Mar 06 2012
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Uncategorized, Where you been

Late as usual… Tah Dah!

I figure it was time for me to get of my fat patty and finally pump out my first post of 2012.  As usual, I’ve been drinking (responsibly) way more than I’ve been writing, so I’m extremely behind (like thats a surprise). Anywho… Lets get to it!

The Place: Ormsby’s- Atlanta, Ga
The Peeps: Bear, CB & J, and other party goers
The Beers: Monday Night Drafty Kilt (ABV 7.2%) and St. Bernabous Abt 12 (ABV 10%)

#145 Monday Night Drafty Kilt (ABV7.2%)
I’ve been waiting to get my hands on a Monday Night beer for a minute.  I couldn’t ask for a better first beer of 2012.  It has a wonderful taste of roasted malts, dark fruits, and a hint of caramel and brown sugar.  Awesomeness in a glass!  Fist pump for local brews!  Thumbs up!

#146 St. Bernardus Abt 12 (ABV 10%)
Didn’t know what to get for the second round, so I went for whatever was available with a cool name and the highest alcohol content (I like more bang for my buck). Fruity, slighty sweet, hints of spice, and the hops gave it some bite at the end. In a nutshell it was decent.  Thumbs up.

The Place: Beer Fest International Beer House- New Orleans, LA
The Peeps: Bear, The Mess, and Bobby
The Beers: Voodoo Bengal (ABV 5.50%)  and Hopitoulas IPA (ABV 6.0%)

Back in the Nola for the BCS National Championship to cheer on The Tide (Ahem… who whooped LSU’s a**, btw). I only had two requests for this 24 hours rendezvous. 1. Char-grilled Oysters from Drago’s. 2. Visit to Beer Fest International Beer House.  We had an amazing time and Bear snapped an awesome pic of Nick Saban on the team bus while I ran through the crowd trying to find the nearest bathroom to potty.

#147 Tin Roof Brewing Voodoo Bengal (ABV 5.50%)
Not gonna lie. I don’t remember anything about this beer. I was so caught up in the excitement I didn’t even take a pic (which usually jogs my memory). My bad…

#148 NOLA Brewing Company Hopitoulas IPA (ABV 6.0%)
Hops and citrus is all I remember about this one, which is usually a given with IPA. Per Beer Advocate its combined with 6 malts and 6 hops with an additional dry hopping for 3 weeks and it takes a month to make each batch. Fancy huh? Thumbs up! The pic is missing in action.

The Place: Brick Store Pub- Decatur, GA
The Peep: CB
The Beers: Bell’s Brewery Inc. Hopslam (ABV 10%), Founders Brewing Company Double Trouble (ABV 9.4%), Brasserie de Silly LaDevine (ABV 9.5%)

#149 Bell’s Brewery Inc. Hopslam (ABV 10%)
For a few weeks most of the beer peeps I follow on Twitter (@BeerLaughLove, btw) were losing their minds about the release of Hopslam, so I had to see what the fuss was about.  First off, the aroma of hops and grapefruit was amazing.  This beer definitely lives up to its name.  At first all I could taste was hops, hops, grapefruit and hops, but as I drank more of it I could taste hints of caramel, which toned down the bitterness from the hops.  Not going to lie.  My expectation for this beer were way to high, but I did like it.  Thumbs Up!

#150 Founders Brewing Company Double Trouble (ABV 9.4%)
This was the bartender recommended for Round 2.  It has an awesome balance of citrus fruits, grapefruits (I know it’s a citrus fruit, but it stood out), and hops with hints of floral and the malts give a sweet finish at the end. I’m probably going to get punched in the face, but I liked Double Trouble a more than I liked Hopslam.  Thumbs Up.

#151 Brasserie de Silly LaDevine (ABV 9.5%)
We switched over from IPAs to a Tripel.  I think we picked this solely off the name and the ABV (that how we roll).  It was fruity and sweet with hints of spice (like nutmeg). It was a good ending to our Sunday Funday. Thumbs up! Sorry folks, no pic.

I’ve lived in Atl for two years and this was my first trip to BrickStore Pub.  Clearly I’ve been sleeping under a rock.  It was everything CB said it would be (she’s a regular) and more. Good food, good beer, nice people.  I can’t wait to go back!

The Place: Cheeseburger in Paradise
The Peeps: Bear and friends
The Beer: #152 Kona Brewing Company Fire Rock Pale Ale (ABV 5.9%)

I straggled along with Bear for one of his work functions.  Wasn’t hungry or in the mood to drink, but since he was buying what the heck.  In true Kit fashion, I ordered a beer with cool name (Well, the coolest name I could find on that menu anyway).  Interesting blend of grassy hops and tangy citrus taste.  I wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing.  I gave to the mid side thumb, because it paired well with my fried pickles.

S/O and High Fives
I’ve been so lazy with putting up my post that all my the good s/o and high fives are super late, but (word)

  1. 2012 BCS National Champions The University of Alabama Crimson Tide.  It was the perfect start to my 2012. ROLL TIDE!
  2. This year’s NCAA Tourney!  My bracket is in shambles as usual, but I’m loving every minute of March Madness.
  3. Dope Wars game on Android. Who knew pretending to sell drugs could be as addictive at now as it was in 10th grade.

Thumbs downs and WTFs

  1. People who write in all caps on Facebook.  Are you yelling at us? Do you not know how to take disable cap lock? I don’t understand.
  2. The phrase “You aint about this/that life”. I wish it would go away, along with “That’s what’s up” and “It is what it is”.

Side Note: apparently while I was in The N.O. I added another beer to the list, but didn’t document it in my phone.  I gave it a thumbs up, so I guess it was good. Still trying to decide if I should add “Mystery Beer” to the list.

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Dec 28 2011
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Uncategorized

Christmas Shenanigans in a Glass

I’m super late as usual, but that’s just how this kid rolls.  At least I got a post up before the New Year. Enjoy!

#140 Anchor Steam Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (ABV 5.5%)

My contribution to CB’s Tacky Christmas Sweater Party. I was originally going to take a couple bottles of Crispin Hard Cider, but the Anchor Steam bottle was more festive.  Heavy foam head, but I blame that on my terrible pouring. On the upside, the foam gave off a nice spicey aroma. This beer really did taste like Christmas in a cup! Rich, spicey (like nutmeg, not tobasco), and toasted malts with a woodsy finish. According to the Anchor Steam website the label and secret recipe changes every year. Thumbs up!

Safety first!

 

#141 Sierra Nevada Gillsade 2011 (ABV 6.4%)

I went to a company Christmas party with a friend in Downtown Atlanta. It was everything a you can ask for in a fancy work function.  Good food, open bar, drunk inappropriate co-workers. The beer selection wasn’t great, but you can’t beat free. I drank it straight from the bottle, so I don’t know the color. I’ll take a stab in the dark and guess its golden? Crisp, light hops, and slight bitter after taste. Not gonna lie, I was too busy playing Blackjack to pay close attention to taste details or take a picture. Mentally, I gave it a 9 o’clock (midway point between side thumb and thumbs up).

#142 Miller Genuine Draft (ABV???)

I was so crazied with playing Blackjack I made the mistake of telling the waiter to bring me any available beer. MGD tastes like piss, skunk, depression, and tears. This doesn’t even get a thumb. I should’ve given it the finger. I can only blame myself… and Blackjack.

:-(...

#143 Bell’s Brewery Cherry Stout (ABV 7%)

I went out for a weeknight Taco Mac outing with some peeps. The beer menu is exhausting so I went with the first name that caught my attention. As I have stated 1000 times stouts aren’t my favorite, but this one changed my life. The cherries, chocolate, and roasted malts all came together and slapped me in the mouth (in a good way). The tart finish from the cherries really set it off. Perfection! No pic, but it get an elevated thumb for awesomeness!

#144 Trader Joe’s Vintage Ale 2011 (ABV 9%)

Believe or not, this was my first time at Trader Joe’s. It was pretty intense. It was like the entire story was frantic for booze. I felt like a big alchy waiting in line with my beer and two bottles of wine, but when I noticed people around me had SEVERAL cases of wine, my shame went away. Anywho… The Vintages Ale 2011 was pleasantly delicious! It was very smooth operatorish. Brewed with noble hops, roasted malts, and spices. Hints of raisins and cloves rounded out the flavor. Thumbs up! For some reason the pic wouldn’t upload. I’m really slacking this post.

High Fives and Shout Outs

1. To me! I added 91 beers to the list this year! It may not be alot to cool people, but it is for us regular folk.

2. All my peeps for reading another year of my shenanigans and my new readers for getting on board.

WTFs and Thumbs Downs

1. LSU everything…

Well kids, we got another year down. Hope 2011 was everything you wanted it to be and more. I would say lets recap, but I don’t remember much of it (in a forgetful Alzheimer’s kind of way, not in a constant hangover way). I wish you nothing, but the best for the 2012. Don’t make New Years resolutions… change when you feel like it (or not). Love your old (insert flaw/sin here) self. Peace and Cheers!

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Dec 16 2011
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Yayee Yayheee (in my best Ice Cube voice)!

#138 BridgePort Stumptown Tart (ABV 7.7%)
Brewed with organic strawberries. As I was pouring and heard fizz from the carbonation I knew it was going down… basement.  Basically, this beer is everything the label says it is.  Strawberries and tart with strong boozy finish.  It’s alright in my book.  It gets the slight side thumb for that power punch of booze at the end.  I wasn’t feeling it at the time.

#139 Crispin Natural Hard Apple Cider Artisanal Reserves Lansdowne (ABV 6.9%)
Spiked apple cider with a hint of honey.  Excellent for Christmas gatherings or just taking a chill pill.  I would even recommend it to the unfortunate souls that don’t drink beer.  I was considering taking this as my plus one guest to this year’s Christmas parties, but I took something else instead (Christmas party post coming soon).  I’m also a fan of nutrition label! 140 empty calories per serving well spent.  Thumbs up!

High Fives and Shout Outs:

  1. Tim Tebow.  I didn’t like him when he was the QB for Florida (especially in 08 and 09), but he is starting to grow on me.  It’s good to have positive role models in sports, even though the “not so family friendly” athletes are more fun to watch.  (Side Note: I’m slightly still bitter about Bama losing to Tebow and the Gators in the 2008 SEC Championship. Working on getting over it.)

Thumb’s Downs and WTF’s

  1. LSU everything…
  2. The sports world drama.  Between Sandusky and Fine preying on little boys, NBA Shenanigans, and all the other not so manly things going on, I can’t enjoy SportsCenter.  I miss the old days when steroids were a secret, nobody cared if an athlete cheated on his wife, and Stuart Scott was a regular on ESPN.  I just want my life back!

Down on your luck in the love department? So is my #1 Snow Elizabeth (or Jen as I like to call her)!  Read about her dating woes on biggestlosersearch.wordpress.com.  She’s got f#cked up stories for days.

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Nov 30 2011
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Breweries

Brown Bear. Red Hare.

The Place: Red Hare Brewery, Marietta, GA

The Peeps: Rianna, Gabby, and C.B.

The Beers: #134 Chocolate Porter (ABV 8%), #135 Gangway IPA (ABV 6.2%), #136 Watership Brown (ABV 7.25), #137 Long Day Lager (ABV 5.2%)

This was my first adventure to Red Hare Brewery in Marietta, GA.  I read good review about it, so I had to go see what the fuss was about.  Enjoy!

#134 Red Hare Chocolate Porter (ABV 8%)

Porter aren’t my favorite, but this was a damn (sorry mom) good one. Its kind of hard to explain, but it was like drinking roasty chocholate magic. You have to try it for yourself. Thumbs up!

#135 Red Hare Gangway IPA (ABV 6.2%)

Awesome IPA! I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t expecting it to be THAT good.  It hit all the key flavors of IPA with just a teeny bit of a sweetness. I drank all the first glass and had to get another so I could take the picture.  Thumbs up! 

#136 Red Hare Watership Brown Ale (ABV 7.25)

This beer has more hops than most brown ales I’ve tasted, but not in a bad way.  Hints of sweetness and a roasty finish. Another winner! Thumbs up!

#137 Red Hare Long Day Lager (ABV 5.2%)

Perfect balance of citrus and sweet flavors with some maltyness (Is that a word?).  I haven’t tried many lagers during my adventure, but this is the best so far.  Thumbs up!

As you can tell from the ratings I REALLY liked the beer at Red Hare.  The brewery/tasting room has a laid back “where everyone knows your name” type atmosphere ( Probably because I was chatting it up with fellow Bama alum and fans).  It seems like they are still trying to find a swag/vibe to set them apart from the other local breweries, but  its a new establishment so they’ll figure it out.  In all, it was good adventure with even better beer.  I will definately be back!

High Fives and Shout Outs

  1. The Crimson Tide and the extremely high possiblity of playing in the BCS National Championship! RMFT!
  2. Pinterest! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, don’t go the website.  It will suck you in like a black hole.
  3. Iron Bowl 2011.  Bama 41-Auburn 14. Nothing more to say about that.

Thumb Downs and WTFs

  1. LSU everything.  Yeah, I’m still on that.
  2. All the crybaby hater raiders (especially Kirk Herbstreit) at ESPN and their BCS talk.  If you don’t want to see an Bama/LSU Championship rematch don’t watch.  Maybe you should talk to the BCS King (who in my mind would look like the Burger King mask) and tell him about how unfair it is. 

I hope everyone’s holiday season is off to a good start. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to bust a move and wear tacky Christmas sweaters. Remember to drink responsibly and keep those cabs/taxis on speed dial. Cheers!

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Nov 18 2011
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When It All Falls Down

Happy Fall, my peeps (I’m late as usual)! My goal for the rest of the year is focus on seasonal beers. I’m almost positive I will forget. Maybe I will surprise myself.

#129 New Belgium Hoptober Golden Ale (ABV 6.0%)
Compliments of Bobby and Jessy D. at Hudson Grille while we were watching the Bama/Florida game.  Not bad, but nothing to write home about. Citrus notes from the hops and hints of fruit here and there. Bobby hated it and Jessy pretended to like it (they’re down with mostly domestic beers).  Mid-side Thumb.

#130 Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin (ABV)
My first pumpkin beer! I’m super late, but better late than never. Not amazing, but decent. I’ve never had anything with pumpkin as an ingredient, so I have nothing to compare it to. Crisp and umm… Pumpkiny? That’s pretty much all I got from it. I would have liked a little more pumpkin flavor, but that is the only downside. According to my #1 Snow Jen, there are better pumpkin beers out there. Do I smell an adventure for the pumpkin beer? We shall see… Thumbs up!

#131 Ayinger Oktoberfest Fest-Märzen (ABV 5.80%)
Authentic Bavarian Festival Lager. I’ve never been to Oktoberfest, but I would be willing to bet all the beers look, smell, and taste like this one. In a nutshell the beer is heavy, has crazy carbonation, and primarily tastes like orange rinds and malts. It makes me wish I was outside with friends, silently janking people. Thumbs up. Love the bottle top.

Cool bottle cap.

#132 Sierra Nevada 30th Anniversary Grand Cru (ABC 9.2%)
Oak ( from the barrel, I suppose), caramel, coffee, hops, and vanilla. Lovely dark color with a creamy foam head. I probably shouldn’t have drunk all 16 oz by myself, but I had to take one for the team… Well, I have no team so I guess I’m just plain ol’ greedy. Thumbs up!

Shout Outs and High Fives

  1. Cosby sweaters for the Fall/Winter. I don’t know why, but I need em’ in my life.

Thumbs Down and WTFs

  1. Everything LSU…
Nov 04 2011
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Uncategorized

Happy Stout Day!

image

I’m not gonna lie. I didn’t know it was Stout Day until I read a tweet from Beer Advocate this afternoon . Even though I typically don’t go for stout, I couldn’t ignore today’s celebration. I made a beeline straight from work to Sherlock’s. Actually, I had to drop of my car pool buddy, then I went to Sherlock’s. As soon as I walk to the beer section I spot good ol’ Tyler! Told him the deal, he knew what was up, and the rest is Stout Day history.

#135 Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout (ABV 10%)
I’m pretty sure I poured the first glass way to fast because foam was almost spilling over the top of the glass. Stouts are usually not my favorite, but this was awesome! Its the perfect balance of cocoa, coffee, toffee and malts with a dab of caramel. Smooth from beginning to end. Hooray! Thumb Up!

High Fives and Shout Outs
1. Tyler for another great recommendation. You never fail!

2. My self for beering and blogging in the same night. Probably not the best idea, but I got my post done in a timely manner.

3. MTV for bringing back Beavis and Butt-Head. Keep filling my Thursday nights with brain melting nonsense.

4. Hov and Yezzy for rocking my face off at WTT last Saturday.

Thumbs Downs and WTF’s
1. My beer glass collection. I REALLY need to invest in appropriate beer glassware. Not that I don’t appreciate my nowhere near impressive collection of pint glasses, but I need to step my game up.

2. Huge WTF to Foster The People courtesy of Vh1 Pop-up Video. If I would’ve known that “Pumped Up Kicks” is about a a crazy kid doing a school shooting I wouldn’t sing it at the top of my lungs when I’m in the car. Now I feel guilty. Oh, I still sing, but I feel horrible after.

Special Shout out to all my peeps for continuing to read about my beer shenanigans and to BeerBeauty for being my first “kind of a big deal” follower on Twitter. Oh… and to my mom for sweating me about sending shout outs (how does she know what a s/o is?). Thanks again! Peace!

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Oct 28 2011
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Reads

Weekend Read Before I WTT.

I’m patting myself on the back for finding (well stumbbling across) this amazing article and not jacking it from The Beer Goddess facebook updates.  It’s a great article about female master brewers!

The Hop Ceiling

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2011/10/craft_beer_making_women_brewmasters_are_busting_stereotypes.html

I can’t leave my non-readers out of the loop. In honor of the Watch The Throne tour kicking off in Atlanta this weekend, I am sharing my all time favorite Jay-Z and Kanye west videos. I hope everybody has an awesome weekend! If your looking for me, I’ll be at Philips Arena throwing up The ROC! Peace, kids!

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Oct 11 2011
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Tales From a 6 Pack

This assorted six pack I handed picked FOREVER ago. Enjoy!

The Beer: #110 Left Hand Brewing Co. Good JuJu Ginger Beer (ABV 4%)

Refreshing taste of ginger and spice.  It tastes like ginger ale, but better.  A good recommendation for the girls who want to drink beer, but can’t handle the “beer taste”. Thumbs up!

The Beer: #111 Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter (ABV 9.2%)

The description on the lable states that this beer will have an assault on your tastebuds and they weren’t lying. It didn’t taste the same in the beggining as it did at the end.  When it first hits the tounge it taste similar to a pale ale, but it finishes like a porter.  It kind of tasted like an chocolate orange Godiva candy bar.  Strange beer, but I liked it. Thumbs up! Side Note: There was a RIP shout out to Hunter S. Thompson. I had no idea who he was until Google saved the day. He created Gonzo journalism and wrote The Rum Diary and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He must have been good friends with Johnny Depp. So I guess that the explination for the name and crazy bottle.

The Beer: #115 White Rascal (ABV 5.6%)

I could immediatley smell the spices while I was pouring the beer.  Nice balanced flavor of spices and tangy fruits, although it put a sting in my throat from the carbonation.  Thumbs up!

The Beer: #119 Brother Thelonious Belgium Style Abbey Ale (ABV 9.4%)

Could be easily mistaken for a glass of Coke if your not paying attention (apperance, not tatse).  Umm… At first it tasted the way nailpolish remover smells.  After a few more sips I tasted coffee, cocoa, and toffee and fruit flavors, but near the end of the glass it started tasting like nailpolish remover smell again.  Slight side thumb only because of the goodness in the middle of the glass.

The Beer: #127 Bluegrass Brewing Company American Pale Ale (ABV 6.0 %)

Made in the KY (s/o to my peeps)!  Instant slap in the face (well tounge) with hops, grapefruits, and citrus rinds.  Not so exciting pour, but was very hazy/foggy in in apperance.  Remember in the movie “Aliens” when Ripley was trying to see what was inside the glass, but she couldn’t see through the the murky water and when she got closer the alien popped out? Thats was “Aliens”, right? Anyway… Thats how it looked. Thumbs up!

The Beer: #128  Tuskers (ABV4.2%)

I feel like I’ve been chasing after this beer for a while and I finally got my hand on one.  It was  sweet (maybe honey) and malty.  It’s got some bite to it, but nothing amazing. Confused side thumb because I don’t know how I feel about it.

Forgive me for jumping around on the beers and numbers. I thought it would be fun to have a special post for my hand picked 6 pack, to bad it took me 3 mos to write it. I’ll try to better next time… I always say that.

High Fives and Shout Outs

  1. To Beer Trappe in Lex,KY for the supply.
  2. Fall TV! So glad to have you back! Now I have an excuse not to blog, work out, read or do anything to improve my life

R.I.P. to my car Steven.  We had some good time together.  4 states in 5 years, numerous ride outs and several southeast tours. He fought it out till the end, but it was time for us to part ways. I hope his new owner (if he has one) enjoys the Blueprint 3 cd I accidently left.  I love you, Steven.

Steven Johnson Williams (1999-2011)

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Oct 03 2011
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Reads

Reading and Rumpshaking

Another fun read on deck thanks to Jen and the good people of today.com. Read about the “interesting” beers from The 30th Annual Great American Beer Festival!

http://bites.today.com/_news/2011/10/03/8118046-bacon-beer-9-wild-brews-worth-trying.

For those of you that don’t feel like reading, here is a little tune to cure those Monday Blues.  Its ok if you want to the door and dance on top of your desk.

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Sep 27 2011
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Reads

8 Perfectly Good Reasons to Drink Beer

  1.  Beer drinkers are all around happier people.
  2. People wish they could be you. Most of your non-beer drinking friends envy that you can (sometimes) pay half the price of they’re overrated cocktail and get a better buzz.
  3. So many fun games! Power Hour, Beer Pong, Flip Cup, should I continue?
  4.  Major chick/guy magnet. Guys: Ladies like a man’s man. Not saying the cute pink color from the (insert vodka of choice here) and cranberry will scare her off, but it can send the wrong message. Girls: Believe it or not, guys go ape sh!t over a girl who he can chill and have beers with. Double fisting could score you double points or an intervention the next morning.
  5. You’re the cheap one out of the group.  You can go to the bar and order a round of Buds or Miller and your friends will still think you’re generous (when you only spent $15).
  6. They make great gifts for any occasion! Birthdays, congrats, sympathy, or whatever you chose to celebrate.
  7.  Koozies! Nothing says how amazing and experienced you are like a koozie.  You keep your beer and have people be jealous of your warm hands at the same time.
  8. No muss, no fuss. You skip all that juice and mixer and get straight to the party.

Any other good reasons? Let me know!

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