WTA's Alcohol Thread

[Langenator]

Looks like a place I need to visit next time I'm in the Seattle area.  Any brewery that calls their taproom the Jolly Roger gets a

Jolly Roger is the name of the brew.  Sports a skull and crossbones, with the skull wearing a Santa hat.

[WeTheArmed.com]

[coyotesfan97]

http://maritimebrewery.ypguides.net/page/nun7/Jolly_Roger_Taproom.html

Near as I can tell they don't export to Arizona darn it!

[FMJ]

FMJ I'd take Negra Modelo over Dos Equis any day

I won't lie.  I like both.  One thing that I dont like is light beer.  It tastes like water and has no real flavor.  Party swill is what it is.




Does anyone homebrew?  (I would be interested in it, but I think I'd rather invest in handloading equipement.  I mean, if Im gonna RYO something, it should be ammunition.

[Thernlund]

Does anyone homebrew?

I did once with a friend who was into it.  Honestly, unless it's something that you really love, it's kind of a pain in the ass.


-T.

[MacLean]

http://maritimebrewery.ypguides.net/page/nun7/Jolly_Roger_Taproom.html

Near as I can tell they don't export to Arizona darn it!

That taproom is about a block away from one of the best firearms instructors in the world.

If you ever make it out this way, I'll visit with you down there. Ballard is an interesting part of Seattle.

[xsquidgator]

Chimay is well worth the $, once in a while.  Chimay comes in 3 varieties and I can't ever remember all the names.  However, they're easy to tell apart, as the labels are blue, red, or white.  The blue label Chimay is called "Grande Reserve" and is imo the best of the three, and the heaviest.  Up around 9 or 10%.  The red is quite good too, but a little lighter than the blue Grande Reserve, and the white label Chimay is lighter yet.  The white isn't bad at all either, but being so light it looks kind of like a regular beer almost when you pour it into a glass, as opposed to the blue label Grande Reserve.  That stuff looks almost like coke in a glass.  Around here (FL) Chimay runs about $9 or $10 for a 750ml bottle which is maybe 2 to 3 decent sized dinner drinks to me.  As one of my friends says, one of those 750ml bottles will really "take the edge off".

I love Chimay but in order to not go overboard, I save it for special occasions like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and maybe one other time during the year.  As good as Chimay is (and that's good all right) I found another Belgian Trappist ale that's even a little bit better than Chimay.  That would be St. Bernardus "Abt 12" ale.  About like the Chimay blue label "Grande Reserve" but just a tad smoother (and more expensive still).

There's a neat alternative to Chimay that's less expensive, and easier to find.  That would be Unibroue's "Maudite" ale.  Down here, Publix supermarkets carry them in 4 packs.  It's expensive for beer but less expensive than the Chimay.  A French friend of mine said "Maudite" meant "Damned" in French, which would explain the artwork on the label.  The label has a canoe flying through the air with some lubmerjacks paddling away, while a devil/demon stands watching them with an evil smile.  Not a friendly Arizona State Sun Devil kind of devil, a mean horror movie kind of devil.  The story on the label says legend has it a bunch of lumberjacks up in Quebec sold their souls to the devil if he would get them to the festival in time to drink some "damned fine" ale, so off they went through the air in their canoe.  Creepy, but they're right, it is some "damned fine" ale.  Ah, here we go.  -->  http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/maudite/product

[JesseL]

Hey xsquidgator, have you tried Ommegang Abbey Ale?

I picked up a bottle at World Market for significantly less than the Chimay they had ($5.99 vs ~$9 irc) and though I'm still developing my palate, I thought it compared pretty well. Good stuff.

[Storyteller]

While looking for my favorite Irish (John Powers Gold Label) I happened upon, purchased, and have found very enjoyable a bottle of John L. Sullivan. It is a single barrel Irish whiskey, aged in used Bourbon casks. Quite smooth, with a nice nose, and distinctive flavour. 

[xsquidgator]

Hey xsquidgator, have you tried Ommegang Abbey Ale?

I picked up a bottle at World Market for significantly less than the Chimay they had ($5.99 vs ~$9 irc) and though I'm still developing my palate, I thought it compared pretty well. Good stuff.

No I haven't, thanks for the tip!  I'll see if Total Wine has it.  A year ago we had an awesome mom and pop liquor store in our neighborhood that had this stuff, but they went out of business (and I already drank up all the stuff I bought in their going out of business sale) 

[coyotesfan97]

That taproom is about a block away from one of the best firearms instructors in the world.

If you ever make it out this way, I'll visit with you down there. Ballard is an interesting part of Seattle.

Sounds like a plan!  I just looked it up on the map.  It appears I was close by the last time I was up there for my Uncle's wedding.  I had some time to kill before my flight back so I went to the Woodland Park zoo.

[JD]

Even though I don't really drink anymore (there's a few reasons, no past alcoholism here.), I'd like to try this. Maybe buy a bottle for special occasions only, and If I had the cash.

Cyrstal Head Vodka



And Dan Aykroyd's involved. Bustin' makes me feel good!



Everyone I spoke with who has a bottle, er skull, has said it's wonderful. It comes highly recommended. I can get a really good price on one locally too. The 750 ml, not the 1.5's.

[RevDisk]

I did once with a friend who was into it.  Honestly, unless it's something that you really love, it's kind of a pain in the ass.

When did your buddy do it?   Ten years ago, I'd agreed with him.  Now, it's pretty simple. 

Like everything else, between niche shops and the internet, it's pretty easy and cheap if you do your homework.  Homebrewing is as easy or difficult as you want it to be.  You can buy a hardware kit and a wine kit, and make wine easily by following the directions.  Or you can DIY for a lot of stuff, more difficult but cheaper.  Plenty of DVDs, book, forums or YouTube videos.  Plus just about any decent homebrewing business has classes. 

Only thing these days people still seem to think is a PITA is sanitation.   I don't get that, as there are plenty of no rinse cleaners and sanitizers out there.  The US Army taught me cleaning by the numbers, and an interest in medical stuff put the polish on.  If you can strip an M16 and clean it to a drill sergeant's satisfaction, homebrewing sanitation is dirt simple.  Scrub with a brush and hot water.  Use cleaner with hot water.  Dump.  Allow to air dry for a bit.  Use acid sterilizer with hot water.  Dump.  Allow to air dry for a bit.  Good to go. 

[eskimo jim]

Does anyone homebrew?  (I would be interested in it, but I think I'd rather invest in handloading equipement.  I mean, if Im gonna RYO something, it should be ammunition.

FMJ,
I brewed a batch last January/February for the first time.  It isn't difficult but can be time consuming.  I think that making the wort took an evening.  I think I started around 4pm and had everything cleaned up for 9:30pm or so.  It took a while because I went through it very methodically and my stove was tripping a bad breaker.  I brewed an English Pale Ale from a Brewer's Best beer kit.  It came out pretty well.

I received two more kits for Christmas and I'll brew again.

I'd suggest a complete kit that contains the bottle caps etc.  This is similar to buying a cake mix to some degree.  It contains everything you'll need to brew the beer except water and bottles.  If you're interested in home brewing, start saving your non-screw top beer bottles.  Also, look at antique stores for a bottle capper.  The bottle capper in a basic kit can be a pain to use.

Basic brewing equipment can come in kits.

The only challenge I had is that when brewing ales, you need to let the wort ferment above 65 degrees or so.  I tend to keep the house colder than that in the winter yet my beer came out fine.

When home brewing, you will have a little bit of sediment in each bottle.  This is normal.  I lost about a quart or so of beer in order to minimize the sediment in the bottles.

Bottling five gallons of beer can take some time with a hand bottle capper.  I think that took a couple of hours.

Overall, I'd plan on a solid afternoon/evening when you prepare the wort for fermentation and about two weeks later you'll need to spend a couple of hours racking and bottling.

Jim

[eskimo jim]

Anyone up for Scotch in a can?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1347824/Scottish-whisky-way-South-Americans-like-.html

I don't know what I find funnier, the idea of Scotch in a can, or that some people are getting so worked up over it.

It can get worse.  A few months ago at a larger liquor store, they were selling vodka, gin and scotch in ketchup packets.  I guess this was marketed towards the younger crowd who could buy a coke in a club and add their own refreshment to it rather than buy overpriced drinks.  I looked at the package of scotch packets and it said bottled in South Africa.

Jim

[RevDisk]

Oh, beer.  Yea...   Bottling for beer can suck unless you use large bottles or create an assembly line with a few buddies.  You can keg the beer, and save an insane amount of time.   Plus, if you keg the beer you don't have to add the carbonizing sugar, as you're going to use a CO2 tank for that.  If you're in a rush, the kegging thing also takes roughly two weeks off the beer recommended "aging" time.  Easier to clean, etc etc.  I still like bottles.  I just get very large ones.   

 

Sediment is going to always be a very minor problem unless you filter (few homebrewers do).  You generally rack (switch from one container to the other) once a week to minimize it.  Plus you can cheat by using something like Irish moss.  

[Thernlund]

When did your buddy do it?   Ten years ago, I'd agreed with him.  Now, it's pretty simple.  

Oh... 5 years ago maybe?  

He didn't say it was a PITA.  He loved it.  I just thought it was though.  I'd rather just leave the brewing to those who know how.  I'm not a connoisseur or anything like that.  I just like a decent drink in a cold glass.  In that vein, anything beyond fishing out my wallet and/or looking for a bottle opener is going to a PITA to me.


-T.

[JD]

It can get worse.  A few months ago at a larger liquor store, they were selling vodka, gin and scotch in ketchup packets.  I guess this was marketed towards the younger crowd who could buy a coke in a club and add their own refreshment to it rather than buy overpriced drinks.  I looked at the package of scotch packets and it said bottled in South Africa.

Jim

Which reminds me...

Saw this on an episode of Sons Of Anarchy this past season. The Jameson Juice Box!
It's not a real product from Jameson, but kind of funny though.



 

[Chrissmitty820]

Hey guys-

There is a bill going in TX legislature HB660 that is about allowing brewpubs to distribute their beer directly to stores (they can only do on site as of now) and microbreweries to sell beer on site.  This is a good thing for those of us in TX that like GOOD beer, and its gaining support.  I install draught beer equipment and some of these guys are my customers and friends.  Figure I'd spread the word.

Here is the link for more info via Scott Metzger's (owner of Freetail Brewing Co. in San Antonio, TX)  blog:

 http://brewednotbattered.wordpress.com

Additionally, since I sell and install equipment, if anyone out there needs some or advice hit me up.  Advice is always free, even good advice.

-Chris

[coelacanth]

Thanks for the tip.

[Langenator]

OK, this may sound wierd - but I need some suggestions for some gulping liquor.

See, the Mrs, for whatever reason, loves the TV show "The Biggest Loser."  And part of her fun is vocally disliking various contestants.  Her responses to her disliked player(s) run along the lines of "I just want to punch that chick/dude in the face," and "I can't stand that b*tch/a**hole."

So, I'm making it a drinking game - nothing to do with the show, and all about her response to watching the show.  (And yes, she knows, and I have her permission.  We just have to watch on Hulu on Friday night).

It's been a long time since college.  What's appropriate liquor for such an endeavor?

[Thernlund]

Sangria.  Good alcohol content without getting you totally hammered too early, and it's tasty.

Use a lowball glass about half full for each gulp.


-T.

[Langenator]

That recipe doesn't use quite as much brandy as mine does.     I like the suggeston though.  (Ever try to get a Spaniard to divulge his sangria recipe?  Might as well try to get a Southerner to divulge his barbeque recipe.)

[coyotesfan97]

It's been a long time since college.  What's appropriate liquor for such an endeavor?

Jungle Juice   

I can't find the smiley for waking up and not remembering what happened last night.     On second thought maybe it's a bad idea 

[FMJ]

The egg nog in Mexico has booze in it, but the one I buy here at the store doesn't.  WTF?

Actually, it isn't that bad, but I think I like the one sans booze, since you can drink more.

[Harm]

The egg nog in Mexico has booze in it, but the one I buy here at the store doesn't.  WTF?

Actually, it isn't that bad, but I think I like the one sans booze, since you can drink more.