BEER - Slippery When Wet

I had my final beer of the year tonight as I listened to music and played an online game called "Konkro.io". 

The beer is called Slippery When Wet IPA from Tripping Animals Brewery out of Doral, Florida. It features two hops with which I am unfamiliar, Lotus and Trident. It poured nicely from the can with little head, and it had a faint unplaceable scent. The flavor was decent, but it wasn't remarkable in any way. Basically the beer wasn't bad or good, just serviceable. If it hadn't been for the can's artwork, it might have been a total bust, but if nothing else, I now know which kinds of hops to be wary of.

BEER - Congress Street

I had dinner at my sister's house Friday night (as I do more often than not, hanging out with her and her husband, and whichever nieces are home), and the brewery of the night was Trillium Brewing, who have locations all around Boston, including near Fenway Park.

I had the Congress Street IPA. It was fantastically piney when I opened it, and it poured with a very small head. The citrus understones and a hint of melon made for a great flavor profile, and it went very well with the steaks we had for dinner. I've always been a fan of Galaxy hops (right behind Mosaic and Citra in my book), and it didn't disappoint. A very good beer.

Soju Notes

I've meant to update this for a few weeks, but now I am finally getting around to more reporting on all things soju (the South Korean drink that is roughly akin to Japanese sake, but not quite the same).

I began my adventures into soju with Soon Hari's Apple Mango back in early May (read here). It was fantastic stuff, and I imagined that other flavors would be similarly great. How wrong was I?

So a couple of days later I tried two other flavors from Soon Hari. The Apple Soju had a sugar-substitute tang that overpowered the flavor, and ultimately ruined the experience. And the Citrus Soju was fine, but not great. Throw in another Apple Mango at the end, and I learned the hard way that I cannot handle 3 bottles of soju. To be fair I had 3 beers afterward, but either way, A) the other flavors were not good, and B) the next day was not pleasant (haha).

My next experience with soju was on August 2nd, when I brought a couple of bottles of Soon Hari's Yogurt Soju to my sister's house (I was cooking her and my bro-in-law dinner). I also brought a bottle of Banzai Bunny's Super Fresh flavor to compare and contrast. The Yogurt flavor was okay, but it didn't pair well with the boneless pork (soy sauce marinade), ramen, tomatoes & pea pods. Perhaps on its own it would be more enjoyable, but we all switched it out for beer (me) and wine (them) after a couple of shots. And as for the Banzai Bunny, I'd actually tried it the night before, but it turned out to be pure 16% alcohol, with no discernable flavor. It had a mildly pleasing aftertaste, but it's not for me.

In summary: except for the Apple Mango from Soon Hari, I really do not care for soju. It was fun diving into a new thing, but I think it's safe to say that the soju experiment is over, unless I ever travel to South Korea, and taste it from the source...

Sake

I've never had sake (a Japanese alcohol made from rice), but because it has been so prevalent in many of the Japanese shows I've been watching on Netflix this calendar year, I decided to try some. Back at the beginning of the month I'd bought a 200 ml (roughly 6.75 oz) Chika Sake Cup from Hakutsuru, and tonight I finally opened it up.

I have to say, so far I am not a fan. To be sure, it's not a top shelf brand, but it smells very boozy, tastes very boozy, and I can feel the slightest sip slide down my throat and thorax like fire. The only plus was a pleasant aftertaste, which I can't quite place (a mild honey perhaps). I won't give up on the type of drink as a whole, but this particular brand, despite the cute and reusable glass container, isn't for me. I do like the cup though, with its three cute images.

Glassware

After the taste-tests of various flavors of soju, out of a small repurposed three-dollar spice bottle, I decided to upgrade my experience by buying a 4-pack of actual traditional soju glasses (brand name Jinro). They came wrapped in fantastic block print paper, and the image printed on them is very cool. Going forward I'll be able to respect the custom, with the flavors I truly enjoy.

Soju - SoonHari Apple Mango

So tonight I had my first bottle of soju, a type of alcohol from South Korea distilled from tapioca and rice. I decided on the apple mango flavor from SoonHari, and it was the perfect choice. I don't keep shot glasses in my house because I only drink beer at home, so I used a small glass spice jar I snagged for $3 at Target. The Apple Mango compared to the Peach Tree schnapps I drank far too often back in college, but a lighter, smoother version. The five shots of 12% alcohol went down nicely, with no bitterness or boozy aftertaste. I enjoyed it very much, and despite downing the entire 375 ml (12.68 oz) in under an hour, I was only a bit buzzed. Such a great experience! I can't wait to try some other flavors...

BEER - Pacific Coast Time

I was drawing and playing online games this evening, and I decided to have a couple of beers. I had picked up a 4-pack of cans a few days ago, of Pacific Coast Time, a West Coast DIPA. 

Hailing from the Mighty Squirrel Brewing Company out of Waltham, MA, this double IPA is wonderfully pine-y, with subtle grapefruit undertones. And it has just the right bitterness. It pours very clear from the can, with very little head. None of that silly foam to take up space in a glass! And check out the artwork (often the reason I opt for one beer over another of similar profile) - a wave of hops. Very cool. And lastly, the beer definitely lives up to its name. It reminds me of many of the beers I've had with my brother over in Northern California. Highly recommended.

And for all of us Red Sox fans, they have a second location next to Fenway Park. Check it out!

BEER - Lake Life Pale Ale

I was at my sister's house for dinner last night with her and her husband, and on the way I snagged a 4-pack of cans of Lake Life Pale Ale from Hobbs Brewing Company out of Ossipee, NH (they also have a tavern in West Ossipee). It is a fantastic mix of Citra and Simcoe hops. We had it with grilled beef filets and garden salad, and it was a great match for the meal. At 5.9% it doesn't slam into you, but it does sneak up a bit.

 

I've had other beers from Hobbs, including the Jacked Up DIPA and the Hi, Jack! NEIPA, both great ones, so it was nice to find yet another good brew from this particular place. Recommended.

International Beverages

I've spent a great deal of time over the last year (and even more since the calendar turned to 2024) watching (and very much enjoying) K-Dramas, as well as Japanese shows of various styles. Alcohol can be found in many of them, especially the K-Dramas, so I snagged a bottle each of South Korean soju and Japanese sake for future taste tests. Results to come...

90s One Hit Wonders on AXS

I was watching an old episode of "The Top Ten Revealed" on AXS tv and it was about the One Hit Wonders of the 90's. Here is the list as presented, with my commentary, and the caveat that all music is subjective (no 'right or wrong' answers, merely opinions based on personal taste):

• 10: I Touch Myself - Divinyls - I didn't care for it then, and I don't care for it now. Her pronunciation of the letter 'S' is SO grating, and I prefer my songs to be less overt in their sexuality.
• 9: Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something - I enjoy the chorus and the instrumental parts, but the rest of the song just feels weak.
• 8: Bitch - Meredith Brooks - I enjoy the solo and the chorus, but the rest is dull.
• 7: Jump Around - House of Pain - I still really like the energy and vibe of the song (thanks, Hollywood), but the video just rubs me the wrong way.
• 6: Baby Got Back - Sir Mix a Lot - Every once in awhile this song still hits right. Plus the way it's featured in an episode (S9E7) of "FRIENDS" is hilarious.
• 5: Mambo #5 - Lou Bega - Definitely a product of its time, enjoyable for nostalgia purposes only.
• 4: What is Love - Haddaway - On its own or in the "SNL" skits & movie (Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan), this song still holds up quite well when it turn up at parties.
• 3: Tubthumping - Chumbawumba - In small doses this song still holds up well as a party anthem, especially the chorus.
• 2: No Rain - Blind Melon - I liked it then (until it was overplayed), and I like it now. It feels timeless. However, I've never had any use for the annoying 'Bee Girl'.
• 1: I'm Too Sexy - Right Said Fred - Um, no. I didn't like it then, and I don't much care for it now. Or the video. It's just not my style on any level.

Overall I wasn't a fan of the music that was popular in the 1990's. I didn't care for grunge, and I could take or leave all of the boy bands and solo-girl pop stars. For me the first half of that decade was still all about shoegaze, and the second half was singer/songwriters (Jewel, Tori Amos, Liz Phair, Sheryl Crow, etc...), with dominating threads of R.E.M., The Cranberries, Cocteau Twins, No Doubt and Dave Matthews (plus all of their live shows) weaving their way throughout my particular music tapestry. So it's no wonder that only a few of the ten songs above resonated with me. I'd enjoy songs 7, 4, 3 and 2 if they were slipped into my current rotation, but I wouldn't actively seek them out, nor miss the rest.

Feel free to leave your opinions in the comments section below. I'm definitely interested to hear others' takes on this particular TopTen!

BEER - Atlantic Fog NEPA

Atlantic Fog New England IPA is a great beer from Moon Hill Brewing (part of the Gardner Ale House) in Gardner, MA. I'll paraphrase from my review on Untappd.

The beer has a piney scent and flavor, but it's not super bitter. There is a floral aftertaste which is faint but quite pleasing. And the 6.9% ABV doesn't hit you all at once, nor is there a boozy note to be found. I like it. And since I haven't been to the Ale House since it began making beer to take home, or hung out with Jay in awhile, perhaps it's time to have a few from the tap sometime this year...

BEER - Star Gazer IPA

My first beer of the new year is Star Gazer IPA from Element Brewing Company out of Millers Falls, MA. I had a few of them last night.

Star Gazer a session IPA (4.5%) with a faint floral scent out of the can. It's flavor profile is rather muted, with nothing too outstanding. That being said, it's a pleasant drinking experience. I'd put it on the list of beers I wouldn't necessarily seek out, but that I'd order if it was on tap somewhere, because it won't steal focus from the meal, and would probably pair well with most pub fare.