Confessions of a Beer Geek

Septembeer is almost here!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:53:00 +0000

Septembeer means only one thing... OKTOBERFEST!!!

I know... it makes no sense. Why call it "Oktoberfest" when it starts in September? Blame it on those silly Germans. Those silly, wonderful, beer making, beer guzzling, life loving Germans. Aaaaah...

I won't bore you with the details about the why. Check out my rant from last year that describes in detail the history (and fun) of the original Oktoberfest. I will remind you that 2 years from now Fran and I will be hopping a big ole jet plane to attend the 2010 Oktoberfest in Munich. Wanna come? Contact me for more info! (Yes, you will have to pay your own damn way!)

So... back to this year's spates of Oktoberfests. We may not be going to Munich, but we are definitely going to Denver's Oktoberfest on Larimer Street. Big. Loud. Germany. Lederhoseny. Beery. Fun. This big, bad boy of festivus' runs two consecutive weekends: September 19 - 21 and again on September 26 - 28. Wanna come? Contact me for more info! (Yes, you will have to pay your own damn way!)

We're also going to try and hit the Breckenridge Oktoberfest on September 13 -14. We've been to this one before and it's a hoot. Plus, the location (Main Street, downtown Breck) is to die for! Wanna come? Contact me for more info! (Yes, you will have to pay your own damn way!)

Let the Beer Games Begin!

Dundee does Beer!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:38:00 +0000

No, not the short, funny Aussie crocodile dude from the movies. This is a whole nutha Dundee.

So it's mid-August here in Colorado and the weather has taken a decidedly wintry turn. The months of June and July encompassed record heat and record lack of rain.

Well, that's all changed. We've had substantial, measurable rainfall for something like 12 days in a row now. It's been hovering below 60 degrees for the better part of the last two days. It even snowed on top of Pikes Peak today! In the middle of August! It feels like winter... and that means only one thing: Stout and Porter weather!

Yes, I'm a seasonal beer drinker. Warm weather is all about the hefes, wheats and other "lighter" brews. But the second it's cold enough to crack out thick, heavy jackets then it's time to crack open thick, heavy beers as well.

Last night I had a porter from Dundee Brewing Company that was very tasty. Living my whole life on the left side of the United States Dundee is new to me. I first had one of their Honey Brown's a few weeks ago on a trip to California and absolutely loved it. Thankfully they're selling their brews (in 12-pack craft cases, 2 of all 6 different beers) at my local store here in Colorado.
The Honey Brown is great. The Porter is sumptuous. The Pale Bock is very sessionable. The Pale Ale is OK, and the IPA is too hoppy for my taste (but Fran liked it). Being a hefe and wheat guy I was looking forward to downing their Wheat Beer. Sadly, it wasn't my favorite... not sure I'd actually want to drink it again. But my Hefe loving brother thought it was very good.

After doing some research I found out that although Dundee may be new to me, it's been around a while. Dundee is part of High Falls Brewing Company, which was founded way back in 1878 as the Genesee Brewing Company. Genesee I know... their Cream Ale is really good. High Falls is based in Rochester, New York, and apparently one of the largest (7th to be exact) and oldest continually operating breweries in the U.S. Back in May they refreshed their image with all know logos, branding and publicity push. That's probably why I've never heard of them until now.

Gotta love finding some tasty new beers and learning a little bit of "beerstory" (beer history) as well! Now if Summer would just roll back in for a few more months...

Until next time... Zivjeli!

UPDATE (4:02 PM): Just got back from a beer run and picked up: Stone Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout, Samuel Smith's Winter Ale, Left Hand Milk Stout and Young's Double Chocolate Stout. OH YA!

How now Brau Frau

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 20:33:00 +0000

Believe it or not women like beer too. If you're such a woman... one who likes her some hops, then you too are a Cervisaphile. And if you're as geeky as some of us beer swillin' men, well... then you need some beer bling to show off your beerlicious loving ways.

Enter Michelle Venzke's Brau Frau Designs. If the last name sounds familiar -- and it should, it's because her hubby Matt won Wynkoop's prestigious Beer Drinker of the Year award back in February.

And guys... if you're lucky enough to have yourself a gal (in the first place) who loves the brew, then Michelle's warez make the perfect gift!

What a Wonderful World

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 15:01:00 +0000

Everyone knows that famous song by Louis Armstrong. If you don't, check it out here:

To those of you who have been inquiring about my whereabouts... aside from the lack of "free" time I've had of late (talked about in previous posts), there's a bigger reason. I've mentioned my wife Frances here dozens of times. Well, her father Rolf passed away on July 24. The last year has been especially hard on Rolf, but the man possessed an internal fortitude rarely seen. Here's his obituary as it ran in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. It was written by Fran's sister, Kathy:

WANKEL, Rolf Beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. Six-time cancer survivor, Rolf Wankel passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on July 24, 2008 at the age of 83. He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Karin Wankel, his three children and two grandchildren. Included are; daughter Katherine Love and husband Greg of Lake Oswego, OR; son Richard Wankel of Santa Rosa; daughter Frances Shayotovich and husband Eli of Colorado Springs, CO; grandson Jason Hernandez and wife Adrian of Manteca, CA; and grand daughter Krystle Hernandez of Los Angeles. Survivors also include his 92 year old sister Marianne Schlink, sister Carola Schneider, 86 and brother Klaus Wankel, 82-all living in Germany. Sister Ursula Achenbach preceded him in death. Rolf's family wishes to thank all his loving friends for their support. Family and friends are invited to a Memorial Mass which will be held Tuesday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m. at Star of the Valley Church, 545 White Oak Dr, Santa Rosa. A lunch will follow at Parish Hall. If desired, a memorial donation may be made to the American Cancer Society, Memorial Program, Redwood Empire Region, 1451 Guerneville Rd, Ste 220, Santa Rosa, CA 95403.

What the obit doesn't convey is what a great man Rolf was and how much he impacted people's lives. Eighty five people showed up at the memorial service. Eighty five. And that didn't include any of his family from Germany. These were all local friends and family who came to pay respects to a man whom they came to call a "friend." Jason (Fran's son) put together a magnificent slide show featuring the above mentioned song by Louis Armstrong. When it played, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Rolf was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge and wisdom. What he and his wife Karin have seen and lived through in their lives are things you only read about in fictional novels. As Kathy said, he loved life and lived it intensely. For him... this was truly a wonderful world.

So the next time you're enjoying life with a cold (German) beer, do me a favor and raise a toast to a man this world will sorely miss.

To you Rolf... it was an honor and a privilege.

Prague is Beerlicious!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic. Bordered by Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Poland, it's home to 1.21 million people and some great Czech beer. In fact, the Czech Republic has a long and important history.

In 1842 a brewery in Plzeň hired a German brewer by the name of Josef Groll who was experienced in the then new method of brewing cold fermentation lager. Using soft Bohemian water, very pale malt, and Saaz hops, Groll brewed the first batch of a light colored beer that would become the world famous Pilsner Urquell on 5 October 1842.

More fun beer facts about the Czech Republic:

A brewery existed in the region as far back as 1118
The city of Brno had a right to brew beer from the 12th century
Both Plzeň and České Budějovice (Pilsen and Budweis in German) had breweries dating back the 13th century
It has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world. Czech's like their beer.

As luck would have it (or is it beer karma?) Zane Lamprey, the greatest host of the greatest show in all the land did an episode in the Czech Republic (Season Two, Episode Three). So why not visit the land of beery goodness for yourself?!

This from Budget Travel:

The Real Deal: Round-trip airfare, six nights' accommodations, some meals, and guided tours, from $1,999 per person — plus taxes of about $399.

When: April 1-Oct 31, 2009; other dates are available upon request.

The Fine Print (always read the fine print): Buffet breakfast daily, three-course welcome and farewell dinners with beer, hotel taxes, airport-hotel transfers, and all other transportation by motor coach, sightseeing tours, and select entrance fees as per itinerary are included. Airport taxes are an additional $135 per person, and fuel surcharges are an additional $264 per person. Based on double occupancy and a group of at least 20 travelers. Single supplement is $545. Read these guidelines before you book any Real Deal.

Book By: No deadline; based on availability.

Contact: Austrian Airlines Vacation Center, 800/790-4682, austrianair-vacations.com.

Why it's a Real Deal: A recent Kayak search for round-trip travel to Prague in April 2009 yielded a fare of $661 from New York City (United/Austrian Airlines), including tax. For an additional $1,737, Austrian Airlines covers airfare as well as six night's accommodations, some meals, sightseeing tours, excursions to breweries, local transportation, and all taxes.

Trip Details: The Here for the Beer group package includes round-trip airfare on an Austrian Airlines' carrier and six nights' accommodations in Prague at the 226-room Ibis Karlin or a similar hotel. The Karlin is in walking distance to the Krizíkova metro station, and a 10-minute ride separates the hotel from the historic center.

The trip features two half-day tours of Prague. The first will take you to Old Town Square, a charming and well-preserved market square that dates back to the Middle Ages. While there, you'll get to see one of the city's most popular attractions: a medieval astronomical clock, Orloj, mounted on the southern wall of Old Town City Hall.

The second half-day tour covers the Castle District, from the 18th-century Loretto Square to the Old Castle Steps, with stops at the Archbishop's Palace, the Hradcany Hall, the gothic St. Vitus Cathedral, the Royal Palace, St. George's Basilica, and Lobkowicz Palace at Jirská Street.

In keeping with the trip's theme — beer — you'll get to take a behind-the-scenes look at four of the country's famed breweries. You'll begin with a visit to the U Fleku brewery, founded in 1499, where you'll tour the brewing house, the traditional fermentation center, and the renovated exhibition area that has antique equipment and tools. The tour concludes with a three-course traditional Czech dinner and a beer at the U Fleku restaurant.

Na Zdravi!

One year and still going... sort of.

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Guess what I forgot about? It's been one year since I tapped into the beer life and started this blog. I guess the fact that it's grown by hops and bounds is a good thing. And as I've gotten busier -- writing about beer on a myriad of other sites -- the little blog that started it all has felt the brunt. I apologize for that. Sadly, the next few weeks aren't going to get much better, but stick around. By the beginning of August things should be back to some degree of normalcy. With that... here are just a few things I want to pass along:

Prospective Cicerones

Since people from across the nation have expressed interest in becoming a Certified Cicerone, Ray Daniels is expanding the number of exams this fall. This four-hour test will be held in the following cities (exact dates and times to follow):

Boston (October or November, Monday night)
New York (Manhatten) (October or November, Sunday during day)
Philadelphia (October or November, Saturday during day)
Chicago (September and November, Sunday during day)
Kalamazoo/Ann Arbor/Detroit, MI (September and November, time TBD)
San Diego (North county, Saturday during day)
Oakland/Berkley (Sunday during day)
Seattle (Monday evening)
Denver: several sessions around GABF - Sunday Oct 5, during day; Friday Oct 10, during day; Sunday Oct 12, during day.

Speaking of GABF

Tickets for the 2008 Great American Beer Festival are now on sale. I'm a big time beer geek, and even I am having a hard time justifying the prices they're asking for admission. Evening Sessions (Thursday - Saturday) run from 5:30 to 10pm. For a mere $50 you get the "privilege" of imbibing hundreds of different beers for 4 1/2 hours with thousands of your closest friends in a noisy, raucous auditorium. The Members Only session on Saturday (12:30 - 4:30pm) is a ridiculous $78. I'm sorry... I love beer and the beer life, but not that much. Hopefully I can snag a press pass (if they exist) and get in on one of the sessions in order to write up "experience" pieces for the rest of you not fortunate enough to have the King of Beerfests in your back yard.

Once, Twice, Three Times a Brewery

The countdown to the opening of Colorado Springs newest beervana spot -- Trinity Brewing Company -- has begun. Jason and Todd received their State Liquor License to brew beer and they're in full on hire mode to get people on board, trained and ready to serve all the beery goodness they can come Friday, August 1. If you're looking for a job and want to work at what will surely become the hottest place to hang out in Colorado Springs, check out their website pronto like.

Phantom Canyon goes Ape!

Colorado Springs' Phantom Canyon Brewing Company (owned by Denver's Wynkoop if you didn't know) tapped two new brews... a Czech style pilsner and a smoked porter. The Pre-Prohibition may be a lighter brew, but at 6.7% ABV this pils packs a punch. The Silverback Smoked Porter has smooth smoked roasted flavors. Wynkoop has partnered up with the Denver-based Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund to raise money for the endangered mountain gorillas of Africa. From now until the end of October if you buy a pint of Silverback Porter 25% of the proceeds goes to the Mountain Gorilla fund. So drink a pint of smoked porter and help save an ape!

InBev in bed with A-B?

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:32:00 +0000

A Belgian giant walks into an American bar, sits down and tries to order a Leffe Tripel.

"Sorry, got nothing like that here," the barkeep says.

The Belgian giant, perplexed, asks: "How about a Hoegaarden?"

"A ho gardening?"

"Hoegaarden," the Belgian replies dryly.

"I don't know what kinda weirdness you're into, but you might find some down the block standing on a street corner. Can't miss 'em."

The Belgian is so mystified he doesn't notice the big American walk in and take a seat next to him at the bar. The big American orders a Bud.

"Comin' right up," the bartender replies all to readily.

"A Bud?" the Belgian asks.

The American turns and looks at the Belgian with fire in his eyes. Thinking the Belgian has never heard of the great American Lager asks: "You're in a bar and you've never heard of a Budweiser?"

"Oh, a Budweiser. That's what you Americans call beer, right?"

"Damn straight!" the burly American barks.

"Well... we need to fix that now don't we?" the Belgian retorts.

==============================================

For some reason that's how I imagine this potentially earth shaking buy-out went down. OK, maybe I had a few too many craft beers with high ABVs. Whatever the case... until today I didn't pay much notice to the enormity of this potential consolidation. What gigantic conglomerates do amongst themselves bores me to tears. And living in the "Napa of the Beer World" -- I frankly don't care all that much. I haven't voluntarily touched an A-B product (or any other macro-beer) in years. As the Warsteiner saying goes: "Life is too (damn) short to drink ~~cheap~~ (crappy) beer."

Earlier today I was contacted by Amanda Elend, who works for the CBS-owned news and politics web show MobLogic about this very topic. They did a really interesting webisode about the A-B takeover and wanted to know my thoughts. After watching it (I've embedded the show below), and reading the corresponding blog, A-B fights for America, it got me thinking.

Aside from the whole national pride thing, not wanting to give up the long held family biz, yadda yadda yadda... one has to wonder how many home grown jobs are going to be lost. InBev has to keep A-B in St. Louis because if they offshore it there will be serious negative PR ramifications. If InBev can guarantee this won't ever happen, A-B would be crazy to pass this offer up. A-B gets international PR while InBev gets American PR.

Take a gander at the MobLogic show, read the blog and come on back here to discuss. What are your thoughts on this monumental beer tapping?

Three Sheets vs. The Thirsty Traveler: TV drinking show showdown!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Do you get thirsty when you travel? Hell, I get thirsty when I "travel" from the couch to the bathroom. Fortunately, juxtaposed betwixt those two sacred things lies... The Beer Cave. Much like Batman's Bat Cave, mine is also filled with all the essential tools that any spandex wearing, caped crusader ("The Mad Beer Man") would need should someone dial in on the Beer Phone.

But I digress... as usual. (By the way, I don't wear spandex, but I do have a cape.)

As long time readers of this slice o' beery goodness know, I have a man crush on Zane Lamprey and his show, Three Sheets, which airs on MOJO HD. I pimp him (and the show) like a $2 hooker whenever I get the chance. Which is often. Ask anyone. Now for those spineless, Politically Correct (which is just another way of saying "I'm too afraid to have an opinion that might offend someone") nimrods shouting "conflict of interest" -- suck it. That is not what's going on here. I freelance for their community website (The Beer Bucket List on MOJO 135, every Wednesday - same beer time, same beer channel!) because I love the show. End of story.

For the last few months I've been hearing about another show similar in nature to Zane's, called The Thirsty Traveler. Well, Fran and I finally got a chance to catch several episodes (a big marathon ran over the weekend) which airs on the Fine Living Network. Sadly, it is not in High-Def in our neck of the woods (thanks Comcast), nor does it spell out which episode is which (thanks again Comcast). So I basically have to tape every episode. Strike one.

After doing some research (so I would sound edumacated because... that's what I do) for this particular article I discovered that Brad Schewaga was given a ROSIE award for "exemplary work as the series' Director of Photography" by the Alberta Motion Pictures Industry Association. Based on the episodes I saw, it is a well deserved award. By the way, this show needs to be in HD (talking to you Comcast; so far you're not so "Comcastic") because the cinematography is stunning.

And therein lies the rub... I thought I was watching recent episodes. Not. Apparently there are 4 seasons of the show, which started airing way back in January of 2002. Who knew?! I've never heard of this show until a few months ago. Good advertising people! The episodes we watched were: Absolutely Aquavit and Alaskan Beer (the first two episodes from Season 2); My Dear Maderia and Ga Ga for Cognac (from Season 3), and Wines Down Under (last episode of Season 4, which appears to be the last episode taped).

None of the seasons are available on DVD. At least not that I could find. Granted, I only spent a few minutes looking, but if it's not easy to find... it ain't easy to buy either. The websites for FLN and TTT are very well done, but there is no online store on either one. TTT's website is flashy and cool, but not very updated. Which leaves me wondering if this show is actually shooting new episodes, or has been canned. Strike two.

It's all too much work to be honest because, while the show is good and offers a lot of great information, it's not nearly Three Sheets good. And the host, Kevin Brauch, whom I'm sure is a decent enough fellow and I have absolutely nothing against him personally -- I just don't like him. Kevin just doesn't make me feel like pulling up a barstool and having a beer with him. Zane does. Strike three.

Now, I totally understand that the show isn't trying to be Three Sheets, and Kevin isn't trying to be Zane, but... Fran and I both came away feeling like we could have lived without watching the show. Which ain't the same feeling we get when we watch Three Sheets. We simply cannot get enough of Pleepleus and his human sidekick, Zane.

Speaking of... there's an incredibly good interview with Zane on TV.com, which lets us in on the wild and wacky Lamprey, including the origin of the show and his furry friend Pleepleus (apparently it started with his wife, naming their first born Pleepleus, a traveling companion, and secret messages). It's a must read if you're a fan!

More Medical Misnomers: Beer is Bad for you!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 15:03:00 +0000

You know the "great" thing about medical studies? They're almost always wrong. Kind of like weathermen. One month a study will say "so and so" (take your pick, it happens to virtually everything) is bad for you, the next they say "oh no, we were wrong, it's actually good for." Then it's back to being bad for you. WTF?! How did they become doctors again?

Case in point: beer (and pork rinds)!

According to a study of over 18,000 men conducted by Brainiacs at Harvard they found those who had an average of two drinks every single day, five to seven days a week mind you, had the LOWEST risk of heart attack. THE LOWEST! Additionally, some Smarty Pants at the University of Buffalo found that men who sucked that same amount of suds every day had lower levels of abdominal fat than those who had four drinks at a time, once or twice a week. LOWER!

HA! Is it a shock? Nope. I mean, look at how many decades the nutrition pyramid was WRONG. So go ahead, toss in a cold one or two into your daily diet. I know I am.

BREAKING NEWS! New Belgium Brewing is releasing their flagship beer, Fat Tire, in cans starting Monday. Denver and Ft. Collins will be the first to get them, followed by the rest of the state, then the country! *Big thanks to John "The Beer Hermit" Morrissey (the Foam on the Range beer ranger) for dropping me the 411 about this!

Zivjeli!

Sam Adam's Beer Lover's Choice

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:43:00 +0000

The 4th annual Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Choice program will soon be appearing at beer fests everywhere. This year's nominees are:

Samuel Adams Blackberry Witbier
Blackberry notes with a subtle spice character. A traditional witbier with orange peel and coriander, smacked with "a hint" of blackberry. Complex flavor with malt and cereal notes, intense spice and citrus flavors and a smooth, sweet/tart finish.

Man, my mouth is watering just thinking about this beer! I can already tell ya this is the one I'm voting for! Yup, I like fruit in my beer and I'm secure enough in my manhood to say it loud and proud. Not be a wuss and bend under "peer pressure" to say you like beers that are so hopped up it feels like a prison riot going on in your mouth. Ya, I'm talking to you boyo! ;)

Samuel Adams Coffee Stout
"Dry beaned" with coffee beans from Rwanda. This full-bodied stout is brewed with a special blend of roasted barley and dark crystal malt, aged for two weeks on whole coffee beans- ¾ of a pound per barrel. Has a rich roasty flavor with a smooth finish.

Then again I love stouts... and this sounds fantastic! Just not in the middle of the hot summer. I'm a seasonal beer drinker, and I wonder if chugging a thick, heavy stout in the heat will have a direct impact on who votes for what.

I'm looking forward to casting my vote since I'll be hitting up several beer fests in the next few months. So... which one are you voting for?

Beer contains female hormones! News @ 11!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:32:00 +0000

Last month, scientists at the National University of Lesotho released the results of a recent analysis that revealed the presence of female hormones in beer.

Men should take a concerned look at their beer consumption.

The theory is that beer contains female hormones (hops contain phytoestrogens) and that by drinking enough beer, men turn into women. To test the theory, 100 men drank 8 pints of beer each within a 1 hour period. It was then observed that 100% of the test subjects:

Argued over nothing.
Refused to apologize when obviously wrong.
Gained weight.
Talked excessively without making sense.
Became overly emotional.
Couldn't drive.
Failed to think rationally.
Had to sit down while urinating.

No further testing was considered necessary.

*Thanks for passing this along to me Nay Nay!

The Global Warming Open

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:24:00 +0000

One of the many great things about the craft beer industry is this: it doesn't take itself too damn seriously. Case in point, the Great Lakes Brewing News tournaments. A few months ago they held an NCAA "March Madness" styled tournament involving IPAs. Pale Ales from around the country were randomly picked to go heads up against each other, ala the March Madness brackets, for a final National IPA Champion. Users who visited their site and signed up could make their own bracket picks. It was pure genius. Since I unfortunately am not a genius I came in waaaay down near the bottom of the list.

Well, Great Lakes is back with another tournament -- the Global Warming Open! This one matches "refreshing summer beers against one another to determine the most refreshing beer in America." Now we're talking! As before, users can participate by picking the winners in each round. Go check out the brackets, sign up and make your predictions.

Think you can you beat the Mad Beer Man in a summertime throw down? I dare ya! No... I double dog dare ya! ;)

Weekend Brew Event Alert:

Bristol Brewing here in the Springs is having a small get-together for no particular reason on Saturday. Gotta love the BB Gang! Join 'em from 3pm - 5pm for original music from local favorite John Stone!

Rocky Mountain Brewery (625 Paonia St., Colorado Springs, just off Powers Blvd. near Platte -- the location of the defunct Blick's Brewery) is having their "official" unveiling Saturday. I have no details, but swing by and check it out if you can!

Great Divide is having their 14th Anniversary party up at their newly expanded brewery in Denver Saturday from 2pm - 6pm. A ten spot (all of which is being donated to charity) will get you beer, BBQ and live music from three different bands. Check out the 411 here!

Have a great weekend all!

Zivjeli!

Mojo + AOL + SoCoBX = no time!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:48:00 +0000

The old adage "I bit off more than I could chew" is one I'm rather familiar with of late. You'll never hear me say "I drank more beer than I could swallow," but the chewing thing... ya. At least metaphorically speaking.

So what's with all the gibberish in the title? Mojo refers to my weekly Beer Bucket List column I write for Mojo 135, which I'm having a ball with. AOL = the two video game websites (Massively and Big Download) that I write for - daily. But what the hell is SoCoBX?

Weeeeellll... that's my latest gig. Like I had nothing else to do, right? SoCoBX is a cute lil acronym I came up with for Southern Colorado Beer Examiner. As of yesterday, I'm the new SoCoBX - a place where I get to rant and rave specifically about Colorado beer. What better place to be a beer writer than in the Napa Valley of the Beer World, right?

All of that = no time to write here. At least for the moment. I'm in the midst of getting a schedule down so I get in a nice comfortable routine... a nirvana where I have time to play video games, drink beer and write about both of them! Bwaaaaaaaaahahaha!

Oh ya, and I'm working on a new website design. So if anyone out there in the great vastness of the Interweb has some mad HTML skillz they'd like to contribute -- give me a shout.

Please be patient and hang with me during this process. I promise it will be worth the wait!

The Colorado Beer Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Thu, 29 May 2008 19:30:00 +0000

You know craft beer has hit the big time when it gets talked about in Time magazine. But not just any craft beer -- Colorado craft beer.

Joel Stein wrote up an interesting article last month called "The Colorado Beer Trail" in which the intrepid, non-beer drinking reporter tagged along with the Big Beer Kahuna himself, Scott Kerkmans (Chief Beer Officer for Four Points by Sheraton), for a tour of Denver-area breweries.

It's a really good article, even if it's written by someone who - before going on this excursion - proclaimed not to like beer. Hey, it's OK not to like beer... my wife really doesn't, but too often beer articles written for mainstream media are done so by people who not only don't like beer, but can't tell the difference between a Hefe and an IPA. At least Joel sounds like he knows what he's talking about, thus he can accurately convey to readers what he was drinking and experiencing. There's nothing worse than a writer writing about something they know nothing about. It does a huge disservice to the writer, the magazine (or website), and most importantly... the very topic being written about. If uninformed, it might actually sway the opinion of someone who doesn't know better.

While you're reading the article be sure to check out the accompanying photo montage taken by David Bowman. There's some really good pics in there.

Oh, and Mr. Kerkmans... about that bus tour of Denver-area breweries - call me! ;)

Beer Tap TV

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:31:00 +0000

What's better than watching TV while drinking a good craft beer? Watching TV about good craft beer while drinking a good craft beer!

Apparently Erik Boles and Dusty Frazier had that same idea, cuz they're the creators and hosts of the new internet television show Beer Tap TV.

According to the website Beer Tap TV is more than just a drinking show. After watching the first episode I agree. Erik and Dusty have good on camera chemistry and they chat up Colorado brews (Bristol's Red Rocket and Breckenridge's Avalanche Ale) in a way that will make even beer geek noobs want to tune in. They "edumicate" viewers (myself included) as they articulate the finer points of craft beery goodness.

Iroincially, neither of the beers they discuss (and taste) are ones I personally care for, but hey... different strokes for different folks. That's why there are so many breweries making so many beers. Successfully. The craft beer industry done blowed up people!

Embedded below is the first episode, but do yourself a favor and get on over to their website, register, and become a part of the BeerTap community that Erik and Dusty hold as dearly as they do a pint of fine craft beer. The show is for the people and they want to hear from the people. So go!

P.S. Look for me on an upcoming episode. ;)

Sunday Suds

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:00:00 +0000

What's this -- a Sunday post?! Has hell frozen over? Have the macro-brewers learned the error of their mass produced crap beer ways and just given up? Uh... no. But tomorrow is an extra day off, and right now I need to rest after the long day spent outside in the yard doing things that should have been done weeks ago.

Which means we in fact did not go to the Beaver Creek Blues and Brews fest as originally planned. Fran and I woke up Saturday morning and realized that we were just too tired to get up and go drinking -- again. Plus, there was the little fact that when we called to cancel our reservations, it was snowing in Avon. Snowing. On Memorial Day Weekend.

And why were we too tired to go to a festival of fun and frivolity that also included three of my most favorite things in all the world (blues, brews and BBQ)? Because our Northern California vacation was nothing short of a week long bender. A human body can only consume so much beer. Plus, my taste buds felt like they were dragged over a field of dead, dry hops. Enough is enough. Besides, we're having a get together today... to drink beer. So not all is lost to yard work!

Vacations are a duel edged sword. It's all fun in the sun while you're there, but when you get back you wish you hadn't left in the first place. Hell, I already need a vacation from the vacation, and I've only been back (to work) a few days. Speaking of... I'm going to be heavily inundated with my mortgage paying "day job" through next week, but I wanted to hoist a few ~~beers~~ thoughts up here just to let you know I'm still alive.

Here are the breweries, wineries, and beer bars we actually hit during our drinkstorming adventure through Northern California:

Wednesday the 14th
Toronado Pub (the next place I'll be writing about on The Beer Bucket List)
21st Amendment Brewery

Friday the 16th
Sterling Vineyards
August Briggs Winery
Cuvaison Winery
Silverado Brewing Company
Calistoga Inn (which houses Napa Valley Brewing)
Hydro Bar & Grill

Sunday the 18th
Russian River Brewing Company

Tuesday the 20th
Mac & Jack's inside the Seattle-Tacoma Airport on the way home

Needles to say, lots of drinking was done. However, I do have detailed notes on most of these places, so expect a series of write-ups. Hopefully.

Oh, and it looks like I might have another beer writing gig or two lined up. More on those as (if) they solidify. Don't wanna jinx anything ya know! ;) And I thought I was busy before. HA!

Hop(e) everyone has a great Memorial Day Weekend. What's left of it anyway. So drink heartily... but drink responsibly.

Zivjeli!

Blues, Brews & BBQs!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Fri, 23 May 2008 20:28:00 +0000

If you find yourself with nothing to do this weekend, head on up to the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado, for their annual Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival. Hey, at least it's beautiful up there. Just be sure you can drink at elevation!

This year the blues music will be provided by Marc Broussard (2:00 to 4:30 pm) , Marcia Ball (4:30 to 6:00 pm), and Donna Jean and the Tricksters (12:00 to 2:00 pm). Top BBQ chefs from Kansas City, Des Moines, Iowa, Colorado and other BBQ-y locations nationwide will be cooking up some great food and providing demonstrations. So if you fancy yourself some kinda BBQ genius... you'll want to be there.

Oh, and there's one other thing... the brew. What's the BB&B without the brew?! Beaver Creek supposedly hosts "the largest Colorado Microbrewery Beer Tasting in the state." Ya, not really. Fran and I have been 3 times in a row and while they tout 35 Colorado-based breweries, there most certainly was not that many last year. In fact, each year's fest has gotten smaller and smaller. We'll see what happens this year.

Hope to see you there. If not... have a great memory-laden Memorial Day Weekend! Drink heartily, but drink responsibly!

Zivjeli!

Brews, Blues and Laughter

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Tue, 13 May 2008 14:31:00 +0000

Fran and I have lived in Colorado for almost 6 years now and it still amazes us how often we find new experiences. Those of you who know us, or run with us in the "Professional Drinker's Tour," know we like to travel the width and breadth of this great state (affectionately and appropriately entitled "Beerstate, USA" by my buddy, John "The Beer Hermit" Morrissey) looking for great beer (and soon wine and spirits), blues, food and bars.

We found all of that this past weekend down in Canon City, Colorado, a mere hour southwest of Colorado Springs. Anyone who has visited the Royal Gorge (or has a fetish for jails) has likely gone through Canon City because Highway 50 runs smack through town. Well, now they have two more claims to fame. One seriously kick ass fun brewfest and one seriously kick ass fun brew pub. First the brewfest... the 4th annual Brew Ha-Ha.

In my previous post I listed the 20 breweries that would be in attendance, and they were all there dolling out some of the finest brews available. A couple really popped out. I'm a Hefe fan, and while I like nearly all the hefe's made in the region, the one that continues to stand out is the Hefe Suave from San Luis Valley Brewing Company. It's the frakin' bomb! Sadly, while they are finally bottling this fine elixir, it's still not available in Colorado Springs. Sometime soon Fran and I are gonna have to truck out to San Luis Valley and stock up!

The great thing about hefes, and all craft beers really, is the diversity they bring. Everyone likes something different, and with all the craft brews available you're sure to find one you like. It also gives credence to the notion that there simply can't be too many breweries. The industry is exploding, and as more people learn that they don't have to stand for Macro-Crap-Beer, the demand for craft beer is only going to grow.

Case in point, two smaller breweries in the southern end of Colorado. First, McClellan's Grill & Brewing Company in Canon City. This brew pub is owned and operated by Joe and Dana McClellan, who have created an absolutely amazing beer oasis in the heart of a small (but growing) town. The after-party for the Brew Ha-Ha was held here, complete with a helluva fine reggae playing band (with their own killer twist) who's name escapes me at the moment (sorry guys and gals!). Joe and Dana pride themselves on quality "Americelt" eats, ales and atmosphere and they have all three in spades! The food was fantastic, the ales (the Blonde in particular) are awesome, and the atmosphere, well... you need to check it out for yourself. Fran and I are already planning our next trip down there just to hang out with Joe and Dana and all the fine folks at McClellan's on a night that isn't quite so... crazy. ;)

While at the Brew Ha-Ha (as well as the after-party) I was fortuitous enough to meet and hang out with Jeff Aragon, the owner and head brewer of Trinidad Brewing Company. Trinidad is about as far south on I-25 as you can get before running into New Mexico. They had a few offerings at the fest (of their many that they serve up at their brew pub) that absolutely knocked my taste buds in the dirt -- in a good way! Their Bon Carbo Stout weighs in at a robust 8.9% ABV. It's black in color, which is good since "bon carbo" means good coal. Don't worry, it tastes better than coal! Fran and I already have plans to head down Trinidad way later this summer and live the experience that is TBC.

I also met the man who has the single greatest job (other than Zane Lamprey that is) in the history of humanity. Scott Kerkmans is the Chief Beer Officer for Four Points by Sheraton, the third largest hotel chain in the world. He decides what beers go into each of them, which requires him to scour the globe and drinking beer. (sigh) What I didn't know was that he got his start at Alaskan Brewing Company (which just started distributing their brews here in Colorado). He was a guest server at their booth and we got to chatting. Recently Scott held an open call for an apprentice; they received over 1,000 applicants and finally narrowed it down to 10 people. They planned on picking the finalist this week. Good luck whoever you are... ya lucky bastich!

OK, I've rambled enough, but that's alright because Fran and I are heading to Northern California for a few days. While there we'll (for sure) be hitting the famed Toronado Pub and 21st Amendment Brewery in San Francisco. Our sojourn will also take us to the Napa Valley, where we'll be stopping by the August Briggs Winery, Sterling Vineyards, and staying at the Calistoga Inn for a night. With any luck we'll be able to swing by the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa to toast the opening of their brand new brewery.

Needless to say I'll have a lot to talk about when we get back! Until then... Zivjeli!

TGIF BeeRoundup Cavalcade of suds!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:45:00 +0000

A man with a plan: Bury me in a beer can!

Bill Bramanti, a 67-year-old South Chicago Heights man, loves him some PBR. So much so that he ordered a custom-made beer can casket to show his undying love... which he will take into the hereafter.

He doesn't plan on needing it anytime soon, but using it? Hell yes! Last weekend he threw a party to show it off and filled the sucker with ice and 15 cases of his favorite brew. Bramanti bought the custom casket from Panozzo Bros. Funeral Home in Chicago Heights, while Scott Sign Co. designed the beer can.

"Why put such a great novelty piece up on a shelf in storage when you could use it only the way Bill Bramanti would use it?" said Cathy Bramanti (his daughter).

Now there's a man after my own heart... and guess what I'm gonna be buried in when it's time for the very "Last Call"?! OOOOH YAAA!

==========

Beer Cocktails and Mixers are making a comeback.

According to an article in am New York, beer cocktails are making a comeback.

Karyn Seltzer is the general manager for Telephone Bar & Grill, an English pub in the East Village which specializes in beer cocktails. She says: "Now there are lots of breweries and people are becoming beer connoisseurs, and looking at beer similarly to wine." Amen sister.

In fact, they've been serving "beer cocktails" for 20 years. Try these bad boys on for size:

Black Velvet: made from Guinness and champagne
Shandy: a mixture of ale or lager with 7-Up
Snakebite: lager and cider with black-currant ribena (syrup)
Telephone Lager and Lime: light lager and key lime juice

On a recent sojourn to Edelweiss (our fave German restaurant here in Colorado Springs), they too had several beer mixers available, such as Pilsner and Coke (or Sprite), and Erdinger Hefe with Coke. I know, it sounds horrid, but they're fantastic! Give 'em a try next time you see them.

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Obama woes blue collars with brew.

According to a report from -- of all places -- the Telegraph in Great Britain, Barack Obama "may have found the answer to his troubles in a place familiar to millions of Americans: the pub." So that's how the Brits think of us , huh? ;)

Apparently aware that blue collar voters saw him as "uppity" following his remarks about “bitter” small town Americans, Obama recently visited three pubs in Indiana and North Carolina in order to "boost his credibility with the working class."

A few day ago Obama visited the Raleigh Times Bar and found himself momentarily beerless. "Where's my beer?" he asked.

Point for Obama in my book. After doing some research about the RT Bar, they have some serious kick ass beers! Check out their beer menu... it's jam packed with beery greatness! I'm adding this to the list of bars we need to check out some day!

But what does ole Obi-wan-Obama reach for? "PBR," he said, choosing Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Ugh.

Oh, but it gets worse. While in Pennsylvania last week he was seen drinking Yuengling, America's "oldest brewery." They make some great beers mind you, but this is where my admiration for him waned. He double-checked the name of the beer to make sure it wasn't "some designer beer or something".

Point lost Mr. Obama.

Do you have Mojo!?

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:16:00 +0000

Drinkin' ain't easy. And writin' about drinkin' while you're drinkin' ain't any easier... but it sure is fun!

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word mojo as "a magic spell, hex, or charm." The Urban dictionary's definition is a bit more focused: "your cool/style essence; that quality, often elusive, that sets a person apart from everyone else." In effect, the word "magic" can replace "mojo" in virtually every scenario.

Well, it's ironic then that my particular "cool magical writing style" (cough) has caught the attention of the folks at Mojo. You know, the high-def television network responsible for the greatest TV show known to mankind -- Three Sheets. I may have rant and raved about a it few times here.

Well, guess who's gonna be writing for them? Thaaaaaaaaat's right.

They have a new section on their website called Mojo 135. It's a place for those who have mojo -- and an opinion; "where the knowledgeable (that'd be me, about beers and bars at least) share their experiences and exchange their ideas." And if you've been reading my beer confessions for any length of time you know I don't mind giving out my opinions. One of their slogans is: "Life is how you see it." Let me tweak it a bit with my own special mojo-sauce: "Life is how you see it, so attack it. It's going to kill you anyway."

I'll be writing up a few different things, but primarily I'll be expanding on a list I started here on my blog, my beer bars everyone with a pulse must visit before they die list. The name of the segment on 135 will be called The Beer Bucket List. In fact, the first one went live today!

So do you have the mojo it takes to join me on this beertastic journey?

Surfside eats & alcoholic treats at Palapa's

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:25:00 +0000

I'm going to shift gears away from beer for a few minutes because I want to give a big shout out to Palapa's Surfside restaurant. I first heard about Palapa's from our local food critic, Nathanial Glenn (a guy I admire as much for his writing as for his culinary opinions), who penned a fantastic review of the place in the March 20 edition of the Gazette.

Everything in his review is dead on accurate, down to the several groups of people who (still, after being opened since January) walked in (seemingly straight off the prairie; apparently their one trip to the "big city" every week), looked at the menu, and walked out. Part of that I'm sure has to do with the prices at Palapa's, which are higher then other places. Golden Corral all-you-can-eat-and-hope-to-digest buffet dining this (THANKFULLY!) is not. No, Palapa's is a one of kind restaurant... especially here in Colorado Springs, where chain restaurants and their bland food is loved by the unwashed masses. The old adage "you get what you pay for" could not be more accurate.

*I do want to state that there are some exceptional restaurants here (Blue Star, Edelweiss, The Famous, and Phantom Canyon to name a few).

In his article Nathaniel briefly mentioned one of the entrées -- the Scallops of Love. What he failed to mention was just how damn good -- scratch that, great -- they are. Simply put, these scallops are hands down the best Fran or I have ever had. Period. Dot. Exclamation point. Keep in mind that this statement comes from two people who lived in the the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years, a place where fresh seafood is part and parcel of everyday life. SF is to fresh seafood and top notch cuisine as Colorado Springs is to gorgeous mountain vistas and amazingly fresh buffalo steaks. Colorado Springs needs a place like Palapa's.

But it's not just the food that's so great. Nate Windham, the "much-loved mixologist from The Red Martini" is the joint's executive bartender. Any restaurant that takes their drinks as serious as their food is a winner in my book. See, Nate is to spirits as I am to beer. He's a Spirit Geek through and through and knows as much about the history of alcohol as how to mix them.

Ironically, Palapa's only serves bottled beer (Odell's, so beer lovers like myself do have good options). They have nothing on tap. But Nate is so knowledgeable about spirits (and only serves the best) that he had me downing a shot of Tequila with some kind of "traditional" chaser that made me want more. Those of you who know me know I over indulged as a youth on Tequila (thanks Joe!), so I practically dry heave at the mere smell of the stuff. Well, not anymore. The man is an alchemist... a true Liquid Engineer.

Nate is joined at the bar by Joey and Sean, his liquid engineering apprentices. All three combined to make some of the best mixed drinks we've ever had the joy of sampling, and made our anniversary evening a truly special one. But more then that... they made us feel at home. And for Fran and I, who pride ourselves on being consummate Bar Flys -- bartenders make or break a bar. If we don't like the atmosphere at the bar we're not coming back. Palapa's has some of the best barkeeps in the entire city. We'll not only be back, but we're brining the entire Professional Drinker's Tour with us next time!

But don't take our word for it. Aside from Glenn's review in the Gazette, Palapa's recently received another rave review from Matthew Schniper, the food dude at the Independent.

This is a great restaurant located in an area of Colorado Springs overran with chain drek (i.e., Chili's, TGIF, Ruby Tuesday's, Red Robins, etc.). It needs your patronage in order to keep on tickin... and Fran and I need you to need it so we can keep on eatin' the freshest seafood this side of a coastal town, and drinkin' some of the best spirits money can buy. So if you're in the mood for something more refined then a bagde wearin' buffoon who doesn't know the difference between medium and well-done... Palapa's is the place you need to be.

4th Annual Brew Ha Ha!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:50:00 +0000

Like beer? Like to laugh? If you said "no" to either one... sorry for you. Life must really suck for you, huh?

For everyone else though... Canon City (not "Canyon" as I had it originally; that's what happens when you fly without an editor!) is having their 4th annual Brew Ha Ha on Saturday, May 10, from 3:00 - 6:00 pm in Veteran's Park (3rd St. & Highway 50). There will be more than 20 of the state's top brewers (and a pair of national brewers). Here's a list of who will be serving up the brew:

Alaskan Brewing (Juneau, AK)
Amica’s (Salida) – Brewer Mike LaCroix
Arctic Craft Brewery (Colorado Springs) – Brewer John Dunfee
Big Sky Brewing (Missoula, MT)
Bristol Brewing (Colorado Springs) – Brewer Jason Yester
Carver Brewing Company (Durango) - Brewer Ken Andrews
Durango Brewing Co. - Scott Bickert
Flying Dog - (Denver) - Stephanie Kerchner
Great Divide Brewing (Denver) - Mary Valles
Gunnison Brewery (Gunnison) – Assistant Brewer Keith
Left Hand Brewery (Longmont) – Josh Breckel
McClellan’s Grill & Brewing (Cañon City) – Brewer Jeff Lockhart & Owner Joe McClellan
New Belgium Brewing (Fort Collins) – Travis Flett
Odell Brewing (Fort Collins) - Kirk Simpson
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew (Lyons) - Katie Jones
Rock Bottom Brewery (Colorado Springs) - Head Brewer Jason Leeman
San Luis Valley Brewery (Monte Vista) - Brewer Angie Graber
Shamrock Brewery (Pueblo) - Brewer Alan Styles
Ska Brewing (Durango) – Arlo Gramatica
Trinidad Brewing Company (Trinidad) - Brewer Jeff Aragon

That's one helluva major league lineup people!

Along with the free flowing brew some top-notch stand-up comedians will be on stage to make folks laugh -- Gretchen Hess, Bob Meddles, Frank Schuchat and Gina Trammell!

And here's where it really gets good... at 6 p.m. the Atomic Fireballs, featuring Carlos Crull and Johnny Watson, will be playing everything from blues, jump and swing music to jazz and country! Oh, but it gets better! Texas blues guitarist Buddy Whittington will be joining the Fireballs! And who is Buddy Whittington ? Oh, only the "Godfather of the British Blues." He's been the lead guitarist for John Mayall's band (the Bluesbreakers, a band that the legendary Eric Clapton once played with) for the past 14 years!

Brews and Blues? Oh hell... I'm so there!

I see a Cicerone!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:51:00 +0000

Ray Daniels is a veteran of the US beer industry and current president of the Craft Beer Institute. He also created the Cicerone Certification Program. Last month Ray went to San Diego (and the 2008 World Beer Cup Championships) to hold the first exam for Certified Cicerone status. Five candidates passed the grueling three and a half hour test which included 200 fill-in-the blank and short-answers, as well as three essay questions. Additionally, they each had to sample 12 beers an-- and guess what they were -- in the tasting portion of the exam.

Each of the five candidates scored an amazing 70% or higher on the tasting portion! SEVENTY PERCENT! That's crazy good taste buds people! What's more, each scored 80% or above overall, becoming the first to carry the title of "Certified Cicerone." These prestigious five are:

Rob Gerrity - Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Scott Kerkmans - Four Points by Sheraton
Ron Kloth - Papago Brewing Company
Andrew Waer - Unaffiliated
Neil Witte - Boulevard Brewing Company

Congrats to these bold pioneers and to a whole new level of beer respect!

* Since January, a total of 115 people have passed the Certified Beer Server exam and are now eligible to take the Certified Cicerone exam.

Bristol Brewing May Blowout

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:18:00 +0000

This Sunday, May 4, Bristol Brewing Company will be open for a special occasion down here in Colorado Springs. From 1 - 4pm they'll have some kick ass apateasers from the Margarita at Pine Creek, live music by Woodworks, and they'll be donating a buck for every pint poured to the Colorado Farm and Art Market.

Here's the real reason I want to go... Skull 'n Bones Aged Wheat.

What's that you say? What about Cinco de Mayo? Well, Bristol will be celebrating that too with the release of their chile beer!

Time flies when you're drinkin' beer!

noreply@blogger.com (Eli the Mad (Beer) Man) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:45:00 +0000

I've come to a conclusion. There's not enough time in the dang day or enough days in the dang week! From a physical standpoint I don't mind being 41. Age is just a number, and you're only as "old" as you allow yourself to be. But how the hell is it that time continues to speed up at an exponentially greater rate than is humanly conceivable? I feel like I don't have nearly enough time in the day to get everything accomplished.

I mean, there's work to trot off to every stinkin' day. There's dealing with housely chores that spring up frequently and out of the blue. There's a 90-pound Malamute that needs constant attention and taking care of. There's enjoying time with my wife who is a saint for putting up with all my flaws and hobbies. Daily workouts to keep up with - what, you don't think I'm genetically blessed with this "svelte" bod drinking all this beer do you? Speaking of... there's an ocean full of beer to drink and a library of video games to play - and then write about in order to justify all the drinking and game playing. Thank God I don't have any kids! Speaking of...

No doubt you've heard the new radio spot for Kaiser-Permenente's "Thrive" campaign about how being a kid is a busy job, right? Well, being a middle-aged man-child ain't no pint of beer lady! I honestly have no idea where the time goes. Is it leaking from some orifice, or is my mind slipping a tad more then it was a month ago?

Whatever... beer will fix 'er right up. Lots and lots of beer.

So yes, I'm still alive just very, very busy. I think I have a tad too many irons in the fire. We'll see. Hopefully one of those irons will start to burn brightly here soon and I can wallow in a bath of beer (like Zane did when he went to the Czech Republic).

Bit I digress...

For now enjoy the hilarious "Real Men of Genius" audio clips off on the right sidebar. I finally got around to fixing them so they all work now. And I'll be adding lots more soon! Just don't try to download them - because you can't. Last thing I need is a C&D from the Big A-B.