Category: Food & Drink

The Montage Episode

This one might wind up being a little bit like a sitcom episode where they just cut and paste parts of past episodes and the characters reflect on it: “Hey remember that one time we did that thing with the fat guy?

…That was funny.”

This is my review of Long Beach Brewing Company Channel Keller Vienna Lager (H/T: Iobot)

How is this just a montage episode? September marks one of my favorite times of year as a beer drinker: Oktoberfest! Seriously I’ve done a couple of these, one here where I link to a previous article (H/T: DEG) of a Glib’s previous travels to the festival in Munich, as well as this one where I attempted to recreate the magic.

How did I do?

One thing I thought was interesting was when I went to purchase a local version, something curious was written on the label: “Vienna Lager.” I thought these were different…turns out I was neither right or wrong. This style is sometimes considered to be the first lager in existence depending on which brewer got to it first. One being Gabriel Sadlmeyer from Spaaten and the other being Anton Dreher from the Klein-Schwechat brewery. The malt both used is copied from a method developed in England using coke to roast the malt, leaving it with a deep, roasted flavor without it being burned. It predates the Pilsner by a year. Oktoberfest is the result of seasonal brewing laws in Germany is sometimes referred to as “Marzen” meaning March, because it was the last time brewers were allowed to brew for fear of spoiled beer.  The style cannot be called Oktoberfest unless it was brewed in Munich and served at Oktoberfest.

Speaking of things I can’t afford.

It is protected like the town of Glashutte requires a certain percentage of watches to be manufactured in Glashutte in order for the word “Glashutte” to legally appear on the dial. Then again, somewhere in China somebody is scribbling Glasgütte on a piece of tin… “Festbier” is sometimes used in the United States to get around this legality for those that care.

With the exception of the use if Munich or Vienna malts, Oktoberfest, Marzen, Vienna Lager, and Festbier are more or less identical.

Brewing Vienna Lager fell out of favor to a large degree in Europe, but surprisingly has a large following in Mexico. As previously reported, Napoleon II went to war with Mexico in the 1860’s when their President Benito Juarez fell behind on interest payments on foreign aid from Spain, England and France. While he came to an agreement with Spain and England, France decided to send an army to collect.   Following the war that gave us Cinco de Mayo, Napoleon II placed a puppet ruler to keep the trains running, so to speak from the Austrian court. He brought a few brewers among other craftsman along with him, many of whom chose to remain in Mexico after the Mexicans shot him and left his bloody shirt on display in Mexico City.

Consequently, Vienna Lager is popular in Mexico. Examples are Bohemia, Indio, and Negra Modelo. It should be noted these brands eventually adapted away from the original style and began using flaked corn as an adjunct which is why there are some craft brewers in the southwest that will follow suit in their attempt to recreate. Such as this one, that for some reason appealed to me.   Overall the Mexican version I find to be more refreshing, and is often described as having a “delicate” flavor profile.

So how does this one stack up? Very well in my opinion, and this is a style I typically like. I give them extra points for the full pint can, which is the optimal serving of beer. After all 500mL is too little, while a full liter is simply too much. Long Beach Brewing Company Channel Keller Vienna Lager 3.9/5

September 28, 2019
The Little Things

I am fortunate to have been born in the United States where I was able to get an education that led to a career which affords me a comfortable lifestyle. I have traveled to some beautiful countries, eaten some amazing meals and bought some fun toys. However, I find the enjoyment that I receive from these expensive distractions are fleeting. What I have found leads to the most consistent feelings of happiness is focusing on the little things. Here are a few of my favorite things.

Every morning, after I have crawled out of bed, I make a cup of coffee. Not just any coffee, but coffee I have roasted myself. I place the kettle to boil, deposit the beans into the grinder and fetch my Glibs-branded coffee mug. I listen for the water to steam and smell the beans as they grind, much like being near a waterfall, listening to the water crash off the rocks and smell the bouquet of nature. A few minutes of quiet contemplation. Once the water has come to the proper temperature, I mix the grounds and water in my French press and begin my four-minute wait. The process in entirety takes ten minutes. Ten minutes to myself, where I’m not concerned about the problems of the world or my own. Broken from my quiet reflection by the timer’s alarm, I eagerly pour my magical creation into my cup and deeply breathe in my latest batch. Did my roast yield mediocre results or the finest cup of coffee on earth? That is the most exciting part. Experiencing the results of your own craft. Really tasting the coffee and noting the uniqueness of each batch. Learning from my mistakes and reveling in my triumphs. I eschew quick coffee methods because I enjoy the ritual and its usually superior results. After draining my cup, I move to the bathroom.

Before work, like many of you, I engage in a hygiene routine. Brushing of teeth, showering of body, combing of hair and whatnot. The one area I may differ in is shaving. Several years ago, I decided to buy a straight razor because I thought it was cool. Probably the influence of too many gangster and cowboy movies. I am not one to waste space on useless baubles, so I decided to learn how to use the aforementioned straight razor. I fill the sink with scalding water and douse my face. I use my silver tip badger fur brush to whip up shaving cream in my little steel bowls. I strop my razor on fine leather and listen to the blade sing. With razor sharp and water hot, I apply the rich lather to my face. I will confess this, when shaving with a straight razor, your mind can be on no other task, or you will pay a blood price. Scraping and contorting my face, I shear my face in the grain of the growth. Another application of lather and I reverse the process. Rinsing, I inspect the results of my efforts and feel pride when no errant hairs are left or blood my blade. A quick application of aftershave and a ritual that requires absolute attention is done. I dress and leave for work refreshed and focused.

Having done yeoman’s work commenting on Glibertarians, I usually arrive home before midnight. I give my wife a hello kiss and a pat on the bottom, then steal away to the kitchen for my own heaven on earth: the liquor cabinet. I enjoy trying new spirits, but rye whiskey is a common companion. I take my crystal tumbler from its place and place two ice cubes inside. I love the sound of ice clinking against the crystal. The high tinkle contrasts perfectly with the dull thunk when I pull the stopper from the bottle of Whistle Pig. The Pig mascot in his top hat looks approvingly at me as I pour myself two fingers of that golden brown elixir and retire to the sofa to unwind. Swirling the glass to chill and dilute the whiskey, I deeply inhale the spicy sweet scent, recounting the day’s events. The first sip lovingly burns my throat and warms my belly. A pricey bottle to be sure, but well worth the expense. Another day finished. Another ritual complete.

These are my half-hour rituals that give me joy and keeps me sane. I spend money to enjoy quality whiskey, coffee and razors, but that small investment pays dividends that more than offset the cost. In fact, your small things need not cost money at all. You could take a morning walk, play with your pet, read to your children or any number of free activities. The key to happiness is being mindful and present and really focusing on what makes you happy. I invite everyone to share their “Little Things” in the comments section.

September 25, 2019
Grievance Drinking: Part 2

If I could find it, I’d try it. I’d probably save the bottle and out it somewhere on display. It takes guts to put that guy’s mug on a label with the intent to sell.

Anyways…this week’s installment discusses issues women have with beer. Not necessarily what you might think.

This my review of Singlecut Brewery Eric (moar cowbell!) Milk Stout (H/T: IoBot).

TW: The Gruniad

Drinks that have fallen victim to crude stereotyping – such as Slack Alice, a cider described as “a little tart” and pump clips featuring scantily-clad buxom women – have been banned from this week’s event at London’s Olympia which is set to attract tens of thousands of visitors.

The blanket ban goes a step further than a new code of conduct launched by the campaign group last year and is supported by a new YouGov survey which found that 68% of female drinkers would be unlikely to buy a beer if they saw an advert for it using offensive “laddish” imagery.

The findings suggest British women are now actively boycotting products which reflect out of date and discriminatory attitudes and images associated with an industry traditionally dominated by men.

[…]

Abigail Newton, the vice-chair of Camra’s national executive, said: “Consumer organisations like Camra have an important role to play in making women feel more welcomed within the beer world. This is the first time we’ve made such a bold statement with a ban.

“It’s hard to understand why some brewers would actively choose to alienate the vast majority of their potential customers with material likely to only appeal to a tiny and shrinking percentage.

“We need to do more to encourage female beer drinkers, which are currently only 17% of the population, despite the fact that they make up more than 50% of the potential market. Beer is not a man’s drinks or a woman’s drink, it is a drink for everyone. There is a huge amount of work that needs to be done to overcome outdated stereotypes.”

It would appear ladies that like beer happen to occur within a certain segment of the market that also does not like disparaging labels against women. If you need a good idea of how many women happen to be enthusiastic beer drinkers, here is a picture of the most recent Beer With(out) Beards festival, which is geared for female-owned breweries, reported with 700 people attending. Granted this number probably beats most libertarian conventions, but the photo in the link shows an awful lot of men in the crowd. I am not sure what the Gruniad is trying to argue here. Women don’t drink beer because they’re offended by the label and thus the industry must cater to their outrage by giving it a label with rainbows instead of flaming skulls?

Perhaps the reason beer is not marketed to women, is the overwhelming majority of beer drinkers are men? I’m not one of those marketing geniuses or anything so in case somebody here might be in marketing…

At any rate this beer delivers all the cowbell Bruce Dickinson can possibly want. If you have no idea what I am talking about, here is a link, and please consider getting out some more. Its a traditional take on the English Milk Stout, and does it very well. Singlecut Brewery Eric (moar cowbell!) Milk Stout: 3.9/5

September 21, 2019
A Small Slice of America

After being away for over four years, I went on a short trip to Farmingville, New York and Alexandria, Virginia the week I came back to America. I went to the former for a Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band concert at the Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater and the latter to check out Old Town and a piece of Virginia I hadn’t seen before. I also managed to spend a bit of time in Manhattan where the Metropolitan Museum of Art had an exhibit with very beautiful looking pistols called “The Art of London Firearms.”

The first day of the trip was pretty busy. I landed at Long Island MacArthur Airport and a couple hours later, I was on the way to the concert. It was a pleasure to see my favorite living Beatles member in the flesh (my all-time favorite is George Harrison, but I digress) along with Toto’s Steve Lukather, Men at Work’s Colin Hay, Santana’s Gregg Rolie, Average White Band’s Hamish Stuart, David Lee Roth Band’s Gregg Bissonette, Kansas’s Warren Ham, and Mark Rivera. Some songs they played were, “Don’t Pass Me By”, “Black Magic Woman”, “Yellow Submarine”, “Who Can It Be Now?”, and “Hold the Line”. All in all, it was a very pleasant and chill concert and Mr. Starr and his crew were happy and energetic.

Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band

The next day, I went to Manhattan to check out the exhibit at the Metropolitan I mentioned while I was waiting for the night train to Washington D.C. The museum had gone through quite a few changes since the last time I went in 2005, but all-in-all, the place still felt familiar to me. The firearms they had on display in the “The Art of London Firearms” exhibit were mostly pistols that belonged to the Prince of Wales who would later be King George IV. The dueling pistols were quite beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. They were not the most elegant of pistols, but I believe they were a good blend of both practical and luxurious in design. The flintlock pistols on display were mostly designed and crafted by the likes of Durs Egg, John Manton, and Samuel Brunn. After spending some time there, I then made my way to Penn Station to catch the train down south then caught an Uber from D.C. to Alexandria.

S&W .44 Double-Action Revolver

Flintlock Dueling Pistols of the Prince of Wales, Later King George IV

Collier Second Model Five-Shot Flintlock Revolver

For the third and final day of the trip, I spent time exploring the Old Town district of Alexandria. Unfortunately, it was a Monday when I went and as such, a lot of the museums were closed then. However, I was still able to see a few sites and a couple places of historical significance that were still open. My first stop was the Basilica of Saint Mary. It’s the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Virginia, having been founded in 1795. It was also the first time I stepped foot in a church for a few years so it was quite the experience for this lapsed Catholic.

After some prayer and meditation, I made my way to have lunch with my mother at Gadsby’s Tavern. The tavern was built in 1785 and also has a museum where the 1792 expansions were. The dining area of the tavern is the same as it was back in its founding and the food is also based on the food available back then. I had their Braised Hessen Beef which consisted of sweet & sour beef braised with red wine & bacon, rotkraut (red cabbage), and applesauce. To drink was a Belgian witbier (called Optimal Wit) from the local brewery Port City Brewing Company. It was a very nice and smooth beer with a slight citrus taste that paired quite well with the entree.

After lunch, we were offered a tour of the museum where we learned about what made Gadsby’s special as well as see how the facility offered its dining, entertainment, and accommodations services. Apparently, Gadsby’s had an extraordinarily big 62-ton ice well that allowed the tavern to preserve their harvests and supplies longer than the rest of the competition in the area. They even had enough to sell ice when other local companies ran out of their stock. Another note of the tavern was that some Founding Fathers such as Washington, Adams, Madison, and Jefferson were guests and even held balls there from time to time.

After these adventures, I then went to the Waterfront Park where I saw the Potomac up close and then the Episcopal Church, Christ Church. It was quite simple-looking in the inside, but it was still a wholesome, interesting experience to be in the place where George Washington and later Robert E. Lee would pray. Finally, I went to the Lyceum which would serve as a hospital for Union troops during the Civil War and would later become a museum of Alexandria history. Also nearby was the Confederate Statue which was dedicated to the fallen Confederate soldiers from Alexandria. A fun fact about the statue is that the direction it’s facing is towards the old battlefields. It was also placed at the intersection of two streets where the Confederate soldiers set out from to get to their trains. A number of the men from the 17^th Virginia Infantry are honored on the statue who were mainly from Companies A, E, G, H, and I. So far the statue is still in the same place as it has been since it was dedicated in 1889, but with things nowadays, I can’t be sure how long that will last. Regardless, it was still quite a moment to see the statue and an opportunity to think about all those local boys who would go out and never make it back home from that war.

Overall, it was a pleasant albeit short vacation. I only moved back to the States just a few weeks ago, but I left these places more appreciative of how blessed and culturally rich the country is. I hope to have more time to visit Long Island. I also hope to spend more time in Alexandria especially since Mount Vernon is nearby as well as the Alexandria Black History Museum and the Carlyle Club among other places. Now that I’m firmly back in the States, I wish to explore much more of the country as a whole while I can.

September 20, 2019
Grievance Drinking: Part 1

Apparently people are easily offended. While it is not necessarily a new idea, to be outraged is to be fashionable, and nobody wants to be accused of being unfashionable.

This is my review of Brewery Terreux Sour in the Rye

Neither offends me, does that make me an asshole? Or does that just make me an adult?

The first place we find it is in this Time article that discusses the outrage native Marshall Islanders feel for a beer known as Bikini Atoll by the Manhattan Project Brew Company out of Dallas. One thing to point out about this particular beer company is their theme of naming beer after things related to nuclear weapons–hence the name Manhattan Project Beer Co.

If you are unfamiliar with the history behind the Manhattan Project, here is a link…then go ahead and find a wooden plank for which to strike yourself in the face for not knowing what the Manhattan Project is. It actually IS something they still teach in school…

The company, which takes its name from the WWII research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons and has named other beers “Necessary Evil” and “Plutonium-239,” noted that they would take “no further action in this matter.”

Which is the action they should take on this. If somebody is offended by what is on the label or cares that why somebody might be offended by it, simply don’t purchase it. Unfortunately it never is that simple, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands is demanding an apology from the company in question. Here’s the thing, I am confident the current generation of Americans doesn’t actually know what the Bikini Atoll is. They probably just assume it has something to do with the swimsuit—and to be fair they’d be right.

Not my photo of a woman in a bikini in 1953.

That said, 2/3 of the same generation in question doesn’t know what Auschwitz was. I am very confident I could ask a random person where the US tested atomic weapons and they’d probably just say New Mexico—and to be fair they’d be right. Instead of being outraged at the cultural insensitivity of a now little known historical fact perhaps they should instead realize how obscure their story is and be happy that somebody recognized the tragedy for what it is.

Unfortunately, this beer is not available to me locally so I am unable to try it for myself. Being a Gose, I am nearly certain it will offend my senses. This one by Brewery Terraux does not disappoint in that regard. It is needlessly sour. Likely made in a manner that I assume government scientists would create if they were given nearly unlimited resources and told to create something that will be sold in grocery stores catering to high income customers, and commits the largest possible atrocity while fitting conveniently within the confines of a single bomber.

The use of rye does not make it any more palatable, or enjoyable for me in any way. Brewery Terreux Sour in the Rye 2.2/5

September 14, 2019
There are no laws…

Once again, I have to apologize to everyone here. Depending on what sociologist you ask, I happen to be a millennial. As many of you know, millennials ruin everything. Which means I am going to go ahead and ruin this. I will now brace myself for the onslaught of rotten cabbage you are all getting ready to throw at me…

This is my review of Natural Light Aloha Beaches Hard Seltzer.

I know what half of you are thinking: “This isn’t beer. Now these cucks want us to drink a shot of vodka dropped into bubbly water? No way no how…” A quarter of you are probably wondering how this is even marketable, 10% of you haven’t even read this far and skipped directly to comments, finally the last 15% of you have decided that it is good Natural Light decided to drop the mask and admit what they are selling is just water.

So for that 25% of you curious why this is marketable…

Hard Seltzer is not really a new concept. Cocktails like the Gin & Tonic, the Vodka Tonic, or even the Scotch & Soda have been around for decades. What makes it new is putting it into a can and marketing it as a lower calorie option to beer or wine. In a sense it is lower in calories. The typical White Claw for example is 100 calories per 12 ounce serving. The alcohol is normally just white rum so there is hardly any flavor aside from the carbonation and the light, fruity flavoring they can add to it but it can be plain if one is that boring.

This bro drinks White Claw

This is what has won over the Bro Culture. Seriously, you know those guys in their 20’s with their popped collars, imitation wayfarers, short pink shorts, and boating shoes without socks are drinking? Hard seltzer.

This bros girlfriend…also drinks White Claw

How and why? Because of the perception that beer is high in calories, and this is a better option from that standpoint. Sort of like vaping—is it actually “good” for you to vape? Probably not, but they are not marketing it as a “good” option but it is certainly a better option than smoking cigarettes. The garden variety Pilsner for example is around 150 calories–yes even the supposedly better ones from Germany. Light beer is around 100 and the ultralights are even lower, but at that point you are just drinking 3% abv(or less) and you may as well be drinking water. The aforementioned White Claw is consistent at 5.5% abv, does not taste like watered down beer, and can be chugged right before you have to meet your mother-in-law without her knowing you’re a lush.

So it is the “Bro Market” players like Four Loko and Natural Light are trying to penetrate by offering, in the case of Four Loko, an absurd 14% abv. Are these bubbly water drinks really any good? I can get into it in occasion and should I find the Four Loko version I will most certainly discuss it. One thing I noticed is these tend to hit me a bit quicker than beer, but I also recover from it quicker than beer as well. The Natural Light version comes in two flavors, the one I picked was mango mostly out of lack of options at the store in California where I purchased it. It is overpowering—the mango flavor, that is. I believe the perfect combination with this particular hard seltzer is actually a shaker of Taijin, because grilled mango with a light brush of butter, topped with Taijin is absolutely delicious.

Chances are pretty good, you hate everything about every word I just described, if so this is not for you. Your 24 year old son living in your basement? Sure, otherwise this is not for you. Natural Light Aloha Beaches Hard Seltzer: 1.5/5

September 7, 2019
Uisukibou Sanbai

From left to right… just read the damn labels!

I have no idea if I like Japanese whiskey. Let’s find out!

Tonight I have the three that the neighborhood liquor store has that are under $100/bottle. They actually have five in that latter category, including one at $325. I think I’ll be picking up a Talisker 25 year before I venture in that direction. Unlike the last time I did a glibtasting, these three are visually distinct, even if two are from the same company. For modifers/palate cleansers I have a good local cheddar, a decent semi-local chocolate and bread and fantastic local butter. Distilled water is available if I need to open any of these up, but looking at the proof I doubt that will be necessary. As with last time, I’ve got JW Black as a control and to check for palate fatigue.

Kanpai!

Same as above, but in glasses.

Suntory “Toki” Pale straw color. Not much nose. There is some toasted wood and spice, but it’s faint. It smells sweeter than I was expecting from the color and country. It tastes sweeter too. Definitely whiskey, definitely subtle. Going to try some cheese and see if that lends me any more insights. It’s a good pairing, and returning to the whiskey bring all sorts of new happenings to the forefront. If you’re going to drink this, definitely have a little protein or fat to help spread the flavor. It doesn’t have any direct analogue in my drinking experience, but it’s closest to a Speyside with a lot more of the sweet extractables from wood. I don’t know what they cask this in, but it’s responsible for most of the flavor. A good drink. It’s not particularly aggressive or challenging, but I don’t know that it is trying to be. If you ever wanted to dispel the stereotype of the Japanese being polite, reserved, non-confrontational and indirect, this is NOT the drink to go about doing it.

Mars “Iwai Tradition” Gorgeous mahogany color. I tend to really like beers that are this color. The color is so nice I keep catching myself thinking “I’m going to like this” and having to stop and reset my mind as to not prejudice the tasting – Right On Mars marketing department! This nose is more typical of bourbon, definitely less sweet but much more present than the Toki. Tasting it is surprising. It’s very smooth and clean, and seems to roll over the tongue without fully making contact. I get the impression that this is very light bodied, but body isn’t really anything one normally experiences with whiskey. The char that gives the color is very present in the mouth, with an ashy residual. Again, eating a bit of cheese really brings this to life. Eating it on a clean mouth this was like “Baby’s first bourbon,” but a bit of fat and we’re in Scotch land. When I first tasted this, I was impressed but thought it wasn’t really my thing. Now I know it can be great in the proper context. Again, this is its own beast, but closer to a Highland style with food, bourbon without.

Suntory “Hibiki” Color is amber. Nose is much more prominent than the others. There’s a lot going on with this one. Lots of esters, less sweetness. Much more interesting. Let’s see if this is worth the premium. Oh. Oh that’s good. This one is already open straight out of the glass. It starts off with bright notes like an Irish, then mellows to a very smooth long finish. Cheese brings out the toasted flavors, but the transformation is much less than the earlier two. I hate to say it because of the price differential, but the Hibiki is obviously superior to the first ones. I also can’t tie it as readily to another style for a comparison. But it’s excellent.

So, did I learn anything about Japanese whiskey? Do I have a better idea of what “Japanese Whiskey” is as a category? Nope, not in the least. I might have drawn some sort of conclusion after the Toki and the Mars, but the Hibiki was just too different. Maybe after trying a few dozen more examples I could tell you what this is all about, but until then I’ll just have to say these were all good whiskey. The natural followup question, is are these good enough to knock out any regulars in my current collection? The answer to that is unfortunately no. While I would never turn one of these down if offered (especially the Hibiki) there are tipple I like better at their prices (again, especially the Hibiki). I really am going to shell out for the Talisker 25 before an equally priced Nihonjin after this. But I’m glad I tried these, I can always earn more money.

September 3, 2019
Sticks and Stones

There is only so far somebody can go until they piss off the wrong guy…girl…something. Recently Dave Chappelle made a splash with his new comedy special on Netflix titled, Sticks and Stones. Not everybody liked it, especially this individual at Vice. In fact this individual goes so far as to suggest you skip the special unless of course you happen to be transphobic and/or a misogynist. Lets be real, in this case and is probably what this individual thinks is most appropriate.

This is my review of Chatham Brewery Farmers Daughter Rye IPA. (H/T Iobot)

What was the problem with Chappelle’s Netflix special? Nothing, to be honest I only found three or four parts to the whole hour to make me physically laugh, although I could see the humor in the rest of it (I’m a curmudgeon).  Dave went too far in the opinion of the individual writing for Vice, and while this individual is entitled to this individual’s opinion, I happen to be entitled to my own. Free speech and butt-fucking? What a country!

Chapelle’s controversial 2017 Netflix specials, like The Age of Spin: Dave Chappelle Live at the Hollywood Palladium and Equanimity and the Bird Revelation, honed his voice as a comedian wary of progressive criticism. That voice is even sharper in his latest special. At one point in his routine, he says he doesn’t believe Michael Jackson molested young children. He continues by saying that if Jackson did, the children should’ve felt lucky their first time was with the King of Pop, adding, “Do you know how good it must’ve felt to go to school the next day after that shit?” Chappelle also returned to his now-infamous obsession with making fun of trans people, saying, “[trans people] hate my fucking guts and I don’t blame them. […] I can’t stop writing jokes about these niggas.” This time, those jokes included asking the audience how funny it would be if he was actually a Chinese person stuck inside a Black man’s body, which (you guessed it) also included a racist impression of a Chinese person. He also found time to defend fellow controversial comedians Kevin Hartand Louis C.K., painting them as victims of an overzealous callout culture.

I too have written about Michael Jackson but I did not make light of it the way Dave does in his special. I found many of the jokes crude but well within what I have come to expect from Dave. This is the guy who wrote an entire sketch about a blind black man in the south who believed he was white, donned actual KKK attire, and shouted WHITE POWER on the pilot episode. This ultimately doomed his show that only lasted two seasons.

Why? Because how do you top that? I was laughing so hard, I was in tears the first time I watched it in my freshman dorm room.

The individual writing for Vice focuses on one bit. Dave refers to a movement, the Alphabet People. Here he compares the entire movement to a car being driven by “G”, because they are the most privileged and therefore best suited to drive the movement to its ultimate destination. The “L”? Nobody has a problem with them…except the “G”. The “B”? Well…”B” is the fantasy everyone wants in on, isn’t it?

Then there is the “T”. The entire movement is held up by “T”, because quite frankly they are farthest deviation from the mean. If you want to know the punchline, I suggest you find it on Netflix.

Here is what the individual writing for Vice doesn’t appear to understand.

Dave Chappelle’s entire brand is Gallows Humor. This type of humor is healthy, because it allows an outlet for people that find themselves being oppressed, imprisoned, at war, being tortured, or even just at a funeral to seek psychological refuge from what is driving their misery. Humor is derived from that which is true, and mocking it–it is healthy. Is it wrong there are people that do not accept the Alphabet People? Yes. Is it okay for somebody to identify a particular reason why a certain segment of the Alphabet People and poke fun at why? Again, yes.

This is what comedians do.

Since the individual writing for Vice also spent time on the epilogue after the special where Dave tells an audience a story about transwoman (…that is one of these for those of you confused by the terms) found delight in Dave’s bit about the Alphabet People. Here the transwoman tells Dave she wished more people would make jokes about ‘T” because it “normalizes” them. This does make sense to a degree. A good example of this may be in the character Cpl Maxwell Q. Klinger from M*A*S*H*. Did he crossdress on purpose as part of a long running gag? Yes.  In spite of his hating the Army, his job, and doing everything he could to get out of the Army the other characters did make fun of him for wearing a dress but they respected him because he did his job anyway and did it well. Klinger is a beloved character for that reason, and a man in a dress is fairly normal because the character is funny. The individual writing for Vice does not believe this actually happened–even if a photo of the transwoman was placed in the credits.

Like anything else controversial, don’t take my word for it or some individual writing for Vice. Watch it and decide for yourself.

This beer is also unusual. It straddles a line between differing styles and ends up with an enjoyable product. IPA by itself offends a lot of people, but by using rye malts results in something much more balanced, and much more interesting.   I like rye, I don’t like IPA but the combination is good. Chatham Brewery Farmer’s Daughter Rye IPA: 4.0/5

August 31, 2019
Here we go again…

I am not going to talk about shootings, but I am going to talk about guns. Sort of. I am going to talk about something going around social media in the last few days being portrayed as some kind of “liberal self-own”.

This is my review of Barrier Brewing Farmhouse Ale—with Brett (H/T Iobot)

It is this article from Business Insider making the rounds on the parts of social media conservatives are still aloud to congregate and make fun of their progressive counterparts. Essentially, a reporter tried to find out how difficult it is to buy a gun at Wal-Mart—turns out she couldn’t just walk in, pay cash to an associate in a quiet corner of the parking lot and leave with a weapon Bill Duke uses to trim the hedges.

Buying guns at Wal-Mart has always been a…shall we say…less than ideal experience. I would know, while I was in college I worked the sporting goods counter for a short time. It was only a few months, and resulted in me not hating everything about Wal-Mart because that is where I got my start.

Its pretty sweet

For one thing, while a customer can special order nearly anything in the Lipsey’s catalog, what was on hand was limited to standard length shotguns, Ruger 10/22, and composite stock Remington 700 in various calibers with a Chinese sourced optic. The best rifle I ever sold was a Browning BAR in .30-06, which took a few weeks when the customer bought it via layaway, then I called Lipsey’s, put in the order and awaited shipping. Those are pretty sweet. Wal-Mart also had certain requirements for state residency, they needed the entire address without abbreviations printed on the ATF form 4473, a “salaried manager” needed to double check the transaction, and most important was the required “all clear” from NICS, rather than after the wait time for a hold. They also had the counter under constant video surveillance. Finally, the manager walked the rifle out of the store and handed the customer the rifle in its original packaging outside the store. This was 2005. Eventually, Wal-Mart began selling AR-15s, specifically the Colt Model 6920, which is absolutely nothing to scoff at even if I assembled a better carbine from vendors located in various corners of the internet. They since stopped selling it in 2015.

Nowadays, Wal-Mart has certain “approved” employees that can sell firearms. The reporter had a lot of difficulty in finding out which Wal-Mart sold rifles. By policy, they are hesitant to tell a customer where they sell guns, and when she even managed to find one ran into issues with her ID not having a current address.

I had invested several hours across two days on this. If I were actually in the market for a rifle, I would have gone to a local gun shop instead after about five minutes of trying to figure out which Walmart stores sold guns.

She found out something many gun owners already know: buying guns at Wal-Mart sucks, because they go well above and beyond federal requirements to sell firearms—to aggravating levels. Take that Sheryl Crow.

So how is this not a self-own? One of the reasons commonly cited for the “Age of Trump” is one side simply chooses not to not understand why the other lives the way they do. In this case we see somebody actually tried to find out. In spite of what we might assume her biases are or what the narrative she might have intended to portray, she found out it is not so easy. She discovered what most gun owners know: gun retailers realize the consequence of selling to the wrong person and are going to take steps to avoid that mistake. Some have a smoother transaction than others perhaps, but should a guy walk into a gun store and ask for the best weapon to kill [minority group of your choice] will actually find he going to be to asked to leave…and probably to go to Hell. This isn’t a self own, she discovered something about the other side—which even if unwittingly is actually commendable given the insanely low bar set for this sort of thing.

Something else I discovered was this beer is excellent. Everyone here is probably aware I am a fan of Belgian-pattern wheat beer. This one comes loaded with Brett tipped clipazines and enough body to hold that shoulder thingy that goes up. Must be 21 to purchase…

Barrier Brewing Farmhouse Ale—with Brett 4.2/5

August 24, 2019
BAH!! KILL IT!! KILL THE LIGHT RAIL!!

One Sunday afternoon I received a call from an unknown number. It was a local number so I answered it, as many of scam calls come from a 323 area code (CA). I probably shouldn’t have done that, because the lady on the other line wanted to convince me to vote against Prop 105. Is this a local issue? Yes, but quite frankly I have a platform for free speech and damnit, I’m going to use it….

This is my review of Four Peaks Golden Lager…a refreshingly local Pilsner.

What does this ballot measure entail? The City of Phoenix is asking residents to allocate, or not allocate funds to extend the Phoenix light rail. The actual proposition is below:

What would Proposition 105 do?

Proposition 105 would prohibit the city from spending money on development, construction, expansion, or improvement of light rail transit, with an exception for PHX Sky Train. It would allocate any revenue from the city’s 0.7% transportation sales tax that was previously allocated toward light rail development to other city infrastructure. The initiative would earmark any revenue allocated to light rail development along Central Avenue south of Washington Street specifically for infrastructure in South Phoenix. This would include the South Central Extension project. Proposition 105’s provisions reallocating revenue would apply to any collected, unspent revenue as well as future revenue.

Proposition 105 would also add within the city charter provisions authorizing the Phoenix Citizens Transportation Committee—which is currently established through city code. The initiative would guarantee a $25,000 annual budget for the committee and task the committee with soliciting feedback from the public and advising the city council on how to spend funds reallocated by Proposition 105.

It appears to be intentionally confusing to the average voter reading at a 4th grade level since voting “Yes” means you DO NOT want the light rail projects to continue. Now, Forbes did a piece on the Phoenix Light Rail project that puts a lot of the ridership numbers in perspective and they make the case it was not a particularly good investment. Granted, this was nearly a decade ago. The light rail, (Valley Metro) and the local media have claimed the light rail since it was opened has already created $11 billion in development. A local free market think-tank however published an analysis that disputes this claim. Of the 344 construction projects built within 1/2 mile, cited by Valley Metro, 177 were either government subsidized, government buildings, or part of expansions/renovations at Arizona State University. 17 are also located more than 1/2 mile away (honest mistake?) from a light rail station and 2 of the cited projects were built before the light rail.

One of the most absurd projects on Valley Metro’s list is a 2,000-space parking garage for air travelers. The garage happens to be next to a light-rail station, so Valley Metro includes it on the list. Yet this station is the closest light rail comes to Sky Harbor Airport, so no one using the parking garage would ever use the light rail to get between the garage and the airport. Many other projects on the list similarly have nothing to do with transit.

Why would nobody use the light rail in this case? Sky Harbor International Airport has its own rail (Sky Harbor SkyTrain) to ferry passengers between parking structures, the terminals, and the rental car complex. The report also goes on to say there is no reason any of the other projects could be built elsewhere. The only effect the light rail has, is in relocating where (government subsidized) businesses owners choose to open up shop. They were going to open regardless of the rail.

Yes, the local paper and others did make sure everybody knows this is just another Koch-funded scheme, even though the think-tank or the group initiating the ballot measure denied they received funding from them for this proposition. The ties between the think-tank and the Koch brothers is from a disclosure of a single donation dating to 2017. The propositions were started from a group of business owners in South Phoenix that opposed an expansion due to access to their businesses.

Not my photo of 43rd St and Washington.

This is a concern anybody in Phoenix can see for themselves if they ever go to a sporting event downtown. Washington and Jefferson streets run east/west through downtown and are both one way; Chase Field, Talking Stick Arena, the convention center, and other cultural locations are located along these streets. Many of the buildings between Washington/Jefferson Street, part of an existing light rail run, are closed down primarily because they cannot be accessed by car, because you can only drive one way and access the building by crossing the light rail. Many are also too far to walk to if you take the light rail. The proponents of the light rail consistently argue the riders are put in a better position to make Phoenix a walking city, theoretically making Washington and Jefferson streets less congested. Never mind the light rail effectively takes up two lanes on both streets. Finally, the high today is forecast at 109 and will likely be warmer than at noon today because of the ambient heat reflecting off both the street and the buildings. Nobody walks anywhere in Phoenix–care to guess why?

By the way, South Phoenix is the part of town where low to middle income families live. They say the proposed path will inhibit local businesses ability to stay in business will therefore affect low to middle income residents. These are NOT people that own the monocle factory, who can easily relocate their business to another part of town.

Naturally opponents of the ballot measures are citing a positive economic and environmental impact. Others argue the areas now pushing against the expansion were not well represented in the vote for the planned expansion due to supposed voter suppression. Which is an odd argument for them to make because the measure passed in 2015, an off-cycle election when measures are deliberately voted on because turnout is often low.

I plan to vote yes, if you are registered to vote in Phoenix, consider voting yes if at all.

Is this another one if those drinkable craft lager/ale things that are mass produced and sold next to other yellow beers? Not hardly. This threads the needle between a serious Czech-style Pilsner and something non-threatening for your non-beer drinker friends gathering for a sporting event. They even put it out seasonally. If you are in the local area, I recommend it. Four Peaks Golden Lager 3.5/5

August 17, 2019