Accomplishing Life and Other Things

So, I have a brand new way for you to follow what I'm doing - other than this wonderful site, of course! This one is a little more personal though. I have always kept a list of things I have wanted to do in my life. Call it what you want - a life list, a bucket list, whatever - but it's something that I had gotten away from about three or more years ago. I've started again and found this amazing website that allows you to not just post and organize this list, but always write and share with others about what you want to accomplish, how you did and how you fell about it. It's mylifelist.org and it's pretty amazing. I've started one, of course, and if you join we can share our accomplishments together!
I've already checked off one thing and finally conquered my intense fear of donating blood.









Also, I have many more beers to add. Bare with me here folks! :)

Dysentery Gary

St. Patrick's Day should have been a delightful day for me. I had so many amazing plans - to the point that a friend and I were referring to it as "The Best Day Ever." Alas, I jinxed it and found myself curled up in bed the night before with a 102 degree temp and the feeling similar to Manny beating on my bones with a baseball bat. Needless to say, I did not drink. I couldn't. And I haven't for an entire week. There was that one time that I attempted to sip a Boddington's but it later visited the the public library parking lot when I was forced to pull over and hack up my insides.

I am feeling better - thankfully. My quest shall continue. Until then... drink one for me.

Paging Dr. Drew

Dear North Carolina,

Do we need to talk? I think we do. I'm worried about all the white stuff you have around now. I get that you want to party every once in awhile, but what used to be a once a year occasion seems to have turned into a disturbing habit. Your constant indulgence in this white, euphoric substance has many of us worried. It's even effecting how the rest of us interact with you. We don't want spend time with you when you're like this. We look outside, see you covered in white powder and just roll our eyes.

"North Carolina's at it again..." we mumble to ourselves.

I think we've all let this go on long enough. It's March, for crying out loud, snap out of it! I hope you'll take this seriously, because I don't know how much longer all of us can take this. So, lay off the ice and take care of yourself. I'm just saying all of this because I care. I don't want you to end up like the rest of your friend's up North. Text me if you need help. I'm always here.

Your friend,

V

'Twas Not the Best Day

Three more beers comin' at'chaaaa...

I have become a fan of the IPA variety. Maybe this is because they tend to have high ABVs. You know, nothing like a little more bang for your buck. So, when I came across Jamaica Sunset IPA by Mad River Brewing it intrigued me. "Jamaica Sunset," I thought to myself, "how delightfully exotic sounding!"


WRONG. To say I didn't like it would be somewhat of an understatement. Oddly enough, I'm not exactly sure why I hated it so much. I even did research online about what other people said about it and the majority seemed to love the damn thing. Now I'm thinking that there is something wrong with ME. Are my taste buds completely out of whack? Have I been living a lie this whole time? Should I just stop and give up beer before something absolutely terrible befalls me??
Whew! Excuse me while I collect myself. Clearly this beer is not worth a break down. I just didn't like it and I must come to terms with the fact that this will happen from time to time. But let me at least give you a brief description of the one who has caused me such turmoil!
It pours a fuzzy amber/copper and just didn't look too crisp or clean to me. It also has far more malt flavor than expected and I feel the hops taste is very, very miniscule in comparison to the better IPAs. Citrus, such as grapefruit, can be tasted. Slightly sweet, but it finishes pretty heavy... and that's not a good thing. Combined with a cheesy looking bottle - I'm not impressed and don't plan on having this one again. So count it off my list, dear Flying Saucer, and chuck this bottle into the recycling.

Next up - a beer hailing form North Carolina: Duck Rabbit Milk Stout. I think nearly everyone who has a little bit of beer appreciation (or spent enough time staring at the beer section of a grocery store) will recognize the Duck Rabbit label. I like stouts. I like milk stouts. I like chocolate stouts. I just like these heavy, creamy beers. It was a nice black/brown pour, as most of these guys are, with a sweet and bitter smell of chocolate and coffee. The taste is pretty close to the smell with chocolate and coffee. Sweet, but not too much so and has a nice creamy feel to it. I dig it and all it's milkiness. And, hey, stare at the label long enough and it's nice mind-fuck when you've down a few.


And last.. and well, had it not been for that Jamaican abomination, this would have been least: Samuel Adams Boston Lager. The only reason I got this was due to the fact that it was the $2.75 beer special of the night and there was no way I would ever pay more for it.


I have a hatred for Sam Adams that mirrors the same reason I hate Heineken. Now, although it does taste better than a Heiney, Sam Adams is a beer that guys buy in an attempt to look better than their PBR and Bud Light chugging buddies. They order it in as if to say "Hey, I'm a little more sophisticated and have graduated from smashing cans against my head!" Granted, it's not a bad beer - it's just got a bad following. If Bud Light and Coors are the Big Wheels of beer, with the drivers skirting across the ground in their brightly colored plastic vehicles, Sam Adams (to me) is a bike with training wheels. I'm not even going to describe it. It's Sam Adams Boston Lager. If you've ever had a bike and you are over the age of 22, you've had this beer.


Well, that's all for today folks. I'm still trying to catch you up on the beers I've tasted. I will, more than likely go to my beloved beer haven tonight and put a couple away. I hope that you all will do the same! Good drinkin' to you, chaps!