14 Jan 2010

Today I got off of work and headed to BevMo to pick up 2 days worth of "Beer of the Day". After I parked I decided I should call my friend Sara. I was supposed to go out of town this weekend to visit her. She recently moved out of town about an hour and a half away. Of course at work today I find out that I have to work the weekend, so I had to reschedule my hotel reservation and give her the bad news. I called her and told her that it would be another week till I was able to come down. So, she asks what I'm doing and I tell her that I'm walking around BevMo trying to find some beer for my blog. She reccommended Xingu. Never heard of that before, so I look and look, the whole time on the phone with her. Finally I broke down and asked and of course the clerk walked me right over to it. I got that and another 6-pack for tommorow and rolled out.

According to the website: Pronounced “shin-goo”. Xingu Black Beer is named after the Xingu River, in the Amazon Rainforest. Inspired on old recipes of Indian beer, Xingu Black Beer is a two-time winner of Beverage Testing Institute’s Gold Medal as the best dark lager in the world. This exceptional beer is a great success in Brazil and in the USA, and consumers are now having a chance do drink it in Australia and England. Xingu Black Beer has a following that ranges from beer critics to fans and consumers alike. Its secret lies in being a beer with a distinguished and delicious taste while at the same time being very easy to drink. From its creation, Xingu Black Beer has been associated with several initiatives for the protection of the Amazon Rainforest, and it is now proud to be supporting the Y Ikatu Xingu organization.”

Now, when Sara told me this was a black beer I had no idea that it was going to be "BLACK"! I mean, I got home and poured one into a glass and it looked like Coca-Cola. I was like "Wow, that really is freaking black." I have to admit that immediately made me a little nervous. Especially after my Arrogant Bastard experience. I was pleasantly surprised when I took a sip and discovered and very smooth flavor. This beer certainly made an excellent first impression which is why it gets 8 Mason Jars. I would not only reccomend trying it but go try and find it.

13 Jan 2010

Oh, man. Well yesterday my damn service engine light came on in the truck. I have a 2004 Nissan Titan. So, after talking to my roomate, who reccomended the garage across the street, I got off of work and headed straight there. When I got there, the place had like 30 cars sitting around. I talked to the head dude, Harry. He sent one of his guys right over with the computer thingy that tells you what's wrong. He plugged it in and nothing. Apparently, it was dead. They said to come back in about an hour. So, since I didn't wanna drive too far, I swung into 7-11 hoping they had some beer I hadn't had before and HOPEFULLY a freaking hot dog. So, I walked in went straight to the beer cooler and saw the Stella Artois. Now, I've had buddies drink this in the past, but the bottle is a little frufru (another made up word). But I just had another buddy at work tell me how he and someone else both did a 12 pack of this beer and the other guy wound up puking. So, I figured why not. I grabbed the beer, chips, and a hot dog. FINALLY! I got home popped in Ocean's 11 (the new one, cause we just watch the original the other day)

According to Wikipedia: "Stella Artois (pronounced /ˈstɛlə ɑrˈtwɑː/) is a 5% ABV (5.2% in some markets) lager first brewed in Leuven, Belgium in 1926 as a Christmas brew, and named Stella after the Latin for "star".[1]
Although Belgium is best known internationally for its ales, the so-called "table beers," the bottom-fermented pilsner lagers such as Stella Artois head the list for domestic consumption, making up almost 75% of Belgian beer production. Stella is promoted as an international brand by its brewer, AB InBev. In its home market of Belgium, however, it is marketed, priced and sold as a regular lager. Despite its success internationally, the number 1 selling beer in Belgium is its sister beer Jupiler.

I was thoroughly impressed with the strength of this beer. Now, I probably wouldn't reccomend it as a "sit around the house and drink" beer. But if you're out and just have time for one or two. You have to try this. I give it 8 Mason jars. It was smooth and strong.

Oh, by the way. I did go back to the shop, and the damn computer still wasn't charged. Finally, 3 hours and the rest of the beer later, I headed back and it turns out I need a new air sensor. So, Friday, my truck gets dropped off for a few hours.

12 Jan 2010

Well, since Tuesday is my day off, I hit up my buddy Kevin to see if he wanted to go to the "Vic". Then my friend Morgan stopped by so the three of us headed off to the bar. We had a pretty damn good time. We shot some pool, shot some shit and talked. I of course had some Blue Moon. So, of course on the way home we stopped by 7-11 at about 11:30 and they still didn't have any freaking hot dogs. It's crazy, they wouldn't even throw one on. Ugh!! Anyway, I digress. Hit the sack and woke up to try out my beer of the day.

Blue Paddle Pilsner-Lager is brewed by New Belgium. New Belgium is best known for it's amber ale Fat Tire. Blue Paddle is their attempt at a European style pilsner. Now I don't have too much experience with pilsners, but this brew was decent. It was smooth and definatley not dark. I give it about 6 mason jars. If it should present itself give it a try.

11 Jan 2010

Well after a fairly rough night at work, coughing and sneezing the whole time I made it through. I hit BevMo on the way home and picked up a beer for today and one for tommorow. Had a brief conversation with the guy at the counter about how graveyard shift sucks and then I was on my way. I wasted no time at all getting home. After all, I had been sick then went to work and really wasn't feeling too great, but good enough to drink some beer. So I headed on home and decided to relax. I ran a hot bath, with a cold beer and tried to make a phone call to a friend, but no answer so I just chilled in the tub with my glass of Red Trolley Ale. You know I was really surprised, my roomate reccomended the bath with some espon salt, it really worked. Once I got out everything that was stressing me out was gone from my mind. I really felt like a new man.

Anyway, Red Trolley Ale. This ale was originally brewed as a seasonal beer. It apparently became so popular that now it is brewed year round. It has a strong caramel flavor, but itself is not too dark a beer. The first couple sips were actually a little strong on the flavor, but the brew got progressively smoother after that. As a seasonal brew I give this 8 mason jars, but as an everyday beer only 6.5 mason jars. I definately reccomend this guy if you ever get the chance.

10 Jan 2010

Well, unfortunately no new beer today. Apparently I finally caught whatever the hell everyone else around me has had. I mean I feel like crap. This sucks. Oh well, my roomate, made me homemade chicken soup. It's freaking delicious. Seriously, you would never buy the store bought crap again if you had it. I did have a couple bud lights, but that's it. No leaving the house for me. Did watch a weird movie called "Taking Woodstock". It had Demitri Martin in it, who I think is hilarious. The movie, not so much. Anyway, gonna take some theraflu and get some sleep. Should be back up with beer in hand tommorow.

9 Jan 2010

Well, after waking up from a night at the "Vic" it was time to hit up the beer of the day. But let me just say that by buddy Kevin and I were at the bar after I attended the party I spoke about yesterday. We went down there and drank some beers and played some pool, when this dude walks in with two "ssssmoking" girls. I mean they were like model hot. I think the dude was Austrailian, I think. We talked to him a bit, but were "slightly" distracted by his companions. I really don't remember much that he had to say, but it was totally weird that they were there. I mean really, who would walk into the "Vic" with those two girls. Something seemed a little off, I'm not sure what, but I'll let you speculate. Anyway, I got drunk and we stumbled to 7-11 and I finally got home. Back to the present.

Today's beer is Peroni. Peroni is an Italian beer. I chose the Nastro Azzuro which according to wikipedia is "a 5.1% alcohol by volume pale lager. It is the Peroni Brewery's premium lager brand which was launched in 1965. The name means "Blue Ribbon" in Italian, in honor of the Blue Riband won by Italian ocean liner SS Rex in 1933. Nastro Azzurro is the sponsor of the MotoGP rider Valentino Rossi.

I was pleasantly surprised by this one. To be completely honest, I actually felt a little fancy drinking an italian beer. It had a great smooth taste and wasn't too light. I'm giving this guy 7.5 Mason Jars. I would highly reccomend you give it a try.

8 Jan 2010

Well, it's Friday. Ohh Yeaaahhh!! Left work a little late today, had a retirement ceremony that I had to attend. It's cool though, don't have to go back to work till Sunday morning. I decided that today was the perfect day to hit up BevMo. Needed a new BevMo card anyway. I got to BevMo and had to pick a few other things for a going away party. I think I was driving the poor guy at the store crazy. When he asked if he could help me I don't think he had any idea what he was getting into. First I thought I should get a bottle of wine for the party. Being the consumate hick that I am, I certainly needed help with that one. He reccommended a zinfandel that would taste like a $15 bottle, but only cost $7. Oh yeah I said, that'll work. Then I needed some bottles out of the liquour cabinets. First was a bottle of Jack Daniel's Single Barrel. Then to the next cabinet for 2 bottles of Hennesy. (They're for the aforementioned retirement) Then of course I had to ask his opinion on my beer of the day. Well, I already knew today's was Arrogant Bastard, but more so for tommorow. He said to try Peroni, which I will tommorow. Anyway, I also picked up a case of Sierra Nevada at my roomate's request, and of course, a 30pack of Bud Light. I got to the counter and the gentlemen asked, "Having a party?" I said, not particularly this is pretty usual. Ha Ha. Anyway, $175 later I was leaving BevMo with my now racked up rewards card.

Anyway, on to the beer. I've had several buddies tell me about Arrogant Bastard. So here we go. On the back of the bottle there it says: "This is an agressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth." blah blah blah. Some other crap about small breweries vs. big breweries and what not. Let me tell you, this damn thing was a lot of work. I poured, or should I say, plopped the beer into a glass and was already concerned. I do like dark beers, but this made Guiness look like Bud Light. It was, strong to say the least. I have to give this 4 mason jars. I was drinking it thinking "When will it end?" My roomate even suggested that I dump it out, but I am dedicated to my task so I completed it, finally. I would not reccomend this beer to the faint of heart.