Our Tastes-- Olde Towne Hefeweizen

I just discovered this beer today and had to have a sixer of it. Apparently, my local microbrewery (this state's only) makes a few seasonals. Living here won't be so bad afterall. I don't have a lot of info, it's not even on their website, but I can tell you before I even tried it...I could have sworn I had Hoegaarden in my mug! The bouquet was identical. I wish I had more info for you, but I'm was shocked to even find it. They also make an Extra Pale Ale, Pale Ale and Amber. The only difference in the labels is the color of Old Grandpa Gus's hat, the Hefeweizen has a light blue color and they have gone to all black crowns which really sets the bottle off. I'll review those soon too, this is turning out to be a beery week;) 5.1%abv.

Our Tastes-- Samuel Adams Brown Ale

Samuel Adams Brown Ale is new to the BrewMaster's Collection. It is much like Newcastle or Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale just not as sweet, slightly drier, more citrus and bitter and oddly enough it has a light brown color to it almost like a dark creme soda or light root beer. It does have a falsely alluring sweet aroma though. Some North American counterparts are Old Smuttynose Old Brown Dog Ale, Pete's Wicked Ale or Fat Squirrel Ale. "Samuel Adams® Brown Ale is brewed using six varieties of malt including pale 2 row Harrington, Metcalfe, and Maris Otter malt, caramel, munich, and roasted Carafa®. This diverse blend weaves a sweet and roasty tapestry of malt flavors." This bad boy won it's way into the mouths of the masses by winning the Beer Lover's Choice Awards in 2005. This particular Brown Ale is a great transition beer for us stout mouths that tend to follow the seasons rather than the impulse. A few characteristics Spalter and East Kent Goldings hops, 159.5 cal/bottle (meaning you should drink them in twos to keep the universe even) and 5.35%abv.

Our Tastes-- Blue Moon

Blue Moon is a smooth belgian "white" as it states on the label. This brew is made with malt, wheat and oats leaving much of the proteins and yeast suspended to give it an awesome cloudiness. It has a very distinct nose and did I mention how smooth it was? Currently this is my brew of choice, especially at $9.99 a twelver thanks to a certain supplier in Gardendale;) Blue Moon is produced by of course Blue Moon Brewing Company a subsidiary of the first beer company to package beer in a 2 piece aluminum can in 1959...yep, Coors (Molson-Coors). First introduced in 1995 and quickly earning 3 consecutive medals at the WBC. Some characteristics, 171 LARGE calories/12oz and 5.4%abv. Pour yourself one in a proper flared pilsner with a wedge of orange...and repeat prn.

Rumrunners, Moonshiners & Bootleggers

Check it out on The History Channel. This is an awesome show about Big 6 Henderson busting Henry Beam (which has been a secret for 50 years!), Glen Dunaway winning the first National Association of Stock Car Racers (NASCAR) race in a suped up Ford Standard that had run moonshine just a week before and the biggest bust ever with a still that had 36.. 800 gallon sets that were using a combined total of 2500 lbs of sugar a week making $40,000/month. Yeah, NASCAR started with moonshiners!! Thanks for the reminder Mrs. Neese. I really enjoyed this one since I come from a long lineage of moonshiners, not bootleggers, learn the difference and use the terminology well.
"There will always be moonshine, thank God for the Moonshiners."

Feeling Anemic?

I normally don't advocate the buying of things other than beer, but every now and then a product comes along that truly entraps not only a drunkard but a sober man! (see previous post about Fire & Ice Grill) If you live in an area within 45 degrees +/- of the equator in latitude you should own one of these. This is the Thermacell Mosquito Lantern. These geniuses took something called allethrin out of the chrysanthemum (yeah you spell after a few beers) plant and used it too ward off insects up to 225ft!! (Found at Wally World) I would have never believed it until usage in the garage at my P's house, but this animal works. Spend the 25 bucks in the lantern, you'd spend that on 5 "OFF" buckets anyway that wouldn't work NEARLY as well as this, and sit back and relax anywhere you like butt-ass naked (haven't tried it.., yet;) It also fights off biting flies, sand flies and black midges (if you live in the south you know what I am raving about)