May
1
2009

The Session: Beer Cocktails

Cocktails – So classy.
He drops a full whiskey shot
In his beer. And chugs.

Written by Captain Hops.

the Session Beer Cocktails

References: This post is part of The Session. The Session is a monthly beer-themed group writing project for bloggers. This month’s theme is Beer Cocktails and it is hosted by Beer at Joe’s.

I don’t generally put stuff in my beer. Not fruit, not liquor, not nothing. I do, however, vaguely recall an occasion in college where we made boilermakers. These boilermakers consisted of a large glass of crappy beer and a shot glass full of cheap whiskey. Now we didn’t pour the whiskey into the beer as specified in Wikipedia. We actually dropped the whole shot glass, whiskey and glass, into the beer and chugged. I never thought of that as a cocktail before, but I guess it qualifies.

Anyway, blurry memories are as close as I want to get to beer cocktails and even the call of The Session isn’t enough to make me want to revisit the topic. Perhaps after reading other responses I will change my mind. Perhaps not.

Thing of the Day: Ultimate Beer

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March
6
2009

The Session: Love Lager

A bushel of crabs
A cooler of Natty Boh
That’s Pleasant Living

Don’t tell anyone
“Budweiser” was my first word
Really… tell no one

Out on the sailboat
Chesapeake breeze in my hair
Clenching a Yuengling

Written by Captain Hops.

The Session - Lager

References: This post is part of The Session. The Session is a monthly beer-themed group writing project for bloggers. This month’s theme is Lager Love and it is hosted by The Beer Nut.

Okay, I am going to admit something. I am happy to drink any ole lager you put in my hands. Don’t get me wrong, if you send me to the fridge I will likely grab the most interesting ale I can find. But, I am perfectly content with a lager if that’s what’s available.

I am a strong believer in drinking to the occasion. For me lager occasions are while eating crabs, sailing, mowing the lawn, around pools (and wherever no bottles are allowed), and weddings. Why weddings? Generally lagers don’t fill me up in case I want to dance and they’re not as strong as a lot of craft beers so I won’t make an ass out of myself if I give a toast (Of course that’s not a guarantee!)

Cheers!

Thing of the Day: Ultimate Beer

February
6
2009

The Session: Tripel Interrupted

why does the boss call
when I’m trying to fulfil
my Session duties

At last the Tripel
Reaches my anxious lips… Damn!
Not the phone again

Finally at peace
I find that a Tripel is
Just the thing I need

Written by Captain Hops.

the-session-tripels

References: This post is part of The Session. The Session is a monthly beer-themed group writing project for bloggers. This month’s theme is a Tripel for Two and it is hosted by Musings over a Pint.

This session really didn’t work out the way I had planned. Normally, I would be sharing a tripel with my wife but she is working late tonight. Since I couldn’t enjoy her company, I thought I would cut out of work early and enjoy the company of the tripel, trippel, and triple I brought home for the occasion. But then someone scheduled a late meeting, and then after that my boss called, and then he wouldn’t shut up, and finally just as I popped the first one a telemarketer called. The third haiku is pure fiction, because I was not even a few sips into the first sample and I learned that I needed to deal with another emergency.

Since you will not be getting any new reviews from me today, I hope you can enjoy some haiku of tripels past:

Cheers!

Thing of the Day: Ultimate Beer

December
5
2008

The Session: Prohibition’s Repeal

Prohibition

an experiment
shockingly ineffective
sensibly repealed

Aftermath

With the damage done
It takes decades to restore
Our lost treasure

Neo-Prohibition

“Do not drink and drive”
Is an excellent message.
“Do not drink” is not.

Written by Captain Hops.

References: This post is part of The Session. The Session is a monthly beer-themed group writing project for bloggers. This month’s theme is The Repeal of Prohibition and it is hosted by the 21st Amendment Brewery.

You can read all about Prohibition in the United States in Wikipedia. Luckily for us it ended 75 years ago today when Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st amendment to the constitution. It was a spectacular failure. We should learn from the experience.

I’m going to have a beer today to celebrate. And perhaps some nice whiskey too. Cheers!

Thing of the Day: Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America

November
7
2008

The Session: My Favorite Beer

My favorite beer
Depends on the day, place, and
Cash in my pocket

The best part of beer
Is trying the untried and
Seeking something new

Living in the now
And savoring what’s at hand
Really can’t be beat

Written by Captain Hops.

References: This post is part of The Session. The Session is a monthly beer-themed group writing project for bloggers. This month’s theme is Favorite Beer and it is hosted by A World of Brews.

What is my favorite beer? Frankly, it’s the one I’m drinking. Of course there are some beers that I like more than others. But I wouldn’t say that my “go to” beer is necessarily my favorite. I wouldn’t even say that there is a “go to” beer. If you did a fridge analysis over the course of the past year, you’d be hard pressed to come up with a lead occupant. If you compared an analysis of this year versus last year, you’d also see big changes.

I love to drink local beers. When I lived in Portland, Oregon, I frequently drank Bridgeport, Deschutes, and Rogue at home. When I went out, I’d go to Lucky Lab, McMenamins, Laurelhurst, or any of the many brewpubs.

Now that I live in Baltimore, Maryland, I frequently drink Clipper City, Wild Goose, Flying Dog, Troeg, Victory, Dogfish Head, and Brewer’s Alley. I don’t get out as much anymore because I am old and Baltimore just isn’t as family friendly as Portland, but the Brewer’s Art offers a fantastic beer and food experience.

When times are good, I will reach higher up the shelf to try something new and exotic. When times are tougher, I work hard to find quality and value for my hard earned beer buying buck.

I’m breaking the rules of this Session, but I will not name a favorite beer. The reason I like beer is because it is impossible to keep a favorite for longer than 15 minutes.

I am dying to see how others respond to this question.

Thing of the Day: Ultimate Beer

October
3
2008

The Session: Beer and Memories

Youth

Feeling kind of old
I grab a pack of cheap beer
and relive my youth

Indiscretion

Remember that time
We drank all that Beast and then
Skinny dipped? Er… No.

Fuji-san

That can of Kirin
We carried up Mount Fuji
And drank at sunrise

Written by Captain Hops.

References: This post is part of The Session. The Session is a monthly beer-themed group writing project for bloggers. This month’s theme is Beer and Memories and it is hosted by Bathtub Brewery.

Beer is all about creating new memories or reminiscing about old ones. Memories are funny things. Some are crystal clear, some are hazy. Memories are often inextricably linked to the senses with long forgotten scraps suddenly floating to the surface with the exposure to a sound, a smell, a sight, or a flavor. Here are a couple of beer memories as they were or may have been.

Cheers!

Thing of the Day: York Cherry Pub Table Set with 2 Leather Chairback Swivel Bar Stools