Sunday, September 28, 2003
Quite a beer-ific weekend.
Partied with Rick's new classmates on Friday, at one of their cute, expensive studio apartments. Brought a 12-pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale to ensure that there was some beer worth drinking. Another woman of good taste showed up with a six-pack of Rogue Dead Guy (ch-ching!) but the rest of the stuff was Moosehead Lager(watery but acceptable, if you're into that kind of thing) and Miller/Bud sort of shite. Ah well, they're young, they'll learn. Wound up having to sober up at a 24-hour Subway in Westwood where we consumed the best tuna/jalepeno sub in all of explored space. And we don't even like Subway.
Which led to four hours of sleep before waking up to steward at the Pacific Brewers Cup. I'd never stewarded before, and I enjoyed it. Judges have more cred, but they're also stuck sampling one style of beer all day. The stewards, however, could sip from any open bottle in the "GOOD ONES HERE" bucket when we happened to be in the kitchen. I stewarded for Lambic & Belgian Sour Ale, Fruit Beer, Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer, and Smoke-Flavored Beer. This wasn't as much work as it sounds like; it was all at one table. I learned a lot (what's that flashlight for? Oh, to see if the beer is hazy!), tried cool new beers you can't get anywhere else (except homebrewers' houses or homebrew club meetings), and we even got free lunch. Score!
Saturday night, back with the students and all they had was Bud Light. I claimed beer fatigue from the morning's activities an abstained. (Someone later showed with Guinness in a bottle, but I passed anyway.) They seem to know it's bad beer, but drink it anyway because it's cheap. I'm happier to live in a less trendy neighborhood and eat/drink stuff that doesn't suck, but everyone has their own priorities.
Sunday: the LA County Fair. Got free tickets and parking (a $35 value! holy shit!) from Carl at the homebrew club who didn't want to use his comp tickets he got by judging beer there last year. We stumbled on the commercial beer tasting area within the first half hour (beerdar?) but it was 10:30 and we'd had enough a.m. drinking the day before. We returned at the end of the day and sampled some yumminess. I'll find my notes and finish this later; beer fatigue is setting in again (or is it ADD?)
---
Okay, I'm back, a mere 4 days later.
* Eel River Raven's Eye Stout. I'm seeing this on the web as "Imperial Russian" stout, which would explain much. A little sweet, good mouthfeel. Yum. =)
* Abita Purple Haze - fruity
* Ballast Point Amber. Hmm...sweet!
* Goose Island Imperial IPA. Whoops you upside the head! =)
* Bayhawk IPA =)
* Great BC Hollywood Blonde - good example of style perhaps, but not sure I need more of it.
* Sierra Nevada Summerfest - mmm...lawnmower beer =)
* Goose Island Imperial Stout - A bunch of wine people were complaining about this one. They have no idea what they're talking about. It's good!
Bayhawk is in Irvine. It's Orange County's oldest microbrewery. We will have to visit. Goose Island, sadly, is in Chicago.
The strong-beer-loving woman behind the bar recommended we keep our eyes open for famous local brewer Tommy Arthur . Also, that we attend the Strong Beer Festival in Carlsbad...but book a hotel within walking distance!
Partied with Rick's new classmates on Friday, at one of their cute, expensive studio apartments. Brought a 12-pack of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale to ensure that there was some beer worth drinking. Another woman of good taste showed up with a six-pack of Rogue Dead Guy (ch-ching!) but the rest of the stuff was Moosehead Lager(watery but acceptable, if you're into that kind of thing) and Miller/Bud sort of shite. Ah well, they're young, they'll learn. Wound up having to sober up at a 24-hour Subway in Westwood where we consumed the best tuna/jalepeno sub in all of explored space. And we don't even like Subway.
Which led to four hours of sleep before waking up to steward at the Pacific Brewers Cup. I'd never stewarded before, and I enjoyed it. Judges have more cred, but they're also stuck sampling one style of beer all day. The stewards, however, could sip from any open bottle in the "GOOD ONES HERE" bucket when we happened to be in the kitchen. I stewarded for Lambic & Belgian Sour Ale, Fruit Beer, Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer, and Smoke-Flavored Beer. This wasn't as much work as it sounds like; it was all at one table. I learned a lot (what's that flashlight for? Oh, to see if the beer is hazy!), tried cool new beers you can't get anywhere else (except homebrewers' houses or homebrew club meetings), and we even got free lunch. Score!
Saturday night, back with the students and all they had was Bud Light. I claimed beer fatigue from the morning's activities an abstained. (Someone later showed with Guinness in a bottle, but I passed anyway.) They seem to know it's bad beer, but drink it anyway because it's cheap. I'm happier to live in a less trendy neighborhood and eat/drink stuff that doesn't suck, but everyone has their own priorities.
Sunday: the LA County Fair. Got free tickets and parking (a $35 value! holy shit!) from Carl at the homebrew club who didn't want to use his comp tickets he got by judging beer there last year. We stumbled on the commercial beer tasting area within the first half hour (beerdar?) but it was 10:30 and we'd had enough a.m. drinking the day before. We returned at the end of the day and sampled some yumminess. I'll find my notes and finish this later; beer fatigue is setting in again (or is it ADD?)
---
Okay, I'm back, a mere 4 days later.
* Eel River Raven's Eye Stout. I'm seeing this on the web as "Imperial Russian" stout, which would explain much. A little sweet, good mouthfeel. Yum. =)
* Abita Purple Haze - fruity
* Ballast Point Amber. Hmm...sweet!
* Goose Island Imperial IPA. Whoops you upside the head! =)
* Bayhawk IPA =)
* Great BC Hollywood Blonde - good example of style perhaps, but not sure I need more of it.
* Sierra Nevada Summerfest - mmm...lawnmower beer =)
* Goose Island Imperial Stout - A bunch of wine people were complaining about this one. They have no idea what they're talking about. It's good!
Bayhawk is in Irvine. It's Orange County's oldest microbrewery. We will have to visit. Goose Island, sadly, is in Chicago.
The strong-beer-loving woman behind the bar recommended we keep our eyes open for famous local brewer Tommy Arthur . Also, that we attend the Strong Beer Festival in Carlsbad...but book a hotel within walking distance!
Friday, September 26, 2003
Beer joke, last seen on wilwheaton.net:
The leaders of the big beer companies meet for a drink. The president of Budweiser orders a Bud, the CEO of Miller gets a Miller, the head of Coors orders a Coors, and so on. Until it's Arthur Guinness's turn. He orders a soda.
"Why didn't you order a Guinness?" everyone asks.
Guinness replies, "if you guys aren't having beer, then neither will I."
The leaders of the big beer companies meet for a drink. The president of Budweiser orders a Bud, the CEO of Miller gets a Miller, the head of Coors orders a Coors, and so on. Until it's Arthur Guinness's turn. He orders a soda.
"Why didn't you order a Guinness?" everyone asks.
Guinness replies, "if you guys aren't having beer, then neither will I."
Thursday, September 25, 2003
We (well, Rick. I was sick and tired) racked the beer on Saturday. Not much left to do now except wait, bottle, and drink!
A rare bit of school spirit: John Hickenlooper, new mayor of Denver and founder of the first brewpub in the Rockies, went to the same college as I did. Same major, too. The alumni newsletter is jazzed that he's putting together a diverse staff.
If the name "Hickenlooper" sounds familiar for reasons other than beer or Wesleyan '74, it might be because of Kurt Vonnegut's Timequake. Kurt V. went to college (Cornell) with Mayor John Hickenlooper's father, John Sr., who died when his son was 7. The two met because John Jr. was brewing up a specialty beer, Kurt's Mile-High Malt. It was based on a recipe by Vonnegut's grandfather, also a brewer, and the secret ingredient was coffee.
A rare bit of school spirit: John Hickenlooper, new mayor of Denver and founder of the first brewpub in the Rockies, went to the same college as I did. Same major, too. The alumni newsletter is jazzed that he's putting together a diverse staff.
If the name "Hickenlooper" sounds familiar for reasons other than beer or Wesleyan '74, it might be because of Kurt Vonnegut's Timequake. Kurt V. went to college (Cornell) with Mayor John Hickenlooper's father, John Sr., who died when his son was 7. The two met because John Jr. was brewing up a specialty beer, Kurt's Mile-High Malt. It was based on a recipe by Vonnegut's grandfather, also a brewer, and the secret ingredient was coffee.
Monday, September 15, 2003
Our beer is bubbling!
Rick wins the Beer Geek Blue Ribbon for breading pork with the spent grains from Saturday's session. Mmm. Tastes nothing like beer, but cool nonetheless.
Rick wins the Beer Geek Blue Ribbon for breading pork with the spent grains from Saturday's session. Mmm. Tastes nothing like beer, but cool nonetheless.
Sunday, September 14, 2003
We homebrewed yesterday!
In all fairness, Rick did most of the work because I was knackered from a long day of manual labor. But either way, homebrewing is definitely easier with two people. We tasted the "green beer" and the flavor is fine. Our starting gravity was a bit fucked and we don't know why...will ask about that at the next club meeting.
Now the little yeasties do their thing for a while and we wait patiently.
After brewing, we went on a beer run. Came home, tried one Firestone Double Barrel Ale (mmm), had a Coke, and was so tired I had to go to sleep despite the caffeine. Sad. Makes you wonder how hard-working guys like construction workers manage to stay awake at the bar after work.
In all fairness, Rick did most of the work because I was knackered from a long day of manual labor. But either way, homebrewing is definitely easier with two people. We tasted the "green beer" and the flavor is fine. Our starting gravity was a bit fucked and we don't know why...will ask about that at the next club meeting.
Now the little yeasties do their thing for a while and we wait patiently.
After brewing, we went on a beer run. Came home, tried one Firestone Double Barrel Ale (mmm), had a Coke, and was so tired I had to go to sleep despite the caffeine. Sad. Makes you wonder how hard-working guys like construction workers manage to stay awake at the bar after work.
Friday, September 12, 2003
I HARDLY EVER SING BEER DRINKING SONGS
Johnny Cash (RIP)
I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
And when they play them cheatin' tunes I never sing along
I never ever sing the blues, I've forgotten "Born to lose"
And I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
I hardly ever walk the floor and cry
And I don't think I've ever said I feel like I could die
I don't ever lay awake, I never think my heart will break
I hardly ever walk the floor and cry
I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
I can't put much feeling in saying love is all gone wrong
I don't lose no sleep at night cause things with you are going right
And I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
I never call your name out in my sleep
You never make me worry and you never make me weep
I never wonder if you're true I spend a night curled up with you
And I never call your name out in my sleep
Johnny Cash (RIP)
I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
And when they play them cheatin' tunes I never sing along
I never ever sing the blues, I've forgotten "Born to lose"
And I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
I hardly ever walk the floor and cry
And I don't think I've ever said I feel like I could die
I don't ever lay awake, I never think my heart will break
I hardly ever walk the floor and cry
I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
I can't put much feeling in saying love is all gone wrong
I don't lose no sleep at night cause things with you are going right
And I hardly ever sing beer drinking songs
I never call your name out in my sleep
You never make me worry and you never make me weep
I never wonder if you're true I spend a night curled up with you
And I never call your name out in my sleep
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
What can I say about Saturday's trip to Stuffed Sandwich?
* Big yellow schoolbus. 25-30 beer fans. Open containers.
* Crazy beer bar that, due to some technicality, can only sell you beer with food. That's fine.
* Lots and lots of old friends from Belgium and Germany :)
* Lots of sharing, which is also nice. Then you get to meet other people's beers and they get to meet yours.
* Even heavyweight homebrewers are as sloppy as an average-sized woman after a few Belgians!
* Einbecker Mai Ur-bock, Bornem Dubbel, Mort Subite Framboise, Chimay everything, Leffe blonde, how I've missed you. Of course then I got greedy and started missing my other German and Belgian friends who were not available.
* Not sure what it was about this trip that is making me personify my beer.
Saturday, we brew. I still need a strainer and a big spoon, though.
* Big yellow schoolbus. 25-30 beer fans. Open containers.
* Crazy beer bar that, due to some technicality, can only sell you beer with food. That's fine.
* Lots and lots of old friends from Belgium and Germany :)
* Lots of sharing, which is also nice. Then you get to meet other people's beers and they get to meet yours.
* Even heavyweight homebrewers are as sloppy as an average-sized woman after a few Belgians!
* Einbecker Mai Ur-bock, Bornem Dubbel, Mort Subite Framboise, Chimay everything, Leffe blonde, how I've missed you. Of course then I got greedy and started missing my other German and Belgian friends who were not available.
* Not sure what it was about this trip that is making me personify my beer.
Saturday, we brew. I still need a strainer and a big spoon, though.
Friday, September 05, 2003
Returned to our friendly neighborhood homebrew supply store last night for their monthly free homebrewing class (extract). It was taught by a volunteer from the club and attended by about a dozen eager beginning brewers. About half of us stayed for the whole 2-hour demo, amusing ourselves by browsing, chatting, and sampling during the long part of the boiling process.
Chatting and sampling have been a staple of all my visits to the store. This time I had three types of homebrew (from a mini-keg, a bottle, and a tap on the back wall) and some surpisingly good Pumpkin Ale from the local brewery Red Car. "Surprisingly" because pumpkin beer, like spiced winter beers, can often be too much. But this was very subtle; Rick pointed out that we might not have identified the taste as pumpkin if we hadn't been told. It was mostly in the finish. The brewery isn't that far; yet another place to put on the list of places to drink when we have the money for bars. (Actually, we're *making* the money for an outing with the club on Saturday. Stay tuned.)
California homebrewers and Boston homebrewers are similar in that engineers, scientists, and computer professionals are disproportionately represented. As are middle-aged white men, but less so in LA than in Boston. We met a guy last night who lives and brews on his boat. He's about to sail off to the South Pacific for an undetermined amount of time and take the floating brewery with him. Word.
An informative and entertaining night, even if it meant we didn't get to eat dinner until 9:30.
Also, the closet is clean and aired, and I bought a closeout stainless steel pot for $14 today. Almost there.
Chatting and sampling have been a staple of all my visits to the store. This time I had three types of homebrew (from a mini-keg, a bottle, and a tap on the back wall) and some surpisingly good Pumpkin Ale from the local brewery Red Car. "Surprisingly" because pumpkin beer, like spiced winter beers, can often be too much. But this was very subtle; Rick pointed out that we might not have identified the taste as pumpkin if we hadn't been told. It was mostly in the finish. The brewery isn't that far; yet another place to put on the list of places to drink when we have the money for bars. (Actually, we're *making* the money for an outing with the club on Saturday. Stay tuned.)
California homebrewers and Boston homebrewers are similar in that engineers, scientists, and computer professionals are disproportionately represented. As are middle-aged white men, but less so in LA than in Boston. We met a guy last night who lives and brews on his boat. He's about to sail off to the South Pacific for an undetermined amount of time and take the floating brewery with him. Word.
An informative and entertaining night, even if it meant we didn't get to eat dinner until 9:30.
Also, the closet is clean and aired, and I bought a closeout stainless steel pot for $14 today. Almost there.
