So I changed the layout. It might change again. Basically, Colleen and I would like to update this place and customize it somewhat. We just need to get a chance to have a few pictures taken. When that happens, you should see some more changes. If you have any ideas, let us know.
Cheers,
Paul
Saturday, January 30, 2010
The Brickskeller
If beer were a religion, I just found its high altar. I'm not kidding. Obviously, this isn't a new discovery for the world, but on my part. Recently, a few people have told me that I should try out The Brickskeller. It has been open in Washington DC for over 50 years, and they started business with having the world's largest selection of beer (which was about 50 at the time). Now that list is over 1,000! They have weekly beer tastings featuring different micro brews and the brewers who make them as well. Did I mention this is a Mom and Pop joint? I'm going to take a moment so we can all take that in....
Now, needless to say I have a new favorite bar. It's a couple blocks from DuPont Circle in DC, and has a nearby Metro - win. I met there with my sailing buddy from college, Hazen. The cool part was that the bartenders used a dumbwaiter to get beers from the storage cellar to the bar. That means they are pulling on a rope half the night to get your order to you. There are also about 12 beers on tap, only two of which that I had heard of before. I had one beer on tap, and three from the bottle. This place rocks.
We both had a great time. It was nice to see a college friend of mine. As you get older, hanging out with friends becomes more infrequent. It's just life. Nonetheless, I think he and I will be going back there sooner rather than later. I just wish my tolerance was as high as it was in college...oh well. We'll also do some sailing together this summer - he owns a boat.
I really need to start carrying a copy of my beer list on my phone or something. The Brickskeller made this apparent, because I know there were beers from brewers I've had before there, I just didn't know which. Therefore, I generally played it safe and went with brewers I had not heard of before, except for a Brooklyn beer.
Brooklyn Blast Imperial IPA: I enjoyed this beer, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It didn't seem overly hoppy, which is what one would expect when they see the term IPA. However, I thought it came across as a pretty balanced beer. It wasn't the best beer I've ever had, but I'd certainly give it another try.
Speakeasy Prohibition Amber Ale: This beer caught my eye on the beer menu due to its name, being that it references the dumbest point in American History. All I can say is that I thank God for beer and the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. My ranting aside, I did enjoy this beer. I have an affinity for amber ales. I thought it was well balanced between smooth, slightly caramel flavored, malts and bitterness of hops. I want to have this beer again.
Oskar Blues Ten-Fidy Imperial Russian Stout: One disadvantage of having over 1,000 beers on the menu is that some items are kept at low inventory, so it's easy to run out. After a few tries to get an Imperial Russian, and politely declining a $45 dollar bottle of Imperial Russian, I was brought this beer. I liked it quite a bit, although it took about halfway through before I got over the fact that it came in a can?! The beer was classic Imperial Russian: thick, full of flavors (including roasted chocolate malts), and high in alcohol content. It comes in at a whopping 10% ABV.
Legacy Hedonism Red Ale: I can admit that this beer name caught my eye on the menu, and that's about the only reason I ordered it. I really hated this beer. I thought it was terrible. The only flavor that came to my mind was creamy. It was like drinking that terrible cream soda someone gives you as a kid. I will avoid this at all costs in the future - 81/100 on ratebeer.com be damned!
With these beers, I have now closed the gap to less than 10. Weather permitting (there's some snow in DC today), I will be joining my friends Tim & Heather at a Bistro near their place for dinner. The noteworthy part of this for you, the reader? The place has many micro-brews on tap, and matches beers with menu selections. There will be a full report later.
Many thanks to Hazen for giving me a heads up about the bar with the largest selection of beer in the world. Next time we go, I'm going for international beers. I just wanted to try some American Craft Brews that I hadn't had.
The scorecard:
Colleen: 194
Paul: 185
Cheers,
Paul
Now, needless to say I have a new favorite bar. It's a couple blocks from DuPont Circle in DC, and has a nearby Metro - win. I met there with my sailing buddy from college, Hazen. The cool part was that the bartenders used a dumbwaiter to get beers from the storage cellar to the bar. That means they are pulling on a rope half the night to get your order to you. There are also about 12 beers on tap, only two of which that I had heard of before. I had one beer on tap, and three from the bottle. This place rocks.
We both had a great time. It was nice to see a college friend of mine. As you get older, hanging out with friends becomes more infrequent. It's just life. Nonetheless, I think he and I will be going back there sooner rather than later. I just wish my tolerance was as high as it was in college...oh well. We'll also do some sailing together this summer - he owns a boat.
I really need to start carrying a copy of my beer list on my phone or something. The Brickskeller made this apparent, because I know there were beers from brewers I've had before there, I just didn't know which. Therefore, I generally played it safe and went with brewers I had not heard of before, except for a Brooklyn beer.
Brooklyn Blast Imperial IPA: I enjoyed this beer, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It didn't seem overly hoppy, which is what one would expect when they see the term IPA. However, I thought it came across as a pretty balanced beer. It wasn't the best beer I've ever had, but I'd certainly give it another try.
Speakeasy Prohibition Amber Ale: This beer caught my eye on the beer menu due to its name, being that it references the dumbest point in American History. All I can say is that I thank God for beer and the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. My ranting aside, I did enjoy this beer. I have an affinity for amber ales. I thought it was well balanced between smooth, slightly caramel flavored, malts and bitterness of hops. I want to have this beer again.
Oskar Blues Ten-Fidy Imperial Russian Stout: One disadvantage of having over 1,000 beers on the menu is that some items are kept at low inventory, so it's easy to run out. After a few tries to get an Imperial Russian, and politely declining a $45 dollar bottle of Imperial Russian, I was brought this beer. I liked it quite a bit, although it took about halfway through before I got over the fact that it came in a can?! The beer was classic Imperial Russian: thick, full of flavors (including roasted chocolate malts), and high in alcohol content. It comes in at a whopping 10% ABV.
Legacy Hedonism Red Ale: I can admit that this beer name caught my eye on the menu, and that's about the only reason I ordered it. I really hated this beer. I thought it was terrible. The only flavor that came to my mind was creamy. It was like drinking that terrible cream soda someone gives you as a kid. I will avoid this at all costs in the future - 81/100 on ratebeer.com be damned!
With these beers, I have now closed the gap to less than 10. Weather permitting (there's some snow in DC today), I will be joining my friends Tim & Heather at a Bistro near their place for dinner. The noteworthy part of this for you, the reader? The place has many micro-brews on tap, and matches beers with menu selections. There will be a full report later.
Many thanks to Hazen for giving me a heads up about the bar with the largest selection of beer in the world. Next time we go, I'm going for international beers. I just wanted to try some American Craft Brews that I hadn't had.
The scorecard:
Colleen: 194
Paul: 185
Cheers,
Paul
Thursday, January 28, 2010
It's almost Friday?!
I went out Monday with my friends, partially because that's what we do on Mondays, partially because it was our friend Lauren's birthday! And then the week got away from me. Oh well. What matters is, I'm posting now.
(I brought some of those Guinness cupcakes. They continued to be a hit!)
Well, this week, Victory at last. As opposed to those other two times (see here and here). Stuff Yer Face keeps quite a few Victory brews around, but as I've said before, unless you like really hoppy beers, avoid them. Except for Storm King because it's BANGIN' (unless you don't like Imperial Russian Stouts). However, as per my friend Jeremy's previous recommendation, I finally tried the Prima Pils, which is obviously a pilsener style beer. I know I've had pilsener before and it kind of fell under the heading of "meh" in my book, but this was pretty good! Still a little bit hoppy, but there's a little bit of citrus flavor that balances it out and makes it unoffensive. In fact, I dare say, it was kind of enjoyable!
I followed this with Landshark, only because I'd never had it before. Meh. This is slightly sweeter than, but otherwise very akin to, all of the beers in Mexico. I kind of giggle every time I have a Mexican-style lager in the United States, since it's hardly my favorite. But, it's another beer for the list, and reminds me of the good times during my field research last summer. (Also to note: things I call "Mexican lager" are generally referred to as "American Adjunct Lager". But if it's made at a cervecaria, or in the style of other beers that are, I don't think I'm totally wrong in calling it what I do.)
Paul: 181
Colleen: 194
Have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend, friends!
(I brought some of those Guinness cupcakes. They continued to be a hit!)
Well, this week, Victory at last. As opposed to those other two times (see here and here). Stuff Yer Face keeps quite a few Victory brews around, but as I've said before, unless you like really hoppy beers, avoid them. Except for Storm King because it's BANGIN' (unless you don't like Imperial Russian Stouts). However, as per my friend Jeremy's previous recommendation, I finally tried the Prima Pils, which is obviously a pilsener style beer. I know I've had pilsener before and it kind of fell under the heading of "meh" in my book, but this was pretty good! Still a little bit hoppy, but there's a little bit of citrus flavor that balances it out and makes it unoffensive. In fact, I dare say, it was kind of enjoyable!
I followed this with Landshark, only because I'd never had it before. Meh. This is slightly sweeter than, but otherwise very akin to, all of the beers in Mexico. I kind of giggle every time I have a Mexican-style lager in the United States, since it's hardly my favorite. But, it's another beer for the list, and reminds me of the good times during my field research last summer. (Also to note: things I call "Mexican lager" are generally referred to as "American Adjunct Lager". But if it's made at a cervecaria, or in the style of other beers that are, I don't think I'm totally wrong in calling it what I do.)
Paul: 181
Colleen: 194
Have a happy Friday and a wonderful weekend, friends!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Pizza & Beer
Colleen made a post about some changes here, and she's done a great job. We're hoping to better organize the look and feel of this experiment we call blogging. We also have some ideas for future blog posts: intro to the different styles of beer, how to taste a large repertoire of beers, and some good beers to get started. Obviously, if there is something you want to read about, let us know either by email or by comments. We'd like to keep the majority of our posts on beers tasted, but it's nice to mix it up too. We'd like to avoid making this place overly technical in terms of tasting, if we get that way, please tell us in the comments section as well.
As I said in my last post, two beers were remaining from my custom six pack. Tonight I had my friend Matt over for pizza and beer. He's a grad student in the DC area, and we've been friends since the age of seven. Basically, one night a week we have "date night" which is usually pizza and beer. I managed to find the one pizza place in Virginia that doesn't suck. We've ordered from there for a while and have yet to be disappointed. Matt enjoys beer quite a bit, and both of these beers were new for him as well:
Fuller's London Porter: Fuller's is a British brewer, and I think they make great beers. I enjoyed their London Pride a couple of years ago, and that beer went down smooth and was well balanced in hops, malts, and flavor. Their porter did not disappoint in the least. Before we tasted it, Matt asked what he should expect. I replied that most porters are known for a) a roasted after taste, which comes from the roasted malts, and b) a bit of a chocolate aftertaste, which comes from the chocolate malts. I thought this beer was rather complex, and I think I may need another one!
Starr Hill Dark Starr Stout: Starr Hill is a brewer from Charlottesville, VA and if it weren't for their great amber ale, I would seriously hold it against them. This beer was a stout, so there was also somewhat of a roasted after taste, but as a stout, there were a lot less hop, or bitter flavor. The aftertaste was described by Matt as almost chalky. I tended to agree. As far as stouts go, you can find much better than this.
As you can probably guess, the London Porter won beer of the night. It went down well with a pizza, which is also an indicator of a fine beer. And the atmosphere was made more enjoyable by a hockey game on TV, however it was not a Devils game. Oh well.
The scorecard:
Colleen: 192
Paul: 181
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. My awesome girlfriend, Laura, has promised that she will make me Guinness cupcakes. I am rather excited, and will give a full review when I have one.
As I said in my last post, two beers were remaining from my custom six pack. Tonight I had my friend Matt over for pizza and beer. He's a grad student in the DC area, and we've been friends since the age of seven. Basically, one night a week we have "date night" which is usually pizza and beer. I managed to find the one pizza place in Virginia that doesn't suck. We've ordered from there for a while and have yet to be disappointed. Matt enjoys beer quite a bit, and both of these beers were new for him as well:
Fuller's London Porter: Fuller's is a British brewer, and I think they make great beers. I enjoyed their London Pride a couple of years ago, and that beer went down smooth and was well balanced in hops, malts, and flavor. Their porter did not disappoint in the least. Before we tasted it, Matt asked what he should expect. I replied that most porters are known for a) a roasted after taste, which comes from the roasted malts, and b) a bit of a chocolate aftertaste, which comes from the chocolate malts. I thought this beer was rather complex, and I think I may need another one!
Starr Hill Dark Starr Stout: Starr Hill is a brewer from Charlottesville, VA and if it weren't for their great amber ale, I would seriously hold it against them. This beer was a stout, so there was also somewhat of a roasted after taste, but as a stout, there were a lot less hop, or bitter flavor. The aftertaste was described by Matt as almost chalky. I tended to agree. As far as stouts go, you can find much better than this.
As you can probably guess, the London Porter won beer of the night. It went down well with a pizza, which is also an indicator of a fine beer. And the atmosphere was made more enjoyable by a hockey game on TV, however it was not a Devils game. Oh well.
The scorecard:
Colleen: 192
Paul: 181
Cheers,
Paul
P.S. My awesome girlfriend, Laura, has promised that she will make me Guinness cupcakes. I am rather excited, and will give a full review when I have one.
Monday, January 25, 2010
DBF update
Dear Beer Friends,
Please pardon the temporary disappearance of the labels and any other mishaps that occur. Paul and I have discussed some ways to get this thing more organized and are in the process of implementing them, but we have things like a full time job and full time grad school to keep us from taking care of it all at once. We may experiment a little bit this week. Feedback is welcome-- we'd love to know who our audience is so we can share our thoughts with you in the most fun and useful ways possible!
Sincerely,
Colleen (and Paul)
Please pardon the temporary disappearance of the labels and any other mishaps that occur. Paul and I have discussed some ways to get this thing more organized and are in the process of implementing them, but we have things like a full time job and full time grad school to keep us from taking care of it all at once. We may experiment a little bit this week. Feedback is welcome-- we'd love to know who our audience is so we can share our thoughts with you in the most fun and useful ways possible!
Sincerely,
Colleen (and Paul)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Guinness cupcakes
No, you read that correctly. There isn't any missing punctuation. Not "Guinness and cupcakes". Guinness cupcakes.
My adoration for Guinness is well documented.
See here.
And here.
And... in real life when I'm not busy trying new beers to tell you fine readers about.
Well, I've taken that love to new heights by baking Guinness cupcakes. This weekend was my friend Andrew's birthday. I made him cupcakes for his birthday last year, so I put the offer out there again, asking, "What flavor cupcakes are most ideal?" His response was, "I would go with whatever your forte is. Or something wildly inventive that you've never tried before."
I don't really have a cupcake forte, and I found this recipe and have been saving it for the right occasion. Here are my amendments to that recipe:
So, no new beers to report for now, but this is definitely a worthwhile recipe. I'd also be curious to try it with other stouts, like Wells and Young's Chocolate Stout, which was a really heavy beer but not too sweet considering what it's labelled as, or Brooklyn Brewing's Black Chocolate Stout, which has already been mentioned here at DBF, or Left Hand's Milk Stout, which is another heavy, slightly-sweet stout (say that three times fast!) that I have enjoyed... I have it on my list as something I tried at Stuff Yer Face but I thought I'd had it before... which leads to:
another digression, though at least this one is related to the dessert theme: my college had an entire week between the end of final exams and graduation, to make sure people were actually eligible for graduating. It was basically an entire week to just hang out with your friends before graduating. I recall one afternoon spent with a few friends trying to figure out what the perfect beer was for the beer float-- we tried various fancy stouts purchased in a mixed six pack from Kybecca in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia. I don't remember all of the beers we had that day, since these were the days before the official beer database, but I do know that we decided a milk stout was the winner with some French vanilla ice cream on top. I'm almost certain it was Left Hand's.
Anyway. No new score, just some delicious desserts. Try them! Or invite me over to make them for you.
My adoration for Guinness is well documented.
See here.
And here.
And... in real life when I'm not busy trying new beers to tell you fine readers about.
Well, I've taken that love to new heights by baking Guinness cupcakes. This weekend was my friend Andrew's birthday. I made him cupcakes for his birthday last year, so I put the offer out there again, asking, "What flavor cupcakes are most ideal?" His response was, "I would go with whatever your forte is. Or something wildly inventive that you've never tried before."
I don't really have a cupcake forte, and I found this recipe and have been saving it for the right occasion. Here are my amendments to that recipe:
- I used white sugar due to a smoky debacle involving the last of the dark brown sugar in our house. When brown sugar gets hard, you can fix that by nuking it for a few seconds. Well, after a few seconds it was still hard, so I added a few more... and it basically morphed into a smoking brown marshmallow too fast for me to rescue it. Since that blog says the original recipe called for white, I figured, we'll see how these turn out and try again with brown sugar in the future.
- These cupcakes are super duper moist, so you may need to bake them an extra few minutes if you intend to get them out of the muffin tin still resembling cupcakes, and not a pile of cake crumbs. Actually, my plan for next is to use those little muffin paper cup thingies.
So, no new beers to report for now, but this is definitely a worthwhile recipe. I'd also be curious to try it with other stouts, like Wells and Young's Chocolate Stout, which was a really heavy beer but not too sweet considering what it's labelled as, or Brooklyn Brewing's Black Chocolate Stout, which has already been mentioned here at DBF, or Left Hand's Milk Stout, which is another heavy, slightly-sweet stout (say that three times fast!) that I have enjoyed... I have it on my list as something I tried at Stuff Yer Face but I thought I'd had it before... which leads to:
another digression, though at least this one is related to the dessert theme: my college had an entire week between the end of final exams and graduation, to make sure people were actually eligible for graduating. It was basically an entire week to just hang out with your friends before graduating. I recall one afternoon spent with a few friends trying to figure out what the perfect beer was for the beer float-- we tried various fancy stouts purchased in a mixed six pack from Kybecca in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia. I don't remember all of the beers we had that day, since these were the days before the official beer database, but I do know that we decided a milk stout was the winner with some French vanilla ice cream on top. I'm almost certain it was Left Hand's.
Anyway. No new score, just some delicious desserts. Try them! Or invite me over to make them for you.
A Trip to the Mixing Bowl
Yesterday, since I am starting to become hopelessly behind in the beer count, I ventured over to the Total Wine near the Mixing Bowl to make another custom six pack. I know I linked to the Wikipedia page for the Mixing Bowl, but perhaps the Google Map with do it more justice. I used a GPS to get there - which should be slightly shocking to anyone that knows me, since I think they are cheating. However, given the glorious mess that is the Mixing Bowl, I thought I would try out the used GPS that my cousin Brendan so generously gave me. Intentional wrong turns just to see what it would do? I think so.
Right now I am watching the AFC Championship game - Go Jets! Football and beer just go perfect together. Writing that makes me notice the fact that I am missing pizza, but a custom six was my treat for the weekend. Speaking of which, it was a rather quiet weekend with some awesome time spent with the girlfriend.
I think I made a halfway decent mix of beer styles, though I do love stouts and porters. Here goes my reviews:
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier: Weihenstephaner has been brewing beer since 1040! It is the worldest's oldest brewery. Say what you want about the Catholic Church, we kept the beer going during the Dark Ages. This beer was nice and cloudy, like most Hefe's. It did however, have a nice aroma and went down quite clean. Brendan took a few sips, but did not like it. His loss is my gain!
The Duck-Rabbit Porter: I've had one other Duck-Rabbit beer, their Milk Stout. I do not like Milk Stouts, but I thought I'd give them another try. I thought this was heavy on the chocolate malt after taste, and came with more of a roasted after taste. Translation: A pretty good porter indeed.
Stone Levitation Ale: My experiences with Stome brewing company have shown that this company makes solid, hoppy ales. This beer doesn't diverge from that generalization. It was a Gold Medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival (I need to go to one) in 2007. I thought the beer was quite enoyable. I really liked it. The beer leaned toward the hoppy after taste, but went down smooth and wasn't overly bitter. I'd like to have this again.
Starr Hill The Love Wheat Beer: I like Starr Hill beers. I think they do a decent job across a broad spectrum of beers. Unfortunately, my fellow beer snobs at Ratebeer.com do not agree with me for the most part. I've been drinking this beer as I was writing this post, and I've enjoyed it. It's your standard, run of the mill unfiltered Hefe. It remined me of Hoeggarden to some extent.
Obviously, I am missing two of the six. I expect to review them some time this week. I also noticed a transcription error when it comes to my count. Note: I typically just add my new beers to the last posted count on this blog, however I do check my spreadsheet from time to time. If you go back a few posts, I went from 173 to 172. This isn't a big deal. I just thought I'd explain the discrepancy. If someone calls shennanigans, I would be happy to share my google doc spreadsheet with you.
I also talked to my sailing buddy Hazen the other day. He mentioned some extensive beer cellars in DC that I can check out. I hope to do some in the coming weeks. After all, I am still behind!
The scorecard:
Colleen: 192
Paul: 179
Cheers,
Paul
Right now I am watching the AFC Championship game - Go Jets! Football and beer just go perfect together. Writing that makes me notice the fact that I am missing pizza, but a custom six was my treat for the weekend. Speaking of which, it was a rather quiet weekend with some awesome time spent with the girlfriend.
I think I made a halfway decent mix of beer styles, though I do love stouts and porters. Here goes my reviews:
Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier: Weihenstephaner has been brewing beer since 1040! It is the worldest's oldest brewery. Say what you want about the Catholic Church, we kept the beer going during the Dark Ages. This beer was nice and cloudy, like most Hefe's. It did however, have a nice aroma and went down quite clean. Brendan took a few sips, but did not like it. His loss is my gain!
The Duck-Rabbit Porter: I've had one other Duck-Rabbit beer, their Milk Stout. I do not like Milk Stouts, but I thought I'd give them another try. I thought this was heavy on the chocolate malt after taste, and came with more of a roasted after taste. Translation: A pretty good porter indeed.
Stone Levitation Ale: My experiences with Stome brewing company have shown that this company makes solid, hoppy ales. This beer doesn't diverge from that generalization. It was a Gold Medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival (I need to go to one) in 2007. I thought the beer was quite enoyable. I really liked it. The beer leaned toward the hoppy after taste, but went down smooth and wasn't overly bitter. I'd like to have this again.
Starr Hill The Love Wheat Beer: I like Starr Hill beers. I think they do a decent job across a broad spectrum of beers. Unfortunately, my fellow beer snobs at Ratebeer.com do not agree with me for the most part. I've been drinking this beer as I was writing this post, and I've enjoyed it. It's your standard, run of the mill unfiltered Hefe. It remined me of Hoeggarden to some extent.
Obviously, I am missing two of the six. I expect to review them some time this week. I also noticed a transcription error when it comes to my count. Note: I typically just add my new beers to the last posted count on this blog, however I do check my spreadsheet from time to time. If you go back a few posts, I went from 173 to 172. This isn't a big deal. I just thought I'd explain the discrepancy. If someone calls shennanigans, I would be happy to share my google doc spreadsheet with you.
I also talked to my sailing buddy Hazen the other day. He mentioned some extensive beer cellars in DC that I can check out. I hope to do some in the coming weeks. After all, I am still behind!
The scorecard:
Colleen: 192
Paul: 179
Cheers,
Paul
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Harvest Moon, with a digression about oatmeal stouts
Last night, Tom and I had dinner at the Harvest Moon in New Brunswick. The first time I went was summer of 2008 with my girlfriends Lauren and Cheryl, and I have been back many times between then and now, and never let down. The food is great and they make excellent beers. Last night I tried the Harvest Hefeweizen. So good! It was served with an orange, so I tried half of it without before adding it. Both ways are really nice. It's a smooth brew, very drinkable. Reminded me a bit of a Belgian-style witbier, but still very much within the vein of unfiltered hefeweizen. (If you're wondering more about what makes them different, you can read more here or here.) I'd recommend this beer to anyone. It's not too strongly flavored, but hardly boring.
Other beers I've had at Harvest Moon:
Jimmy D's Firehouse Red: This is a brew they always have at the ready. It's a good Irish Red.
Oktoberfest: Obviously out of season now, but when it's in, it's a good Oktoberfest. It's an interesting beer, definitely has some nutty and caramelly flavors going on, but not in a weird way. It's an interesting flavor.
Pumpkin Ale: Maybe the only one of their beers that I've been disappointed about. While I generally love pumpkin anything, this pumpkin ale is too sweet for me.
Smoked Oatmeal Stout: They have this on tap now. It's very thick and strong flavored-- the fact that "smoked" is in its name does mean something. This brew has a bit of a bite, but I like my strong beers.
(An aside about Oatmeal Stouts: I've been searching for a good oatmeal stout since I had my first one at the Southend Brewery in Charleston, South Carolina while there for a conference in November of 2007. Their oatmeal stout was AMAZING, agreed everyone I went to dinner with that night. I'm sure that the longer it's been since I had the Southend stout, the better I build it up to be in my mind, but it was really good to begin with. Harvest Moon's is pretty good, but not quite what I was looking for. If anything has come close so far, it's been Samuel Smith's.)
Colleen: 192
Paul: 174
Other beers I've had at Harvest Moon:
Jimmy D's Firehouse Red: This is a brew they always have at the ready. It's a good Irish Red.
Oktoberfest: Obviously out of season now, but when it's in, it's a good Oktoberfest. It's an interesting beer, definitely has some nutty and caramelly flavors going on, but not in a weird way. It's an interesting flavor.
Pumpkin Ale: Maybe the only one of their beers that I've been disappointed about. While I generally love pumpkin anything, this pumpkin ale is too sweet for me.
Smoked Oatmeal Stout: They have this on tap now. It's very thick and strong flavored-- the fact that "smoked" is in its name does mean something. This brew has a bit of a bite, but I like my strong beers.
(An aside about Oatmeal Stouts: I've been searching for a good oatmeal stout since I had my first one at the Southend Brewery in Charleston, South Carolina while there for a conference in November of 2007. Their oatmeal stout was AMAZING, agreed everyone I went to dinner with that night. I'm sure that the longer it's been since I had the Southend stout, the better I build it up to be in my mind, but it was really good to begin with. Harvest Moon's is pretty good, but not quite what I was looking for. If anything has come close so far, it's been Samuel Smith's.)
Colleen: 192
Paul: 174
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Dinner with Michael
So Colleen has been surging into the lead, and I need to do something about this. Even with my updated entry, this will be the largest lead either of us has posted. Obviously, our "competition" is mostly friendly, but we'd both be lying if there wasn't a small competitive aspect to this thing. I guess this means, I need to spend more time trying beers than playing BridgeCraft. If it sounds like WarCraft, don't worry. It's a game where you build bridges for little cartoony characters to cross, therefore it's obviously much cooler and socially acceptable. I am such an engineer.
In any event, my good friend Mike was in my neck of the woods this evening. We've been good friends since high school, we did cross country/winter track/spring track together. And by this I mean, we ran about every step of distance runs and work outs side-by-side. If that sounds cute, don't worry - we're much more ridiculous in real life. In any event, he was on business in Baltimore and had a free evening so he decided to pay a visit. We went to FireFlies in Del Ray. I've been there before, as I've mentioned it in previous posts. I'm finding it's a great place to take visitors.
Dinner was a fun time. We talked about most things guys talk about: women, work, beer, and how best to eat nails for breakfast. Ok, maybe the first two were exaggerations for us, but the important part for the purpose of this blog is the beer.
Left Hand Deep Cover Brown Ale: My first thoughts on this Brown Ale, which generally go down very smooth, was that it was forgettable. It just didn't jump out at me: as a beer in general or as a Brown Ale.
Founders Porter: I alwaysenjoy the chance to try another Porter. This one was pretty good, and it went down well with the wrap I was eating for dinner. It was certainly very rich, and I detected some chocolate malts in the brew. My findings at ratebeer.com confirm these asessments. I definitely need to have this again.
If there's anything Colleen and I want to achieve through this blog it's: 1) Identify good beers, 2) Identify good brewers, 3) Identify bad beers, 4) Be able to recommend a large variety of beers to family and friends, and 5) Have more beers than the other. Though, as a friend told me recently, when the score reaches 308-303, this will be rather ridiculous.
Until Then, Cheers!
Paul
The Scorecard:
Colleen: 190
Paul: 174
P.S. If it's not becoming apparent to the readers who don't know me, a lot of what I post outside of beer reviews is very tongue in cheek/sarcastic.
In any event, my good friend Mike was in my neck of the woods this evening. We've been good friends since high school, we did cross country/winter track/spring track together. And by this I mean, we ran about every step of distance runs and work outs side-by-side. If that sounds cute, don't worry - we're much more ridiculous in real life. In any event, he was on business in Baltimore and had a free evening so he decided to pay a visit. We went to FireFlies in Del Ray. I've been there before, as I've mentioned it in previous posts. I'm finding it's a great place to take visitors.
Dinner was a fun time. We talked about most things guys talk about: women, work, beer, and how best to eat nails for breakfast. Ok, maybe the first two were exaggerations for us, but the important part for the purpose of this blog is the beer.
Left Hand Deep Cover Brown Ale: My first thoughts on this Brown Ale, which generally go down very smooth, was that it was forgettable. It just didn't jump out at me: as a beer in general or as a Brown Ale.
Founders Porter: I alwaysenjoy the chance to try another Porter. This one was pretty good, and it went down well with the wrap I was eating for dinner. It was certainly very rich, and I detected some chocolate malts in the brew. My findings at ratebeer.com confirm these asessments. I definitely need to have this again.
If there's anything Colleen and I want to achieve through this blog it's: 1) Identify good beers, 2) Identify good brewers, 3) Identify bad beers, 4) Be able to recommend a large variety of beers to family and friends, and 5) Have more beers than the other. Though, as a friend told me recently, when the score reaches 308-303, this will be rather ridiculous.
Until Then, Cheers!
Paul
The Scorecard:
Colleen: 190
Paul: 174
P.S. If it's not becoming apparent to the readers who don't know me, a lot of what I post outside of beer reviews is very tongue in cheek/sarcastic.
dinner with Dad
I'm at home today and Mom will be at work till late, so it's just Dad and me for dinner. I was out running miscellaneous other errands across the street from a liquor store, so I decided I would make him beer marinaded grilled chicken. I made it once before for the family and received positive reviews, so I took the excuse to try something new.
I usually keep a short list in my wallet of beers I haven't tried, but the list was gone, so I found myself walking back and forth along the beer cases, staring, brainstorming, for a few minutes. I was standing by the case of 22oz beers near the door when a man came in who stared at the beers similar to the way I was. He said something about looking for a beer to marinade sausage that he wanted to grill tonight, and that he had just read somewhere that hoppy beers supposedly are good for preventing prostate cancer for men, so he was looking for an IPA. He ended up taking something entirely different, but that idea got added to my brainstorming, and I ended up leaving with a six pack of Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale.
Before I discuss this further, my marinade recipe:
1 cup beer
1/2 cup soy sauce (we use the low sodium kind in our house, having grown up without a lot of salt in my mom's cooking, we're pretty sensitive to it)
a tablespoon or so of oil (last time I used canola, this time, olive)
2 cloves garlic (1 heaping teaspoon of the jarred minced kind)
1 tablespoon chopped onion (I'm a little more generous than that)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
You shouldn't marinade chicken for more than a few hours because it starts to break down proteins and whatnot. Grill it till it's not pink in the middle. Serve it to your favorite omnivores or carnivores (for those who don't know I'm a vegetarian). Tonight I'll be serving it up with a baked potato and some bean and corn chili.
Last time I made this, I used Magic Hat's Howl Winter Seasonal, a dark lager. I enjoyed drinking the leftovers-- definitely a strong flavor, almost like a porter, but drank light a lager, fairly light. As a marinade, even my picky eater little brother gave it a thumbs up and welcomed a repeat performance.
So this time, the Indian Brown Ale. I just finished making the marinade and there are some chicken boobies bathing in it in our fridge now. I drank the remaining 4 oz from the bottle I opened with high hopes of finding something similar to the Backdraft Brown Ale that Paul and I periodically refer to (we tried it together at Crystal City Sports Pub when I visited Northern Virginia). The Backdraft is one of the most bangin' beers I've ever had. It's dark, but not heavy. Malty, but not too sweet. Really, really good. I have found nothing like it since, but keep trying brown ales in hopes of finding something more readily accessible.
So today, Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale. Definitely a reputable brewer. I'm definitely tasting something nice under the hops-- the label did warn me that the brew is well-hopped, which I'm not generally into, not there's a nice brown ale under there, malty and smooth. The hops aren't even that bad. I don't totally dread finishing the six pack, though I may be inclined to share it with friends who may appreciate hops more.
As far as how the chicken goes, you'll have to ask my dad.
I was curious about the hops/prostate cancer thing, so I looked it up, and found the following:
Hope for Guys: Beer ingredient eyed in prostate cancer prevention
Beer can prevent prostate, breast cancers
Why beer is the latest hope in fight against cancer
Interesting. Well, that puts me at 190 to Paul's 172, and hopefully Dad enjoys dinner. I will enjoy my chili and potato, thank you, perhaps with another bottle of this Indian Brown Ale.
I usually keep a short list in my wallet of beers I haven't tried, but the list was gone, so I found myself walking back and forth along the beer cases, staring, brainstorming, for a few minutes. I was standing by the case of 22oz beers near the door when a man came in who stared at the beers similar to the way I was. He said something about looking for a beer to marinade sausage that he wanted to grill tonight, and that he had just read somewhere that hoppy beers supposedly are good for preventing prostate cancer for men, so he was looking for an IPA. He ended up taking something entirely different, but that idea got added to my brainstorming, and I ended up leaving with a six pack of Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale.
Before I discuss this further, my marinade recipe:
1 cup beer
1/2 cup soy sauce (we use the low sodium kind in our house, having grown up without a lot of salt in my mom's cooking, we're pretty sensitive to it)
a tablespoon or so of oil (last time I used canola, this time, olive)
2 cloves garlic (1 heaping teaspoon of the jarred minced kind)
1 tablespoon chopped onion (I'm a little more generous than that)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
You shouldn't marinade chicken for more than a few hours because it starts to break down proteins and whatnot. Grill it till it's not pink in the middle. Serve it to your favorite omnivores or carnivores (for those who don't know I'm a vegetarian). Tonight I'll be serving it up with a baked potato and some bean and corn chili.
Last time I made this, I used Magic Hat's Howl Winter Seasonal, a dark lager. I enjoyed drinking the leftovers-- definitely a strong flavor, almost like a porter, but drank light a lager, fairly light. As a marinade, even my picky eater little brother gave it a thumbs up and welcomed a repeat performance.
So this time, the Indian Brown Ale. I just finished making the marinade and there are some chicken boobies bathing in it in our fridge now. I drank the remaining 4 oz from the bottle I opened with high hopes of finding something similar to the Backdraft Brown Ale that Paul and I periodically refer to (we tried it together at Crystal City Sports Pub when I visited Northern Virginia). The Backdraft is one of the most bangin' beers I've ever had. It's dark, but not heavy. Malty, but not too sweet. Really, really good. I have found nothing like it since, but keep trying brown ales in hopes of finding something more readily accessible.
So today, Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale. Definitely a reputable brewer. I'm definitely tasting something nice under the hops-- the label did warn me that the brew is well-hopped, which I'm not generally into, not there's a nice brown ale under there, malty and smooth. The hops aren't even that bad. I don't totally dread finishing the six pack, though I may be inclined to share it with friends who may appreciate hops more.
As far as how the chicken goes, you'll have to ask my dad.
I was curious about the hops/prostate cancer thing, so I looked it up, and found the following:
Hope for Guys: Beer ingredient eyed in prostate cancer prevention
Beer can prevent prostate, breast cancers
Why beer is the latest hope in fight against cancer
Interesting. Well, that puts me at 190 to Paul's 172, and hopefully Dad enjoys dinner. I will enjoy my chili and potato, thank you, perhaps with another bottle of this Indian Brown Ale.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
a toast to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thanks to a long weekend including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday (Observed) party and another Monday out with friends, I have quite a few new interesting beers to report.
Wells & Young, Ltd.'s Banana Bread Beer: This sounds questionable, doesn't it? It's surprisingly amazing though, assuming you like beer and banana bread. Despite the presence of some artificial flavors (in addition to REAL fair trade bananas!), it smells like actual banana bread, not some sort of fake banana candy. And it tastes awesome-- not necessarily like liquid banana bread so much as, you're drinking a nice beer while sitting in the company of fresh, delicious banana bread. Kudos to Tom to picking that one off the liquor store shelf for me.
Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier: While I'm not usually into fruit beers, this was pretty pleasant. The blackberry isn't too strong or fake tasting, and it's over a nice witbier.
Sam Adams Black Lager: This one was more up my alley. It's a lager that tastes more like a porter. It has a really strong flavor, largely chocolate, but goes down more lightly, like the lager that it actually is. Good stuff. That Samuel Adams, so reputable (with only a very few exceptions)!
Lancaster Rare Rooster Rye Ale: My friend Jeremy held this one aside for me to add to my list, though warned me he couldn't speak to its quality. The first sip tasted something like old rye bread with paint on it. Worried that it had turned, I handed it back to Jeremy, who tasted it and told me it was exactly the same as when he bought it. I kind of wonder how long the beer had been sitting, but he recommended that I generally avoid Lancaster beers, regardless of freshness. . I would recommend the same, after trying another...
Lancaster Strawberry Wheat: Not usually a fruit beer person, but after two recent positive experiences and my love of wheat beers, I went for it. Awful, awful, awful. This is rank medicine flavored strawberry, not even semi-tolerable lollipop strawberry. Ugh.
Kennebec River Summer Ale: Initially concerned that being a summer ale, it would be out of date, but it was all right. It was kind of a pale ale, which just isn't my jam, but it was drinkable. Especially compared to those Lancasters.
Troeg's Dreamweaver Wheat: Thank you Danni. This was a nice unfiltered wheat beer. No weird or bad fruit, nothing offensive, just a nice wheat beer. I could handle this one again.
Löwenbräu: This is another one Tom picked up to share, after we heard it referred to on Soap, a really hilarious TV show from the late 70s that we've been watching on DVD lately (I'd recommend that too). This is supposed to be legit German stuff. It was a bit too carbonated for me, considering that it didn't have any sort of really amazing flavor on top of the bubbles. I probably wouldn't go out of my way for it again, but it's definitely not a bad beer-- I've never been crazy about soda for the same reason.
Weihenstephaner Korbinian: a little sweeter than I'd prefer, but definitely a good beer. It's darker than the other brews I've tried by this German brewer, and very, very smooth. It's new on tap at Stuff Yer Face right now!
Sea Dog Apricot Wheat: For fruity beers not being my thing, I sure did try a few this weekend. This beer has a very light flavor to it, although it smells pretty strongly of apricot. It was also very smooth. Paul and I both have down on our beer lists another brew by Sea Dog, the Blueberry Ale. Both of us recommend it as a breakfast beer. I'd recommend this one likewise.
Well, that puts the tally at 173 for Paul and 189 for me. My semester starts today, so I'm sure I won't be ahead for long. While I think three day weekends and excuses to get together with friends are wonderful things, let us remember the great work that Dr. King did for civil rights in our country!
Wells & Young, Ltd.'s Banana Bread Beer: This sounds questionable, doesn't it? It's surprisingly amazing though, assuming you like beer and banana bread. Despite the presence of some artificial flavors (in addition to REAL fair trade bananas!), it smells like actual banana bread, not some sort of fake banana candy. And it tastes awesome-- not necessarily like liquid banana bread so much as, you're drinking a nice beer while sitting in the company of fresh, delicious banana bread. Kudos to Tom to picking that one off the liquor store shelf for me.
Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier: While I'm not usually into fruit beers, this was pretty pleasant. The blackberry isn't too strong or fake tasting, and it's over a nice witbier.
Sam Adams Black Lager: This one was more up my alley. It's a lager that tastes more like a porter. It has a really strong flavor, largely chocolate, but goes down more lightly, like the lager that it actually is. Good stuff. That Samuel Adams, so reputable (with only a very few exceptions)!
Lancaster Rare Rooster Rye Ale: My friend Jeremy held this one aside for me to add to my list, though warned me he couldn't speak to its quality. The first sip tasted something like old rye bread with paint on it. Worried that it had turned, I handed it back to Jeremy, who tasted it and told me it was exactly the same as when he bought it. I kind of wonder how long the beer had been sitting, but he recommended that I generally avoid Lancaster beers, regardless of freshness. . I would recommend the same, after trying another...
Lancaster Strawberry Wheat: Not usually a fruit beer person, but after two recent positive experiences and my love of wheat beers, I went for it. Awful, awful, awful. This is rank medicine flavored strawberry, not even semi-tolerable lollipop strawberry. Ugh.
Kennebec River Summer Ale: Initially concerned that being a summer ale, it would be out of date, but it was all right. It was kind of a pale ale, which just isn't my jam, but it was drinkable. Especially compared to those Lancasters.
Troeg's Dreamweaver Wheat: Thank you Danni. This was a nice unfiltered wheat beer. No weird or bad fruit, nothing offensive, just a nice wheat beer. I could handle this one again.
Löwenbräu: This is another one Tom picked up to share, after we heard it referred to on Soap, a really hilarious TV show from the late 70s that we've been watching on DVD lately (I'd recommend that too). This is supposed to be legit German stuff. It was a bit too carbonated for me, considering that it didn't have any sort of really amazing flavor on top of the bubbles. I probably wouldn't go out of my way for it again, but it's definitely not a bad beer-- I've never been crazy about soda for the same reason.
Weihenstephaner Korbinian: a little sweeter than I'd prefer, but definitely a good beer. It's darker than the other brews I've tried by this German brewer, and very, very smooth. It's new on tap at Stuff Yer Face right now!
Sea Dog Apricot Wheat: For fruity beers not being my thing, I sure did try a few this weekend. This beer has a very light flavor to it, although it smells pretty strongly of apricot. It was also very smooth. Paul and I both have down on our beer lists another brew by Sea Dog, the Blueberry Ale. Both of us recommend it as a breakfast beer. I'd recommend this one likewise.
Well, that puts the tally at 173 for Paul and 189 for me. My semester starts today, so I'm sure I won't be ahead for long. While I think three day weekends and excuses to get together with friends are wonderful things, let us remember the great work that Dr. King did for civil rights in our country!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
various and sundry
For those who have not yet heard: I'm not graduating this semester.
I was initially crushed by the news but thankfully had my regular Monday night out with my friends after meeting with my advisor to discuss the future of my work. While life isn't going exactly as I'd hoped, I know it's going to be ok. And, as always, Monday night was a good time with good people. I tried a few new ones, knowing that Paul was probably catching up by now, and also because I was relaxing and cheering up in the company of good friends. You know?
Full Moon Winter Ale: This made me think of Sam Adam's Winter Lager, only more ale-y and less spice-y. It wasn't bad, but didn't make a particularly remarkable impression on me either. I didn't not enjoy it, but it's not something I need to go out of my way for.
Victory's Old Horizontal: You've heard me rant about Victory before, despite my love of their Storm King. My disappointment continues. At a quick whiff, my friend Gurzo declared that it smelled like cotton candy. The brewer describes it as "A luxurious, warming barleywine rich with aromatic hops and dark, candied fruit character that hides its epic strength masterfully." I would describe it as liquid fruitcake. Gross. I tried this in part because I hadn't before, but also because my friend Jeremy liked it. I can't say I understand why, but apparently he's not alone, because the folks over at beeradvocate.com seem to be fans. Jeremy also recommended Victory's Prima Pils, but it would have to wait for another night when I wasn't all victoried out.
After that debacle, Gurzo advised me to try Ed Hardy Premium Beer. I had to laugh because it was basically a Mexican lager, which I haven't exactly gone out of my way for since returning from Mexico. This one was particularly tasteless, but Stuff Yer Face is trying to get rid of them, so for $2, I could add another beer to my list.
This was followed by a Stella Artois, which I've definitely had before (in fact, I remember having one with my big brother at the airport before I travelled to the UK). However, it wasn't on the list, and it had been so long, I didn't really remember what it was like... it's all right. Nothing to go crazy about, but something that's light and drinkable.
My total is currently at 179 versus Paul's 173. There have been a few other beers since last time, but I won't bore you with everything. I will mention one more of them though: Raven's Eye Imperial Stout. While generally a fan of the Imperial Stout, this one was a bit sweeter than I'd prefer. I definitely got a strong espresso flavor, which is usually ok, I don't mind strong flavored beers. However, the malts were a bit intense this time. It's a heavy beer, which I also don't generally mind, but I wouldn't rush out for another of these on purpose.
I was initially crushed by the news but thankfully had my regular Monday night out with my friends after meeting with my advisor to discuss the future of my work. While life isn't going exactly as I'd hoped, I know it's going to be ok. And, as always, Monday night was a good time with good people. I tried a few new ones, knowing that Paul was probably catching up by now, and also because I was relaxing and cheering up in the company of good friends. You know?
Full Moon Winter Ale: This made me think of Sam Adam's Winter Lager, only more ale-y and less spice-y. It wasn't bad, but didn't make a particularly remarkable impression on me either. I didn't not enjoy it, but it's not something I need to go out of my way for.
Victory's Old Horizontal: You've heard me rant about Victory before, despite my love of their Storm King. My disappointment continues. At a quick whiff, my friend Gurzo declared that it smelled like cotton candy. The brewer describes it as "A luxurious, warming barleywine rich with aromatic hops and dark, candied fruit character that hides its epic strength masterfully." I would describe it as liquid fruitcake. Gross. I tried this in part because I hadn't before, but also because my friend Jeremy liked it. I can't say I understand why, but apparently he's not alone, because the folks over at beeradvocate.com seem to be fans. Jeremy also recommended Victory's Prima Pils, but it would have to wait for another night when I wasn't all victoried out.
After that debacle, Gurzo advised me to try Ed Hardy Premium Beer. I had to laugh because it was basically a Mexican lager, which I haven't exactly gone out of my way for since returning from Mexico. This one was particularly tasteless, but Stuff Yer Face is trying to get rid of them, so for $2, I could add another beer to my list.
This was followed by a Stella Artois, which I've definitely had before (in fact, I remember having one with my big brother at the airport before I travelled to the UK). However, it wasn't on the list, and it had been so long, I didn't really remember what it was like... it's all right. Nothing to go crazy about, but something that's light and drinkable.
My total is currently at 179 versus Paul's 173. There have been a few other beers since last time, but I won't bore you with everything. I will mention one more of them though: Raven's Eye Imperial Stout. While generally a fan of the Imperial Stout, this one was a bit sweeter than I'd prefer. I definitely got a strong espresso flavor, which is usually ok, I don't mind strong flavored beers. However, the malts were a bit intense this time. It's a heavy beer, which I also don't generally mind, but I wouldn't rush out for another of these on purpose.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Jesus + Beer
On Monday the 4th, I joined my good friend from college, Robert, for Theology on Tap that is sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. For those unfamiliar, Theology on Tap is a program for young adults where a priest/nun/someone qualified gives a talk on some issue relating to Theology/God/faith/life/modern issues that coincides with Happy Hour. It is intended for young adults. The best way I can put it is that the Church went where the people were for 2,000 years, and modern times have also brought it to your local pub. The program started in Chicago and has spread to many Diocese around the country.
I didn't get a chance to try a new beer, but I did have a Half and Half which is a DBF favorite. It's half Guinness and half Harp Lager. It was good to see my college friend, we haven't gotten together since before the Holidays. The talk this week was from a young man who survived cancer twice - once in high school and once in college. It required him to take a year from high school off and a semester of college off to fight the disease. Obviously, the talk centered around his faith during these times, his reflection on it, and the counseling he does for cancer patients now. Needless to say, it was a very good talk. If you're interested, the talk can be found by clinking on the Theology on Tap link above.
On Tuesday (the 5th) and Wednesday (the 6th), I continued to drink from the custom six pack my brother gave me for Christmas. The selection was heavy on the hops, but I thoroughly enjoyed drinking it. I also enjoyed keeping pace with Colleen, which is very important.
Lancaster Hop Hog IPA: This beer was different than a lot of IPAs I have come across. An IPA is typically heavy on the hops, and light on the malts. This beer definitely had more of a malt character than the average IPA. Personally, I found it a little odd at first, but it became a welcome break from the hop-heavy beers I've had recently.
Avery White Rascal: This is a belgian-style white ale. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of Hoegaarden which is a beer that was on my original Top 5 (which may change at some point). It's an excellent summer beer: light yet refreshing.
The six pack also included the much heralded, Victory Storm King Imperial Stout, which is a mutual favorite of mine and Colleen's. I haven't had this beer, despite it's perch as my favorite, in a long, long time. I must say, it still is the best beer I have ever had. It is by far one of the most complex in terms of flavors. The after taste changes three times: at sip, after sip, and ten seconds later. I find it a little more enjoyable and accessible than Arrogant Bastard Ale and even after 170+ beers it still remains my favorite. It is a seasonal brew. If you manage to come across it, know that both Colleen and I strongly recommend you get it. We also strongly recommend that you invite us over to partake in its awesomeness.
Wednesday night (the 6th) also brought me to quiz night at a local pub with the girlfriend and her friends. It's usually my job to answer the sports questions. This makes me proud, but incredibly nervous - since I don't want to let them down. The quiz was held at Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church. We didn't do so well on the quiz, but it was a fun time. I had their House Amber Ale, and I do not know the name of it. When I figure this out, there might be another addition to the list.
The weekend of the 9th, my brothers and I threw a surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary party for our parents. They deserve for not killing each other all these years. The party had about 80 people in attendance and was a fun time. There was a keg of Yeungling. No new beers were tried, but fun was had by all.
On Wednesday (the 13th), I met the girlfriend and her friends at this college bar across the street from George Mason University. The name of the place was Fat Tuesday's. It had a nice list of micro-brews, despite being your usual very fun college dive bar. Imagine some flat screen TVs, goofy shit all over the walls, peanuts on every table and you leave the shells on the floor, and a guy playing acoustic on a mic. The conversation was a fun time, as both her friends there were engineering students. Though, that sentence might sound like an oxymoron to some. You may have pity on my girlfriend, but I had a fun time and they were good guys. The beers I tried are listed below.
Kona Pipeline Porter: I love porters, and so does Colleen. If you've learned anything from reading thus far, you should have picked this up. Despite my love for porters, I was not thrilled with this one. It was too heavy on the coffee malt. Every time I took a sip, I just got the coffee aroma. I'm not going to lie, it was kind of a let down.
Clipper City Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning: This is one of those beers that I think I've had with my friend Andy in Annapolis. It was nicely balanced in flavors. It was not overly hoppy or malty, but if I had to pick I would go with more of a hop flavor. It was definitely a good conversation beer - too bad I finished it before I got there.
The scorecard:
Paul: 173
Colleen: 172
I'd celebrate overtaking the lead more, but I know for a fact that Colleen is indeed ahead. This post was written over the course of 10 days, so it may seem somewhat cluttered or disjointed. My apologies for that. I should settle into a more normal schedule since the Holidays and my parent's party are now over.
One last note, Colleen and I would appreciate it if you would send out your thoughts and prayers to those in Haiti right now. If you are of the means, please also try to donate to the relief efforts. That country had a lot of problems before this earthquake and now things are so much worse. This isn't a current events blog, so I will leave it at that. Thanks.
Cheers,
Paul
I didn't get a chance to try a new beer, but I did have a Half and Half which is a DBF favorite. It's half Guinness and half Harp Lager. It was good to see my college friend, we haven't gotten together since before the Holidays. The talk this week was from a young man who survived cancer twice - once in high school and once in college. It required him to take a year from high school off and a semester of college off to fight the disease. Obviously, the talk centered around his faith during these times, his reflection on it, and the counseling he does for cancer patients now. Needless to say, it was a very good talk. If you're interested, the talk can be found by clinking on the Theology on Tap link above.
On Tuesday (the 5th) and Wednesday (the 6th), I continued to drink from the custom six pack my brother gave me for Christmas. The selection was heavy on the hops, but I thoroughly enjoyed drinking it. I also enjoyed keeping pace with Colleen, which is very important.
Lancaster Hop Hog IPA: This beer was different than a lot of IPAs I have come across. An IPA is typically heavy on the hops, and light on the malts. This beer definitely had more of a malt character than the average IPA. Personally, I found it a little odd at first, but it became a welcome break from the hop-heavy beers I've had recently.
Avery White Rascal: This is a belgian-style white ale. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of Hoegaarden which is a beer that was on my original Top 5 (which may change at some point). It's an excellent summer beer: light yet refreshing.
The six pack also included the much heralded, Victory Storm King Imperial Stout, which is a mutual favorite of mine and Colleen's. I haven't had this beer, despite it's perch as my favorite, in a long, long time. I must say, it still is the best beer I have ever had. It is by far one of the most complex in terms of flavors. The after taste changes three times: at sip, after sip, and ten seconds later. I find it a little more enjoyable and accessible than Arrogant Bastard Ale and even after 170+ beers it still remains my favorite. It is a seasonal brew. If you manage to come across it, know that both Colleen and I strongly recommend you get it. We also strongly recommend that you invite us over to partake in its awesomeness.
Wednesday night (the 6th) also brought me to quiz night at a local pub with the girlfriend and her friends. It's usually my job to answer the sports questions. This makes me proud, but incredibly nervous - since I don't want to let them down. The quiz was held at Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church. We didn't do so well on the quiz, but it was a fun time. I had their House Amber Ale, and I do not know the name of it. When I figure this out, there might be another addition to the list.
The weekend of the 9th, my brothers and I threw a surprise 25th Wedding Anniversary party for our parents. They deserve for not killing each other all these years. The party had about 80 people in attendance and was a fun time. There was a keg of Yeungling. No new beers were tried, but fun was had by all.
On Wednesday (the 13th), I met the girlfriend and her friends at this college bar across the street from George Mason University. The name of the place was Fat Tuesday's. It had a nice list of micro-brews, despite being your usual very fun college dive bar. Imagine some flat screen TVs, goofy shit all over the walls, peanuts on every table and you leave the shells on the floor, and a guy playing acoustic on a mic. The conversation was a fun time, as both her friends there were engineering students. Though, that sentence might sound like an oxymoron to some. You may have pity on my girlfriend, but I had a fun time and they were good guys. The beers I tried are listed below.
Kona Pipeline Porter: I love porters, and so does Colleen. If you've learned anything from reading thus far, you should have picked this up. Despite my love for porters, I was not thrilled with this one. It was too heavy on the coffee malt. Every time I took a sip, I just got the coffee aroma. I'm not going to lie, it was kind of a let down.
Clipper City Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning: This is one of those beers that I think I've had with my friend Andy in Annapolis. It was nicely balanced in flavors. It was not overly hoppy or malty, but if I had to pick I would go with more of a hop flavor. It was definitely a good conversation beer - too bad I finished it before I got there.
The scorecard:
Paul: 173
Colleen: 172
I'd celebrate overtaking the lead more, but I know for a fact that Colleen is indeed ahead. This post was written over the course of 10 days, so it may seem somewhat cluttered or disjointed. My apologies for that. I should settle into a more normal schedule since the Holidays and my parent's party are now over.
One last note, Colleen and I would appreciate it if you would send out your thoughts and prayers to those in Haiti right now. If you are of the means, please also try to donate to the relief efforts. That country had a lot of problems before this earthquake and now things are so much worse. This isn't a current events blog, so I will leave it at that. Thanks.
Cheers,
Paul
Sunday, January 3, 2010
trading places
Wait until you see how clever that title actually is!
I've been all over the place since my last post, surprise surprise, catching up with friends and family. That occasionally includes having a beer, surprise surprise. Before I get into the actually interesting beers I've tried during my adventurous winter break, I'm just going to put out there that a few beers never made my list despite having had them before, but I had them again in the past week, so they're official now: Miller Lite, the Earp family standard issue (see Christmas, for example); Red Stripe, which I've listed as "another non-descript lager"; and Miller High Life, which was actually my first beer ever. (Note about Miller Lite-- I think I understand why that is my family's light beer of choice, it really is ridiculously smooth!)
Now, Paul and I have been unable to meet up so I could tell him in person that he is now a few beers behind me, even with his last post. (See?! See! My clever title?! He's behind and I'm ahead! I said I'd do it by New Year's...) The reason we've been unable to meet up is also because we've traded places-- over and over and over again. I spent the last two weekends in Northern Virginia. He spent the last two weekends in New Jersey. I mean, even to the point where I drove back to Jersey last night, but he had only come up for the day and was heading back down when I called him. RIDICULOUS. But, here are the interesting things I've tried in the meantime:
Pinkus Organic Hefe-weizen: this is a pretty good hef, although has a bit more bite than some others I've tried lately, not as smooth. Tasted very good though!
Redbridge Gluten Free Lager: I'd file this under "non-descript lager" but it's worth mentioning just how not bad it is. Like, you can actually serve this to your friends who are gluten intolerant. Apparently it's made from sorghum, whatever, tastes like beer to me. I am grateful that my body processes wheat and barley though, not just because I enjoy a good beer, but as a general rule.
Moreland's Old Speckled Hen: This one has an interesting story. This appeared at a family gathering today because of its history which basically comes down to the MG, which my uncle has owned and restored a few of over the years. The beer was brewed in honor of the factory's 50th anniversary. There was a car they used to run around the factory which was called the "Owld Speckl’d Un" because it was splatted in paint. Read that to yourself out loud with some sort of British accent. You get it now.
Unfortunetly, this beer was a bit outdated. It seemed pretty smooth and drinkable under the unfortunate air of SKUNK. Its label says "crafted fine ale", and it's all sorts of British, so I imagine it's not so bad... it has subsequently been noted as "skunked-- try again?"
But for now, that leaves the count at Colleen 172, Paul 169. I'm sure we'll trade places again soon enough. Tomorrow I officially start getting that masters thesis thing together... but till we meet/trade places again,
Colleen
I've been all over the place since my last post, surprise surprise, catching up with friends and family. That occasionally includes having a beer, surprise surprise. Before I get into the actually interesting beers I've tried during my adventurous winter break, I'm just going to put out there that a few beers never made my list despite having had them before, but I had them again in the past week, so they're official now: Miller Lite, the Earp family standard issue (see Christmas, for example); Red Stripe, which I've listed as "another non-descript lager"; and Miller High Life, which was actually my first beer ever. (Note about Miller Lite-- I think I understand why that is my family's light beer of choice, it really is ridiculously smooth!)
Now, Paul and I have been unable to meet up so I could tell him in person that he is now a few beers behind me, even with his last post. (See?! See! My clever title?! He's behind and I'm ahead! I said I'd do it by New Year's...) The reason we've been unable to meet up is also because we've traded places-- over and over and over again. I spent the last two weekends in Northern Virginia. He spent the last two weekends in New Jersey. I mean, even to the point where I drove back to Jersey last night, but he had only come up for the day and was heading back down when I called him. RIDICULOUS. But, here are the interesting things I've tried in the meantime:
Pinkus Organic Hefe-weizen: this is a pretty good hef, although has a bit more bite than some others I've tried lately, not as smooth. Tasted very good though!
Redbridge Gluten Free Lager: I'd file this under "non-descript lager" but it's worth mentioning just how not bad it is. Like, you can actually serve this to your friends who are gluten intolerant. Apparently it's made from sorghum, whatever, tastes like beer to me. I am grateful that my body processes wheat and barley though, not just because I enjoy a good beer, but as a general rule.
Moreland's Old Speckled Hen: This one has an interesting story. This appeared at a family gathering today because of its history which basically comes down to the MG, which my uncle has owned and restored a few of over the years. The beer was brewed in honor of the factory's 50th anniversary. There was a car they used to run around the factory which was called the "Owld Speckl’d Un" because it was splatted in paint. Read that to yourself out loud with some sort of British accent. You get it now.
Unfortunetly, this beer was a bit outdated. It seemed pretty smooth and drinkable under the unfortunate air of SKUNK. Its label says "crafted fine ale", and it's all sorts of British, so I imagine it's not so bad... it has subsequently been noted as "skunked-- try again?"
But for now, that leaves the count at Colleen 172, Paul 169. I'm sure we'll trade places again soon enough. Tomorrow I officially start getting that masters thesis thing together... but till we meet/trade places again,
Colleen
Holiday Hangover
Today is my first chance to post since the Holidays. The season took me through several states (Virginia, DC, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware) and more miles (traffic) on I-95 than I would like. During this time, I had my fair share of repeat beers, ate at least my weight in Christmas cookies, saw a Broadway Show (which I highly recommend), saw a lot of family, and spent a lot of pleasant time with the girlfriend. Due to the Christmas cookies and my well documented love for porters, you can assume I will be a regular visitor at my gym very soon.
The funniest beer related moment had to be on Christmas day. My family hosts the extended family to celebrate. Dinner was a pork roast (sorry, Colleen). As my Mom was putting the roast in the oven, she decided to marinate it in beer. I was standing in the kitchen. I watched her begin to marinate the meat with Samuel Adams Winter Lager! I began to protest, but she retorted with the fact that it was the cheapest beer we had - it seems beer snobbery runs in the family. I wish we had both remembered the Miller Lite sitting in the garage.
My beer consumption consisted of Yuengling Lager, NewCastle Brown Ale, and Samuel Adams Winter Lager - all of which are solid, commonly available beers on the East Coast (which I have had many times before). Colleen and I did not manage to have a DBF staff meeting, which was due to me being unavailable (and lame). Fear not though, we shall have one soon.
My Brother gave me a Christmas gift which consisted of a custom six pack that he made at Hops and Grapes. He also made my Dad a few six packs for Christmas as well. Dad was so excited about his gift; he seemed to want a picture of him with each individual bottle. I, however, managed to contain my excitement. My six pack contained the most revered beer on this blog: Victory Storm King. Needless to say, I am really excited to drink this one. The new beers were as follows:
Great Divide Titan IPA: This was a little heavy for an IPA. And by that I mean, the beer left a lot of residue on the side of the glass after each sip. I would expect that from a stout, but less from an IPA. The beer had a decent amount of depth and was heavier than most IPAs I've encountered. I look forward to having this again.
Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale: Have you ever had a beer that you hated? If so, you've made the terrible mistake of drinking it slow (since you hate it), only for it to taste worse as it gets warmer. That's exactly the case with this one. I hated it and thought it was skunked, but Brendan seemed to like it and think the flavor I hated with a hint of grapefruit. Either way, I give this a thumbs down.
River Horse Hopalotamus: The description on RateBeer is just hilarious, "The fabled Hop-a-lot-amus is a mythical creature. The heavy hop character of this Double IPA is as subtle as a "river horse" in your lap, but finishes like a hippo in a tutu." I thought this was a solid IPA from a New Jersey micro-brew. I'd like to try another beer of theirs.
Yuengling Lord Chesterfield Ale: I had this beer at my girlfriend's family party. I very much enjoyed myself at the party, but I thought this beer was terrible. It tasted like it was skunked. Yuengling makes a very good, "go to" Lager, but I was unimpressed by this beer.
The scorecard:
Paul - 169
Colleen - 165
Cheers,
Paul
The funniest beer related moment had to be on Christmas day. My family hosts the extended family to celebrate. Dinner was a pork roast (sorry, Colleen). As my Mom was putting the roast in the oven, she decided to marinate it in beer. I was standing in the kitchen. I watched her begin to marinate the meat with Samuel Adams Winter Lager! I began to protest, but she retorted with the fact that it was the cheapest beer we had - it seems beer snobbery runs in the family. I wish we had both remembered the Miller Lite sitting in the garage.
My beer consumption consisted of Yuengling Lager, NewCastle Brown Ale, and Samuel Adams Winter Lager - all of which are solid, commonly available beers on the East Coast (which I have had many times before). Colleen and I did not manage to have a DBF staff meeting, which was due to me being unavailable (and lame). Fear not though, we shall have one soon.
My Brother gave me a Christmas gift which consisted of a custom six pack that he made at Hops and Grapes. He also made my Dad a few six packs for Christmas as well. Dad was so excited about his gift; he seemed to want a picture of him with each individual bottle. I, however, managed to contain my excitement. My six pack contained the most revered beer on this blog: Victory Storm King. Needless to say, I am really excited to drink this one. The new beers were as follows:
Great Divide Titan IPA: This was a little heavy for an IPA. And by that I mean, the beer left a lot of residue on the side of the glass after each sip. I would expect that from a stout, but less from an IPA. The beer had a decent amount of depth and was heavier than most IPAs I've encountered. I look forward to having this again.
Yards Philadelphia Pale Ale: Have you ever had a beer that you hated? If so, you've made the terrible mistake of drinking it slow (since you hate it), only for it to taste worse as it gets warmer. That's exactly the case with this one. I hated it and thought it was skunked, but Brendan seemed to like it and think the flavor I hated with a hint of grapefruit. Either way, I give this a thumbs down.
River Horse Hopalotamus: The description on RateBeer is just hilarious, "The fabled Hop-a-lot-amus is a mythical creature. The heavy hop character of this Double IPA is as subtle as a "river horse" in your lap, but finishes like a hippo in a tutu." I thought this was a solid IPA from a New Jersey micro-brew. I'd like to try another beer of theirs.
Yuengling Lord Chesterfield Ale: I had this beer at my girlfriend's family party. I very much enjoyed myself at the party, but I thought this beer was terrible. It tasted like it was skunked. Yuengling makes a very good, "go to" Lager, but I was unimpressed by this beer.
The scorecard:
Paul - 169
Colleen - 165
Cheers,
Paul
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