I Don't Want Lunch, I Want Breakfast

Day #709 Worthington's White Shield / William Worthington's Brewery, Burton Upon Trent, England
Previously from this brewery: Red Shield and Red Shield

Raise your hand if you came here tonight to hear me complain.


I can't see you, because you're reading this on the internet, but I'll just assume that you have your hand raised.

Today was an unmitigated disaster on many fronts - and it's not over yet.  The one bit of news that I'll share is that I've learned my car needs a new transmission, and this will run me much more than I care to spend. As I've already replaced the problematic transmission part before, I'm currently in negotiations (read: getting ready to scream) with General Motors to have them pay for the repairs.  And the cost of my bitchin' Hyundai rental car. I'll keep you posted.  Or, just open your window... you might be able to hear my cursing and yelling from your house.  Dammit.

Tonight's beer is another old one from the beer collection, a bottle of Worthington's White Shield.  I have no idea where this bottle came from or when it was acquired, but the label suggests that it is bottle conditioned, and can be aged for up to three years.  Good, as it was in the fridge for a while.  In the glass, this beer has a bright, clear copper hue with a lingering creamy white top.  Very good looking beer.  There are aromas of biscuits and bread and sweet malt, and there's a nice flavor mix of caramel, toffee, and bread, with a touch of hop bitterness on the finish.  This is a British made India Pale Ale, so there's not the hop overkill that you find in American made IPAs.  A rather tasty beer, I'd say, almost more like an ESB than an India Pale Ale.

I'm not entirely sure who brews this one; I've seen references to William Worthington's Brewery, Museum Brewing, and White Shield Brewery.  Ultimately, no matter what you call this brewery, it's owned by corporate giant MolsonCoors, purveyor of crappy beers and big profits.

Thing to Think About Today:
Whenever customer service doesn't live up to their end of the bargain, I reflect back on an old scene from the movie Falling Down, where Michael Douglas' character goes off the deep end a tiny bit when he finds out that he missed breakfast at his favorite fast food location.  He just wants some breakfast.

I can appreciate that.  I just want a car that works, General Motors.  That's all.  The customer is always right.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdOD_C7bKo0

"I don't want to be your buddy, Rick.  I just want a little breakfast."

The Goose is Loose

Day #700 Pere Jacques 2012 / Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago, IL
Previously from this brewery: the others

Today is a Penn State game day, so let's all hope that goes well.  Your beer for the day is a bottle of Pere Jacque 2012 from Goose Island that's been sitting in the fridge for a year or so.  This Belgian style ale poured into a tulip glass a honey brown color, with no head.  There are welcoming aromas of yeast and cherry, and when you imbibe you pick up flavors of sweet malt, bread, apple, dried cherries, and light notes of honey.  From the bottle, you learn that this beer develops well for up to five years, further dispelling the notion that you need to drink beer quickly after it is made.  Good beers are like wine in that they grow and evolve over time, and this one is more than just "good."

That's French for "tasty"

Thing to Think About Today:
If Goose Island is up for review, we're going to pay homage to one of the great film roles of all time, from one of the greatest movies of all time:  Goose, from Top Gun.

Played brilliantly by Anthony Edwards, Goose was Maverick's wing man extraordinaire, even when it came to picking up ladies in the bar - hence, where today's common usage of the word wing man truly originated. And if we're talking about Anthony Edwards, let's give him credit for also being amazing in another "greatest of all time" movie, Revenge of the Nerds, and one of the best tv shows of all time, ER.  My man brings his A game.

You know, I can't even begin to tell you how many women I've picked up in bars by finding a random microphone and then getting the entire bar to join in a sing-along serenade.  Too many to count, really.  So, Goose and Mav (and the rest of the bar), take it away....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRA6rM2gTjk

"Don't worry, I'll take care of this....."

Quick Draw

Day #695 Quick Wit / Fort George Brewery, Atoria, OR
Previously from this brewery: Marci's take on Quick Wit

Up for your reading pleasure is Quick Wit, a "Belgianesque" ale from Fort George Brewery in Oregon. In the glass, this beer is an orange sort of amber, with no head to speak of.  The aroma gives you a floral, malt sweetness vibe, and when you take a sip you pick up notes of orange rind, wheat, and a floral quality.  Not much hops in this wheat beer.  Because I like this beer I think I should let you know this beer can is the worst color can I've ever seen; sort of a mauve thing, which isn't the least bit attractive. However, there were brain teasers on the can, so I am smarter for having drank this beer!

Quick and painless

Fort George is another in the growing line-up of breweries who only distributes in cans (or kegs), rather than glass bottles.  You know you like it in the can, so this is a good thing.

Thing to Think About Today:
This brewery is in Astoria, OR, and that's important because the classic 80s film The Goonies was filmed there.  Without any further adieu, take yourself back in time, and enjoy some "Truffle Shuffle", and to keep things interesting, I give you the dubstep remix.  Just because.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1ou5EGoHng

Creative Studying

Day #648 Grimbergen Dubbel / Brouwerij Alken-Maes, Alken, Belgium
Previously from this brewery: a Hapkin that I forgot about, Grimbergen Blonde, and another Grimbergen Blonde

Nearing the end of the list of beers drank in Belgium.  I know you're probably sick of reading about it, but I may never get back to Belgium in my life, so I'm unloading them all.

Today's offering was a bottle of Grimberen Dubbel from Brouwerij Alken-Maes.  Had this one at a lunch in Brugges, and in the glass it poured a mahogany color with virtually no head.  There's a malt sweetness with some nice stone fruit (say, plums?) flavor and bready notes.  Pretty mellow compared to what I drank on the rest of the trip, and definitely didn't have the same oomph that other beers had.  Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, just not terribly complex or unusual.

Good glass, for what it's worth

One of the really awesome things about Belgium is that virtually every single restaurant has outdoor seating. Who doesn't like to sit outside, enjoy some sunshine, do some people watching, and drink some beer? While this beer didn't blow me away, it gets tons of bonus points for being consumed at an outdoor table, overlooking a canal.  I greatly miss having the option to sit outside in every single restaurant- step up your game, Philly suburbs!

Thing to Think About Today:
I have a four and a half hour exam coming up Friday morning to certify me as a Six Sigma Black Belt.  I'm absurdly under-prepared and really freaking out about it, considering I finished the class back in January and have retained very little since then.  So, I could spend the evening studying... or... I could spend the evening developing elaborate cheating schemes!  Say for example, like this awesome scene from Spies Like Us, where Chevy Chase and Dan Akroyd go above and beyond to pass their civil service test.  Enjoy your evening; I'm getting started working on my fake cast and eye patch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gk5R9GmIsAs

All Things Quint

Day #591 Quintine Blonde / Brasserie Ellezelloise, Ellezelles, Belgium

Previously from this brewery: N/A, this beer is the first out the limo!

Next up on the parade of Belgian beers is Quintine Blonde, which comes from one of the hardest breweries I've had to spell, Brasserie Ellezelloise (pronounced "Ell-zell-woz").  This beer was one of the hundreds available on the menu at Cambrinus, a great restaurant in Brugge.  In the goblet, this beer has a light amber hue with a fluffy white head - a very common feature of Belgian beers.  There's a light aroma of yeast and grain and sweet malt, and the taste brings an excellent malt flavor, with just a hint of bitterness on the finish. This beer is easy to drink and tasty, and hides an ABV of 8% rather well.  It paired particularly well with the seriously giant pot of mussels I had for dinner, which were both plentiful and delicious in a broth made with the house beer.

One of the nice parts of the trip were that there were no germaphobes in the group; whenever someone ordered a new beer, it would almost immediately get passed around so everyone could have a sip and render an opinion. The Quintine Blonde was a new beer for everyone at the table, and was universally regarded as an excellent Belgian Tripel.

Another good logo

This brewery, located in the French speaking Wallonia region of Belgium south of Brussels, has been in business since 1993, and this beer and their witch on a broomstick logo come from a local folk tale. Works for me!

Thing to Think About Today:
Drinking a Quintine, eating shellfish..... makes me think of Quint, the salty fisherman/shark expert from the movie Jaws.  Great movie from Steven Spielberg that made just about everyone afraid to go in the water - with very, very good reason.  Headed to the beach this summer?  Stick to eating mussels and drinking beer.. it's safer.  Consider this mini-Shark Week here in my corner of the blog, and have a great night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1fu_sA7XhE

"You're gonna need a bigger boat..."

Crack is Whack

Day #560 Marionberry Hibiscus Gose / Widmer Brothers Brewing, Portland, OR
Previously from this brewery: Another look at this beer, Barrel Aged Brrrbon, more Brrrbon, Citra Blonde, and Brrr (not sure how many R's are in that one)

It's a gorgeous Saturday, and I'm hard at work on a number of different tasks, so I'm jumping in and getting to the good stuff.  Today's beer is a bottle of Marionberry Hibiscus Gose from Widmer Brothers in Oregon.  This one was shipped to BlogNamedBrew manor as part of beer mail - for those who don't know, there's an underground network of beer geeks who mail each other hard to find beers from their respective corners of the world.  I freely admit that when I saw the name, I said aloud to no one, "Why on earth did they name their beer after Marion Barry?"  For those who don't get the reference: Marion Barry was the Mayor of Washington, D.C. who was arrested for smoking crack, sent to jail, and then later re-elected as Mayor again!  For kids out there who don't believe they can overcome obstacles, I will remind you that this dude was the mayor, smoked crack and got arrested, went to jail, and then was re-elected.  Fascinating. Let that sink in for a few minutes before you continue reading.

As you may have guessed, this beer has nothing to do with politics or crack, but rather marionberry, a blackberry commonly grown in Oregon.  Glad we got that straight, and now back to your regularly scheduled beer review.  When you pour this beer, you get a fruit punch color, with just the thinnest white line of head on the edge of the beer.  There's a fruity, floral aroma with just a hint of spice.  The taste starts out dry, but you eventually get a tart sweetness from the berries.  There's a saltiness to this beer that helps cut some of the sweetness and make it incredibly enjoyable.  Very interesting and unusual beer, and well worth a try if you can find yourself a bottle.  Just stay away from the crack.  Crack kills.... or gets you re-elected.

That's not Kool-Aid

For those who haven't yet found themselves drinking a gose, this style of beer originated in Germany.  It belongs to the same family tree as other sour wheat beers such as witbier, gueuze, and Berliner weisse.  I like them because of the hint of salt; always a welcome flavor in my world.

Thing to Think About Today:
Okay, so my second thought after realizing this beer had nothing to do with Marion Barry was to say out loud, "The snozzberries taste like snozzberries!", a reference to the classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory scene with the lickable wallpaper.  One of my favorite movies as a kid, partially because my mom worked for Hershey and I desperately wanted it to be an awesome, crazy place like in the movie.  I don't think it was, but she seemed to like it there anyway.  The incomparable Gene Wilder, the floor is yours....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pwvB4_Te8A

And really, I can't let you ride off into the sunset without you getting this song stuck in your head, can I?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZhs7w-FzeI

"What do you think will come of that?"

Tiger, I Put Out Fresh Towels

Day #552 Sweet Action / Sixpoint Craft Ales, Brooklyn, NY
Previously from this brewery: Bengali Tiger, Sweet Action, and Gorilla Warfare

Do any of you know Tiger Woods?  If so, do you know if he still needs a place to live for the 113th U.S. Open being held at Merion Golf Club, just around the corner (cough*six miles*cough) from my house?  We live near not one but two championship courses (Aronimink being the other), and in both cases I've read reports of people renting out their house to golfers or fans for the week for relatively handsome sums of money.  Seriously, Tiger, have your people call my people; they know my number.  There's a ton of beer in the fridge, nice flat screen in the study, and I can even provide two companion dogs if you want someone to cuddle with you after a bad round.  There's also a Hooters near the King of Prussia mall if you want someone to cuddle with you after a bad round if you *wink* know what I mean.  Either way, I can make it happen for you.  Some may say I should have started this campaign to get Tiger in my house months, if not years ago.  Perhaps you're right, seeing how Tiger doesn't seem to be replying to my emails.  Some may say I should live closer to the course, or have a bigger house, or many other things that would make my home enticing to professional golfers.  Whatevs, I say.  If Philadelphia miraculously wins a bid for a future Summer Olympics some day down the road, you're all invited over.  Bring your own towels, though - I'm not your maid.

Today's beer is a glass of Sweet Action from Sixpoint in Brooklyn.  This cream ale has a dull amber hue with a fluffy white head that really looked like marshmallow.  There's an aroma of light citrus and malt, and the taste has hops, with predominant flavors of citrus, and sweet malt in a perfect balance.  There's a very creamy texture, which isn't surprising considering the style of beer.  I can't quite figure this beer out in terms of flavors and aromas, but I know it tastes good and I like it.  What else do you really need?

Beer & marshmallow, it would seem

If you're in the market for a cream ale and can't find Sixpoint, I also suggest a Lancaster Brewing Country Cream Ale.  A style you don't see often, which sucks, because these beers are delicious.

Thing to Think About Today:
As if there's anything else even remotely possible for this space considering the U.S. Open golf tournament and some of the greatest players in the world are right around the corner (ahem) from my house and possibly sleeping over later this weekend.  No, no there is not.  Therefore, we close today with the legendary film Caddyshack.  Enjoy the best quotes in rapid fire order, and seriously Tiger, just return my damn calls!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7YGQjMKNQE

"How 'bout a Fresca?"

One for the Moms

Day #519 CuzCuz / Tired Hands Brewing Company, Ardmore, PA
Previously from this brewery: I'm lazy today, so just click this link and it will take you to all 332 beers sampled from Tired Hands.  Seriously.

Good afternoon and Happy Mother's Day to all!  Hopefully you're having a nice, stress free, relaxing day with your moms or kids or both.  We actually celebrated yesterday, and did a combo surprise birthday party for my aunt/Mother's Day gathering.  Good time, but a long day.  Today was spent celebrating with Mother Nature, as I got on the bike for the first time in a solid two months to go for a ride along the Schuykill River.  Good way to spend a sunny and breezy day, which included the added benefit of making sure my awesome calves stay toned and sexy.  Need to make sure I keep looking good for you faithful blog readers, after all.

Need to run out and get some groceries, so I'm jumping right into the review portion of today's post.  You get a glass of CuzCuz from local favorite Tired Hands.  This American IPA is brewed with hops from New Zealand, and shows up in your glass a cloudy dark yellow color, with a fluffy white head.  Or, as I'm fond of saying, the same color as every beer they make (this isn't exactly true, but true enough that I make this joke anyway).  There's a welcoming aroma of grapefruit and pine, and when you drink it, you find this to have a subtle bitterness, with mango joining the pine and citrus party.  I'm sure this beer has already kicked and might never appear at Tired Hands ever again, but on the odd chance it hasn't or it does, this beer makes for a great summer choice.

Wow! For once, I didn't take a shitty picture!!!

Thing to Think About Today:

Last year for Mother's Day, I dropped some Mother and Child Reunion from Paul Simon in this space, and that's about the best Mother's Day song I can think of.  So, I head in a different direction this year, and give you the wonderfully under-appreciated comic genius of Michael Keaton with Mr. Mom, the story of a stay-at-home dad finding his way - hilariously.  Thank you to all the moms out there for everything you do to keep the households running at optimal performance!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=solr1W5idNY

Presses on.....

Day #503 Rumspringa / Lancaster Brewing Company, Lancaster, PA
Previously from this brewery: Hop Hog, Milk Stout, and Winter Warmer

Busy weekend on the books, as I'm headed to State College to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Phi Gamma Delta at Penn State.  More commonly known as FIJI, we are the oldest fraternity at PSU, dating all the way back to 1888.  We're not just the oldest fraternity, but also the best (note: I may be biased) as our house has been home to world record holders, Olympians, CEOs, professional athletes, and a Heisman Trophy winner.  Will be great to see a great group of alums back on campus and spend time with the next generation of brothers carrying on our impressive legacy.  Damn glad.

What, this isn't what your college apartment looked like?

To celebrate this event, you get a beer review (what, you were expecting something else?), and today's offering is Rumspringa from Lancaster Brewing Company.  This beer is a clear amber with a white head, and gives off a light but sweet aroma.  When you take a sip, you get flavors of bread and malt sweetness, with a warm bit of honey.  Virtually no bitterness hiding out, and speaking of hiding this beer has a 6.9% ABV, which it hides very well.  Smooth, easy drinking, and great for spring time.  Find this one and enjoy soon, as this seasonal offering won't be around forever.

Does this beer look crooked?

For those who don't know, Rumspringa is a period of time where Amish teenagers leave their community to live a "normal" life of sin and vice (you know: booze, zippers, cars - that sort of thing) to see if they truly want to be baptized into their faith, or leave the community forever.  So... like spring break, only more serious.

Thing to Think About Today:
Fraternities are incredibly polarizing; people either love them or hate them.  They're an easy target in the media for the ills of society, even though the kids in the chess club are doing the same exact things - just not in a big fancy mansion.  So, to honor fraternity life, let's peek in on the second greatest college movie of all time, Revenge of the Nerds.  And, to clarify, it's only in second place because nothing will ever top Animal House, the greatest movie from any genre ever.  Sit back and enjoy 80s college life in all its glory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEiuEvTH_z4

Aloha, Mr. Hand

Day #495 Big Barrel Double IPA / Karl Strauss Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
Previously from this brewery: Marci's zany look at their sampler, and my un-zany take on their sampler

Today marked my last day at work before a three day weekend, where I'll be heading to State College to watch Penn State's spring football game.  Perhaps, even have a beer in the parking lot.  Maybe.

Tonight was a basketball night (we won!) and it's getting late, but duty calls, so here's your beer review for the evening.  I'm drinking another gift from a friend who thought of us during a visit to the west coast, a bottle of the Big Barrel Double IPA from Karl Strauss.  This beer has an amber orange hue with a thin, lingering white head.  There's a rather big grapefruit aroma, with noticeable pine scents as well.  When you take a sip, you find even more citrus fruit; grapefruit and lemon, and it's dry from start to finish.  There's a hint of some sweetness in there, but be advised this is only for the hop heads out there.  Sadly, they don't distribute to the East Coast, so unless you're heading west, good luck finding any.

Big!

Karl Strauss has a number of brewpub locations; I've been to the one in La Jolla (right across the street from Brooks Brothers. Score!), but thankfully before the odor of bird poop took over the otherwise ritzy town.

Thing to Think About Today:
If I'm thinking about San Diego, I'm thinking about one of the greatest movies of ALL TIME.  Based on Cameron Crowe's experiences while in a San Diego high school, Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a hilarious look at high school in the 80s.  Starring a young Sean Penn as Jeff Spicoli, stoner philosopher extraordinaire, this film had huge star power: Forrest Whitaker, Nicholas Cage, Phoebe Cates, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Anthony Edwards, and Eric Stoltz, to name a few.  While the comedy was outrageous, there were serious themes as well, most notably teenage pregnancy.

The dialogue spawned great quotes that I like to drop into conversation to this day, and I'm pretty sure the fantasy scene with Cates climbing out of the pool kick started puberty into gear for me (and most other red blooded Americans of a certain age).  If you've never seen this film or if you haven't watched in ages, it's a classic that should be watched immediately.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKov1lmq_OU

"Hey, you guys had shirts on when you came in here."
      "Well something must have happened to them."

A Little Bit Louder Now....

Day #481 Fauna / Tired Hands Brewing Company, Ardmore, PA
Previously from this brewery: Ready?  Table Printemps, Bokonon, Good Good Things, Trois Enfants, Fripp, more Good Good Things.  Whew.

Hustle day today; exceptionally busy day in the office followed by a spring league basketball game tonight.  Therefore, you get just the facts.  But they're facts about beer, so I think everyone should be just fine.

After running some errands on a recent weekend, we stopped into Tired Hands in Ardmore to catch a beer and unwind.  First up was a glass of Fauna, a pale ale brewed with Brettanyomces  from their Darwin Solera series of beers.  In the glass you see a bright but hazy orange hue, with a fluffy persistent white head.  The aroma is tart and funky, with a good bit of lemony citrus.  The taste is dry and earthy, with a very measured bitterness, and good flavors of grass and citrus, most notably lemon.  An interesting take on a pale ale courtesy of the Brett addition, but but quite good!  A rather drinkable beer at 6.4% ABV, for those who like to keep score.

Hello there, sexy.

As always, if you visit and don't order the candied bacon, you're wasting your time.

Thing to Think About Today:
Beyond the name of this beer, the word fauna refers to animal life of all types, and comes from name of the Roman goddess of fertility and earth.  To honor Faunus and the fauna all around us, let's revisit the Animal House, the greatest movie of all time, and let Otis Day and the Knights bring it home with their legendary fraternity party version of Shout.  This scene is what college is all about, people!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aWRvwWsy-U

"And if you ever leave me / I don't want nobody else"

Lighten Up, Francis

Day #459 Swing Session Saison / Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, PA
Previously from this brewery: Let's see.... Hundred Horses, another Hundred Horses, NATO IPA, V-12, and a sampler.

There's a new Pope today, and his name is Francis.  If you're like me, and perhaps you are, you can't hear the name Francis without thinking of the movie Stripes, and this wonderful scene where we're introduced to Francis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OnpkDWbeJs

From here going forward, I defy you to hear the name Francis and not think, "lighten up, Francis."  Something tells me I'll hear about something draconian the Pope does or says to drag the world back towards the 15th century, and I'll be saying those exact words very soon.

Enough silliness, let's talk beer.  Tonight I'm reviewing Swing Session Saison by Victory.  In my trusty Gary Coleman pint glass, this beer has a pale and ever so slightly hazy gold color with a wispy white head. There are aromas of grain and pepper, and the taste is quite refreshing.  Light, with a nice bit of peppery spice, hints of citrus, and a barely there touch of hop bitterness.  This beer is fantastic, and in my mind it tastes like summer.  Quite frankly, summer can't get here soon enough.  Maybe drinking this beer will encourage warmer weather to hurry up?

Beer is always better in my Gary Coleman glass

I also recently grabbed two bottles of White Monkey, Victory's delicious Golden Monkey aged in white wine barrels.  More on that later...

Thing to Think About Today:
Well, I can't tease you with a scene from Stripes without dropping in a bit more here at the end.  Great movie with Bill Murray in his prime, tons of great quotable lines.  Hopefully the new Pope doesn't have to go through "ARMY TRAINING, SIR!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6pcpulBU8A

DEFCON 3

Day #447 New Dogtown / Lagunitas Brewing Company, Petaluma, CA
Previously from this brewery: the IPA (and a friendly reminder to not visit Lagunitas on Mondays or Tuesdays) and Daytime IPA

Last night was my second night of furious scanning and posting of old photos.  Taking a break tonight... don't want to use up all the good stuff too soon!  I have received numerous threats and bribes from friends who realize that these pictures were taken before the days of camera phones.  Back then, we could act like idiots, because the only people who would know about it were the people there with us in the moment (and they were likely also acting like a fool) and whoever was shown the developed photo.  Not easy to share that developed photo broadly.  Now with the internet, it's sooooo easy to share those drunken spring formal pictures.  I'm no dummy.  I know there are friends out there currently purchasing their own scanners (looking at you, Jay), getting ready in case they need to launch a counter strike.  I feel confident this will end up like nuclear warfare: courtesy of mutually assured destruction, no one will be posting the truly absurd or embarrassing photos, for fear that we'll all wipe each other off the face of the earth.  The mere threat of the truly ridiculous photos is enough to keep everyone in check.

To celebrate my break from scanning (and my ability to work the theory of mutually assured destruction into a beer review), tonight's beer review is the New Dogtown, an American Pale Ale from Lagunitas.  This beer shows off a gold hue, with a lingering white puffy head.  The aroma is of citrus and malt, and the taste is dry, with an earthy characteristic.  Plenty of malt to go along with a nice balance of pine and lemon.  I knew this wouldn't be as hoppy as an IPA, but I did expect a bit stronger citrus flavor.  If I had to pick between two recent beers, I think I'd take the Heavy Seas Loose Cannon over this one in a fight.

Who's the man now, dog (town)?

This brewery has been up and running since 1994, but seriously: check their schedule before you show up at their door, only to find them closed for the day.

Thing to Think About Today:
If we're talking about nuclear war, let's at least have some fun with it.  This of course means the 1983 film WarGames!  Starring a young Matthew Broderick, this film tells the tale of a teenage computer hacker who accesses the U.S. nuclear missile system, which was awesomely named, 'WOPR'. When the computer challenges him to a game of Global Thermonuclear War, the military thinks a nuclear strike is happening, and prepares to counterattack the Soviets.  Can Broderick and Ally Sheedy get the military to understand it's only a game before warheads start raining from the sky?  And was the internet even invented in 1983?  To quote WOPR, "Shall we play a game...?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OyoNR4kiJ0

"Wouldn't you prefer a nice game of chess?"

Red in the Morning

Day #443 La Roja / Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Dexter, MI
Previously from this brewery: Ready? We've drank La Roja, Luciernaga, ES Bam, Bam Biere, and Madrugada Obscura.  Think we like Jolly Pumpkin around these parts?  We do.

I'll keep this quick and somewhat to the point, as I have yoga class tonight.  Not sure I'm much better at yoga than when I started back in 2012, but I keep trying.  I do enjoy the sense of relaxation I get from a class - my beginner classes are less aerobic and more, well, peaceful.

I often find that same sense of peace during my morning runs.   It's been a long time since I've trained for any ultra marathons (three years, yikes!) but I still try to get out most mornings and get two or three miles before work.  Truthfully, I really like being out in the world before the sun comes up.  I get a sense that I'm the only one out and about, a feeling that no one will be bothering me as I churn through the neighborhood.  It's just me alone with my thoughts, and I love that.  Of course, every now and then, my peace is interrupted by an explosion. Thankfully, the Mother Nature kind:

Glorious

Click on that image for a larger version.  I saw that majestic view last Friday morning, so in honor of a sky filled with oranges, purples, and reds, tonight's beer is the La Roja (roja is Spanish for red, for those who aren't bilingual, like I am) from Jolly Pumpkin.  In the glass, this Flanders ale is a bright mahogany color with a wispy white head.  The aroma is a wonderful blend of tart, vinegar, and fruit.  When I took a sip, the first thing I jotted down was, "This is an outstanding beer."  It's dry, with some spice on the finish.  Throughout, it's tart and sour, with citrus and cherries, all blending together with some caramel malt to create something beautiful - just like the brilliant colors of a morning sunrise.  If you like sours or Flanders red ales, you need to get this one, and FAST.  It's world class.

Cat with a sword?  Bad ass.

Bonus points?  The label has a sort of Puss N'Boots vibe, with a swashbuckling cat staring back at you.

Thing to Think About Today:
In the spirit of red and the sunrise, I really couldn't present anything else in this space but Red Dawn.  This film tells the story of a United States that has been invaded by the Russians and their allies.  A scary thought from back in the day when the Cold War was still happening.  Starring Patrick Swayze, Lea Thompson, Charlie Sheen, and Jennifer Gray (nobody puts Baby in the corner!), Red Dawn is about high school students in Colorado who decide to fight back against the odds and the foreign invaders.  This movie was remade recently, but there's no shot in Hell that I'll be watching that version, as the original still kicks ass!  Do you like guns, the 80's, the can-do American spirit, and Patrick Swayze, but hate Communism?  Then this is the movie for you.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_I4WgBfETc

Imperial March

Beer #439 Imperial IPA / Green Flash Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
Previously from this brewery:  Just wrote about Palate Wrecker on Tuesday, Marci vs. the sampler, my look at Linchpin IPA

For the second review in a row, I call your attention to Green Flash Brewing - this time for their Imperial IPA.  Over the past 439 days, I've had some truly world class beers.  However, there are a few that I always gravitate towards and tend to keep in the fridge (or the basement).  If you come over to BlogNamedBrew Manor, you're basically guaranteed to find Dale's Pale Ale from Oskar Blues, Milk Stout from Left Hand, Saison DuPont from Brasserie DuPont, something from New Holland, something from Jolly Pumpkin, something from Stillwater, Rayon Vert from Green Flash (which oddly I've never reviewed... hmmm), and a few select others.  In fact, the only thing you're guaranteed to find in our fridge is beer, cheese, and condiments.  Food... not always, unless you count olives as food.

To add to my Green Flash collection, tonight's beer is the Imperial IPA.  In the glass, this beer has a hazy, orange amber color with a fluffy white head.  Your nose finds a ton of grapefruit, orange, and pine, and when you take a drink you get classic IPA flavors of grapefruit and pine, with just enough hint of malt to keep things honest.  There's solid bitterness throughout, and you notice the potent 9.4% ABV as well.  This beer is outstanding; another great example of a West Coast IPA, and going forward you can expect to find it in my fridge.  Stop by some time to share one, but please call before you get here.  And bring pizza.

This picture sucks, but the beer is good!

In case you were wondering, Green Flash takes it's name from the optical phenomena where green flashes can be seen around the sun at sunrise or sunset.  I don't think you need to be on a beach in San Diego to experience Mother Nature showing off... but it is a nice place to watch.

Thing to Think About Today:
This Imperial IPA is so good, it needs some theme music (every good hero should have some).  Couldn't you just picture the Imperial March playing as this beer gets poured?  To help you visualize, I present Lego Darth Vader and the Lego Stormtrooper orchestra (wait, what?).  Now where are Lego Luke and Leia when you need them?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_WERPN8KO8

Escape from St. Louis

Beer #393 Dry Hopped APA / Saint Louis Brewery, St. Louis, MO
Previously from this brewery:  My take on the Winter ESB, Marci's take on the Winter ESB

Busy weekend, as I just got back from a Phi Gamma Delta leadership conference in St. Louis.  While the days were jam packed with productive meetings, I did manage to take advantage of an afternoon break on Saturday to visit the Schlafly Tap Room, the public face/popular brand from Saint Louis Brewery.

My first sample was the Dry Hopped APA, which had a bright copper hue and thin white head that lingered.  There are aromas of pine and light citrus, and the taste is dry and bitter throughout, with plenty of pine and grapefruit, but not much malt.  Very nice beer if you're a fan of dry, hoppy, or dry hopped beers.  Interestingly, this brewery was celebrating their 21st birthday on the day I visited, with a big concert and party on Saturday night.  Which completely explains why I was there at 2pm.  Bad timing, indeed.

Okay, so that's not a great picture.  Sue me.

Now, for the interesting part of my story, a confession: I drank this beer in a complete state of bewilderment.  The brewpub was only four or five blocks from my hotel, right in the middle of St. Louis, not far from the Gateway Arch.  While I didn't walk for hours, I did walk long enough to notice that on my journey, I didn't see a single car go by.  Not one.  I didn't see a single person walk by.  Nada.  I didn't see any birds, or stray dogs, or people riding their bike, or runners jogging, or delivery trucks delivering, or police cars policing, or buses being loud, or cabs driving recklessly, and by now I think you get my point.  The only proof of recent life I found were a variety of empty liquor bottles and cans of beer littered across the sidewalks like autumn leaves in a forest.

I honestly felt like an extra in the film version of The Road, Cormack McCarthy's take on a post-apocalyptic society where you really didn't want to run into people, because if you did they were likely to (spoiler alert) try to eat you.  Think about it: imagine going to the heart of a  major American city, walking for over ten minutes.... and being the only person in the world.  Odd.

However, and here's where some of the bewilderment came from, when I walked into Schlafly it was packed, or as packed as a brewpub is going to be on a Saturday afternoon when nuclear winter might have just happened.  Did the people get there through a secret tunnel?  Teleport in from another dimension?  Have they been trapped in there for years, too afraid to leave?  I can't say for sure, although when the shit does hit the fan I guess a brewery is an ideal place to hide yourself.  On my walk back, I did eventually see a person.  I did see a car go by a few blocks ahead.  Maybe there's still hope for society.

Actual picture of my walk to Schlafly

If that short tale wasn't sufficiently interesting for you, this might do the trick: The brewpub is housed in a brick building built in 1902 but left vacant since 1969.  A huge fire in 1976 engulfed the buildings at this intersection, and the skeletons of those buildings were in such a state of disrepair, the film Escape From New York used the exteriors as background shots.  Check this link for more info, including the scene from the movie if you need a visual on where I was walking.  Oh, you haven't seen the film Escape from New York?  Why, it's a movie about a post-apocalyptic world.  Maybe there is something odd and unusual about St. Louis after all....



Thing to Think About Today:
Okay, so maybe nuclear winter hasn't found St. Louis.  It was a cold winter weekend where not much was happening, nothing nefarious or post-apocalyptic.  However, if you do want to see a fantastic, sad, scary movie, you definitely should watch The Road.  Great film, although it would have earned huge bonus points had they walked through downtown St. Louis.  Just saying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbLgszfXTAY

The Envelope Please....

Day #390 Naked Nun / Adelbert's Brewery, Austin, TX
Previously from this brewery: None, new brewery

It's been a few days since I handed out an award from the 366 challenge, so let's get back into the game and keep the awards show going.  Previously, we handed out prizes for Biggest Miss of the Year, Best Brewery Visit, Best Label Art, and Worst Label Art.  Today, I'm awarding a very coveted prize, the award for Brewery of the Year.  This is a tough category to judge, because we obviously only drank one beer per brewery.... for the most part.  With some breweries, I have prior experience drinking their products, or I put down a beer sampler instead of just the required one beer.  Like it or not, that advantage helped these candidates float to the top of the list.  However, the good news of my tasting more than one beer from these breweries is that I 100% assure you that you can pick up any beer they produce and feel completely confident you're going to be drinking a fantastic beer, regardless of style.  And now... what's that now James Van Der Beek?  Is it time?

James Van Der Beek says, "It's time."

Why yes, in fact, it is time to look at the nominees:

Hill Farmstead Brewery
Cascade Brewing Barrel House
Russian River Brewing Company
Victory Brewing Company
Green Flash Brewing Company
Avery Brewing Company
Bell's Brewery
Brewery Ommegang

And the winner is..... Russian River Brewing Company!

What impressed me most is that Russian River has an ability to produce great beers across the entire spectrum, from bitter IPAs to tart sours and everything in between.  Their barrel aged beers are some of the best I've ever had, and quite frankly any brewery that offers an 18 beer sampler deserves some sort of trophy (note: we don't give out trophies, but should).  To celebrate, we dance!

Celebrate with James Van Der Beek!

To keep the wheels on this blog turning, tonight I'm reviewing Naked Nun from Adelbert's Brewery in Texas.  This witbier has a pale straw color and a persistent white head.  There's a slightly tart aroma, with some hints of clove.  The flavor is very good, with light notes of spice, bread, banana, and orange, with a light dryness.  Quite a nice beer, and at 5.8% ABV, this would be great to enjoy on a sunny spring day.

Great glassware, too.

The name Adelbert's is a tribute to the brewer's deceased brother, George Adelbert "Del" Hovey, and the brewery specializes in Belgian ales.  Didn't get to visit them when we spun through Texas, but I did get to enjoy this beer, which certainly counts for something.

Thing to Think About Today:
The story behind Naked Nun includes a story about Del being robbed while hiking and saved by nuns.  And for every time I type the words 'Naked Nun', I immediately think of the brilliant Naked Gun film series, which starred the hilarious deadpan comedy of Leslie Nielsen.  Let's close out tonight's awards post with a laugh, shall we?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEYpcCCS-QY

"Thank you.  I just had it stuffed."

Vacation Beers

Day #383 Stash IPA / Independence Brewing Company, Austin, TX
Previously from this brewery: None / New brewery

We're in the midst of a mini-vacation, so I'm keeping this oh so short and oh so sweet.

Today's beer is the Stash IPA from Independence Brewing Company in Austin.  I'm drinking this directly out of the bottle, so no comments here on appearance or aroma.  I can, however, comment on the taste, and let me say the taste is very dry, with a ton of hops.  Plenty of pine and citrus (grapefruit, tangerine) on board, and it's bitter the whole way through.  If you like IPAs and happen to find this one near by, it's definitely worth a shot.

Shout out to my people at the Kimber Modern Hotel

Independence has been brewing in South Austin since 2004.  Allow me to share a bit of advice with them (and all breweries): Guys, open a tasting room on site.  People will come visit you.  Trust me on this, I'm a world renowned beer blogger.  Thanks.

Thing to Think About Today:
In the spirit of the Stash IPA, I'm going to have us all think about one of the legendary mustaches of all time - the one found on Burt Reynolds' face.  Yes, the beer name refers to weed, not facial hair, but this is a family blog here.  Therefore, I'll now completely ignore that last sentence about family values, and share with you a great Burt Reynolds moment: the movie Boogie Nights.  Star studded cast, with Mr. Reynolds playing the role of porn impresario Jack Horner.  Enjoy your afternoon, friends.  Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkkcvtrIUSg

Merry Christmas!

Day #381 Barrel Aged Brrrbon '11 / Widmer Brothers Brewing Company, 
Previously from this brewery: Citra Blonde, Brrr Seasonal

After an excellent day yesterday spent visiting family, today we celebrate the holiday by watching movies, drinking beer, and eating Chinese food at home.  It's not that I don't love my family or friends - I just need one day over the holiday to spend doing nothing but sitting and relaxing.  It's been a good day so far, with more movies on deck for the evening.  Whatever your family tradition might be, I do hope the peace and joy of the season found their way to your house - along with a big bag of fun new toys from Santa.  Jolly old St. Nick hooked me up with a new book by David Byrne, which I can't wait to read.  Score!

I'm celebrating the evening with a bottle of Barrel Aged Brrrbon '11 from Widmer Brothers.  A close friend had tried this one and liked it, so it sounded like something I should buy as well.  In the glass, this beer has a bright amber color and no head.  Your nose finds the aroma of sweet malt and stone fruit, and when you take a sip you get a great mix of candi sugar, malt, dark fruit, leather, and some spice, with a good alcohol warmth.  Not quite as complex as a barley wine, yet all of the bourbon barrel aged deliciousness.  A very well done beer which goes great on a cold winter day better spent snuggling than working.  With a potent 9.5% ABV, drinking this may lead you to want a nap.  If so, then go for it - you've earned it.

Bourbon = delicious

As always, if the word "bourbon" is involved, I'm quite sure I'm going to like whatever is happening.  I look forward to future deliveries from Widmer's Alchemy Project, particularly if they involve barrel aging.

Thing to Think About Today:
To celebrate the season, let's all stop and think about the best Christmas movie ever made, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.  This clip really needs no introduction, so.... Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGeb2MHpp00

"Can I refill your eggnog for you?  Drive you out the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"

Beer, Pittsburgh, Fish

Beer #362 St. Nikolaus Bock Bier / Pennsylvania Brewing Company, Pittsburgh, PA
Beers to go: 4

Good productive day today, although I'm very glad it's winding down.  I was scheduled to be in a training all day at work, but the instructor never showed up so the class left, and because my schedule was completely devoid of meetings, I opted to work from home.  I love that I have the flexibility to work from home, but admittedly I don't get as much done sitting in front of my laptop as I do at my office.  Too many distractions - errands that need to be run, dogs who beg me to take them for a walk, games of Words With Friends to play, and a fridge full of stupendous beers calling my name....

Thankfully, the work day is over and the beers can begin!   Tonight I'm sampling a St. Nikolaus from Penn Brewing in Pittsburgh.  This is the last of my supply of beers that have been given to me as a gift - although that shouldn't stop you from sending me more free brews to try.  In the glass, this beer has a deep brown color with plenty of red highlights and an off-white head.  There are pleasing aromas of malt and spice, and he flavors are great for winter: lightly toasted malt, caramel, and a hint of cherry.  Really nice beer, and well worth your effort at this time of year.

Bock to the Future!

This brewery opened their doors for business in 1986, but their building dates back to 1848, when the Eberhart and Ober families started a brewery in 1848.  E&O survived until 1952, and three of the buildings at the Penn Brewery complex are on the National Register of Historic Places.  Good stuff.

Thing to Think About Today:
So.... Pittsburgh.  I'm going way back here, as I'm going to encourage you all to think about one of the best movies ever involving the sport of basketball, The Fish that Saved Pittsburgh.  This film answers the question of what do you get when you mix basketball, disco, sequins, short shorts, afros, glitter, more disco,  and (wait for it...).... astrology.  Apparently, a down on their luck basketball team realizes the one thing that can get them to the championship game is having a roster of players all born under the Pisces sign.  Yes, you read that correctly, and no, I have no idea how much drugs the writers, producers, and directors were taking to think this plot was a good idea.  While astral connections are always one way to build your team, perhaps they should just get Dr. J the ball more.  Don't sleep on this movie, as there's some star power present - besides Dr. J we find Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Stockard Channing, Debbie Allen, and Flip Wilson, to name a few.  Check it out, and prepare to be amazed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wre9bkg9Mxw