I'm drinking another Affligem and still loving it

cold one

I'm drinking an Affligem and loving it.

cold one

Flying Dog! Snake Dog IPA and eating a moth

I swear to god, the following just happened to me, Matt the Mitzvah.

Scene: Eating with my wife Helen, and kids... Leftover slice of pepperoni pizza. Consumed.

Leftover pasta, heated up. Thoughts to self: "Better eat a salad fatty" - Organic spinach salad with bleu cheese, prepared.

Enter from scene right - Alexa's leg falls asleep, much crying and whimpering and distraction ensues. Discussion of Thanksgiving dinner shopping trips and portion amounts is occuring.

Lindsey is eating M & M's off of the table by licking them off. No beer in sight (as of yet)....just a Diet Coke.

Half of salad is now gone, half of pasta now gone.

Now be prepared for the following images if you are eating or about to eat.

This is what I see.

Seriously, I mixed this salad up a bit after putting the bleu cheese in....I may have consumed some sort of mummified moth particles. I immediately thought of alcohol, to cleanse my palate properly, and to take my mind off of ralphing.

This is when I grabbed the first beer I saw in the fridge, a recently purchased Snake Dog IPA

from www.flyingdogales.com

I rate this beer as "Very Drinkable", and it really did the trick to cleanse all moth particles from my mouth.

Not quite a Stone IPA, but pretty damn good.

More Flying Dog Ales to review in the coming weeks.

Matt the Mitzvah out

some great post recently

Just look at the names on the right under November. Good stuff.

Stone IPA versus Titan IPA

I am really getting into the IPA world. God they are so good.

My one buddy Scott was always talking up Stone IPA http://www.stonebrew.com/ and I finally found a case at a Chestnut Hill spot, which I will definitely be back to. I had my first Stone a couple of weeks back, and am now just finishing up the case....many assists from a PSU party about 2 weeks ago.

Also, picked up a 6 pick at the new Wegmans in Collegevile...which is very strong, as you can actually buy 6 packs and fohty's...lots of specialty craftage over there. So, I thought I would setup a friendly war between the two.

Ok, now for the results. Stone wins stone cold over Titan.

I am not quite sure why this Great Divide Brew from Denver, Colorado was destroyed so handily in this flava contest, perhaps it was the piney hop aromas or the citrus hop flavas. Or, maybe it was the rich malty sweetness? For more info, they brew a ton of beers and you can check out http://greatdivide.com/

Maybe the answer can be found by closely analyzing the Stone IPA. First, the gargoyle logo is very strong. It prepares you to be unprepared. Who knows what tastes should be associated with gargoyleness?

It is very hoppy with mega hoppy smells. But, it is smooth at the same time. That is the feat that many IPA's cannot accomplish. Who just wants bitter unless it tastes good? They claim to have a medium malt flavor...and Titan was rich malty sweetness.

I guess my buds want medium.

So, if you like IPA's, definitely get some Stone Cold Steve Austin IPA at your local friendly beer meister and Remember to stay away from The Titans.

Watou Tripel

Wow. Another winner from St. Bernard. Maybe better than Abt....smooth.

St. Bernardus Wit

I enjoyed a bottle of this last nite thanks to my good friend, Jake. This is the best wheat that I have had. Smooth, cloudy, and refreshing. Just like the finer things in life. I highly recommend St. Bernardus.
Wit or Wit out.

Spaten Octoberfest - Malt Liquor???

(this isn't my hand and I didn't take this picture, unlike the picture in my last review)

No! Please tell me the great German beer holiday isn't over yet! Oktoberfest apparently is for some, but not for this guy. In fact, I went into my trusted local beer store before Oktoberfest began this year and they still had a case of the world's most drank beer - Beck's Oktoberfest. A case from last year! Although my brother caved and bought it for some unknown reason, I recommend not buying Oktoberfest beer no more than 6 months past the holiday. Yes, it may seem cool to keep drinking like you were a big part of Oktoberfest, but please move on. There's plenty other fresh beers to be had. Your palette will thank you.

Oktoberfest begins in September believe it or not. I'm not going to go into the details because frankly, Google will give you a lending hand if you truly need one... on to the beer. I had visited Germany years ago and it would be a fib to say their beer isn't light years ahead of ours due partly to the purity laws or the "Rheinheitsgebot" they have set in place. Beer tastes different over in Germany than it does in the U.S. and mainly because any beer, including the one I am reviewing, is regulated. We do not drink the true German beer than they are so lucky to quench their thirst with.

Spaten Oktoberfest was one of my favorites when I visited German (I kept a running journal), along side some other beers I will get into eventually. Spaten is a trusted name in German beer and has been for centuries dating back to the 1300s. Its amazing how well it actually translates into the American world given our regulations. For instance, try even drinking Molson XXX from a local store and you won't get whacked with the same alcohol content as you would commiserating on a bar stool in Montreal (or in Niagara Falls if that helps you relate). XXX is better in Canada, which is why this is either the first you've heard of it or you don't drink it.

The color of Spaten is like that of a lager, the blue label, signifying that of a first place winner and the aroma of hops brewed in the old country are inviting from the get-go. Believe it or not, but the label actually lists this beer as "malt liquor" and if I may say so myself, I would choose this malt liquor over Colt 45, Old E and any other old partners I've had a few run-ins in years past. Served frosty, Spaten doesn't have a bite. Yet filling to drink, it goes down easy like an American light beer. This is where Germans have many popular beers by the chokehold. They can offer refreshment without tinkering with taste.

Spaten will offer no tartness or hoppy flavor - nothing but full-bodied taste from a true German beer. Even your burps will taste good.... no kidding here. It goes without saying, I'm a bit biased having tasted the true honey right from the bee's nest, but even America's regulated German beer is up to par. Refreshing, tasteful and never dulling to the taste buds. I would recommend this beer anytime although you will most likely only be drinking it in the late Fall (you forgot already? Oktoberfest!). Even so, Spaten is a well-trusted beer in Deutschland, and I would give this a strong 8.7 out of 10. An 8.7 because I liked a few beers better when I was spoiled as sin in Germany.

Oh, and when you go to Germany, just say "Ein Bier bitte" and they'll know what to do. No need to be picky, they'll just serve you the local brew which is most likely as amazing as this beer. Two thumbs up here.

Big Bear Black Stout

Hello all,

After that St. Bernardus post (by the way, I got to get myself some of that), I thought I'd post about a beer I've just recently been exposed to. It's called Big Bear Black Stout (killer name) and the name doesn't lie, it is a heavy stout that has a caramel-roasted aftertaste that's perfect for a cold winter night. This beer is good but like all good beers and at 8.1% alc by vol. it's a bit pricey. But, hey what the hell, sometimes it's good to enjoy a few of the finer things in life. More to come...