Whitest things ever

Funny blog I lifted from Average Jane - Stuff White People Like

#23 Microbeweries
"White people don’t like stuff that’s easy to acquire. Beer is no exception.

They generally try to avoid beers like Budweiser, Labatt’s, Molson, Coors, and Heineken because if it’s mass produced it is bad. No exceptions.

So when they need a beer, they turn to microbrews who seem to be located almost exclusively in New England, Ontario, Quebec and Colorado. Being able to walk into a bar and order a beer that no one has heard of makes white people feel good about their alcohol drinking palate.

A friend of mine once met a white guy who brought a notebook with him to every bar. He would then keep a record of all the beers he drank and his experience with them. He called it his ‘beer journal.’

Also of note: most white people want to open a microbrewery at some point. One that uses organic hops."

YES, they totally forgot about the Pacific Northwest as a source of microbrew snobbery. Some commenters on the blog believe it is because the bloggers aren't white enough, but it could possibly be that they are Canadian. Either way, an oversight that I am sure was not done on purpose. :)

My other favorite entries are
#26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!)
#31 Snowboarding
#53 Dogs
#54 Kitchen Gadgets
#63 Expensive Sandwiches
#79 Modern Furniture
#86 Shorts

But they are all hilarious.

Irish KC

I stumbled across this blog today, and I love it. It is also timely what with the white-people-drink-themselves-into-a-coma-holiday coming up and all. It is written by an Irishman living in KC, although at the moment back home visiting family, diligently updating the KC St. Pats 2008 Guide.

Check it out if you need to catch up on the activities round here. About.com has a decent list too. I'll be at the parade, hanging with friends downtown, and wrapping up my day at Lew's Hooley in Waldo. I can only imagine what will be spent in cab fare.

What's the deal with the spelling of hoolie? Is it hooley or hoolie?

Scooped by my mother-in-law

My MIL attended one of the private soft openings of the Gordon Biersch location in the Power & Light district last night. She knows one of the corporate peeps who flew in for the big opening, and got to try anything she wanted while the staff "practiced" serving for their grand opening this week. Officially, doors open on Monday, but they are having private openings all weekend. Because I think her enthusiasm is adorable, not to mention her turn by turn directions, I am copying & pasting her review below. Hope she doesn't mind! (She's not much a beer drinker, so I promise to provide my own beer feedback soon. )

We had dinner at a private party at Gordon Biersch at 200 East 13th Street. It doesn't officially open until Monday night, but our friends invited us to the private party. We could order anything free as it gave the staff "practice" for opening Monday. The food was great! You would like it. I especially thought the appetizer crab cake was the best in the city--large and moist with lump crab. I had the salmon with pecan topping and it was also good. Dessert we shared was the bread pudding with vanilla ice cream--again the best in the city I've ever had! We sampled their "beer sampler" of five little glasses of beer. All was good. We parked at the Town Pavilion Garage across from the HR Block one. Both were $10 last night because of the event at Sprint Center. No exceptions and validations after 6 PM didn't even count. I drove I-35 to 12th Street exit and went on 12th street to Grand. Turned right on Grand to 13th Street. Turned right again in the garage. Be sure to walk around a bit and see the "stage" area and also the pretty lighted blue trees. I think Gordon Biersch's is the nicest one on the block. Have a good time! Love, Mom

March Madness

I love March. I really do. And I love it more this year because the Big 12 Tourney is in KC, in the shiny new arena downtown. And my Jayhawks are on a tear. Which helps. And reminds me about the Alumni meet up next week:

Big 12 Tournament Kickoff Party
Young Alumni Members-only Event
5 p.m.
Thursday, March 13
The Cashew
2000 Grand Ave.
Kansas City, MO

I thought that I would do a PSA kind of deal for the locals. All of my suburban house-cat friends are askeered of the parking situation downtown. They seriously bring this up a deterrent to attending a concert, game, etc. Just because there isn't a parking lot that look like the mall or at the K doesn't mean you'll have to walk for miles in the dark & creepy downtown landscape. There are a TON of parking garages downtown. You just have to find 'em. It's like the Plaza, but with BIGGER garages! There are 2 garages below the district itself. They hold about 1,800 cars. There are garages EVERYWHERE. They cost a couple dollars. Welcome to being urban. You pay. To park. GASP! I know, right?

Having parents with conflicting religious beliefs can be beneficial

Because my mom & dad decided that they couldn't raise their kids in a Catholic household, this conundrum holds no water with me. Thanks Mom & Dad! Attending an Episcopal church (Catholic Lite!) in my formative years is making St. Patrick's Day a non-issue. For those of you actually grappling with this dilemma, I say you are Irish first, Catholic second.

I really am Irish, truly. I don't even have to wear a green t-shirt to prove it. Between 40-50%, in my extremely complex and totally unquestionable estimation. As my brother informed me this evening, we have a duty to celebrate our ethnic holiday. Check.

Is it spring YET?

The winter depression is so deep in my office right now that there were actual, audible moans, coming from cubes all over the floor, when it was announced that it seemed to be snowing again this morning. Only a flurry, mind you, nothing real. But what used to be pretty is now cause for grief. We're all just so OVER winter.

I noticed the beer industry has heard our cries. While it just isn't appropriate to think about beach beer yet, they are slowly inching us into seasonal mindsets. Here's the start of a decent to do list:

Sam Adams released the White Ale this year for spring. It is a milky, unfiltered, Belgian wheat.

New Belgium is bringing back it's Springboard Ale for the second year, another Belgian pale ale with a little zestiness built right in.

Old faithful, Boulevard has released it's seasonal Irish Ale, my long-standing favorite.

Sierra Nevada has already released it's ESB for 2008 spring.

How can you lose? The lights are much brighter there...

The Pitch published a story just yesterday, written by David Martin, about beer, Kansas City entertainment districts, festival and open container laws. Interesting reading.

Lots of friends have been talking about whether the entertainment district downtown is sustainable. Is there enough visitor traffic downtown to hold them over when there is no big concert or sporting event? Will the people of KC actually change their habits and spend more time downtown? It's been promising for many of us to see places fill up on week nights and Friday, but sad to go almost anywhere on a Saturday and see everything empty. And even if the P&L district does succeed, what does that mean to areas like Westport? Someone's going to lose in this little game.

Snipped straight from the article:

Cordish, it appears, doesn’t want Waldo, 18th and Vine or Zona Rosa to enjoy the same sorts of privileges it won on an earlier trip to the capitol. Back in 2005, state lawmakers passed legislation making drinks portable in certain entertainment districts. The law was written in such a way that only the Power and Light District would qualify for the exemption.

Cordish’s unwillingness to share relaxed liquor rules is only the latest bit of discouraging news. Originally scheduled to open last October, significant pieces of the Power and Light District will still be dark when the Big 12 basketball tournaments come to town next month. Last November, Cordish announced that it wanted to charge $2 for parking in garages that were supposed to be free (“The Dance,” November 22, 2007).

Linky linky

After avoiding my Husband, who I cold-heartedly accused of suffering from manflu, all weekend, I think I am finally catching the creeping crud that has been passed around lately. Which means that I am going to share some of my favorite linkable stories from the past few days, rather than trying to type anything in complete sentences.

The Brookston Beer Bulletin makes some interesting points about our ginormous friends over in St. Louis. It's hard for giants to accept changes in paradigm.

Diageo might be getting thirsty for beer. They're eyeballing opportunities with big beer companies.

KU might bring back beer to the Jaybowl. Man. I don't think it's a bad idea, I just can't believe it has been 10 years. The article says they stopped selling beer in the Union in 1998.

Thank you sir, may I have another?

Bull & Wes over at the KCBeerBlog are the best little KC PR bloggers around. They pick up every downtown related story and post, post, post away. Which I appreciate. Because I sadly do not keep myself as well-informed. Oddly enough, a steady diet of the local FOX news morning show does not make for an educated person. Who knew?

The Big 12 tourney hits the new Sprint area on March13th, so everyone is in a race to get drinking holes ready for the crush. I am concerned that this is SO last minute. I can't imagine some of these places only being open for a few days before the hordes descend. Out of all the new stuff going in down at the new Power & Light District, the ones I am most excited about are below:

ChefBurger - Opens first week of March! Created by the same awesome dude (Rob Dalzell) who brought you 1924 Main, Pizza Bella and Souperman, so you know it'll be good. A locally owned build your own burger joint should do extremely well. Not to mention that you'll get to choose from 4 arty breads, different meat/veggie patties, 10 cheeses, 24 toppings, and 10 sauces!

Gordon Biersch Brewery - Opens March 10. Yes, another corporate brewery/restaurant, but variety is the slice of life, and I like options. This will be a full-scale brewery with a big outdoor beer garden.

Raglan Road Irish Pub - Opens first week of March! Another corporate, faux irish pub. Guess where this one comes to you from? Pleasure Island, Disney, Orlando, FL! Which fits, really, the whole feeling of the P&L district. Disneyland, KC. But lend credibility, KC chefs are being trained at the company's 5 star restuarant, Dunbrody House, in County Wexford, Ireland.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium - Opening in early May. Lee posted a PR piece on the company before they opened in Austin. This is COOL. They will have 225 beers from more than 15 countries. They seek to "elevate beer."

Maker’s Mark Bourbon House & Lounge - No idea when this will open. Likely some time well after May. There will be an "upscale restaurant and swanky lounge subtly emphasizing the Maker's Mark Bourbon brand." End quote. All I know is that when I visited their main website, John Denver's Country Boy started playing thru my speakers. SWANKY!

The Living Room - No date yet. This will be seating area and prominent bar inside the LIVE! area, featuring plush cushions, ottomans, chairs and tables surrounding a flowing waterfall with a center flame. There will be space heaters and fire pits to keep everyone warm in the winter. When the KC smoking ban finally hits, I wonder if this will be a popular spot with people taking a break from the many bars & nightclubs.

I plan on spending a bit more time downtown to check it all out. Yes, it'll be tourist trap themed. There will be more nightclub concepts and Lucky Strike bowling lanes, and other silly things to compliment the other places. I don't care if any of those places attract, "douches," as some call them. I am pleased that the downtown bars are gaining traction. I am happy that there are young people living and working in our downtown, and I am glad that there will be more stores and services moving in to support them, like more regular restaurants, dry cleaners, and grocery stores. I hope that the area doesn't feel the pinch too badly AFTER the Big 12 tourney ends, and people go home. I'm just very excited to see it all roll out, and hopeful it is sustainable.

I already know what Bull is going to say

...but at least the McFaddens crew will have another stop in their tour of downtown establishments. Howl at the Moon opens this Friday! If you don't know, Howl at the Moon is a terribly popular place for Bachelorette parties in other markets. And like McFaddens, it is a chain. They sell strange colored liquid shots in test tubes, and jello shots in these weird, syringe-like contraptions, designed to shoot booze-laced jello down your throat. There's hardly a beer tie-in here, except that I know they sell it by the bucket. So head on out to the newest spot in town to watch large groups of drunken girls.

Six years ago...

Six years ago was crazy. The farther away that day gets, the more I forget how crazy it was. So I look at this and I laugh. And I think I have to call my brother and thank him again for kneeling in ice in a rented tux to hold up the train of my silly, big, im-a-bride-look-at-me dress, just so we could get these totally staged photos. My family rules, and my husband is the best. Happy six years to us.

Rogue Post, or Don't Cry Over Spilled Beer

I bragged about my pretty bottle of Rogue Imperial Stout that I had waiting for me at home. I came home BEFORE 9 PM! OK, not because I'm balanced, but because someone has to let the dog out, and no one else is in town. But I digress. I was so looking forward to cracking open that Imperial Stout. Seemed like a wonderful thing to do on a cold and lonely Wednesday night. I even took a picture with the crappy camera phone and everything. (Side note, remember how I bitched about needing a new camera? And then I got one? Yeah. guess where it is? With The Husband. Out of town. For biz. Explain to me again why everything becomes "ours" once you are married?) ANY way.

I poured. I drooled. I plugged in my laptop power cord, set my beer on a side table, settled in for a loser's night of excel, powerpoint and tasty beer. But then. THEN. I watched one lonely hyper dog get tangled in said cord and knock over previously mentioned side table, sharing my precious stout with the not-so-appreciative carpet. Nooooooo! Dammit. I didn't even take a SIP, people. This was tragic. I almost cried. But I was too busy cleaning up the floor before my dog got tipsy.

I had about 2/3 of another pint left. I drank it like it was the last water available on earth. Slowly. Carefully. While glaring at the dog. Poor little dude.

I poured this from the ceramic 0.75 litre bottle (2007 Edition) into a pint glass to produce a thick tan head of about 1-1/2". The beer is DARK. And sticky. And has an incredible aroma of chocolate and coffee and caramel. The head had incredible retention. The taste is not as sweet as some of the beers I have been drinking lately, but has a caramel sweetness contrasted with an espresso bite. I wish I had more. But I managed to restrain myself from doing anything disgusting to the carpet, even though that would also result in getting very interesting search traffic. That's the amount of self control I have. Impressed?

Wexford Irish Cream Ale...and Friends!

I have 2 cans of this deliciousness sitting in my fridge, waiting for me tonight. It means I have to share one with The Husband, but since he is actually in town for ONE! MORE! WHOLE! NIGHT! I'll be ok with it. I already drank the first 2. :)

I love creamy ales. I love nitro pours. I love the fact that the thing in the beer can that creates this is called a widget. (I say that word too many times a day at work already. Different context.) I love watching the beer swirl around and generate a giant fluffy white head that reminds me more of a latte than a lager. The Wexford pours a light amber, with a thick, off-white nitro head, that leaves mild lacing along the sides of the glass as I sip. The scent is sweet, mild, and maybe a little malty. The first thing I notice isn't taste as much as the overall feeling this beer has. It is slippery and smooth and creamy and feels like dessert. It tastes very mild, almost buttery. I heart it. It makes me want to eat at O'Dowd's, though. Sigh, I will eat a boxty again soon, I am sure.

Other random items:

It's snowing here again. It's kind of pretty, but it is cold. And getting colder by the minute. Barack Obama is landing in front of my office somewhere around 5 pm. This is the view from my office window. Yes, it is the downtown airport. In the snow.

I have a big bottle of Rogue Imperial Stout, also in my kitchen, pending a review later in the week. That is thanks to my superfly Saturday brunch date that convinced me to eat crepes, get my toes painted in January, and then totally derailed me in Cellar Rat. I have a wonderful friend.

How are you holding up?

Torn from the Times Online:

It’s official: today is the worst day of the year. Hang on – wasn’t that supposed to be last Monday? A psychologist has calculated the most depressing day with a formula that includes “lousy weather, post Christmas debt, failed new year’s resolutions and the desperate need to have something to look forward to”. Incidentally, this is also the most depressing week of 2008. We don’t care any more – we just want to go home.

So I am just checking in on my peeps. You doing ok? Getting enough sleep, not letting the zero degree weather kill your spark, are you? Work isn't TOO overwhelming, is it? We're super busy, but we can see the light. If you need something to look forward to, let me list a few positives coming up here in the middle of the middle of the middle:

1. The projected high for this Saturday is 46 degrees, and that is the same day as the SCION OPEN Snowboarding Tournament over at Snow Creek. You know you want to get out and enjoy a little of this winter weather, just not when it is below 10 degrees! It's going to be awesome, with Miles Bonny spinning, snowboards flying, and a few adult beverages and a snack waiting for you after you finish skiing, boarding or even sitting in a tube, riding down the hill. I'm definitely tubing this year!
2. One last appeal, as if you needed more – the Weston brewery O’Malleys is a hop skip & a jump away from Snow Creek. After an afternoon of skiing/tubing, what could be better than a Weston Brewery Irish Cream Ale. Uh, nothing I can think of! Ha ha ha. I will be there most of the day, so give me a shout if you’re headed out there.
3. AND, it is supposed to be 52 degrees here by Sunday!
4. Boulevard's Irish Ale should be available by now.
5. If you are in advertising in KC, and live in a cave or something, let me remind you that the Addy Awards are on Feb 16th. If you don't know, it's like an awards show & prom all rolled into one event. Hilarity ensues.

Beer snobbery is spreading

I was racing into the office today, running late, as one certainly isn't capable of showing up to work EARLY after a 3 day weekend, when I heard the local radio station DJ say something that actually interested me. Normally I listen to my own music, or surf stations anytime someone starts talking, but I stopped button pushing when I heard the DJ admit that he is a total hop-head. (Listening to Dick Dale on 96.5) And that he is actively organizing a strike team to go capture all of the available Bell's Hopslam 6 packs from the ONE store in this whole city that sells it. (They limit to one 6 pack per person.) What I did NOT get out of this limited conversation snippet I heard during my 12 minute long commute, is WHAT STORE IN KC CARRIES BELL'S HOPSLAM?

Still funny, 12 years later

Lee posted this, and I laughed. Because I was 19 when The Onion first published it. I loved and still love The Onion. And my friends looked like this. Hell, I looked like this. I drank microbrews because that is what my non-greek, art school, flannel wearing, indie music loving, grubby concert attending, coffee barfly, hacky-sack playing, hippie-grunge-wannabe older friends drank. So I had access.

Two thousand and eight?

Happy New Year! Yeah, ok, I am a little late on that. A little late on a lot of things, I am afraid. I still have a Mexico mindset, which apparently means saying "Gracias," to the gas station clerk after receiving my change, and avoiding my endlessly buzzing smart phone by imagining having another something-made-with-tequila and just not worrying about it right now. I had some beer, I did. Sol, Dos Equis, and Tecate. But mostly I stuck to the fruity confections that seemed most appropriate to the locale. See? It looks slightly out of place, doesn't it? Like it should be a giant glass rimmed with salt and a slice of lime festively garnishing the side. Not a lonely little beer can, sweating in the sun.

I am sorry that I missed the beer blogger meet up. Hope you all had a blast. When I saw that you guys left me a voicemail, I was half hoping it would be psuedo-drunken slurring. And then I remembered that we're grown ups, and it is just really really nice to be missed. I can't promise no more trips to Mexico, but I am wishing really hard that I get to meet you all for reals sometime.

Silent Night?

Whew. Tis the season, eh? I am so tired. We've been everywhere and done everything. Almost. Not counting tomorrow, and 2 families on top of cooking a ham. But at this exact moment, I am sitting in my living room with my youngest brother and his girlfriend and my husband, trying to get the darn Wii set up on the wireless network so we can play Mortal Kombat, drinking stouts and holiday ales. A very large group just vacated the living room to attend church.

I feel terrible that I am still unable to meet up with Lee & Margaret, or Chris. I haven't been able to figure out how to gracefully bow out of family holiday commitments to meet up with beer bloggers. Call it a crisis of priorities. :) But I toast you all tonight. Cheers!

Let's do beer

Lee from Austin is going to be in town for the holidaze. We were going to try for a beer meet here in KC. Probably over this weekend. You in? Where should we go? What day/night?

Happy Holidays!

I think that I may be too worn down to beer blog well for now. But here is my holiday card to you all. (Again, on the crappy camera phone. I have asked for a new camera from the Husband, so if he listened, the picture quality will increase over time. ) That is a Four Fingers Stout from Flying Monkey. Flying Monkey is brewed in Olathe, Kansas, in a southwestern suburb of Kansas City, and the smaller brewer in town. Their labels are the best. The stout is dark and sticky and jet black with a dark tan head. This has a tiny bit more of a bite than the blander, Guinness-like stouts of the world. I can't place it. A little nutty, a little roasted, burnt, oatiness, even a little black coffee bite? I am sure someone who reads this can tell me exactly what's in it. But it is tasty, and just what I needed tonight.

Winter warmers

It is beyond cold here, and while I typically enjoy a good winter storm, I am really only looking forward to my post-Christmas trip to Mexico at this point. I usually have an entirely too romantic viewpoint of ice storms (because I got married during the worst one KC has seen in a while) but this week I am over it. This was taken by my camera phone in my front yard this morning. Blerg.
All the cool beer bloggers are covering the holiday/winter special brews. Don't you want to be cool? Sadly, I am too busy to be cool. So I will introduce you to the cool kids.

KC Beer Blog does Schlafly, New Belgium, & Breckenridge
The Cure For What Ales You does Magic Hat
Beer Haiku Daily ponders winter brews in 5-7-5 format
Hail The Ale suffered a bottle mishap

And I bet there are a lot more that I haven't had time to read via my completely chock full RSS reader, that poor, underused receptacle of unread feeds. Have a good beer for me, k?

Grrrrrrr, baby, very grrrrrr

A wonderful beer-friend, Nate, gifted the Husband and I a growler full of Free State Brewery beer last weekend. I didn't crack it open, and was kind of afraid to without being able to finish it, knowing it would go flat before I get through a whole half-gallon. But I opened it this weekend and was super excited to learn that it contained John Brown Ale. Yummy yummy. I love me some browns. It is the mildest dark beer possible, heavy on malts, sweet, and highly drinkable.

Because I left my growler unattended for too long, I didn't realize that it was going flat anyway. John Brown Ale usually generates a creamy head, but my growler didn't quite deliver. The smell is sweet, like malted chocolate. A loverly scent for a freezing winter evening! The taste is a bit more coffee/toffee than chocolate, with a medium bodied mouthfeel, and a slightly dry finish. It just brings to mind roasted, toasted, sweet winter warmth, and I am in love all over again.

History Lesson

Last night I half watched, half dozed thru a show on the History Channel about beer brewing. It came on at midnight, give me a break. But it seemed quite good, and featured Jim Koch from the Boston Beer Company, Sam Calagione from Dogfish Head, and the home brew club the Maltose Falcons. I am bummed that I was too sleepy to see the whole thing. I am sure it will air again, so I am putting my DVR on the case. In the meantime, here's the synopsis of that episode of Modern Marvels from the History Channel's website:

It's one of the world's oldest and most beloved beverages--revered by Pharaohs and brewed by America's Founding Fathers. Today, brewing the bitter elixir is a multi-billion-dollar global industry. Join us for an invigorating look at brewing's history from prehistoric times to today's cutting-edge craft breweries, focusing on its gradually evolving technologies and breakthroughs. We'll find the earliest known traces of brewing, which sprang up independently in such far-flung places as ancient Sumeria, China, and Finland; examine the surprising importance that beer held in the daily and ceremonial life of ancient Egypt; and at Delaware's Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, an adventurous anthropologist and a cutting-edge brewer show us the beer they've concocted based on 2,700-year-old DNA found in drinking vessels from the funerary of the legendary King Midas.

And brown paper packages tied up with strings

Some one in Kansas City should do this for the holidays. I would MOST CERTAINLY attend a beer and chocolate tasting. I'd pay perfectly good money to attend. Maybe a micro-brew beer bar and a desert maker could team up. Maybe a particularly high end chocolatier could team up with a local brewery. Just sayin'....I'd be there!

Beer Counting Technology

Your bartender saying, "This one is on me," may be a thing of the past. New software programs monitor tap lines, and are synced with the register, so any unpaid for pours are noted. Then that info goes to a centralized database, where bar owners can pull reports on beer loss. While I know that this is good for bar owners, who
lose tons behind the bar, and the geek in me does love the accountability of the machine, I can't help but lament the end of an era when people could be trusted more, when drinks weren't measured by the ounce, and when there wasn't a report available to be pulled for EVERYTHING.

Thoughts?

They call you Mr Personality because you're so ugly

I took this beer personality quiz, and this was my real result:

You Are Bud Light

You're not fussy when it comes to beer. If someone hands it to you, you'll drink it. In fact, you don't understand beer snobbery at all. It all tastes the same once you're drunk! You're an enthusiastic drinker, and you can often be found at your neighborhood bar. You're pretty good at holding your liquor too - you've had lots of experience.

What's Your Beer Personality?

But I didn't like that connotation that I must drink a lot, so I tried to snob it out, and I got this:

You Are Heineken

You appreciate a good beer, but you're not a snob about it. You like your beer mild and easy to drink, so you can concentrate on being drunk. Overall, you're a friendly drunk who's likely to buy a whole round for your friends... many times. Sometimes you can be a bit boring when you drink. You may be prone to go on about topics no one cares about.

What's Your Beer Personality?

So I went over the top snobby, and I got this.

You Are Guinness

You know beer well, and you'll only drink the best beers in the world. Watered down beers disgust you, as do the people who drink them. When you drink, you tend to become a bit of a know it all - especially about subjects you don't know well. But your friends tolerate your drunken ways, because you introduce them to the best beers around.

What's Your Beer Personality?

I think this was written by a college student. But amusing on a busy Thursday regardless.

Majority Rules

So this weekend I drank the voting majority of a 6 pack of O'Mally's Irish Cream Ale while watching my Jayhawks stumble. Despite the score, I still lurve the bee. What started as a Caffrey's replacement crush has mushroomed into a stronger like. I still haven't had it on tap yet, but that day must be coming soon, because I need a nitro tap fix. One can only drink so much Guinness. Hey you, Weston Brewing Co friends and fans! Please tell me where I can drink this on tap! I promise to share with the rest of the class. Danke!

Rock Chalk Jayhawk

The trash talking started a few weeks ago. The drama begins in earnest at 7 pm CST tonight. I've been watching the hype of ESPN's GameDay all morning. I'll be watching the actual game from the safety of a suburban living room with a massive screen, drinking lots of beer. So, what beer goes best with Tiger meat?

**edited to add, post game**
Being a real KU football fan is new to me this year. I never bothered with it outside of a passing interest, to keep me busy until basketball season, so I have to say that I am blown away by the combined effort they made this year. I hope this means wonderful things for the future. And to the Mizzou fans - be thankful. Your quarterback rocks, this is your winningest season, I think, ever. Good luck meeting the Sooners.

She could be a FARMER in those clothes

I may not like the early morning lifestyle, but I'd gladly drink like a French-speaking Belgian farmer any day of the week.

I tried the Boulevard Smokestack Series Saison last weekend, and I loved it. Saison means season, so by definition, this is a seasonal beer, supposedly brewed in the winter months for summer consumption. It is golden, and light, and juicy/citrusy, and I can't wait to spring it on my family tomorrow during Thanksgiving dinner. (My sole responsibility is to provide the bread & the booze. Rock.)


The brewers notes on the Smokestack Series site makes the necessity of writing a full review less pressing. They literally spell out the taste, feel, flavor, etc. On the other hand, they are excellent sales tools, cuz when I read 'am, I want 'em!

How to spot a geek

I don't mean the cool kind. Not the, wow-you're-smart-and-know-all-kinds-of-useful-techy-cool-nerdy things. Not that kind. I mean the truly geeky, the embarrassing-to-admit-you-hang-out-with-them kind. I think producing a spreadsheet like below while planning a party might be a clue.

Drive by

Hey! You know what would be awesome? Cram a full 5 day work week into 2.5 days, add one new employee, 2 million additional time-suck projects, a few impossible deadlines, drop long-term planning off the table, and then shake until fully pressurized. Whee! Poppin' the cork on that one tomorrow afternoon, fo' sho'. I think the IPA, the Sixth Glass, and something completely different will be consumed on this upcoming 4 day.

Oh, and? Completely out of character, I was awake at 5 am this morning. FIVE. A. M. Run errands, do stuff, get Starbucks, and STILL get to work a full 30 minutes early. I mean, I know some people get up that early everyday, but those people are not me. Those people are farmers.

Last item. I saw this on the KC Beer Blog. Apparently, after all my not-really-holiday-hints, I actually DO need this item as a gift.

Seeing Tripel

I cracked open the Long Strange Tripel last night. And I have to say, damn! Those corks are NO joke. It took several attempts to get the bottle open. When it finally popped out, there was just a small little vapor snake making an escape. Up front, I loved this beer. It is strong, though, and after one, I felt it.

I didn't buy a chalice or a goblet or a snifter or a tulip glass. I poured it into my trusty Boulevard pint glass. And while I am fully aware that I may have missed out on some key character of the beer by totally disregarding the directions, I feel that I still got as much of a good sense of it as someone with my limited beer snobbitude would anyway.

The head bubbled up with a tiny delay, making me glad that I poured the glass only slightly over half full. The clean white bubbly head simmered down quickly, however, leaving just this thinner layer after a minute or so. By the time I finished, there was just a small, thin ring of white lacing at the bottom of the glass. The smell was clean and fruity, with an earthy undertone, and a heavy reality check on the alcohol content (9%). *Clarification - when I say earthy, I mean something that reminds me of the smell of the earth when it has been freshly turned over, like they way my garden smells right after I have planted and watered something for the first time. * The appearance was a bright golden hue, cloudy and carbonated. The first sip was a knock out for me, not having had anything else to drink before hand. "Whoo, that's some strong beer!" came from the husband. (But he drinks Bud Light, remember?) The first sweet, fruity, malty hit on the tongue gave way to some peppery and slightly spicy sensations. This beer is not over-carbonated, but maintains a nice body throughout, and after the first initial sips, the alcohol-burn seemed to dissipate. I liked it. A lot. But like other abbey tripel style beers, I can't drink too many. They make me sleepy. :)

Am I not worthy?

I have 2 bottles of fancy schmancy Boulevard brews, from the Smokestack series, sitting in my fridge. Specifically the Long Strange Tripel and the Saison. The Tripel is a strong golden brew, with tripple amounts of malt and alcohol, while the Saison is supposed to be a more refreshing, fruity, more summer-like beer.

(I purchased one from Rimann in PV and one from Batson in Mission, and picked up a 12 pack of Bud Light for the hubby to keep the peace. ) I am all about Belgians, apparently. I can't wait to pop the cork on one tonight - I have been saving them for the weekend. It gave me something to look forward to all week. :)


But now I am starting to get nervous. (slight exaggeration,k?) There are directions on the back of the bottle that strictly instruct me to use the correct glassware to consume this fabulous beverage. I don't have the correct glasses. I don't do glassware for specific drinks. We've discussed this before here. Like when I tried the Orval Trappist beer that demanded a beer chalice. Beer chalice? Really? I mean, if you REALLY want to know, I actually DO have something resembling a beer chalice. It is made of clay, and came from the Ren Fest feast I am forced to attend every year with my family. But if I pour beer into a clay-mug-like-thing, I won't be able to admire the color. So that's not happening. Besides, these 2 beers are supposed to be poured into a Tulip glass. Nope, don't have one of those. Beer Advocate has a Beer Glassware 101 that is currently scolding me for my casual attitude toward beer chalices.

I hate waiting too

My unnatural love for both beer and celebrity gossip rarely connect in a story that should appear here. But today, TMZ really came thru for me. This post appeared today, talking about a New Zealand guy who loves cold beer and hates carrying coolers full of ice as much as I do. And so he has invented the most important beer-related item since, well, I don't know what. And he calls it the Huski. Heh. It costs $50 in NZ $, which is around $38 US.

Although, really, what this story is pointing out to me is that as we approach the icy winter in North America, they are going to beaches in NZ because it is summertime. I am thinking that I need to be able to work virtually anywhere in the world, and a location in the southern hemisphere wouldn't be a terrible idea. Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, wherever.

Responsibility

Boo, I know. But it is holiday time, and I am compelled to post something about not being stupid, getting hurt, or getting thrown in to jail when enjoying beer. So here's a few "didja know" facts to ponder while staring down a packed November/December booze-fueled holiday season. The Almstom Bros over at BeerAdvocate had some great tips, basically reinforcing their "Respect Beer" mantra:

• There's plenty of beer to be had, with plenty of time, so pace yourself. Drink for flavor, not just for impact. Always practice moderation when drinking. Get to know your limits, and don't exceed them. If you feel that moment of absolute cheer, take a break, grab a water and some food.
• Water is your friend. Drink plenty of it, to help detoxify and counteract the alcohol stripping water from your system.
  
• Eating also replenishes the system, slows down your rate of consumption, and helps to absorb alcohol so you don't find yourself inebriated after a few beers. However, though eating will slow the absorption of alcohol, it won't necessarily stop its impact.
• Alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream at a different rates. Factors that can change this at the individual level include:
• Health. Mental and physical issues, such as your mood, illness, depression, stress, and fatigue, can increase the effects of alcohol.
• Weight. People who weigh less or have higher percentages of body fat will be more affected by alcohol.
• Gender. Men typically have less percentage of body fat than women, thus they tend to have a higher alcohol tolerance.
• Medication. Follow your medication's instructions or doctor's advice before drinking as some medications mixed with alcohol can be deadly.
• Time. How fast did you drink? Breaks in between beers? It all adds up. Pace yourself. If you had say 5 pints of a 5% beer within a short period of time, it would take your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) around 15 hours to return to normal. FIFTEEN HOURS, PEOPLE!

Missouri & Kansas both have 0.08 legal limit on driving under the influence. Here's a calculator that will tell you how the math works. If I had 2 beers in 2 hours, I'd have a 0.04 BAC level. But if I had 4 beers in 4 hours, I'd be over 0.08. Think about your own habits, how having a clean legal record and a valid driver's license makes your current lifestyle possible, and how you really like not being guilty of harming innocent people. Or yourself.

Oh, and who else has noticed than KC has gotten remarkable in the availability of cabs in the last few years? It is awesome. The cost of a cab is SO MUCH cheaper than the alternatives. Don't drive if you shouldn't.

K, I think that's enough lecturing from me for today. The next post will be much more upbeat. Perhaps jovial. Or lighthearted. (These are my favorite, vague, mean-nothing terms that appear on creative concept scopes. Best ever.)

I like shiny things!

Fresh from their MySpace & Facebook debuts, and just now available to the the general population of the innernets, meet Boulevard's New Smokestack Series - limited edition artisan beers, featuring both traditional styles and experimental brews! (yay!) Behold, the Smokestack Series micro-site. Get it? Micro-site? Cuz it is for Micro-brews.

I am an idiot. But enjoy anyway! This stuff goes on sale in KC very, very soon! Like, super-duper soon, like today, now, soon!

These are a few of my favorite things

I love coffee. I love beer. I love DARK, PORTER beer. I am now singing Maria's song, while dancing around my office:
"When the dog bites
When the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad."

Copied & pasted from my inbox:

Get your jolt by the pint at 75^th Street Brewery

UP ALL NITRO ESPRESSO PORTER will be on tap starting

Monday 11/12 @ 5:30p.m

It's got our brewers running circles around the other guys - literally. This is a brew that will give you stamina...

Power to the pint!

This espresso porter began simply enough: a beautiful, dark-brown brew with hints of red on the sides of the glass. The aroma is all grown up: an perfect balance of roasted coffee and toasted malts. The taste has go power: it is a complex blend of nine malts and two varieties of local Roasterie espresso beans. The sweetness of the malt is trailed by a smooth bite of coffee.

We're pouring this beer with our own nitro system to add a tasty, creamy texture that rounds out the flavor.

If you like exquisite coffee and quality beer [why settle for less?], we dare you to be disappointed by this brew - it's for you.

Stop in Monday @ 5:30p.m. for a pint of UP ALL NITRO ESPRESSO PORTER. Then change the world.

Cheers!

Beer Me Monthly, Please!

Out of character, I decided to start thinking about holiday gifts BEFORE it is actually December. Staying more true to form, that means I am just doing a lot of internet searches, and not really purchasing anything yet. I am trying to decide what to get my youngest bro and his girlfriend, who are budding beer snobs. I am thinking a micro-beer of the month club might be appreciated. But none of them tell me enough about the beer to be sure they are worth the spend. Anyone have an experience with beer of the month clubs? I'd love some recommendations.

Oh, and hey, Boulevard Brewing Co.! You guys should really put together a bigger, more blown out holiday pack. I'd love to be able to give 12 months of Boulevard Beer to someone, without actually purchasing 144 bottles at once. I'm not even talking about the awful logistics of shipping beer, but maybe something with coupons, mailed to the recipient once a month, to be redeemed at a KC store? That would rule.

Two for the price of one

TWO WHOLE POSTS! On a Friday! Crazy town. Know what I want for dinner now? A boxty. And a pint or three.

How much beer would you have to drink to get a $300 bar tab?

One.

OK, I've never personally had a $300 bar tab, but that is not unheard of with a group, especially at an overpriced club in Vegas. But what if you spent $300 on ONE bottle of beer? Dustin, who pokes me with a stick every now & then to see if I am still alive, sent me an email today about this. Sam Adams releases a special edition called Utopias each year, and this year it is just in time for the holidays. It is dark, uncarbonated, 25% ABV, and very spicy, earthy and more like a port than a beer. You are supposed to drink it like a fine liquor, in a brandy snifter, at room temperature. It has a suggested selling price of $140 per bottle, but everywhere I have noticed it, it has never been for less than $279. So, you know, if you are racking your brain, trying to figure out what to get me for the next gift giving holiday...ha ha.

Sam says hi

I am in Boston for work. Like all work trips, it is a whirlwind. Up at at 'em at 7 am, go until it's not fun anymore, fight rush hour traffic to Logan and get back on a plane to cow town as the sun sets. But I did manage to snag Sam Adams, and he said to tell you all hello.

Beer Review: Bob's 47

I mentioned that I have been drinking good beer again. Must be the fall weather. So after all my name dropping, I thought that I should throw another actual beer review into the mix. It's been too long.

I have great beer in the fridge. Tonight felt like a Bob's 47 night, with a crisp bite in the wind outside, me warm inside, watching my Jayhawks dance all over Texas A&M. Boulevard's Bob's 47 is a Munich Style Lager. Very oktoberfest. I poured a bottle of the brew into a glass beer mug, and snapped this picture with my phone. The head pours bubbly, but thin, and quickly dissipates, leaving very light lacing. The color is an orangey-amber, like copper, and very clear, in a filtered sort of way. Sticking my nose into the mug, it smells sweet, a little fruity and slightly spicy. The first sip has a sweet, malty, bready flavor, followed by minor bite, perhaps hops. (The Boulevard site says the beer is brewed with a combination of Pale, Munich, Carapils & Aromatic malts, and Magnum & Hallertau hops.) It is carbonated well to provide some lightness, and the mouthfeel is on the thinner side. This beer presents like it will be too sweet, but the taste left afterwards is a bit dry, only slightly bitter, and drives me to take another sip, and another. Like most of Boulevard's seasonal brews, I wish this one was available for longer periods. Our keg at work is sporting Bob's right now. I have been working overtime lately. :)

Random note, belated congrats to J & D! You guys are the cutest couple ever.

I guess I am not the society type

Clearly, we aren't talking debutante balls , or even Junior League. Not me. But Dustin forwarded an email today from the Brewmaster Society, and I thought hey, that's a society I might like. Too bad it was not to be. This is the image I received when I visited the site.

Ahhh! An effort by our friends at Anheuser Busch. Dustin is now an insider. And they didn't even invite me. Sigh. I am a lazy blogger, and don't link back to other blogs. I only update when I feel like it. My Technorati ranking is low, among other things, and no one ever sends me free stuff. Sad. ~sniff~ I'll make it up to myself with the sick amounts of traffic I get from my friend Google.

They drink early , often, and for a cause

The Kansas City Dog Advocates group is a community of concerned dog owners (of all breeds, mixed breed and rescue) that band together to give our dogs a voice in our local communities through grassroots outreach initiatives.

I haven't posted one of these in a while. But they happen with a very steady regularity. (Maybe monthly?) If you want to get on the list, just visit this page and sign yourself up! Even at $15, it's a great deal for good beer and great pizza.

I Told You I Was Trouble

I need this for my birthday. It is the Double Trouble Combo, and it costs $30. It doesn't come with any razor blades, drug paraphernalia, or ratty ballet shoes, however, so you'll have to provide your own if you're going as Amy Winehouse this Halloween.

Things I Fall For

I not-so-secretly love fall. Everyone I know seems to love the season they were born in, probably because as a child it meant good things, parties, presents, etc. I whine about having to rake roughly 10 million leaves, but I'd gladly rake my yard forever, if it meant I wouldn't be shoveling snow in 10 degree weather or mowing the grass in mid-August when it is 110. I had the best weekend, and it wasn't that exciting. We cleaned up the yard, trimmed trees, attempted once again to murder my neighbors out of control vine collection, cleaned the house top to bottom, had friends hang out on the deck, drank dark beers and went furniture shopping. (We didn't buy anything. We shop past the point of it being fun, then impulsively buy things on the internet. That's how we roll. )

We drank Paulaner's Oktoberfest, Boulevard Bob's 47, Lowenbrau Original, and a healthy dose of Gentleman Jack was administered amongst the guys. Somebody brought some 12 year Elijah Craig, and this was a wonderful development, I was told. I am more of a beer sort of girl, regardless what tales anyone has told to you, related to vodka or tequila. I was young and foolish once too.

Next weekend my mom is coming to visit, and then after that I am off to Vegas to celebrate turning 31. It just sounded like the good, adult, responsible thing to do.

Engraved Invitation

When: This Saturday evening, Oct 20th
Where: My backyard
Why: Good drinks, random tunes, cheap seating and awesome company
RSVP: email me

Fall is officially here, but the leaves are still on the trees. That means that this weekend is probably one of the last weekends we will be able to spend completely rake-free! It will also be perfect weather. These are reason enough for us to declare a celebration.

It's a house party, a fall deck party, a much delayed Oktoberfest, an excuse to have open flames in our backyard, and basically a decent setting to sit around, drink, and talk to some very cool people.

Come enjoy a crisp fall evening on the deck with some tasty beverages and snacky treats. We'll provide a selection of Oktoberfest beers, spiced cider and mulled wine, as well as finger food munchies. Feel free to bring anything (or anyone) you'd like. I'd recommend bringing a sweater or a sweatshirt.

No wonder it goes well with Japanese food!

I'm not original. I heard about this on the morning news, and noticed the bad ad parody on AdRants yesterday, all but ignored the story in my self-absorbed daily routines. Then I saw it on the KC Beer Blog too, and it hit me that I am kind of an idiot. (Shut up.) I'm not even delving into the whole issue that Greenpeace has. What was upsetting me is this - Budweiser is brewed from RICE? Yup. Apparently from a mixture of rice and barley malt, according to the never-questioned, all-powerful Wikipedia. Huh. Most American lagers are brewed from cheap mashups of rice, corn, barley malt and a handful of hops. What ratios? Don't know. I am becoming enlightened.

This biz is for sadists and masochists

If anyone needs a drink today, give me a ring. I currently have Paulaner Oktoberfest, Pete's Wicked Strawberry Blonde, Sam Adam's Cream Stout, a whole bunch of Bud Light, and bottles of hard stuff in my kitchen.

At Last

Spot from Guinness. I don't seem smart enough to make YouTube and Blogger act like they love each other. Anyone who has hints, they'd be welcome!

Anyway, cute spot, with nerds being nerds always. Etta James' At Last is the track, which of course is a wedding song for millions of people. Me & the Husband included.

**edited to add that clearly I am not a creative person. Those 2 words, "cute spot," are enough to make some people's heads explode. To them, I am sorry.**

Nuttin', just, uh, you know, um, stuff, and, ah, whatever

*mumbling like a teen who wears too much eyeliner and refuses to stand up straight*

It is pitch black in our hood, after 11 at night. My neighbor is doing some sort of unexplainable yard work. The dog finds this unacceptable, and will not stop barking. Loudly. I'm don't really blame him.

I am not drinking beer. I am saving all my beer love for Saturday and Oktoberfest. The Husband will be in town and everything! Woot. But I missed my beer blog, and had to do a drive-by even though I've got nothing really beerish to say.

I will take pictures this weekend. Of beautiful beer. I'll take pics of people too, if they allow such nonsense. But those will probably materialize in a more picture friendly forum, like the newly-discovered-by-lame-adults-Facebook or the dying-a-slow-death-MySpace. Or somewhere else entirely.

About the above, I'm sorry to offend anyone, and I include myself in the first group. I realized how ridiculous my status updates were, broadcast for anyone to consume, in some horridly, overly cutesy tone in my own mind. I still do it, of course.

Here's to hoping that Tuesday isn't so, you know, Monday-ish.

It's September - time for Oktoberfest!

I have Oktoberfest on the brain today, and came across these articles that give all kinds of detailed advice for people attending the festival in Munich.

Guide to the tents
Don't look like a tourist

It isn't really the kind of advice about where to stay or where to eat, but practical tips on navigating the beer tents and what not to do. If you're headed out there, color me jealous. Someday, my friends. Someday.

In the meantime, all I have to look forward to the local KC version. It is Sept 21-23, held in Crown Center, and it only costs a measly $5 to get in the door, listen to some oompah music, see grown men in lederhosen, and watch a few women, fresh from the local Ren Fest display their ample bosoms in corsets and peasant blouses. Although between you & me, most of those women have overly ample everything.

I haven't reviewed an Oktoberfest in a while. I think I'll have to grab a few bottles and do a little tasting party at the beer sort of house. I'm thinking that we'll need some Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner, Spaten and the local, Bob's 47.

What do you drink when you order Panang or Doro Wat?

According to this article, the rise of Thai, Moroccan and Ethiopian foods are increasing the profile of craft beers. Wine doesn’t have the body to stand up to the heat and the spice. It has relatively narrow range of flavors that are really best suited to more elegant, delicate, Cordon Bleu and northern Italian type dishes. Beer lists are growing by the foot at ethnic restaurants across the nation.

My favorite quotes :

Beer as a sophisticated drink is not a new concept. Until the '60s it was beer, not wine, that was the alcohol of moderation - what Koch calls a country club drink that respectable adults drank after attending the symphony.
…

"I love beer commercials cause they're great pop art. But nobody was really educating beer drinkers about the dignity of beer, the history of beer, the tradition of beer, the brewing process, the nature and the quality of the ingredients."
…

"Your definition of beer and your expectations for beer are too low. We brewers have not really elevated your expectations for what beer can be."

Light headed

I am officially a light weight. That didn't take long. I stopped drinking beer, mostly, except for a Saturday here & there, and now I get girly-buzzed fast. Especially if it is a non-lite beer. Sigh. On the upside, I've lost a few pounds and I'm a cheap date. But guess what I found? A nice little study from our friends the Swedes that encourages drinking the good stuff, not the lite stuff. Not just another rehash of the red wine-heart health angle, either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Drinking wine or beer could lessen the risk of kidney cancer, says a recent Swedish study. The researchers at Stockholm’s Karolinska Institute studied the relation between intake of different types of alcoholic drinks and the chance of developing kidney cancer.

The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, considered 855 people suffering from kidney cancer and a control group of 1,204 people who did not have any problem. They reported on their consumption of wine, beer, fortified wine and spirits.

The study, led by Professor Alicja Wolk, discovered that the possibility of having kidney cancer was 40 percent lower for those who ingested 620 grammes of alcohol each month as compared with those who did not drink at all.

The investigators found that the risk was decreased in people who drank over two glasses of red wine every week, or comparable amounts of white wine or normal-strength beer. They also found that intake of lighter beers, fortified wines and spirits was not related to a reduced risk of cancer.

The researchers believe that the relationship between alcohol and the reduced risk of kidney cancer could be because of the presence of antioxidants and antimutagenics in some drinks.

Wait, does that mean drinking can impair your judgement?!

Bears eat man at beer festival

What genius thought that it would be a good idea to host a beer festival at the Zoo? I'm no animal expert, but I've watched stupid people throw things at the animals in the zoo when they are sober. I can't imagine what retarded things those same people would do if they were also drinking large amounts of beer. Climbing into a bear cage wasn't at the top of theoretical list, but there you go. Stupid people will always surprise me.

You never miss the water until the well has run dry

I added estimated Weight Watchers points to the post that contains all the calorie data I have been able to dig up on my favorite beers. Please let me know if you have more info. I'd love to add more beers or more data.

Bad beer decisions

I've been on a faux beer diet. It hasn't been a good time. I have been only drinking light domestic beers for the past few weeks. (Hence the sporadic and stinky posts on my i love beer all the time blog.) I am currently waging a full-out-war on squishy body parts and regardless of how often I tell myself that having a beer here or there is ok, it really hasn't done anything to help my efforts. I am going dry for a week. If I lose a ton of weight, I'll have to admit that drinking yucky Bud Light really isn't worth it at all. ~sigh~ Why drink yuck if it makes you fat & doesn't taste good anyway?

It's like a beer sort of lent. You know, without that whole connection to the son of god fasting in the wilderness. Or something. Religion & politics have no place on a beer sort of blog.

Something for Friday - Get on TV

I break into the regular beer news to share something from Department Zero:

This Friday (8/10/2007), the CBS Early Show will be broadcasting LIVE from the Liberty Memorial in KC. This is the final stop on their “Summer in the City” tour. The live broadcast will feature CBS Early Show anchors Dave Price & Harry Smith, plus a live musical performance by country artists Big & Rich. If you're into country, this is for you. Big & Rich are playing the MO State Fair in a couple of weeks, so if you don't plan on driving out to Sedalia, come see them here for FREE.

This is a FREE event – so bring yourself, your family, your co-workers, and your friends! The catch is that it is early. (You know, that's why they call it the EARLY show.) The broadcast is from 6:00am to 8:00am at the National WWI Museum at the Liberty Memorial. To get a seat, you probably want to show up before that. But hey, it's FREE!

It's HOT outside. You need a pool!

Because I am a dork, I captured the above screen shot. Because I am an interactive media nerd, I thought it was nice to see weather-triggered messaging used for something beyond tires, collision repair and allergy med companies . And because I am a beer fanatic, it kind of made me laugh. When I see that is going to be over near 100, or feel like over 100, the last thing I want to think about is beer. Even me! And I drink a lot of it! I know it is the whole angle of Miller Chill (refreshing, tropical vacation beer) and maybe this strikes a chord with the kind of people who drink beer outside when it is over 100 degrees. All it makes me think of is dehydration. I guess it really is true - I'm not in my twenties anymore.

Sorry for the lack of Watson's references to justify the title. It just keeps popping into my head.

Harpooned on an island

I really wasn't done with vacation. It never lasts long enough. I did manage to finish 3 books, go sailing, hit the beach, laze around, and get the Husband to step away from the Motorola Q for a while, so I think it went well. Now I am back, and dreaming of not being back at all.

We went to the Vineyard for a long weekend, and needed beers to go with all those lobster rolls, stuffed quahogs, sushi and scallops we planned to eat. So we picked up some Harpoon Summer Beer and regular Harpoon Ale.

Harpoon Ale was the first in the family of Harpoon beers. When it was first brewed in 1987, there were virtually no other American Pale Ales or Amber Ales available in Boston, let alone an ale brewed within the city limits. Harpoon Ale was the product of extensive research and test brews by Harpoon’s founders to find the right beer to launch the Harpoon Brewery. When first seeing Harpoon Ale in a glass, you will notice its golden caramel color. You will also see that it is not excessively carbonated. High carbonation would mask this beer’s subtle flavor. The first aroma will be fruity. This is produced by the yeast and is a signature characteristic of Harpoon’s proprietary yeast strain. The second perceptible aroma is from the malt, with a delicate caramel note. Upon tasting Harpoon Ale, you will find that the malty, fruity character is nicely balanced by the mild hop bitterness. It has a smooth, medium body. The finish of this beer is crisp but not dry.

Harpoon Summer Beer is a Kolsch style ale. Originating in the Rhineland city of Cologne (Koln), Kolsch ales have the characteristics that many people associate with lager beers. Kolsch is brewed with an ale yeast, but like other northern German light ales, it is straw gold in color and light bodied. The flavor is mild. The hopping levels provide a crisp, dry finish that make this beer particularly refreshing. Harpoon Summer Beer is a beer brewed to be enjoyed with summertime activities. It is light, refreshing, and crisp.This beer goes well with a wide variety of foods, including delicate dishes such as salads and seafood.

I would like a lobster roll, a Harpoon Summer, and the ability to hear waves lapping at a beach again. ~sigh~

Who took Latin in High School?

520 West 75th St. Kansas City, MO

816.523.4677

Ex Desparatus

Tonight at 5:00pm

What's in a name really? The first time the Master Brewers at 75th Street Brewery sampled this beer, they realized that a simple or clever name would never do this beer justice. "Ex Desparatus, a votum pro spes" is a Belgian style pale ale that pours a dark copper color with an aroma of coriander, malt and a slight hint of yeast. The taste profile reveals a higher than normal carbonation followed by coriander and a touch of noble hops. A malty finish rounds out the taste to complete an ensemble several times more laudable than the name the brewers have chosen for it.

Ex Desparatus, a votum pro spes...

Out of desperation, a prayer for hope.

What does that mean? That's for you to decide. Everybody finds a different meaning after trying this belgian style pale ale, and that's just the way the brewers want it.

Cheers!