Baby It's Cold Outside (...and Snowy)

Can't believe it has finally snowed for real.  There's a solid couple of inches out there and it keeps falling.  Global Warming Hoax Confirmed!

But I digress.  I spent Christmas in VT with Sarah's family and it was awesome!  No snow for skiing but we made do with a variety of activities including going multiple times to a diner, going CANDLEPIN BOWLING, and drinking plenty of VT beer.

They have started bottling Switchback Ale into six-packs of short, stubby bottles.  It is an amazing thing to see finally.  I've been a huge fan of switch back for a couple of years now.  Good friend turned me on to and I get it whenever it is on tap.  They then started putting into big 750ml bottles and that was great.  Now I rejoice at the sight of these lil' "snub-nose" grenade-shaped bottles.  Give the bottle a good 360 degree turn (ass over tea kettle) to mix in the unfiltered yeast sediment that has collected at the bottom of the bottle.  VOILA!

(c) Steal This Jpg 2015

The next beer I will be reviewing is The SHED BREWERY's Profanity Ale:  an *"obscenely malted hoppiness".  Woof!  It's definitely malty first thing in the morning...or whenever you'd be enjoying such a treat.  It's got the caramel and a bit of a toasted almond on the back of the tongue.  It's an American brown ale and that isn't to date one of my favorite varieties of beers.  That being said, it stands out as better than the Mountain Ale of which I am also not a fan.  It's not bad but I'd really have to be in the mood for a solid brown ale and that almost never happens.  Chalk it up to good old fashioned bias and prejudice!

I bought a couple of bigger bottles at the Brattleboro Food Co-op.  Wow!  What a place!  If I did want to move to Brattleboro, having this place to do my grocery shopping would be a huge reason for a relocation.  It's like an independent Whole Foods owned by Bernie Sanders and run by hobbits.  

I'll be reviewing all the bottles in the next couple of days so stay tuned and watch NATURE SHOW 2

Cheers
JLA

...The Swing Of Things

Oh!  How The Portland is changing!

I haven't written in this blog for sometime but I feel compelled to do so now.  The Great Thaw is happening and old ideas and emotions are being resescuitated and are being brought back to life.

It was brought to my attention that the Portland Phoenix's annual "Best Of…" voting is underway so I hopped on to see what they thought deserved recognition.

I instantly hate the fact that there is no longer a "write-in" element of their survey.  So if you like a place or business that isn't nominated then you are shit out of luck.

As I find my self skipping categories all together I find that certain businesses are being nominated for a lot of categories:  Best Bar - Portland Lobster Co…said no one ever.  Best Beer Selection - Portland Lobster Co…I'm going to go ahead and say no again.  WTF?

I don't usually bitch and gripe but I just did so whatever, right?

This Ain't Over
Jarrod

Long Trail Pollenator

Spring has sprung?  

Somebody took a couple of Double Bags out of the sixes at Cumbies so I insert a couple from another pack and make do:  Long Trail's Pollenator.  Snow's starting to melt.  Kinda.  And the days are getting longer.  Sorta.  But have no fear for Day Light Savings Time comes but two humble weeks away.  

I pour the elegant alcohol into a tall pint glass that I have fetched from the freezer.  It's a medium light to medium looking beer.  I put the glass to my lips and I take the liquid into my patient mouth.  Light and floral;  reminds me of my love, sweet Sarah Mead.  Me thinks I could crush a whole sixer of these bad boys on a nice, warm day.  Maybe I'm shirtless, too.

So Andy and I are shooting the Fogcutters again tomorrow.  We've bee working hard on their videos that we're gonna release real soon.  It's gonna be amazing.  Maybe RZA will like it.  If you haven't been to www.southaddisonpix.com or www.entertainmentexperiment.com do it.  We got distribution!

Mahalo,

J-ROD

Stout of My Mind

So Winter is on and I'm already sick of it. Hey, WINTER, you are weak like Ukraine! How about we skip you already. Bears teach me to hibernate and they are on to something. Bears figured this technique out so long ago that the forgot how to teach it; they are born with inherent knowledge. I'm serious joking! Winter is about drinking big, thick heavy beers and peeling layers of clothing off of loved ones <3

So I went to the Dogfish downtown to hear my friend's parents play at the open mic. I didn't want to go because the host of the open mic night is an extremely obnoxious-voiced little woman who thinks that people want to hear her crow like an old bird over the tops of everyone else's voice in the bar. I don't want to dwell, but seriously? She sucks. My friend's parents on the other hand we extremely good and very cute. Who's parents play music together? Seriously puke-worthy cuteness. Anyways, while I was at this establishment I decided to try a couple of stouts that they got on tap:

Phantom Punch Stout by the Baxter Brewing Co. is an awesome beer. It's strong and flavorful without "pulling" any punches. I am a very big fan and this beer is a prime example of why I state that. They do what they can and they can what they do and I am very thankful that they do that.

Ellen's Sombrero Coffee Milk Stout by the Atlantic Brewing Company out of Bar Harbor is so good that other beers are starting to use PEDs in retaliation for this outstanding beer; they're scared and they should be! Seriously sweet and creamy; smells like a malt shake. They nailed it with this beer and you shouldn't hesitate to try it to.

Stay buzzed, Portland.

Harpoon Celtic Red

Happy New Years & New Beers!

Harpoon's Celtic Red

My resolution was to write more so here I am trying dutifully to respect that wish!  I hope everybody had a safe holiday(s) and made into 2013 unscathed.

Sarah had a couple of randoms hanging around the fridge today so I decided to try Harpoon's Celtic Red.  Bright beer!  Medium-bodied with hints of malt and other complexities!  Eating a fresh burger with this and it might be helping!  I love Harpoon and I adore a solid Irish Red Ale which this definitely is.  Boosh!



By the way, have you been over to my company's web site http://www.southaddisonpix.com take a looksies!

Portland Beer Drinkers Ep. 1

Here it is!  It's a podcast!  You're welcome!

Portland Beer Drinkers Ep. 1

More to come!
Jrod

Newcastle Werewolf

Month of October rears its ugly head once again and with it another chance at thrills and scares under a cold, full moon.  Werewolf  Irish Blood Red Ale from Britain’s Newcastle Ale (yes! that Newcastle) might just be able to quench my undying thirst for the next great, craft beer.  

So we just got back from a ride up the coast.  Sarah and I gave a friend, Rachel, a ride back to the North Creek Farm where she works.  It’s way down off of route 209 in Phippsburg and they got this lil country store and they even have a beer case.  SCORE!  Rachel keeps the case well-stocked with an awesome brew selection.  I actually did a double take at the Werewolf beer.  Huh?  Newcastle makes varieties other than Brown Ale?  Just got back from the ride and now I’m diving into a cold pint of this drink.  I really don’t know what to expect from this beer.  Over the years, many a rough morning were had at the hands of Newcastle Brown Ale.  Damn!  I love Newcastle.  Cool label.  Actual werewolves win many points in my book!

Wow!  Mmmm...lemme ponder for a bit.  

Real fucking good!  It’s got a sweet flavor right up front.  A touch of sour dances delicately at the middle of the tongue and the back detects a wicked smooth finish.

Looks boss, too.  The photo might not do it justice but it’s a really nice looking brown color.  Not red.  More like a root beer-color.  It’s slightly lighter than say, Barq’s, and more dynamic, too.  

Been working on this beer blog for a couple of weeks now, reviewing Fall beers and so far, Newcastle’s Werewolf, is winning my seasonal affections!  It’s a Limited Edition so I would imagine it’s hard to find.  If you can, do.  If not, just enjoying reading about it at Portland Beer Drinkers.

Keep Exploring

Jarrod Lynch Moses Anderson

PS  This article is ironic because I actually despise the British.