Random Musings

It's been nearly a week since I last posted. It's not like I have nothing to say, because I do. It's just that work, school, and family have a way of pushing the blogging aside.

• Apart from the blogs I mentioned two weeks ago, another Bathysphere alum has entered my Google Reader radar. Kiernan Maletsky gives a full rundown of his daily listening habits along with some insight as to what may have led him to such choices. Read All Day Long.
• Speaking of my shout-outs to the local blogosphere, Pete Bland returned the favor via Twitter and Facebook.
• I listened to Wilco (The Album) this week and think they are returning to my good graces; Modest Mouse's new EP made me revisit This Is a Long Drive...; the selection of the opening track for the Monsters of Folk debut is confusing to me; and I got a lot of responses to a Tweet/Facebook status update concerning Nebraska.
• I don't really know what all the hub-bub is over the new Facebook interface. Just jump around between the news feed and the status updates. It's not that hard.
• Geocities closed its "doors" this week. I thought they did that years ago.
• Kids at Paxton-Keeley have been snorting Smarties. Really. I blame hipsters.
• Although I don't really report on the beering at this particular blog anymore, I did brew my third batch this past weekend (yet another reason I'm not blogging). It's a barley wine with bourbon-soaked wood chips for a little oak and vanilla flavoring. It should be good and potent.
• College football rolls on. I will not write about my team until they redeem themselves. Of course, at least they aren't 0-3 in their conference after getting shellacked on their homecoming night. Oh, and I'm predicting everywhere that Iowa will win the national championship. Write it down.
• I spent my first two nights alone with Lucia. We both survived.
• Not only am I not blogging, but I have not been able to attend many happy hours at the 'Tag in recent weeks (and won't make this week's either). Still, you should go and have a Lion Stout for me.
• There was other stuff, but I've already forgotten. I promise to do better.
  

Miscellaneous Miscellany

I have been terrible at keeping up with this blog lately. Between work and an incredibly busy 13-month-old child, I just haven't had time for this blog or any others. So, here's some miscellany from the last week or so...

• As previously mentioned, I had the week to myself. What does a man (stereotypically) do when he's on his own? He watches Monday Night Football, I guess. I watched Brett Favre's triumphant match-up versus his old team while eating hot dogs and baked beans and enjoying a couple of Bell's Octoberfests.
• I never get out to see movies these days, but I was able to catch Michael Moore's latest, Capitalism: A Love Story. I realize folks are tired of Moore's shtick, but this was maybe his most straightforward film ever. Also, Moore was finally able to follow up his acclaimed debut, Roger and Me. I walked out wishing we in this country could get over our hangups over socialism. Capitalism isn't working...well, for 90% of us anyway.
• The Decemberists played their outdoor show inside the luxurious Blue Note last week. Opener Laura Veirs was pretty good. The Decemberists were fine, but some enjoyed it more than I.
• I pulled a 12+ hour day on Thursday. That's all I'll say about that.
• Friday was an extended happy hour-kind-of-thing. I met friends at Sycamore for the always-delicious Founders Curmudgeon. This is the most vanilla olde ale I've ever tasted. That's a good thing. I followed that up with some beers, conversation, and a bánh mì at the 'Tag/Uprise. The night ended at Broadway Brewery where the beers are still a work in progress, but suspect it will only get better.
• On Saturday, I did what I normally do which was watch my Buckeyes. This time they put a whooping on an undefeated Wisconsin team while gaining half as many yards and having the ball for a third of the time. How does a team do that? Watch.
• That same evening, I brewed my third batch of beer. This one is a barley wine called Never Forget 9/11 - more for Lucia's birthday than for the other 9/11 you're never supposed to forget. The ABV will measure in somewhere between 9% and 11%. I've been planning this beer for a while and finally got around to brewing. It's so sticky and even the first bits of it taste good.
• R and Lu returned from their adventures in Michigan. The best part was that Lucia reached for me right away and gave me the longest hug ever. It was nice.
• I am a lifelong Browns fan. That's not easy to put into print these days. Of course, they won their first game this Sunday (over the 1-4 Buffalo Bills) by a whopping 6-3 baseball score.
• This guy makes me think all the time.
• And this time he made me think about this blog and what I'm doing with it.
• This blog made me think what I do is worthwhile. It's picked up where Bathysphere left off. Read A Ravenous Horde now.
• Columbus Day came and went. Does anyone celebrate Columbus Day anymore? Why? What did he do that's worth celebrating? And don't tell me he discovered America as if there were not already people living here or others who crossed the Atlantic before him.

I think that's all for now. Tell me what you want in the comments. I'll try to do better. I swear.

COMO Pre-Fall Preview

I'm calling this a "pre-fall preivew" because it's only the beginning of August and I'm sure there will be more events shared in the coming months. These are just a few things that have me anticipating the fall here in COMO.

@ The Blue Note:
Andrew Bird w/ St. Vincent - September 30
Grizzly Bear w/ Beach House - October 1
The Decemberists - October 7
Although the Decemberist show is listed as the "9th St. Fall Festival", I'm curious if there will be at least one more big show outside this fall. I'm sure there will be other shows added to the schedule as tours get finalized over the coming month.

@ Mojo's:
The Foundry Field Recordings w/ Netherfriends - August 28
Cave - September 25
The Meat Puppets - November 10
Mojo's lineup for the fall looks really thin so far, but I've come to expect their early schedules to look blank. Then, one day without notice, the schedule will be packed. The first two shows listed have COMO/Chicago links. I listed the Meat Puppets mostly because it's rare to see such an established band play a small club. I first saw the Meat Puppets open for Nirvana in an arena in the fall of '93. Yes, I'm old.

@ The 'Tag (aka The Ragtag Cinema/Cafe/Bar)
Schlafly APA Cask Tapping - August 28
Beer Wars - September ???
The cask tapping should be pretty cool. Barry (the bartender at the 'Tag) told me he'll tap the cask around 6 or 6:30. Leading up to the tapping, there will be all kinds of specials starting around 5. The Beer Wars screening(s) will occur some time next month, possibly coinciding with the opening of the new brewery downtown. Of course, the 'Tag will be showing plenty of great indie films. You can peruse their calendar here. (And they may even put on a good indie rock show without telling anyone.)

Other Miscellany:
3rd Annual Roots 'n Blues 'n BBQ Festival - September 25-26
I went to the first one and skipped the second. I'll probably skip it again this year. It's overly crowded. The lines for all the decent BBQ are ridiculous. There is no good beer to be found...unless you sneak into Sycamore.

College Football - September-January (or through December if you're a Mizzou fan)
I will do a complete writeup later this month, but I feel the season has to be addressed as I am very ready for it to begin. Mizzou will struggle through a rebuilding year. Of course, last year was not as wonderful as some try to remember it being. I, as always, will have my focus directed east to my Buckeyes who have a ton of questions to answer. To put it in perspective, OSU is also rebuilding, but they're ranked in the top-10. Mizzou is not even ranked.

Like I said above, there will be more to preview once we get a little closer to the fall.

Hiatus Over

Last night, I ate my own ice cream, said good-bye to some friends, and saw White Rabbits play to a huge crowd at Mojo's.

We've actually been making ice cream for several weeks now. R's made concoctions of lavender, chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla with real vanilla bean. They've all been good, but I had to get in on the action.

Using a recipe from Perfect Scoop for a Guinness Stout ice cream, I made a batch. Guinness is a little on the light side for me these days, so I upped the ante. I used a Bell's Expedition Stout. The Expedition is a Russian Imperial, meaning there's more alcohol (10.5% ABV as compared to 4.2% for your typical draught), notes of chocolate and coffee, and more alcohol. Said alcohol caused the ice cream to be softer than usual, but it was oh-so-good. The creamy alcohol in this treat reminded me of the vanilla gelato I once had in Italy that was potent enough to knock me on my ass.

So, the ice cream was good.

After the baby was asleep, I slipped out to the 'Tag to see some friends off. I taught with K for a couple of years and became pretty good buds with her partner TJ. He recently landed a gig with a university in Colorado, so they were packing their newborn twins for a move to the "Centennial State."

While we talked, I made the mistake of telling them how hard it is to leave your home and set up shop in a new town that's not quite as cool as your previous town. (Have you read this before?) I quickly backtracked and cited all the reasons my friends will be fine. And they will.

Listening to them talk about leaving made me dream of greener pastures. The fact that two of the cooler people I know are leaving COMO makes me a little sad to be stuck here. I sometimes dream of the day I'll close down this blog as I pack boxes for an exotic locale like Louisville, Pittsburgh, or Milwaukee.

Meh. Moving on...

The winning streak is on. Earlier this week, I won two tickets to see White Rabbits at Mojo's. A message on Twitter popped up, encouraging followers to enter the drawing. My call came Monday.

The strange part is that I went through three or four people before somebody finally joined me for the free admission. They missed out.

I don't know I've ever seen Mojo's as packed as it was last night. It seems COMO-ians have finally realized that we have a buzz-worthy band who happens to make great music. They even live in Brooklyn and tout Britt Daniel-produced records. Of course it was packed. (See photo below.)

The Rabbits were good, too. Aside from an unwelcome Walkmen snark I heard, the crowd seemed to enjoy it as well. The band was tight. They whipped through a blistering set of favorites old and new. There was even an appropriately timed encore.

The best part for this daddy of a nine-month-old was that I was home by midnight. You can't beat ice cream, good friends, and rock 'n roll squeezed between 7:30 and 12:00. You can't.

________________________

BTW-Last night marked maybe the second or third time I've been spotted as "that comoprozac guy" or something. Bob (I hope I'm not butchering or misremembering that.) was gracious enough to introduce himself and compliment the blog. Hence the end of the hiatus.

Still, there are changes to come. Just look along the right-hand side of this blog and you'll start to notice some changes.

I Won!

I never win anything, but today I won something. Mike over at STL Hops let me know this morning that I won the drawing for the invite-only class with a rep from Founders Brewery at the Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton.

I'm really excited for a couple of reasons. First of all, this event will officially welcome Founders to Misery. Founders isn't my favorite brewery from Michigan (Bell's), but they make some awfully tasty beers and will always have space reserved in the stash. Their presence here only makes the beer scene better, more diverse. Secondly, I get the chance to learn first-hand about their beers and operations. As a new beer fanatic and even newer brewer (one batch down), I welcome these opportunities to learn all I can about craft beer.

For those of you looking for some new beers to try, here are a few of my notes on the beers from Founders I've tried...

Centennial IPA
Grapefruit, pine, and malty sweetness dominate this IPA. It's actually quite refreshing and an easy drink for an IPA, i.e. not too bitter. This beer should be a regular right beside Bell's Two-Hearted and Schlafly's APA. (Here's a picture of the Centennial I finished Friday at the 'Tag.)






















Curmudgeon
This was the first Founders brew I had ever consumed when my sister brought me one of these last Christmas. This is an old ale that makes me forget barley wines. It's thick, strong, and alcoholic, much like an actual curmudgeon. My goal is to buy a pack of these and store it along side my barely wine collection for some aging.

Dirty Bastard
My problem with scotch ales is usually that there's not enough scotch nor ale in the flavor. Dirty Bastard redeems the style by punching you in the mouth with his mug of ale before pouring a shot of scotch down your throat. Besides, the name reminds me of Old Dirty Bastard.

Double Trouble
I love that breweries in the East can pull off imperial IPA's that rival their West Coast counterparts. DT does that with plenty of citrusy, piney, hoppy goodness.

A few of their beers I have yet to try, but their on the list...

Cerise
I have to admit that I'm weary of fruit beers, especially those with cherries. I realize that many beer geeks are into cherries and sours and whatnot, but I am not sold. Either way, I'll keep searching until I find a fruit beer I like.

Red's Rye
This beer is definitely on my radar as I have developed a taste for rye beers. This one is everywhere and I assume will be readily available.

Porter
Again, this is a style that I have not been overly impressed by. I'd rather have a stout, but folks love their porters. There must be a good reason. This one has not been as available as the others, so it may be a while until I give it a go.

After the beers above, I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of Founders' seasonal and specialty releases: Breakfast Stout, Imperial Stout, Kentucky Breakfast, and Devil Dancer.

So, now I can welcome Founders to MO in-person on Wednesday when I cash in my prize in Clayton.

A Brewery I Like: Southern Tier

So, a weekend or two ago, I wanted to write about the beer I was enjoying. Then, life got in the way and the post never happened. Looking back, I realized that I primarily drank beer made by one brewery that entire weekend. I've since decided to start a series called "A Brewery I Like" that highlights the best beers from a brewery I like. This post's brewery: Southern Tier.

Brewery: Southern Tier

Location: Lakewood, New York

Beers I've had: Hop Sun, Unearthly Imperial IPA, Hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale, Tripel Belgian Style Triple Ale, Big Red Imperial Red Ale, Gemini Imperial Blended Ale, Oak Aged Unearthly Imperial India Pale Ale, Back Burner Imperial Barley Wine Style Ale, Über Sun Imperial Summer Wheat Ale, Cherry Saison Imperial Oak Aged Cherry Ale, Heavy Weizen Imperial Unfiltered Wheat Ale, Pumking Imperial Pumpkin Ale, Krampus Imperial Helles Lager, Jah*va Imperial Coffee Stout, Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout, Oat Imperial Oatmeal Stout, Choklat Stout Imperial Chocolate Stout, Cuvée Series Two

Favorite Beer: This is really hard, because I love so many of ST's brews. However, I'd have to go with Choklat. I really got into imperial stouts this winter and this was among the best. Of course, no one should ever overlook any of the imperial IPA's, especially the oak age Unearthly.

Least Favorite Beer: I really did not care for the cherry saison. It might be that I don't really care for fruity beers or it's that ST usually just adds loads of hops to every beer as if they're all DIPA's. A saison and/or a cherry beer probably shouldn't be overloaded with big-time hops.

Beers yet to try: IPA, Phin & Matt's, Porter, Raspberry Wheat Beer, 422 Pale Wheat Ale, Harvest, Old Man Winter, Raspberry Porter, Iniquity Imperial Black Ale, Cuvée Series One, Cuvée Series Three, Mokah (although, it's sitting in my stash)

Why I like this brewery: As a hop head, I appreciate Southern Tier's attempt to bombard every beer they do with mounds of hops. Sometimes it doesn't work, but mostly it comes through and intensifies anything with which they fill a 650 mL bottle. I've rarely had a beer from them I didn't like and even then those beers were interesting. Plus, they distribute in Misery. I can't imagine the beer scene here without the diversity and quality of beers this brewery produces.

What I'm Not Doing

I was always told that my life would stop after having kids. Well, that's an exaggeration. As anyone who reads this blog would know, I find plenty of ways to get out of the house. However, things have certainly slowed around this house.

A key difference between this year and last year is in my record buying. I used to stop at the local shops every Tuesday to see what releases came in. Those that didn't make it to COMO were purchased online or even at the shows. Now, I do almost all my record buying online. I'm not sure if I went vinyl because I could get everything on vinyl online or I went online because that's the only place to get vinyl in COMO. It doesn't matter. I've realized that this hobby has no time in my current life, so to Insound I go with my dollars.

Speaking of music...One thing I'm definitely not doing is going to shows. Sure, I've seen some good shows since Lucia's birth, but the number of shows I've missed is enormous. I bet I've missed 75-80% of the shows I wanted to attend. In the past, I might miss 10%. A perfect example are all the Tops shows I missed. Those kids have supported this blog and kept me in the loop for nearly two years, but I never made it out to see them play.

Another example of a show I've missed is tonight's Willie Nelson concert on Ninth Street. I'm not saying I'm a big Willie fan, but I would have walked up to tonight's show if there wasn't some baby who needed to be put to bed.


















Despite sneaking out twice in the last seven days for some beer geek revelry, I've missed a ton of tastings and other events with the Columbia Beer Enthusiasts. Last week, I shared some beers with fellow enthusiasts as we planned out the summer events. Then, Monday was the night to share your favorite brewery. Almost no one actually followed the theme. We did enjoy several good homebrews, including my own. At one point, there was even a little side trip to the new brewery downtown. Looks like it's two months away to me. These two nights out just reminded me of what I'm missing.

Then there's this blog. I have had no time to post. You wouldn't believe the number of posts I've started that never see publication. I don't have all those free hours in the late evenings or early mornings just to blog anymore. I have to be in bed by 10:30/11 with the expectation that I have to wake around 5 AM. Then, the morning comes and I have to help with diapers and packing for the nanny and such. The blog just won't fit.

So, I complain a lot about the time I don't have to record shop, go to shows, hang out with beer nerds, and write blog posts.The complaining never stops. I mean, that's what this whole blog is about, right?

Then, I think of this.

I guess I am doing something. I'm probably doing more than a lot of new dads. And does it really matter?

Neither a Geek nor a Snob

The terms "geek" and "snob" get tossed around a lot these days. They're meant either as compliments or insults that describe someone who is obsessed with movies, literature, computers, wine, etc. A geek, the less offensive of the two terms, depicts someone who obsesses over something so much that basic social norms are ignored. Little else matters outside of his interests. A snob on the other hand, knows so much about her interest that she turns her nose up at anything that does not meet her incredibly high standards. She do this at the expense of others' feelings, putting her taste for things ahead of people.

Although I have been called both, I really don't fit either category. Despite my strong feelings and stubborn opinions on certain subjects, I have been able to break free of the constraints in which these terms circumscribe. In particular, I have been accused of being a geek or snob when it comes to my taste in music and beer, but I can prove that this is not true. I will admit that I have geeked out on a new album of turned my nose up at a bland beer. However, these actions do not limit me to either label.

Don't get me wrong. The world needs geeks and snobs. How else would we know what to consume if geeks hadn't done all the research and snobs let us make bad choices. I too partake in a bit of snobbery and geekery, so I see the appeal.

Beer has been my latest obsession. I've driven across state lines and had family bring me beer not available in Misery. I have a fairly large collection of beers just waiting to be tasted. Beers by Three Floyds, Dogfish Head, Stone, New Glarus, among others dominate my selection. I only drink these beers from the glass and I have even begun brewing my own.

However, fine, hand-crafted beers with intense flavors are not the only reason I drink. Just the other night, I had a Miller Lite with a friend who just welcomed two new additions to her family. Drinking that beer was not about the beer alone. We sat on her back porch, cracked open two cold ones, and shot the shit. That's all. Sometimes a beer just needs to wet your throat and act as a social lubricant. It doesn't have to wow you with large amounts of hops or a hint of raisins*. Sometimes a beer just has to be a beer while two friends talk about life.

Music has been a long-running fixation for me. I've gone without food and sleep in order to see some bands live. I've made regular trips to record stores every Tuesday when records are released. My homes have always been overrun with records and CD's. Among my favorites are such indie elites as Pavement, Sonic Youth, Arcade Fire, Joan of Arc, etc., etc. Hell, I have two other blogs just dedicated to my obsession with music.

The thing is, following bands, going to shows, and even just listening to records takes time and money I'm not willing to give up anymore. I'm missing nearly 75% of Pitchfork's end-of-year lists. I used to own those lists. People are telling me about bands. I can count somewhere in the neighborhood of ten or twelve shows I've not attended due to child care or the exhaustion associated with childcare. Lately, I find myself listening to the same albums over and over or just mindlessly playing the iPod on shuffle. And sometimes, I play the stupidest songs just to entertain my daughter.

What I've learned about these obsessions is that they shouldn't take the place of real human interaction or even the pure enjoyment of your interests. I don't want the fact that you didn't play Pavement at your party to keep me from hanging around to talk. It's not OK to turn down a beer from someone who invites you into their home. Sometimes holding onto one's mania keeps them from enjoying others, from enjoying life.

I don't want to shut people out because they don't share these interests with me. It's OK they like to listen to country music or drink Bud Light (although these factors can make things hard). I'd rather be, as a fellow beer enthusiast described, a "good snob" or geek. A good snob will share with you and provide you the resources to try something that might be better than what you're already into. A socially adept geek may take you to an event that demonstrates how excited a particular hobby can make them. It's really all about sharing and being a part of the community rather than shunning it.

So, when you see me or comment on the blog, realize that I am not limited to my interests. I would rather know you and share those interests than keep you out. And if you catch me being exclusionary, call me on it. I can take it.

*If you ever want to impress a beer snob, try something fancy and/or expensive and claim to taste raisins. It will impress every time.

Today was brew day.

Today was my day to brew. With the help of fellow Columbia Beer Enthusiast Jeff, I now have a carboy filled with my first ever batch, fermenting in the basement. Jeff not only shared his expertise, but he graciously allowed me to use his gear, eat his pizza, and drink some of his beer.

Here is what transpired through pictures...

This the pot in which I boiled my wort.

After reaching 170, we tossed in the specialty grain. This is the moment when I realized that I was actually going to brew some beer.

There was plenty of beer to be had this day. This is the Sam Adams Longshot winner. It's supposed to be a Pliny the Elder clone. I don't know about that, but it's really amazing. It's almost worth buying the Longshot variety pack to get two bottles, even if you have to drink the bock and the fruit beer. Anyway, this is where home-brewing can lead.

Wort warming.

This was a home-brew made by another CBE member. I pictured it because it is what all who brew at home aspire to create. This beer was ridiculously rich, dark, and delicious. Does that come in a kit?

So, I realized that I didn't take several pictures at this point. I think the beer consumed might have had something to do with this. Besides the two pictured, we enjoyed Mikkeller Simcoe, an excellent Arrogant Bastard clone, New Glarus Hearty Hop, Southern Tier Unearthly, Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre, an "experiment", and something I'm forgetting.

A little straining so that we won't have to chew the beer.

Here's the finished product. It will sit around for a week, fermenting. Then we'll move it to another carboy before bottling. I need some more bottles.

The Summer Beer Project

One of my favorite pastimes of the summer (well, any season really) is the consumption of beer. Each year, I get hooked on a particular beer or other recreational beverage (mojitos come to mind) and am always on the lookout for something to both quench my thirst and lighten my mood.

I was thinking about this summer's drink du jour as the sun decided to visit Misery today. What will be this summer's drink? Will it be an old stand-by or something new. I've decided to explore the possibilities throughout the summer. But before this project begins, let me cover a few favorites or possible winners for the summer.


Cream Ales
This is a style that I barely knew existed. Then my mom delivered some New Glarus this evening, including some of their cream ale Spotted Cow. Cream ales are top-fermented beers that go through an extended period of cold-conditioning or lagering. The Spotted Cow I had tonight was light and refreshing, perfect for summer.


Summer Beer
This one will have beer purists gagging, but it's a good option if you want refreshment and alcohol without the heaviness of several beers. First, you fill a typical pint glass about 2/3 full with an unfiltered wheat beer. Boulevard Wheat works the best for this. Then, pour in a shot of vodka and top it off with lemonade. My friend TJ introduced me to the summer beer a summer or two back. Apparently, it's a big thing in Lawrence, but I won't tell if you won't.


Stout Float
I love ice cream. I love stouts. However, until I came to COMO, I would have never put the two together. Somehow, it makes sense. This is a drink with which I may have to experiment. Should I use dry stouts or over-the-top imperial stouts (like the Dogfish Head World Wide Stout that nearly knocked me on my ass this evening)? This could be either the most fun of the summer drinks or the most disappointing.


Oberon with Orange Slice
Here's another drink that makes beer purists gag, but I swear by this combination. It was customary in Columbus to toss a slice of orange into a wheat beer, but none compare to Bell's Oberon. The best part might be eating the orange slice at the end.


Dogfish Head Festina Pêche
This is the first beer that cannot be had in Misery, but a quick trip to Illinois will make this terrible reality go away. This is one of the few beers I've had that is light enough, low enough on the alcohol (4.5% ABV), and features just the right amount of fruit to be a one-and-done summer drink. It has rather complex layers of flavoring with a touch of sourness that satisfies after one bottle. I still have three of my four-pack, waiting for warmer weather.


Negra Modelo with Lime
Mexican drinks are often synonymous with summer. I prefer the darker Negra Modelo with a slice of lime. The trick is to see whether you can properly get your lime from the neck of the bottle to the bottom without spilling it all over the place.

I realize that these drinks are beer-specific, but I write about beer. What are you willing to try? What do you think will be this summer's drink du jour? Let me know if you try any of these suggestions. Leave me something in the comments.

The Beer I Drank Today: Celebrator

The Beer I Drank Today: Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Style: Doppelbock

Color: dark brown

Head/Lacing: big fizzy head, nice lacing but quickly dissipates

Aroma: cola, chocolate, sweet malt

Flavor: super balanced, cola, chocolate, sweet malt, molasses

Context: I bought this on my expedition to STL several weeks back. The only other time I've tried it was at a lager beer tasting last summer. Maybe four or five beers (out of 30+) stood out that night. This was one of them. Tonight, I did some de-cluttering of the house after putting together some dinner and bathing the kid. So, I figured I earned a beer tonight.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes, especially if you've sworn off lagers altogether. Doppelbocks are the one style that make me believe that a lager can be drinkable. This one is one of the best out there.

The Beer I Drank Today: Easter Weekend Edition

I thought that I'd write about the Easter weekend and our trip to Pittsburgh to see R's dad and his wife as well as R's brother and his family. I could tell you about all the family stuff we did, but this isn't a blog about family.

What this blog is about is living in Misery. One reason we live in Misery is the strange beer distribution laws here. Beer must be sold through one of a small number of licensed distributors and that's after the beer has gone through an extensive screening process by the state liquor authorities.

So, whenever i travel out of state or expect visitors from out of state, I do what I can to try and procure as much of the beers not sold in this state as I can. The trip to Pittsburgh provided me this opportunity.

I will review the beers in batches, Friday's arrival, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening.

Friday's Arrival:
The Beers I Drank Today: Tom's Rye, Bell's Two-Hearted Ale (I will not review the Two-Hearted here. It's one of my regular/favorite beers, but I thought it worth mentioning that my brother-in-law brought a sixer of this great IPA from the case that Pennsylvania law requires he buy. More on PA laws later.)

Style: Home-Brewed Rye Pale Ale(?)

Color: orange-amber

Head/Lacing: tan and foamy, more lacing than typically found in a HB (home brew)

Aroma: slight hop, bready

Flavor: The rye really came through on this one. It's not as hoppy as ryes I've had from He'Brew or Bear Republic, but it's easily one of the best HB's I've ever had. Normally, beer brewed at home feels sort of watered down. I guess it helps that my father-in-law goes the whole grain route.

Context: We arrived in Pittsburgh in time for dinner (featuring a great, creamy scallops dish). My father-in-law offered up some of his personally brewed rye beer.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes, but you'd have to know Tom to get any. As far as the Two-Hearted Ale, you can get that in just about any state bordering a Great Lake plus Misery.


Saturday Afternoon:
The Beers I Drank Today: Harp Lager (This is actually not worth mentioning. We ate lunch at a pretend Irish pub and I had to drink something.) and Dogfish Head ApriHop

Style: American IPA

Color: golden amber

Head/Lacing: white head, leaving decent lacing

Aroma: hops, sweet malt, citrus

Flavor: tart, hoppier than expected (For those wondering, the apricots are very subtle, but certainly present.)

Context: After some of this at the Pittsburgh Children's Museum...


We hit a pretend Irish pub for lunch. My brother-in-law wanted to take me to Bado's for a pint. Their selection was small but discriminating. He opted for the ApriHop. I followed.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes. I haven't had a Dogfish Head I wouldn't recommend, but they are a challenging brewery. The biggest problem is that they defy classification. This beer is supposed to be an American IPA. While that is true, I'd argue that it could be classified as a fruit beer with its tartness and subtle apricot flavor. In fact, I'd recommend it to any IPA-lovers who dislike fruit beers or fruit beer enthusiasts who dislike bitter IPA's.


Saturday Evening:
The Beers I Drank Today: Founder's Dirty Bastard (FDB) and Over the Edge (OtE)

Style:
FDB - Scotch Ale/Wee Heavy
OtE - Tripel

Color:
FDB - dark copper, brown
OtE - cloudy, golden

Head/Lacing:
FDB - big head that doesn't fade with some nice lacing
OtE - thin white head, beautiful lacing

Aroma:
FDB - fruit, hint of chocolate, piny hops
OtE - fruitiness, hops, whatever makes it smell Belgian (yeast?)

Flavor:
FDB - scotch, caramel, hint of chocolate, richer than most scotch ales I've tasted
OtE - typically excellent Belgian tripel...but those hops make it almost American

Context: My father-in-law took us to his new favorite bar in an inconspicuous strip mall in suburban Pittsburgh. Sharp Edge has several locations in the area. The Brasserie happened to be close to his home. I counted somewhere between 40 and 50 beers on tap, most of it high quality. I won't even guess how many bottles they had for sale.


At the end of the night, I gathered a few beers to take home. In Pennsylvania, you can only buy six-packs from bars/restaurants (with some exceptions), but you have to pay bar prices. It was a costly sixer, but I was able to score a few things not available here in MO.

Would I recommend this beer to you?
FDB - Yes. This is the richest, best scotch ale I've ever had.
OtE - Yes. This beer is made by a Belgian brewery especially for Sharp Edge. You can't buy it anywhere else.


Bonus:
The Beer I Drank Today: Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

Style: Imperial IPA

Color: rich copper

Head/Lacing: nice head and lacing

Aroma: grapefruit, hops

Flavor: This beer tastes a lot like the Mikkeller Simcoe Single Hop IPA I had recently but with more alcohol and a more pronounced bitterness.

Context: This was a beer purchased at Sharp Edge.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes. I think anything single hopped with Simcoe is going to be my favorite from now on.

The Beer I Drank Today: Black Albert

The Beer I Drank Today: De Struise Brouwers Black Albert

Style: Russian Imperial Stout (via Belgium)

Color: I'm black, y'all! I'm black y'all! I'm blacker than blacker than black, y'all! (Sorry for the CB4 ref. I couldn't resist.)

Head/Lacing: tan head, nice lacing even though it doesn't stick

Aroma: red wine, chocolate, and smoke

Flavor: chocolate, raisins, and alcohol (13% ABV)

Context: Sanford over at Sycamore hooked up some of us in the Columbia Beer Enthusiasts with this beer. No one else here sells it. It's been sitting in my fridge ever since I picked it up, just waiting for me. R fixed a steak and I figured this was as good a time as any.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes. I love what American craft brewers have done to the Russian imperial stout, but no one does beer in any style better than the Belgians. This beer is no exception.
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I've recently had the pleasure of trying several other beers of note. In my erratic posting, I just haven't told you all about it or taken pictures.

Coney Island Albino Python: This American pale wheat ale took me by surprise with an injection of vanilla. It was an enjoyable beer, but I doubt I'll drink it very often.

New Belgium La Folie Wood Aged Beer: Sour is the new hoppy in the craft beer world. This one has to be the sourest beer I've had. (Although, I have a couple of Jolly Pumpkin beers to drink.) It was trully interesting, but I doubt I will buy or drink another. I drank with two other guys. The one who brought the La Folie abstained from drinking. He already had one after buying two bottles. The other guy politely finished his glass. I used a wine saver to store it in the fridge and finished the following day.

Dogfish Head Midas Touch: On a little excursion around STL a couple of weeks ago, I picked up several beers in Illinois I can't buy here. This was one of them. This is a fantastic beer. Supposedly, the recipe was found in Midas' tomb or something, making it one of the world's oldest beer recipes.

Charleville Tripel Wit: For a small-time operation, this was a decent beer. Charleville makes some nice beers, but I won't go out of my way for them when there are so many other great beers on the shelves these days. Of course, I may have to visit their winery/microbrewery in St. Genevieve one of these days.

Dogfish Head Raison d'Etre: This is a solid strong Belgian Ale. It's not as impressive as some DfH's other offerings or even most Belgian strong ales, but it would be a regular in my rotation if it were available in Misery. I do have a Raison d'Extra waiting in the wings though.

Dogfish Head Festina Pêche: I sort of went DfH crazy with my beer run to STL, but something about the packaging reminded me of summer the way Bell's Oberon does. Though a little sour for my taste, this beer will be nice once the hot, summer weather returns. And at 4.5%, I may have more than one the next time.

Mikkeller Simcoe Single Hop IPA: This is a great American-style IPA. It reminds me of something between Two-Hearted Ale's hearty bitterness and the refreshing grapefruitiness of Hopslam. It's too bad one 12 oz. bottle costs so much.

There's more where that all came from. I just have to get back to blogging more often. Look for some music posts in the coming hours and days.

Some Thoughts About 'living in misery'

When I started this blog, I wanted some way to deal with my (self-diagnosed) depression. I felt that much of my unhappiness was due to my circumstances, including living here. The blog was a place for me to get all of that off my chest.

After a few posts, I realized that it wasn't enough to just write. I wanted someone to read what I was writing and to even comment once in a while. So, I started reading other blogs, leaving comments, and telling anyone I could about lim.

At first, just a few friends would read and comment, but they would mostly talk to me about what I had written over beers or at work. A lot of conversations were started with something I posted. The conversation was what I wanted. And my friends took what I had to say seriously. I mean, they are my friends. Shouldn't they take what I say seriously?

Then, something happened. People I didn't even know began reading the blog and leaving comments. I became real-life friends with some. Others are my friends on Facebook or Twitter; the only thing separating us are actual miles. The conversation grew to include perspectives outside my physical social circle.

Like my friends, these new readers started to pay attention to the content on lim. I don't mean to say that I was replacing the New York Times or even The Columbia Tribune, but people I didn't even know were now reading and discussing my blog.

Of course, along with the fans and followers came the critics, but even they somehow saw me as some sort of authority that needed to be corrected.

Through all of this - nearly 500 posts of it - my readership has grown and so has the interest in what I have to say. That's what gets me. People are actually interested in what I have to say and they often want to be part of that conversation without even knowing me. Somehow I have been given a certain amount of authority just because I'm willing to post my thoughts online, on a public forum.

I want to thank my readers for participating in the conversation. Thank you for keeping me in check when I'm wrong. Thank you for reading even though I'm talking about something you don't care about just to see if I mention something in which you are interested. Thank you for mentioning me to your friends. Thank you for keeping me on your blogroll. Thank you for the shout-outs. Thank you for reading and commenting.

Thanks for living through misery with me.

I'm sorry for the sappy post. I have just been inspired by so many readers and fellow bloggers recently with their own ideas and blog posts. I really am flattered that any of you think I have something worthwhile to say. It's motivated me to keep blogging. That's why this is already the fifth post of the week and it's just Wednesday.

Don't worry. I'll get back to cynicism and hating this place by tomorrow. Come to happy hour at the 'Tag if you happen to be in COMO. Let's have a beer together.

Beer Wars

Something's been brewing on the beerosphere and the Columbia Beer Enthusiast Ning over the last month. A new documentary about the craft beer movement titled Beer Wars is set to hit theaters in mid-April. Check the trailer below.

I know this seems right up my alley, but I have a problem with the promotion and distribution of this film. As of now, the documentary does not seem to be getting wide release or even a limited release to some art house theaters (meaning our own Ragtag). Instead, the folks promoting the film are showing it one night (April 16) at various theaters with a live discussion to follow.

Here's video for that...

I know you're still wondering what's my problem.

Well, first of all, if I'm going to see a movie about beer, it would be nice to see it at a theater where they can actually serve some of the beer discussed in the film. Not only does the Ragtag serve some great craft brews and imports, but they are also an independent theater, one who often caters to documentaries taking on corporate America. Instead, our screening here in COMO is at the Forum 8 theater. Nice choice. Beer Wars will be seen in the theater between the new Pixar movie and the latest horror B-movie to fill the winter film season.

The second part I have a problem with is the fact that Ben Stein is hosting the post-film discussion. I don't want Ben Stein's egotistical conservative stance to dampen my night of hearing some of the best brewers in America talk about Beer Wars. I'd rather go back to the bar afterward and discuss it over a few pints.

The film's promoters have missed a golden opportunity to show this film in beer-friendly environments without the event being tainted by a right-wing nut. I'll just wait for Beer Wars to come out on DVD and watch it at home with an IPA or barley wine.

Handsome Furs Mildly Enjoy This City

No, Dan Boeckner does not have multiple faces. It's just a crappy action shot taken with my phone.

Going into last night's Handsome Furs show at Mojo's, I did not really know what to expect. It was a Tuesday, St. Paddy's Day, and right in the middle of SXSW. The turnout was predictably low as young professionals opted to stay in on what may be our best evening of the spring so far. Plus, I was about to hear a two-piece band consisting of guitar, synth, and drum machine. It could have gone terribly wrong either way.

I had a pre-show beer at the 'Tag, a Coney Island Sword Swallower. It's a really good lager, hopped so much you may confuse it for a pale ale. Actually, the sad part of the beer is that I feel like I swallowed a sword as the morning-after hop breath has set in. It's still a good beer. I suggest head over to the 'Tag and have one before the keg is empty.

After unsuccessfully trying to talk some of those aforementioned young professionals to join me at the show, I ventured over to Mojo's all by my lonesome.

First off, let me say that Dan Boeckner and Alexi Perry are as handsome a couple as you might expect. Sure, they're not classically beautiful or attractive enough to be Real World cast members. No, their beauty is a rock n' roll beauty, an attractiveness that comes more from the gut than the face. They are rock 'n roll hot, way more compelling than the average model/actor. Maybe it was the sparsely equipped stage, but I was mesmerized by the couple/band's presence.

The Furs' style can be described as "post-Perestroika punk". There are a lot of kids in Brooklyn dressing this way nowadays, but Boeckner and Perry pull it off genuinely. This was no fashion show disguised as a concert. The Handsome Furs gave off the impression that they go to the bank in the same clothes they wear on stage.

There is no pretension here. The band was so appreciative of the crowd that did show and were friendly to the Vox reporters directly after the show. The club wasn't even half-full, but the Canadian couple kept thanking folks for the wonderful turnout.

Oh, and there was music.

Whenever I see a synth-heavy act, I shutter and worry that I will become bored watching "musicians" turn knobs and push buttons. A synth band is often just a step above the laptop-wielding set. If you recall, I hated - HATED - the Fuck Buttons with their card tables and MacBooks and Fisher Price tape recorders. There is something soulless about simply pushing buttons to make dance music.

The Handsome Furs figured out how to make the synth thing work. Besides the fact that they are compelling individuals, the Furs actually play their instruments and rock as they do it. I know this seems like a simple distinction, but it's really not. I go to shows to see and hear rock 'n roll, not to watch you play with GarageBand.

So, my point is that the music translated well to a live setting. Boeckner's voice and anthemic guitar playing fulfilled my yernings to rock, but he shared the stage with his partner. Perry rhythmically beat on synth and drum machines as if they weren't working. Together, the band played a show that deserved a larger crowd than COMO provided.

Last night marked the 16th anniversary of my first concert. I was as thrilled to be at a rock show in 2009 as I was in 1993. That's not an easy task for me as I keep going back to rock clubs in search of that first high, but Handsome Furs gave me a little bit of the thrill once again.

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Scroll through my Tweets for the real-time story.

Some of the bathysphere kids were there. I'm sure they'll post something.

Link

The Vox folks will get to writing something up eventually.

The Beer I Drank Today: Red and White

The Beer I Drank Today: Dogfish Head Red & White

Style: witbier

Color: caramel, cloudy

Head/Lacing: fizzy and tan with a nice lacing that disappears quickly

Aroma: fruity

Flavor: fruity and alcoholic, a Chardonnay-like finish (although, I don't know wine)

Context: Mom brought this to me a couple of weeks back. I knew that Alan (of Patric Chocolate) liked Dogfish Head and thought that he'd like this one in particular. So, I invited him out. Plus, I had promised him a Hopslam for weeks. He brought two nice beers that we didn't even get to after sharing this bomber of 10% ABV beer. I guess we'll have to do this again.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes. It's really different than any witbier I've had. I think wine-drinkers and Belgian beer drinkers would appreciate this beer. I'm glad I tried it.

The Beers I Drank Today: Big Red, Gemini, Single-Wide, Expedition

The Beer I Drank Today: Southern Tier Big Red

Style: Red Ale

Color: caramel

Head/Lacing: This is the foamiest head I've seen in a long time. It prompted my co-drinker to wonder aloud whether the head is important. He said that Germans put a lot of emphasis on the head. It does seem to be an aesthetic thing. The lacing was nice as well.

Aroma: fantastically hoppy, piny

Flavor: This beer was way hoppier than I expected. It reminded me of the Avery Red Point I had not too long ago, but with more hops. This beer was a pleasant surprise.

Context: I've had this beer in my stash for a while. I'm nowhere near six months, but I didn't want it to go bad before I tried it. Plus, we spent all day working on our plots in the new community garden our neighbors started this year. A beer is always deserved at the end of a day in the garden.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Surprisingly, yes. I really had no expectations for this beer, but I should have known better. Southern Tier is one of my favorite breweries.

The Beer I Drank Today: Southern Tier Gemini

Style: Imperial IPA

Color: copper orange

Head/Lacing: thick head, decent lacing

Aroma: What else? piny hops...but not as much as the beer above

Flavor: overwhelming amount of malt, some hoppy bitterness

Context: This was another beer that needed to be consumed from my stash. A friend was over who has just started brewing. I plan to start as soon as I order some ingredients. This beer provided some good talking points. It has been hyped enough that I've greatly anticipated this moment.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes, but don't expect anything special. I'd rather drink Unearthly or Hoppe - the two beers mixed to form Gemini.

The Beer I Drank Today: Boulevard Single-Wide IPA

Style: American IPA

Color: golden, hazy

Head/Lacing: thick, white head with some decent lacing

Aroma: citrus, grassy

Flavor: pine, grass, grapefruit - but not too overwhelming

Context: I kept hearing that Boulevard's attempt at an IPA was in COMO, but I wasn't seeing it. I realized that I had been walking right past it on the floor of Hyvee. This time I snagged a sixer. I am a hop-head and feel like I need to try every IPA under the sun, especially one made here in Misery.

Would I recommend this beer to you? Yes, but don't go expecting Hopslam or Ruination. It's a typically fine American IPA. I'd place it right between Schlafly's APA and O'Fallon's 5-Day IPA. That's pretty decent company to keep.

Also: Bells Expedition Stout - I've reviewed this before, but thought it was worth mentioning again. This beer is still great and I have one left.