treat consumption.

In case you were wondering what that sounded like.


The Fresh Shave

What Shave Ice Is

LocoCoco

Kukuila Market

What Poke Is

Makai Sushi

Makai on Yelp

Kids Eating Shave Ice


I still brew beer from time to time — although it’s been a while; I should walk over to the homebrew shop and pick up some supplies — and there’s nothing like that moment when you pop your first bottle after that painfully long wait for the second fermentation. This is what it sounds like when it goes well.


The delightful sound of a beer that is ready.
