You Say It's Your Birthday? It's My Birthday Too...

Beer #143 Affligem Blond / Brouwerij Affligem, Opwijk, Belgium

Very important day today - huge, important of things have happened on May 1 throughout history.  I'll stick with the main ones, in no particular order:
1. The fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta was founded in 1848, although it took until 1888 until a chapter showed up at Penn State, where it remains the oldest (and best, but I'm biased) fraternity on campus.
2. A little mutual fund company named Vanguard was born in 1975.  I heard they're a pretty cool bunch of people, even if they're not so little any more.
3. I was born.

Yes, the earth has completed another revolution around the sun, and here we are again.  My birthday.  I've definitely hit the age where birthdays become less of a big deal.  I mean, compared to the huge milestones at 16, 18, and 21, birthdays recently completely pale in comparative excitement.  I remember counting down the days to my birthday when I was a kid, and now it's more of a "oh, it's my birthday next week.  Where did April go?" sort of reaction.  However, I did get some ice cream cake at work and plenty of well-wishes along the way, so it was definitely a good day.  Hopefully I get many, many more birthdays after this one!

In the past year, I lost a number of people who meant a lot to me, in wildly different ways.  My mother-in-law Louise, Joe Paterno, and most recently, my dog Flash.  Next year won't be nearly as good without them all around, but I'll always carry fond memories of each forever.  As long as I'm being sappy, I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment and list a few things I'm thankful for:

1. A wonderful group of friends, some who I've known since back when birthdays were exciting, some I've only met recently.  You're all very special to me, and my only complaint is that I don't get to spend enough time with all of you.  So call me, let's do something.
2. A great family filled with kind, loving, people. You guys are the best!
3. A great group of colleagues at work.  I really enjoy my job, and working with people you like really helps make liking your job much easier.
4. My health.  Relatively speaking, I'm doing okay for someone of my incredibly advanced age.  After taking too much time off, I am hereby going on record that I will once again run a 24 hour ultra-marathon in 2013.  Book it.
5. People who read this blog.  I get it isn't the most interesting corner of the internet, but it's our corner of the internet and we appreciate you stopping by!
5. My wife and co-blogger, Marci.  She's the smartest, funniest, most beautiful and wonderful person I know, and I can't imagine what she sees in a spaz like me.

Tonight's brew is the Affligem Blond, a strong pale ale which came on draft at TJ's.  It poured a pale gold in the glass with a thin head, and gave off aromas of yeast, malt, and spice.  It's a very tasty beer, with notes of caramel, biscuit, a little spice, and light citrus.  Checks in at a respectable 6.7% ABV, and is definitely worth your time.

In operation since 1935, this brewery was originally Brouwerij de Smedt, until Beer Giant Heineken purchased it in 1996 and renamed it Brouwerij Affligem.  They still produce on site, so it still counts as craft beer in my book, despite their corporate overlords.

Thing to Think About Today:
In the spirit of birthdays, let's stop and think about the greatest movie ever made about birthdays, Sixteen Candles.  Another legendary John Hughes film from the 80's, this film tells the story of a girl who's family forgot her birthday - and hilarity (in the form of the Donger) ensues.  This one is both touching and hysterical.  Two Anthony Michael Hall movie references in less than a week?  Oh, INDEED.  It's my birthday, and my gift to you are these two clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjh3TxOHCxE

Dong, Grandpa is talking to you!!  AUTO MOBILE?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWvAYNw8r9o

A happy birthday to all, and to all a good night.

Bounce, Bounce, Bounce....

Beer #115 Blanche de Bruxelles / Brasserie Lefebvre, Quenast, Belgium

I'm always in awe of great writing, and Spencer Hall from the college football blog Every Day Should Be Saturday has done it again.  Sadly we share a common bond, as he had to put his dog Isis to sleep today. The comments in the thread have become both a makeshift memorial for the furry friends lost and a celebration of those still by our side.  Plus lots of pictures of dogs, which I could stare at for hours.

Today I'm drinking a Belgian White, or witbeir, from Brasserie Lefebvre.  Feels like I haven't poured a Belgian in ages.  In the glass, this beer shows off a cloudy yellow color and thick white foam.  The aroma has soft notes of yeast and citrus.  A mellow beer at 4.5% ABV, Blanche de Bruxelles has flavors of orange peel, grain, and yeast, and has a light sweetness.
The brewery dates back to 1876, and the sixth generation is now running the daily operations.  Definitely worth a try for those looking for a lighter option.

Thing to Think About Today:
For those who have been reading this blog for a while, you know of my current obsession for music performed by artists from other genres.  I'm still waiting to form that rap cover acoustic group, but responses from other interested parties (who actually have musical talent) have been slow in arriving.  Someone has to be with me on this.

If you need more motivation and want to see YET ANOTHER example of the awesome crossover appeal, please check Young the Giant's take on R. Kelly.  Yes, you read that correctly.  If we do form a group, we're getting fur coats for when we perform, as I believe that really enhances the feel.  The first minute of this video is talking - either sit patiently and listen, or fast forward through the first 60 seconds to a glorious cover.  Now let's all think about.... that toot toot... that beep beep:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP9EUEa63rM

"And after the show it's the after party, and after the party it's the hotel lobby"

Sunday: A Day for Napping

Beer #113 Hefe-Weisse /  Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, Munich, Germnay

Lazy Sunday spent reading, napping, reading, walking in the park, and resting.  While yesterday was a great day spent with friends for both lunch, afternoon drinks, and dinner, perhaps there were one too many drinks in there somewhere.  Regardless, it was good to be out with friends.  Thanks, guys!

In retrospect, I probably should have drank a German beer over the past two days in honor of our dachshund and his German heritage.  I'll make up for that here with the Hefe-Weisse from Franziskaner.  This beer pours a hazy yellow with a fluffy white head.  It brings out aromas of citrus fruit and yeast, and the flavor has notes of banana, clove, lemon, malt and wheat.  This beer is a great example of what a hefeweizen should taste like, so feel free to get out and try this one if you're in the market for a wheat beer.

Another old world brewery here, as Franziskaner has roots back to 1363 when Seidel Vaterstetterck opened a brewery next to a Franciscan monastery (hence the name).  Many changes since then, and most notably this brewery was purchased by industry giant InBev back in 2005.  Hooray for globalization, I guess.

Big glass?  Big glass.

With today's beer, we've crossed over 30% of the way done with our adventure!  Still many breweries still to come down the road.  Thanks for reading this blog so far.....

Thing to Think About Today:
One more sad song, and I swear I'm back to more uplifting topics.  Let's think about another song which comes to mind whenever loved ones pass away.  This one is Heaven by the Talking Heads, and this live version is fantastic in its simplicity:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zNdMc6wGtU

"The band in heaven, they play my favorite song...."

Rest In Peace, Old Friend

Beer #111 Velvet Rooster / Tallgrass Brewing Company, Manhattan, KS

"Why do you weep?  Did you think I was immortal?"
- Louis XIV, King of France

Spending his last days in the garden

Less than three months into the year, two things have already transpired which I assumed were never, ever going to happen.  First, the larger than life Joe Paterno passed away, which seemed like an impossibility as he continued to coach (and win) as an octogenarian.  Earlier today, our oldest dog, Flash, passed away after a short but fatal bout with cancer.  I realize Flash is over 15 years old, a long enough life for any dog, but until a sharp turn for the worse two weeks ago, it seemed that he'd just go on forever.  Two months ago, on one of those sunny January days that felt more like April, we took Flash for a four mile walk along the Schuykill River in Valley Forge Park.  We were more tired from the walk than he was.  Shortly before that, Flash worked on an engineering project in our kitchen - using the drawers as steps to get onto the counter.  Sadly, his calculations were a bit off, and he ended up pulling out one of the drawers too far, sending it and our silverware crashing to the kitchen floor.  I knew one day he'd slow down, and perhaps have back or hip problems and need help getting around.  But I never expected him to go so quickly, and from something like cancer.  This was a dog destined to go out in a blaze of glory; caught in the crossfire of a Mob shootout, stabbed in an alley fighting over the hand of a beautiful woman, fending off a grizzly bear attack, saving someone's life in a burning building.  A noble, respectable death.  Cancer never seemed like a worthy enough opponent.  I've long compared this dog to Rasputin, the Russian mystic legendary for his ability to escape assassination and continue living.  In the same vein , Flash managed to square off against all sorts of trouble that would bring down a more average dog, and yet came away from every adventure smelling like a rose.  Much to the dismay of my wallet, which had to pay for the emergency trips to the veterinarian.

The idea of owning a dog came about as many ideas in my life have come about.  Marci comes up with a big and completely crazy idea, I say no, Marci wears me down, I eventually say yes, and we execute on said idea.  Flash's arrival was no different.  Senior year of college, Marci decided we should get a dog.  We were one summer and one semester away from graduating college, and we already knew marriage was coming once we entered the real world.  We both loved animals, although I never owned a dog before.  First we tried to rescue a dog from the SPCA, but were denied due to the fact we were college students.  Next, we tried to buy a dog from someone who had taken an add out in the paper.  That approach didn't work, as we took a trip into the boonies to meet some sketchy characters selling a Jack Russell, only to have them decide they loved their dog more than they loved $100.  Very odd.

On Wednesday, May 7, 1997 we magically ended up at Bubbles Pet Shop in Altoona, PA, although how we found this place or got there I have no recollection.  This was before Google maps or GPS, after all.  We figured we were going to be in an apartment post-graduation, and decided a smaller dog with short hair would thrive best in that environment.  So, of all the dogs in the pet shop, we found three dachshund/terrier mixes from the same litter, two boys and a girl, looking cute and eager to go home.  We ended up choosing the male who seemed less high-strung, paid $136.74 (no doubt on a credit card), picked up some toys, dishes, a collar, and a leash, and walked out the door with a fuzzy red bundle of joy.  I often think about what happened to his brother and sister, and wonder if they had lives well lived.  Two years ago we saw a 13 year old female doxie/terrier mix who looked like Flash's twin at Doxie Rescue of Bucks County.  It took every ounce of self-control we had to not rescue her on the spot, because we were convinced they were related.

Flash's formal name, should anyone care to learn, is Jumpin' Jack Flash Generose, named after the 1968 Rolling Stones song.  The name seemed to fit his personality, as he was a bundle of energy.  I still remember the first night he stayed in my room.  We built a little crate area for him, piled it high with toys and blankets, and then listened to him cry half the night until we let him come sleep in the bed, where he quickly curled up into a tiny ball and fell sound asleep.  Flash always seemed the most relaxed in what we called the "mom fort" or "dad fort" - the space behind our knees when we were lounging on the couch.  He would curl up in a ball, put his snout on your knee to keep tabs on things, and eventually drift off to sleep and start snoring, completely at peace with the world.

He's finally at peace again, after two challenging weeks.  He went from being the dog who once managed to get his paws on and devour an apple pie, to being a dog in too much discomfort to eat even the smallest bit of food.  He went from being the dog who would bound outside and run laps through the yard, to being the dog who had a hard time getting up from his bed, and wasn't strong enough to walk through the yard without laying down to rest.  Right up until the very end he remained a faithful, lovable, stubborn, loyal, independent, handsome dog.  He will always hold a special place in my heart.  He was my first dog and a great friend and I loved him dearly.

Rest in peace, Flash.  You will be sorely missed.

I've alternated laughing at the memories of Flash's adventures to tearing up while writing this.  It seems pointless to stop and review a beer, but I will.  Flash was always determined - you don't manage to chew threw a plastic container to get holiday cookies, and then work to hide the ones you're too full to eat without ample determination.  I wish I had his determination, in fact.  So, in that spirit, and because I can really use a drink, here you go.

Tonight's beer is the Velvet Rooster, a Belgian tripel from Tallgrass Brewing Company. In the glass, it pours a hazy effervescent apricot. The aroma brings the scent of a peppery yeast and the flavor brings notes of grain, yeast, pepper, and sweet fruit. It's a decent choice, and well worth the effort.  Also, this beer comes in an awesome can, which is always a plus.

This was a good way to start softening the edges of today, but let's face it - I'm moving to bourbon. There's a bottle of Blanton's with my name on it, and Flash's memory to celebrate.

Thing to Think About Today:
Well, if we're eulogizing Flash, let's go ahead and put in some appropriate music.  If the Stones were responsible for this dog's name, then they're taking us home tonight.  This song always made me think of sad farewells, and today I had to say a particularly sad farewell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KPIBBje8t8

"Until the next time we say goodbye,
I'll be thinking of you."

Jumpin' Jack Flash
3/12/97 - 3/30/12

Marci Rock is in the House!

In the slightly modified words of Ludacris:

It's Friday
Sticky, icky, icky
Sticky, icky, icky, icky

In the immortal words of LMFAO, I'm running through these halls like Drano!  At least in my mind, I'm in happy Friday mode.

But it is Friday at the end of a very long week and I am done, spent, toast, finished.  Time to kick back with Beer #6 -- Dogfish Head's Raison D'Etre.  And by #6, I mean the 6th beer in the 365 day brewery challenge.  If I make it to six beers tonight, someone needs to ask Gary to get video because I could very well end up dancing on the coffee table.  And that's not going to end well.  The coffee table was one of those build-it-yourself deals from Target purchased about 13 years ago.  There are days I fear that a strong sneeze may do it in.

Raison D'Etre is a deep mahogany ale brewed with Belgian beer sugars, green raisins and a sense of purpose.  It says so on the label!  Is it weird that I think I taste bleu cheese too?  Maybe it is today's diet of really old granola bars throwing off my taste buds.  Maybe my taste buds are as shot as my brain right now.    Please don't hold my slightly off-kilter taste buds against this beer.

There is something about Belgian beer sugar that just does it for me.  Of course, it also has great malt flavor so that may factor in as well.  I don't know what green raisins taste like but they are definitely working with the beer sugar and malt.

Other beers that I would recommend from Dogfish Head are Midas Touch and Festina Peche.  If Gary were writing this, he would be all over their IPAs.

I should have sampled Hellhound on My Ale and then drawn parallels to Flash (introduced last night).  Today Flash learned after 14 years that he could pull out the drawers and attempt to climb a "drawer ladder" to the counter.  Really, Flash?  You are 14.  Or at the very least, I'm too old for this shit.  Evidently the lure of baked goods and sriracha chex mix was too much for him.  Google sriracha chex mix.  Thank me after you make it and devour the entire bowl.

iTunes just shuffled to our wedding song...Wreckx-N-Effect's Rump Shaker.  Maybe I'll rally after all.  Until tomorrow and #7...

Army of Dachshunds, represent!

He's a booze hound and a card shark!

Meet Flash.  He's 14 years old, acts like he's 2.  He's part dachshund with a bit of terrier and a touch of Satan.  And I love him. 

He is a lover and a curmudgeon.  He's aloof but needs to know where Gary and I are at any given point in time.  He'll give you the business and then give you some more.  He was also a notorious arm humper back in the day!

Tonight we're drinking Ithaca Beer Company's Excelsior! White Gold. It's a wheat ale that's a bit hoppy but mostly malty. I'd describe it as feisty on the palate - lots of great flavor. At 8% ABV, it's not for the faint of heart but tame compared to some of my favorites.

I really wish Wegman's had more variety from this brewer as I would love to try the Excelsior! Le Bleu or Old Habit. Maybe Santa reads my blog and will surprise me! I've also had Ithaca's Apricot Wheat. Tastes like heaven in the summer!

I have some work to do...I'm one glass in on a 750ml bottle.