tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77615400650472618452024-03-14T00:10:07.570-05:00The FermSirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-30099559816099933242019-08-09T11:54:00.002-05:002019-08-09T12:13:22.365-05:00Ballpark Barbecue Brouhaha: Big Boog vs. Jackson StreetYou can't go see a baseball game without indulging in the great American cuisine that is ballpark food. First of all, the game lasts 3+ hours, gotta eat. Second of all, ballparks in the new millennium have some of the most diverse, and it most cases quality, food you'll find in any sport, or maybe venue in the city. The ballpark food renaissance began in the 1990s, and now there is even a <a href="https://www.mlb.com/baseball-food-festival" target="_blank">Major League Baseball Foodfest</a> for who has the most imaginative cuisine representing their area.<br />
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For barbecue, you might think a close competition might be between Texas and Kansas City. Memphis would be in the mix if they had a Major League Team. But since the construction of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992, <a href="https://foursquare.com/v/boogs-barbq/4b573040f964a5202b2a28e3" target="_blank">Big Boogs BBQ</a> has been a staple near Eutaw Street, inspired by and named after 1970 American League Most Valuable Player Boog Powell, the Orioles slugging great of the 1960s and 70s.<br />
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For Texas, Houston BBQ, known for it's East Texas style (there are actual multiple styles of BBQ in Texas, yes, the state is that big) has been surging to match that of the more nationally renowned Central Texas style. <a href="https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/jackson-street-bbq-2015/" target="_blank">Jackson Street Barbecue</a>, with a location just a block from Minute Maid Park, has moved inside the stadium to delight local and out of town guests with some of the best BBQ in Houston.<br />
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So which is better? As former boxing referee Miles Lane might say "LET'S GET IT ON!!!!"</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tale of the Tape</span></div>
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<b>Boog's BBQ</b></div>
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Founded: 1992</div>
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<u>Order</u></div>
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Big Boog's $15.75 (with chips)</div>
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Boog's Beans: $2.75</div>
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Beer Pairing: Yuengling (can 18 oz.) $9.25</div>
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<b>Jackson Street BBQ</b></div>
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Founded: 2015</div>
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<u>Order:</u></div>
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Chopped BBQ Sandwich: $13.50 (with chips)</div>
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Beer Pairing: St. Arnold Amber (draft 20 oz.) $12.50</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Battle:</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4rZH-7swk-0/XTtU4f4fynI/AAAAAAAAAW4/y8PqQchsnow4hCiBbIU6-BchVlSt_bqlgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190528_204207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4rZH-7swk-0/XTtU4f4fynI/AAAAAAAAAW4/y8PqQchsnow4hCiBbIU6-BchVlSt_bqlgCLcBGAs/s400/20190528_204207.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Boogs is Big Flavor</td></tr>
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<b>Boog's BBQ</b> brings it strong with meat piled upon meat on the "Big Boog". A smaller version exists <br />
(Boog's Sandwich), however if you get chips with the sandwich, it's essentially free to upgrade to the Big Boog. And if you know Boog Powell, he is big. So it makes sense. The Big Boog (or Boog's Sandwich) can feature beef, pork or turkey, but how can you not go with the beef? My only complaint is that the meat to bread ratio is so high, the bread melts under the juiciness of the meat and becomes irrelevant. By the end of the sandwich, I was unabashedly shoving huge chunks of tasty meat in my mouth by hand, no bread. I needed a second stomach to finish it along with the chips (didn't get finished) and beans (shouldn't have ordered...not because they are bad but because, again, only one stomach). For mid-Atlantic BBQ, the meat was tender and tasty. It did not have the smoke flavor I have become accustomed to in Texas. Plus points for the chips flavored with crab seasoning, a nice regional touch to complement a great, albeit huge, dinner. The beer pairing didn't add as much to it, but Yuengling is a versatile lager that goes with most so it was a decent add.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1R5GdZ_MqM/XU2kXKZtZ_I/AAAAAAAAAXI/g41Pw6bpEcsy9K0YvUYgY0fAIDicKVzdgCLcBGAs/s1600/20190802_183100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L1R5GdZ_MqM/XU2kXKZtZ_I/AAAAAAAAAXI/g41Pw6bpEcsy9K0YvUYgY0fAIDicKVzdgCLcBGAs/s400/20190802_183100.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson Street Chopped Sandwich brings the smoky flavor</td></tr>
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<b>Jackson Street BBQ</b> began selling sandwiches at Minute Maid Park in 2016, just a small stand only on weekends. Two persons operated it, they literally walked the meat down the street from the restaurant, cut and serve. As I became a regular, the server would recognize me and mention he had some off the menu items (like ribs). Flash forward to 2019, it's a full stand behind home plate (first base side) with a broader menu and army of workers, open all home games. While several meat/plate options exist, I go with the chopped beef (staple). Sauce comes on the side, and you dress to your flavor (whole other blog about whether or not BBQ sauce belongs on meat at all). The meat has a great smoke flavor, some of the best in the entire city. It's a bit fatty, which gives it juice but could be just as good a little leaner. I sometimes wish they would just slice the beef instead of chopping, I'll put that in the suggestion box. The bread was also plus, very fresh and the meat to bread ratio was ideal. The sauce is not my favorite in the city (so many to choose from) so was used sparingly. The chips were right down the middle, but it does pair well with St. Arnold Amber that complements the flavor of the meat in a way only available in Houston.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Verdict:</span><br />
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<b>Meat</b><br />
Tenderness: Jax<br />
Flavor: Jax<br />
Cut: Boog<br />
Portion: Boog<br />
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<b>Bread</b>: Jax<br />
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<b>Chips: </b>Boog<br />
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<b>Beer</b><br />
Value: Boog<br />
Flavor: Jax<br />
Pairing: Jax<br />
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In a best of nine series, Jackson Street BBQ nudges Boog 5-4. Neither is a bad choice and both are worthy of a stop at the ballpark!</div>
J.R. Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025764913047432098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-64561016675508983452012-07-30T22:28:00.000-05:002019-08-09T12:41:11.152-05:00Pickem-Football: The Only Hamburger Recipe You Will Ever Need<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YxDCMLLXQmw/UBbkurlLPqI/AAAAAAAANZs/OaLubTZGjQM/s1600/Pickem-Burger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YxDCMLLXQmw/UBbkurlLPqI/AAAAAAAANZs/OaLubTZGjQM/s400/Pickem-Burger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The sport of picking winners is a lot like hamburgers.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywKEnxnD3bo/UBbhaAlTXUI/AAAAAAAANZE/CcucNt4YW4k/s1600/Doggone-Good-Hamburger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ywKEnxnD3bo/UBbhaAlTXUI/AAAAAAAANZE/CcucNt4YW4k/s400/Doggone-Good-Hamburger.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Both have European origins. Both can be enjoyed when done simple and quick or with freakish obsession and rigid self-discipline. Both are awesome.</div>
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If you want a quick tasty burger, check out Whataburger. If you want a fun football pick’em league, check out Yahoo. Just between the two of us... I nosh on a Yahoo from time to time.<br />
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Are you drawn to the exotic? You can find plenty of high stakes “Vic & Anthony’s Burger Friday” type leagues. Those are exquisitely delicious.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJd3ySrbTBs/UBbiAx-cCEI/AAAAAAAANZM/QvBup2gQs28/s1600/Goddess-of-Hamburgers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJd3ySrbTBs/UBbiAx-cCEI/AAAAAAAANZM/QvBup2gQs28/s400/Goddess-of-Hamburgers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Just the mention of hamburgers in the blog title evoked a Pavlovian slobber, didn't it? Pickem-Football.com is that perfect soft and juicy patty with a crunchy exterior. We are the perfect combination of toppings. We are those toppings that you have loved since childhood along with the ones you've added as an aspiring foodie.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zphJCYg--qg/UBbiL5wE5HI/AAAAAAAANZU/1Jw1DPJLslQ/s1600/The-Perfect-Recipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zphJCYg--qg/UBbiL5wE5HI/AAAAAAAANZU/1Jw1DPJLslQ/s400/The-Perfect-Recipe.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A truly great hamburger only needs a few things. Flavor. Texture. Moisture. And the ability to freestyle. We have that.<br />
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Rulebooks are great when they are used to keep your city safe or to keep Roger Clemons’ ego in check, but hamburgers don’t need but a few rules.<br />
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And why do hamburgers always end? Do you know what is better than a hamburger? How about FOUR delicious and unique hamburgers!<br />
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Don’t get me wrong – The recipe for Pickem-Football.com took years to perfect, and it is by no means perfect. However, after a decade in the game, we certainly don’t serve hockey pucks.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-STQTSaQ7HYY/UBbieL3M03I/AAAAAAAANZc/EmSl8AWF948/s1600/Hamburger-Makes-America-Great.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-STQTSaQ7HYY/UBbieL3M03I/AAAAAAAANZc/EmSl8AWF948/s400/Hamburger-Makes-America-Great.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>RECIPE:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Follow these steps for an incredibly tasty football season</b></span><br />
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<b><u>The Meat:</u></b><br />
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We can debate in the comments, but a great burger must have some kind of meat. Here is our blend.<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>15, College Football Games per week</b>. Picked against the spread. Odds provided for each game.</li>
<li><b>14-16 (all), Professional Football Games per week</b>. Picked straight up (no spread).</li>
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<i>Notes on seasoning: On each week’s card for NCAA and NFL games, we will have optional bonus question(s). While these won’t increase your Pick’em score, they are collected and used in the post season games. Bonus points are given to weekly winners, for pay your entry fee early, and for some other random stuff we make up along the way.</i><br />
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<u><b>The Buns:</b></u><br />
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With so much emphasis on the meat, the bun seems to have become the forgotten ingredient. Our buns are so good that you could eat them by themselves. Good luck finding delicious buns at ESPN.<br />
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<li><b>35 (all), NCAA FBS Bowl Games</b>. Picked confidence pool style, straight up (no spread).</li>
<li><b>11 (all), NFL Playoff Games</b>. Picked week-to-week against the spread, against the spread.</li>
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<u><b>The Accoutrements:</b></u><br />
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Pickem-Football provides you with the intensely savory flavor and the seasonings, garnish, and condiments are all up to you. This is not your typical stuffy fancy-pants burger or generic corporate burger. We build our masterpiece through a blog, spreadsheets, and email. If you have a last minute submission, then we accept picks by text. We make this stuff up as we go along, folks. Each week will feature bonus opportunities, casual blog posts, smack talk, incomplete sentences. <i> (<a href="http://www.pickem-football.com/2011/09/p-f11-mnf-abomination.html" target="_blank">example from 2011</a>)</i><br />
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<u><b>How to Order:</b></u><br />
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If you are ready to take a bite, get your fingers to the <a href="http://bit.ly/pf19-register" target="_blank">Official Registration Form</a>. The cost is $25 for the entire season, which is a bargain considering that you'll be eating the Pick'em burger for five months. That's feeding yourself for something like $0.16 a day! I encourage you to check out the official recruitment blog post over at the league's website: <a href="http://www.pickem-football.com/2012/07/pickem-football-2012-registration-is.html" target="_blank">Pickem-Football.com</a>. Or, check out how <a href="http://www.pickem-football.com/2012/02/p-f11-dont-be-sad-because-its-over-be.html" target="_blank">I predicted that we'd be here</a> together almost six months ago. Destiny.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J1Rhcl50jrI/UBbjze_o5kI/AAAAAAAANZk/v38RX9IoDoc/s1600/P-F-Makes-the-Football-Great.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J1Rhcl50jrI/UBbjze_o5kI/AAAAAAAANZk/v38RX9IoDoc/s400/P-F-Makes-the-Football-Great.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Heck, if think you might have a hunger pang in the next five months, then I strongly suggest you take a bite of the <a href="http://bit.ly/pf19-register" target="_blank">registration link</a>. Pickem-Football will give meaning to each of your weekends this football season. Fulfillment guaranteed.SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-60937080519413762992012-06-29T09:56:00.000-05:002012-07-30T13:49:31.995-05:00Oak Barrels (K Dub - Round 1, Pick 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MWF1uutCOXk/T-3AXQf5mgI/AAAAAAAANRE/ypPYulEDius/s1600/Draught-Board--1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MWF1uutCOXk/T-3AXQf5mgI/AAAAAAAANRE/ypPYulEDius/s640/Draught-Board--1-2.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<i>
For the most part, drafting is a simple concept. You like something, and no one else holds the rights to that liked something, you take it. People probably drafted in a Pavlovian manner back in simpler times. Things have become much more complicated in these Twenty-tens, with Brad Pitt inventing Moneyball and such. We plot on, however, picking great things beer, wine, spirits, food, or lagniappe. This is the 2012 Anything Mock Draught, y'all.</i><br />
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<h3>
With the second pick in the 2012 Anything Mock Draught, <span style="color: blue;">K Dub</span> selects:</h3>
<h2 style="color: blue;">
Oak Barrels</h2>
When you picture the wine making process, what one thing comes to mind? Stomping grapes? Stainless fermentation vessels? Grapes growing on the vine? Well, you might. But being the homebrewer that I am, I think about barrel aging. Barrel aging (especially in the case of most red wines) is the longest part of the wine making process. I don't know how those winemaker guys do it, the constant reminder of ends on ends of stacks and rows of barrels every day. So much delicious liquid just waiting, aging, developing, improving and just waiting for that perfect moment to be bottled and shared with the masses. All thanks to magic that lies within the oak barrel.<br />
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So how does a barrel create all that flavor? Well, like most plants there are many variables, soil types, location, breed of plant, climate patterns, etc. On top of environmental factors that the tree goes through during its life, there are only man made factors that can affect a barrel's flavor such as toasting the barrel. So there are literally an unlimited number (well I'm sure J.R. could calculate an exact number) of variables that could affect the final flavor of barrel. And to add to it, no matter how hard the cooperage's try, there are always variations from barrel to barrel. It is common for brewers to have a barrel or two that don't taste right or just plain suck, so instead of blending those two barrels in small amounts with the rest of the bottles to get a higher yield (more bottles to sell), they have been known to dump the barrels.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yAkHMoIU4TM/T-3AxykZB3I/AAAAAAAANRM/Fkgz-LyLv8U/s1600/Charred+Barrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yAkHMoIU4TM/T-3AxykZB3I/AAAAAAAANRM/Fkgz-LyLv8U/s320/Charred+Barrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The same goes with whiskey (I'm guessing here). They taste the barrels, and if a few barrels exhibit great flavors, they get the Grade A Gold Star label and the rest gets blended into the mass marketed items. I'm sure there are exceptions to this, but I don't know what I'm talking about.
Thank you oh massive oak tree for giving your life so that human adults (21 years and older) could enjoy liquids that have taken the flavors and aromas that have taken years to develop from your burned cellulose.SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-40667858944633322512012-06-20T12:21:00.000-05:002012-07-30T13:49:12.035-05:00Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Two Pints - Round 1, Pick 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu5Mq5RxS0w/T-H_rrs4K8I/AAAAAAAANOs/IeRTZiJvUeY/s1600/Draught-Board--1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mu5Mq5RxS0w/T-H_rrs4K8I/AAAAAAAANOs/IeRTZiJvUeY/s640/Draught-Board--1-1.jpg" width="284" /></a></div>
<i>The inaugural The Ferm Anything Mock Draught commenced on the Eighth of May, Two-thousand and Nine. Since that inspired day, The Ferm’s contributors and friends have convened (somewhat) annually to salute our blog’s culture, once laid down in a <strike>revolutionary manifesto</strike> <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/welcome-to-ferm.html" target="_blank">blog post</a>. With each selection of a drinking related commodity, we no doubt take one more step in our pursuit of happiness. This is the 2012 Anything Mock Draught, y'all.</i><br />
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<h3>
With the first pick in the 2012 Anything Mock Draught, <span style="color: blue;">Two Pints</span> selects:</h3>
<h2 style="color: blue;">
The 32nd President of the United States, Franklin Delano Roosevelt</h2>
<b>HIT THE BAR WITH FDR! </b><br />
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The theme of FDR's campaign, “Happy Days are Here Again,” would be all too true on December 5, 1933 when his <a href="http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/todays-doc/index.html?dod-date=1205" target="_blank">Presidential Proclamation Order #2065</a> (aka the 21st Amendment) was ratified. After 14 years of “adult beverage” drought, Prohibition was no more!<br />
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Still not cool enough for you? Here are some other things we can thank FDR for:<br />
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<li>FDR pioneered the "<a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/history/articles/2009/02/12/the-first-100-days-franklin-roosevelt-pioneered-the-100-day-concept" target="_blank">100-day concept</a>” we still use today to gauge the effectiveness of our Presidents.<br /> </li>
<li>FDR was the ONLY 3 term president this country has or will ever see (The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution adopted in 1951, prohibits anyone from ever being elected to the presidency for a third full term). <br /> </li>
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<li>FDR formally began the Presidential Library System with the National Archives in 1939 when he handed over his papers and set up the 1st Presidential Library while he was still in office. <br /> </li>
<li>Several years before he became President (1921), he contracted polio and would never regain the use of his legs. He would establish a foundation in Warm Springs, Georgia to help other polio victims.<br /> </li>
<li>FDR's battle with his crippling illness would inspire the March of Dimes program (which he would direct for a time) that eventually funded an effective vaccine.<br /> </li>
<li>And finally, during FDR's campaign for the 1932 election Roosevelt announced that it was “time to correct the ‘stupendous blunder’ that was Prohibition.” Way to keep a campaign promise, Sir!</li>
</ul>
We owe a lot to this great man, our 32nd President. Franklin Delano Roosevelt not only set the bar high for future Presidents to follow, he also opened the bar to give Americans the right to <strike>drink again</strike> buy booze legally. It was said that upon signing the 21st Amendment into law Roosevelt commented: “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”<br />
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I couldn’t agree more Mr. President. This one is for you! Cheers!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxEK-kB2S-HRYfae_KwwmhQ96dLol9lev5evZxmKRZqwkw0X_Zf8d9awX9skvwbOA7QvjEIU5aSIA-B4dOIQA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-48800021039008019612012-04-18T06:28:00.000-05:002012-04-18T13:25:58.711-05:00Aimless Chef: Houston's Ultimate Top 3 - PizzaRanked listicles are to the blogosphere as <a href="http://twitpic.com/95853v" target="_blank">SirRon is to Eating Our Words</a>. (Second most "liked." Who would have guessed?) We <i>looove </i>lists here at The Ferm. We also eat pizza. You see what we're getting at?<br />
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To keep you away from that dreadful <a href="http://www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/pizza-hut-hot-dog-stuffed-crust-pizza" target="_blank">hot dog stuffed crust thing</a> from Pizza Hut (j/k PH. Call me, boo), we proudly present to you... <br />
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<span style="color: #000099; font-size: 130%; font-weight: bold;">Houston's Ultimate Top 3 - Pizza</span><br />
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If there is anything more widely debated than how to solve our nation’s health care problem, it is where to find the best pizza pie. How funny because -- well, we don’t want to spoil the fat joke by giving you the punch line. If we told you once, we <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/AimlessChef/status/192265821916114944" target="_blank">told you in a tweet</a> and in <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2011/07/aimless-chef-houstons-ultimate-top-3.html" target="_blank">our last Top 3 listicle</a>; <a href="http://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/" target="_blank"><b>Grimaldi’s</b></a> in Sugar Land serves up the best pies in the Houston metro area. Despite being but a suburban franchised copy of the real Grimaldi’s (located under the Brooklyn Bridge), during your visit you will most likely forget you have those three kids, two dogs, and that Chinese dwarf hamster when you get a mouthful of sausage and roasted red pepper pie. But more seriously, if we didn’t have such a drinking problem, we’d only need one place on this list. Luckily, <a href="http://www.fatbutter.com/" target="_blank"><b>La Vista</b></a> makes a great, relatively inexpensive pizza <i>AND </i>they are BYO. I’m just saying, when we B our O, we B the good stuff. Sometimes we stay at the "office" a "little late" though, and it is those days that we are glad someone invented fourth meal. <a href="http://www.tacobell.com/" target="_blank"><b>Taco Bell</b></a>’s Mexican Pizza not only represents the only remnant of the glorious Taco Light shells, but they also probably started the fusion cuisine movement. Wikipedia will probably confirm.<br />
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As always, comments are appreciated. Ladies, please use my <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/09/hey-mami-dont-you-know-that-i-like-to_03.html" target="_blank">soft taco recipe post</a> to leave your digits. Live Más.<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;"><i><b>EDITOR’S NOTE: WE AREN’T SURE VAUGHN IS TAKING HIS FOOD WRITING ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE BLOG SERIOUSLY. FOURTH MEAL!? WE ARE ALL IN THE SAME GANG AT THE FERM, SO</b></i> </span>last but not least, we can’t leave these joints out – we know three at least, we need to point out – we’re not trying to tell you what to do – but we care what you eat is not poo poo – first off, <b><a href="http://www.bombaypizzaco.com/" target="_blank">Bombay</a></b>’s pie, my oh my, is can’t miss – the cilantro-mint chutney will grant bliss – (“oh I just can’t bear the smell of curry!”) – get your picky self to <b><a href="http://www.pizarospizza.com/" target="_blank">Pizaro</a></b>’s, hurry – it’s BYO, and so is our last – this one you can eat on your grass – <a href="http://www.totinos.com/" target="_blank"><b>Totino</b></a>’s, we keep a stock in our Subzero – take notes and you’ll be indeed...... a pizza hero. /mic dropThe Aimless Chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11517606683859380092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-19984406763896529682012-04-14T15:03:00.000-05:002012-04-14T18:24:13.411-05:002012 ‘The Ferm’ Anything Mock Draught - Announcement<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It's that time again, for the first time in two years, contributors to "The Ferm" and selected guests will participate in the "Anything" Mock Draught. The traditional timing of the draft is to coincide with the NFL draft, since sports fans this time of year are inundated with 40 times, Wonderlic scores, vertical leaps, and draft day trade possibilities. Well the same can be said for the anything mock draft, we've seen participants trade up, I guarantee you our panel of "experts" has been feverishly scouting everything for 24 months now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">A note on why there wasn't a 2011 "Anything" Mock Draught. It was with heavy hearts that the decision was made that there was no way the spirit of the draught could be upheld in light of the NFL lockout. So with unanimous consent, we stood arm in arm with the NFL Players Union and joined the fight for their right to buy sports cars, mansions, and go clubbing with heat without worrying about their bank accounts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">For our draft, we do our best to stay within our wheelhouse (that being the drinking universe) and to make it fun. The list of rules is small.</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;">The draft consists of three rounds (format is top to bottom, top to bottom -- not snake).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The pick (or description) must be drinking related in some way.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Picks from previous drafts are off the board.</span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">We are not an exclusive "league." Guest drafters are encouraged. Anyone wanting a pick can leave a comment on this post, drop us an email, or <a href="http://www.twitter.com/theferm" target="_blank">tweet at us</a> and you'll be slotted in the draft. Over the next few days we will start an open thread, which will be used for announcements and comments on the current and previous draft.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">As a kickoff to this years draught, I thought it appropriate to analyze the first two years draughts now that there's been opportunity for emotion to be removed, and real value assessed. Specifically, we're going to look at each participants ability to fill the positions of food, beer, wine, spirits, and lagniappe (what extra things do your picks bring). Analysis will also be done on the cohesiveness of the team (how elements can be combined).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">And special guest Dr. Drew Pinsky will provide a psychoanalysis of each draughter in light of what their selection reveal about them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4pnmrE2UiI/T4nTNjLfyRI/AAAAAAAAALg/YLHzy3qs4ks/s1600/drdrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m4pnmrE2UiI/T4nTNjLfyRI/AAAAAAAAALg/YLHzy3qs4ks/s200/drdrew.jpg" width="147" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Please use the following references if you want to see more specifics of the previous two draughts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html" target="_blank">2009 Inaugural Anything Mock Draught</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-open.html" target="_blank">2010 Anything Mock Draught Round 1 Open Thread </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html" target="_blank">2010 Anything Mock Draught Round 2 Open Thread</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html" target="_blank"> 2010 Anything Mock Draught Round 3 Open Thread </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">So without further ado, in no particular order whatsoever:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Draughter</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Two Pints (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/pig1ett2000" target="_blank">@pig1ett2000</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#Belgium" target="_blank">Belgium</a> (huge country that continues to deliver)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worst Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html#umbrellas" target="_blank">Mini-cocktail umbrellas</a> (all flash, no substance)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleeper Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html#Dallas" target="_blank">Dallas (TV Series)</a>: Seriously good show, underrated</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Food</b>: B (Belgian Waffles, Dallas BBQ)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beer</b>: A (Belgian beer, <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#randall" target="_blank">Randall the Enamel Animal</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wine</b>: F (No real effort made here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spirits</b>: C (Aforementioned umbrellas about it)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lagniappe</b>: B (That <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#SamCalagione" target="_blank">Sam Calagione</a> is handsome)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cohesiveness</b>: B, Two Pints can elope with Sam to Belgium, spend a little time in the water while drinking either the Belgian beer or cocktails with umbrellas (4 of 6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dr. Drew Says</b>: Two Pints has an affinity for travel and appreciates good quality beer and good quality TV. A girl who knows what she wants and how to get it. Like how to get Sam. By drafting him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Draughter</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Mr. Smokeypants</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#HappyHour" target="_blank">Happy Hour</a> (solid staple of all things The Ferm)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worst Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-open.html#Shenanigans" target="_blank">Shenanigans</a> (just hasn't been enough lately)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleeper Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html#Foam-in-the-Dome" target="_blank">Foam in the Dome</a> (the memories just get better and better for that place) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Food</b>: B (<a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#NorrisFamily" target="_blank">Norris family</a> can cook, happy hour has good food also)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beer</b>: B (Foam in the Dome, <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#MosEisley" target="_blank">Mos Eisley Cantina</a>, and Happy Hour)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wine</b>: D (Weak here, but you can get at Happy Hour)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spirits</b>: A (He drafted <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html#Whiskey" target="_blank">Whiskey</a>, well done)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lagniappe</b>: B (Mos Eisley Cantina excels here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cohesiveness</b>: A, Mr. Smokeypants stops by Mos Eisley Cantina at Happy Hour for some whiskey before heading to the Dome for some Foam (meeting the Norris Family there) after which, there will be shenanigans (6 for 6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dr. Drew Says</b>: Mr. Smokeypants clearly likes to live life on the wild side, by acquiring Mos Eisley Cantina, drinking whiskey, and inducing Shenanigans. Luckily he has the Norris family to keep him straight (or find him at the end of the day to make sure he gets home).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Draughter</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">K Dub (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/K_Dub_02" target="_blank">@K_Dub_02</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#Belgo" target="_blank">Belgo-American Style Beers</a> (Outstanding quality and performance)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worst Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html#burping" target="_blank">Burping</a> (It kinda just happens, no need to draught)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleeper Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-open.html#SAVOR" target="_blank">SAVOR</a> (Completely underrated event)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Food</b>: B (SAVOR carries the day here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beer</b>: A (Beers, a Brewing Company, <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#yeast" target="_blank">Yeast</a>, and Burping)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wine</b>: F (Again, not much effort for this category)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spirits</b>: B (<a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#MichaelJackson" target="_blank">Michael Jackson</a> really bumps it up here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lagniappe</b>: C (Another bump from MJ with his character, but the rest of the picks lack spice) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cohesiveness</b>: B, K Dub heads to Savor for some Belgo-American Style Beers as well as some from <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html#Upright" target="_blank">Upright Brewing Company</a>, where yeast is prevalent among the products (4 of 6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dr. Drew Says</b>: This man knows his good beer and he knows that yeast is the foundation. A connoisseur of what he likes, having read the works of Michael Jackson, attended SAVOR etc. The burping keeps him real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Draughter</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Leslie (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/LesNor11" target="_blank">@LesNor11)</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#tailgating" target="_blank">Tailgating</a> (Everyone at The Ferm had their eye on this)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worst Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#LoneStar" target="_blank">Lone Star Puzzle Caps</a> (kinda blah performance)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleeper Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#Vaynerchuk" target="_blank">Gary Vaynerchuk</a> (solid pick to dominate the wine category)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Food</b>: B (Tailgating food is some of the best on earth)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beer</b>: B (Lone Star beer and tailgating, again solid)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wine</b>: A (Grabbed Gary Vaynerchuk to be strong in this category)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spirits</b>: C (Some spirits at tailgating, but that's about it)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lagniappe</b>: B (The puzzle caps are a good booster here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cohesiveness</b>: B, Leslie heads to a tailgate where they watch Gary Vaynerchuk and pops her Lone Star long necks for the puzzles (3 for 3, Leslie passed her picks on the second draft).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dr. Drew Says</b>: Leslie's affinity to take Gary Vaynerchuk first speaks a lot to her oenophiliatic tendency while her love of the puzzle caps shows her playful, fun side. Seems like she'd be a great guest at any party, particularly tailgates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Draughter</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">J.R. Ewing (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/longhorndave" target="_blank">@longhorndave</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#Oktoberfest" target="_blank">Oktoberfest</a> (Worldwide popular event that was sure to be snapped up quickly)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worst Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#bodyshots" target="_blank">Body Shots</a> (those girls in the photo left when the booze ran out)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleeper Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html#Tedeschi-Vineyards" target="_blank">Tedeschi Vineyards</a> (the real estate alone is worth this pick)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Food</b>: C (Some brats at Oktoberfest is about it)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beer</b>: A (Got a brewery, <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html#Bill-Foster" target="_blank">the Fox</a>, and Oktoberfest)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wine</b>: A (Drafted a winery, the only taken)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spirits</b>: B (Body shots addresses this category, but could be stronger)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lagniappe</b>: A (Body shot girls and the Fox add value here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cohesiveness</b>: C, Two factions of a team, either Ewing goes to Maui to visit Tedeschi Vineyards with the Body Shot girls during Oktober or hangs out with <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#kingofthehill" target="_blank">Hank Hill in his Alley</a> drinking <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-open.html#Saint-Arnold" target="_blank">St. Arnold</a> with the Fox (3 of 6).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dr. Drew Says</b>: Ewing can't decide which direction he wants to go, either hang out with younger girls doing shots, or older guys drinking beer (in the Fox's case, very very fast). He's still trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Draughter</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">SirRon (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/sirrong" target="_blank">@sirrong</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-open.html#Rob-and-Amy-Cartwright" target="_blank">Rob and Amy Cartwright</a> (Delivering on quality and quantity)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worst Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#B-vitamins" target="_blank">B Vitamins</a> (a reach with a #2 pick)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleeper Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#food-pairings" target="_blank">Food Pairings</a> (huge upside, this niche is growing)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Food</b>: A (Food pairings and a <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html#Kitchen-Stadium" target="_blank">Kitchen Stadium</a> = home run)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beer</b>: A (Got the Cartwrights, <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html#MoreBeer" target="_blank">More Beer</a>, and <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/04/2009-inaugural-ferm-anything-mock_28.html#Charlie-Papazian" target="_blank">Charlie Papazian</a>, another winning combo). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wine</b>: F (Like many other participants, no real effort here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spirits</b>: C (Drinking game included as well as B Vitamins)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lagniappe</b>: B (Kitchen Stadium carries this, as does some creativity of picks)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cohesiveness</b>: B, SirRon uses equipment from MoreBeer and Charlie Papazian's tips to brew some beer with Rob and Amy that pairs well with food. By the end of the day, B Vitamins prevent a hangover from the affair (5 of 6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dr. Drew Says</b>: SirRon really likes brewing and food, as his picks reflect. Seems like he's the kind of guy everyone wants to know, you'll eat well and drink well and not have a hangover!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Draughter</b>: </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Other (<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%09%20%20http://twitter.com/DosBeerigos" target="_blank">DosBeerigos</a>, Alexander, <a href="http://www.theferm.org/search?q=crawford" target="_blank">Crawford</a> and Dr. Analytics)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Best Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-open.html#American-Craft-Beer-Week" target="_blank">American Craft Beer Week</a> (huge event that continues to perform)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Worst Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html#Nick-Nolte-mug" target="_blank">Nick Nolte's Mug Shot</a> (performance is waning)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sleeper Pick</b>: <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html#Meritage" target="_blank">Meritage</a> (big upside on the California wine front)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Food</b>: A (<a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-3.html#TacoBell" target="_blank">Taco Bell</a> and <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-open.html#The-Kolache-Factory" target="_blank">Kolache Factory</a>. Enough Said)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Beer</b>: A (ACBW and a Brewing Company, another big score)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wine</b>: A (Meritage a solid performer here)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Spirits</b>: C (Maybe Nick Nolte had some before that mug shot)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Lagniappe</b>: C (The mugshot adds here, but overall blah)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cohesiveness</b>: B, During ACBW, surely some <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/05/2010-ferm-anything-mock-draught-round-2.html#Cigar-City" target="_blank">Cigar City</a> is drank, with a late night trip to Taco Bell, and Kolache's in the morning (4 of 6)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Dr. Drew Says</b>: These picks seem to be all over the place, probably because four people contributed. But it comes together nicely to represent what Americans love...beer, fast food, and Kolaches.</span></div>J.R. Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025764913047432098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-42389457872190186442012-04-10T18:20:00.002-05:002012-04-19T15:54:42.694-05:00Iowa - United States of Beer Project<div style="color: red; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html#Iowa" name="Iowa">#29 Iowa</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTMasP9L5bU/T4S7ZTH9AoI/AAAAAAAAMs8/uhCK_n76vpQ/s1600/IA-flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WTMasP9L5bU/T4S7ZTH9AoI/AAAAAAAAMs8/uhCK_n76vpQ/s200/IA-flag.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns=""><u>Admission to Statehood</u>: December 28, 1846<br />
<u>Population</u>: ~3.1M (30/50)<br />
<u>Capital</u>: Des Moines<br />
<u>Largest City</u>: </span>Des Moines<br />
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<u>State Dance</u>:Iowa does not have a state dance! Squares.</span><br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Well Known For</u>: Corn, John Wayne, The Bridges of Madison County, Field of Dreams, and being the only state name that starts with two vowels</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Brewery Representative</u>: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://http//www.millstreambrewing.com/" target="_blank">Millstream Brewing Company</a> (Amana, Iowa)</b></span></span><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I81ZmqYBbUY/T4S-TJtRa2I/AAAAAAAAMtE/e0R-uoNWP7U/s1600/IA-Millstream-2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I81ZmqYBbUY/T4S-TJtRa2I/AAAAAAAAMtE/e0R-uoNWP7U/s1600/IA-Millstream-2.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>USBP Score</u>: <b><span style="color: red;">174</span></b></span><br />
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<u>Established</u>: 1985 <br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Flagship Beer</u>: Schild Brau<br />
<u>Comments</u>: One of the joys of assembling brewery representatives for each of the fifty states is running across award winning beers of which I have no familiarity. Millstream is one of these breweries. Founded in 1985 by locals, this brewery is now owned by three employees who purchased it in 2001. Cool. Millstream’s most decorated beer and one of the brewery’s original offerings, Schild Brau, consistently medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the North American Brewers Association competitions. That's pretty good. In 2010, Schild Brau Amber earned a gold medal at the World Beer Cup in the Vienna-Style Lager category. That is really good. But does anyone know if Schild Brau translates to “Shield Beer”? </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br />If learning a brewery’s story is one of the joys of this USBP, then it is filling the blank space underneath the USBP score that puts this series in the doldrums. To counteract, let’s talk about something brilliant -- like beer can chicken! The first rule of beer can chicken is to get a <a href="http://amzn.com/B0007ZGUK2" target="_blank">roaster with a stainless steel canister</a>. This type of roaster will allow for unbounded options to shove up that bird’s hole. Next you'll need to choose a beer to go up there. A Vienna Lager -- </span><span xmlns="">like say -- a Schild Brau would be a solid selection. A word to the wise, as a general rule I would stay away from hoppy beers. When cooked, that hoppy bitterness becomes even more concentrated and intense. Save IPAs for drinking while you cook. Now that you've taken care of the basics of beer can chicken, you'll need some direction on how to prep and cook the bird. I recommend checking out Billy Broas’ blog (<a href="http://www.billybrew.com/" target="_blank">billybrew.com</a>) for a <a href="http://billybrew.com/microbrewed-beer-can-chicken" target="_blank">great post on beer can chicken</a>. There you'll find basic directions and an adaptation of a recipe from Guy Fieri.... And you can drive that bus to Flavor Town, baby!</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><i>Runner Up: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.courtavebrew.com/" target="_blank">Court Avenue Brewing Co</a> (154)<br />
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<span xmlns=""><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html">CATCH UP WITH OUR OTHER SELECTIONS FOR STATE BREWERY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE USBP PAGE</a>.</span></span></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-75544298643581997742012-04-02T20:10:00.000-05:002012-04-02T20:10:11.249-05:00I live in Texas dammitSo I'm reheating an oh so good leftover steak fajita enchilada (with a few spoonfuls of refried beans and guacamole on the side) and life is good. Good, until that is, when I go to make a small bowl of chips and salsa. Chips...check. Salsa in fridge...almost out, that's okay just go the pantry. Wait, where's the next jar of salsa. Seriously, it's gotta be here. It's salsa. And I live in Texas, dammit.<br />
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No salsa. Not behind the pasta sauce, not behind the soup, not behind the cereal, not behind whatever those flys are swarming around. Screwed.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8nVdy_u3xY/T3pMawTkcYI/AAAAAAAAALI/h3Yv4laxOWc/s1600/PL2009004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8nVdy_u3xY/T3pMawTkcYI/AAAAAAAAALI/h3Yv4laxOWc/s1600/PL2009004.jpg" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Has anyone seen me??? </b></div><br />
What happened. I briefly considered that one of the following scenarios:<br />
1) Wife hid salsa as a prank. Viable b/c she was frustrated at nearly running out of syrup for her frozen waffles (note, I am the pantry stock manager).<br />
2) Someone broke into my house and stole the jar of salsa (but nothing else).<br />
3) Zombies<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_CwM2HchGE/T3pMzDwXTjI/AAAAAAAAALQ/G9CFRc89cOg/s1600/zombie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k_CwM2HchGE/T3pMzDwXTjI/AAAAAAAAALQ/G9CFRc89cOg/s1600/zombie.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Another viable solution is that the last time I moved salsa from the pantry to the fridge, I somehow convinced myself that it was too soon to buy more salsa and I should wait. This is dismissed as salsa does not last that long.<br />
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Some sort of failed ops plan at the grocery store is a more likely scenario. It was on the list and missed? My handwriting is bad. One time I came home with Cheer detergent instead of cheese. I remember thinking "I've never bought Cheer before, but it's on the list, so I must have been thinking I need it" (in the cart it goes).<br />
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Then I think, I live in Texas dammit, maybe there are "salsa trucks" that drive the neighborhoods for just this situation. After waiting a few minutes, this doesn't seem to be the case. However, the light bulb goes on. WHY DOESN'T ANYONE DO THIS!!!!!<br />
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So here's the business model, you can take it and run with it, but it can't miss. Salsa/Tortilla truck. Drive the neighborhoods with a full stock of salsa and fresh tortillas. Seriously, we have stopped into Taco Cabana before just to buy tortillas. Usually when HEB runs out (or the machine is broke, like last week). This is opportunity knocking.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BYTqzys3eI/T3pNdS3uvqI/AAAAAAAAALY/RCROJSsmXA4/s1600/tortilla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BYTqzys3eI/T3pNdS3uvqI/AAAAAAAAALY/RCROJSsmXA4/s320/tortilla.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I realize that Taco trucks are on the path of this, but they usually aren't mobile. At least down my street.<br />
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Book it, the future of Texas cuisine. Salsa/Tortilla trucks. You've been told! I live in Texas Dammit!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oQYphWwqsmQ/T3pI29iKBtI/AAAAAAAAALA/oBHOqASo2kk/s1600/texas-flag_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oQYphWwqsmQ/T3pI29iKBtI/AAAAAAAAALA/oBHOqASo2kk/s320/texas-flag_small.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>J.R. Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025764913047432098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-3723685136877262332012-03-20T12:55:00.001-05:002012-04-11T09:18:32.669-05:00Wisconsin - United States of Beer Project<div style="color: red; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html#Wisconsin" name="Wisconsin">#30 Wisconsin</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzz5xgziqIY/T2i9wrYyBtI/AAAAAAAAMi4/DCUMz42msvA/s1600/WI-flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mzz5xgziqIY/T2i9wrYyBtI/AAAAAAAAMi4/DCUMz42msvA/s200/WI-flag.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns=""><u>Admission to Statehood</u>: May 29, 1848<br />
<u>Population</u>: ~5.7M<br />
<u>Capital</u>: Madison<br />
<u>Largest City</u>: Milwaukee<br />
<u>State Dance</u>: POLKA!</span><br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Well Known For</u>: Dairy, cheese, those cheese wedge hats, cheese curds, Oscar Mayer, Happy Days, and beer drinking </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Brewery Representative</u>: <s>Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co</s><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.millercoors.com/AgeVerification.aspx" target="_blank"> Miller Brewing Company</a> (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)</b></span></span><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpLJQoHJeWM/T2jCkC9AabI/AAAAAAAAMjE/YFPrVeWrHco/s1600/WI-Miller-2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TpLJQoHJeWM/T2jCkC9AabI/AAAAAAAAMjE/YFPrVeWrHco/s1600/WI-Miller-2.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>USBP Score</u>: <b><span style="color: red;">221</span></b></span><br />
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<u>Established</u>: 1855 <br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Flagship Beer</u>: Miller Lite<br />
<u>Comments</u>: NEWSFLASH: Miller Brewing Company is the The Ferm's USBP State Representative for Wisconsin! Shocked? Awed? Shockawed? Here is the deal, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company actually scored higher using my formula, but after creating the requisite graphics and preparing this write-up, I noticed that Leinenkugel's was purchased by Miller Brewing Company in 1988. While Leinies are a somewhat respectable macrobrew, common sense suggests to award Wisconsin to Miller -- who finished 3rd in USBP scoring on its own. </span><br />
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<i>"Sorry, Leinenkugel, but [Miller is] arguably Wisconsin's biggest invention to date." - Shilcutt
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What more should I offer on Miller? You probably know Miller Brewing Company is owned by the UK based SABMiller. However, did you know Miller had been owned by Philip Morris, had been seen an attempt of purchase from PepsiCo, and that the so-called Plank-Road Brewery was real and actually where Frederick Miller founded the brewery in 1855? If I told you that the original brewery included man made caves where Miller's beer was stored before the advent of commercially viable mechanical refrigeration, would that be something you would be interested in?</span><br />
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I know, these days it is all about the marketing. Miller and Wisconsin. Riding in to the USBP Capitol on the Common Sense ticket:</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="369" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BM0Jjw421rA" width="500"></iframe>
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<span xmlns=""><i>Runner Up: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.sierranevada.com/" target="_blank"> Stevens Point Brewery</a> (220)<br />
</i></span>
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<span xmlns=""><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html">CATCH UP WITH OUR OTHER SELECTIONS FOR STATE BREWERY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE USBP PAGE</a>.</span></span></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-80275650741907011952012-03-19T15:09:00.002-05:002012-03-19T15:09:29.362-05:00California - United States of Beer Project<div style="color: #38761d;">
<i>EDITOR'S NOTE: Alas, our dead readers, you are reading the last of the USBP retreads. California. Wisconsin is in the queue. I literally may or may not have an ironic selection for The Badger State.</i></div>
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<div style="color: red; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html#California" name="California">#31 California</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IQ5CpJF928/TgOybJ6QvfI/AAAAAAAALrA/keYMqiH4Bf4/s1600/CA-flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5IQ5CpJF928/TgOybJ6QvfI/AAAAAAAALrA/keYMqiH4Bf4/s200/CA-flag.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns=""><u>Admission to Statehood</u>: September 9, 1850<br />
<u>Population</u>: ~37.3M<br />
<u>Capital</u>: Sacramento<br />
<u>Largest City</u>: Los Angeles<br />
<u>State Dance</u>: "West Coast Swing" (AND Square Dance)</span><br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Well Known For</u>: Gold, mountain ranges, wine, freeway traffic, poplocking, Ronald Reagan, and Dr. Dre. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Brewery Representative</u>: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.anchorbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Anchor Brewing Company</a> (San Francisco, California)</b></span></span><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ioc6Wx52v0/TgOyyJwDO4I/AAAAAAAALrE/kuKaxDurRw0/s1600/CA-Anchor-2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6ioc6Wx52v0/TgOyyJwDO4I/AAAAAAAALrE/kuKaxDurRw0/s1600/CA-Anchor-2.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>USBP Score</u>: <b><span style="color: red;">232</span></b></span><br />
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<u>Established</u>: 1896 <br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Flagship Beer</u>: Anchor Steam<br />
<u>Comments</u>: Anchor Steam was part of the foundation of my craft beer education. Prior to discovering it on my grocery shelf, I had probably been no more adventurous than Guinness, Corona, and Shiner Bock. </span><br />
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Anchor Brewing has survived earthquakes, fires, Prohibition, and the post-Prohibition wasteland ruled by light lagers from megabreweries. In 1965, Frederick Louis Maytag III (“Fritz”) bought the struggling brewery for a few thousand dollars. During the process of cleaning up, making improvements, and learning the brewing process himself, Fritz created an original American beer style, the modern California Common Beer. Fritz’s beer was a version of the historic “steam beers,” which are beers brewed with lager yeasts at warm temperatures (normally lager yeast is fermented between 48-55F).</span><br />
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Fritz Maytag -- also a viticulturist (York Creek Vineyards), Director of the Brewers Association, and Chairman of the Board of the Maytag Dairy Farms (Maytag Blue Cheese) -- is considered by most to be the father of modern microbreweries. The state of California is rich with worthy candidates for state brewery representative. I believe the USBP formula got it right here. While Fritz recently sold Anchor, the brewery still stands as not only an inspiration for many California brewing entrepreneurs, but also a landmark to brewers and beer drinkers across America.</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><i>Runner Up: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.sierranevada.com/" target="_blank"> Sierra Nevada Brewing Company</a> (202)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html">CATCH UP WITH OUR OTHER SELECTIONS FOR STATE BREWERY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE USBP PAGE</a>.</span></span></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-30285364892582836282012-03-18T15:48:00.003-05:002012-04-11T09:21:16.180-05:00Minnesota - United States of Beer Project<div style="color: #38761d;">
<i>EDITOR'S NOTE: Another day, another recycled post. If you missed yesterday's update, I have been rebuilding the USBP rankings after I lost them after my computer drank a martini. Just as when a spouse dies and the other tends to die sooner than she would otherwise, my portable hard drive died less than a week later. I've moved and <a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html">given the series its own page</a>. You can easily access it now using the tabs at the top of the site.</i><br />
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<i>I almost feel obligated to tell you what I'm eating or drinking in order to give this post a new car smell or something.</i><br />
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<i>This beer pours a vivid golden blonde with a soft, pillowy head. Sexy lacing. Remarkable spicy aroma with maybe just a little old newsprint and pine detected. Excellent boozy palate, with a hint of baking soda and circus peanut. Creamy mouthfeel and bone dry finish. Score: 3.89/5.</i><br />
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<i>No, not Minnesota's beer below... the one I'm drinking. At least that is something that I told you.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html#Minnesota" name="Minnesota">#32 Minnesota</a></b></span></div>
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<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIAfPLYiI1U/Tc2masl6j4I/AAAAAAAALlo/_OBZ38std_Q/s1600/MN-flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CIAfPLYiI1U/Tc2masl6j4I/AAAAAAAALlo/_OBZ38std_Q/s1600/MN-flag.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns=""><u>Admission to Statehood</u>: May 11, 1858<br />
<u>Population</u>: ~5.3M<br />
<u>Capital</u>: Saint Paul<br />
<u>Largest City</u>: Minneapolis<br />
<u>State Dance</u>: "Square Dance" (yessssssss)</span><br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Well Known For</u>: Little House on the Prairie, Land O’ Lakes butter, The artist formerly and currently known as Prince, The Golden Girls, gophers, groundhogs, ducks, geese, caribou, bison </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Brewery Representative</u>: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.schellsbrewery.com/home.php%20" target="_blank">August Schell Brewing Company</a> (New Ulm, Minnesota)</b></span></span><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAUIQQKr_ww/Tc2nWW3KefI/AAAAAAAALls/oRbGcOLw0gI/s1600/MN-AugustSchell-2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CAUIQQKr_ww/Tc2nWW3KefI/AAAAAAAALls/oRbGcOLw0gI/s1600/MN-AugustSchell-2.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>USBP Score</u>: <b><span style="color: red;">224</span></b></span><br />
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<u>Established</u>: 1860 <br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Flagship Beer</u>: Original<br />
<u>Comments</u>: Like our Colorado USBP Brewery representative Coors, August Schell Brewing Company was founded in the 1800s (before Prohibition). Like Coors, its flagship beer is named "Original." Unlike Coors, the brewery is still family-owned. In fact among family-owned breweries, Schell's (1860) is second in age only to Yuengling & Son (1829)</span><br />
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August Schell Brewing Company is the largest and oldest brewery in the state of Minnesota. Despite their <a href="http://www.schellsbrewery.com/ourbeers.php" target="_blank">respectable line of craft beers and seasonals</a>, the Schells does not fit the <a href="http://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/business-tools/craft-brewing-statistics/craft-brewer-defined" target="_blank">Brewer’s Association’s definition</a> of craft brewer (have an "all malt flagship beer" or have "at least 50% of its volume in either all malt beers or in beers which use adjuncts to enhance rather than lighten flavor").</span><br />
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With Minnesota's representative, we now have a pre-Prohibition, family owned brewery that makes both craft and traditional American lagers. Schell's holds the highest USBP score, making the brewery a very worthy candidate for President pro tempore.<br />
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<span xmlns=""> <i>Runner Up: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.summitbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Summit Brewing Company</a> (182)<br />
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<span xmlns=""><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html">CATCH UP WITH OUR OTHER SELECTIONS FOR STATE BREWERY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE USBP PAGE</a>.</span></span></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-46972219218661355232012-03-17T19:00:00.000-05:002012-03-17T19:00:34.118-05:00Oregon - United States of Beer Project<div style="color: #38761d;">
<i>EDITOR'S NOTE: You may be aware that I lost my brewery ratings after losing my backup and primary hard drives within a week of each other. I went through all kinds of grief.</i></div>
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<i>First I was in denial that they were gone. I took both drives apart, switched wires around, and hooked them up to other computers. Let me tell you, I learned a lot about hard drives and how fragile they are during this step. Ridiculously fragile.</i></div>
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<i>But seriously, how can a man lose two hard drives in one week? It doesn't even make sense. What kind of moron breaks two hard drives! WHAT KIND OF MORON DOESN'T HAVE THREE HARD DRIVES!!</i></div>
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<i>Desperate, I called a few super nerds I found on the Interwebs that were willing to charge me nearly $1000 to get my stuff back. One had a great Boston accent, but he sounded a little too "street" to trust with $1000 and my precious hard drives.</i></div>
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<i>All of my documents, the documentation of both my children's lives, and the USBP were not worth $1000. Were they? No. No they couldn't be. Everything is gone. I feel like a blinking cursor on a blank screen.</i></div>
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<i>But I won't let that get me down. I must rebuild, and I've begun by recalibrating the old USBP model! I've also given the USBP <a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html">its own page</a> on the site and a link on the top tabs for the site. Since Oregon was a calibration state for my original model, I'm getting back into the swing by rehashing some material. Hopefully you aren't disappointed. But seriously, how could you be all that disappointed in me? We hardly know each other. AND, maybe you don't even remember reading it the first time. Maybe you haven't read it before, and therefore it's new to you. Either way, I've never claimed to be a credible writer, sooo...</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html#Oregon" name="Oregon">#33 Oregon</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sm4S_TDJgfk/TbHI8M8seNI/AAAAAAAALlI/hMqlSrp3kX8/s1600/OR-Flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Sm4S_TDJgfk/TbHI8M8seNI/AAAAAAAALlI/hMqlSrp3kX8/s200/OR-Flag.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns=""><u>Admission to Statehood</u>: February 14, 1859<br />
<u>Population</u>: ~3.8M<br />
<u>Capital</u>: Salem<br />
<u>Largest City</u>: </span>Portland<br />
<u>State Beverage</u>: Milk<br />
<u>State Dance</u>: Square Dance<br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Well Known For</u>: Being that place you always died trying to get to during your Elementary computer lab, Nike, James Beard, Smart Growth, </span>dungeness crabs, <span xmlns="">hippies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>Brewery Representative</u>: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.rogue.com/" target="_blank">Rogue Ales</a> (Newport, Oregon)</b></span></span><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_MHQNsM-jI/TbHUcIKrLfI/AAAAAAAALlQ/5x6dd3fxwUE/s1600/OR-Rogue-2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0_MHQNsM-jI/TbHUcIKrLfI/AAAAAAAALlQ/5x6dd3fxwUE/s1600/OR-Rogue-2.png" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>USBP Score</u>: <b><span style="color: red;">187</span></b></span><br />
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<u>Established</u>: 1988 <br />
<span xmlns=""> <u>Flagship Beer</u>: Dead Guy Ale<br />
<u>Comments</u>: <i style="color: red;">We've been offline for a while due to a catastrophic hard drive failure. Most of the USBP scoring and selections had to be rebuilt. However, I found the transcript below in the hard drive wreckage.</i></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span xmlns="">[sitting in the Widmer Brothers tasting room]<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><b>Abigail</b>: Hey guys! Isn't this Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen delicious?<br />
<b>Issac</b>: No diggity!<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: But aren’t the Widmer Brothers are corporate sellouts? Seriously, do you really believe that there were *really* two Widmer Brothers? I’m just saying.<br />
<b>Abigail</b>: Uuuhhh. Hefe. Yyyummm!<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Listen up friends. Try taking a journey by <s>covered wagon</s> PT Cruiser across 150 miles from this land of penultimate urban planning, through rivers and forests, to a new brewery at the forefront of the craft beer revolution.<br />
<b>Samuel</b>: *burp*<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: TRY!!!<br />
<b>Abigail</b>: Do we have enough money for such a journey?<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: You bet. Sam is a banker. He's loaded. [checks Sam's wallet]. He's got like sixteen hundred dollars in there. <br />
<b>Abigail</b>: And speaking of loaded, I’ve got a gun in my purse.<br />
<b>Issac</b>: What?<br />
<b>Samuel</b>: Whoows drvving?<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Bobbi-Xtina! Close out, we are hitting the road!<br />
<b><br />
Miles traveled: 0.5 miles</b><br />
<br />
[Not one minute into the journey]<br />
<b>Samuel needs to stop and make water.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Doggoneit Sam. We'll stop up here at Matt's General Store. Anybody need anything?<br />
<br />
<b>Gideon filled the car up with gas.<br />
Bobbi-Xtina got a few packs of Blue Ox Jerky, Airheads, Pizza flavored Combos, and several Code Red Mountain Dews. <br />
Samuel picked up a "Keep Portland Beered" shirt. <br />
Abigail came from the woods carrying a rabbit and a squirrel carcass.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Some Hippie</b>: What is the gas mileage of that Cruiser, man?<br />
<b>Samuel</b>: Whthh that trribal titoo mean, man?<br />
<b>Some Hippie</b>: That grass is inadequate, man.<br />
<br />
<b>The group gets in the wagon.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Miles traveled: .07 miles</b><br />
<br />
[Before crossing Willamette River]<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina gets a stomach ache.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Miles traveled: 10 miles</b><br />
<br />
<b>The PT Cruiser hits something.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Everyone OK? <br />
<b>Samuel</b>: Thereth two of evvything.<br />
<br />
<b>Miles traveled: 20 miles</b><br />
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<b>Abigail</b>: What are the symptoms of cholera?<br />
<br />
[from Bobbi-Xtina’s Droid phone]<br />
<i>The primary symptoms of cholera are profuse painless diarrhea and vomiting of clear fluid. These symptoms usually start suddenly, one to five days after ingestion of the bacteria. The diarrhea is frequently described as "rice water" in nature and may have a fishy odor. An untreated person with cholera may produce 10-20 liters of diarrhea a day with fatal results. For every symptomatic person there are 3 to 100 people who get the infection but remain asymptomatic.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Abigail may have cholera.</b><br />
<br />
<b>The group stops at the nearest rest station in Idiotville. </b><br />
<br />
[Seriously, there is an Idiotville, OR.] <br />
<br />
<b>The group takes a 30 minute break. </b><br />
<br />
Sensing that the Issac was opening up a big can of quit, Gideon insists everyone get back in the Cruiser and continue the journey. Abigail comes out of the woods after a bathroom break with a deer carcass. <br />
<br />
The weather is warm, the group has plenty of food, and no one is dead yet.<br />
<br />
<b>Miles traveled: 60 miles</b><br />
<br />
<b>Gideon gets a speeding ticket.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Officer Louie</b>: Be careful not to hit that Cruiser's pedal too hard! You can keep moving on your way, but set your cruise control at a fair pace. Do I smell alcohol? If you keep driving too fast you'll all end up spending a night in the drink tank.<br />
<br />
<b>Samuel</b>: Lame.<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina</b>: Oooh, look. A roadside gravestone!<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Don’t get out of the... ugh. Alright.<br />
<b>Gravestone</b>: "Here lies andy. peperony and chease"<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: What the? Seriously, get back in the Cruiser."<br />
<br />
<b>Miles traveled: 86 miles</b><br />
<br />
<b>Samuel</b>: Oooo, llllook! Werrrr closse to Tillamahoo, Tillmooo, Tilllllaamahooo...<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Tillamook. They make the best cheddar. I want to make a bed out of that stuff and sleep on it.<br />
<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina buys 186 lbs of cheese, but can only carry 100lbs back to the car.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Creepy Scout in the Tillamook parking lot</b>: The game is still plentiful along here, but gettin' harder to find. With so many overlanders, I don't expect it to last more'n a few years. Folks shoot the game for sport, take a small piece, and let the rest rot in the sun."<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Ooooh-kay.<br />
[The group rushes back to the Cruiser.]<br />
<br />
<b>Abigail</b>: Where are my rabbits?<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Drat! Someone stole half our stuff! And our spare tire. What is wrong with people?!<br />
<b>Abigail</b>: I thought we left the crazies back in Portland?<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: It's kind of hot. <br />
<br />
<b>Gideon may have cholera.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Miles traveled: 114 miles</b><br />
<br />
<b>The PT Cruiser gets a flat tire.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: What are the chances someone would steal our spare tire and then we’d get a flat tire?<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina</b>: ...and that there would be an abandoned PT Cruiser right over there?</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br />
<b>Abigail gets a spare tire, a gas can, and some buffalo chips from the abandoned Cruiser.</b></span><br />
<span xmlns=""> <b>Abigail</b>: What are buffalo chips?<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><b>Bobbi-Xtina finds some wild fruit.</b><br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""> <b>Abigail</b>: Want to see a dead bear?<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: I seriously hope that is a metaphor.<br />
<b>Samuel</b>: I'm thirsty.<br />
<br />
<b>Miles traveled: 115 miles</b><br />
<br />
<b>The group stops at The Pelican Pub and Brewery and gets a round of India Pelican Ale.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bar Person</b>: Be warned, stranger. Don't drink the water! Drink only beer. As *burp* strong as the beer is -- it's better than the cholera! We buried my mate last week. Could use some help with this harness, if you can space the time.<br />
<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: Guys! Cruiser! Now!<br />
<b>Samuel</b>: Thrrthty<br />
<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina finds some wild fruit.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina gets typhoid.</b><br />
<br />
[from Bobbi-Xtina’s Droid phone]<br />
<i>Typhoid fever is characterized by a slowly progressive fever as high as 104°F, profuse sweating and gastroenteritis. Less commonly, a rash of flat, rose-colored spots may appear.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina</b>: Check that, I just need to roll down a window and lay off this wild fruit.<br />
<br />
<b>Bobbi-Xtina may have dysentery.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Gideon</b>: When is the last time anyone saw Issac?<br />
<br />
[Issac drowned in the Willamette River, but the team never noticed]<br />
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<b>Miles traveled: 140 miles</b></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br />
<b>Gideon</b>: We have to be getting close. Right guys?</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><b>Gideon</b>: Guys?</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulLZQ3sGCvI/TbHTd7ssxaI/AAAAAAAALlM/tS2fXaBK3BU/s1600/Oregon-Trail--death2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ulLZQ3sGCvI/TbHTd7ssxaI/AAAAAAAALlM/tS2fXaBK3BU/s320/Oregon-Trail--death2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns=""> <i>Runner Up: <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/" target="_blank">Deschutes Brewery</a> (183)</i></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html">CATCH UP WITH OUR OTHER SELECTIONS FOR STATE BREWERY REPRESENTATIVE ON THE USBP PAGE</a>.</span><i><br />
</i></span></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-7471886419503627582012-03-06T22:35:00.000-06:002013-02-01T10:14:30.472-06:00I’m in Portland and I Need Your Urgent Assistance<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span xmlns="">I'm literally writing this with tears in my eye. I came down here to Portland, OR, USA for a short beercation and now I'm in a lot of trouble. I am so freaked out at the moment and need to get things sorted out ASAP so I can get out of here. If someone could help me out with a quick loan of approximately $2371.54 to sort out some bills I promise I'll refund it once I get home.</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPoq8vydpiQ/T1blGGTBW2I/AAAAAAAAMdM/jVWqZ12QYi0/s1600/Portland_Oregon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPoq8vydpiQ/T1blGGTBW2I/AAAAAAAAMdM/jVWqZ12QYi0/s320/Portland_Oregon.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<u><span xmlns="">UPdate:</span></u><br />
<span xmlns="">OMG, do you doubt me? What have I done to not deserve your assistance? I'm telling you I'm freaking out. Look, I've been to the cops and the embassy, but neither would help with my issues. I just need a quick loan, because this bar manager won't let me leave until I settle this bill. Western Union is probably the best way for us to do this transaction. Just give them the money and hit me back with that ID and when I can pick it up.</span><br />
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<u><span xmlns="">UpDATE2:</span></u><br />
<span xmlns="">I checked my local Dub-U and there weren't any transactions for me. Don't forget that MTCN confirmation number. And I'm in Portland, OR.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">And it's around $2371.54 that I need. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">And I'm freaked.</span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><u>New update:</u><br />I don't know why you haven't wired me this money. We both know it would save me from a lot of embarrassment and possibly save my life. I've also got a flight to catch. I promise to refund the money to you the next time we meet. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">Maybe you need some back story before you help me out. Here we go.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">I started at Henry's 12<sup>th</sup> Street Tavern. This place has like 100 beers on tap!! They were also open at noon. Score-and-a-half! Check out the frozen lane that goes around the bar.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-orSrcYUn0ko/T1bfJBGSf-I/AAAAAAAAMck/-1FS9eAgV0A/s1600/Henrys_Tavern_Frozen_Lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-orSrcYUn0ko/T1bfJBGSf-I/AAAAAAAAMck/-1FS9eAgV0A/s320/Henrys_Tavern_Frozen_Lane.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns="">I had four or so pints here. I believe in laying down a good foundation before a big day. Next I headed out to find a Whole Foods Market. Portland is so hip, and I needed a visit to this earth-and-body-friendly, organic foods paradise to give my hipsterism a bump before night fell. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">En route I found Rogue Ale Public House, so I did that instead. The bartender there was so cool. Rogue's bar has a lot of windows, so this guy wore sunglasses inside. If memory serves, I think his name was Seabiscuit. My man hooked me up with enough samples to call it a day. I ordered a pint anyway just to return the favor, since I don't know what the proper tipping percentage is on free samples. This barkeep was really rad and definitely deserved a tip. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">From across the room I heard, "Anybody want a distillery tour?" I scanned the room to see if there was any takers, but it was two in the afternoon, and I happened to be the only person in the bar area. "Uhhh, this guy," I replied pointing both thumbs at my shoulders. Seabiscuit spit back, "W-W-W dot fingerpoint dot snap dash wink dot com." Hashtag awesome! I was so glad I didn't go to Whole Foods.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ6a88ncfrA/T1bgUqiUxcI/AAAAAAAAMcs/xFEBt_NArKo/s1600/Rogue_Portland__Seabiscuit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jZ6a88ncfrA/T1bgUqiUxcI/AAAAAAAAMcs/xFEBt_NArKo/s320/Rogue_Portland__Seabiscuit.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #999999;">Affected picture of Seabiscuit</b></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span xmlns="">I don't know if my experience was unique, but the solo Rogue distillery tour consisted of talking about liquor and taking shots with the tour lady in the upstairs bar. If there was more to the tour, then I don't recall. I did learn that you cannot touch the still. Hashtag now I have a burn mark on arm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi3ngJHLwnc/T1bkMDo5KtI/AAAAAAAAMdE/2jZJn--F5mo/s1600/Rogue_Still.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi3ngJHLwnc/T1bkMDo5KtI/AAAAAAAAMdE/2jZJn--F5mo/s320/Rogue_Still.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #999999;">Don't Touch That</b></td></tr>
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<span xmlns="">Looking to soak in some additional Portland flavor, I hit up Seabiscuit for a recco. He informed me that Portland was home to the number one Irish establishment in America. Hashtag Seabiscuit 4 Prez. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">Have you guys noticed that Portland has a lot of street folk – uh, homeless-ish looking people (I don't judge). No, not as many as New Haven, Connecticut though. Am I right, friend?</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">A block from the pub, with my brain composing a mad fiddle tune, I ran into a guy passing out flyers. I have a personal policy about not taking flyers on the sidewalk. "No, you throw it away." I <i>always</i> say that joke. I can't even remember who I stole it from, but it's kind of sneaky mean, and I like it. The street flyer guy didn't understand my sarcasm and somehow tricked me into grabbing the flyer. But I was glad he did.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">You see friend, Portland has these Underground Tours that literally take you on a "journey into the bowels of the city." Apparently many of the buildings are connected underground, and were once used for illicit "medicine" trade, Prohibition-era saloons, white slavery, and some other cool stuff. Portland's version of the emerald isle could wait. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">The Underground Tour started at the daftly named Shanghai Tunnel pub. Our guide began the experience by asking the group what kind of tour they wanted: 1.) The white slavery tour or 2.) The ghost tour. White slavery sounds pretty awesome. In spite of this fact, everyone in the entire room raised their hands for the ghost tour, presumably because ghosts are cooler than slavery. Ugh.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">We headed underground, and I kid you not, the flyer-passer-out guy was down there. Creep city. Seriously, I think I've seen this guy in an old Scooby Doo cartoon. By the end of the tour, we all agreed that there were <i>definitely</i> ghosts living in Portland. "<i>You</i> believe in ghosts," you are probably asking. I agreed ghosts were real as a precaution, because if ghosts do exist, then there is less of a chance of them getting mad and then haunting me if I am a believer. If there aren't really ghosts, then I'm also in the clear, because – you see – they don't exist. The logic is sound. Plus, the creepy flyer-passer-out tour-assistant guy stopped staring at me when I declared my belief. That guy is like part Craigslist – part bottom of the tongue – part stray cat. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">We weren't allowed bar drinks on the tour, so it was definitely time to test the taps at the best Irish establishment in America, the place blessed by my new super cool bartender friend from Rogue. At least I <i>thought</i> Seabiscuit was my friend. Wow, how can I express it best? Let me just say that it looked like it was Ed Hardy's birthday (observed) up in there. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8IkiQXOg7g/T1bjW1_x-8I/AAAAAAAAMc8/_15QwpbfvKA/s1600/slainte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E8IkiQXOg7g/T1bjW1_x-8I/AAAAAAAAMc8/_15QwpbfvKA/s320/slainte.jpg" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr style="color: #999999;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Slainte!</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span xmlns="">Coming down hard off my midday craft beverage bender, I decided to suck it up, intermingle with the pretentious sugar-coated meat heads, and make my way to the bar.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">And here, friend, is where the story goes off course. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">When I reached for my wallet to pay for my Honest Pint® of Guinness……… NOW DOES MY EARLIER PLEA MAKE SENSE TO YOU!?</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">My heart started racing. I had everything in that wallet: All my credit cards, my ID, my American Homebrewers Association member card, a lotto ticket, my Social Security Card, a bunch of walking around cash, and a receipt of a time when I epically out-Whataburgered my wife. I started sweating. I couldn't breathe. Everything was spinning. I really wanted that beer. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">I ran out of <strike>Kells</strike> <span style="color: blue;">(In order to avoid libel and stuff, let's say the place rhymes with…)</span> "Hellz" to get back to the Shanghai tours. The last time I pulled my wallet out was when I bought that ghost tour ticket. I was disoriented, and must have run around the same block two or three times before finding a hostess at the bar. Gasping for air and a clear thought, I explained to the hostess that I had lost my wallet on an earlier tour. My spastic demeanor must have frightened her a bit, because she just turned around, called someone on the phone, and directed me to the bar next door. However, no one but a bartender was at that bar next door. I sure could have used a beer to calm the nerves, but instead I frantically explained to him my predicament. The bartender assured me they could help, and he led me to the back of the bar.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">I awoke in some dreadful chamber underground. I checked my pocket and damn – no wallet. I had no idea where I had been taken or how I got there, but when I saw him, I figured it out. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">Curse all those fools for voting for the ghost tour!! I knew zero point zero about Shanghaiing. But, I was about to find out.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">Did you ever pith a frog in science class? I'm just saying that it was the creepy flyer tour guy down there with me. He explained my two options: 1.) Work the Portland bar scene for no pay, cleaning up in the early mornings to get the establishments ready for the next day, or 2.) Pay $2,250 for my freedom. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">He further explained that Portland had been using this shocking practice of kidnapping able-bodied men and women since the 1800s. A little Shanghaiing is apparently how Portland continues to be so great, and it really makes sense the way he explained it. I had sensed something a little strange about the city. Plus, it is kind of cool to be called "able-bodied."</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">But friend, I'm no good at cleaning. I haven't even made my bed since middle school. Please, please help me out. I'll be honest, I was just kidding about the embassy thing in the earlier update. I thought that would get your attention, but now I know I was wrong. The Western Union details at the top of the post are totally real though. I need that $2,250 for my freedom, $86.54 for the ecoShuttle to PDX, and I seriously need a beer or two and a pizza. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">I will never drink a bunch of beer before liquor and then take flyers and go on tours ever again. I promise. I'll just wait here for your response. </span><br />
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<span xmlns="">With this guy.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-awEY953eJcY/T1biGdPq5HI/AAAAAAAAMc0/-usXuYMhvvc/s1600/Flyer_Tour_Guy__Robert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-awEY953eJcY/T1biGdPq5HI/AAAAAAAAMc0/-usXuYMhvvc/s320/Flyer_Tour_Guy__Robert.jpg" width="272" /></a></div>
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<span xmlns="">Thanks.</span>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-85432080428213861142012-02-25T10:40:00.010-06:002012-02-25T12:19:09.171-06:00Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA Clone<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9I8iBE5ZTy4/T0kccz7paQI/AAAAAAAABLc/5aN4OTGAlpY/s1600/Firestone.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5713128883598485762" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9I8iBE5ZTy4/T0kccz7paQI/AAAAAAAABLc/5aN4OTGAlpY/s400/Firestone.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 276px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
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Well here I am, sitting in my chair, watching Jersey Shore (I need my trash reality TV, we'll get to that) and blogging about brewing beer, instead of being outside actually homebrewing a beer. The reason I'm not outside is because I feel like sick-ish, I've been coughing up some crud for the past 24+ hours and I need to get some rest. So this entry is a prelude to my homebrewing session that I'll be doing tomorrow.<br />
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I'm a pretty regular listener to the podcasts from <a href="http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/">The Brewing Network</a> (BN) and one of their shows called <a href="http://thebrewingnetwork.com/shows/The-Jamil-Show">The Jamil Show: Can You Brew It</a> attempts to brew clone recipes of popular commercial beers, with great success. One of the beers that I have heard the BN brewcasters rant and rave about for years is the <a href="http://www.firestonebeer.com/">Firestone Walker</a> <a href="http://www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/union-jack">Union Jack IPA</a>. This beer has won numerous awards including gold at the <a href="http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/">Great American Beer Festival</a> in 2008 and 2009 (They also won Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer in 2011). Winning a medal at GABF is tough, getting one in the IPA catagory is difficult due to the high number of entries (176 entries in 2011), securing a gold medal is amazing and winning gold back to back years is almost impossible. In fact, here's what the crew at Firestone Walker has to say about their award winning IPA:<br />
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"An instant classic, Union Jack is the recipient of numerous awards including back to back wins at the Great American Beer Festival. Union Jack is abound with hop aroma and character. In fact this well balanced, west coast IPA is dry hopped 3 separate times, each lot giving it more and more of the grapefruit citrus hop aroma and flavor it is known for. Overall it utilizes over 4 pounds of pacific northwest hops per barrel."<br />
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Below is a summary of the recipe, I had to substitute <a href="http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/bairds-carastan-malt.html">Carastan</a> for <a href="http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/simpsons-caramalt.html">Caramalt</a> just like the brewcasters had to do in their version of the recipe.</div>
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<u>Recipe Specifics</u></div>
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Batch Size (Gal): 6.00 </div>
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Wort Size (Gal): 6.00</div>
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Total Grain (Lbs): 16.78</div>
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Anticipated OG: 1.071 Plato: 17.19</div>
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Anticipated SRM: 6.9</div>
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Anticipated IBU: 82.2</div>
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Brewhouse Efficiency: 70 %</div>
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Wort Boil Time: 90 Minutes</div>
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<u>Grain/Extract/Sugar</u></div>
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13.75 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row)</div>
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1.98 lbs. Munich Malt</div>
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0.83 lbs. CaraPilsner</div>
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0.22 lbs. Carastan Malt</div>
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<u>Hops</u></div>
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0.88 oz. Warrior Pellet 17.00 AA% 61.2 IBUs 90 min.</div>
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0.63 oz. Cascade Pellet 7.00 AA% 8.4 IBUs 30 min.</div>
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0.63 oz. Centennial Pellet 10.50 AA% 12.6 IBUs 30 min.</div>
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1.83 oz. Cascade Pellet 7.00 AA% 0.0 IBUs 0 min.</div>
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1.83 oz. Centennial Pellet 10.50 AA% 0.0 IBUs 0 min.</div>
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1.55 oz. Cascade Pellet 7.00 AA% 0.0 IBUs 1st Dry Hop</div>
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1.55 oz. Centennial Pellet 10.50 AA% 0.0 IBUs 1st Dry Hop</div>
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1.06 oz. Cascade Pellet 7.00 AA% 0.0 IBUs 2nd Dry Hop</div>
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1.06 oz. Centennial Pellet 10.50 AA% 0.0 IBUs 2nd Dry Hop</div>
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0.49 oz. Amarillo Gold Pellet 10.00 AA% 0.0 IBUs 2nd Dry Hop</div>
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0.49 oz. Simcoe Pellet 12.40 AA% 0.0 IBUs 2nd Dry Hop</div>
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<u>Yeast</u></div>
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White Labs WLP002 English Ale</div>
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<u>Mash Schedule</u></div>
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Intermediate Rest Temp : 145 Time: 60 min.</div>
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Saccharification Rest Temp : 155 Time: 15 min.</div>
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Mash-out Rest Temp : 168 Time: 15 min.</div>
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Sparge Temp : 170 Time: 45 min.</div>
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<u>Notes</u></div>
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Pitch at 63F and let free rise to 66F</div>
</div>K Dubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817778226409119983noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-1190415391905568282012-02-20T19:26:00.013-06:002012-03-06T22:39:25.365-06:00Sanctification Clone<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuJoXWTj_kM/T0Rg6vxfO4I/AAAAAAAABLQ/DA0RXEl_RNI/s1600/sanctification.jpg"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711796789785344898" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KuJoXWTj_kM/T0Rg6vxfO4I/AAAAAAAABLQ/DA0RXEl_RNI/s400/sanctification.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 217px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;">It's been far too long since I've written anything on the greatness that is theferm and now is the time to correct my actions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">As one would expect coming from me, this is an article on beer, specifically making beer at home, or homebrewing if you will. My most recent jaunt in homebrewing came this past weekend as I was wanting to relive our last trip to wine country, a </span><a href="http://russianriverbrewing.com/"><span style="font-family: arial;">Russian River</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><a href="https://store-54e42.mybigcommerce.com/brews/sanctification/"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sanctification</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> clone. The recipe was taken from </span><a href="http://www.byo.com/"><span style="font-family: arial;">Brew Your Own</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">'s (BYO) 250 Clone Recipe magazine, with a little of my own modifications which some might call "accidents." But what would homebrewing be without a mishap or two along the way?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">After looking through the BYO clone magazine I looked up </span><a href="http://www.themadfermentationist.com/"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Mad Fermentationist's website</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">, and to my dismay he has not blogged about (or none that I could find) a Sanctification clone. He has brewed a </span><a href="http://www.portbrewing.com/"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pizza Port Company's</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> Mo' Betta Bretta, which may find it's way into my homebrewery soon enough, and a Russian River </span><a href="https://store-54e42.mybigcommerce.com/brews/temptation/"><span style="font-family: arial;">Temptation</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"> clone though. I myself have 10 gallons of Temptation clone slowly souring at the moment, half of which is on six pounds of cherries. Now Michael Tonsmeire, who is The Mad Fermentationist, is one who has done many sour fermentations as well as other experiments, for a good read get lost in his website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">After a quick Google search I found that there are very few blogs or forum posts similar to the quality of the Mr. Tonsmeire's blog so I thought I would try to attempt my version of a Sanctification clone blog post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Unlike most beers that are fermented with "traditional" brewers yeast, Sanctification is brewed with wild yeast called brettanomyces. Brettanomyces creates a sourness and tartness that is not present (at least not in perceptable levels) in beer when brewed with brewer's yeast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">An excerpt from Russian River's website states the following on this beer:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">"Technically, this is neither an ale nor a lager. The base recipe is for a Golden Ale, but we do the primary fermentation with 100% brettanomyces. The brett gives it some sour notes but not as much as if it had been aged with lacto and pedio. It’s rather refreshing on a warm day!" Lacto and Pedio are references to other kinds of wild yeasts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">I brewed the beer on Sunday (2/19) and it looks like it's fermenting along well right now. I'll let it sit for at least 4 weeks and then I'll either keg it or bottle it with cork and cage like a Belgian beer you'd find in a store. We'll see how it turns out, below is a rundown on ingredients and process to make this beer.</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: arial;">Recipe Specifics</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Batch Size (Gal): 6.00</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial;">Total Grain (Lbs): 13.25</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Anticipated OG: 1.056 Plato: 13.71</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Anticipated SRM: 3.9</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Anticipated IBU: 33.5</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Brewhouse Efficiency: 70 %</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Wort Boil Time: 120 Minutes</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<u><span style="font-family: arial;">Grains</span></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">11.00 lbs. Pale Malt(2-row)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">1.32 lbs. Sauer(acid) Malt</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">0.93 lbs. Vienna Malt</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<u><span style="font-family: arial;">Hops</span></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">1.20 oz. Sterling Pellet 7.00% AA 33.5 60 min.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">0.60 oz. Sterling Pellet 7.00% AA 0.0 0 min.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div>
<u><span style="font-family: arial;">Yeast</span></u></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Brett Brux (</span><a href="http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/strains_wlp650.html"><span style="font-family: arial;">White Labs WLP650</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">) - 3L Starter</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Brett Lambicus (</span><a href="http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/strains_wlp653.html"><span style="font-family: arial;">White Labs WLP653</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">) - 1L Starter</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Lacto Delbrueckiii (</span><a href="http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/bacteria.html"><span style="font-family: arial;">White Labs WLP677</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">) - 100mL Starter</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Ferment at 72F but let the temperature rise as high as 80F for 3-4 weeks.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3/3/2012 - Tasting today was good, not as tart as I thought it would be, very "brett"-y though. Should turn out interesting at the very least, might be the most approachable all brett beer I've ever tasted.</span></div>
</div>K Dubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817778226409119983noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-24540069616783882732012-01-26T21:01:00.003-06:002012-01-26T21:20:37.111-06:00Drunk on the job. So what!?So interesting news out of Burbank that Pat Sajak, beloved host of Wheel of Fortune since I remember watching TV and I'm not young <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nct34hSkIPQ" target="_blank">enjoyed a margarita or six before hosting Wheel of Fortune</a>.<br />
<br />
Lots of questions here:<br />
1) In the entertainment business, can being tipsy allow one to be more entertaining?<br />
2) In a regular work place, can being tipsy allow one to be more creative, innovative, personable?<br />
3) Does Vanna White enjoy tire treads over her back from the bus she was just thrown under?<br />
4) Why the heck is Dan Le Batard breaking this news on an ESPN show?<br />
<br />
Let's look at one thing at a time.<br />
<br />
1) I say emphatically, "yes". Word of mouth stories have tied actors like, oh, John Belushi, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIC0T4fWQLc&feature=related" target="_blank">who might chug an entire bottle of Jack</a> (and come out of it knowing foreign languages, apparently) to get in character to being a bit loaded on the set. Other than the obvious problems with binge drinking, anything of it? I say "no". If I were an actor, I wouldn't hesitate (contract allowing) to get a little loose before going in front of the lights.<br />
<br />
2) Hmmm, slippery slope here. I can handle my one or two or six (here's to you Pat) but the guy next to me may not. He might fly off the handle and come at me when I ask why his report is late. The gal next to him might break down in tears after a few if you mention something as simple as "your hair looks nice today" and she replies "pickles is gone, my cat is dead..." Lost productivity having to listen to her go on and on for 30 minutes about a cat you could give a flip less about. So I'm going to have to say "no". <a href="http://beerandwhiskeybros.com/2011/03/15/free-beer-at-work-but-with-a-catch-with-poll/" target="_blank">For more information, this summary highlights the possiblities with beer at work.</a> You don't have to stretch the imagination for the liability involved, be it sexual harassment, imparted driving, workplace injury, etc. Short story is that I could pull it off, a work force of 100 people will see problems.<br />
<br />
3) Yeah, I'm pretty sure Vanna didn't want to have anything to do with this leaking. I'm sure a publicist is working right now to disassociate herself from the comments of Pat and Pat alone. I say as a disinterested (legally) but interested (from an adolescent male), I did not notice any evidence of stumbling or disorientation of her and turning those letters so she's innocent until proven guilty.<br />
<br />
4) Those who follow sports are familiar with Dan Le Batard, a great sportswriter, a fill in for ESPN's Pardon the Interruption, and a wit from the show highlighted above. Good catch, credit to his producers who found Sajak and thought this might be a story. You figure CNN could have found this and made it a big story on one of their fledgling shows (like whoever that guy who isn't Larry King) but DLB got it!<br />
<br />
All that being said, I think a glass of beer or wine with lunch (European style) should be more tolerated here stateside.<br />
<br />
As a complete non-sequitor, does anyone else remember when former San Diego Chargers Kicker Rolf Benirschke hosted Wheel for some reason? What was that about????<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sportsattic2.com/nflphotos/photos10/Benirschke,Rolf3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.sportsattic2.com/nflphotos/photos10/Benirschke,Rolf3.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>J.R. Ewinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03025764913047432098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-27095102446272168162011-11-17T08:37:00.001-06:002011-11-17T10:21:54.800-06:00Dude, You Going to Teach That (Deductive Reasoning)<b><span xmlns="">Part 1: In which we get a brief introduction to a multi-part blog series (that will probably be abandoned after one post).</span></b><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Good day to you, my friends. Today I'd like to take advantage of the skeleton crew that is left around here <a href="http://www.pickem-football.com/" target="_blank">during football season</a> to bring you a new blog series: "<i><b>Dude, you going to teach that?</b></i>" </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">The premise is nearly almost self-explanatory. First I present to you a piece of work from the Internet, and then I dissect it. Hopefully, some sort of lesson emerges.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span xmlns="">Part 2: In which we get the syllabus.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Instead of teaching you <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/06/aimless-chef-hello-taste-my-fire.html" target="_blank">how to make delicious stuff to put in your mouth</a>, today I will present a discourse on Deductive Reasoning. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">To truly extrapolate significant intelligence on this topic, we must consult the work of masters. The rise of social media has spawned a renaissance for pundits and curmudgeons. Just a quick aside, with this plenitude of enlightenment to be found on the Internet, I fully expect "street smarts" in the future to refer to the Information Superhighway and not actual streets. Fortunately, the Internet gives us access to an array of veritable savants on all things ever whispered in mankind's own collective head. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Our featured post is titled "<a href="http://food.drricky.net/2011/10/houstons-diners.html?" target="_blank">Houston's Diners</a>", published on the highly-respected Internet outlet for eating thoughts, <a href="http://food.drricky.net/" target="_blank">food.DrRicky.net</a>. Since this class is real-time, I will present the text, unedited and in its entirety, in the body of this lesson.</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">In terms of my particular qualifications as a professor, I'm certainly no doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Just kidding, I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, but it wasn't last night. Just kidding, I only showed up in the lobby that morning for those delicious cinnamon rolls. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">At the very least, I have read the work cited in this syllabus. I also have a thesaurus open so I can appear really, really <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">sharp</span> astute. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span xmlns="">Part 3: In which we break down our subject piece.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Any doctor worth his proverbial salt wastes no time getting to the point. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>In a recent survey by Zagat (now a property of Google)</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">*sigh* The Googlization of America continues. At least Yelp retains its credibility by remaining independent. I Bing'ed the details of the Zagat acquisition, and I think it is possible that Google merely took over the lease at Zagat's vacated office space. It was also not clear after my research whether the "recent survey" was a Google Doc form.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i style="color: #660000;">revealed that <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/morning_call/2011/10/houstonians-still-eat-out-more-than.html">Houstonians dine out more</a> often than any other city in the US. </i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">YEAH!!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i style="color: #660000;">Some seem to think that this is <a href="http://houston.eater.com/archives/2011/10/26/houstonians-dine-out-a-whole-lot-according-to-zagat.php">something to be bragged</a> about. </i><span style="color: #7030a0;"><br /> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Oh, um... For the record, that "some" refers to <a href="http://houston.eater.com/" target="_blank">Eater Houston</a>, a blog dedicated to all things dining related in Houston. Even though this is precisely the kind of news I would expect to see on Eater, let's do a quick sanity check.</span><br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ol>
<li><span xmlns="">It ain't bragging if it's true</span></li>
<li><span xmlns="">The Zagat survey proved<span style="color: blue;">*</span> Houstonians dine out more often than any other city in the US.</span></li>
<li><span xmlns="">Therefore, Eater was reporting fact and not bragging.</span></li>
</ol>
<ul>
</ul>
<div style="color: blue;">
<span xmlns="">*probably needs reference, but</span></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>Why is that?</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Doc likes softballs. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>If there's anything I've observed about local dining out habits is that these diners tend to go to the same narrow range of restaurants, all of whom tend to offer very similar dishes. </i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">We will break here so you can wrap your heads around this astute observation. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns=""><b>Diners eat what they like</b> – <u><b>AND</b></u><b> </b>– <b>Diners go to restaurants that serve what they like. </b></span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Curb those feelings of self-doubt and let those ideas marinate while I toss a few more things on the fire. Diners also all drink similar beverages (<u>always</u> Diet Coke or Bud Light). These diners also all tend to wear similar clothes. When is the last time you saw a 3-piece suit at Applebees? I rest my case.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>Moreover, people tend to order the exact same dish with every visit. I believe the latter part is true of most American restaurant patrons.</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Except Houstonians order a lot more combination fajitas and frozen margaritas with salt than the average American restaurant patron. Fact.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>These habitual systems fuel the burgeoning monotony of the dining scene in Houston. </i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Really? Fajita jokes aside, everything about the statement above is completely invalid. The reality is that Houston is home to a world-class dining scene. Houston offers both traditional and progressive interpretations of Texas Gulf Coast cuisine, Tex-Mex cuisine, and a plateful of restaurants that represent Houston's melting pot of cultures.</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">If diners in Houston go to the same restaurants serving the same food, then how do restaurants in areas along Airline, Washington, Bellaire, Long Point, or Westheimer survive? How does Houston even have five great food streets/districts? Furthermore, why can I easily find someone who would duel to the death over replacing one the streets mentioned above with their favorite food street?</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>Our diversity stems from the number of different ways one can put toppings on a hamburger, or the minutiae of smoking brisket.</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Dr. Ricky is thoroughly connected to Houston's food scene, so this smarmy, faux intellectual statement must be leading us to some sharp-witted deduction.</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Ubiquitous blogging idioms be damned!!</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>And at the end of the day,</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Eh. Never mind.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i style="color: #660000;">familiarity often trumps flavor at the checkout receipt.</i><span style="color: #7030a0;"><br /> </span></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">The assertion here is that things that taste different taste better? Whoa there, el doctor. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Let's take a moment to review. Dr. Ricky has established that the average Houstonian diner does not meet his culinary imprimatur because she isn't adventurous enough. Caught in the blast zone of that bombshell was Eater Houston, a website dedicated to dining that "bragged about" Houstonians eating out more than any other U.S. city -- <span style="text-decoration: underline;">according to a Google study</span>. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">What are the details of said study? I'm glad I asked. (I like softballs too.)</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Zagat's recently released its <i>2012 America's Top Restaurants</i> Survey for their newest guide. The survey was based on the votes of over 156,000 "food lovers" dining out in 45 major markets. Just for reference, the Houston metropolitan area alone has almost 6,000,000 residents, so the survey was far from comprehensive and most likely not very scientific (e.g. votes from "food lovers"). The study concluded that the average food lover in these top 45 markets ate 3.1 meals that came from a restaurant per week. These results do not differentiate between type or time of meal, as far as I could make out. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Texans were the Charlie Sheen of this survey, with four cities locking down the top slots of the survey for meals eaten from a restaurant per week: Houston (4.0), Austin (3.8), Dallas/Ft. Worth (3.6), and San Antonio (3.5). </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">With that inscrutable science, we continue with the post.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>But the necessary consequence here is that Houstonians tend to cook less often at home.</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">OK Stop. The deductive argument presented here is that since Houstonians eat out (or get take out) more than the average American, than they are cooking less at home. The statement sounds reasonable on the surface, but let's evaluate the significance of that logical statement. Ignoring the most important meal of the day, the Taco Bell 4<sup>th</sup> Meal, a monotonous diner eats 21 meals in a week. The average Zagatian fooder eats nearly 18 of those at home. The average Houstonian Zagatian fooder, with his burgeoning waistline eats only 17 of those 21 meals at home, a difference of less than 5%. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span xmlns="">Math check: 5% > 0%</span></li>
<li><span xmlns="">Therefore, the doctor's conclusion seems sound. </span></li>
</ul>
<span xmlns="">But is there an important lesson to be extracted from those numbers? Once again:</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>But the necessary consequence here is that Houstonians tend to cook less often at home. And this should be recognized as a sad matter.</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Wait, should it?</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<span xmlns="">Irrelevant conclusions < Tim Tebow < Sound Logic </span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">Maybe Dr. Ricky's premise would be sound if <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>every</i></span> meal eaten at home was a home prepared meal. What if I make a frozen pot pie for dinner? Ramen noodle? How sad is that? What if I bought a bowl of pho at a local restaurant and my neighbor made a PB&J? </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Does this make Dr. Ricky cry?</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Back to the Zagat study, can we even make the assumption that the average diner eats at home for 17.9 meals and the average Houstonian eats at home for 17.0 meals? </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">The study only addresses meals away from the home, not the balance of the other meals. Do the people in the study eat only two meals a day? Did they eat at Dr. Ricky's house? It is simply not sound logic to assume that the number of meals the participants in the study cooked at home. Remember, we are talking about less than a 5% difference between Houston and the average for these other meals. All the study states is that, based on </span>the votes of over 156,000 food lovers dining out in 45 major markets, Houstonians responded that they ate out on average 4.0 meals a week compared to 3.1 for the average of the entire survey. Where in the survey does it address cooking at home?<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>There's a true and essential skill to cooking - it's the art of finding flavor amidst compromise, a balance of knowing enough of the science of chemistry and microbiology to apply heat and time to raw ingredients, to bring forth a transformation worthy of one's palate, discriminating or otherwise.</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">What a fascinating bit of misdirection and sophistry here. A Criss Angel just got its wings. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">In the first part of his post, Dr. Ricky scolded diners for not eating adventurous enough when they ate out. Now, we are being scolded for not understanding the art and science of cooking in our homes! Nice one.</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">But wait, there's more…</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #660000; margin-left: 36pt;">
<span xmlns=""><i>And above all, it's about taking responsibility for the outcome, something that Texans, and all Americans, for that matter, are supposed to take pride in. And even the humblest of cooks are better equipped to appreciate the vision and efforts of a fellow cook by their very exposure to the craft.</i></span></div>
<br />
<span xmlns="">What the smell? And this is how the doctor's little game of inception ends. I'm convinced that Dr. Ricky wanted to chastise Houston diners, wrote this revelation, and just backed into the fluff at the beginning. Certainly he didn't have logic over for dinner that night.</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Perhaps I got lost in the "essential skill" of this confusery and don't know "enough of the science" to be "discriminating or otherwise," but at its best, Dr. Ricky's post served a proper outlet for him to unleash his distaste for Eater Houston and the average diner. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">At worst, this is a shipload of scrap. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span xmlns="">Part 4: In which we are presented a completely unrelated anecdote.</span></b><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">The other day I was driving in the museum district around midday. After a slight bend in the road, about 100 feet away, I noticed an oncoming car. The driver, a soccer mom in a Chevy Traverse, was in the midst of a huge face contorting yawn. </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">I understand there to be many theories on science of yawning. However, if there's anything I've observed about yawning, it is that they are terribly contagious. If a person even hears a yawn, they often have to yawn themselves. The theory even holds true with animal yawns.</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">So you won't be surprised to read after that car passed me, I too began a monster, eye squinting yawn. As I was completing my yawn, a car passed me in the same direction of the Chevy Traverse I originally spotted.</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Then it hit me. Had I passed through a mysterious zone, a perpetual field, fueled by the invisible power of the yawn? Did I pass my yawn to the new car? Had cars been passing that yawn back and forth for hours before I drove through that area? How long did the perpetual yawn zone stay alive? Could there be other similar perpetual yawning zones in the city? The World? The Universe? Was this discovery significant? </span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">I'm no philosopher, but probably.</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="color: #76923c;"><br /> </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span xmlns=""><span style="color: #7030a0;"><br /> </span> </span>The Aimless Chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11517606683859380092noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-35483927750904826812011-10-20T15:35:00.000-05:002011-10-21T08:33:38.913-05:00"America's Beer": A Genuine Article<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<i>By Gomer McHomer</i>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
In putting together the consummate ice chest beer collection for the big game, Sebastian Farce needed a remarkable beer. Commonly known as a craft beer gadabout and a clever spinster, Sebastian is credited with coining the phrase “America’s Beer.”</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.independencebrewing.com/the-brewery/brewery-history/" target="_blank">Independence Brewing Company</a>’s co-owners Rob and Amy Cartwright resisted the title early on because they felt like demand for the beer would quickly exceed the brewery’s capacity (and humbleness, of course). But every waking thought finds its way to a publishing media nowadays, so delighted or not, the moniker was retweeted, favorited, and liked many thousands of times over.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is Independence Brewing’s passion that they instill in every drop of beer that helped justify them as “America’s Beer,” while the entire brewery team made sure the beer drinkers would find it at notable local restaurants, bars, and grocery stores.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kvEvlPO6As/TqCEjj-vF_I/AAAAAAAAL4I/nfvKKX4pegc/s1600/large_historybeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7kvEvlPO6As/TqCEjj-vF_I/AAAAAAAAL4I/nfvKKX4pegc/s200/large_historybeer.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Love it or hate it, a person’s beer of choice is one of the most polarizing topics in the United States. Even when the number of breweries in the U.S. fell below one hundred in the 1980s, Americans still possessed an unquenchable desire for the hops and high quality two-row malts. That’s why I laugh when people refer to Budweiser as the “King of Beers” or how interesting a person is for drinking Dos Equis. Is Bud Light really “America’s Beer”? Yes. On opposite day.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I don’t think Jack Buddrinker even knows the swill in his Hypercolor dispenser box in the fridge is made from 30% corn. But it’s cheap and it gets the job done. Your Bud and Miller light beer fans will go so far as plan their night around what bar carries their favorite shaped bottles. And when you talk to them in the lavatory, you’ll find that most of them just drink what their Daddy drank.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxZ8sPew_nY/TqCEuwUJCnI/AAAAAAAAL4Q/SN_c3Jf4RsY/s1600/Indy-Helmet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TxZ8sPew_nY/TqCEuwUJCnI/AAAAAAAAL4Q/SN_c3Jf4RsY/s200/Indy-Helmet.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It’s different with Independence Brewing. Ask a beer nerd studying the shelves at <a href="http://www.whipin.com/" target="_blank">Whip In</a> or the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=9814513595747695485&q=D+%26+Q+Mini-Mart&dtab=2&sll=29.721861,-95.389608&sspn=0.01938,0.032015&ie=UTF8&ll=29.736629,-95.390902&spn=0.000005,0.000005&t=m&z=18&vpsrc=6" target="_blank">D&Q</a> and they’ll talk your ear off about Convict Hill Stout or the fabulous <a href="http://brewluminati.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Brewluminati</a> series. It’s immeasurable the amount of Independence Brewing fanatics roaming the within the borders of the United States and beyond. And that’s exactly why Independence remains incontrovertibly the true “America’s Beer.”</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<i>Fear not, disenfranchised beer drinkers. This Saturday, October 22nd, <a href="http://www.independencebrewing.com/events/event/independence-brewing-7th-anniversary/" target="_blank">Independence Brewing Company celebrates their seventh anniversary</a> at their brewery in Austin, TX. Admission is free, but it would be careless of me not to recommend that you bring $12 for the commemorative anniversary glass. Join beautiful people just like yourself, possibly Sebastian mentioned above, and this scribe at the brewery from 4-8pm. Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, so you can bet there will be some of that there too.</i></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-26132162489091972562011-08-24T22:03:00.002-05:002011-08-25T13:33:30.455-05:00Texas A&M: Give UT My Notice<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="color: blue;">Tonight I was feeling fine, sipping some purple wine, and thought I'd opine, about the ags on here. Gig.</span></span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">"Give UT My Notice"</span></b><br />
<i><span xmlns="">(Parody of Give Judy My Notice by Ben Folds)</span></i><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">UT</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Why won't you respect the honor we swore?</span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZSM5h4Mcw0/TlW63UOSk0I/AAAAAAAAL3U/1ZoyjpDxy34/s1600/Give-UT-My-Notice--collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dZSM5h4Mcw0/TlW63UOSk0I/AAAAAAAAL3U/1ZoyjpDxy34/s640/Give-UT-My-Notice--collage.jpg" width="240" /></a><span xmlns="">We love/hate you</span><br />
<span xmlns="">You don't care do you?</span><br />
<span xmlns="">But UT</span><br />
<span xmlns="">We can't stay your little bro</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Not with our ego</span><br />
<span xmlns="">So we gots to go</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">And we regard you as our rival, dear</span><br />
<span xmlns="">And you don't even notice that we're here</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Give UT my notice</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">I know we always called you tu (ha ha ha)</span><br />
<span xmlns="">It's funny (whoop!), and you get grumpy</span><br />
<span xmlns="">But UT</span><br />
<span xmlns="">We ain't gon' be y'all b!tch anymore</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Our daddy ain't Dodds</span><br />
<span xmlns="">So we out the door</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">SEC grass is just so much greener</span><br />
<span xmlns="">So we'll suck like a vacuum cleaner</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Give UT my notice</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Give UT my notice</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">UT, mug down with us one last time</span><br />
<span xmlns="">They've passed back the command</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Not that you'd understand</span><br />
<span xmlns="">I think we have had a darn good fling</span><br />
<span xmlns="">And now just one more thing</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Horns down</span><br />
<span xmlns="">We're going to keep that around</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Because it's just part of us</span><br />
<span xmlns="">We Aggies can obsess</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">And we're not running 'cause of your network</span><br />
<span xmlns="">And we are running 'cause of your network</span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns="">Give UT my notice</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Give UT my notice</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Give UT my notice</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Give UT my notice</span><br />
<span xmlns="">My notice</span><br />
<br />
<div style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://grooveshark.com/s/Give+Judy+My+Notice/43HSsE?src=5" target="_blank"><b><i>original song</i></b></a></div><object height="40" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&songIDs=32204786&style=wood&p=0" /><embed src="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="250" height="40" flashvars="hostname=cowbell.grooveshark.com&songIDs=32204786&style=wood&p=0" allowScriptAccess="always" wmode="window" /></object><br />
<br />
SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-35238678866415855412011-08-12T10:55:00.006-05:002011-08-12T13:11:04.004-05:00Radio Umami<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span xmlns="">Have you ever loved a beer for more than what was just in the glass? Have you ever felt connected to a restaurant because of the owner's story, the ambiance, or something memorable that happened in your life while you were there? Like the fifth taste, umami, some things take on a deeper meaning based on a combination of flavors. And like umami, the impression can be difficult to describe. <br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Destiny seems to dictate that the karmic consequence of something being so awesome is that it will come to an abrupt end. The father of modern microbreweries will sell out. That cooking savant creating magic in some obscure kitchen will leave. That musician changing the Universe with every note will off himself.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">1560 The Game in Houston had radio umami. They were local and independent both in business structure and in business practice. In hindsight, I admit that we could all sense that the glory days of the station were in the rear view mirror. However, when <a href="http://blog.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2011/08/its-time-for-me-to-leave-1560/" target="_blank">Lance Zierlein announced he was leaving</a>, it got real.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">If you've ever watched your favorite establishment give rise to something remarkable and then destroy itself, then you probably felt like this (but only never bothered to make a video -- and drop that many f-bombs):<br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span xmlns=""><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="405" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jEQQTDGsbWk" width="500"></iframe><br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><b style="color: #666666;">Mom. Earmuffs.</b><br />
</span></div><br />
<span xmlns="">R.I.P. 1560 The Game. Double Rods. I don't recognize you anymore.</span><br />
<br />
<i><span xmlns=""><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/JayDirt_" target="_blank">Follow Jay Dirt on Twitter</a> for any future rants </span></i>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-3947993818937995412011-07-28T16:34:00.005-05:002011-08-01T08:15:40.875-05:00Game on! An Insane Appeal. (The Pickem-Football Annual Recruitment Letter)<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvzK6XdLrA4/TjHSnJ_ljHI/AAAAAAAALwM/Pqq_4mLjvlo/s1600/Football-crosshairs.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvzK6XdLrA4/TjHSnJ_ljHI/AAAAAAAALwM/Pqq_4mLjvlo/s320/Football-crosshairs.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #666666;">I always target the football cookie.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span xmlns="">Hello football fanatics, casual sports fans, drinking enthusiasts, and web crawling bots from porn sites! You look good. It's great to be home, and when I say home, I mean football season. <br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">This is beautiful. I am really proud to get to speak with you today. Readers, we are at the dawning of the kickoff of the finest part of the twelvemonth. I understand how you feel. It is always darkest before the dawn, but the future is near, y'all. Today we stand up tall, knowing that, depending on when you are reading this message, football season is more or less a month away. I am proud to be writing this letter to you about our mutual standing.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">I speak to you today as a football fan, as a guy that knows his way around a Google Docs spreadsheet, and as a Dad... a Dad who put TVs in all the other rooms in the house so the kids won't have an excuse to watch mine, among other things of course. I am just a casual, everyday fan with four TVs tuned to football programming in my living room every weekend. My parents, aunts, cousins, in-laws , sister, wife -- all dead to me when Northwestern kicks off against Purdue at 11:00 AM on a Saturday.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">I recon I'm trying to let you know that I'm dedicated to the cause. At the end of the day, I will promise stuff, and nothing is more binding than a promise. Between you and me, I run the best, most funnest football season companion game you will find anywhere on this awesome, but slowly wilting Earth. I'm not just saying, but I'm literally just saying.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Some of you missed <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/08/pay-attention-to-man-behind-this.html" target="_blank">our plea last year</a>, and this communication is to convince you to sign up and play with me. Truth be told, that is what I'm trying to do here. I assure you that joining the Pickem-Football 2011 family doesn't hurt in any way. Hey folks, it may even save your life! Unfortunately, not everyone understands the long term benefits of joining us at Pickem-Football. Some people don't even believe it will save their lives. No, some people choose to continue down their path of unenlightenment. Some of those people may even try to prove to me they are enlightened without Pickem-Football. Merriam-Webster.com defines enlightenment as "the act or means of enlightening." Need I say more?<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">I want to use another word. Solidarity. I looked it up and it means a unity based on common interests. Pickem-Football is like Solidarity+™. We are good people with varied interests that get together around a common game and make the World a better place. Pickem-Football is like a movement. A movement of genuine Solidarity+™. <br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">I write this letter to you because I know in my heart that the Internet is where real integrity can be found. And courage. Football season is quite long, and it requires sacrifice and moral incorruptibility. Pledging yourself to Pickem-Football will protect you from other forces that may seek to leach away your free time, like YouTube related videos or the dishes. We will protect you from destruction, unless destruction is necessary for us to achieve our goals as a league, wherein you may be tasked with carrying out a significant portion of the destruction. This communication will be done discretely and not through your corporate email.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Make no mistake, readers. You are winning. You are a beautiful (I'm talking on the inside, nothing creepy), veracious, and courageous individual. Sure, we are chock full of yous here at Pickem-Football, but I firmly believe that you can't have too much of a good thing. (Except pancakes. Seriously, has anyone ever made it through a full stack?)</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Now, I know exactly what you are asking yourself.<br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span xmlns=""><i>You</i>: "I'm intimately familiar with myself, but I want to know more about this game."<br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span xmlns=""><i>Me</i>: "First of all, that isn't a question. But second, I thought you would never ask."<br />
</span></div><br />
<span xmlns="">Every week of the regular football season I will email and post on <a href="http://www.pickem-football.com/" target="_blank">Pickem-Football.com</a> a Google Docs form containing:</span><br />
<ul style="margin-left: 36pt;"><li><span xmlns="">15 NCAA football games and odds (you pick against the spread)<br />
</span></li>
<span xmlns="">
<li>Every NFL football game (usu. 14-16 games, you pick straight up)<br />
</li>
<li>For NCAA and NFL games, there will be some optional bonus questions. While these won't increase your Pick'em score, they are collected and used in the post season games. I dole out bonus points for weekly winners, people you pay their entry fee early, and some other random stuff I make up along the way.</li>
</span></ul><br />
<span xmlns="">We also continue on after the season with an NCAA Bowl Challenge Contest and an NFL Playoff Contest. Folks, that is over five months of football picking. Do you know what our government will waste in those five months? Trillions. Maybe. I really don't know. I do know that Pickem-Football will cost you a measly $25 (payable anytime throughout the season). My friends, nothing is more fiscally responsible than signing up for five months of meaningful life for around $0.16/day. (Meaningful life is not available at any price during the baseball season.)<br />
</span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span xmlns=""><i>You</i>: "Wait -- what?"<br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span xmlns=""><i>Me</i>: "I'll recap."<br />
</span></div><br />
<span xmlns="">The Games:</span><br />
<ol><li><div><span xmlns=""><b>NCAA Pick'em</b><br />
</span></div><ol><li><span xmlns="">15 games picked per week, my selections<br />
</span></li>
<span xmlns="">
<li>Players score one point per correct pick<br />
</li>
<li>Games are picked against the spread (I provide the odds and they are fixed when the card is posted)<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/a/pickem-football.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dHA5d3lZNmhQeFlpc0JaTGNvNzN4X0E6MA" target="_blank">Example card</a><br />
</li>
<li>The player with the most points when the season is over wins<br />
</li>
<li>Payout: 1<sup>st</sup> Place 25% pot, 2<sup>nd</sup> Place 10% of pot (Total = 35% pot)<br />
</li>
</span></ol></li>
<span xmlns="">
<li><div><b>NFL Pick'em</b></div><ol><li>Every NFL game is on the card, usually 14-16 games per week<br />
</li>
<li>Players score one point per correct pick<br />
</li>
<li>Games are picked straight up (no spread)<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://spreadsheets.google.com/a/pickem-football.com/viewform?formkey=dHNNVXB2Ymh3NG9WQU0tSEZWQUVxV3c6MA" target="_blank">Example card</a><br />
</li>
<li>The player with the most points when the season is over wins<br />
</li>
<li>Payout: 1<sup>st</sup> Place 25% pot, 2<sup>nd</sup> Place 10% of pot (Total = 35% pot)<br />
</li>
</ol></li>
<li><div><b>NCAA Bowl Pick'em Challenge</b></div><ol><li>A confidence pool style game that includes every bowl game and incorporates your accumulated bonus points from the NCAA Pick'em contest<br />
</li>
<li>The Bowl Pick'em Challenge card is emailed as a spreadsheet<br />
</li>
<li>All picks are due before the bowl games begin<br />
</li>
<li>The player with the most points wins<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.pickem-football.com/2011/01/2010-bowl-pickem-challenge-official.html" target="_blank">Example</a> (blog post)<br />
</li>
<li>Payout: 1<sup>st</sup> Place 15% pot<br />
</li>
</ol></li>
<li><div><b>NFL Playoff Pick'em</b></div><ol><li>A Vegas style wagering format that includes all playoff games<br />
</li>
<li>The NFL Playoff Pick'em cards are emailed in spreadsheet format weekly during the playoffs<br />
</li>
<li>Points are "wagered"<br />
</li>
<li>Picks are against the spread<br />
</li>
<li><a href="http://www.pickem-football.com/2010/01/2009-playoff-pickem-challenge-official.html" target="_blank">Example</a> (blog post)<br />
</li>
<li>Payout: 1<sup>st</sup> Place 15% pot<br />
</li>
</ol></li>
</span></ol><span xmlns="">100% of what comes in goes out to the people. What do you think of that, Teabaggers?<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">To wrap up. Courage. Solidarity. Destruction. Pancakes. America.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">Joining starts here! Joining starts now! I guarantee the only thing you will regret is that you didn't just skip all the way to the bottom of this letter and <a href="https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/pickem-football.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHVnUExlR0RYVWlBNmNQNHlDcTFWZEE6MA"><b>CLICK THIS REGISTRATION LINK</b></a>.<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns="">God bless you all, and God bless Football!<br />
</span>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-24008125190677949202011-07-10T16:19:00.007-05:002011-07-10T17:33:53.223-05:00Aimless Chef: Houston's Ultimate Top 3 - Chain RestaurantsWhen I discovered recently that <a href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2011/07/sampler_plate_this_week_in_foo_88.php" target="_blank">The Ferm got a shout out on Eating Our Words</a>, the Houston Press' food blog, I was like -- WHAT THA H!?!<br /><br />Quote-unquote avid readers of The Ferm are probably familiar with SirRon's sobering attempts at getting published on Eating Our Words. But if you are not, after reading my post (of course), try to figure out which story is more affecting, the <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2009/10/how-not-to-get-job-for-houston-press.html" target="_blank">first</a> or the <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/04/we-love-houston-press-but-there-is-wall.html" target="_blank">second</a>.<br /><br />Vaughn S. Gregg has higher aspirations than just being the <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/RealSPAMMYCan/status/16870566322" target="_blank">internationally recognized</a> creative chef on an obscure drinking blog with absentee leadership. Yes ma'am I do. But instead of a clichéd harangue against the city's only major news and entertainment weekly as brash and freewheeling as Houston itself, I've decided to share with you guys the pieces that I actually wrote and sent to the Houston Press offices. I'm all about good food and not so much about copyrights and statutes of limitations. <s>However, our big stick here at The Ferm is a lawyer, so Mr. Smokeypants can just apply the strike-through tag on this post if he feels I've broken any blogging laws.</s><br /><br />The first piece I sent earlier this year was on the Top 3 chain restaurants in Houston, TX. Comments are appreciated. Ladies, please use my <a href="http://www.theferm.org/2010/09/hey-mami-dont-you-know-that-i-like-to_03.html" target="_blank">soft taco recipe post</a> to leave your digits.<br /><br /><hr /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:130%;" >Houston's Ultimate Top 3 - Chain Restaurants</span><br /><br />1. <a href="http://www.souplantation.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Tomatoes</a><br />2. <a href="http://www.grimaldispizzeria.com/" target="_blank">Grimaldi’s</a><br />3. <a href="http://www.chuys.com/" target="_blank">Chuy’s</a><br /><br />What a treat to have the opportunity to opine above the comment section level, an opportunity that is no doubt the culmination of our hard work down there (and a possible sign of the apocalypse). We should celebrate with a margarita from Chuy’s. We can love this place and not feel like we are part of the cult. When we want to feel like family, we get a pie at Grimaldi’s. If we close our eyes, the franchised version tastes almost exactly like all those pies we ate under the Brooklyn Bridge, except we don’t have to pay in cash in the suburban replicas. Sometimes we eat healthy, but only sometimes. At Sweet Tomato, it is your choice. We can tell you your life story by reading the salad you built. Grab a monthly BOGO coupon and we’ll be your plus one. You can figure us out too, that is if you can see our salad behind our four soups, two pastas, and muffin pile.The Aimless Chefhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11517606683859380092noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-28789369193858911652011-06-24T12:01:00.002-05:002011-06-24T13:33:30.386-05:00Cocktail Recipe: Rum Punch<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 22pt;"><span xmlns="">Prior to my honeymoon in the Southern Caribbean near the turn of the millennium, I'm not sure I had ever tasted a rum punch. During the island tours, I quickly became accustomed – and fond – of this Caribbean staple. It seemed like no lunch, tour, swim, museum visit, or mountain hike started or finished (or started <i>and</i> finished) without being offered a glass. If I had known then that rum punch recipes were so divergent, I would have pressed a local for their secret.</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 22pt;"><span xmlns="">"Classic" rum punch recipes range from having bitters, simple syrups, fruit punch, and/or sodas. I found many recipes that called for orange juice, but all of my iterations attempting to recreate the Southern Caribbean variation fell short. To be sure, the key ingredient is the use of high quality Caribbean dark rum. In my opinion, no better rum exists that the ones made at Mount Gay. Their rum is so good you could mix it in your Bacardi to make it taste better. My next major breakthrough came when I abandoned orange juice and instead used guava and mango nectars. Eureka! </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-left: 22pt;"><span xmlns="">Many years removed, I honestly don't know how close this recipe is to that once familiar Southern Caribbean drink. My recipe is unique and tasteful though, so please enjoy my interpretation of the rum punch. </span><br />
<span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><hr /><span style="color: #17365d; font-size: 20pt;">Southern Caribbean Rum Punch (Tribute)</span><br />
<hr /><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-size: 13pt;"><b>yield:</b></span><br />
~½ pitcher<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-size: 13pt;"><b>ingredients:</b></span><br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Punch</span>:<br />
2 11.3 oz cans guava nectar<br />
1 11.3 oz can mango nectar<br />
1 11.3 oz can "bartender's choice" nectar (any flavor; I suggest an orange blend, banana blend, or another mango)<br />
1 6 oz can pineapple juice<br />
2 tbsp lime juice<br />
½ cup canned coconut cream (e.g. Coco Lopez), stir well before measuring<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="text-decoration: underline;">At serving</span>:<br />
Mount Gay Sugar Cane Rum (or other dark Caribbean rum)<br />
Sweetened coconut flakes<br />
Ground nutmeg<br />
Lime wedge (optional)<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-size: 13pt;"><b>preparation:<br />
</b></span>Combine coconut cream, pineapple juice, lime juice, and nectars in a blender (note: some of the nectars can be left out if pitcher is full). Blend until coconut is well mixed (several 2 second pulses should do it). Pour into a large pitcher. Add any remaining juices (if some were left out of the blender). Mix well. Serve or cover and refrigerate (can be prepared a day ahead).<br />
</span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-size: 13pt;"><b>serving:</b></span><br />
Fill a 12 ounce glass with ice. Pour a shot of rum over the ice. Top the glass off with the punch mix and stir. Garnish with a pinch of coconut flakes, ground nutmeg, and a few drops of lime juice or a lime slice. Salud!<br />
</span>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-79497341704280001822011-06-23T17:25:00.000-05:002012-03-17T17:03:18.217-05:0050 Breweries for 50 States – The Ferm’s United States of Beer Project<span xmlns="">As we outlined in our <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/2011/02/ferms-united-states-of-beer-project.html" target="_blank">United States of Beer Project kickoff post</a>, we are assembling the definitive list of breweries to represent each of the 50 states. Anyone can toss a name out and argue its relationship with a state, but we at The Ferm are only interested in cold, hard facts. Each representative has been selected after exhaustive research and extensive number crunching. As a refresher, below are the guidelines:</span><br />
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<ul>
<li>The goal is to identify a single representative brewery from each state. Brewpubs are not specifically excluded, but to be a state representative, the brewpub must have significant distribution in the state.</li>
<li>To be eligible as a state's representative, a brewery must brew beer in that state.</li>
<li>If a brewery makes beer in more than one state, the brewery can only be named representative of one state.</li>
<li>Only active breweries are eligible. </li>
</ul>
<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span xmlns="">Just to be clear, I'm merely an emotionless arbiter in these selections. </span><span xmlns="">I first aggregate brewery data from several sources. An Excel formula then computes the score automatically. My own input came only from the scoring formula creation, which I calibrated using several states where I was particularly familiar with the breweries located within.</span><br />
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<span xmlns="">If you take exception to any of the selections or think I unfairly excluded a brewery (or brewpub), please hit me up in the comment section or on Twitter (<a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.twitter.com/theferm" target="_blank">@theferm</a>) and I'll get you the score of the brewery in question. </span><br />
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<span xmlns=""><i style="color: red;">NOTE: I've given this post it's own page. Follow the link below for USBP's new home. </i></span><br />
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<div style="color: #cc0000;">
<i><b><a href="http://www.theferm.org/p/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html#Hawaii">MORE>></a></b> </i><b><i>(Follow Link for Individual State's Results)</i></b></div>
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<br />SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7761540065047261845.post-57886746189952169352011-06-23T00:01:00.001-05:002011-07-06T08:35:44.205-05:00The Ferm’s United States of Beer Project<span xmlns="">A few weeks ago Houston Press food blogger extraordinaire Katharine Shilcutt wittingly dropped a proverbial deuce on the American beer drinker. In her post titled <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2011/01/the_united_states_of_beer.php" target="_blank">The United States of Beer</a>, Katharine rather subjectively assigned each state an official beer. Her intentions were relatively innocuous, but her uneven attempt to rush the post's publication by peppering the U.S. map with whimsical selections <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2011/01/the_united_states_of_beer.php#comment-135520557" target="_blank">energized the nation's beer drinking pantywadders</a> (200+ comments!).<br />
<br />
This was not the first time the food blog published a half-hearted post and then hid behind guise of just "having a laugh." I wonder if their editor would be as supportive of a post that jacked around with where to find good Mongolian hot pot? If the Houston Texans decided to play without cleats for a quarter, how do you think that would go over with their fans? If Nicholas Cage stopped caring about the movies he agreed to make, then what? I'm just saying, our big stick, <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/search/label/mr%20smokeypants" target="_blank">Mr. Smokeypants</a>, doesn't let us get away with weak journalism</span> our site,<span style="color: black;"> and I've never seen a dime from the blog.<br />
<br />
We at The Ferm are not </span>asserting <span style="color: black;">that blogs, and more specifically The Houston Press' food blog Eating Our Words, </span>must<span style="color: black;"> be serious all the time. We are only suggesting that if you are getting paid to publish your work, that it be well thought out, researched, and written as if you even care that your name is on the piece. </span>(<span style="color: black;">I hope EOW blogger <a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://blogs.houstonpress.com/eating/2011/02/food_fight_vietnamese_egg_roll.php#comment-139896293" target="_blank">Kevin Shalin</a> doesn't mind me stealing his words in that previous sentence, but there is a pretty good chance all Houston Press people stopped reading in the second paragraph anyway.)<br />
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Speaking of serious, if you are aware of someone who takes drinking more seriously than we do, I would sincerely like to know. We also </span>tend to look at the world through practical glasses<span style="color: black;">,</span><span style="color: black;"> so we understand an accurate beer map of the United States probably looks more like an election map. <br />
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</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mOyVR-IkQgs/TVBKkz-HiII/AAAAAAAALBM/vdnnqpnp5cs/s1600/political-map-example.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mOyVR-IkQgs/TVBKkz-HiII/AAAAAAAALBM/vdnnqpnp5cs/s320/political-map-example.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="color: #666666;">"That looks about right. Print it!" - Mr. Smokeypants</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: black;">Apologies to my beer nerds, but let's get really real. The craft beer segment represents only about 5% of the total U.S. beer market. What does that mean? It means Budweiser is truly the King, or President if you will, of beers. Budweiser, Miller Lite, or Coors may pick up a few electoral votes, but Bud Light is probably every state's official beer. But where is the fun in that map?<br />
<br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mOyVR-IkQgs/TVBLpb9BinI/AAAAAAAALBQ/WLTgYMz-qhc/s1600/political-map-corrected.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mOyVR-IkQgs/TVBLpb9BinI/AAAAAAAALBQ/WLTgYMz-qhc/s320/political-map-corrected.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">"Yes, that one looks right. Print it!" - Mr. Smokeypants</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: black;">After some hard core brainstorming, we have come up with a concept that falls somewhere in between the schizophrenic Houston Press beer map and the monotony of the factual map. Katharine's idea was actually kind of ingenious, however it was executed by a foodie/journalist/musician-type instead of a lawyer/engineer/rocket scientist-type. <br />
<br />
That is where we can contribute. What Katharine's map project needed was some rules. Some formulae. Some science. That kind of concept is right in our wheelhouse.<br />
</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="color: black;">Pronouncement: Katharine's list muddled <i><b>beers</b> </i>and <i><b>breweries</b></i>. We will assign <i><b>breweries</b> </i>to a state. It is reasonable to assume that a brewery's flagship beer would be the de facto beer representative for the state.<br />
</span></li>
<span style="color: black;">
<li>Rule #1: For any state, the brewery representative must be brewed in said state. Rule #1b: If a brewery makes beer in more than one state, the brewery can only be named representative of one state. <br />
</li>
<li>Example Formula: y = 29.936ln(x) How do you like them apples? (I don't trust the Internets enough to give out all our brewery ranking secrets.)<br />
</li>
<li>Science: Wikipedia says science is an enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the world. Yeah, we got that.<br />
</li>
</span></ul><span style="color: black;">Budweiser is overwhelmingly the people's popular choice for a national brewery. Don't be angry at us. You elected them without checking their proof of residence first. This post hereby kicks off The Ferm's own United States of Beer project. We will be rolling out each of the states' representatives over the next several <s>weeks</s> months. Stay <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">thirsty</span> tuned my friends.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a bitly="BITLY_PROCESSED" href="http://www.theferm.org/2011/02/50-breweries-for-50-states-ferms-united.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QRBc9lZ_Dgg/TgO2bXSsoTI/AAAAAAAALrI/Y-2RLDNFFUI/s640/USA-Brewery-Rep-Map-S20.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: small;"><b>Click map to jump to post with the states' selections</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>SirRonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964233394272915511noreply@blogger.com6