Victory HopDevil Ale

I was invited by friends to go out to Red Sands this past week. I hadn't been there in foreva and with the news that I'd get to ride some quads with beautiful folk, I couldn't decline. I grabbed a handful of beers from the fridge to see which mood would strike me while I was out there. Started off with the always reliable Sierra Nevada Pale Ale but as I reached for another, I was urged by a fellow quader to try the Victory HopDevil Ale I had brought along so she could partake in a sample of the sweet nectar as well. Of course I wasn't expecting anyone else with me to like it but I enjoyed this brew on an occasion like this. I think I may have tried this beer before because for some reason I had a hunch that I didn't like it. Since I couldn't remember too clearly, I'm glad I got to try it again because I was wrong about it.

This beer had a very nice grapefruity hop aroma with a bit of a kick to it from the hops. The more I smelled it though, the more I picked up on some sort of musty, earthy aroma. It wasn't a bad thing and was pretty interesting in fact. The first sip reinforced the grapefruit hop aroma as it overpowered the other flavors in the beer. The mouthfeel is great for an IPA with just the right amount of carbonation and a smooth creamy finish. The hops really give this beer a unique flavor compared to other IPAs. It doesn't have the piny, Cascade hops that most other IPAs have. A nice malt flavor comes out in the end but this beer is all about the hops as most IPAs are. As the beer warms, a little spicy character emerges accompanied by an alcohol kick that balances out this solid IPA. A surprisingly good beer. I always enjoy being surprised by a well tasting brew that seems to come out of nowhere. As I watched the sun set on the sand dunes, I again began to think about the future and how I would handle the curveball life had thrown at me recently. Beer always gets me thinking about life... Definitely pick this one up if you're a fan of IPAs.

Stone Smoked Porter

I hadn’t gone camping in a couple of years so when the opportunity presented itself this past weekend I jumped at the chance to go. I have a couple of beers in my fridge that have just been sitting there waiting for a special occasion to get opened. On this particular trip, I decided to go with the Stone Smoked Porter since I was going to be outdoors in the near freezing weather and this would be a nice warmer for the occasion.

On a separate note, I plan to start camping on a much more consistent basis. I will be purchasing my own camping gear soon and heading out as often as I can. I hope to accomplish one of the items on my list of things to do by heading out on my own one of these days too. What is it about camping that is so appealing to certain people? Is it just being out there in the wilderness with a minimum of things? The peacefulness does help you clear your mind and put things in perspective. I know for me it’s partly that but also a bit like living on the edge in that it’s a way to live like our ancestors did while still having that tiny grasp on the modern world to hedge against any mishaps. Now more than ever, I see it as a way to escape the dreariness that is your everyday life and having to deal with complicated issues. Everything is just so simple out there. I’ve always enjoyed camping since I was small but for some reason (lack of gear, motivation, opportunity, and company for one) I got away from it. This trip brought that love back. The peacefulness of reading a book on a cool day while the wind rustles the trees and a woodpecker makes a racket in the distance as it tries to get its next meal is something that can’t be found in city life. Or try waking up to the gobbling of a wild turkey in the near hills and trying to stalk it without it hearing you just to get a glimpse of what your Thanksgiving dinner looks like before it gets to your table. How about sitting around a campfire in the dead of night hypnotized by the dancing flames; trying to keep warm as you look up as see the sky littered with stars looking as if someone threw glitter into the air and it just stayed there, suspended in time. The poetry of it all is addicting.

Now that I've setup the atmosphere for how I tried this new beer, you can bet that I was expecting something grand to accompany these memories. I was honestly hoping it would be a little colder when I popped open this brew but the day had been warm with few clouds and it wasn't as chilly as the night before. I popped open the cap and tried to get a whiff of the tasty beverage. The cold weather made it a little more difficult to pickup on the subtleties this brew no doubt carried. I was able to pickup a nice roasted malt character followed by coffee and chocolate notes that is typical of the Porter style. The first sip brought that familiar Porter taste but with a slight twist. The malts were the first thing I noted and coffee and chocolate flavors immediately began to dominate. The kicker was the slight smoky taste that lingered at the end. Definitely a good brew but not to the level I was expecting from a Stone Brewery ale. The anticipation built this thing up in my mind more than anything but it is still a solid beer to try. The mouthfeel was definitely full-bodied with the right amount of carbonation. Another interesting thing about this beer was the hops bite the began to emerge as the beer warmed. That is something I've never had and wouldn't have expected from this beer and I was pleasantly surprised. Typical of most Stone beers, this one came in a big bottle and it was a chore to finish the whole thing because of the strong character but I was up to the task. I think the beer was just right for the occasion, could've been a little better but considering the style I could've done worse. I will say that about all the Stone beers I've tried, they definitely don't skimp on the ingredients and use only the finest. I would recommend this beer to anyone who's interested in trying the style and I would probably get it again although not ahead of other Stone offerings.

Things To Do Before I Die 2

1. Leave a lasting impression on someone I've never met and will never see again. This is another that is practically impossible to confirm since I wouldn't know the person and would leave the impression only in passing. Quick examples that come to mind: "D'er you go" guy from the Dallas trip and "You want to fight about it" guy from Whataburger on one of the funnest nights ever.

2. Run a marathon.

3. Bench press 225 lbs. Inspired by the recent combine workouts.

4. Learn Japanese. Already in process because of Japanese for Busy People but I think I need to take a class sometime.

5. Go to Oktoberfest in Germany. Mmmm...beer. Speaking of, got to get a-brewing.

Things To Do Before I Die 1

I plan start a periodic series where I list the things I want to do or accomplish before I die. I will post five at a time and they will be in no particular order as I will post as they come to mind. They'll range from truly grand feats to small mundane tasks and everything in between that I would like to do just once. I'll generally try to stay away from the cliche things but you'll find one on my list every so often.

1. Have a school named after me. Nobody knows who Jane Hambric is but if you have a school named after you, you know you did something worthwhile along life's journey.

2. Knock somebody out. Not just punch someone but knock them out cold.

3. Go camping alone. Just get away to the middle of nowhere and be on my own at least for a weekend.

4. Give someone advice that they'll remember for the rest of their life in one sentence. You don't always need to deliver a moving speech to get your point across and sometimes shorter really is sweeter. I may not know if I accomplish this since someone might not tell me that they'll remember something I said for the rest of their lives.

5. Approach and hit on a girl that is completely out of my league. I'm talking a Vegas 10 type. I may crash and burn but you never know and it's always worth the try...


Feel free to leave your thoughts on my list and post any of your own things to do in the comments section.

Rush Limbaugh

Below is the first in a series of videos on who I believe is one of the most misunderstood men in America. Many people I've spoken to about Rush Limbaugh say they have strong feelings of dislike for him yet when I ask if they've ever listened to his show even once, they answer no. They make their decision based on hearsay and various 5-second sound bites that are taken out of context and trickled down to them. Take a few moments out of your day to watch these videos on a speech he gave to the Conservative Political Action Conference. They show why I admire him and listening to this may give you a different perspective on someone who is constantly labeled as a bigot and hatemonger. This isn't the same guy that's portrayed in the media. He pretty much sums up my political views and the conservative position as a whole. His speech outlines why I am proud to call myself a conservative and the great love I have for this country.

Rush Limbaugh Speech to CPAC

The Wrestler and Oaked Arrogant Bastard

Spent the majority of Valentine’s Day as I do all Saturday’s - at my grandma’s house with family. I had nothing better to do later that evening so I decided to treat myself out to a movie on this “special” day. I’ve been to the movies by myself with no problem before but I admit it was a little awkward given that it was Valentine’s Day and there were couples everywhere. I decided to check out the much-hyped The Wrestler to get acquainted with more of the films nominated for the upcoming Oscars. This movie has been getting plenty of hype from critics praising the performances of Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei and it is well-deserved. I think their performances are what really elevate this movie. The story is about a washed-up wrestler who has become a lovable loser since he left the top of the wrestling world and follows his attempt to get back to the top and get his life together. As you see obstacle after obstacle keep him from doing so, you really start to feel for him. However, you can also see that the type of lifestyle he lives is so ingrained in him that he can’t change no matter how much he wants, the ring is his life. By the end of the movie you see the contrasting way in which things in the ring are so much better for him than in the real world and no amount of work will elevate him to the status he maintains in the ring. I’d say this is a great film but I would still rank it behind Slumdog Millionaire in terms of award-worthy. You should still check it out if you’re looking to catch up on your movies for Oscar night. Oh, the excessive Marisa Tomei nudity is a huge bonus! I’ve had a thing for her since My Cousin Vinny and didn’t expect to see this much boobage from her.

Went home and decided to end the night with a beer I’ve had sitting in my fridge for awhile and thought today would be as good a day as any to enjoy it. Life is but a flash in the pan so enjoy things while you can right? Arrogant Bastard is probably my favorite beer and when I spotted this oaked variant at Buddy’s I immediately snatched it up. I poured myself a glass of Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale and boy am I glad I did. Coincidentally I poured it into a glass I received as a Valentine’s Day gift a couple years prior. I enjoy a bit of sweet irony with my beer. The color was a dark brown, caramel shade and produced a nice big fluffy head. Just the look of it is intimidating and the smell did nothing to change that either so I’m sure the taste won’t disappoint. A whiff gave me a wonderful blend of oily hops and high-quality malt. The beautiful thing is that there is also a woody mahogany smell that follows along with the obligatory alcohol kick for a beer of this level. A heavenly smelling brew indeed! First sip is packed with a complex mix of flavors. I’m going to have to take a few more sips to pick out all the subtleties in there but this is definitely all Arrogant Bastard. First thing that hit me is the nice hop bite that leaves a bitter grapefruit flavor followed by the rich caramel malt that perfectly compliments it. After the swallow, I was able to pickup the “oaked” flavor in the namesake and of course the alcohol kick that immediately made this a top notch brew. The mouthfeel is thick and soft. There is just the right amount of carbonation present making it a very drinkable beer but I wouldn’t want to be making this a session brew because a couple of these will really mess you up as Tim learned the hard way. The beer also leaves some of the best lacing on the glass that I have seen in any beer and I later regretted not snapping a pic of that. This is the type of beer you want to be drinking on a special occasion and is a great way to start a night. You will want to take it easy on this and not rush anything because this beer can easily in a mataleon. I think it has more kick than the regular Arrogant Bastard which is saying a lot. As my glass started to look more and more empty, I picked up more of a woody flavor in the beer which was a nice compliment to the brew. This beer is definitely not for the faint of heart and only the bravest tongue should try taking this one on because the level of flavor present is astounding! Highly recommended cerveza.

Gingerman

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