Yeah I said it, what?
So I know it's been a couple of days coming and here it is. I find that I have to be in the mood to blog. And being that this is really more of a journal for my own reflection (I have only 2 followers, one of which I live with) I'll do what I want. That being said...
Boston was a great trip. It was cold as hell on Friday when we arrived. It wasn't so much the temperature that bothered me but the wind. I haven't felt cold like that since working as a public safety officer directing traffic in the middle of a Grand Rapids winter storm at GVSU. It was freezing! Nothing that couldn't be overcome though by some good friends, good drinks and good times.
We did lunch at a barbecue joint (the name eludes me) and it was pretty good. Started the day of with an IPA and it hit the spot. From there we headed to the Samuel Adams brewery for a tour. For me the tour was a bit disappointing. This is likely because I'm an aspiring brewer and I've done my research. I wanted to hear more about the mash tuns and how they work. How is the sparging done? Tell me about the temperatures, times, all the good stuff. Oh well. It ended with a 45 minute tasting. Of course we tasted the Lager. We also got a crash course on beer appraisal. Appearance, nose, taste, mouth feel, etc. One thing I learned was that in Boston, if you're served a Sam that looks cloudy, you can demand your money back.
They hit is with the seasonal (white) and an experimental beer as well. The experimental should stay that way. It had some off flavors in it for certain. I imagine that's why it was saved for us tourists. All in all a good experience though. I picked up a couple of Samuel Adam's Perfect Pints for the road and we headed out for appetizers, drinks and later dinner. We ended up at the end of the night at place in little Italy called Bricco. Mafioso for certain. It was fun though and I had a chance to catch up with my sister and Ted which was nice. Meagen got to see a college friend and catch up with her as well.
Saturday of course was focused on the Extreme Beer Festival, but first some pictures for Amanda and Ted. We hit the streets and walked to Boston Common for some engagement shots. Meagen did a wonderful job as usual, and after some Shop and Light Room touch ups the pictures will be amazing. I can't wait to see the finished products.
And the festival. Let me just say that it was a great time. I'm going to list a few highlights but I don't have enough time to give you the whole story. If you want to hear it sometime just ask and I'll tell you about it.
For the stouts, Founders came through for me with a special edition Canadian Breakfast Stout. Being that I love coffee and dark chocolate flavors in beer, this espresso spiked monster hit the spot. The nose had a ton of espresso and a bit of chocolate and toasted oats. Taste was velvety smooth and heavy. Founders also came through with their Double Trouble IPA which is hard to beat for me. I love the grapefruit aroma and taste of this beer. The generous amount of hops is balanced well (but not too far toward the sweet) and finishes nice and clean. To be fair though, Crooked Tree did a Double Dark Horse which was great and F.X. Matt Brewing Company is rivaling Founders for my favorite IIPA. Their Sarnac was brewed with 12 different hop varieties and had the citrus and floral aroma I love.
There was a good bit of barrel aged beers left over from the previous evening and I had a chance to sample a few. Bells had an aged stout that was good. The collaboration brew from Dogfish was also interesting. The winning name was "Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, B, A Select. It had everything but the kitchen sink in it and was aged in oak barrels. Great stuff.
The new kid on the block was the sours. I had never tried these previously and I'm going to be curious to investigate them further. Hopefully Steve at Kickbacks can get a hold of some Gargamel from Allagash. Light amber in color, it was very tart but balanced with raspberries and some other sweetness. The nose was full of vinegar and wine. I don't know quite how else to describe it as it was so new to me in style. Worth a go for anyone though. I'm going to enjoy checking out the sour ale style.
One of my favorite (and most inspiring) tastes came from a gruit style ale. A gruit is a concoction of spices that were used to balance beers sweetness prior to the discovery of hops. Hops of course are the bittering agent in today's beers. This particular beer used a combination of orange and lemon zest, coriander, green and pink peppercorns, cinnamon and some other spices to accomplish the balance. It was very good! It has me inspired to try my own.
We wound the day down with some Italian and good conversation. All in all I really enjoyed this trip and I'll be back to Boston soon. I'd like to go in the summer to see Boston Common in full bloom and just walk more of the city. The trip has also inspired me to get brewing, and soon. I have too many ideas right now for the space we have though, so some of them will have to wait. I'll keep posting as the beers hit the fermenter in the future.
Respect Beer! Support your local breweries! Drink a homebrew!
Until next time
-MtR
24 February, 2009
19 February, 2009
Just a quickie
So it's been a few days. I know. Some days there's just not much to write about. I'm sure over the course of the year though I'll still amass a good amount of things to look back on and reflect.
So the dog ate my glasses. Well, he didn't actually swallow them, but did a good number. They're fairly mangled, and I hope they can be fixed. It was timely though. I do need to get in to get the old eyeballs checked out and probably update my prescription. Good thing I have a back up pair. As Meg pointed out, this is really the first thing of value he's gotten a hold of. Usually it's toilet paper or socks. Too bad the glasses cost $500. After Boston he's getting neutered though. So I guess we'll be even.
Speaking of Boston, we fly out tomorrow! I'm pretty excited. The food that will be eaten, the beer that will be tasted and the good times that will be had by all will make for a great mid-winter get away. It's something I've been in need of in recent weeks. It will be nice to get away from the stress of work.
I tasted the beer for the first time last Saturday. This was after 6 days of aging. It had a bit of what is called a medicinal taste. Think of how a band-aid smells after a days wear and then put that in your mouth (don't actually put the band-aid in your mouth of course, that's not healthy). Apparently that taste comes from phenols and is considered an off flavor in some beers but not in others. I got some advice from a friend who brews and he told me to age it another week or two to let the flavor develop. I was excited, what can I say! The good news is that it poured a dark amber and not very cloudy. It also held a good one inch head and laced the glass a bit. So we may have a successful first beer after all. In the mean time I'm going to get ready to brew an American pale ale and a porter. More about that when the time comes.
Last but not least for this one, check out Porter Batiste Stoltz. They have been a support group for many New Orleans favorites for years. I just discovered them yesterday on Sirius Jam On. I picked up their album Moodoo on iTunes and if you're a fan of funky rock and roll with a blues twist, this could be for you. Check out tracks 3 and 7 (I Get High and Check Out Your Mind respectively) for some awesome jamming.
Until next time (from Boston!).
-MtR
So the dog ate my glasses. Well, he didn't actually swallow them, but did a good number. They're fairly mangled, and I hope they can be fixed. It was timely though. I do need to get in to get the old eyeballs checked out and probably update my prescription. Good thing I have a back up pair. As Meg pointed out, this is really the first thing of value he's gotten a hold of. Usually it's toilet paper or socks. Too bad the glasses cost $500. After Boston he's getting neutered though. So I guess we'll be even.
Speaking of Boston, we fly out tomorrow! I'm pretty excited. The food that will be eaten, the beer that will be tasted and the good times that will be had by all will make for a great mid-winter get away. It's something I've been in need of in recent weeks. It will be nice to get away from the stress of work.
I tasted the beer for the first time last Saturday. This was after 6 days of aging. It had a bit of what is called a medicinal taste. Think of how a band-aid smells after a days wear and then put that in your mouth (don't actually put the band-aid in your mouth of course, that's not healthy). Apparently that taste comes from phenols and is considered an off flavor in some beers but not in others. I got some advice from a friend who brews and he told me to age it another week or two to let the flavor develop. I was excited, what can I say! The good news is that it poured a dark amber and not very cloudy. It also held a good one inch head and laced the glass a bit. So we may have a successful first beer after all. In the mean time I'm going to get ready to brew an American pale ale and a porter. More about that when the time comes.
Last but not least for this one, check out Porter Batiste Stoltz. They have been a support group for many New Orleans favorites for years. I just discovered them yesterday on Sirius Jam On. I picked up their album Moodoo on iTunes and if you're a fan of funky rock and roll with a blues twist, this could be for you. Check out tracks 3 and 7 (I Get High and Check Out Your Mind respectively) for some awesome jamming.
Until next time (from Boston!).
-MtR
15 February, 2009
V-Day and 26.2 with Donna
Just a quick note about valentines day and dinner. Meg and I went to a place called 1171 near the Riverside/5 points area and it was fantastic. The service was incredible. Our server was very personable but not overly friendly. She kept it professional all the way. She was very attentive to our needs and was right there to clear one course just before the next was ready.
I had a sesame encrusted and seared Ahi Tuna steak over wasabi mashed potatoes with artichoke hearts and fresh ginger. Meg had a grilled chicken breast over whipped potatoes with sliced yellow squash, zucchini and red peppers. Both were delicious. Our appetizer included a 5 year aged Gouda and an Irish sharp cheddar with Guinness. Dessert was a slice of key lime pie. The portions were perfect and we left feeling full but not stuffed. Very satisfied. The only thing I wanted that they didn't have was a cappuccino. For me, nothing seals a good meal like that like a dry cappuccino. Unfortunately they didn't have it, but that's okay. All in all I give this place a solid 8.5 out of 10. It has definitely made it on to our short list.
Today we volunteered at the 26.2 with Donna, a marathon whose proceeds go toward the research and fight against breast cancer. As any who read this probably would know, my mother fought and ultimately fell victim to this terrible disease last year. So we volunteered with a local non-profit and handed out water to the runners at mile 19.
We actually had a very good time despite having to be there at 4:45 a.m. to help set-up prior to the race. It was inspiring seeing these people running. Of note to me was the fact that many people elected to have their names on their numbers. To me this signifies the fact that this disease has a name, and for many of us it's the name of a close friend or family member. Many of the people who run in this race have been touched by the disease in some way or another. So we had some laughs, tossed the football with friends and spent some time giving back. It was an enriching experience, and one I hope to repeat more often this year. We both want to get more involved.
In fact, we've started talking already about running it next year. For both of us it would be more than a personal accomplishment. It would be a tribute to my mother and the drive to fight something that hurts so many. More of a symbol than anything else. And if a thought like that can't give you the strength to run a few miles what can?
I wanted to mention too that we saw a very young woman who had survived. She couldn't have been more than 35. It seems that it has no preference for age. Or gender. There was a man or two who had survivor markers on their numbers.
Here's to another week. A short one. I'll be in Boston on Friday for the Extreme Beer Festival. Lot's to write about with that I'm sure.
-MtR
I had a sesame encrusted and seared Ahi Tuna steak over wasabi mashed potatoes with artichoke hearts and fresh ginger. Meg had a grilled chicken breast over whipped potatoes with sliced yellow squash, zucchini and red peppers. Both were delicious. Our appetizer included a 5 year aged Gouda and an Irish sharp cheddar with Guinness. Dessert was a slice of key lime pie. The portions were perfect and we left feeling full but not stuffed. Very satisfied. The only thing I wanted that they didn't have was a cappuccino. For me, nothing seals a good meal like that like a dry cappuccino. Unfortunately they didn't have it, but that's okay. All in all I give this place a solid 8.5 out of 10. It has definitely made it on to our short list.
Today we volunteered at the 26.2 with Donna, a marathon whose proceeds go toward the research and fight against breast cancer. As any who read this probably would know, my mother fought and ultimately fell victim to this terrible disease last year. So we volunteered with a local non-profit and handed out water to the runners at mile 19.
We actually had a very good time despite having to be there at 4:45 a.m. to help set-up prior to the race. It was inspiring seeing these people running. Of note to me was the fact that many people elected to have their names on their numbers. To me this signifies the fact that this disease has a name, and for many of us it's the name of a close friend or family member. Many of the people who run in this race have been touched by the disease in some way or another. So we had some laughs, tossed the football with friends and spent some time giving back. It was an enriching experience, and one I hope to repeat more often this year. We both want to get more involved.
In fact, we've started talking already about running it next year. For both of us it would be more than a personal accomplishment. It would be a tribute to my mother and the drive to fight something that hurts so many. More of a symbol than anything else. And if a thought like that can't give you the strength to run a few miles what can?
I wanted to mention too that we saw a very young woman who had survived. She couldn't have been more than 35. It seems that it has no preference for age. Or gender. There was a man or two who had survivor markers on their numbers.
Here's to another week. A short one. I'll be in Boston on Friday for the Extreme Beer Festival. Lot's to write about with that I'm sure.
-MtR
13 February, 2009
Pictures
To my one loyal follower asking about the pictures. There probably won't be any soon. Turns out the photo's we thought would be free are being held ransom for a sum of $250. This is a shame because some of them turned out pretty good. I was surprised and impressed. However, I was under the impression this was a favor for a friend (our bass players girlfriend). I guess the shoot was free. Pics are gonna cost us. Whatever. Trust when I say that this is something that can not be rectified on a sunny Saturday afternoon with another photographer I know and love.
I also wanted to mention how much I dig my Epiphone Les Paul. Not only is it strikingly beautiful, but it plays so nicely. The neck feels great and it's weighted very well for me. Loads of sustain. I've started delving in to the tonal possibilities with the pickup selector in the middle position (which splits the humbuckers). Clapton achieved his famous "woman tone" in this way by turning the tone knob on the neck to 0 and the tone on the bridge to 10 whilst turning both volume controls to ten. It's milky and smooth. Not the same of course because he was playing gibsons at the time through vintage era amps that can't be recreated. But I'm getting some interesting results none the less. I feel a bit guilty for not playing the Gibson lately. But it is (what it is?). BJ? Yes!
Tomorrow I'll hopefully blog about the great new beers I had at Kickback's tonight. Plus I'm looking forward to the two year bottle aged 120 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head. It will be hoptastic and maltabulous at the same time I'm sure. Peace in the middle east.
Oh and I spelled the word violets playing scrabble on my phone today. For those keeping score that was a 7 point word (50 bonus points for clearing your rack) on the first play (double word score) yielding a total of 72 points. Needless to say I smacked the computer down town to china town. Again, peace.
-MtR
I also wanted to mention how much I dig my Epiphone Les Paul. Not only is it strikingly beautiful, but it plays so nicely. The neck feels great and it's weighted very well for me. Loads of sustain. I've started delving in to the tonal possibilities with the pickup selector in the middle position (which splits the humbuckers). Clapton achieved his famous "woman tone" in this way by turning the tone knob on the neck to 0 and the tone on the bridge to 10 whilst turning both volume controls to ten. It's milky and smooth. Not the same of course because he was playing gibsons at the time through vintage era amps that can't be recreated. But I'm getting some interesting results none the less. I feel a bit guilty for not playing the Gibson lately. But it is (what it is?). BJ? Yes!
Tomorrow I'll hopefully blog about the great new beers I had at Kickback's tonight. Plus I'm looking forward to the two year bottle aged 120 Minute IPA from Dogfish Head. It will be hoptastic and maltabulous at the same time I'm sure. Peace in the middle east.
Oh and I spelled the word violets playing scrabble on my phone today. For those keeping score that was a 7 point word (50 bonus points for clearing your rack) on the first play (double word score) yielding a total of 72 points. Needless to say I smacked the computer down town to china town. Again, peace.
-MtR
12 February, 2009
A Quick Social Commentary
Isn't it all social commentary from me. A lot of the time it is, but it's what I think about.
A-Rod. Or A-Roid. Or A-Hole. Whatever. How about this one: Who Cares? The amount of time and taxpayer dollars that are being spent investigating whether or not baseball players are doing steroids is sickening to me. A grand jury in front of Congress?! Come on people. And meanwhile our economy falls apart. Is it going to affect my life (or most of our lives) one way or the other if Clemens doesn't make it in to the hall of fame? Or if his stats now have Shift+8 by them? No. So again I ask: Who cares?
Now if any baseball fans ever run across this, I'm sure you'll be upset. You're watching sports center with baited breath to find out what the story is and if they'll ever play again and blah blah blah. Because your world revolves around it. It's almost as bad as the NFL letting Michael Vick back and those who defend it. This guy is the poorest excuse for a human I can come up with at the current moment, but because he can throw touchdowns, we'll just look the other way while he force breeds pit bulls in dire conditions, pulls their teeth out so they can't fight when being forced to breed and kills them by very inhumane means when they lose a fight. Never mind just shooting them. Let's smoke some weed, do some coke and drown them instead! Let me go on record. Mike Vick, you're a fuck. I should type his name in this post about a million times so it's the top hit on Google. But that would be wasting time I could spend worrying about what baseball player is going to be indicted on charges of using steroids next.
I digress. I saw the pictures from Saturday. They came out good. I'll be getting some copies and post them up as soon as I can. I'm hoping today is going to be productive. I need one of those. Happy Thursday!
-MtR
A-Rod. Or A-Roid. Or A-Hole. Whatever. How about this one: Who Cares? The amount of time and taxpayer dollars that are being spent investigating whether or not baseball players are doing steroids is sickening to me. A grand jury in front of Congress?! Come on people. And meanwhile our economy falls apart. Is it going to affect my life (or most of our lives) one way or the other if Clemens doesn't make it in to the hall of fame? Or if his stats now have Shift+8 by them? No. So again I ask: Who cares?
Now if any baseball fans ever run across this, I'm sure you'll be upset. You're watching sports center with baited breath to find out what the story is and if they'll ever play again and blah blah blah. Because your world revolves around it. It's almost as bad as the NFL letting Michael Vick back and those who defend it. This guy is the poorest excuse for a human I can come up with at the current moment, but because he can throw touchdowns, we'll just look the other way while he force breeds pit bulls in dire conditions, pulls their teeth out so they can't fight when being forced to breed and kills them by very inhumane means when they lose a fight. Never mind just shooting them. Let's smoke some weed, do some coke and drown them instead! Let me go on record. Mike Vick, you're a fuck. I should type his name in this post about a million times so it's the top hit on Google. But that would be wasting time I could spend worrying about what baseball player is going to be indicted on charges of using steroids next.
I digress. I saw the pictures from Saturday. They came out good. I'll be getting some copies and post them up as soon as I can. I'm hoping today is going to be productive. I need one of those. Happy Thursday!
-MtR
09 February, 2009
Having the Properties of Someone That Is Edgy
Just wanted to discuss the Grammy Awards briefly. U2 is a great band. In the age of one hit wonders and Disney Channel pop tarts you have a group of guys who have been together for a long time. And they're still making relevant music. Now to my point.
Did anyone see The Edge's rig last night. I mean really. You've been brought in to play one song. Do you really need two racks full of gear to get the job done? It's ridiculous. And when did he start being called "The Edge"? Does Bono introduce him as "The Edge". More importantly, does he introduce himself that way? And what does it all mean anyway? Maybe it is supposed to convey that he is one having the properties of someone that is edgy. I guess it's just a minor annoyance for me.
Otherwise I thought it was a good show. Better than recent shows in memory. I personally thought Lupe had a better album than Lil' Wayne this year, but when you're talking widely accepted commercial success I guess Mr. Carter probably was the clear winner. There are many hip-hop fans who wouldn't have the slightest clue who Mr. Fiasco was if you asked. Of course then I would ask if they are truly fans of hip-hop.
I also bottled the first beer last night. Color was a good amber and the smell was strong of malt and a bit of hops. Measured Original Gravity was about 1.036 and the finish gravity was 1.010. That equates to approximately 3.4% ABV. It's a bit less than expected. The estimated OG was supposed to be in the neighborhood of 1.055, so mine was a little light. I didn't follow the box recipe to the letter though. I went with the recommendations in the Palmer book I have regarding adding the malt extract to the boil. Instead of tossing all 6 lbs in for the duration I added half at the beginning of the boil and the other half in the last 5 minutes. None the less in about two weeks I'll let you know how it turns out.
-MtR
Did anyone see The Edge's rig last night. I mean really. You've been brought in to play one song. Do you really need two racks full of gear to get the job done? It's ridiculous. And when did he start being called "The Edge"? Does Bono introduce him as "The Edge". More importantly, does he introduce himself that way? And what does it all mean anyway? Maybe it is supposed to convey that he is one having the properties of someone that is edgy. I guess it's just a minor annoyance for me.
Otherwise I thought it was a good show. Better than recent shows in memory. I personally thought Lupe had a better album than Lil' Wayne this year, but when you're talking widely accepted commercial success I guess Mr. Carter probably was the clear winner. There are many hip-hop fans who wouldn't have the slightest clue who Mr. Fiasco was if you asked. Of course then I would ask if they are truly fans of hip-hop.
I also bottled the first beer last night. Color was a good amber and the smell was strong of malt and a bit of hops. Measured Original Gravity was about 1.036 and the finish gravity was 1.010. That equates to approximately 3.4% ABV. It's a bit less than expected. The estimated OG was supposed to be in the neighborhood of 1.055, so mine was a little light. I didn't follow the box recipe to the letter though. I went with the recommendations in the Palmer book I have regarding adding the malt extract to the boil. Instead of tossing all 6 lbs in for the duration I added half at the beginning of the boil and the other half in the last 5 minutes. None the less in about two weeks I'll let you know how it turns out.
-MtR
08 February, 2009
Slumdog
Meg and I went to see Slumdog Millionaire last night. I just want to say that it was refreshing seeing a good film in a theater for a change. To me, it was a great story about a kid that came up from the slums, rose above everything else around him and succeeded. But even on the brink of his big success someone was trying to tear him down. It's just like society to do that with it's rules. You're from the slums, you must be stupid ergo you are cheating at this game. This is a movie everyone should see because it has an important lesson that's very American at heart. Even though it takes place in India, the kid rises above everything to make something of himself. That is the American way folks. I can't remember the last time I felt that way leaving the theater.
Milk is also playing at our home theater and I'd like to see that. Maybe today. The Wrestler is coming soon to a theater near me, or at least that's what the trailer said. Being that I'm a fan of Daren and his directing I'll probably have to see that as well. Gran Torino is also on my list. Benjamin Button? I just don't think I'll be able to sit through it. I don't know. I love Brad Pitt in films like Fight Club and the Ocean's trilogy, but I'm not sure about this one. I think I loved him in Burn After Reading, but the jury's still out on that one for me. I need to see it again.
Time to do the taxes today. I'm trying to get an early jump on things this Sunday. Typically we sleep in (late) and by the time we've hit the grocery store and done the other things we want to do the day has gotten away. I want to mic the Peavey Vypyr today. I bought it for a practice amp because the Vox wasn't cutting it anymore in the small space we practice in and the 100W tube head is too much. It's a pretty cool little modeling amp. Rewind. I can't believe I just said that. But it is. I like Peavey gear but traditionally don't like effects or solid state type stuff. It's built like a tank and sounds pretty good to my ears. I'm hoping I can record it with an SM57 at a moderate volume without killing the neighbors and still get a good track. I love experimenting!
Otherwise, the band took pictures yesterday. As soon as I see them I'll share them. Happy Sunday to my two readers!
-MtR
Milk is also playing at our home theater and I'd like to see that. Maybe today. The Wrestler is coming soon to a theater near me, or at least that's what the trailer said. Being that I'm a fan of Daren and his directing I'll probably have to see that as well. Gran Torino is also on my list. Benjamin Button? I just don't think I'll be able to sit through it. I don't know. I love Brad Pitt in films like Fight Club and the Ocean's trilogy, but I'm not sure about this one. I think I loved him in Burn After Reading, but the jury's still out on that one for me. I need to see it again.
Time to do the taxes today. I'm trying to get an early jump on things this Sunday. Typically we sleep in (late) and by the time we've hit the grocery store and done the other things we want to do the day has gotten away. I want to mic the Peavey Vypyr today. I bought it for a practice amp because the Vox wasn't cutting it anymore in the small space we practice in and the 100W tube head is too much. It's a pretty cool little modeling amp. Rewind. I can't believe I just said that. But it is. I like Peavey gear but traditionally don't like effects or solid state type stuff. It's built like a tank and sounds pretty good to my ears. I'm hoping I can record it with an SM57 at a moderate volume without killing the neighbors and still get a good track. I love experimenting!
Otherwise, the band took pictures yesterday. As soon as I see them I'll share them. Happy Sunday to my two readers!
-MtR
07 February, 2009
Before I Lose It
I just wanted to share this as a follow up from my great beer experience last night. This is a quote from Don Russel's article titled "Altbier - Germany's pale ale?" that appears in Beer Advocate Volume III Issue I. With reference to the style, Mr. Russel relates,
"Others will take a big gulp and reach for the dreaded 'D' word: drinkability. Smooth and dry, each sip encourages you to take another.
Unfortunately, 'drinkability' has been co-opted by Bud Light to describe the total lack of flavor and body of its watered-down diet beer."
I love it. I'm a snob. So what. I'm okay with that. Take your yellow beer and go home.
Otherwise I'm taking photo's with the band today and spending some time in Logic. I need to. I have too many ideas and too much invested in it not to do something. So I'm going to start trying to tackle Ultrabeat to put together some drum tracks for some of my ideas. Wish me luck!
-MtR
"Others will take a big gulp and reach for the dreaded 'D' word: drinkability. Smooth and dry, each sip encourages you to take another.
Unfortunately, 'drinkability' has been co-opted by Bud Light to describe the total lack of flavor and body of its watered-down diet beer."
I love it. I'm a snob. So what. I'm okay with that. Take your yellow beer and go home.
Otherwise I'm taking photo's with the band today and spending some time in Logic. I need to. I have too many ideas and too much invested in it not to do something. So I'm going to start trying to tackle Ultrabeat to put together some drum tracks for some of my ideas. Wish me luck!
-MtR
06 February, 2009
Kickbacks Gastropub
I just have to say that I think I've found the best bar in Jacksonville. Kickbacks Gastropub. Not only did Meg and I have an absolutely fantastic time at this bar tonight with some friends, but the beer was incredible. Sixty beers are on tap and they boast over 170 bottles. I saw the list. It spans pages. Here's my rundown.
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA (on tap)
Bells Hopslam (Bottle)
Flying Dog Wild Dog - Bourbon barrel aged Gonzo Imperial Porter (25.4 oz Bomber, shared with Dan).
And let me tell you, the Wild Dog was incredible. Nose was ever so sweet with a bit of smokiness and toasted malt. Mouth feel was silky smooth with tastes of malt, smoky peat, toasted oats, coffee and a slight bit of citrus from the hops. The head retention on this beer is incredible. I'm still developing my palette and its sensibility and this one was a challenge. Pours black as hell with a thick brown head that laces the glass all the way down. You can't see shit through this beer. I also made a great recommendation to Dan's girlfriend in the Weyerbacher Quad. She loved it.
This is making me look very forward to Boston and the Extreme Beer Festival in two weeks. We met Steve who I think handles the procurement of beers. We talked about how we love Bell's beer (Kalamazoo, MI) and how we're sad that Founder's beer (Grand Rapids, MI) is not distributed in Florida. We also talked of how we love Dogfish Head. He shared that he has cases of two year old 120 minute IPA. He also shared that next time we're in he'll split one with Dan and I. I can't wait until next Friday.
All the best,
MtR
Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA (on tap)
Bells Hopslam (Bottle)
Flying Dog Wild Dog - Bourbon barrel aged Gonzo Imperial Porter (25.4 oz Bomber, shared with Dan).
And let me tell you, the Wild Dog was incredible. Nose was ever so sweet with a bit of smokiness and toasted malt. Mouth feel was silky smooth with tastes of malt, smoky peat, toasted oats, coffee and a slight bit of citrus from the hops. The head retention on this beer is incredible. I'm still developing my palette and its sensibility and this one was a challenge. Pours black as hell with a thick brown head that laces the glass all the way down. You can't see shit through this beer. I also made a great recommendation to Dan's girlfriend in the Weyerbacher Quad. She loved it.
This is making me look very forward to Boston and the Extreme Beer Festival in two weeks. We met Steve who I think handles the procurement of beers. We talked about how we love Bell's beer (Kalamazoo, MI) and how we're sad that Founder's beer (Grand Rapids, MI) is not distributed in Florida. We also talked of how we love Dogfish Head. He shared that he has cases of two year old 120 minute IPA. He also shared that next time we're in he'll split one with Dan and I. I can't wait until next Friday.
All the best,
MtR
05 February, 2009
Dozer is...
...growing in to his name. Little guy hopped on the scale at Petsmart last night and settled out at a whopping 40.6 el bees. That's crazy! Unfortunately he's still a bit of a wiener. But I think he's growing out of that too.
I had a thought yesterday while watching one of my favorite artists rip some funk nasty blues licks on his guitar. (I'm talking about John Mayer, from his Leave the Light On DVD). Consider this: The stock of guitar players coming out these days seems to be less steallar in terms of playing ability and it got me wondering why. When did really being able to play stop being important? I think it could be the birth of the internet. Humor me a moment here.
Before the internet, kids who had access to guitars would sit locked in their rooms all day long and listen to records and play guitar. Wikipedia any great guitar players bio and you'll read the same story. Being that they studied heroes of the time, their playing started to develop along those lines and eventually fused in to what is their own style. Take Mayer for example. I hear Albert and B.B., Buddy and Muddy and some Stevie and Jimi in his playing. He puts it all together with his 8 years of solo acoustic noodling and it turns in to this incredible style which to me is just captivating.
So did the internet ruin good guitar playing? Probably not. I just didn't have the patience as a kid to study the way some do and now I wish I had. But I do think if I wasn't fascinated with the birth of the interweb I may have spent more time with my guitar. I have however resolved to try to get better this year. I just need to expand my references. It's something I enjoy, so why not slow down and take the time.
-MtR
I had a thought yesterday while watching one of my favorite artists rip some funk nasty blues licks on his guitar. (I'm talking about John Mayer, from his Leave the Light On DVD). Consider this: The stock of guitar players coming out these days seems to be less steallar in terms of playing ability and it got me wondering why. When did really being able to play stop being important? I think it could be the birth of the internet. Humor me a moment here.
Before the internet, kids who had access to guitars would sit locked in their rooms all day long and listen to records and play guitar. Wikipedia any great guitar players bio and you'll read the same story. Being that they studied heroes of the time, their playing started to develop along those lines and eventually fused in to what is their own style. Take Mayer for example. I hear Albert and B.B., Buddy and Muddy and some Stevie and Jimi in his playing. He puts it all together with his 8 years of solo acoustic noodling and it turns in to this incredible style which to me is just captivating.
So did the internet ruin good guitar playing? Probably not. I just didn't have the patience as a kid to study the way some do and now I wish I had. But I do think if I wasn't fascinated with the birth of the interweb I may have spent more time with my guitar. I have however resolved to try to get better this year. I just need to expand my references. It's something I enjoy, so why not slow down and take the time.
-MtR
03 February, 2009
HOPSLAM IS HERE! (And Christian Bale Flips Out on Set)
Yes folks, in case you haven't heard the buzz, I guess the Dark Knight had a flip out on the set of the new terminator movie. I heard the rant on Stern this morning and I must say it's pretty damn funny. I tooled around the internet looking for audio and came up with this. Keep in mind this is not for the faint of heart. This guy is worse than a sailor in this!
Christian Bale Flips Out
Now for those who enjoy a good Double India Pale Ale, Bell's seasonal offering is available now until about the end of February or while supplies last. While walking in to Total Wine tonight to find a Terrapin ale or two I stumble across cases of this. I was stopped in my tracks, mouth agape and watering thinking of the last time I had this hoppy monster. I've never had it bottled. Once I crack one I'll give a little review. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy a Bold City Brew that's quickly becoming a favorite of mine: Rye Pale Ale. Dry, spicy, hoppy and oh so tasty. Enjoy your hump day.
-Mike the Ryan
Christian Bale Flips Out
Now for those who enjoy a good Double India Pale Ale, Bell's seasonal offering is available now until about the end of February or while supplies last. While walking in to Total Wine tonight to find a Terrapin ale or two I stumble across cases of this. I was stopped in my tracks, mouth agape and watering thinking of the last time I had this hoppy monster. I've never had it bottled. Once I crack one I'll give a little review. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy a Bold City Brew that's quickly becoming a favorite of mine: Rye Pale Ale. Dry, spicy, hoppy and oh so tasty. Enjoy your hump day.
-Mike the Ryan
02 February, 2009
Fried Macaroni and Cheese
Went to a Superbowl party last night where the theme was fried food. Meg and I thought it a good idea to fry macaroni and cheese ala Paula Dean, so after watching a quick three minute video on the food network we embarked on a journey to Walmart to get provisions and get in touch with our southern chef.
Now, Paula made it look easy and very delicious in that three minutes. It went something like this: Cook the macaroni, refrigerate it so it sets together, cut it in to squares that you will wrap in bacon and then bread it. We fried it in vegetable oil. It tastes well and good. What Paula failed to point out was that because the macaroni sets in the fridge, it forms a bit of a solid layer on the bottom thus trapping any residual oil from the fryer in it. What you end up with is breaded macaroni full of oil. Not so good once digestion ensues.
On the whole though it was a good day. The commercials were okay. I was mainly excited for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. That's gonna be great. The career builder commercial was good too on many levels. The game didn't go the way I would have liked, but I didn't really care anyway. It was a good game with some great plays and that's what matters I suppose. Now I get to hear everyone bitch about how long it's going to be until football is back again in September.
Random bit for the day. I guess when Flavor Flav has been on VH1 with whatever reality show he's doing he has had some of the highest ratings on network or cable TV. Really? What am I missing?
-Mike the Ryan
Now, Paula made it look easy and very delicious in that three minutes. It went something like this: Cook the macaroni, refrigerate it so it sets together, cut it in to squares that you will wrap in bacon and then bread it. We fried it in vegetable oil. It tastes well and good. What Paula failed to point out was that because the macaroni sets in the fridge, it forms a bit of a solid layer on the bottom thus trapping any residual oil from the fryer in it. What you end up with is breaded macaroni full of oil. Not so good once digestion ensues.
On the whole though it was a good day. The commercials were okay. I was mainly excited for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen. That's gonna be great. The career builder commercial was good too on many levels. The game didn't go the way I would have liked, but I didn't really care anyway. It was a good game with some great plays and that's what matters I suppose. Now I get to hear everyone bitch about how long it's going to be until football is back again in September.
Random bit for the day. I guess when Flavor Flav has been on VH1 with whatever reality show he's doing he has had some of the highest ratings on network or cable TV. Really? What am I missing?
-Mike the Ryan
01 February, 2009
Scratch Game In January
I must say, living in Florida does have some distinct advantages. We have the Atlantic Ocean not more than 15 minutes away. It's generally sunny most of the year. The winter is very mild. Oh yeah, and you can golf in January, which is exactly what I did yesterday.
Meg and I played in a best ball scramble for a friends birthday. This is the fifth year he's done it and the third year I've played. Our foursome ended up even after 18 holes which was surprising considering none of us had touched a golf club in over 3 months. I hit some long drives, some decent iron shots and even made a couple of clutch puts. Not bad. In addition to the golfing there were drinks to be had and golf carts to work out.
Maybe the best scene from the day for me was the 7 cars chasing after one another on 14 with people cart surfing on the tops. This I'm sure is not behavior condoned by the course, but evidently no one saw it. They did however see the broken 100 yard marker on sixteen but I won't incriminate anyone here. Blogs are public domain.
Today will bring the dog park, Bold City for a growler and a super bowl party where the theme is fried food. I have no preference on the game, but I know the Arizona Cardinals were an underdog all season, so I think I'm rooting for them. As for the food, I don't know what we're taking yet. I'm sure I'll google something right after I post this.
GO CARDINALS!
-Mike the Ryan
Meg and I played in a best ball scramble for a friends birthday. This is the fifth year he's done it and the third year I've played. Our foursome ended up even after 18 holes which was surprising considering none of us had touched a golf club in over 3 months. I hit some long drives, some decent iron shots and even made a couple of clutch puts. Not bad. In addition to the golfing there were drinks to be had and golf carts to work out.
Maybe the best scene from the day for me was the 7 cars chasing after one another on 14 with people cart surfing on the tops. This I'm sure is not behavior condoned by the course, but evidently no one saw it. They did however see the broken 100 yard marker on sixteen but I won't incriminate anyone here. Blogs are public domain.
Today will bring the dog park, Bold City for a growler and a super bowl party where the theme is fried food. I have no preference on the game, but I know the Arizona Cardinals were an underdog all season, so I think I'm rooting for them. As for the food, I don't know what we're taking yet. I'm sure I'll google something right after I post this.
GO CARDINALS!
-Mike the Ryan
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