I just thought i would share a review of Angry Jew IPA that I just received. I gave my friends Leslie and Dino, owners of Venti’s Cafe in Salem, a few bottles to share with The Cherry City Derby Girls at the After Party they hosted Saturday night.
Leslies dad, who does the beer reviews for their website, had this to say;
tell the brewer of Angry Jew IPA - Oy, This beer is awesome.
hazy, medium amber color
citrus hops aroma / taste [? Cascade hops ?]
aggressively hopped but balanced
satisfying
Oy, This beer is awesome.
jrbox
Talk amongst yourselves, Im all ver clempt over here.
Finally, someone who wants to have a sensible argument. I like that. I have spent countless hours arguing with toothless rednecks who only read half a story. They typically end the argument in a contradictory or downright infuriatingly uninformed manner. However, I also like to direct a hate filled rant towards people who show that kind of ignorance, such as that demented Englishman on your website. Just because a Scotsman (Gordon Brown) is in charge of England and the rest of the UK, doesn’t mean I care about his opinion. My rant was a direct result of the title of your post ‘Fuck Scotland’ and the comments of that bottom feeder.
Having read your response (and admittedly not reading your initial story), I was pleasantly surprised and totally prepared to have a civilized discussion with yourself and discuss the rights and wrongs of this situation. Sadly, your last paragraph changed my mind completely - ‘As to agreeing with John about bombing Scotland back into the Stone Age, well, maybe that was over the top’. Maybe? To any civilized person, there is no maybe about it. Stupid and childish comment. Complete waste of pixels. Also, seeing that Scotland has the majority of Britain’s nuclear arsenal, I don’t see England doing a bombing run over Edinburgh any time soon.
As for the cluster bomb over First Minister Salmonds office? As sure as I am that you were being humorous, Salmond played a miniscule part in the release of Al-Megrahi, he stated that he left the decision to the safest pair of hands in Scotland with regards to justice, Kenny MacAskill. Here’s the simple fact. Yes he was convicted, and as I believe the Scottish justice system to be one of the best in the world, I believe Megrahi is guilty. However, if I choose to trust the Scottish legal systems conviction of the man, I must trust the Scottish legal systems right to release the man, as long as it’s lawful.
This whole argument ‘He showed them no compassion so we show him none’ is poor and sets a rotten example. We should never lower our standards to that of a barbaric people. His release was legal, therefore, there is no argument to be had here. If you want to argue about something, maybe we should be debating the law itself. Being 21 years old, I don’t remember the USA releasing a prominent Nazi on compassionate grounds, but according to the history books it happened. It was a US issue and a US decision. Fine by me. This was a Scottish issue and a Scottish decision.
To me, this Megrahi issue has no basis for an argument and that is what I would like people to realize. And all this boycott Scotland stuff? Childish. I know the majority of US citizens are well educated and well(ish) informed, so it must infuriate you (Angry Jew) as a seemingly well educated American, that only the brain-dead variety of your people seem to be making themselves heard.
As a side note, seeing as it’s the anniversary of Sept 11th, I wish to extend my sincerest condolences and best wishes. We may have our differences and may not agree on everything, but we are both respectful and civilised nations fighting for the same cause. We are stronger together than apart.
Stephen, you make some very valid points and I applaud you for making them so well, however, I am afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree on this matter.
Yes, history teaches us that most nations are willing to trade their integrity when it comes to their own security and economic interests. The United States has a long history of this. Nazi scientists played a key role in the development of our space program. We have routinely supported despots of all flavors when it was top our benefit.
Marcos in the Philippines, Noreiga in Panama, The Shah in Iran and even Sadam Hussien had all enjoyed the generosity of the United States Government. With so many examples, my cynical mind finds it hard to accept that the decision to release Megrahi was based solely on compassionate grounds. Some one benefited from this decision.
Just because something is legal does not make it the right thing to do.
That is part in parcel of what this website is about. You must remember, it is often those who write the laws who have the most to gain by their implementation. It is a sad and sorry state of affairs when murders go free, but again, we need only look to the case of OJ Simpson to know that our nation, and perhaps the world, live by the golden rule, which is simply, he who has the gold, makes the rules.
I thank you for your input. The fact that you are 21 and able to make such a well thought out argument gives me hope. Most 21 year olds here in America are lucky enough to be able to string together a conscious thought in the characters provided by Twitter.
Your rants and thoughts are always welcome here and I hope to hear more from you in the future.
Saturday was a lazy day, with no real plan save one, I was going to investigate what it would take to brew my own beer.
It all started innocently enough. One of my coworkers, Doyle, is well renowned for his home brewed beer. I jokingly asked when we were going to get together and drink some of his delicious product. He replied to me that he had not brewed in a while. Sad, but then he hit me with an idea that had not occurred to me.
“Why dont you brew your own beer?”, he asked.
Why indeed.
I had brewed at home once before, using one of those plastic keg kits that guys receive for Fathers Day, but the results were pretty poor. A few years later, I brewed again, at Missoula Montana’s own Kettle House, a “you brew” place were you boil your own wort, ferment it in their tanks, then come back and bottle it. At the time, I have to admit, I was paying more attention to the free samples of their tasty creations then I was to the ingredients and processes used.
So why not brew my own?
Doyle turned me onto Let’s Brew in SE Portland. A small, but extremely well stocked brewvana of a place. When you walk in the door the first thing that hits you is the wonderful aroma of boiling wort. That hoppy, yeasty smell that always takes me back to my childhood, where I lived in the aromatic shadow of a Budweiser brewery.
I spoke with Kim, who owns the shop with her husband, and got the low down on what it takes to brew at home. I decided to take one of their hands on classes during which I will brew 15 gallons of my very own beer. I walked out clutching the home brewers bible, The Complete Joy Of Home Brewing 3rd Edition, and excited by what may come on my September 12th brew date.
Well i wanted to study up so I would have a better understanding of what to expect when I brewed, so I decided to stop on the way home for lunch, and what better place to start investigating the world of brewing then at a brewpub.
Hopworks is a newer entry into the world of Portland Brewpubs, having been around for a little over a year. They have earned a reputation for high quality beers and pretty good food. I took a few minutes to look over the beer menu before deciding on their seasonal Ace of Spades Double IPA.
This beer is a dry hopped monster of an IPA that sizzles the tongue and pickles the brain, it comes in at 9.2% alcohol, yet is very smooth with high drinkability. In a word, tasty.
And so was the burger I ordered to go with it. A monster of a burger that was cooked just the way I ordered it, medium, and came with a side of some pretty darned tasty home made fries.
The two went great together and I really tried to get some studying done as I ate, but lets be honest, could you study with this pleasant distraction..
The pretty lady in the bad picture, my fault, is Bethany, my beer mistress and guide for my stay at Hopworks. Bethany is a true Renaissance Woman in the Portland sense of the word. Note only is she the day shift beertender, but she is also an artist, some of her works are on display in the restaurant, and she plays keyboards and accordion in a glam rock band named Sophelux which SPIN magazine described as..
“The band’s tumbling melodies, trippy lyrics, eclectic instrumental arrangements, and all-out pageantry have dazzled. Sophe Lux blends elements of the Dresden Dolls, Queen, a French opera, Ella Fitzgerald, and, yes, Dante to achieve some awesomely bizarre, dark and sweet soundscapes.”
It’s pretty good stuff actually and well worth a listen.
And so came to pass the end of my days exploration into the world of beer. The 9.2% IPA kicked my ass and I headed off for home.
My brewing appointment is on September 12 and it “should’ be available for sampleing about three or four weeks after that.
No, they did not start giving us bagel breaks at work, although it’s not a bad idea, just in case anybody is wondering, but…well…let me begin at the beginning.
Last weekend I had the opportunity to share the movie Goodfellas with The Mad Greek. Shocking, I know, how can anyone not have had an opportunity to enjoy this classic, but hey, some of us have led sheltered lives.
Anyway, we get to the part where Ray Leotta leads Lorraine Bracco through the bowels of the Copacabana Club, you know, that great following shot without a single edit, that takes them from the street outside, through the kitchen and onto the nightclub floor. Outstanding filmmaking.
OK, so I make the comment “It sucks that there are no clubs like that anymore.”
You see, I am a huge fan of The Rat Pack.
Frank, Dean, Sammy…they made the fifties swing, they invented cool. I would give anything to be be able to travel back in time and see the show they did at the Sands hotel while they were filming Oceans 11.
AND NOW I CAN
Sort Of.
I open the paper today and learn there is an old fashioned 50’s style supper club right here in Portland’s Hollywood district…Tony Starlight’s Supperclub and Lounge.
Down to the authentic decor and entertainment…It is the perfect place for me to live out my Rat Pack Fantasy.
I would love to get together a group in 50’s retro garb and head out for a night of music, food and drinks.
Check out the clubs website and this great rendition of the Sinatra classic “One For The Road” by Mr Tony Starlight himself, and let me know what you think.
Oh, and if any of you out there have heard of this place before, or worse, been there, and not told me about it, well, you had just better keep it to yourselves.
It is that time of the year friends, July, the month where we celebrate all things malted barley and hops. That’s right…It’s Craft Beer Month here in Oregon. So along with celebrating the aniversary of my birth, we shall also be celebrating at the two biggest beer festivals of the year here in the City of the Roses.
Myself, BBQ Brandon of BBQpdx.com fame and Liquor Store Grant are going to be attending on Sunday the 19th.
Then, the following weekend, is the Big Kahuna of Northwest Beer Festivals, The Oregon Brewers Festival, July 23-26. Now, the plan is to attend on Sunday the 26th, but, if the stars align and the Gods smile, along with my boss letting me start my vacation on Saturday 25th, that could change.
These are both no miss events for those who know and love beer, and those who are just getting started and want to learn about what is out there.
Drop me an email, or post a message in the comments or on Facebook if you are going to be joining us for either event.
I should start by saying that I am not a vodka drinker.
That is to say, if given the choice, I would choose a good tequila or bourbon to sip before a vodka.
Sure, I enjoy a good Bloody Mary, I make a mean one if I do say so myself, and a Screwdriver is a fine way to take the edge off a hangover, but straight vodka?
Not really my style.
Last night BBQ Brandon stopped by after work and I offered him the opportunity to sample my latest acquisition. Now to be fair to the makers of Crystal Head, BBQ Brandon is not much of a vodka drinker either. He has had a few more experiences with high end vodkas then I have, but he, like me, would not make it his first choice.
We poured the chilled Crystal Head into equally chilled tall shot glasses and sipped.
YUM.
Silky and creamy on the tongue, the vodka had an excellent mouth feel. It went down smoothly with a slightly peppery finish. It was a crisp and clean experience. I could easily see myself drinking a few of these chilled pleasers, perhaps with a slightly salty snack to compliment the vodka.
Was Crystal Head Vodka worth the wait and the cost at $56 for the 750ml bottle?
Despite the obviously ham handed promotion by Dan Akroyd, I found it to be a pleasant experience well worth the headaches it took to get it.
With many thanks to Liquor Store Grant and a nod to the OLCC, I am pleased to report that my Crystal Head Vodka arrived safely and is awaiting the proper company to do an official tasting. This was almost not the case.
It seems that the store received 2 bottles of Crystal Head and they were BOTH placed on the shelf. One sold right away and Grant, being Grant, LEFT THE OTHER ONE ON THE SHELF. It was fortunate for Grant that mine was not sold as well. After waiting 6 months for this stuff, I would have been one Cranky Jew indeed.
No odd noises or manifestations from the freezer so far
So I wake up Sunday morning feeling just a wee bit crappy.
Ahh, you say, the wine got to him.
Hardly, turns out I was coming down with a full blown chest cold. Lungs hurt, trouble breathing, coughing up that foul crap, whats an Angry Jew to do?
Why, drink beer of course.
Sunday dawned warm and clear in the Rose City and I had plans. Liquor Store Grant and I were off to sample Brigeport Brewing’s latest seasonal offering, Hop Czar IPA.
Gathering my strength and fortified with Dayquil and 2 cups of coffee, I hopped the Max and The Portland Streetcar to the downtown Bridgeport Brewery. In their well appointed upstairs taproom, I made the acquaintance of Bartender Mike, who got us started on our trip to Beervana.
The Hop Czar turned out to be a re-release of last years favorite and was well worth it. Here is a tip for all you budding beer aficionados out there, if you really want to experience a new beer, find it on tap. The Hop Czar had the full bodied taste and crisp “zing” one would expect of a quality IPA. Liquor Store Grant had been wanting to try the Fallen Friar ale, a tripel style ale. It was sweet, crisp and reminiscent of a Belgium style brew. Not exactly my cup of tea, but a good summer beer.
After my beer and plate of french fries, remember, I was getting sick and needed to keep my strength up, I decided to sample Bridgeport’s ESB (Extra Special Bitter) on Bartender Mikes recommendation. Once again, rich and creamy, this Bitter finds an excellent balance of roasted malt flavor with dry hopped sizzle.
I need to add a few words here about the staff at the Bridgeport Taproom. Mike and his coworkers were friendly, knowledgeable and genuinely enjoyed what they were doing. This is a rare combination to find in any bar, especially on a slow Sunday afternoon. They made our tasting adventure all the better and I thank them all.
Well, after two beers apiece, it was time to visit the loo and head on out. I have to tell you, the fixtures in the upstairs mens room are unique and worth a mention. I would have taken a picture, but, well, that would have been a little creepy, but trust me, they are worth seeing if you visit.
Well drained, Grant and I hoped onto The Portland Street Car and headed up to 23rd Avenue. Grant led me to The New Old Lompoc to sample their LSD. The way Grant raved about it, I knew I was going to like it, or have to slap the taste out of his mouth for dragging me on a four block power walk to get there. Damn he has a long stride.
We arrived at the New Old Lompoc and had ourselves a seat at the bar. As I sipped a very nice Lompoc Strong Draft (LSD) and acquainted myself with The Legend Of The Bald Headed Brewer, according to the legend I missed my true calling.
Grant ordered a C Note Imperial Ale, a 100 IBU monster of a beer. Made with Crystal, Cluster, Cascade, Chinook, Centennial, Columbus and Challenger hops, this beer will make any hop head moan with pleasure.
It was at about this point that I managed to piss of the bartender, who accused me of stealing a piece of her soul by taking a photograph of the bar with her in the shot. I guess I was supposed to ask first, my bad.
By this time we were joined by Grants paramour, who I have christened The Mad Chemist. She was busy studying for an Organic Chemistry exam at the bar while I made new friends and fans with my fellow bar mates.
I was again craving food, so we headed back up 23rd Avenue and I was able to con Grant and The Mad Chemist into dining with me at my 2nd favorite Jewish Deli, Kornblatts.
Sadly, they were out of tongue, so I had top settle for a double header of corned beef and pastrami. We sat outside and enjoyed the flow of humanity on 23rd. One great thing about living in this city is that after a long winter, once the sun comes out, the ladies seem to be in competition to see who can show the most skin.
Well the days events and my burgeoning cold conspired to wipe me out and I decided to call it a day after dinner.
I had the opportunity to try these seasonal offering from Alaskan Brewing this weekend with my friend and drinking partner, The Happy Atheist.
Now, wikipedia defines a Kolsch ale as …” a clear beer with a bright straw yellow hue, and it has a prominent, but not extreme, hoppiness. It is less bitter than the standard German lager beer…”. Alaskan Brewing had this to say about it…”Alaskan Summer Ale balances a softly malted palate with the clean freshness of hops. In the tradition of the style, neither overpowers the other. Both hops and malt come together to refresh and renew the palate. The straw-gold color and easy drinkability are an enjoyable way to celebrate summer.”
What did The Happy Atheist and I have to say about it?
Frankly, that there was nothing there. No malt, no hops…No Flavor. This might be a great beer for people who either don’t like or don’t drink beer, but for someone looking for a beer experience, I have to say. stay clear or this one.
I have to say, this is my first experience with Alaskan Brewing’s product, and I am really not encouraged to venture there again, unless someone out there has a specific recommendation.
Sometimes you are lucky enough to come across a beer that seems new to you, but in fact, has been around for awhile. Such it was with Widmer Brothers Original Drifter Pale Ale. Their Original Drifter Pale Ale is one that I will be going back to again and again this summer.
The nose is a bit hoppy, but don’t let that scare you off. There is also a great note of citrus, something I have always found appealing. The bitterness of the hops is offset by a caramel, malty sweetness that, while slightly similar to a Belgium white, it is no where near as cloying. This would be a great beer for cooling off after a hard days yard work.
You can find more about all of the Widmer Brothers selection of fine beers here
