Archive for the 'beer' category
CMP-8-26-2007: CrapMonkey Podcast Episode 122
August 26, 2007 7:45 pm
It’s Sunday afternoon and a very busy summer is coming to an end. In this episode, I am proud to say I’ve put my iRiver back into the CrapMonkey Mix. I upgraded to the M-Audio microtrack a long time back, and my ability to capture spontaneous moments has suffered ever since. Having the iRiver back on board is already starting to pay off. On Saturday night, outside of a bar in lower Queen Anne, I caught a great rendition of the Big Mac drive through rap (performed by some of the Seattle Pyramid Alehouse crew). Not sure where this rap came from? Check it out on YouTube.
This episode also boasts a guest restroom review of the Heritage Hall in Vancouver B.C., brought to us by Cosmo G. Spacely of the Clubside Breakfast Time Podcast (aka - Jacob Stewart). The urinal in this review is truly unique, so check out the images here.
Beer lovers, we are on our way to brewfest bliss. Here are a few to think about over the next couple of months:
- Washington Beer Commission Oktoberfest
- Fremont Oktoberfest
- Leavenworth Oktoberfest
- Great American Beer Festival
- Great Canadian Beer Festival
The song of the day is Here with You, by Tracy Hoyt and Jeff Fielder, the website of the day is NoonHat. Today’s program closes with “Seahawk’s, Give It All You’ve Got” by Keith Sexton.
Want to chime in? Send an email to Travis@crapmonkey.com. Audio comments are welcome.
The Oregon Brewfest is Worth the Trip
August 11, 2007 10:28 am
This post is long overdue. Two weeks back, a group of us hopped a train and headed down to Portland for the weekend. Portland was a great town, but the highlight of the weekend was definitely the Oregon Brewfest. The amount of beer pouring was incredible and the people there were great. Overall, the event could use a little more organization in order to deal with the huge amount of foot traffic that was lining up for pogs and beer. The lines were so long that it became impracticle to get “tastes” of beer. After the long wait to get to the pouring station, filling the glass to the top became an imperitive. Hopefully they will be able to correct this problem for future events because everything else about the festival runs smoothly and the event will definitely hold a reoccuring place on my summer schedule. Images of the event (and the trip to Portand) are available on Flickr and media is available for downlaod below in Windows Media format.
Johnny Pinchaloaf Rocks Ballard Brewfest
August 10, 2007 11:42 am
The Ballard Brewfest took place on March 4th, 2007 and featured some great live entertainment. We were first treated to Gelsey’s Polka Sing-Along and were then honored with the presence of the rock n roll legend himself, Johnny Pinchaloaf. The weather was great for gathering and plenty of quality beer was pouring. The parts that I remember were filled with fun and good cheer. Photos are available on Flickr and recordings of the music are available below in Windows Streaming Media format.
Gelsey’s Polka Sing-along
Johnny Pinchaloaf
Review: Moylan’s India Pale Ale
May 12, 2007 6:52 pm
Moylan’s India Pale Ale
Brewer: Moylan’s Brewery
Rating: 3 CMUs (CrapMonkey Units)
With its gold, cloudy color; this beer looks nice in the glass. Unfortunately, the aroma didn’t capture me the way I’d hoped and the taste left something more to be desired. I’m a fan of the hoppy flavor that IPA’s are known for, and Moylan’s IPA definitely brings the hops (in fact, it is dry hopped with two hop varieties). Unfortunately, the fruity hops flavor seems to overpower the rest of the beer like a choir without its bass and baritones. Moylan’s also makes a Double IPA which I have heard good things about but have not yet tried. That beer is described as having an”…enormous malt backbone like naughty monkeys on a vine. Double malt, double hops.” Perhaps the malt backbone in the double provides the balance that the single IPA is lacking.
Review: Rogue Brutal Bitter
May 6, 2007 8:41 pm
Rogue Brutal Bitter - 59 IBU
Brewer: Rogue Brewery
Rating: 4.5 CMUs (CrapMonkey Units)
Don’t let the name fool you, this is certainly not a brutal beer. In fact, it is quite smooth and respectful of the senses. The beer starts with a very good pour - foamy, but not to the point of annoyance. Additionally, the aroma suits this bitter well. You are struck with the sense of walking into a brewery as this beer reaches your nose - a sensation that lasts the duration of the beer. The taste is delicious, but I was expecting something a bit more hoppy and bitter given the name. Be careful pairing food with it as it’s much more susceptible to being overpowered than its name would have you believe. I also have to say that it is a surprisingly even tasting beer. The first taste that hits your tongue is nearly identical to the mild and pleasing taste it leaves behind. I would recommend this as an after-dinner beer, perhaps on a Sunday evening on the patio as the sun sets. To that end, a very mild cigar would also share the stage with a Brutal Bitter quite nicely.
Rogue Bathroom Tour
7:42 pm
As if you needed an excuse to drink beer, the week of May 14th through 20th is American Craft Beer Week. With nearly 1500 craft breweries now operating in the United States, the average american lives within 10 miles of a brewery. Celebrate your freedom of choice and your inalienable right to flavor by visiting your neighborhood brew pubs and enjoying a cold beer.
If you really want to celebrate the glories of beer, join the Great American Beer Tour! Download this passport and have it signed by brewery employees as you transform yourself into a tourist on the ultimate journey to beer Nirvana. Have your passport signed at each of your destinations and be eligible to win prizes (including the grand prize: a trip to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver). Not sure where to start your Journey? Beertown has some great tools for putting together your itinerary, like this brewery locator. Life is too short to drink bad beer. Let American Craft Beer Week serve as a great reminder to slow down and smell the hops.
POC 9 - CrapMonkey Podcast - Pieces of Crap #9
November 29, 2006 12:13 am
In this fairly lengthy Piece of Crap, my friends and I take to brewing some beer. We went up to Cellar Home Brew and bought all the equipment needed to start brewing our own beer. In addition to the gear, we picked up the necessary ingredients to whip up a porter (which we dubbed Schrodinger’s Porter - give us a break, we’d had a few beers by then). After getting all the gear home, stocking up the fridge with Dechutes, and downloading a few how-to articles from the Internet; Matt, Mr. Mark and I step into the wonderdul world of home brew. Images are available on my Flickr page.
Tawdry Tasters try the Malt Liqueur Beers
April 17, 2006 2:02 am
