Tasty Beverage of the Week

It had probably been 5 years since I drank Sierra Nevada's winter seasonal offering. Hi Way Pizza had it on tap when I conveniently lived right across the street. We always seemed to have one or two pitchers too many. Back then I thought it was quite strong, both in flavor and alcohol.
"Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale represents a time honored tradition of brewing a special beer for the holiday season. There are generous portions of barley malts and fine whole hops of several varieties, creating a brew with a full, rich and hearty character."
Celebration Ale is the perfect brew to warm up with after coming in from the windy cold of early winter. There's not yet enough snow to snuggle up with a Murphy's Irish Stout, and the blood oranges are not yet in season to add to a Blue Moon. I've been eyeing up the Celebration Ale for a few weeks now, but I knew it had to wait until after Turkey Day. (Which reminds me - the Beaujolais Nouveau was extremely disappointing with the big feast. I didn't even finish one glass. And I usually tend to drink wine like it's my job once I get started.) Thanksgiving was barely over, so I knew it was time to pick up a case.
Todd, the Beer Advocate, says: "Dreamy. So smooth. So rich. So fortified with malt goodness. So hoppy. At first there's a creamy feel on the palate, that then opens up to toasty, sweet malt flavours. A bold herbal hop runs rampid on the palate with a semi-prickly, puckering, lemon-rind quality. After a few more mouthfulls the brew begins to warm the body, and you can really feel the alcohol kick in. Finishes a bit dry with grain/husk flavours, and some breadiness as it warms... At 6.8% this is one hell of a Winter seasonal! Warms the body and soul. A brew for hop heads too. One of the best Winter Seasonals that I have ever had, and one of the best Strong Ales. Drink with caution as this brew will kick your ass."
Although I would agree to the claim that it is "perfect for a festive gathering or for a quiet evening at home", I wouldn't go so far as to agree with the San Fransisco Chronicle writer who calls it the "best beer ever made in America".

Recent Discoveries

• The new album by The Hives, The Black and White Album, sounds great. Who knew Swedish garage-punk was so cool? I'm a fan.


• Speaking of garage, I must plug Little Steven's Underground Garage - Sirius Channel 25. For almost a whole year, I didn't switch my radio away from Left of Center. But variety is the spice of life, so lately I've been going back and forth between these two channels. I'm provided with the best of both worlds: the best new music, and the pioneers who got us to this point.


• Good news for Gus - Paste magazine picks The National's Boxer as #1 album of the year. Thanks to Stereogum for providing the access.
  

Tasty Beverage of the Week - Thanksgiving Edition

With its release each year on the third Thursday of every November, Beaujolais Nouveau signifies the start of the holiday season. Made from Gamay grapes grown in the Beaujolais region of France, it is an immature wine that goes from vine to bottle in a matter of weeks. It is intended for immediate consumption, making it a popular Thanksgiving Day tradition.
Each year, the vintners race to be the first to deliver their "primeur" product to the marketplace. French law does not allow the product to be released prior to midnight on the third Thursday of November. Due to limited production quantities, consumers then race to get their share.
Mine made it to the shelves of the state liquor store in the middle of Pennsylvania by that Thursday afternoon. When I went to purchase the Georges Duboeuf at 7:00pm Friday evening, only four bottles were left from the initial 15 case shipment. I bought all four. Since I'm not particularly patient, I busted open the first bottle that evening. But I plan to consume another with the bird this afternoon.
It may not be the greatest wine I've ever tasted, but the excitement surrounding its release makes it almost as much fun as a trip to the Finger Lakes.
So anyway... Happy Thanksgiving!

Tasty Beverage of the Week

Coming all the way from North County San Diego, this week's feature is Stone IPA.

"Look up "hops" in the dictionary and you'll see a picture of Stone IPA! "Dry-hopped" for an extra two weeks, this unique process gives our IPA its bountiful hop aroma and rich hop flavor. A full 70+ IBUs (International Bitterness Units) creates this beer's crisp and refreshing bitter character."

With 3 different kinds of hops and a 6.9%ABV, it is not for those who live in fear. But don't worry, the gargoyle wards off modern day evil spirits such as chemical preservatives, additives, and adjuncts.

The overall score on Beer Advocate is a 91-Outstanding. Todd says: "Simply put ... this is one insane IPA, and not for the weak palate. To compare it to other IPAs would be silly, however I think this sums it up ... Once Stone comes into a new market it's like a challenge to other brewers in the area: "I know my big beers are bigger and better than yours, but let's see yours anyway. I promise not to laugh." Oh ... and this is just their standard IPA doing the speaking."

I must admit, I don't enjoy the Stone IPA as much as some of the other recent discoveries. The helpful beer guy at Pletcher's compared it to the Two Hearted Ale, and said it was extremely similar. To me, they taste very different, and this one doesn't stand up. It's not as hoppy as the Hops Infusion, or as strong as the Two Hearted. It is quite popular - every time I go to the distributor the Stone section is empty. Maybe I'm goofy, but the search continues...

Best Rock Album of the 90's?

I recently came across the two-disc collection by The Black Crowes released in 2006 entitled Lost Crowes. The second disc consists of the widely circulated collection of tunes known among fans as Tall. This is the music that was the unofficial predecessor to the now-classic amorica. Some tracks made the album in one form or another, and some did not.
If I listened to amorica once, I must have listened to it a thousand times during my later high school and early college years. I picked up my first copy on cassette during a trip to Las Vegas. Everything about the album appealed to me (including the cover art from the July 1976 issue of Hustler). It is truly classic rock at its finest.
I would love to recommend the entire catalog of Crowes music to you, but at the very least pick up amorica and The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion.
In the meantime, check out this video for "A Conspiracy" from the 1994 album amorica.

Tasty Beverage of the Week

"India Pale Ale style well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula. American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma."

The overall score on Beer Advocate is a 91-Outstanding. Jason states: "A super hoppy brew with a puckering dryness that I would only put up against the sharpest of cheddars. A hop heads delight without a doubt."
It comes in an unassuming brown cardboard case. The 7% ABV could scare away the uninitiated, but don't be afraid. I am thoroughly enjoying my case of this specimen from Bell's Brewery in Michigan.
The only opportunity I've had to share one with a friend, however, did not lead to similar results. It is quite bitter and has a strong alcohol flavor. So be forewarned... It's for reals!

Magic

After several listens to The Boss's new effort, I have decided it is indeed worthy of the tags "universal" and "timeless". I have never been a huge Springsteen fan, but I have always appreciated his music.
The raucaus opening track "Radio Nowhere" and the mental-picture-painting "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" are standouts.
Glide Magazine's review of the 10/17 show at MSG hits the nail on the head:

"The ten-piece E Street Band is indeed a cast of characters, each one personally defined and worthy of their own charms. Guitarist Steven Van Zandt and saxophonist Clarence Clemons are Springsteen foils that hold it down from the wings while The Boss works his own magic over the crowd. From front to back, Springsteen hand-delivers a little piece of himself to every single person in the house. He lets you know that he knows you're there, and he appreciates it immensely. Springsteen's true gift is how he is able to speak his mind without condescension, without judgment of his fellow man, and with a true message of hope. It is reasons like these that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band remains timeless after all these years."

Bruce Springsteen truly is American Music History 35 years in the making. Several years ago, I was given tickets to see him play PNC Park in Pittsburgh. I gave them away because I had to work at 8:00 the next morning. Looking back on it, I should have given up sleep that night and braved the 6 hour round trip, because I may never get such a great opportunity (especially for free) again. And Max Weinberg rules.

Breaking News: All Online Data Lost After Internet Crash

Tasty Beverage of the Week

One of the friendly folks at Pletcher's recommended this fine product to me, and I couldn't have been more impressed. He asked me what I liked, with my response being "hoppy IPA's". I never had any of Weyerbacher's beers before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This is actually one of their only low ABV beers (and by low I mean 6.2%!).
Weyerbacher is made in Easton, PA - gotta support the Pennsylvania brewers. Hops Infusion is crafted using 7 different kinds of hops.
To quote Beer Advocate's review: "Egats! Hops are imploding over taste buds! Mellow medium body, very smooth on the tongue with a lower level of carbonation. Hops, hops and hops ... they go from juicy fruit and citric rind to herbal and earthy with flowery flavour throughout. Hop oil is sweet and overly expressive, tastes of fresh hop tea. Malt is nearly nonexistent other than the mouth feel, they are pretty much masked by the hop's clout. Some fruit esters punch a small hole into the flavour threshold, a very small hole that is. Bitterness is up there but this is more of a hop flavour ale than an overly bitter ale. Complexity of the hops makes the mind go a tad towards madness. This beer never really has an end and has an everlasting finish, it just keeps lingering with hops.... Well, well, well aren't we the little hop bastard of the bunch, delicate but strong. Hop addicts will get a soothing fix of this one, only ballsy beer drinkers should attempt to drink Hop Infusion."
I've always considered Beer Advocate to be THE authority on beer, and this review is a great one.
Someday soon when I'm feeling brave, I look forward to trying some of Weyerbacher's other strong ales.