Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The past three days

Here's the past three days (in beer):


Saturday- The guys (Alex, Adrian, Manuel, Kevork) and I went to Stone brewing for dinner. It was delicious as ever. I even got to knock off a few more IPAs off of my to-do list.


Boulevard Double Wide IPA- the Missouri based brewery put out this gem as a special series beer (meaning, not a year round offering). The label was reminiscent of those vintage style art deco-ish posters. On said label was a double wide mobile home- label art rarely gets quirkier than this. Now the contents of this cocksucker were grand- most IPAs (west coast, especially) have deep floral scents with varied citrus accents. Not this bad boy, though. It reeked of apples and acidity (like a cider almost) and along with that apple scent was a taste like apples with slight hints of laundry detergent rose. Decent beer at 8.5% ABV
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Coronado Idiot IPA- this is a San Diego IPA if one ever existed. Coronado puts out great beers, such as their Mermaid Red and the Belgian Style IPA. It's very bitter, but with a frothy texture almost. It's as yellow as the sun on a third grader's drawing of heaven. Good beer to round out my experience with Coronado brewing.

Alesmith Yulesmith- this is a special release. It is an IPA that shows up around Christmas, (hence the name) but it is so good they release it in summer as well, so we can all have Christmas in July. Alesmith couldn't make a bad beer if they used urine instead of water....enough said. Bold, Hoppy, Alesmith- hooray for Jesus' Birthday!!!



Sunday- I showed up to the fair for my Beer Tavern shift. Calferm was generous enough to give me two tickets for free (one for me, and one for Melissa) and a parking pass. the best part of all was getting to try some new beers.

Odell Brewing IPA- I was very happy to see this beer. Odell is a Colorado based brewery and doesn't distribute to the West Coast at all...the best part about the beer tastings at the fair is that Calferm requires all participants to provide beer (kegs and cases) for each entry involved. This means if they want to be judged, they have to put out. And we get to not only try new beer, but we get to try beer that we can't get a hold of under normal circumstances. Fuck imports, getting beer from Colorado can be a hassle, but thankfully, this IPA found its home in my belly. The flavor was great- Colorado beers can be just as bold as California beers. This IPA had an amazing bite to it, but had an inviting aroma, mouthfeel and begins with a fluffy, creamy hello. Bravo!!!!Photobucket


Belmont Brewing Long Beach Crude- nice chocolaty lacing makes this stout delicious. It's malty, and rides the line between sweet and export style stout. Not sweet, and not dry, but perfectly drinkable.

Belmont Top Sail Ale- eh, I'm not a huge fan of amber ales, but this one reminds me of an amber ale you might find in England because it's creamy like an ESB, but a little watery like an Amber, so I'd say it's an involuntary hybrid- not sure of that's what the folks at Belmont were going for.

Moylan's Kilt Lifter Scotch Ale- Oh, how mother loved her Scotch- and I, my Scotch Ales. I love Scotch Ales...this one had a perfect balance of malts and kept a nice full body the entire time, it finished off like a gent in a hurry though. Good beer, and nicely alcoholic.


Monday- The missus and I had dinner at the Buffalo Inn (finally). Good buffalo burgers, and an okay selection of beers. (6 out of 10 for effort). I realized I can have half a pitcher of Stone Pale Ale and two 22 oz. bottles of Stone Arrogant Bastard and still enjoy myself instead of wishing there was IPA somewhere in the facility.
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I will follow this post with my actual post on my shift at the fair....so stay tuned

Friday, September 26, 2008

SUPER BEERS!!!!!!!!

Here is my list of ultimate super beers that have the ability to change the world with their great complexity and flavor. enjoy! (the format is, Brewery, Beer, Description)




Dogfish Head- Midas Touch- The recipe is derived from the oldest known fermented beverage. It is brewed with Muscat (yes, that muscat) grapes and flavored with honey and saffron. It is unlike anything and tastes similar to a Chardonnay, but more effervescent like Sauternes Champagne.


Stone Brewing- Vertical Epic Ale '07 aged in red wine barrels- This is a beer from a series, the sixth to be exact, that is intended to culminate in a "vertical tasting" in the year 2012. It is a delicious Belgian style saison hybrid with a strong pale ale. It has a delicious yeasty backbone without being overpowering, yet retaining a clear alcoholic footprint. Notes of spicy coriander and pastry-like bread all in one, but somehow imagine this bread lightly drizzled with sugary reduction made with figs, raisins, and gorgeous ripe red fruit.
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Russian River- Temptation- This is a beautiful Golden Ale aged in oak chardonnay barrels. The color leaves a definite imprint on the mind and it's scent is undoubtedly the scent of the clouds in heaven. This is a beer that you'll regret drinking only because once it's gone you won't be able to drink it again. (unless you purchased two bottles, which will run you 18 bucks a pop for the small bottles)
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Cucapa- Chupacabras Pale Ale- This is one of the most complex pale ales I have encountered thus far. It has an uncanny creamy beginning texture, yet clean mouthfeel that ends in a peppery kiss on your lips. OLE!!!!
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Ommegang- Grand Cru Rouge- Delicious wine like body that opens up in your mouth with a heavy, dry, fruity bouquet of alcoholic heft. This beer simply drinks like a wine with dark fruit notes, no sign of caramel, but definite wood flavors abound.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Monday, September 22, 2008

Inaugural Blog

Howdy out there in blogger land- This is obviously my first entry and I will use it to get everyone acquainted with me, and what I do.

I'm the neighborhood friendly bartender at dba256. I used to work at the Pomona Home Depot, LaVerne Target, and Aladdin Jr. (Pomona). I'm kinda a jack of all trades, yet the master of none. My heart lies with the fermented art of beer. I love it, and if there were a stronger word to describe that love I would use it now.

Now, I know what many of you are thinking, 'sure, I love beer too. I'm a beer drinker. I drink (fill in the blank with generic mass produced fizzy yellow beer).'

No, I am a man that has paid 45 dollars for a single bottle of beer, which was breathtakingly delicious. In fact, a buddy of mine just procured a 70 dollar bottle of beer that had been bottle aged for two years. And since I love beer, I shared it with my best friends, instead of allowing the beer to possibly decline with further aging.

What I mean to say is that, I love great artisanal, beautiful, beer that you can't find at 7 eleven. I don't drink just to consume, but I drink to enjoy, and I enjoy it quite often (very often).

Right now, I currently have 84 different IPA variations under my belt and I always drink new beers in various styles, but I do concentrate on IPAs currently.


However, there is more to my life- in the following blogs you will see exactly what else lies inside this skull besides dirty jokes and beer suds.



Now, here's the real Q&A to get rid of the akwardness of having to type every single thought that comes to mind while blogging-


Q: Tibbi, is your name short for something?
A: It's a long story, come to the bar one day when I've had a couple of beers and I'll tell you.

Q:Turtleneck, or V neck?
A: I am uncircumcized (it's like having a ribbed condom on all the time-*wink)

Q: So, why don't you speak spanish? You're brown aren't you?
A: A long time ago, people existed in California. My ancestors were those people and they predated what we now know to be as illegal immigration- ergo, your kids will one day be jaded bastardos that only speak english like me (but this will take a generation or two)

Q:Why do you always look at breasts so much?
A: That's what's above the bar.

Q:Are you single?
A: If you are America Ferrera- then yes. If you're not, but you look like her, maybe- other than that- NO.

Q:You look Asian
A:Fuck you.

Q:Do you have any nicknames?
A:Dutch Chocolate, Mr. T., T-Money....etc.

Q:What's you favorite food?
A: My favorite cuisine is Morrocan, but I also love Chili- I make my own and it's quite damn delicious

Q:Are you a democrat?
A: My ideology is moderate- enough said

Q:Do you have any special skills?
A: I once passed out drunk in a pool. I floated asleep in water- that's pretty skillful.

Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: A tall archaeologist. (man life fucks with you, eh?)

Q:Do you have family?
A: Why? Do you need some? I got some spares ( a later blog)

Q:Okay, you like beer and you're a bartender; what's next?
A: Hopefully, I can get some brewery experience under my belt somehow, then I want to maybe, open up my own brewpub, or work at Stone.

Q:Blondes or Brunettes?
A: Brunettes- but I do fancy Irish red locks....

Q:What's you favorite beer?
A:Impossible question. I have a favorite beer for every style and occasion. I'd be a fool to stick to just one, as would anyone else. But I do drink a lot of Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Stone IPA

Q:If you could take only one thing to the moon with you, would you take beer?
A: Good one, uh....I'd take a fleshlight full of beer. When I landed on the moon, I would drink the beer then pleasure myself with the fleshlight until I die. I'm not going out without beer and sex, nor am I gonna die with my hand on my penis.

Q:Do you like your job?
A:I love it. My boss is good to me, I get to be around beer, talk about beer, drink beer...what's not to love?

Q:How do you feel about a woman's right to choose?
A:That's none of my damn business, so I'll leave the choice up to them which I believe they have a right to.

Q:Should we kill old people?
A: No, but we should kill old people that voted for bush.

Q:Why do you have a beard?
A:Because Captain Ahab is a hero of mine.


no, more questions please



Well folks, that's all for now. But there will definately be more to come, so stay tuned