Our Tastes-- Samuel Adams Winter Lager

Well, it's been a while since I've done a taster and I hope to link the to be named chapter/splinter cell of the AU chapter that Junk is heading for later tasters, but for now let's talk about Sam Adams Winter Lager. The first thing about this beer that I fell in lust with is the color, an awesome deep brown that lets my tastebuds begin the "stout mouth" transformation. It has a superb blend of cinnamon, ginger, a slight orange peel and of course the sweetness of malted barley. Now the only problem I have is where the cinnamon comes from...yep, gook cinnamon. Well let me clarify it's from Saigon which is in the south much like AL, but there's something about the whole connotation that makes me want to grab a frag. Besides that this may be my most favorite Sam beer. I was astonished to find that it's a dark wheat!! Yeah, an American dunkel!! These bad boys were initially brewed to be served warm and get you through the Winter. Thank goodness it isn't made year round.
Some characteristics: Calories 200 large/bottle, of course the bottom fermenting lager yeast, Kent Goldings, Hallertauer, Tettnang, more Tettnang, then some Tettnang, 5.8%abv, available Oct-Feb.

There's No Easy Way To Say This..

But the AU chapter will be splintering. I have now founded Montgomery's original chapter, transplanted to the well-organized and extremely productive AU chapter, only to finally become for the remainder of the next 365 1/4 days (the real length of a year) the...drum roll please....Rocket City chapter! Now try not to be too upset about this move because my next news will drive you to drink, which is what we want. Co-founder Junk has unavoidably split as well creating his own chapter further south. When attempts were made tonight to reach Junk on the naming of his chapter via his cell phone he was out of area...stay tuned. From what I understand his brewing lackey will be his brother Red (denoted here in pink;) The good news to report is that I tasted and pH tested the water here and we're in business, there goes the water fees for brewing. There have already been questions about brewing classes at my new apt. with interest from fellow students and one professor if his wife will give him a "pass" (whatever the hell that is), but I told them it would have to wait until at least July because the brewing equipment is at my P's house. I also told them that if they want CE credit out of this that they can jump up my ass.

T-Minus 1 Day to the Green Day

Thought I'd share a few things I found on this crazy thing called the "InterNet".
10 great pubs is a great listing of some of the best Irish Pubs to visit in the states. I have been to Fado's many times in Buckhead (ATL) and it is by far my favorite irish pub. They pre-fab these things all over the US bringing back pubs piece by piece bought on the green isle. This particular one has a cobblestone floor and if you can't understand the micks behind the bar just point and they'll fill you up. My dream is to make it to McMullan's Irish Pub, it too is an actual pub bought and moved from Ireland. I have the t-shirt that says "Some Things Taste Better in the Dark".

Alba Gu Bra

Lest we not forget our Scottish brethren. If you're down for some history of Scotland, then check it out. Everything from the Battle of Falkirk to finding your favorite tartan and family history. While you're there you'll need to know how to speak the lingo. Have some cockieleekie and haggis for me;) Need to curse at someone or chat some slang?

Get Your Own!!

Here's my family tartan and the pattern worn by my Scottish Clan. Not the boldest of patterns, but stylish nonetheless, besides the ladies just want to know what's under the kilt of a man "man enough" to wear one not how pretty it is!

The Green Week

You know there must be something cosmic when the last year you spend at Auburn campus, St. Patrick's Day falls on a Friday. All week long we'll be doing a little trivia and trying to burn up the Braveheart and So I Married An Axe Muderer DVDs.
1. Some areas of Ireland are known to receive this many inches of rain each year, which accounts for the brilliantly green grass that has earned Ireland the nickname of “emerald isle”:
A. 60 inches
B. 70 inches
C. 90 inches


2. With 27,136 square miles of land, the Republic of Ireland is approximately half the size of this US state:
A. Arkansas
B. California
C. Montana

3. Today, this number of Americans trace their ancestry back to Ireland:
A. 10 Million
B. 25 Million
C. 40 Million


Answers: C, A, C
Consider your green matter picked

Kalends Martiae

Kalends of Martiae marks the end of the "running the dogs" and only 16 days away from St. Patrick's Day. I was happy to do the taster and look forward to any new beers offered by FDB and thank them for sending me a free t-shirt when their mixed litter came up short. They seem to be a decent bunch of guys. Brew On you mutts of beer.