More VG

more music

Sorry about the dirth of tunes lately, but we got a PS3 and movies and video games have been kinda key since then. My bad. But here is a girl group that broke through the hidef madness with some low fi rock and roll. I was turned on to them by my friend Stephen Meijas, whose blog is listed in my blog list, so check him out frequently.

These girls are one part Nirvana (in a murkey sounding studio) and one part Shirelles and one part Ramones. Kinda sorta. They have a low fi sound and the singing is buried in back of enthusiastic and distorted guitar. It is not vitruoso stuff, but it rocks. Maybe that is WHY it rocks. Check out this video and then get the record. I did for $12.

Coffee Beer

Terrapin/Left Hand Midnight Project Brew Two 2009 Depth Charge Espresso Milk Stout. Let's dissect this mouthful and a half of a name, shall we? Terrapin and Left Hand breweries make good to great beers that I really like. A lot. I have it from a good source that Left Hand's Milk Stout is on tap in heaven. That is why I am going. Terrapin also makes some really interesting and good beer, but as the LHMS is about my favorite beer in the universe, I have to go with Left Hand.

Next, Midnight Project. I heard some story about how the brewmasters of these two establishments are friends and came up with the idea for this series of special brews at the witching hour. Who cares. I think the Midnight refers to how inky black this ambrosia is. Depth Charge refers to the higher than average alcohol content. Not that you can taste it. It may also refer to the fact that I am typing faster now than when I started this post. There is a lot of coffee in this stout. A lot. A lot of coffee aroma, a lot of coffee taste, a lot of coffee caffeine. Just a lot of a lot of things that you probably like. So when you drink this large 22 oz. bottle in one sitting, and you will, you will have the interesting experience of being tipsy and buzzed at the same time. Espresso refers to the intense coffee content of the ale. And it is a milk stout.

It had too much coffee taste for my wife. She grew up in New Orleans. This is saying something. I pray that they have more of this at my beverage purveyor. Because the coffee buzz is past peaking, and I may need more. This receives my host hearty and ear ringing endorsement.

Finally, a good Octoberfest

Dogtoberfest by the Flying Dog Brewery has it going on. The malt, hops balance is right where it should be for a Marzen, on the malt side! I checked out the brewery website and found that the lightest malt the beer uses is Vienna. No larger or light ale malt in the mix. They are all German, as are the hops. It shows. The beer is dry, but not annoyingly so. It just rocks. OK, so it is a little dark for this type of beer. Sue them. But be sure to share with me the beer you buy if you win your legal action. And get lots of this beer. Sadly, it is a seasonal.

extraterrestrial

1 part Malibu Coconut Run

1 part Midori Melon Liqueur

1 part Pineapple Juice

Better than it sounds.

Stupid straw accoutrement optional, but I recommend against it.

This is an Alien Secretion.

Bob's 47

Boulevard Brewing Company's "Oktoberfest" is a copper to orange ale with an immediately disappearing head. The nose is mild with just a tad of the malt coming through. The flavor is very balanced, more balanced than I like a real Oktoberfest beer in fact. I like a strong malt presence in mine, and this lacked that. It almost has a lager feel to it because it is so smooth. It is certainly pleasant, but not what I hoped for due to the labeling. I bet I would have enjoyed it much more if labeled as a nut brown.

Whirley-pop

Here is a really great machine. It makes super popcorn, I mean super. No microwave obviously, but better popcorn. And there are lots of better popcorns! Differing colors, sizes, textures and taste variations. OK, the taste variations are not HUGE, but enough to be interesting. I am currently loving a yellow popcorn that I will post about later while the wife is crazy for a blue hulled variety. But the key is the gizmo, which really works. Once you are up to speed, it will take you about 3 minutes cooking time.

It is said that you can also roast coffee in it, but I have not tried that and cannot vouch for it.