What I Have Learned (recently)

Brewing your own beer is fun, exciting, easy and cost effective.  Hopefully tasty too!  I think I may be getting serious about it soon…

Pat Tillman should be a hero to many American boys and men.  His toughness and hard work helped him overcome a lack of size and speed, and allowed him to become an all-pro football player.  And then he gave it all up after Sept 11 to fight for his country, as he felt it was his duty.  I am reading the new biography of him, by one of my favorite authors, Jon Krakauer. 

Two of my other favorite people to read have books coming out this month.  Chuck Klosterman has a book of previously unpublished essays.  Should be fun.  And the Sports Guy, Bill Simmons has a book about the NBA.  Don’t care much about the NBA, and I have heard that the book is upwards of 700 pages, but I like Bill enough to give it a shot. 

Buying a house requires equal parts patience, calmness under fire, organization, and determination.  And to do it without money or credit triples the necessity of each facet.  But G-d is shining a light on me. 

Tommy, you have had more bad luck with jobs than anyone I have ever met.  Thankfully you have an optimistic outlook to keep pulling you back up.  Connor is truly blessed to have you as a dad.  You will find your (other) true calling any day now. 

Just finished John Sandford’s new book, “Rough Country” which features Virgil Flowers.  Very good, much better than the mostly tiresome Lucas Davenport series (although I will continue to read those too).  Also reading an old one by Donald Westlake.  Is very Elmore Leonard-Carl Hiassen-like.  Love that!

Beer-wise, it is harvest and oktoberfest time of year.  The harvest ales usually involve fresh hops, and are favorites of mine.  Oktoberfests are also popular throughout September/October.  “Popular” mostly because it is the only time you can get them in any given year.  If you need a good Halloween beer to sip, try Pumking by Southern Tier, if you can find it.  Trust me on this one. 

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APA

For you non-beer drinkers, that stands for American Pale Ale.  They are pale to amber in color and generally their flavor and aroma is centered around the citrusy and pine character of American hops, with caramel-like malt flavors and fruitiness from the ale yeast playing a supporting role.  They differ from English Pale Ales mainly on the kind of hop used.  They differ from India Pale Ales basically on the amount of hops used.  While this is a year round beer, I find it best to be a bridge from the Spring beers to the Summer beers, and then again from the Summers to the Fall beers, so May and September are your prime APA months imho. 

The most popular one, and probably the only one you know is Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.  This is an excellent example of the style as well.  Others you may or may not have heard of include Alpha King, the Three Floyds flagship beer, and Anchor Liberty out of San Francisco. 

I recently tasted two of the better ones, in a head to head (pun intended) matchup.  Oskar Blues’ Dale’s Pale Ale out of Colorado vs. Stone Pale Ale out of Escondido, Ca. 

Dale’s comes in a can.  They say they do this to protect it better from harmful light rays, more portable, and because it is better for the environment.  If all beer tastes this good out of a can, let’s keep doing it!  I did pour mine in a glass though.  Probably the darkest APA I have ever seen, and this is a good thing.  Nice hoppy floral aroma, and the taste continued to not let me down.  Very nice balance of hops and malts, with a wonderfully dry, bitter finish.  I wanted more of this!

Stone poured dark for an APA as well, but not nearly as dark as the other one.  Very similar smell and taste, but the finish is where they differed.  This one finished with somewhat sweet, grapefruity hops, rather than the dry, bitter.  Essentially the only difference in the two beers.  And this one may have been a bit smoother, and not as strong. 

Both beers are excellent examples of style and come strongly recommended.  If pressed, I would give Dale’s the slightest of edge, but I wouldn’t turn down either one, and Stone should be proud of their example. 

Thanks to Matt for supplying the drinks, as they are not available here.

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30 Rock

Quite possibly the second funniest show on network tv.  There may actually be some kind of backhanded compliment there.  In general terms, this is a tv show about a tv show.  While we never actually see the show, it is somewhat of a comedy/variety show.  We mostly see the behind the scenes action.  Writers meetings.  Actors relationships with each other and the crew.  And the personal lives of several key people (including an NBC page).  Here are a few of the people, and my thoughts about them.

Tina Fey (Liz Lemon).  When she first came on the scene about ten years ago, she made glasses sexy.  She hasn’t lost anything over the years.  She is the main character and is the head writer and producer of both the real show and the fake show.  Her character is very flawed, but it just makes her more real.  She is a workaholic.  She is challenged and intimidated by men.  There is nothing that she loves more than food, yet is very self-conscious about her weight.  But her talent for being a comedic writer makes it all forgivable. 

Alec Baldwin (Jack Donaghy).  He plays the pompous GE executive.  A cutthroat business maven, but with soft spots.  While mentoring Liz, and sometimes pushing her to be a good manager, he allows her a lot of wiggle room.  He tries to come off as a total bottom line kind of guy, but always essentially does the right thing for the show, and his employees.  Alec himself has received many awards for this portrayal, and I think deservedly so.

Tracy Morgan (Tracy Jordan).  I never thought much of him on SNL.  In this role, he cracks me up all of the time.  I love how he never refers to Liz as “Liz” or as “Lemon”, but always calls her LizLemon (like one word).  No role on the fake show is too outrageous for him (he does a good Oprah imitation) and he always gets himself into ridiculous zany situations. 

This is a very good ensemble cast, and is always good for a few laughs, which makes it far better than most on network tv.  Definitely worth a look-see if you have the time (roughly 22 minutes per week).

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Currently

Reading:

Richard North Patterson’s new book, “The Spire”.  It is my first read by the good Patterson in about 10 years.  So far so good.  On deck is Tucker Max’s book, “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell”.  It is a movie coming out next week.  This book has been on my shelf for at least six months, and now I am going to dust it off and give it a go.  I am not so excited as I think I know what it is about, but I will read it nonetheless. 

Listening to:

Harlan Coben’s “The Woods”.  Another excellent (although non-Bolitar) book by this author.  Also, the new Chevelle CD.  Very good!!

In the Fridge:

Leftovers from poker.  Bell’s Oberon (thanks Jim), and a variety of Goose Island products that I recently told Matt that they are all about 75% per style (for example,  their brown ale, is probably better than 74 of 100 other brown ales).  Also, cooling in the other fridge are two american pale ales that I am waiting to taste against each other.  Stone’s Pale Ale, and Oskar Blues’ Dale’s Pale Ale.  Both have very good ratings, so I am anxious for that.

Brewing:

Tonight (hopefully), I will be brewing my first batch of beer ever!  Expect a six pack of probably not very tasty ambers to come out of my fridge in early November.  Expect more in the future…

Watching (On DVD):

Waiting for season 5 of Entourage.  Completely caught up in Weeds.  Waiting on season 3 of Dexter.  Season 1 of Thirty Rock  should be in my grubby paws any day now.

Watching (on TV):

The Office starts again tomorrow.  Catching WSOP events on ESPN whenever I can.  Not much time for anything else.  Cubs, Sox and college/pro football whenever on. 

Other:

The weight loss program that my company is in, that I am not necessarily a part of.  Since starting eight weeks ago, I have gained .6 lbs, without even trying.  I have walked something like a half million steps since then, so I have that going for me….

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Blog roll

If you check my blog roll on the right, there is a link to my friend Tommy, and the blog he just started.  Check it out if you get a chance. 

You know when I started writing years ago, I always hoped that someday my writing would inspire someone to do something great, to help someone out of a bad situation, or something to that effect.  Tommy and I have been to hell and back together, and more than once.  I think we truly inspire and support each other in many ways.  Through thick and thin we have always been there for each other (or as “there” as was geographically possible).  To paraphrase him, we are both near the bottom of the hill right now, but we are both heading back up to try again, and with our heads held high.  This time in battle, we may win, we may lose (temporarily), but it will not be for lack of effort, or support.  WE WILL NOT DIE ON THIS HILL TODAY, OR EVER!  Truly brothers (in arms).

(I also added Firkin to the blogroll–I hear they have good beer there…)

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Story

I have a gift.  Some may view it as an annoyance, or a problem.  I choose not to.  Either way, I have to take this “gift” and make sure I use it for good, and not for evil.  Here is my story, and you can let me know how you view it.

I was at a bar last night, drinking a Rogue anniversary beer.  Rogue will always have a special place in my heart after San Francisco, but that has nothing to do with this story.  I was not wearing my glasses, so I sat right by the tap handles, so I could see them all (thankfully this meant I could not see the travesty that is the Cubs).  Bar was not very crowded.  Based on the neighborhood I was in, and the people that live there, 7:30 PM, is probably an in between time there.  In between the dinner crowd and the nightlife people.  Probably two tables of four and maybe 5 or 6 other people sitting at the bar, like me. 

One of the four top tables was about ten feet away from me, and I was downwind from them.  Yes, on this beautiful Chicago evening, the bar had its doors open, to allow for the slight breeze, keeping the indoor temperature pleasant enough.  There was a larger older woman at that table, with short, shocking red hair, that actually reminded me of someone I know.  Well, she started to stand up, and bumped the table, spilling an almost full, recently poured beverage.  I thought nothing of it, as the waitress ran in back to get a mop.

Then it hit me.  Literally.  The smell, brought by the wind, wafted up to my nose.  It could only be one thing.  Hops!  But what kind of hops.  There are many different varieties.  Amarillo, Cascade, Centennial, Columbia, Fuggle, Golding, Saaz, Willamette, just to name a few of the more common ones.  And each one has its own particular smell (and taste–but I didn’t lick the floor, as tempting as it was).  I am not going to say that I know what each hop variety smells like, but I can recognize the smell of some beers (and the smell is in turn, dominated by the hops in many cases) .  I turned, and quickly scanned the handles.  Only twelve to choose from, and several can be eliminated immediately.  No-no-no-definitely not-no-maybe-no-maybe-lord help me-maybe-no-hmmm.  I was leaning strongly towards it being a Three Floyds Pride and Joy.  A smell I know.  I was not 100% certain, as I saw three other possibilities, one of which I had never smelled before, but assumed it had a bit of a hoppy nose. 

(Drumming my fingers while waiting for the waitress to mop up the floor and wipe down the table).  “Would you hurry up and pour them new one.  I don’t have all day here,”  I wanted to shout in my impatience.  Finally she came over, and poured.  I win!!!!

Or do I lose?  Somewhat of a talent, but for what can I use?  I am pretty good at smelling beers.  How do I go about turning that into a career?  Sigh.  Life.

 

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With Apologies

Blog is on indefinite hiatus.  Shrug.  Maybe check back after Labor Day.

Thanks to Dave, Jan, and Matt for buying me things to write about.  Jen and Louise for their unending belief that there is a talent there somewhere.  Carrie for her invaluable expertise.  Tommy for his daily comments and questions and always pushing me to do more.  Graham for his contributions.  Laura, Alison and Amy for their kind words.  Bob, Keith, Ken and Steve for their brotherly support.  And finally, Jacki, for her love and support over 25 years and 500,000 miles (or so).

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p.s.  I just covered every reader!

Random Notes

Just a couple of things I wanted to touch on, as this is my last chance to write for a few days.

Saw “The Hangover” yesterday (thanks Jade!).  Good movie, a solid three stars from me.  Kind of  “Dude Where’s My Car” meets “Swingers”. Funniest parts involved not the main characters, but the others.  Mike Tyson, Heather Graham, and the Asian guy, all stole every scene they were in.  Good for a bunch of laughs.

In the 70’s I was avoiding every meal that had spam in it, and now I am avoiding emails and telephone solicitors are spam.  Interesting evolution of the vernacular.

Working on Randy Wayne White’s latest novel, “Dead Silence”.  Sigh.  I really want to like this guy, but something about him, makes him difficult to get through a book.  This will probably be the last of his that I read for awhile, if I can even get through this one. 

Yesterday was the 16th anniversary of the most important day in my life.

Speaking of anniversaries, two beer notes here:

Had Port Brewing’s 3rd Anniversary last night, as well Avery Maharaja.  These two are eerily similar double IPAs.  Thick and syrupy with a modicum of hops and a huge kick of alcohol at the finish.  Tasty, but one or two and you are done.  Not the best around, but both are very good.  I would recommend Maharaja as the better of the two.

Looking forward to a bottle of Stone’s Thirteenth Anniversary this weekend!  Also “on tap” will be a couple of IPAs from Flossmoor Station that sound really good (and others).  Have a good safe weekend.

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Feeling Good About Myself, or Scarred for Life?

While this is not necessarily my personality, I am a Corporate man.  It is somewhat required of me, because I am a mid-level manager, therefore need to do corporate-type things to A) Have any chance of moving up and B) Keep my job.  I have to show up at things like the company picnic, and make sure the right people see me.  Once a year go to an open-forum  coffee discussion about the future of the company.  I am a member of the Green Team, to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, encourage recycling, and such.  Right now, there is a fitness thing going on, and I am co-captain of my building’s team.  This started Monday.  We are all wearing pedometers.  Some people are trying to lose weight, others set goals for the amount of exercise they will be doing for these twelve weeks, before reverting back to their normal selves.  I do these things because I am Corporate, not really because I enjoy them, or want to do them. 

So Monday morning comes around, and Scooter, my co-captain stopped by my desk, and told me the scale was in the lockerroom, and to go weigh in.  Sure, no problem, I thought.  I finished working on my spreadsheet, and went in there.  That was my first mistake.  I open the door, and there are three guys wearing just their underwear, like they are weighing in for a title fight or something.  This is even worse than it seems.

Scooter.  Print shop manager.  39 years old.  5′9″ and all stomach.  He weighed in at 248.  Picture a barrell.

Dave.  Pressman.  44 years old.  6′1″ with eight upper body tattoos.  All of them faded.  He is at 227.

Mike  aka “Big Guy”. Warehouse manager.  I think he is unaware of the irony of the nickname (you might say it is over his head).  He is all of 5′2″.  Just turned 50. He used to be a roofer and a wrestler.  Both of those things I can see, as he has a very low center of gravity.  He tipped the scale at 194.

Now picture those guys nearly naked. 

Feel free to scream in terror.

I quickly mumble something about forgetting my pencil, and went and hid under my desk for two or three hours, rocking back and forth and talking to myself, trying to prevent that image from being burned into my mind.  Finally they forgot about me.  Sadly, I cannot forget about them. 

Now I can truly say that this blog is about beer, books, baseball and boobs.

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New List!

My friends at Amazon obviously know me very well.  Checking my email yesterday morning, there was one from the good people there, recommending I buy this book, “300 Beers to Try Before You Die” by Roger Protz.  Curious.  How many of these have I had already?  Is Amazon spying on me through real time satellite photos? 

While I still have one left off that original list of 20, I am going to start working off this 300 as soon as I get the book.  I like working off lists.  It is like having someone set your goals for you, and when you can cross one off, there is a feeling of accomplishment (and in this case, a buzz).  I am assuming there will be a lot of high brow European (mostly Belgians) beers on this list, but that is OK, as my tastes are changing somewhat, and it never hurts to expand your horizons.  Plus while I generally prefer the American’s take on many of these beers, they are not necessarily true to style. 

Exciting times!  Can’t wait to share them with you.

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