This week's haul...trying to find the best pumpkin ale (that I can find in my area) early and then go forward with a case. Ichabod was solid, still have 4 remaining from last week, but snapped up another 6er. Schlafly has great ratings so I'll try that as well. Stayed away from a few others that have poor ratings.
OAB is easily one of my favorite brews now, had to get some more.
Haven't had a good doppelbock in a while, going to try some Italian Moretti, which is highly rated.
This week's haul...trying to find the best pumpkin ale (that I can find in my area) early and then go forward with a case. Ichabod was solid, still have 4 remaining from last week, but snapped up another 6er. Schlafly has great ratings so I'll try that as well. Stayed away from a few others that have poor ratings.
OAB is easily one of my favorite brews now, had to get some more.
Haven't had a good doppelbock in a while, going to try some Italian Moretti, which is highly rated.
Just happy that I found a place that has a really great beer selection, albeit a 30 minute drive (I'm in a dry county..very lame, but it's on the ballot to change in November).
Finally tapped into some Russian River brews on tap tonight... living in Philly does have its upside. Hopefully I'll be able to spot some Pliny the Younger in February/March.
I stopped by Cascade to beat a massive traffic jam and was rewarded with a bunch of free samples of some fancy, barrel aged goodness. Along with Russian River, they brew the best sours anywhere around.
Never really posted here but been following a few threads since the early summer, this being one of them...just wanted to announce that I found two bottles of Nugget Nectar hiding at D's last night. I was really surprised! Hope they don't taste too old and stale...
I'd almost forgotten about the pleasure of a cigar and a glass of Scotch.
I'm so used to living in places that don't allow smoking (and enforce that rigidly) that it's been almost two years since I've had a full cigar; after that being a weekly vice for about four years.
The cost of alcohol here is going to push me back to my old cigar and whiskey ways, I think. The beer selection can be great at times, but beer is so much more expensive than I'm used to...meanwhile the whiskey selection has grown three-fold and has been cut in half price-wise...I've always been more of a whiskey at home and beer at the bars drinker and I still haven't found a bar worth half a damn near me. I'm hoping/expecting taking a couple classes at UCLA will help open up my world in regards to that soon.
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“The most terrifying fact about the universe is not that it is hostile, but that it is indifferent. If we can come to terms with this indifference and accept the challenges of life within the boundaries of death, our existence as a species can have genuine meaning and fulfillment. However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light.” - Stanley Kubrick
I can't decide which I like less, Whiskey or Cigars
On a plus note, we got a blender from the wedding registry. I made myself a mean Strawberry Banana Daiquiri earlier. Berry Blend Frozen Margarita for the Mrs.
I went back to Cascade and had their barrel-aged imperial stout. This is 100% a whiskey lover's stout, it almost smells more like whiskey than beer. This was a very complex beer with chocolate, molasses, vanilla all up front and then a nice warm, boozy finish.
It's nice and chilly today, might go out for some pumpkin beer later.
I went back to Cascade and had their barrel-aged imperial stout. This is 100% a whiskey lover's stout, it almost smells more like whiskey than beer. This was a very complex beer with chocolate, molasses, vanilla all up front and then a nice warm, boozy finish.
Cascade only does very limited bottling of their beer, sadly this isn't one of them. This seems like it would age really well, too. A shame. I need to hit them up a few more times while they still have this.
I'd almost forgotten about the pleasure of a cigar and a glass of Scotch.
Excellent timing with this post man.
Am thinking of buying my first bottle of Scotch as soon as I move to pair with a nice cigar for my birthday and as kind of a "ahhh I'm finally all settled in...now I can relax" kind of thing.
Any reccomendations? I was thinking of going with a 200 ml. bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label for $16 as my first thing to try. Yay or nay??? If nay, what would be a better choice?? Keep in mind I'm in Canada so I dunno if our LCBO will have everything you may reccomend. Plus I don't wanna spend too much, both because I'm poor and I dunno if I like Scotch yet.
Am thinking of buying my first bottle of Scotch as soon as I move to pair with a nice cigar for my birthday and as kind of a "ahhh I'm finally all settled in...now I can relax" kind of thing.
Any reccomendations? I was thinking of going with a 200 ml. bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label for $16 as my first thing to try. Yay or nay??? If nay, what would be a better choice?? Keep in mind I'm in Canada so I dunno if our LCBO will have everything you may reccomend. Plus I don't wanna spend too much, both because I'm poor and I dunno if I like Scotch yet.
Johnnie Walker Black is not a bad place to start, and it's my namesake actually, but at the end of the day it's a blended scotch. Blends are always a little less flavorful in my opinion, as you're dealing with a blend of single malts from different distilleries, so the character of each gets muddled together.
Single malt is generally the way to go for scotches, because you're dealing with a malting from one distillery that generally aged it in the exact same kinds of barrels, at the exact same location for a much more distinct taste. It's also generally more expensive.
If you just want to see if you like scotch or not, and want to keep the cost down, JW Black is probably a solid choice.. maybe even the best possible choice. If you love it, though, and want to swing for the fences, go with anything from this list:
And yeah Big I know that good Scotch = hella expensive.
You shouldn't be terrified to splurge on a good bottle though. Think of it like this. Would you rather have one nice bottle that you can break out every now and then and sip and really savour...or...a more "affordable" bottle that's of so-so quality.
If a bottle of Scotch lasts you awhile, go for the good stuff amigo.
Oh yeah, but the bottle I busted out a few nights ago was one that I bought over a year ago
It's that 'special occasion' mindset...and apparently graduating and moving weren't big enough milestones to get it opened, but a cigar got that thing opened right up.
The fact that whiskey is about half as expensive here as it was in Montana will probably help. I can get 1.75L of Johnny Walker Red for about the same price as I could get a L of Canadian Club in Montana.
Oh yeah, but the bottle I busted out a few nights ago was one that I bought over a year ago
It's that 'special occasion' mindset...and apparently graduating and moving weren't big enough milestones to get it opened, but a cigar got that thing opened right up.
The fact that whiskey is about half as expensive here as it was in Montana will probably help. I can get 1.75L of Johnny Walker Red for about the same price as I could get a L of Canadian Club in Montana.
second on all of those. but especially the Buffalo Trace. one of my favorites.
Think it may be the cheapest out of the bunch. Not to be as ass, but I often google liquor looking for opinions on various brands. At the big liquor store in the SH, there is an array of different brands.
Something I keep forgetting to mention in here, I have been really into Caipirinhas lately. It's the national drink of Brazil and uses a rum like liquor called cachaça (made with sugar cane instead of molasses). Just put half a lime divided in thirds or quarters into a shaker with 5 sugar cubes. Muddle until almost syrup like, pour ice in, pour a 4 to 5 count of cachaça and shake. I don't strain it, but I suppose you could to get some of the lime pulp out. It's a delicious, refreshing cocktail for the end of summer. I've only seen cachaça at the big liquor store near the rum though. Leblon is the only brand I've tried as well. Here is a link to their site http://www.perfectcaipirinha.com/
Last edited by DockEllisExperience: 09-05-2012 at 01:45 PM.
Think it may be the cheapest out of the bunch. Not to be as ass, but I often google liquor looking for opinions on various brands. At the big liquor store in the SH, there is an array of different brands.
yup it's is the cheapest but while you're drinking it it's hard to remember that fact. it's an excellent value and can complete with the likes of Earle Rare and Knob. what makes it one of my favorites is the spice-blend (more allspice than pepper). of course there's more that goes into what makes a favorite than price or even taste. BT along with WL Weller and simple Bulleit were my go-to drinking in a bar bourbons during my time in law school - so there's a nostalgia factor as well.
