Comments on: midweek updates.

By: Kewyson

Kewyson — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 13:21:20 +0000

UC – I stopped in at my local beverage store and noticed a case (they had about 6 actually) of the Doghead Fish 90 min IPA – so I picked one up and went up and paid for it – the guy at the counter was looking up the price, and he said, okay 6 four packs – I thought is was an honest mistake, I said, you mean 4 six packs – he said, no, they come in 4 packs – okay – so it’ll be a bit pricy – but I’m game – so after the $60 was paid, I took them home – chilled 4 of them (how convienent) – and had a couple yesterday – good beer – a bit more nose than the 60 min, meaning, 60 min seems a bit smoother – but overall very good! I’m hosting a BBQ / birthday party for Callie in 2 weeks, was planning on serving up some of these (I try to make the parties fun for both kids and adults – beer / wine always served – although I’ve had to catch myself at the office referencing my beer run requirements for my child’s birthday party) – may just have to go back and buy something else for the party and keep these for myself.

I have seen any of the other recommendations you have given – I’ll keep an eye out for them.

By: Uncle Crappy

Uncle Crappy — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:10:37 +0000

Bob:

I really appreciate the response. The biggest reason we hadn’t really thought about the Mexican War Streets was because we thought they were out of our reach financially (a couple of the homes for sale on Palo Alto at the moment definitely fit that description), but after talking with a couple of residents we decided to take a look.

I know I was painting with a pretty broad brush when I said the North Side was a little sketchy — if we’ve learned anything since we’ve started looking, it’s that you really have to see the area — the neighborhood, the street, even the specific block — before you can make judgements. We’ve checked out a number of houses on Termon Avenue in Brighton Heights, and there, it’s really a block-to-block question.

I like the sense of community the folks who live in your area seem so proud of — you’re not the first one to mention it. And living that close to the stuff we do in town — while still having easy access to our commutes to work — would be so nice.

And the TV reporters? I never believe those bastards…

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 13:53:16 +0000

I’ve lived in the Mexican War Streets for 10.5 years now and love it 99% of the time. It is great being so close to the downtown cultural district and the great river trails. I have fantastic neighbors. I know most of my neighbors. Living in this neighborhood means having to interact with your neighbors. If you just want to pull in your driveway and have the electric garage door open and close and not even know the names of your across the street folks then the ‘burbs is the place to be. But, for me, being involved is what makes life worth living. There are many neighborhoods in the Northside and only 2 or 3 of them are “still pretty sketchy” so don’t believe the TV reporters when they say someone shot on the Northside because it is a large area — they don’t say the names of the neighborhoods on the Northside for some reason. . . In The Mexican War Streets when crime does happen (and it does occasionally) we have a very involved Safe Streets Organization and we as a neighborhood band together and do everything possible to assist the police and stop crime before it happens. The Pros definitely outweigh the Cons and that makes The Mexican War Streets a great place to call home.

By: Uncle Crappy

Uncle Crappy — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:57:10 +0000

I’m a professional. Don’t try this at home.

Or. Wait. Maybe trying this at home would be the exactly right thing to do … whatever. Can I have another beer, please?

By: Kewyson

Kewyson — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:53:50 +0000

Thanks man – wow, you’ve got quite a lot of intellectual capital stored up on the malt beverage. I tend to forget after consuming – so it’s always a fresh page for me.

The fam and I (and I mean the fam (sis, sis, bro, mom & pop plus all the kids, 12 of ‘em in total – almost the entire kewyson clan) will be up in Maine (home of cold water – and lobsters) for the 4th – I’ll see if I can find some of these hoppy beverages to quench my thirst.

Happy 4th of July!

By: Uncle Crappy

Uncle Crappy — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 01:04:17 +0000

Yeah, 60 Minute is good stuff. Dogfish Head is known for going out of its way to tinker with traditional beer styles, but that IPA sticks fairly close to the norm — at least for them. It’s not over-the-top hoppy, so it’s not as bitter or dry as some of its brethren. If you like that, there are two more to try: 90 Minute, which is DFH’s imperial IPA (that’s beer code for “this is much stronger and even more yummier”), in which they boost the malts out of the background to balance out the aggressive hops, and 120 Minute, which is complex enough that it’s helpful to almost think about it as a wine (it’s strong enough for that too — 20 percent ABV, versus around 9 percent for the 90 Minute or 6 for the 60 Minute) — it’s very complex, and at that strength, worth savoring. Or, at least, worth not chugging. Because you’d die. And that would make you even less productive.

And if you like those, do what you can to find these: Victory’s Hop Devil (their year-round IPA) or Hop Wallop (a huge seasonal that comes out late in the year); Weyerbacher’s Simcoe Double IPA, named for its exclusive use of simcoe hops; and, say, Magic Hat’s HighPA (like DFH, Magic Hat generally isn’t content to strictly adhere to traditional styles, so HighPA is close to an IPA, but it’s, uh, something else as well). There are tons of others; this is a good time to be a hop-head.

Which, apparently, is what you are. Welcome to the club.

By: Kewyson

Kewyson — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:43:14 +0000

The mid-week update seemed like a great time for me to ask the beer guru a question (and maybe even a suggestion) –

I found a great beer on tap where I used to work – if I had two at lunch (we rarely went there) – made the afternoon a bit, well lets say, unproductive towards my annual goals at the office –

I recently found it in a convenient package that contained 6 individually bottled amounts of beer – have tried it, and although it doesn’t have the same ‘punch’ as the draught version, is my current favorite (displacing Anchor Steam) – so, here it is . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . …….. . .. . . .. .. . . . . . .

Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. Ever had it? Thoughts? What does this say about my palate? Or my Pallet, as Juan would want to know?

Your expert opinion awaits.