While touring the Guinness factory in Dublin, Ireland a new fact was brought to my attention. Guinness brews not 2 but 3 different brews. There is the original Guinness Draught which is distributed everywhere. The second is their Guinness Staught which is distributed to Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Europe. the third is their Guinness Foreign Extra Stout only distributed within Ireland and to Africa, South & Central America and the Carri beans. I bought a bottle for 2 Euros because I knew I had to try this.
The main difference, aside from the yellow label, is that the alcohol content (7.5%) is higher to balance the overpowering taste that makes you take your sweet time while drinking this brew. As i drank this brew in my hostel I found myself completely agreeing with their wisdom. It has that familiar Guinness taste but this is even hoppier and sweeter. It finishes smooth like a good Guinness always does and after each taste you want to gulp down another one right away. The dark brown color is there with that sweet beer smell coming from the foam at the top. In Ireland the Guinness is like a completely different beer. It tastes like a beer milkshake. This particular beer, which was had at room temperature and from a bottle, still fit that standard.
It is incredibly hard to stop at just one Guinness. I had a Kilkenny's as previously recommended but I have to respectfully disagree with my fellow beermigo. Kilkenny's is delicious but there's nothing quite like a properly poured pint of Guinness in Ireland. Foreign Extra Stout is a unique twist on a Guinness. It's even more flavorful and therefore more overpowering, but still absolutely delicious.
Love, Doug
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Veille Provision, Saison DUPONT, Belgian Farmhouse Ale
To our regular readers, you've all probably heard of the Bier Stein at this point. A couple of months ago I was at the Bier Stein with the other beermigo Pat. We went there to have a couple of beers on a relaxing summer evening. While there we ran into a former professor of ours who insisted on buying us beer. Who were we to decline.
This professor was very knowledgeable of the intricate details that encompass beer. After the first beer he walked off to the cooler, came back and poured us each a pint of what he deemed as the best Belgian beer he had found while living there for a year. It was a citrusy ale, almost apple, but this was different. I find that citrus flavored beers tend to have too much of a fruity flavored after taste for my liking. However, this beer had the noticeable citrus flavors and a very crisp and clean after taste that wasn't very sweet at all. It was packed with flavor without being too filling (yes I know that's eerily similar to Miller Lite but it's true). The color was a nice dark yellow and even though an Uncle Fester type character made John Lysaker accidentally foam the beer a bit too much at the top by running into his arm it didn't ruin it at all. I'm in Ireland right now but I will be heading through Belgium soon and I fully intend on trying to find this beer there so I can enjoy it again.
Another note: This professor shared an interesting fact with me that I think is noteworthy. He said that when in Belgium all the beer is fantastic except for Pilsners. According to him they're not bad, they're just not up to the exceptional level of every other type of beer in Belgium. He said to wait until Germany to get a great Pilsner. i know John will appreciate that.
Peace out ladies and gents
This professor was very knowledgeable of the intricate details that encompass beer. After the first beer he walked off to the cooler, came back and poured us each a pint of what he deemed as the best Belgian beer he had found while living there for a year. It was a citrusy ale, almost apple, but this was different. I find that citrus flavored beers tend to have too much of a fruity flavored after taste for my liking. However, this beer had the noticeable citrus flavors and a very crisp and clean after taste that wasn't very sweet at all. It was packed with flavor without being too filling (yes I know that's eerily similar to Miller Lite but it's true). The color was a nice dark yellow and even though an Uncle Fester type character made John Lysaker accidentally foam the beer a bit too much at the top by running into his arm it didn't ruin it at all. I'm in Ireland right now but I will be heading through Belgium soon and I fully intend on trying to find this beer there so I can enjoy it again.
Another note: This professor shared an interesting fact with me that I think is noteworthy. He said that when in Belgium all the beer is fantastic except for Pilsners. According to him they're not bad, they're just not up to the exceptional level of every other type of beer in Belgium. He said to wait until Germany to get a great Pilsner. i know John will appreciate that.
Peace out ladies and gents
Rogue Dead Guy
Rogue Dead Guy is a staple of the Northwest beers, and in my opinion, the quintessential amber ale. The Rogue company has been able to expand their line of products because of the popularity of this beer. If you ever get a chance to tour the brewery in Newport, there is one room full of boxes of Dead Guy waiting to please the taste palates of beer drinkers everywhere.
The Big Guy and I were enjoying dinner at one of Eugene's local hot spots, Turtles, when I decided to enjoy another Dead Guy. We were discussing football plans, and what we were attempting to accomplish during our game the next day; I couldn't have felt more manly. My Dead Guy's color was a nice copper with just the slightest hard shade of red with a nice, pure white head. As usual, my beer had the perfect combination of malts and hops that blended so well together that it puts an image of the malt and hops being BFFs, and giving each other hugs during the brewing process. Weird? Yes. But try picturing that while enjoying that fantastic brew and tell me that it doesn't put a smile on your face.
Once again the fellas at Rogue continue to produce fantastic adult beverages, supplementing their reputation for being one of the best breweries in Oregon, one of the best beer making places in the world. Is that bias? Yes. But do it, malts and hops giving each other hugs? That's just hilarious.
The Big Guy and I were enjoying dinner at one of Eugene's local hot spots, Turtles, when I decided to enjoy another Dead Guy. We were discussing football plans, and what we were attempting to accomplish during our game the next day; I couldn't have felt more manly. My Dead Guy's color was a nice copper with just the slightest hard shade of red with a nice, pure white head. As usual, my beer had the perfect combination of malts and hops that blended so well together that it puts an image of the malt and hops being BFFs, and giving each other hugs during the brewing process. Weird? Yes. But try picturing that while enjoying that fantastic brew and tell me that it doesn't put a smile on your face.
Once again the fellas at Rogue continue to produce fantastic adult beverages, supplementing their reputation for being one of the best breweries in Oregon, one of the best beer making places in the world. Is that bias? Yes. But do it, malts and hops giving each other hugs? That's just hilarious.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Philosophy Class
Stumbled upon this very, very true joke/story on the trusty Internet:
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous - yes.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar - effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, and your children - Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, and your car.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.
"Take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."
A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, rocks about 2" in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous - yes.
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and proceeded to pour their entire contents into the jar - effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, and your children - Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house, and your car.
The sand is everything else. The small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.
"Take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."
Friday, September 5, 2008
siempre perfecta
I asked my new roomie about styles of beer in Spain and he gave me this inquisitive look, thought about it for a minute and asked me to repeat the question. This is no NorthWest folks; Ive been spoiled.
We did, however, go to the store and buy some beers which he deemed muy bueno. These, and all beers like them, are called las claras, un estilo de birra que incluye limon. Its like the spanish version of a Hefewisen, if the lemon came included in the can. I don´t want to compare it to the MGD with lemon, or the Coors with lemon, which are marketed in American supermarkets across the nation, simply because im not in America and this is new to me. Instead, i sipped the cold, refeshing birra, and agree with the clarity, succinct flavor and the crisp deliciousness of the first cool drink all day.
Apparently, you can get a glass of la clara, a style not the brand, at any bar and its only like €1,50 tops which is not bad in my book. i dig it and i´ll drink it again, but its no widmer hef, oh god, how am i going to do this?
We did, however, go to the store and buy some beers which he deemed muy bueno. These, and all beers like them, are called las claras, un estilo de birra que incluye limon. Its like the spanish version of a Hefewisen, if the lemon came included in the can. I don´t want to compare it to the MGD with lemon, or the Coors with lemon, which are marketed in American supermarkets across the nation, simply because im not in America and this is new to me. Instead, i sipped the cold, refeshing birra, and agree with the clarity, succinct flavor and the crisp deliciousness of the first cool drink all day.
Apparently, you can get a glass of la clara, a style not the brand, at any bar and its only like €1,50 tops which is not bad in my book. i dig it and i´ll drink it again, but its no widmer hef, oh god, how am i going to do this?
Fun Fact Friday!
I've got the early morning edition of your weekly fun fact today! As I hinted to last week, today's fun facts will be political convention themed. Both parties have had their convention, and our next event to look forward to is the first debate, where they will both spew out their ideologies that they'll never get done. Damnit, I told myself I wouldn't be pessimistic.
So the first convention for the Democratic party was way back in 1832 in Baltimore Maryland, who they nominated I have no freaking clue. The first televised convention goes to the Republicans, in 1940 when it was located in Phila-illa-delph-e a. The city that has hosted the most political conventions is Chicago with a total of 25, 11 for the Dems 14 for the Repubs. Length wise the Dems have the old Elephants beat, with the appointing of James Davis in 1924 after 17 days.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, enjoy the last days of summer and go outside for the love of Prefontaine. Ok that was really bad, showing my intense Eugene-ness, but I could think of anything else.
So the first convention for the Democratic party was way back in 1832 in Baltimore Maryland, who they nominated I have no freaking clue. The first televised convention goes to the Republicans, in 1940 when it was located in Phila-illa-delph-e a. The city that has hosted the most political conventions is Chicago with a total of 25, 11 for the Dems 14 for the Repubs. Length wise the Dems have the old Elephants beat, with the appointing of James Davis in 1924 after 17 days.
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, enjoy the last days of summer and go outside for the love of Prefontaine. Ok that was really bad, showing my intense Eugene-ness, but I could think of anything else.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Juniper Pale Ale
Guess what? I had another Pale Ale! Shocking, I know, but I just can't stay away from them and I feel no guilt because why stay away from stuff you love? Especially when it's as phenomenal as Pale Ale. Anyway, I was lucky enough to enjoy this fine craft at the Mecca that is the Bierstein. The Bierstein is on 11h and High here in Eugene, they make amazing sandwiches at 8.95 each, that includes a side. Oh, and did I forget to mention they have over 300 different bottled beers from around the world, and 10 different beers on tap? If I could spend five hours a day there, I definitely would, just imagine all of the Beermigos entry.
Now that you have an understanding of this beer haven, this night was really wonderful. The pretty lady friend and I moved some stuff to her new place, that happens to be right behind the Bierstein (HALLELUJAH!). So we went to the Mecca, and I got an incredible turkey sandwich with red onions, avocado, lettuce, and cream cheese. Sitting with the love, eating a sandwich that massaged the taste buds, and Billie Holliday playing in the background, it didn't even need the beer to make the night wonderful.
The Juniper was made by the infamous Rogue, which was light bronze in color while a little cloudy, which lead me to believe it would be jam packed with flavor. Surprisingly though, it's taste was very light. There was hardly any after taste, and in all reality all I could taste was almost a snow like taste. I found this really shocking considering it was made by Rogue, but at the same time I'm questioning how on their game my taste buds were.
The night finished with Whitney and I discussing future plans of visiting Ireland, which is probably the best place to talk about visiting while drinking beer. Ask Pat about it, I think he would agree.
Now that you have an understanding of this beer haven, this night was really wonderful. The pretty lady friend and I moved some stuff to her new place, that happens to be right behind the Bierstein (HALLELUJAH!). So we went to the Mecca, and I got an incredible turkey sandwich with red onions, avocado, lettuce, and cream cheese. Sitting with the love, eating a sandwich that massaged the taste buds, and Billie Holliday playing in the background, it didn't even need the beer to make the night wonderful.
The Juniper was made by the infamous Rogue, which was light bronze in color while a little cloudy, which lead me to believe it would be jam packed with flavor. Surprisingly though, it's taste was very light. There was hardly any after taste, and in all reality all I could taste was almost a snow like taste. I found this really shocking considering it was made by Rogue, but at the same time I'm questioning how on their game my taste buds were.
The night finished with Whitney and I discussing future plans of visiting Ireland, which is probably the best place to talk about visiting while drinking beer. Ask Pat about it, I think he would agree.
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