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!