Another Amazing Discovery

Here's something that I'm all about here at Everything Brewed. There is no situation that I want to find myself in that I would not at least want the ability to open a beer. This is one way to be prepared. You will be as impressed as I am.

Skip Chapington, a humble, debonair, ascot-sporting gentleman, introduces the JackHawk 9000s as the greatest invention in the past 100,000 years. Watch the video here.

We have seen bottle openers incorporated into shoes, belts, hats, but never before have we seen bottle opener sunglasses. The JackHawk 9000 – Titanium Bottle Opener Sunglasses ($90+) are exactly what you think they would be: sunglasses with bottle openers on either arm. The frame is made from the same material as the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, and the polarized lenses are coated with Iradium to reduce glare and improve scratch resistance. Essentially, these sunglasses are indestructible and will ensure that you alway have a means to open your cold brew.

Back for Summer

It's funny how days continue to slip by, then you realize it's been the better part of a year since you've written an article. Time does not stop, but it does allow beer to ferment, bourbon and wine to age, and hair to grow back. So if you've enjoyed a beer, made a beer or sipped on whiskey or wine, thank Father Time. If you got a bad haircut, tell him that not everyone has that kind of time and to get on with it. Makes me look forward to retirement though if I'm being honest.
So as time has passed, so have some seasons. Specifically fall and spring (check local weather reports). Now that summer is upon us, it's time to consider the brews that best accompany the many types of outdoor activities that we are bound to find ourselves getting into.
Memorial day cookouts come to mind right away, but also cookouts in general. Now I happen to be of the mind that a light, crisp, cold beer sometimes goes well for this type of event. Notice I didn't say cheap or mass produced. As I was browsing my favorite craft beer retailer the other day, I saw several different summer ales with wheat, hops, fruit, high ABV - you know, all the good stuff. So I look forward to tasting and reviewing some of those in the coming weeks.
Yard and outdoor projects are also a big part of my summer. Aside from basic yard chores such as mowing the lawn and trimming trees etc, where a nice "Yard Work Beer" is always appropriate, I am planning on putting up a shed within the next couple of weeks. Now I would never particularly advocate heavy session drinking while trying to precisely measure and cut (with power tools), so in the true spirit of EVERYTHING Brewed, I recommend a nice pitcher of Iced Tea, or possibly a well mixed Arnold Palmer - in addition to plenty of H2O to maintain proper hydration levels. Save the hard stuff for the final nail celebration. I already know that my potential crew will be easily pleased with some Maker's or perhaps Maker's 46. Luckily for me, I have a beverage rider in the budget request I put in with the Treasurer of Taste (aka "the wife").
And given the opportunity, after the children are safely tucked away, a nice fire in the fire pit with my best girl by my side would go great with a nice IPA. Crisp and refreshing. Solid and strong. A perfect brew to enjoy when I know that I won't be leaving the grounds of Everything Brewed HQ.
So whatever events you look forward to in the coming summer months, there's bound to be a nice brew available to accompany them. I hope you enjoy yours as well as I will enjoy mine, and in fact, I'd love to hear about your adventures as well. Hit me up on facebook, twitter or in the comments of this article.

Cheers!
Jason.

Thursday Night Flight

So last night, on my way home from my money making job - since drinking beer doesn't pay yet - I stopped at my Beverage Depot, and grabbed up a few new things to try. I took a step outside my normal, malty selections, and went for some bitterness.

I warmed up with a Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA, because I figured that if it wasn't going to be malty, it should be Extra not malty. I did enjoy it as a pre meal warm up. It was crisp but fuller in flavor than I expected it to be. It lead nicely up to the meal of Grilled Pork Tenderloin, roasted veggies (and fungus), and potatoes that the neighbors cooked up!!

Once warmed up, the Great Divide Samurai followed nicely with dinner. The primarily rosemary seasoned tenderloin was a great partner to the slightly fruity finish that the rice in the Samurai provided.

As the conversation continued, I grabbed a slightly less intense Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and a few left over slices of pork. Clean, crisp and refreshing beer met nicely with savory, herb crusted pork.

I was warned at the beginning of the gathering, that there was no dessert. To which I replied "don't need it, I brought Beer!" Specifically, I saved the Great Divide Hoss to stand in for traditional dessert. The sound of a Rye Lager seemed interesting, even if it is outside the Reinheitsgebot ingredient list. It's sweet notes represented its role as dessert very well without being too filling.

Overall, it was a nice flight and a great evening.

As always, your comments and questions are welcome.
And I appreciate you taking the time to read my thoughts.

Cheers,
Jason

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Yard Work Beer

If you have ever read this blog, then you know I love craft beer. Yes, I have the sticker that states "Yellow Fizzy Beer is for Wussies". Yes, when given the choice between American Light Beer and almost anything else, I go with the anything else.
However, there are times in life when there's nothing like a nice, ice cold, crisp, cheap beer. And one of those times for me is during or right after a yard work project. I usually reach for Miller Lite, because they tell you right there on the can (because Yard Work Beer HAS to be in a can) that not only does it "Taste Great" but it is also "Less Filling". And I think that's really part of the appeal. When I am all hot and tired, I don't also want that full feeling that Craft Beer - in all its radiant glory - tends to provide. Plus, when I am just going to chug something cold and refreshing, I don't want to waste someone's art.
There was a time when I would reach for a Bud Light but I switched one day when the Miller Lite girls were giving it away at a bar I was at. Seemed like a good enough reason to me. But today, I decided to take myself for a loop and really mix things up. After all, how can I consider myself a Brew Reviewer of Everything that's Brewed, if I stick with my main staples??
So, as I type this, I am not only recovering from moving somewhere in the neighborhood 3000 pounds of concrete blocks, but I am sipping on a brew from Canada's Labatt Breweries - Labatt Ice. Is it because, as stated on the can, it has "No Preservatives"? Or could it be because it's 5.6% ABV? Or, did the $1.09 price tag for a 24oz can seal the deal? All of the above.
Now I know some of you enthusiasts are going to think I'm crazy for even admitting all that information, but that's just how it is.
So as always, feel free to comment or ask questions. And if you are going to do some yard work, and combine that with a Yard Work Beer, please do so responsibly.
Cheers,
Jason
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Good News

Here's a quick blog about someone else's blog post. I haven't had the time to sit and do my own but this is news worth sharing for the people in Ohio. Check this out......

http://beer.ohio.com/2011/06/yuengling-finally-coming-to-ohio/

Cheers,
Jason

Columbus, OH

I have had the great fortune over the past two days to sample some fine, craft brewed beers. Currently on a trip to Columbus, Ohio for the Rock on the Range Concert, I have had meals at two different local breweries. Last night for dinner, my Secretary of Taste and I visited Elevator Brewing Company, and the today for lunch Barley's Smokehouse and Brewpub.

Dinner last night was unbelievable, She had the 14oz New York Strip and a pint of Dirty Dick's Nut Brown Ale, their "American adaption of a Northern English brown style." and I took on the Surf and Turf Rock (check out the image on the menu) They brought me basically a raw beef tenderloin, 3 giant scallops, and 3 jumbo shrimp, also uncooked. All this was brought out on a large plank of wood with a 450 degree Finnish Tulikivi firestone positioned on it for me to use to cook the meat as I saw fit. Cutting one bite at a time, I placed it on the stone and cooked it to my liking. I know it sounds like work, and it did keep me busy, but it was not only fun but delicious. Now to the good part, I washed it all down with a "powerful dark lager" called Procrastinator Doppelbock. The nice roasted flavors complemented the beef and sauces nicely, although a lighter selection would have been a little better to complement the seafood. We also enjoyed a flight of samples - the Mogabi, a drier, crisper Blue Moon type ale, the Dark Horse, a 2007 Bronze medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival, and the current seasonal, the Black Pale Ale, a unique mix of what a stout looks like and initially tastes like, followed by the finish of a hoppy pale ale.

With the atmosphere of an uber modern 1950's diner and delicious food and beer, the Everything Brewed rating of the entire experience comes in at a full 5 out of 5 pints. If you are ever in Columbus and have some money to spend, go for it.

As for lunch today, Barley's Smokehouse and Brewpub offered us many local as well as guest draft selections. I had the Scottish ale and the Secretary tried the British Pale Ale. I paired mine with a slow smoked beef brisket sandwich, and she had the BBQ quesadilla. The Scottish was caramel in color and taste, standing up nicely to the brisket with a sweet finish. The British PA appeared as a Brown Ale and had a certain malty flavor to it, but was a little over balanced by hops for her liking.

Overall the Everything Brewed rating on the experience comes in at 4 out of 5 pints. If you are in Columbus and want a variety of craft beer to pick from, both local and "imported" go here.

I would love to tell you more about it, but it's time to get ready for the show. As always, your comments and questions are welcome. So enjoy your brews, but responsibly and all that stuff.

Cheers,
Jason

Dundee Brewing Company - Honey Brown

Photo By Katy Mims

It has been a little over a decade now, not since the last brew review (although it certainly seems like it to me), since I hung up the hat on standard American Light Beer. It was late 1999, and while others were wondering if the stock market would make through the millineum change over, I was wondering if there was a tastier way to catch a buzz. So there I was at BW3's, most likely on $.25 wing night when they also served $2 23 oz drafts, deciding on what I would have the bartender fill my cup with. I am sure you can see where the story goes from here, I got Honey Brown, thus altering the course of my future and ultimately leading to the creation of the brew review source you have come to know and love....Everything Brewed. You're welcome.

Now that BW3's is long gone, but I was feeling nostalgic the other day and picked up a sixer of Honey Brown. This is also right in line with the current series of easy to acquire brews that I have been working on.

Dundee Brewing Company has been brewing Honey Brown Lager since 1994 and here is what they would like you to know about it:

"Original Honey Brown Lager is a quality medium-bodied beer that goes down smooth with every sip." It comes in at 4.5% ABV and 10 IBU's, and is produced with "Premium barley, hops, water, pure Manitoba White Clover honey". Honey Brown Lager took home a Gold Medal at the World Beer Cup in 2004.

Now for my thoughts....I totally agree that it is smooth. Thinking back to when I first tried it, I recall that it was slightly sweet yet crisp. Not too bitter but well balanced and totally drinkable. I had many $2 23 ouncers after that as a result. Even today, while Honey Brown could be considered on the outside edge of full on craft brewing, it still goes down rather well.

With spring in the rear view mirror and hot summer days quickly approaching, I would highly recommend this lager to anyone looking to stretch the limits of their palate without stretching their drinking budget. It will cool you down, without filling you up. So for all those reasons, plus my long standing affair with this brew, I declare the official Everything Brewed rating a full 5 out of 5 pints. I almost took away a few sips because they didn't call me and tell me that it's now available in a 24 oz can, but Honey Brown has opened up so many doors for me that I will let that slip.

So thanks for taking this journey back in time with me and, as always, thanks for checking out this week’s Brew Review. Thoughts, comments, and questions are, of course, welcome. And remember to enjoy your beer, but responsibly please. Also, don’t forget to check out their website for more information on Honey Brown Lager.

Cheers,
Jason

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