The Silver Bullet Beats Up Bud!
Posted on | January 11, 2012 | No Comments
According to Beer Marketer’s Insights (which, I might add, is a leading source of beer industry information) has come out with the startling information that Coor’s Light is now the #2 brand of beer by volume in the United States. It has pushed Budweiser down to the #3 spot, the first time in 20 years that Anheuser-Busch did not hold the top 2 spots.
The complete top 5 was:
1. Bud Light
2. Coors Light
3. Budweiser
4. Miller Light
5. Natural Light
It seems that Coors Light (when you include Puerto Rico sales) increased….
Oh, thank the Lord for Peter Griffin. What was I thinking? Who cares and who drinks these beers anyway? I know that you can drink a billion of them without getting drunk or full, but water works the same way, and costs even less (Water, currently under $10.00 per case). Granted, I have consumed my fair share at times (see my related post – “Bud Light – My Involuntary Review”) but really, if you have to drink beer, drink good beer. I mostly drink hard liquor, brown thank you, and wine, but will occasionally drink the Sierra Nevada of the moment or a Bass Ale, or a Guinness. Anyway, to end my post I re-post one of my very favorite posters ever. I laugh every time I see it.
Damn lightweight weasel.
Alcohol Censorship
Posted on | January 7, 2012 | No Comments
Vodka must be lower calorie than I thought.
Once again, the mainstream media shows its cowardice at things in real life. It has just been reported that NBC quailed at the title “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea,” for the new sitcom based on the book of the same title. Apparently, even though Chelsea is a well-known two-fisted drinker and the show is about a hard drinking woman, vodka in the title is a mite bit too controversial. The show is now titled, “Are you there, Chelsea?”. Bah.
At the same time the story about why the title has changed a number of times. Sometimes the title is too long, sometimes too controversial, sometimes they just want to appeal to a broader audience. Here is a great quote by Chelsea herself – Fast forward a month, and spin had set in. The real reason for the name change, Handler now insists, is deference to the diverse tastes of potential viewers: ”Not everybody likes vodka, unbeknownst to me,” is the star’s newest explanation.
I love that. Maybe instead of dropping vodka entirely, just change it to “booze.” That has broad appeal. Everyone likes some type of booze except Mormons and such, and I doubt they are a big target market for a show that NBC describes her as a”sexually dynamic advanced drinker,” who is jailed for a DUI in the first episode.
There is not too much to rant about here except this is emblamatic of how society can’t seem to wrap itself around the idea that it is okay to mention that people drink alcohol. Nothing wrong with that. Just don’t be a Chelsea. (Although she does have a certain obvious appeal).
Emergency! Washington State Drinkers, Please Help!
Posted on | January 3, 2012 | 2 Comments
I was just bingeling about the Boozosphere and I was reading the Pegu Blog, a very well written boozy blog, entertaining and whatnot, when I read Doug’s alarming post about Washington State.
It turns out that I live in California, the most effed up, brink of disaster, no-one-can-be-stupider, state – but in terms of alcohol, not bad. Bars open at 6:00 a.m., close at 2:00 a.m. (not sure why we need that four hours of closure). Liquor taxes are high, but not the highest. You can buy liquor all over the place. Grocery stores, liquor stores, drug stores – the state does not have a monopoly on it. (We used to have the “Fair Trade” laws that kept liquor as a coveted monopoly, kind of like taxi medallions, but they got rid of those a long time ago, back before we became a nanny state). So, pretty enlightened.
Turns out, also, that Washington State is trying to be dumber than California, but the forces of good are fighting back. However, the laws of unintended consequences show how this very battle may have some serious casualties – small, independent Washington Distillers. What can you do to help? First, read the article in Pegu Blog. Then, as Doug says, patronize the small distillers in Washington HEAVILY during the next six months. (Remember, liquor does not go bad) And, call your state Representative if you live in Washington, or if you just want to pretend you live in Washington. DO IT!
Quit drinking?
Posted on | January 3, 2012 | No Comments
There was a young fellow named Sydney,
Who drank till he ruined his kidney.
It shriveled and shrank,
As he sat there and drank,
But he had a good time at it, didn’t he?
Red Breast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey – The Review
Posted on | December 30, 2011 | 1 Comment
Today a good and true friend brought over a glass, almost the last he had, of Red Breast 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey. He knew that I was a fan of the Irish Whiskeys and it being the holiday season, giving and all that (well, he in turn took a glass of one of our good bourbons-quid pro quo, sine non igpay atinlay.) This is a pure pot still Irish whiskey, perhaps the only one being produced except for Irish Distiller’s Green Spot. 80 Proof and excellent to look at. It is made at the New Middleton Distillery by Irish Distillers (who in turn are owned by Pernod Ricard.)
Oh yeah!!!
Taking a sip and a sniff it came to me – not overwhelming, mild, it is not overly alcoholic tasting. I think that like most Irish whiskeys it is fairly sweet. The most definite flavor profile was that it was like a very good chocolate to me – there was the mouthfeel on the back of the tongue and a lingering taste of a fine chocolate. It is definitely a dessert or appetizer whiskey. Very mild, it would go tremendously for dessert with a cheese plate. Probably the most genuine chocolate flavor I have ever gotten from a liquor. Not the fake chocolate taste, but instead a true taste like a really good piece of chocolate – the same finish. Not the crappy aimed at kids chocolate, but the really good stuff. Try this, buy this. Perhaps my favorite Irish Whiskey so far.
-The Palate-
Mea Culpa Mea Missa Christmas Days!
Posted on | December 28, 2011 | No Comments
Sorry, I must apologize. I tried to do the 12 days of Christmas Gifts but I got caught up in trying to catch up on the season and did not get all the posts made. I have some of them done, but they are not topical so now I am ahead of the game for next Christmas! Woot!
And now, just to take your mind off it, how about this ad from the Cabana Cachaca liquor campaign?
Now you have completely forgotten about my missing posts.
And if you want some Liquor Soft Core Porn, go here and go to the “Bar” on the map for the Cabana whatever the heck it is website.
Fourth Day of Christmas – SHOES!
Posted on | December 6, 2011 | No Comments
One thing every man needs, but almost never asks for is shoes. Or, in this case flip flops. An essential part of the wardrobe, but most men will be walking through a liquor store and see a pair for $2.99 and grab them. Sadly, this is not the way to shop for shoes. For, as you are wearing these cheap products, you are walking down a sandy beach, nothing in sight but sand, sand, sand, when all of a sudden you stumble upon something. “What is this?” you think to yourself. Reaching down, you find an ice cold Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. “Sacre bleu!” you shout. How can this possibly be? An ice cold beer in the middle of a hot sandy beach? What is the provenance? Suddenly, you realize – beer – cold – man- gift horse- etc. So, you immediately try to twist off the top and tear your hands because the craft brewers of America eschew twist-off bottle caps. They do not exude the correct, I don’t know what it is, let us call it je ne sais quoi. Bastards.
However, if you were attired in the Reefs, such as this lovely:
Basic yet stylish.
You would think to yourself “My, I look good in these somewhat pricey flipflops. If only I could open that damn beer.” But then, you would realize that you could! For in the sole of these mild mannered flip flops is the church key! Observe:
Your sole source for opening beer.
Necessity, and the desire to prey on weak, materialistic minds, is the mother of invention as they say.
So, buy these lovelies where-ever you can find them. Here is a link to Amazon but I get nothing from them so buy them where you can find them. A super cool gift, though. Plus, if you truly are a Reefs Fan, you might also pick up a Reef’s Calendar, showcasing their great shoes. Oh look, it is going to be cold in December, yet I can still wear my reefs!
Awesome shoes. What shoes? What are you talking about? She must be wearing shoes.
Make your own Bourbon – Woodinville’s 3rd Day of Christmas
Posted on | December 5, 2011 | No Comments
I know that I have posted about this before (Here), but it has to be brought back for Christmas! If you want a great gift that is unusual but not stupid, this would be the one. Plus it has the benefit of making people remember your gift for several months if nothing else. So, here is the skinny. Buy it at Costco or through Woodinville Whiskey, but it is such a great gift. They give you the white dog (unaged whiskey) the barrel, some other doo dads, instructions (put in barrel, wait) and there you have your own bourbon making kit. Get creative with labels on the laser printer and you have the coolest brag gift when your friends come over and want a drink. So, buy it. BUY IT!
You can buy this online at Woodinville Whiskey Company for $149.99 if laws allow it to be shipped to you. Costco, though, $99.99. It comes with two bottles of White Dog and the barrel for accelerated aging. Should be ready in about 3-6 months of aging. The barrel supposedly can be used 5 times and then becomes a very cool conversation piece.
Just pour in, wait...........3 months, and drink!
Corner Creek Reserve Bourbon – The Review
Posted on | December 3, 2011 | No Comments
The font has been changed on the recent bottle from "goudy" to "old claude". Oolala!
The gifts of Thanksgiving linger on. And by that I mean the bourbons that we bought on the way to the relative’s house. Amazingly enough, they have not been killed as of yet. So, today we take glass in hand and look into the darkest, or most amber, depths of one of our aquisitions – Corner Creek Reserve Bourbon.
Color – The bottle is green so it has a deep amber color when in the bottle. A lighter amber color in the glass.
Nose- A light nose, a generous dose of vanilla, floral notes. If I ate a rose bush, it would make me think of this bourbon. Or at least in my mind that is how I think rose bushes taste.
Tongue – It starts smooth on the tongue, with a bit of bite along the edges as it moves back. A little vanilla and caramel. Earthy and simple, with some spice. Not a lot of complexity.
(Note from the Palate – it went well with jello)
Finish – Short but pleasant. More sweetness on the finish than on the tongue.
Would I buy it again? Under $15.00, certainly, $15-20, maybe, above $20.00 not so much. Not that it is bad, just that there are others in that price range I probably prefer.
In other reviews that I browsed, one person mentioned that it is a bourbon that would go well with a steak. They might be right. Short, not complex, a bit astringent, it might go well with a good slab o’ beef. I might have to try that. (The Palate – might go well with stuffed portebello mushrooms – a little bread and cheese stuffing)
88 Proof. Distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky. Who makes it? I do not know. From what I can find (in 23 seconds of research, or at best maybe an hour or two, Heaven Hill seems the best bet). Aged 8 years. The mashbill? Who knows.
On the second day of Christmas…..Clean Hands
Posted on | December 1, 2011 | No Comments
My true love said to me – wash your hands! Do you know where those hands have been? I do! Wash up. And what does the alcoholphile (a fancy way of rationalizing drinking) use to wash his hands? Everclear of course. But, if you do not have everclear, then how about this?
MALIN+GOETZ Hand Wash Set, Rum + Lime 1 Set
Linked HERE to Amazon (again, this is a suggestion, I receive no money for this purchase if you do in fact make it) this is a good gift for that man in your life if you want something kind of cool, although the packaging in fact sucks. But the soap itself would be nice.
And here is some kind of description by “wordsmiths”.
Malin + Goetz Rum + Lime Hand Wash Set Handy Gift SetHand it to Malin + Goetz to come up with this wonderful gift idea. This gift set features the brand’s popular Rum and Lime Hand Washes beautifully packaged in a colorful box. Both soaps gently and effectively purify and balance all skin types and rinses free of residue without irritation, drying or stripping. Gift set features Rum and Lime scented soapsHydrating foaming cleansing gels for hands Gently purifies and balances skin Especially Suited For: All skin types Essential Elements: Set includes Rum and Lime Hand Washes. Free of: Parabens, silicones, synthetic dyes, waxes, harsh detergents, dyes, synthetic perfumes For Best Effect: Apply directly to wet hands. Rinse clean
The Liquor Locusts
"The harsh, useful things of the world, from pulling teeth to digging potatoes, are best done by men who are as starkly sober as so many convicts in the death-house, but the lovely and useless things, the charming and exhilarating things, are best done by men with, as the phrase is, a few sheets in the wind." ~H.L. Mencken
The Dangers of Thirst
"Let your boat of life be light, packed with only what you need - a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and a little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing." ~Jerome K. Jerome
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The Jug of Empire!
"How solemn and beautiful is the thought that the earliest pioneer of civilization, the van-leader of civilization, is never the steamboat, never the railroad, never the newspaper, never the Sabbath-school, never the missionary -- but always whiskey!" ~Mark Twain