from the twisted minds of snm
Next up in the SA variety pack is this black lager. Pours opaque virtually black, medium light head. There is the roast aroma, but not of fresh brewed coffee. Its a bit mustier with a touch of shoyu. Mixed with some hop aroma. The medium bitterness lingers, carbonation lessens some of the medium heavy mouthfeel. Not bad, but I’d like more malt.
2 out 4 coffee monkeys.
I’ve had these bags for a little while now, the board roller this is second season. The Patagonia is well constructed, a soft bag with wheels. Hypolon like material holding up to travel. The webbing handles on three sides are designed nicely that they don’t cut into hand. The two little internal pockets are too small to be of much use. The two hooks interface almost perfectly to the duffel, I didn’t use the duffel for travel before because of lack of wheels, but with it hooked to the board bag it worked well. It becomes more like handling one bag. The print blurbs for the ASO claim its carry on sized, I don’t think so. It’s big enough that without all the video gear, it can fit clothes and gear for the 10 day trip easily. The ASO is constructed with top quality materials. It has stowable backpack straps, but I couldn’t use them on the first trip I used it, because I was already using a backpack as my carryon. I instead used one of straps as a shoulder strap. It worked, but was not ideal and if it were longer would have been pretty unpleasant for me.
Anyway, this combo gets the monkey thumbs up.
4 out 4 anvil shaped monkey objects.
Next SA variety pack is a lager pack. This is their take on a pils. Pours clear light amber, light head. Strong hop aroma, pine. Strong bitter and astringent. This is too much like an IPA for my taste without much else for me to enjoy, no matter how noble it is.
1 out 4 noble monkeys.
I guess finding myself now a homeowner, I’m buying household appliances now. This purchase of a Braun immersion/stick blender was prompted by the need to make whipped cream and not finding the old hand crank mixer we used to have. I also could not locate the electric mixer. Both probably long gone. It appears manual mixers do not exist in stores anymore, there was one at the Kahala cookware store, but it was a horrible made in China affair. If it were an antique it might be kinda cool, as it was constructed like something from centuries ago. So then my search turned to alternatives. I didn’t want to really get a conventional electric mixer as I didn’t see myself using it often, but then looked into stick blenders. After some searching, I settled on this Braun I found in stock at the local Target. It’s a good step above the base cheap models that were more available in the stores. The beauty of immersion blendesr is you can blend and/or mix in whatever container your working with. Aside from the usual blender tip, it came with a whisk and mini food processor attachments, which maxes it multi use. The removable tip design makes cleaning easy too. Continue reading ‘Domestic Tools’
This one’s been sitting in fridge for a while waiting to be sampled. Brewed for Japanese company, by Belgian brewery. Pours a medium dark reddish amber, slight haze, strong head. Fruit, citrus and spice aroma, but not overwhelming. You can tell there’s coriander, but it doesn’t smack you in the face with it, and there’s other things going on. Hops and bitter comes in, but very well balanced. Woohoo, the 8% ABV is kicking in on my empty stomach there! Medium mouth feel with some sweetness. I’m finding this a very intriguing ale, Belgian style flavorings, but not overwhelming. Perhaps its the buzz on this pau hana Friday, but I’m enjoying it.
Easy 3 out 4 Japanese Belgian monkeys.
In the variety pack, the Amber Bock pours a clear amber, light head. Malt with mild hop aroma. Clean finish, medium mouthfeel.
Not a big fan of this one. 2 out 4 amber monkeys.
Next in variety pack is this Oatmeal Stout. Pours black, light head. Roast malt aroma, well modulated hop. Even bitterness that fades. Astringent finish keeps it from feeling too heavy although the mouthfeel is medium thick.
Perfectly serviceable stout, but somewhat disappointing. At least it isn’t something like an India Stout Ale or something like that. Barely makes 3 out 4 oatmeal monkeys.
Next in the winter variety pack, Old Fezziwig Ale. Pours clear dark amber, medium head. Spice aroma, roast malt. Citrus notes hiding in there. Mild bitter that does not persist. Medium thick mouthfeel. Actually not as heavy as I thought it might be, but not a lite either.
Just barely 3 of 4 Fezziwiggy monkeys
In stores now Samuel Adams winter variey pack, and I am happy. Winter brews tend toward darker heartier styles. Here is probably the darkest in the pack, the chocolate bock. Pours very dark brown bordering on black, fairly light head. Cocoa is pretty prominent flavoring and aroma, surpsingly not strongly roast flavor. Medium mouthfeel, clean finish. Actually pretty easy drinking, but I expect more punch from a bock.
I’ll give it barely 3 out 4 chocolaty monkeys.
Discovered at Marukai, this Waku Waku Farm Kanazawa Dark Ale. Pours dark brown, medium light head. Roast malt aroma, caramel tones. surprisingly not very bitter. This is actually a pretty mellow and clean beer. There also isn’t a whole lot of character.
Just barely 3 out 4 waku waku monkeys.