The Quiet Man

Illinois 65, Iowa 54

2012-02-26T20:04:00.000-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #330: Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer

2012-02-24T23:37:00.002-06:00

The beer of the weekend is Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer, brewed by the Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub of Idaho Springs, Colorado.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The clearly marked “BEST BY” date printed on the label is “May 14 12.”

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color looks black but I think it is very dark brown; light passed through when I held it to a lamp. A pathetic pour (my fault) yielded a pathetic, one-finger of lightly tanned head, which dissipated quickly to leave a bubbly ring around the edge.

Smell: Cocoa — surprise, surprise. Caramel, dark chocolate, and dark malts keep it from being too hot chocolaty and there are hints of roasted malts. The label says honey is added but I do not smell it.

Taste: The flavors are muted and the mouthfeel is watery. The taste, though, mostly mirrors the smell: cocoa, dark chocolate, and dark malts. The roasted malts, however, play a much more prominent role. They do not dominate, but the roasted quality is much more pronounced in the taste.

Drinkability: This is pretty lackluster beer. It is porter with training wheels.

Fun facts about CPWW:

-Style: The folks at Tommyknocker obviously consider it a winter warmer, but the BA Bros classify it as “American Porter.”

-Price: $10.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 5.7 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, buttery cheeses (Brie, Couda, Havarti, Swiss), chocolate, beef, smoked meat, and grilled meat.

-Nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:

Cocoa Porter Winter Warmer Ale has been specially brewed in celebration of the old world tradition of Porters and European Winter Warmers. The addition of pure cocoa powder and honey to each barrel of this unique ale enhances a winter season filled with warm friendships and good times.

-Nerdiness from the label:

Tommyknockers slipped into the mining camps of Idaho Springs in the 1800’s with the discovery of gold in our mountains and streams. These mischievous elves, though hardly ever seen, were often heard singing and working. They guided many fortunate miners from harm’s way and to the gold they sought.

-Idaho Springs is a little hamlet along Interstate 70 west of Denver. It is, as I remember, the first notable town after the rise of the Rockies from the Grain Plains.

The Quiet Man’s grade: C.

Climbing over the paywall

2012-02-24T12:59:00.003-06:00

The parent company of the Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen, the megalomanic Gannett, announced Wednesday it “plans to switch all of its 80 community newspapers to a paid model by the end of the year” — i.e., start charging for access to online content.

This was, I think, inevitable — especially for Gannett, which really does not care about the survival of its community newspapers whatsoever. (I bet the folks at the CRG are drooling uncontrollably.) The industry’s schizophrenic approach to online news — offering for free what can be bought in a dead tree edition — is suicide and erecting so-called “paywalls” has become a way to adapt the traditional business model to the Internet age. There has been a mixed response to paywalls — some are successful while others are complete failures — but I think they will become standard unless newspapers find a better, supplemental revenue stream. (The big bucks obviously come from advertising.)

(Hot off the press: the Los Angeles Times just announced its plans to implement a “membership program.”)

News of the Gannett paywall is both a curse and blessing for me. I usually gank photos of Hawkeye football and basketball games from DMR or P-C photo galleries and will be unable to do so for free starting this fall. (When it comes to Iowa basketball photos, nobody does it better than the CRG. The P-C photogs cannot take a quality basketball pic to save their lives. Plus, they butcher the lucky shots by cropping them like a toddler with a X-ACTO knife.) I also read the DMR online to stay informed about legislative wheeling and dealing. However, I have thought about subscribing to a local paper when I move into new digs in August and Gannett’s paywall is an added incentive to do so.

Ironically, I rarely read newspapers until the past couple years. Even as a high school and college journalist I almost never read rival papers or articles written by staffmates unless I were copyediting. However, I started reading news after moving to California. I do not remember any specific reason; I gradually browsed paper websites more and more. Now it is a daily ritual.

Though I have always liked dead tree versions, I did not start buying them until recently. It is a rare occurrence, though. Last April I had a month-long love affair with the printed version of the NYT after it erected an online paywall, but now pick it up every once in a while. (One definitely gets $2.50 worth of news, and then some, but I think it is a lot to pay for a daily newspaper. The last time I checked the Sunday edition is $6.) I made a New Year’s resolution to read a dead tree edition every day, but that effort has fallen victim to frugality and laziness. Why buy something at a newsstand when I can access it at home for free?

Such is the conundrum facing the newspaper industry — and it only gets worse. I remember listening to an episode of NPR’s On Point about the NYT paywall. One caller vehemently opposed the paywall, saying he did not want to pay for news. Why should he pay for online news when he is already paying for Internet service? He would, he said, be paying twice for the same thing. His logic seemed a little strange but I understood where he was coming from: he assumes news is inherently free (since he has probably been able to access it for free online his entire adult life) and the idea of paying for it offends him. His oddball comment does bring up another good point: nobody directly pays the television news networks for news. Actually, in a roundabout way I think cable subscription costs are kicked back to the networks since cable providers need to subscribe to stations, but one usually writes a check to the cable provider and not CNN and its ilk.

So what is the newspaper industry to do? I have no clue, but I will likely start subscribing to the P-C or CRG come August. The trouble now is deciding which one.

Iowa 67, Wisconsin 66

2012-02-23T23:15:00.000-06:00

The Novel Diary: Week 58

2012-02-20T22:28:00.001-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

Happy Presidents’ Day. Is it just me, or did it seem like a really big deal this year? There are always Presidents’ Day sales and whatnot (fitting, no?), but it seemed people were gaga about it this time around. Anyway, I think this is an appropriate time to embed “Lump.”

Well, another week gone and I am still brainstorming chapter ideas — many of which will probably be merged with the chapter ideas I will keep and order. Having advanced to the “Spring” chapters, I think it is safe to say I am getting there; ordering should be right around the corner…

Iowa 78, Indiana 66

2012-02-19T21:47:00.000-06:00

Besides the big win, the best thing about tonight’s game was a funny incident that happened in our section in the second half.

The Hawks had gone cold and Indiana cut Iowa’s 19 point lead to 10. The Hawks needed a bucket and Matt Gatens provided one with a clutch three. On the next Iowa possession, Gatens launched a bomb from 25 feet and it went through, whipping the crowd into a frenzy.

Many Indiana fans were in attendance and none were happy. (My dad wondered if they came in force because they assumed the Hoosiers would romp.) After Gatens’ two treys, the frustration boiled to the surface for one Indiana fan sitting in the row behind us and a few seats to my left. As Gatens brought the ball up the court on what I think was the next Iowa possession, he yelled, “Shoot it, asshole!”

There were mumbles of discontent among us Hawk fans, but no immediate reaction; no one really cared. However, after Gatens spotted up from behind the arch again and drained another three everybody sitting nearby let the Indiana fan have it. We all stood, pointed, and yelled at the him. “You asked for it, buddy!” The two seats next to me were empty so I took the opportunity to walk closer, point to him with both arms extended, and yell “YEAH!” immediately after Gatens’ shot dropped through the net. His face as red as the Indiana jersey he was wearing (he even wore the ugly, candy striped warm-up pants, too), he meekly flashed his middle finger at the court and tried his best to ignore us. The woman sitting next to him, who I can only assume was his girlfriend (also wearing red), was mortified. It was beautiful.

Beer of the Weekend #329: Foster's Lager

2012-02-17T22:36:00.003-06:00

Until last week I had completely forgotten about my Great Adjunct Adventure. It has been on hiatus since August (BotW #266: Bud Light) so I decided it was high time to resurrect it. From now on I want to set aside at least one Friday every month for a GAA tasting so I can enjoy a past favorite, guilt free. (A recent re-taste of Ayinger Weizenbock got me craving wheat beer so I bought a couple half-liter bottles of Franziskaner.)

As I did at the beginning of the GAA (though unintentionally), I want to start off with a regular macro instead of beer-fortified water. I will move on to those next to get them out of the way early. Tonight I am going “down under” and am surprised I have not reviewed this beer before. The beer of the weekend is Foster’s Lager, brewed by the Foster’s Group Limited of Southbank, Australia.

Though everyone knows it simply as “Foster’s,” its proper name is “Foster’s Lager.”

Tonight I am using my 200 ml Iowa City Brew Fest tasting mug. I want to showcase the color and access the scents and flavors without the aluminum interfering, so the sampling mug will do just fine. Then I will hit it straight from the can.

Serving type: Classic 750 ml (25.4-ounce) oil can. What I assume is the best by date on the bottom of the can is “JUN1112.”

Appearance: Poured into a 200 ml sampling mug. The color is clean, clear straw. Two fingers of white head dissipated slowly (surprisingly) and left a ring of foam around the edge.

Smell: I think this one is corn-based. Very light malts and tons of sweet adjunct. It also has a light perfume smell.

Taste: It basically mirrors the smell, and the corn-heavy malt bill is very noticeable. There are a few light malts and it has a small bite.

Drinkability: I think the can is what provides most of the flavor. It is not offensive and is a decent lawnmower beer. Now I know why Australians don’t drink it. Enough said.

Fun facts about Foster’s:

-Style: BA classifies it as “American Adjunct Lager.”

-Price: $2.79/oil can at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: Beers of the World recommends 41-45ºF.

-Alcohol content: There is no consensus among my sources, but all peg the ABV a tenth or two around 5 percent.

-Food pairings: Beers of the World recommends, “Salads, shellfish.”

-Here is some interesting history regarding the “oil can” from the Foster’s website:

Foster’s 25.4 oz. cans arrived in the U.S. in 1972. They resembled motor oil cans so, naturally, Americans nicknamed them “Foster’s Oil Cans.” And the name’s stuck every since. Truth is, we quite like it. Almost as much as we like what’s inside.

-My cousin studied for a semester or two in Australia in 2000, and Foster’s was served at her sending off party. I was still too young to drink (in front of my parents, at least), but everyone else at the party seemed to like it; it had a lot of bite, they said. Everyone drank it from bottles, and I remember my mom calling it “dark beer.” So sad.

The Quiet Man’s grade: D+.

Brown-nosing Xi Jinping

2012-02-17T12:32:00.001-06:00

There is really no way to sugarcoat it, no matter how much Iowa’s media drools over meaty memories of Star Trek posters and prepubescent readings of Twain: Iowans kissed Xi Jinping’s ass — majorly.

Jinping, China’s Vice President and supposed heir apparent to the People’s Republic’s top post (I cannot remember the title or even who holds it), flew to California last night after a whirlwind, two-day tour of the Hawkeye State. The media and government hyped it as a nostalgic return: Jinping visited Iowa in 1985 as a feed cooperative chief and humbly “wandered the state in [a] simple van, and bunked in Iowans’ bedrooms” as he visited farms and picnicked with farmers. It was his first trip to the United States and Iowans shaped his first impression of the country and its people. Xi, as Iowa Public Radio and the DMR have referred to him, apparently had very fond memories of Iowa and was invited back by Governor Terry Branstad. He accepted the invitation and landed Wednesday in Muscatine to great fanfare and much brown-nosing.

While eating dinner at Polly’s Pies with my uncle a few years ago, I could not help overhearing the conversation at a booth across from us. A family of four sat there, and among them was a teenage girl quizzing her parents about things she learned in school. She asked, “Did you know America is the only superpower left?” I do not remember what her parents said, but it was plain to me that, unsurprisingly, idealistic American exceptionalism is alive and well in the OC. If the United States is the only remaining superpower, I cannot help wondering what she, her teachers, and her parents make of the grandiose and lavish treatment of Jinping and his boss — and our blatant whoring and appeasement.

(For anyone visiting SoCal, I highly recommend tracking down a Polly’s. The food is good, the Friday clam chowder special is excellent, and the pies are to die for.)

On Wednesday night, Jinping was the honor of a state dinner — where guests “couldn’t move about without an escort once they were seated.” (I cannot help wondering if any Iowa beer was on the menu. I seem to remember the DMR mentioning Madhouse Pale Ale.) Branstad kindly dismissed China’s awful human rights record and claims of industrial piracy as problems for administrators in DC. (I find it incredibly ironic that a red Republicrat graciously welcomed and honored a communist and referred to China as a “great nation.”) Jinping met acquaintances from his ’85 visit and toured farms. For two days, IPR was abuzz with his latest movements and the DMR seemed to track his every step. Yesterday, the paper’s coverage of his visit included this graph:

The Chinese vice president’s trip here is the most significant showcase in foreign politics since Pope John Paul II’s sermon here in 1979 and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev’s 1959 stop at a farm near Coon Rapids amid tense Cold War posturing.

Jinping was treated like a powerful man we desperately need to impress, and I suppose that is becoming given our economic woes. Unlike our overall trade trend with the Chinese, “there’s a hopeful storyline in grain and livestock as exports boom. No foreign country bought more agricultural goods last year than China, and Iowa farmers and landowners profited.” China, the DMR article stated, recently committed to buy $4.3 billion more in Iowa soybeans.

Frankly, I am torn. I think it is proper to treat foreign dignitaries respectfully, just as we would want to be treated abroad. However, Jinping is poised to lead a brutal totalitarian regime, which does not give one hoot about the personal freedoms coveted by the west. China’s economic emergence has come at a staggering cost both for itself and others: its cities are shrouded in thick smog, its rivers are toxic, its people are exploited for low-wage work, its dissidents are silenced, its technology is pirated. Should we honor people like that just because they have money and control vast, potential markets for our products? Should we suspend our morals to do business with profiteering thieves, polluters, and exploiters? Terry Branstad thinks we should. After all, people need to eat whether they are repressed or not.

Penn State 69, Iowa 64

2012-02-16T22:04:00.002-06:00

The Bookworm: Pieces of the Frame

2012-02-16T16:09:00.009-06:00

Pieces of the Frame by John McPhee. 308 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. 1975.

All of us looked now at the family that was having the birthday picnic, for the father had stood up shouting and had flung a large piece of the birthday cake at his wife. It missed her and spattered in bits in the branches of a tree. She shouted back at him something to the effect that he was depraved and cruel, and he in turn bellowed that she was a carbon of her bloody mother and that he was fed up. She said he had had all she could ever take, and was going home — to England, apparently. With that, she ran up the hillside and soon was out of sight in the pines. At first, he did not follow, but he suddenly was on his feet and shouting serial threats as he too went out of range in the pines. Meanwhile, their children, all but one, were crying. The one that wasn’t crying was the girl whose birthday it was, and she just sat without moving, under a conical orange hat, staring emptily in the direction of the lake. (Page 97.)

For Christmas I bought Encounters with the Archdruid at Prairie Lights for a friend. While at the front counter, the cashier asked me, “Did you see McPhee when he was here?”

I froze. My eyes almost popped out of my head. “McPhee was here? When?”

She paused to think. As I stood there, eagerly awaiting her answer, I hoped she would say he visited before my return to IC. Alas: “I think it was November or December of last year [2010].”

My God. McPhee — the only author whose reading I would eagerly want to attend — was in Iowa City and I missed him. Unbelievable. This is what I get for not checking the local reading schedules.

(For whatever reason, I always want to say his name à la Marty McFly’s supervisor, “The Jitz,” in Back to the Future Part II: “MCPHEE!” (I swear I would not have done that had I gone to his reading. It would have been very tempting, though.) ANYWAY…)

Pieces of the Frame is a collection of 11 pieces of literary journalism McPhee published between 1963 and 1975; the articles originally appeared in the likes of The Atlantic (now forever tainted in the eyes of Iowans), The New Yorker (posh, pretentious, and revered), and Playboy (the rumor is true: Playboy prints really good articles). Each is classic, curious McPhee; the subjects range from Scotch whiskey, to firewood, to the All-American Futurity, the world’s richest horse race. “Pieces of the Frame,” the book’s namesake essay, is about McPhee’s family trip to Loch Ness, which the opening quote was lifted from.

Unlike my past experiences with McPhee’s writing, I was not blown away by Pieces. Along with my favorite stories — most notably “The Search for Marvin Gardens,” “Basketball and Beefeaters,” and “Ruidoso” — Pieces includes a couple complete bores. “Travels in Georgia,” “From Birnam Wood to Dunsinane,” and “Firewood” are well-written and interesting, but they did not appeal to me. “Centre Court” was 37 pages of everything I never wanted to know about the Wimbledon tennis championship. After reading 10 pages, I flipped ahead hoping it would end soon. Nope. Again, it was interesting — but goddamn! The one good thing about “Centre Court” was this description of Clark Graebner, which I am sure was the inspiration for Dos Equis’ “Most Interesting Man in the World” commercial campaign:

Above his mouth is a mustache that somehow suggests that this man has been to places most people do not imagine exist. (Page 165.)

However, regardless of their appeal, all 11 pieces exhibit McPhee’s mastery of syntax and composition. The segues between scenes and subjects are the definition of seamless. As far as I can recall, there is not a single awkward sentence in the whole book; everything is understandable and fluid. Though not as impressive to me as Uncommon Carriers or Encounters with the Archdruid, Pieces is nonetheless a shelf-worthy collection of masterful literary journalism and nonfiction.

A selection of the new words I learned: All definitions courtesy of my MacBook dictionary. Gorp: “another term for trail mix.” Plastron: in this instance it means “the part of a tortoise's or turtle's shell forming the underside.” Scute: “the short tail of a hare, rabbit, or deer.” Loblolly: “a pine tree of the southern U.S. that has very long slender needles and is an important source of timber.” Bole: “the trunk of a tree.” Dermestid: “a small beetle of a family ( Dermestidae) that includes many kinds that are destructive (esp. as larvae) to hides, skin, fur, wool, and other animal substances.” Simonize: “polish (a motor vehicle).” Kneehole (used as “kneehole desk”): “a space for the knees, esp. one under a desk.” Prognathous: “(esp. of a person) having a projecting lower jaw or chin.” Effrontery: “insolent or impertinent behavior.” Parboil: “partly cook (food) by boiling.” Otolith: “each of three small oval calcareous bodies in the inner ear of vertebrates, involved in sensing gravity and movement.” Bateau: “a light flat-bottomed riverboat used in eastern and central North America.” Codpiece: “a pouch, esp. a conspicuous and decorative one, attached to a man's breeches or close-fitting hose to cover the genitals, worn in the 15th and 16th centuries.” Butcher block: “a material used to make kitchen worktops and tables, consisting of strips of hardwood glued together.” Monadnocks: “an isolated hill or ridge or erosion-resistant rock rising above a peneplain.” Abrade: “scrape or wear away by friction or erosion.” Ogee: “having a double continuous S-shaped curve.” Roughcast: “plaster of lime, cement, and gravel, used on outside walls.” Grampian: “a former local government region in northeastern Scotland, dissolved in 1996.” Odium: “general or widespread hatred or disgust directed toward someone as a result of their actions.” Synecdonche: “a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland's baseball team”).” Ne plus ultra: “the perfect or most extreme example of its kind; the ultimate.” Lissome: “(of a person or their body) thin, supple, and graceful.” Silviculture: “the growing and cultivation of trees.” Futurity (as in “futurity race”): “a horse race for young horses for which entries are made long in advance, sometimes before the horses are born.” Pari-mutuel: “a form of betting in which those backing the first three places divide the losers' stakes (less the operator's commission).”

The Novel Diary: Week 57

2012-02-15T10:48:00.001-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

Welcome, boys and girls, to a Wednesday edition of my novel diary. Though I took the last two nights off to work on my LV recommendation, I have diligently brainstormed chapter ideas and will be ordering them eventually. And there is this development: I have decided to partition the book into four separate parts. It is something I thought about for a while and decided to pull the trigger and try it. If nothing else, it will help as I organize the chapters.

Hot off the Press: The Annual Flower Shop and Gift Card Stimulus edition

2012-02-14T09:33:00.003-06:00

Russian scientists are poised to drill into the subglacial Antarctic Lake Vostok, which has been covered by ice for over 20 million years: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-close-to-entering-vostok-antarcticas-biggest-subglacial-lake/2012/01/27/gIQAbGX0fQ_story.html?hpid=z5.

In an update from the above article: the Russians reached Lake Vostok: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russia-reaches-freshwater-lake-buried-under-miles-of-antarctic-ice-for-millions-of-years/2012/02/08/gIQAL44hyQ_story.html?hpid=z3.

Environmentalists are torn over massive solar power plants that mow swaths of desert and displace many native species: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-desert-20120205,0,7889582.story.

A cartoon handed out in a ninth grade history class at Des Moines' Roosevelt High School "has drawn fire nationally from critics who say it promotes communism": http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012302080055. It seems like the cartoon got capitalism mostly right, but it is not too transparent about communism.

"Student loan debt is pushing an increasing number of young people and their parents toward bankruptcy, according to a survey released Tuesday": http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-student-loan-bankruptcy-20120208,0,1704059.story. Duh!

After 23 years, the Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea's capital of Pyongyang will finally open: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/in-n-korea-an-iconic-hotel-is-set-to-open--23-years-behind-schedule/2012/02/07/gIQAih7z0Q_story.html?hpid=z2.

"The Des Moines Public Charter School is reporting the theft of 53 laptop computers worth more than $27,000": http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/02/09/des-moines-school-is-missing-53-laptop-computers-worth-more-than-27000/. Instead of being stolen, the laptops were not returned from students they were given to in February 2011. This graph is especially dumbfounding:

The police report says, “The school did not compile a list of which laptops were issued to which students. There is not adequate tracking mechanism to determine who did not return their laptops.”

The NRC has approved the construction of new nuclear reactors for the first time since 1978: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/nrc-approves-construction-of-new-nuclear-power-reactors-in-georgia/2012/02/09/gIQA36wv1Q_story.html?hpid=z3.

Iowa legislators are considering a bill that would allow police to attach a GPS tracking device to vehicles owned by suspects if a judge issued a warrant: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Bill-Allowing-GPS-Tracking-Leaves-Some-Uneasy--139147209.html. Didn't the Supreme Court rule against something similar recently?

Friday night drunks from BBC's Panorama: http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9551000/9551239.stm.

Beer of the Weekend #328: Luna Coffee Stout

2012-02-13T23:13:00.002-06:00

Earlier today, BeerAdvocate crashed — during a very inopportune time, I may add. I was in the middle of uploading a BA tailored review of Blackstone when the site became unresponsive. Though a minor annoyance, it does represent a first for me: it is the first time I have found any use for Twitter. The Alström brothers have been keeping the beer world abreast of the situation via Tweets.

Among the beers I picked up last week at John’s for my LV recommendation was this unexpected first sighting of a Hinterland/Green Bay brew in IC: Luna Coffee Stout, brewed by the Green Bay Brewing Company of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Serving type: 16-ounce bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a Guinness imperial pint. The color is an almost opaque black; just a tiny hint of light passed through when I held it to a lamp. Three fingers of thick, milkshake colored head dissipated very slowly and left trails of foam along the glass.

Smell: I caught of whiff of roasted goodness the moment I popped the cap. Espresso, caramel, chocolate, and there are nonroasted version of each keeping it balanced. There is also molasses, toffee, and milk chocolate. It also has oatmeal smoothness as it warms.

Taste: Lots of espresso, though it does not overpower the taste buds. However, it does seem to dominate the other flavors, which it keeps cowering in its shadow. Fleeting hints of caramel, chocolate, molasses, and lactose cross the tongue. The mouthfeel is dry, but also a touch creamy.

Drinkability: It is some pretty sinister stuff, and I would not mind drinking it with that chick from the Aaron Rodgers / Discount Double Check commercials (that is, if she has time away from hanging out at her State Farm office).

Fun facts about LCS:

-Style: Hinterland calls it “Stout.”

-Price: $2.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: My recommendation is 50-55ºF. I think that is a safe range.

-Alcohol content: 5.8 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: Generic pairings for “stout” listed in Mosher’s Tasting Beer (which I really need to sit down and read) include “hearty, rich food; steak, meat pies; classic with oysters; stronger versions with chocolate.”

-Here is some poorly proof nerdiness from the Hinterland/Green Bay website:

Luna Coffee Stout pours pitch black with hues deep mahogany. The two finger, fluffy, tan head recedes slowly leaving a nice, full lace for a very impressive look. With a solid, yet not overpowering aroma of coffee, you can still smell a hint of chocolate. The bold, rich taste of creamy coffee doesn't overwhelm the rest of the flavors leaving a hint of chocolate to finish. On a cold winter night, you couldn't ask for a better cold beer to warm you up.

-Thank goodness for my Guinness glass: 16 ounces of beast. It has been a while since I used it, so I was eager to fill it up. I should have used it for Sprecher’s Irish Stout, but it slipped my mind.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

The Townie Bar Challenge: Blackstone

2012-02-11T22:19:00.005-06:00

Blackstone
503 Westbury Drive Suite 1
Iowa City

(I apologize for the awful pic. Next time I will take my tripod.)

Last night, Bobblehead and I checked out Blackstone for the third installment of our Townie Bar Challenge series.

Blackstone — voted the “Best of the Area” bar in 2010 and 2011 — is somewhat of an anomaly since it is located on IC’s eastern corner. It is in a cluster of small commercial buildings and across the street from townhouses — far from the usual dining and drinking scene downtown, along the highways, and in Coralville. However, more power to Blackstone for setting an example and providing food and libations on the mostly residential east side. For decades, the area Blackstone calls home was the site of a famous, family-owned junkyard located on the corner of Rochester and Scott. I cannot remember the name of the family — I am thinking Yoder — but it was annexed in the summer of 2001. I remember that because it was the subject of my first DI story. I kind of miss the junkyard, but suburbanization yields to nothing.

Parking is haphazard and inadequate. Turning onto Middlebury Road from Scott Boulevard, it is immediately evident none of the developers planned ahead (which seems to be law in Iowa City). Cars are parked along the narrow residential streets, spots provided on Westbury Drive, and a little lot adjacent to Scott. As far as I know, there is no direct entrance to Blackstone from the lot along Scott, and the spots on the east side of Westbury seem like an afterthought; it is a row of asphalt along the street curb (one has to hop the curb to park there).

Blackstone is not a townie bar in the traditional sense. I consider it more of a restaurant, but the bar area is separated from the restaurant, a feature Bobblehead really liked, so it is technically a bar out in the boonies. Setting up shop with our notebooks at a high table, we were very eager to see if the place could live up to its Best of the Area status.

I have been to Blackstone a handful of times, mostly to eat in the restaurant area, and always feel underdressed. Staunchly casual with a shirt, jeans, and running shoes, I looked like a bum compared to everyone in their weekend night/business casual attire. Slacks, sweaters, button-down shirts, dark colored Abercrombie jeans. Blackstone is where first dates are taken and the east side’s business class wines and dines with friends. The prices reflect it. However, it is easy to dispel the classiness and just enjoy a couple pints like a proud pleb.

While Bobblehead browsed the cocktail list, I asked our waitress (who appeared immediately after we sat down) for a “John’s Wit.” She looked at me, confused. “John’s Wit?” she said. After a second I corrected myself: “I mean John’s White Ale. Sorry.” She gave me the option of either a 16-ounce or 22-ounce glass; I took the regular pint. As I took notes before my beer came, a cover of “This Charming Man” played on the sound system. Not bad. Unlike at Shakespeare’s, the music was not noticeable; it was in the far background and undistracting. Other than the “This Charming Man” cover, I have no clue what else played while we were there.

Above the bar were four or five flat screen televisions and a number of other TVs were scattered around the bar. They were all tuned to ESPN or ESPN2. To my amusement, Friday Night Fights was on, but, for the most part, I was not paying attention. Bobblehead and I were deep in philosophical conversation. Despite the fact the music was turned down and there was no sound from the TVs, it was quite loud in the bar area.

I want to note that all three bars Bobblehead and I have visited have had TVs. I do not know if there is a bar in the IC area without TVs (there is even at TV at Dave’s Foxhead), but it is something I will keep an eye out for. I like visiting bars to chat, not watch TV.

Along with five rotating taps, Blackstone offers Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Bell’s Two Hearted Ale (which I have yet to try), and John’s White Ale. After finishing my “John’s Wit” (which tasted like it was brewed by Peace Tree), I asked our waitress about the five rotating taps. It took her a while to remember and she eventually named four beers and John’s White Ale. I ordered a Rogue Chocolate Stout.

Blackstone’s selection of bottled beers was impressive. In the menu they are separated into their respective styles and each style includes a brief description. Among the styles were “Belgian ales,” “Bavarian hefeweizens,” “Amber & red ales,” and “Lagers.” There were even two selections for “Gluten free.” My only qualm with the list was that Xingu was listed in the “Stouts & black beers” category. Yes, it is technically a black beer, but I do not think it deserves the company of Guinness or Old Rasputin.

Overall: For the most part, our visit to Blackstone was uneventful and nondescript. To me there was nothing spectacular about the place — other than the fact it is frequented by many Best of the Area voters. It is a clean, classy joint on the east side — away from the traffic and Californicated hassle of Coralville and the west side. I can see how it would be voted the area’s best bar, but I think it lacks the character found at many other local establishments. Regardless, though, Blackstone is a nice place.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.

Beer of the Weekend #327: Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale

2012-02-10T23:25:00.001-06:00

Earlier tonight, Bobblehead and I conducted townie bar research. I will post the results sometime over the weekend.

In the meantime, the beer of the weekend is another Hotek suggestion for my March LV recommendation: Bigfoot Barleywine Style Ale, brewed by the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company of Chico, California.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a snifter. The color is clean, clear amber/burgundy. Three fingers of thick, buttery, lightly tanned head dissipated slowly, leaving trails of foam along the sides.

Smell: The smell is dominated by citrus hops and pine. None stand out above the others; they create a nice blend. And it is not overpowering; it allows for scents of caramel, toffee, maple syrup, and cocoa (a touch) to emerge. There is a tiny bit of booziness, but it comes into play after the beer has warmed enough.

Taste: It has a nice, textured bitterness as it rolls across the tongue, and the hops gradually present themselves. The mouthfeel is thick and smooth, and each sip is tinged with booze at the end. Again, the citrus from the hops dominate, but they create an undistinguishable blend of orange, lemon, and grapefruit. The malts and maple syrup are in the background (way in the background).

Drinkability: I am unsure if Bigfoot would approve, but I do. Why go hunting in the woods at night when you can enjoy Bigfoot (®) at home?

Fun facts about Bigfoot:

-Style: BA classifies it as “American Barleywine.”

-Price: $13.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City. Frankly, that is really expensive.

-Serving temperature: 50-55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 9.6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), “General (Dessert, Digestive).”

-Apparently, Sierra Nevada has patented the name “Bigfoot.” On the website, the beer is referred to as “Bigfoot®.” How dickish.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

Northwestern 83, Iowa 64

2012-02-09T23:02:00.000-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #326: Ruthless Rye IPA

2012-02-09T22:55:00.003-06:00

I think it is safe to say my March LV recommendation will be a bock. Which is hard to say, but I am sure it will be among the standard bearers of Bavarian doppelbock. However, I am giving another Hotek recommendation a try tonight: Ruthless Rye IPA, brewed by the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company of Chico, California.

Hotek is a self-professed hophead so I need to take his hoppier suggestions with a grain of salt. Why are hoppy beers all the rage? I have no clue. Frankly, though, I have never asked. Perhaps if I see Joe tomorrow I will ask him. (Elaborate, oh wise one.)

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is honey/copper. Two fingers of thick, eggshell-colored head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy cap and trails of foam along the sides.

Smell: Grapefruit citrus. (Surprise, surprise.) There is also orange and a little lemon, but the grapefruit stands out. Below are English bitter-esque hops, caramel malts, and, shockingly, rye. It all comes together nicely, but the citrus scents, especially the grapefruit, dominate.

Taste: The mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, and the flavor offers a nice jab of bitterness and citrus. The hops linger on the tongue with a grainy texture and, at moments, become metallic in taste. Each sip keeps the roof of the mouth tingling, and the tongue and back of the cheeks feel the effects of the aftertaste. The caramel, bitter-esque flavor, and rye are in the background and provide a little balance, but they are overshadowed by the hops.

Drinkability: Solid stuff, and it does get me jonesing for spring. I am not sure if it makes for an ideal spring seasonal, though. IPA, it seems, is in season all the time.

Fun facts about RRIPA:

-Style: BA classifies it as “American IPA.”

-Price: $1.79/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 6.6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends curried cuisine (especially Thai), peppery cheeses (Monterey/Pepper Jack), sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), poultry, fish, shellfish, and salmon.

-Ruthless Rye is Sierra Nevada’s spring seasonal.

-Here is some nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:

Rye has been a staple grain for millennia—sought after for its stubborn resilience in the field and revered for its unique flavor. Ruthless Rye IPA is brewed with rustic grains for refined flavors—combining the peppery spice of rye and the bright citrusy flavors of whole-cone hops to create a complex ale for the tumultuous transition to spring.

Everything after the first line appears on the neck label.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

DOT tinkering: subtle changes to Iowa's license plate

2012-02-09T16:37:00.003-06:00

Do not ask me why, but I have always been interested in license plates. I think they are cool and have always reveled in their state-to-state differences and ever-changing designs. 15q.net is porn for license plate enthusiasts, and sometimes when I am curious (and extremely bored every third blue moon) I search through the galleries and indices for fun. (I am sure there are other, similar sites, but am not that serious of a license plate nerd to seek them. 15q is enough for me.) Needless to say, I am very interested in the upcoming, and subtle, changes being made to Iowa’s license plate.

In the fall of 2010, the Iowa Department of Transportation considered a complete license plate redesign. The current blue and white, “rural meets urban” plates were first issued in 1996. However, to avoid the excessive costs of a complete reissue (where everyone would be sent new plates) they decided to tinker with the design and initiate a rolling replacement of the oldest plates still in service. There are probably a number of 1996 original plates hanging around and the DOT will replace them at a certain date. (I have no clue when that will be, but my parents have a couple 1996-issued plates and I will make sure to keep an eye out for replacements.)

So: the tinkering. Starting late last year, the dark blue color used for the numbers and letters were changed to black. According to the DOT, the black numbers will be easier to read for law enforcement (i.e., red-light cameras and whatnot). I have seen a number of them around Iowa City already. Also, standard Iowa license plate numbers previously conformed to a “123 ABC” format. Starting January 1, the DOT switched the numbers and letters so newly issued plates will be “ABC 123” (see above pic). I have yet to see one of those, though.

Beginning November 1, Iowa Prison Industries (which apparently make the plates) started manufacturing new plates with another subtle, yet very odd and noticeable, difference. According to the DOT news release, “[a]ll license plates containing the numeric zero will appear as a circle slash zero (AAAØØØ).” Huh?!

This change is being implemented to make the alpha-numerics on license plates more easily identifiable for law enforcement and for license plate readers. Plates with the circle slash zero will not actually appear on vehicles until county treasurers have exhausted their existing plate inventories.

Okay… The slash zero was previously used only for the amateur radio call letter plates. I think the change is kind of strange, but whatever. (Back when I was working at Goodwill of Santa Cruz County, one of the donation center attendants used “Ø” on his donation reports. It was obviously a zero, but I had no clue why he/she used it.)

Thoughts on the Prop 8 decision and the battle over same-sex marriage

2012-02-08T14:48:00.004-06:00

Having voted against Prop 8 in 2008, I was happy to hear that the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declared California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.

As a heterosexual man, I have no direct stake in the battle over same-sex marriage. Whether or not Dick and Steve or Emily and Jane can tie the knot — get “married” — has no bearing on my own relationships and sex life. (Frankly, right now I am unsure what the purpose of marriage is in an age when nobody seems committed “’til death do us part.” Also curious to me is the supposed necessity of marriage, which is a central theme of “Paths,” the long essay I was working on.) However, the precedents created by either the prohibition or allowance of same-sex marriage will have lasting consequences and I do not want to live in a country that legally sanctions discrimination. To me, Prop 8 was hypocrisy and intolerance to the nth degree. Having recited the “Pledge of Allegiance” at school every morning from kindergarten to third grade — “…with liberty and justice for all!” — I gladly voted “no.” Needless to say, I was dismayed that a majority of my fellow Californians felt differently.

Despite yesterday’s ruling, the bigots will likely appeal to a larger panel of the 9th Circuit Court or directly to the Supreme Court. The whole thing will likely be settled by 2013 or ’14, at least judicially and for the forseeable future. (Roe vs. Wade galvanized the pro-life caucus and abortion rights are eroding yearly.)

Though my opinion has not changed since voting against Prop 8 — I still believe wholeheartedly in liberty and justice for all (!) — my stance regarding the debate has shifted slightly. Michael J. Sandel’s meditations on same-sex marriage in Justice were informative and thought-provoking: philosophically, he wrote, the whole issue revolves around the definition and purpose of marriage. Through that lens he wonders who can get married and why. Defenders of so-called “traditional marriage” argue that marriage is between one man and one woman for the purpose of procreation. (In his Third Reich trilogy, Richard J. Evans quotes a leading Nazi as saying something along those lines. Eerily, leading Republicans in the Iowa legislature echoed, almost verbatim, the Nazi’s sentiments last year during debates on same-sex marriage.) If that is the case, Sandel argues, then why are those unwilling or unable to have children able to marry? Why are men and women on their deathbeds allowed to marry since they are unable to have children? If the purpose of marriage is procreation, the government will no doubt need to determine who can and cannot marry. What about those who married with every intention of having children but could not conceive? Should their marriage be annulled? You get the idea; predictably enough for a philosopher, Sandel opens a pedantic can of worms further complicating the debate.

However, what was most interesting and convincing for me was when Sandel wrote about marriage as a religious matter. If we define marriage as a sacred religious institution, as many do, then the government has no business deciding who can and cannot get married or why; that should be determined by individual faiths and denominations (some of which embrace same-sex coupling). In effect, he wrote, government would need to remove itself from the marriage equation altogether and instead recognize civil unions only. To me that seems like an ideal compromise: people are free to get married according to their beliefs, but the government can only perform and recognize civil unions. Those wanting only to get married and not obtain a civil union are free to do so, and vice versa; regulations regarding divorce and common law marriage (which would need to be renamed to “common law union” or something similar) could be amended appropriately.

However, I guess that compromise makes too much sense since nobody is talking about it. Instead of seeking cooperative solutions, we have decided to fight in terms of right and wrong, when everything contrasts starkly with its opposite.

Beer of the Weekend #325: Ayinger Celebrator

2012-02-07T23:03:00.001-06:00

It is that time of the month again: time to sample brews for next month’s LV recommendation. I have strictly observed my midweek teetotalism for the past month and am eager to start sampling the beers I picked up at John’s today.

Hats off (again) to John’s beer guru Joe Hotek, who reminded me that bock is an ideal style for March. Initially skeptical, I remembered that monks drank bock for sustenance during Lent. In my sample sixer I have four bocks — three of which I have already formally sampled. (I will use them to refresh my memory in the coming days.) Tonight I am tackling the fourth: Ayinger Celebrator, brewed by the Brauerei Aying of Aying, Germany.

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a pilsner glass. The color is dark brown with caramel and ruby tones. A finger and a half of tanned head formed and dissipated to leave a spotted lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: It is a pleasant balance of malts and dark fruit. Toasted grains, caramel, toffee, fig, a little coffee, and black raspberry. As the beer warms it emits scents of plum, perhaps raisin, and that boozy bock touch.

Taste: Yeah! It has that nice, helles kick of grassy hops. The mouthfeel is light, dry, and easily drinkable. The flavor is bitterer than the smell led me to believe. However, the malts shine, too, with flavors of toasted grains, caramel, toffee, cocoa, and hints of coffee and dark fruit.

Drinkability: It is a very solid brew. Mister Goat Ornament and myself could easily enjoy this throughout Lent.

Fun facts about Ayinger Celebrator:

-Style: Doppelbock.

-Price: $3.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: Jackson’s Great Beer Guide recommends 48ºF.

-Alcohol content: 6.7 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fortina), chocolate, and game meat.

-Apparently, each bottle of Celebrator is adorned with a plastic, white goat ornament.

-Doppelbocks are typically given names ending in “-ator.” According to the “Bock” Wikipedia page, “there are 200 ‘-ator’ doppelbock names registered with the German patent office.” This tradition stems from the first doppelbock, Paulaner’s Salvator. “Salvator” means “savior” in German.

-According to the Great Beer Guide, Celebrator was originally called Fortunator. Ayinger felt the name was too “clumsy” for the US market and renamed it Celebrator. It is now known as Celebrator in Germany, too.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A.

The Novel Diary: Week 56

2012-02-06T23:11:00.000-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

Though I still have yet to outline with the help of Black Road Stout (will I ever do that?), I had a breakthrough last Thursday. For the first time ever I listed, in chronological order, the very basic plot points of the novel. Never before have I set to paper exactly what I want to happen, beginning to end. (Amazing, huh? Especially since I have already written 40,000 words of partially aimless drivel.) The 12- or 13-point plot agenda will now serve as the foundation for a chapter-by-chapter outline.

I have already brainstormed a couple chapter ideas, and they include the usual suspects from just about every other outline I have ever attempted. I have yet to order them but have decided what I will do when I finally start writing again: rewrite a pivotal event that is now part of Chapter 5. Will it be in Chapter 5 afterward, when the first draft is finished? I have no clue, but more than likely I will eviscerate everything I did last year in much the same way. Perhaps all of last year was just another educational false start; I have absolutely no problem with disregarding all 40,000 words from 2011. However, I will need to see what is salvageable. This next phase of the novel will be much more propulsive and organized, and the two will not jell well at first.

The way things look now I should have some kind of serviceable outline within the next three weeks. My tentative goal is to start rewriting by the end of the month or March 4.

Iowa 77, Penn State 64

2012-02-04T23:41:00.000-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #324: Sprecher Irish Stout

2012-02-03T23:49:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to The Not-So-Quiet Sister. She graduated from grad school today and now has a Masters in psychology. We celebrated with dinner at Noodles & Company (her choice) and had cake afterwards. While at her apartment, J-Rod offered me the choice of Boulevard’s Single-Wide IPA or Irish Ale before dessert. I chose the Single-Wide because I knew I would be getting my Irish on later tonight.

The beer of the weekend is Sprecher Irish Stout, brewed by the Sprecher Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

On BA it is called “Irish Style Stout” and Sprecher’s website refers to it simply as “Stout.”

My flirtations with buying dust and cobweb covered four-packs of Irish Stout are well documented, so before taking the plunge I asked Joe Hotek, John’s beer guru, how long they had had the cases. He assured them they were recently delivered; though not fresh, they were probably nearing the end of their prime. I decided to spring for it.

Serving type: 16-ounce bottle with a twist-off cap. There are cryptic batch codes printed on the shoulder and bottom, but no freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is black black black — totally opaque; when held to a lamp, zero light passed through. One finger of tan head dissipated to leave a spotted lacing and ring around the edge. (The pour was pathetic. My bad.)

Smell: Overall it is very sweet, but it has a nice, roasted edge to it. Sweet caramel, cocoa, black licorice, lactose, maybe a few oats, toffee, dark fruits, and roasted coffee.

Taste: The roasted bitterness is omnipresent but not dominant; it hangs out in the background and creates the backbone for flavors of sweet caramel, toffee, milk chocolate, espresso, and black raspberry. It has a lot of body and the mouthfeel is very smooth, though it becomes a touch thin as the beer warms.

Drinkability: Awesome stuff. Who knew ethnic Germans and Poles could brew such awesome Irish-inspired beer?

Fun facts about Sprecher Irish Stout:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Irish Dry Stout.”

-Price: $5.99/four-pack at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 5.73 percent ABV.

-Alcohol content: The Sprecher website recommends 50ºF.

-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, Latin cuisine, chocolate, smoked meat, and grilled meat.

-IBU: 26.

-Here is some nerdiness from the Sprecher website:

This tribute to Ireland is smooth and creamy with the distinctive flavors and aromas reminiscent of bittersweet chocolate and dark coffee. This robust ebony colored stout is brewed throughout the year.

-Interestingly, Irish Stout was first brewed last year. It is now one of Sprecher’s year round offerings.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

The Bookworm: The Fire Game and Ski Weekend

2012-02-03T14:41:00.003-06:00

The Fire Game by R.L. Stine. 145 pages. Pocket Books. March 1991.

Ski Weekend by R.L. Stine. 165 pages. Pocket Books. January 1991.

Even Max was wearing swimming trunks, his pudgy body overlapping the waistband only slightly. [The Fire Game, page 24.]

First of all, I want to say it was a great pleasure to read mindlessness young adult fiction after enduring 700 pages of shameless mass murder. With Evans’ Third Reich trilogy tucked away on my shelf, I once again found myself in good ol’ Shadyside and in the company of its airheaded teens — some of which are blossoming pyromaniacs. (Who would have ever guessed?)

Before writing about The Fire Game and Ski Weekend, I should explain the opening quote. Do not ask me why, but it was the only thing I remembered from the Fear Street series. Much like “Why, Pt. 2,” I could not recall which book it appeared in but remembered a character with a little fat hanging over his waistline. Most likely, it was memorable because I was always a pudgy kid and probably blushed like hell when I read it; Stein could have been describing me. It is a great description, but I no doubt thought it unflattering and rude.

In The Fire Game, Jill and her friends (including Max and his chubby midsection) become enamored with fire after accidentally setting a wastebasket alight in the school library. Their interest is only a passing joke until the mysterious Gabe moves to Shadyside from “the city” and takes the fire game to the next level. As the back cover says, “When one of their fires ends in murder, the game ends — and the real terror beings.” A classic, Fear Street whodunit unfolds and I was left wondering, though correctly suspicious, until the last few chapters.

While on a Wikipedia adventure, I stumbled on the page for “Thriller (genre).” Check out the picture at the top and read the caption. That, my friends, is a Fear Street whodunit to a tee: the protagonist is always unaware and unsuspecting of the antagonist’s true colors. When the culprit is at-large, and all the evidence points to one person, who pleads their innocence, it usually turns out to be the person you least suspect. He or she has been planning things all along, deflecting suspicion and planting evidence to implicate others. Both The Fire Game and Ski Weekend are classic examples of it.

The Fire Game is set in the spring — probably late-April or early-May. Flowers are blooming and the gang takes a break from setting fires to picnic at a lake and enjoy a cabin owned by one of the characters’ parents. Though this winter has been surprisingly balmy, The Fire Game got me jonesing for spring greenery and camping.

Ski Weekend, as the title suggest, brought be back to good ol’ winter — the kind of winter I want and expect. Returning from a ski weekend — which is already a strike against the book since it does not take place during the eponymous ski weekend — Ariel, Doug, Shannon, and Red, a guy they met at the ski lodge and are giving a ride (you know where this is going right away), are stuck in a massive snow storm and need to wait it out at the home of perfect strangers. Needless to say, they are not Larry and Balki. After the first night the phones are dead, Doug’s car somehow ends up at the bottom of a ravine, and another storm bares down on them as their gun crazed host becomes drunk and combative. Then, as the back of the book says, “a shot is fired and the real terror begins…” (Where have I heard that before?)

Ski Weekend is plausible in the fact that one could find himself snowbound with welcoming but belligerent strangers, but the premise begins to unravel as the plot evolves. Too much convenient coincidence becomes involved for it to be believable. Should I expect anything else? However, I was once again kept wondering until the final few chapters. Nothing made sense and I eagerly waited for the pieces of Ski Weekend’s puzzle to come together.

Along with the textual improbabilities, the cover is very deceiving. First of all, the cover art features skis and ski boots. Neither are mentioned or used in the story. Skiing time is over from the very beginning. Personally, I find the masked man outside the window — who makes me think of the IRA — very creepy. However, in the story he turns out to be one of the characters who is inside and looking out on the cover. (Which opens a totally different can of worms.) How can he be inside and outside at the same time?

Ski Weekend is unique in the sense that, like Lights Out, it does not take place in Shadyside. Ariel, the main character, lives on Fear Street so the connection is maintained. The book also offers a hint regarding the geographic location of Shadyside. One of the characters notices the Jeep owned by their host has license plates from Alabama, not Vermont. I assumed their ski weekend took place in Vermont, and the gang stopped about an hour into their five to six hour trip home, so I think it is safe to say Shadyside could be located somewhere in the northeast, perhaps upstate New York. Mentions of “the city” in The Fire Game could be vague references to New York City.

Like most of the other Fear Street books I have reread, The Fire Game and Ski Weekend both feature female protagonists. Though none of the main characters die, each book features one murder, raising the reread death toll to eight.

Overall, The Fire Game and Ski Weekend were your run of the mill Fear Street books. There was nothing special about them, so I hope the next pair I read are better.

Dump Facebook?

2012-02-02T15:39:00.001-06:00

For a couple years I have been the diligent admin for a Facebook group called Fans of Iowa Men’s Basketball. I did not create the group but gladly volunteered to be the administrator when I noticed the position was vacant. The number of members has slowly dwindled with the fortunes of the men’s team, but I did not care. I posted scores, updated the team record after every game, and even added links to game articles last year. It was a nerdy thing for me to do, and it eventually became the only reason I did not permanently delete my Facebook account. (The only other reason was because my sister uses my account to keep tabs on an ex-boyfriend, who is now married.)

I understand millions use Facebook to keep in touch with friends (and “friends”), manage their social schedule, and broadcast personal news, but I do not. I did, but no more. I get event invitations and never respond. I removed or restricted all personal information. (Someone recently told me, “When I became your friend on Facebook it was like I wasn’t your friend.” My profile is basically my name and picture. That is it.) No one can find me or become my friend (except, apparently, those with mutual friends). I have not changed my profile picture since the summer of 2007. I am too private (despite this blog) and prefer human, in-person communication too much to divulge every detail about myself for the entire World Wide Web — that once free and limitless digital universe. Plus, after a point I became too suspicious of Mark Zuckerberg and his techies. (The Gestapo would have loved Facebook. Instead of spending time and money to spy on people, it is so much easier and cheaper to dupe them into willingly divulging everything about themselves on a centrally-controlled website.) Then there was the avalanche of advertising — the hallmark of greed and moral degradation on the Internet. Facebook turned me off. Yet I still have a profile and still diligently update Fans of Iowa Men’s Basketball.

Until now.

Fans is what Facebook calls an “Old Group” — a group predating a redesign in 2010. I really have no clue what the difference is, but Fans, along with every other group I joined during my earliest flirtations with social networking, was identified as antiquated by Zuckerberg and his techies and put on the chopping block. On a certain date, I was told, the group would be deleted or migrated to the new format. When asked if I wanted to continue to be a member I acknowledge that I did. When I logged on to post the score of Iowa’s loss to Indiana, I found that not only was I now the only member but I also could not edit the group. If I left the group, a side panel informed me, the group would be deleted.

I suppose I was a little bummed. It had almost become second instinct to update the page and post the score of the latest game (though I am relieved I no longer make myself do it). Apparently, all the other groups I joined way back when were also deleted, so I will bemoan the loss of a Duck Tales fan club, the UI chapter of “And by ‘soda’ you mean ‘pop,’ bitch,” and, my favorite group, “I Masturbate with a Loaded Gun in my Mouth.” (The group picture was of a man, a strained expression on his face, holding a gun in his mouth. It was priceless.) Regardless, this now means I have no reason to even have a Facebook account.

I have thought about permanently deleting my account for a while. (“Deactivating” an account only suspends it; Facebook stores the data in case you want to return. In order to truly cancel and delete an account, you need to specifically request Facebook techies to do so — presumably so they can inform the Gestapo.) Now I have no reason not to. I did plan to do it after this basketball season, and was planning to recruit Bobblehead to take over my admin duties on Fans. But that will not be happening since Facebook not only sealed the fate of the group but conveniently gave me the perfect reason to leave it for good.

Should I do it? Should I shun what is fast becoming the Internet’s only means to communicate and connect? Along with deleting my account, I have also thought about doing the opposite: update my information, respond to invitations and whatnot, and generally dive whole-heartedly into the experience just to do it. I will think about it in the coming days. If I decided to delete it, though, I will need to tell my sister. There will be no more ex stalking for her.

Iowa 63, Minnesota 59

2012-02-01T23:23:00.000-06:00

Hot off the Press: No snow, no skiing edition

2012-01-31T10:24:00.001-06:00

A school district in Minnesota has shelved the traditional, week-long spring break in favor of "a smattering of extended weekends": http://www.startribune.com/local/137982543.html. I love the headline: "Goodbye, Cancun. Hello, Lake Wobegon."

"Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has signed into law historic new rules requiring porn performers to wear condoms while acting in areas requiring a city film permit": http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/landmark-condom-law-for-porn-filming-signed-by-la-mayor.html. No more San Pornando Valley?

California's plan to build a high-speed rail network is becoming more expensive: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/rail.html. The only way this country will ever have a viable, high-speed rail network is if the federal government bankrolls the whole thing, much like it did the Interstate system.

Canada's federal budget deficit: $17.8 billion — and falling: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/01/27/federal-deficit-november.html.

Some question the use and meaning behind the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) logo placed on toilet paper packages: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/01/26/majesta-toilet-paper.html.

"Critics get no satisfaction from Rolling Stones museum men's room": http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/01/rolling-stones-mens-room.html.

It is estimated that Japan's population will shrink by one-third by 2060: http://www.startribune.com/world/138315979.html.

The approval to build the first new nuclear reactors since Three Mile Island is on the horizon: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/approval-new-nuclear-reactors-near.

The Thai government has become the first to publicly endorse Twitter's country-specific censorship policy: www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/30/thailand-backs-twitter-censorship-policy.

Iowa lawmakers apparently think some IPERS report about double-dipping will assuage my displeasure with it: http://thegazette.com/2012/01/30/iowa-lawmakers-say-%E2%80%98double-dipping%E2%80%99-not-a-problem/. Look, if you retire from a public service job and then start working full-time in the private sector, you should not be receiving a pension. That pension should be reserved for when you retire for good. How hard is that to understand?

Collective Soul, 'Why, Pt. 2'

2012-01-30T23:54:00.002-06:00

I do not know how else to explain this: I both remembered and forgot about Collective Soul’s “Why, Pt. 2.” (Embedding of the video has been “disabled by request.”)

Here is what I remembered: it was released in either September or October 2000 and was given heavy airplay on KRNA. Little Hawk paste-up was underway and the song would blast from the Newslab stereo. When its first few notes rang through the speakers, people said, “I like this song. Turn it up!” I heard it in the lab during the school day and at night while perfecting proofs. Thank God it was so catchy, otherwise it would have driven me insane. At one point, while sitting at the computer next to me, our journalism adviser said, “I’m actually starting to like this song.”

Here is what I forgot: the song. The reaction and emotion stuck with me, but the band, title, and sound all faded from memory. I could hear people way back by the sports island, or our assistant feature’s editor, asking us to turn it up, or my adviser say the song was growing on him, but I could not hear the song. I totally lost it. I knew there was a song — an iconic tune that was the anthem for the September or October paste-up — but could not remember what it was.

For years it was a hole in my memories. Maybe once every year, when I would reminisce about my time on the LH, I wondered, “What the hell was that song?” I have no clue what prompted me to think about it tonight, but there it was again, vexing me: the mystery anthem. However, this time I felt determined to find out once and for all what it was.

Needless to say, searching for a song you remember nothing about is a little difficult. It was no doubt the biggest obstacle every other time I tried and failed to find it. (I could not have searched very hard, though.) However, blessed by a momentary flash of genius, I decided to check the Bradboard. I have no clue who Brad is or why he diligently releases his own weekly Top 40, but the Bradboard is something I stumbled on a long time ago and have kept bookmarked just in case. I checked the archive and started browsing the lists from September and October 2000. I searched for the title and artist of possible candidates and listened to a ton of pop-punk garbage. (Brad certainly has a strong stomach. If you want a bad flashback, watch the video for Zebrahead’s “Playmate of the Year.” Ouch.) Scrolling down the list for October 13, 2000, I saw “Why Part 2.” A light went off in my head. “That’s it,” I thought. “That is it.” I had no clue what it sounded like, but just seeing the title and artist stirred those memories without a soundtrack. I clicked the link to the video and watched and listened in awe.

I FOUND IT! Wooo hooooooo!

Having listened to the song (probably for the first time in about 10 years), I have to say I am a tiny bit disappointed. It is okay, but not epic; it does not completely live up to the hype from my memories. I thought it was heavier, but it is what it is. However, the song is a million times better than the video. My iMac dictionary’s definition for “unimaginative” has a direct link to it, and the lead singer looks so much like Owen Wilson I cannot stand to watch it.

The Novel Diary: Week 55

2012-01-30T21:37:00.001-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

Get this: I finished the latest revision of “Paths” on Thursday, just like I wanted to. I almost celebrated with a beer. Aside from a few minor edits and facts I want to double-check, the seventh version of the essay should be done; I finished weaving the two timelines together after the Hawkeyes broke my heart. Though no piece is truly ever finished, I hopefully have “Paths” at a point where I can stop working on it and be satisfied — at least for a while.

You know what that means? I have once again started working on my novel. Kind of. I am not writing but am once again thinking through uncertainties before I hammer out a brief (!) chapter-by-chapter outline. I should hopefully be doing that later this week.

At some time during this planning phase I want to visit Dave’s Foxhead and be writerly with a pint of Back Road Stout. I have been meaning to do it for a while and now is the best time since I use my journal to plan. Or I may visit The Hideaway. Apparently, Summit’s Oatmeal Stout is on tap there.

Indiana 103, Iowa 89

2012-01-29T21:23:00.000-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #323: Grain Belt Premium

2012-01-28T23:10:00.001-06:00

On second thought, I did bring back one Minnesota-native beer: Grain Belt Premium, brewed by the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota.

As progressive and reasonable as Minnesota is, it still has a few backward blue laws. The sale of cars and alcohol is prohibited on Sunday, liquor stores close at 10 pm, and beer sold in grocery stores can be no stronger than 3.2 percent ABV. Craziness. Thankfully, we planned ahead. After arriving Friday night, we found a liquor store and stocked up before eating at Psycho Suzi’s. (I highly recommend it.) The ladies got whatever they got, Bobblehead snagged a sixer of Mountain Crest, and I bought sixers of Black Butte Porter and Grain Belt. (Black Butte Porter was an ill-advised nostalgic purchase; I had not seen Deschutes brews since leaving California. It was a stupid decision but I will live.) Miraculously, I still had one Grain Belt (and three porters) when Sunday check-out rolled around.

Serving type: 16-ounce “Big Friendly” can. No freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is clean and clear straw. Three fingers of thick, eggshell-colored head dissipated slowly to leave a rocky cap and trails of foam along the glass.

Smell: Cereal grain and very sweet green apples. It smells a lot like the green Jolly Rancher, and also the watermelon one mixed in.

Taste: Very sweet and fruity with a touch of light cereal grain. The green Jolly Rancher has been replaced with salon hairspray, which is a staple of lighter Schell brews.

Drinkability: It is decent enough, but the sweetness is very off-putting for a lawn mower lager. I’ll drink it regardless.

Fun facts about Grain Belt:

-Style: BA classifies it as “American Adjunct Lager.” No argument here.

-Price: $5.99/sixer at River Liquors on Marshall Street in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

-Serving temperature: 35-40ºF.

-Alcohol content: 4.6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, Indian cuisine, Latin American cuisine, Thai cuisine, Pan Asian cuisine, peppery cheeses (Monterey/Pepper Jack), and shellfish.

-The beer’s history can be gleaned from its Wikipedia page.

-Amazingly, Grain Belt is sold in clear bottles. Why? I do not think I would ever buy a beer in a clear bottle.

The Quiet Man’s grade: C.

Beer of the Weekend #322: Schlafly Irish-Style Extra Stout

2012-01-27T23:29:00.003-06:00

I hate to say it, but my beer reviewing hiatus was awesome.

Also awesome was Minnesota — the Twin Cities, especially. Though we did not go to Saint Paul, I was very impressed with Minneapolis. Art abounds, it is clean, the downtown is functional, Minnesota cuties are everywhere, and, from what I could tell, there are tons of pubs. Thought another personal transplant is among the least of my concerns, I would definitely move to the Twin Cities.

Alas, though, I forgot to snag some Minnesota-native brew before returning. I was going to visit a liquor store near our hotel before leaving, but we wanted to get ahead of the weather. Plus, the car was packed as it was. No worries, though. Now that I am once again aware of the wonders of Minnesota, I am sure I will be visiting again this year.

Still craving the Medium White North, I visited John’s this morning with the hope of finding one of the lingering sixers of Summit Silver Anniversary Ale. However, I had no luck. It did, though, spot this curiosity way up on top of a shelf near the cooler door: Schlafly Irish-Style Extra Stout, brewed by the Saint Louis Brewery of Saint Louis, Missouri.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “Bottled with love on” date printed on the bottom of the front label is “12 21 2011.”

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is black; only a few rays of light passed through the bottom of the glass, creating a deep ruby. Two fingers of tan head dissipated to leave a thin lacing spotted with bubbles and a ring around the edge.

Smell: I could smell the roastedness immediately after popping the cap. Lots of roasted malts offer scenes of caramel, chocolate, burnt brown sugar, molasses, and a little coffee. It has an oat balance and smoothness to it, too, and black raspberry and plum emerge as the beer continues to warm.

Taste: Yowza — this is serious stout. It has a very thick mouthfeel and imparts a roasted bitterness that almost leaves the flavors behind. There are flavors of roasted chocolate and coffee (mostly coffee), but the dark fruit — black raspberry, plum, raisin, and cherry — steal the show. Each taste is tinged with booze; it is not overpowering, but it is getting there. However, everything thankfully balances nicely when the beer has warmed significantly.

Drinkability: After a couple more of these I will be lucky to be functional by noon tomorrow. This is a double whammy of dark malts and booze. Next stop: Hangover City.

Fun facts about SISES:

-Style: Schlafly calls it “Traditional foreign-style stout” while BA classifies it as “Foreign / Export Stout.” Here are the details:

A special style of stout that is brewed bigger than normal for a long journey, the more traditional Foreign / Export Stouts will be found in the tropical regions of the world. Higher in alcohol with a very pronounced roasted character.

-Price: $10.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: BA recommends 50-55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA suggests chocolate, smoked meat, and grilled meat.

-IBU: 45.

-Color: 100 SRM.

-Here is some nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:

Our Irish-Style Extra Stout pours black and is an amped-up version of a traditional dry stout. The addition of both roasted barley and Dark Crystal malted barley give Extra Stout undertones of chocolate, molasses and dried fruit. The beer is generously hopped with East Kent Goldings to balance the sweetness from the malted barley.

Extra Stout is a descendent of the British and Irish porters of the 18th Century. These strong porters eventually became known as strong stout, then Foreign Stout or Extra Stout, depending on origin. Extra Stouts were exported world-wide, gaining popularity in the West Indies, Africa and parts of Asia.

-SISES is only available from January through March.

-Coincidentally, I bought an Irish flag last Saturday at the Mall of America.

Though I only have a wee bit of Irish ancestry, I have always wanted an Irish flag. It will be especially useful (as much as a flag can be, that is) on Saint Patrick’s Day.

-Speaking of Irish, the Irish proverb on the front label reads: “A narrow neck keeps the bottle from being emptied in one swig.”

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.

Nebraska 79, Iowa 73

2012-01-26T22:07:00.002-06:00

The Bookworm: The Third Reich at War

2012-01-26T15:42:00.003-06:00

The Third Reich at War by Richard J. Evans. 926 pages. Penguin Books. 2008.

The three gas vans based at Chelmno could kill fifty people each at a time, driving them out from the camp to woods about 16 kilometres distant, asphyxiating the people inside along the way. There they were halted to unload their grisly cargo into ditches dug by other Jewish inmates of the camp. Occasionally a mother inside the van managed to wrap up her baby tightly enough to keep it from breathing in the deadly fumes. Jakow Grojanowski, one of the gravediggers employed by the SS, reported how German guards picked up any babies who had survived the journey and smashed their heads against nearby trees. [Page 258.]

For my seventeenth birthday, in 1999, my mom gave me an “I survived the 20th century” button. It was one of those timely novelty items and I passed it off as corny. (I still have it, though.) However, having read The Third Reich at War, I realized that button means more than I previously thought.

Yes, it took me a long time to finish War, but it is not a book that should be taken lightly. The final volume of Evans’ history of the Third Reich, War offers a depressingly thorough account of Nazi Germany from its invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939 to its capitulation on May 8, 1945. Though World War Two plays a prominent role in the book, it is not the main focus; much like its two companion volumes, War chronicles Nazi policies and life under the Third Reich during wartime. Central to the book is the Nazis barbaric extermination of Jews and whomever else they considered sub-humans and “life unworthy of life,” notably Slavs (especially Poles), gypsies, and the mentally and physically handicapped.

Needless to say, this book was insanely brutal. Evans dedicated War, along with the previous volumes, to his sons, who “cheered me up on innumerable occasions during the writing of a book the subject matter of which was sometimes shocking and depressing almost beyond belief.” “[B]eyond belief” is a good way to characterize much of what War outlines. Sickening as it is, the quote I used at the beginning of this post is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Nazi brutality. The descriptions of wanton violence meted out to Poles after German troops crossed the border were unbelievable; indoctrinated by years of anti-Semitic and anti-Slavic propaganda, ordinary soldiers inundated Eastern Europe with a tidal wave of sadism. After that it only gets worse. The violence at the beginning of the war is eventually overshadowed by the systematic, European-wide scale of murder instituted later. There were many times when I had to set the book down and think, “This happened. This really happened.” From the building of ghettos, the use of special gas vans (which pumped engine exhaust into the back where prisoners were placed), to the planning of massive death camps and the development of gas chambers and crematoria, War covers the Nazis’ so-called “final solution” in painful detail.

Movies and documentaries seem to portray Hitler and the Nazis as ingenious, technologically advanced, and unstoppable. They were in certain ways, but War paints a different picture of how the Third Reich and its war machine operated, one that I think is more representative and realistic — and decidedly less adaptive for the silver screen. Hitler, a self-proclaimed military genius, distrusted his generals and thankfully did more harm than good when commanding the military. He was so delusional toward the end that he was maneuvering divisions that had been destroyed and squadrons of planes that had no fuel. The advanced tactics and weaponry of the Wehrmacht overpowered the Poles (who were reported to have charged into battle on horseback), French, and eventually Soviets, but they rushed planes into combat without ironing out the defects and were never able to compete with their Allied counterparts. Funding and support for “wonder weapons,” like the V-2 rocket, ebbed and flowed with Hitler’s interests and enthusiasm. (Such was the disregard for the lives of foreign and concentration camp labor that more people were killed manufacturing the V-2 rocket (20,000) than died from its use against the Allies (5,000).) German troops were so poorly equipped during the first winter after invading Russia that coat and wool drives were held in the homeland; when surrendering at Stalingrad, Germans emerged from foxholes and shelters wearing women’s fur coats. Despite the quick military victories of 1939-40, Evans depicts Hitler and the Nazis as poorly organized, argumentative, and indecisive.

One point hammered home by War, and something which I never heard mentioned before, was the fact Germany lacked the manpower and raw material required to conquer Europe. Economically speaking, the Nazis were defeated even before the United States declared war in 1941. Despite the use of foreign labor from conquered countries and efforts to foster a “total war,” the Germans could only dream of matching the Allied war economies. Germany produced exponentially fewer guns, planes, tanks, ships, and ammunition. After being defeated in North Africa, it lacked access to large amounts of oil, and Allied bombing raids destroyed factories and vital rail lines. Once the Allies landed at Normandy and the Soviets took control of the eastern front, it was just a matter of time before it was all over. War has made me hyper aware of the essential role economics plays in warfare.

War details life on the German home front, too. Evans chronicles the uses of propaganda, the formation of the People’s Storm (a ragtag and poorly equipped national guard consisting of middle-aged men and young boys), the everyday impact of Allied bombings, the registration and deportation of previously exempt Jews and people of mixed race, trends in art and culture, the administrative disintegration and chaos that took place in cities on the verge of Allied takeover, the sense of guilt that eventually overcame many Germans as the war came home… The list could go on and on. At the end, Evans describes the unprecedented wave of suicide as defiant and prominent Nazis decided it was better to take their own lives and the lives of their families than endure the embarrassment of capture and defeat. And in the last pages he writes a little about the war’s aftermath, the Nuremburg trials, and the fate of leading Nazis.

Fortunately for me, I survived the twentieth century. Page after page of War, though, tells the story of many of the millions who did not.

New words I learned: All definitions are courtesy of my MacBook dictionary. Compulsion: “the action or state of forcing or being forced to do something; constraint.” Equanimity: “mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation.” Surreptitious: “kept secret, esp. because it would not be approved of.” Encyclical: “a papal letter sent to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church.” Philately: “the collection and study of postage stamps.” Retinue: “a group of advisers, assistants, or others accompanying an important person.” Greengrocer: “a retailer of fruit and vegetables.” Cashier: “dismiss someone from the armed forces in disgrace because of a serious misdemeanor.” Antedate: in this instance it means “indicate that (a document or event) should be assigned to an earlier date.” Prelate: “a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary.” Adumbrate: “report or represent in outline.” Billet: “a place, usually a civilian's house or other nonmilitary facility, where soldiers are lodged temporarily.” Breviary: “a book containing the service for each day, to be recited by those in orders in the Roman Catholic Church.” (As you can probably tell, I am not Catholic.) Éminence grise: “a person who exercises power or influence in a certain sphere without holding an official position.” Repudiate: “refuse to accept or be associated with.” Dacha: “a country house or cottage in Russia, typically used as a second or vacation home.” Metalled, as in “metalled roads”: “broken stone for use in making roads.” Salient: in this instance it is used to mean “an outward bulge in a line of military attack or defense.” Contretemps: “an unexpected and unfortunate occurrence.” Depredation: “an act of attacking or plundering.” Preparatory: “serving as or carrying out preparation for a task or undertaking.” Bacillus: “a disease-causing bacterium.” NCO: “noncommissioned officer.” Putrefaction: “the process of decay or rotting in a body or other organic matter.” Riding crop: “a short flexible whip with a loop for the hand, used in riding horses.” Refractory: “stubborn or unmanageable.” Saddlery: “saddles, bridles, and other equipment for horses,” or “the making or repairing of such equipment.” Provenance: in this sense it means “a record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality.” Plenipotentiary: “a person, esp. a diplomat, invested with the full power of independent action on behalf of their government, typically in a foreign country.” Inveterate: “having a particular habit, activity, or interest that is long-established and unlikely to change.” Crèche: British term for “a nursery where babies and young children are cared for during the working day.” Pliant: another word for “pliable.” Connivance: “willingness to secretly allow or be involved in wrongdoing, esp. an immoral or illegal act.” Intransigent: “unwilling or refusing to change one's views or to agree about something.” Réaumur: referring to the “Réaumur scale,” “an obsolete scale of temperature at which water freezes at 0° and boils at 80° under standard conditions.” Fence: its usage in this instance means “a person who deals in stolen goods.” Scapa Flow: “a strait in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It was the site of an important British naval base, esp. during World War I. The German High Seas Fleet was interned there after its surrender and was scuttled in 1919 as an act of defiance against the terms of the Versailles peace settlement.” Profligacy: “recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources.” Assiduity: “constant or close attention to what one is doing.” Malinger: “exaggerate or feign illness in order to escape duty or work.” Psychosomatic: “(of a physical illness or other condition) caused or aggravated by a mental factor such as internal conflict or stress.” Tiepin: “an ornamental pin for holding a tie in place.” Vestigial: “forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.” Cassock: “a full-length garment of a single color worn by certain Christian clergy, members of church choirs, acolytes, and others having some particular office or role in a church.” Supine: “failing to act or protest as a result of moral weakness or indolence.” Assiduous: “showing great care and perseverance.” Sonorous: “(of a person's voice or other sound) imposingly deep and full.” Insouciance: “casual lack of concern; indifference.” Fulsome: “complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.” Macerate: “soften or break up (something, esp. food) by soaking in a liquid.” Septicaemia: “blood poisoning, esp. that caused by bacteria or their toxins.” Sulphonamide (or “sulfonamide”): “any of a class of synthetic drugs, derived from sulfanilamide, that are able to prevent the multiplication of some pathogenic bacteria.” Sycophant: “a person who acts obsequiously toward someone in order to gain advantage; a servile flatterer.” Phial: “another term for vial.” Militate: “(of a fact or circumstance) be a powerful or conclusive factor in preventing.” Phosgene: “a colorless poisonous gas made by the reaction of chlorine and carbon monoxide. It was used as a poison gas, notably in World War I.” Enterocolitis: “inflammation of both the small intestine and the colon.” Maudlin: “self-pityingly or tearfully sentimental, often through drunkenness.” Hauteur: “haughtiness of manner; disdainful pride.” Perambulator: it is the British term for a baby carriage, which is where the term “peram” comes from. Codicil: “an addition or supplement that explains, modifies, or revokes a will or part of one.” Adjutant: “a military officer who acts as an administrative assistant to a senior officer.” Lassitude: “a state of physical or mental weariness; lack of energy.”

Hot off the Press: Taking down democracy edition

2012-01-24T08:56:00.002-06:00

The BBC wonders what it is like to be asexual: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16552173.

FIFA and officials in Brazil are at odds over selling beer at World Cup stadia during the tournament: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16624823. I like this quote:

"Alcoholic drinks are part of the Fifa World Cup, so we're going to have them. Excuse me if I sound a bit arrogant but that's something we won't negotiate," he said.

People need beer, damn it!

Meet Aredale, Iowa's 18-year-old major: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/videonetwork/1396027977001?odyssey=mod|tvideo2|article.

The BBC Test Match Special crew had to resort to Plan C to broadcast their commentary of England's cricket match against Pakistan in Dubai: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adammountford/2012/01/englands_collapse_in_dubai_cau.html.

Iowa City's famous Hamburg Inn discovered its recycling is going to the landfill: http://thegazette.com/2012/01/20/trashtalk/. I can see the disposal company's point, and am willing to bet the stoners down at Hamburg would do a poor job of cleaning contaminated recyclables, but that apparently does not matter; it all gets melted down in the end, especially plastic and glass. Either way, we live in an age when business is always right.

Four Interstate rest stops in the Des Moines area — which may have been among those completely renovated in recent years — will be razed to make room for nearby interchanges: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120124/NEWS/301240090/Popular-rest-stops-on-I-80-to-be-removed. It looks like there are no immediate plans to replace them. Poor planning. [Sigh.]

The Novel Diary: Week 54

2012-01-23T23:14:00.000-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

After a harrowing return from the Twin Cities through dense fog and freezing drizzle, I am back and once again amazed by how cool Minnesota is. I obviously did not write last night — I unpacked and hit the sack — but I did hammer the keyboard (mostly the delete button) tonight after doing laundry.

Yep — I am still working on “Paths.” The January 26 deadline I set for myself is rapidly approaching and I think I can make it. Both timelines have been eviscerated and reworked and now need to be woven together once again. In other words: I am continuing to rework sentences, graphs, and segues. I am also lopping off more fat. To date I have cut 1,767 words. I will try to make the Thursday deadline but will not be too upset if I miss it by a few days. Right now I have “Start working on novel, again!” written on my calendar for Sunday.

Despite the fact I said I would think about repurposing this post series, and also that I have not written a single word in my novel since August, I am still chugging away. Let it be. If I decide to repurpose it later I will. In the meantime I will continue it as is.

Beer of the Weekend #321: Monk's Café Flemish Sour Ale

2012-01-19T22:59:00.004-06:00

As I mentioned last Friday, I will be heading to the Twin Cities for the weekend — maybe. The forecast for tomorrow calls for bitter cold and 1-6 inches of snow. Earlier models predicted 4-8 inches in Eastern Iowa. Southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities will be hit, too, but may receive 1-3 inches. Anyway, if it is too bad we will call it off. If not, we will take it slow and easy all the way into the Medium White North.

Since BotW proper will be on hiatus (maybe) I decided to do a special Thursday tasting. (No week on The Quiet Man is complete without a beer tasting, I guess.) The beer tonight is highly recommended from multiple parties: Monk’s Café Flemish Sour Ale, brewed by the Brouwerij Van Steenberge N.V. of Ertvelde, Belgium.

For a few months, John’s beer guru Joe Hotek has been telling me about “sour ales.” I was leery but he broke me down when I was building my sampling sixer for February’s LV recommendation. He took the bottle from the shelf and urged me to take it. I obliged (and paid for it, of course).

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. There is a poorly printed batch code on the back label but nothing discernable as a freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is clean, dark brown. Two fingers of lightly tanned, buttery head dissipated quickly to leave a spotted lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: Immediate tartness. Granny apple, sour grapes, plum, raisins, cherry, sweet (very sweet) caramel, molasses, chocolate, and yeast. It has a hint of smokiness and vinegar, too.

Taste: The mouthfeel is very peculiar. Light and slippery, it is almost like diet pop. The flavors do not standout on their own but contribute to a tart blend, which is mostly fruity; it swings between the grapes/apple and the darker fruits. The smokiness is gone, but the vinegar is still noticeable; it has a slight acidity to it.

Drinkability: I have never had sour ale before so I have to say this first experience was good. Different, but good.

Fun facts about Monk’s Café:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Flanders Oud Bruin.” Here are the details:

Oud Bruins, not restricted to, but concentrated in Flanders, are light to medium-bodied, deep copper to brown in colour. They are extremely varied, characterized by a slight vinegar or lactic sourness and spiciness to smooth and sweet. A fruity-estery character is apparent with no hop flavor or aroma. Low to medium bitterness. Very small quantities of diacetyl are acceptable. Roasted malt character in aroma and flavor is acceptable, at low levels. Oak-like or woody characters may be pleasantly integrated into overall palate. Typically old and new Brown ales are blended, like Lambics.

-Price: $3.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 5.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), chocolate, and grilled meat.

-This text is printed on the neck label:

We blend young and old beers to make this mildly sour sour ale. Light bodied with a lactic/sour nose and a bit of sweet and sour in the finish. Very refreshing!

Okay… I’ll take your word for it.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

My letter opposing PIPA and SOPA

2012-01-18T13:46:00.001-06:00

Dear Congressman Grassley/Harkin/Loebsack,

I am writing to voice my opposition to Senate 968 (the “Protect IP Act” (PIPA)) / HR 3261 (the “Stop Online Piracy Act” (SOPA)) and urge you to fight against this legislation.

As an avid blogger and frequent user of Internet sites like Google, Wikipedia, YouTube, and craigslist, I am appalled that this bill is being considered. Its sponsors and supporters say it will combat online piracy by allowing them to shut down foreign sites, but it appears to be a veiled attempt by the media industry to impose “Big Brother” controls that will hamper communication and free expression and suppress the flow of information. It will, as 17 Internet entrepreneurs and innovators said, “[d]eny website owners the right to due process of law” and “[g]ive the U.S Government the power to censor web using technologies similar to those used by China, Malaysia, and Iran…” (Their letter can be found here: http://dq99alanzv66m.cloudfront.net/sopa/img/12-14-letter.pdf.) This is frightening, especially since these measures are being considered in the country that pioneered free speech, which is now recognized as a basic human right.

As an artist and writer, I have no problem with my work being shared as long as it is not plagiarized. Thus I feel this bill is an attempt by entertainment conglomerations to patch the holes being drilled into their obsolete and profit-focused business model. I feel efforts would be better focused on combating plagiarism and allowing the arts to flourish freely without crushing limitations.

Somewhat confusing, though unsurprising, is the fact this bill is being considered at a time when the international business community and certain politicians are fighting against government regulation. I think it is hypocritical for them to shout their faith in free market self-regulation but turn around and use our government to pass censorship laws to protect their profits and squelch competition. Why does such a bill find bipartisan support when public and consumer oversight is unacceptable? To me this bill symbolizes the power multinational and domestic corporations wield on Capitol Hill. It is things like this that lead the American people to believe corporate money, whether from Hollywood or Beijing, controls our elected officials.

Senate 968 / HR 3261 is a blatant attempt to prop up an outdated business model and suppress the competition and innovation that the bill’s very sponsors hail as hallmarks of free market economics. Its proposal to give copyright holders unlimited power over consumers and artists is akin to tyranny. Needless to say I strongly urge you to rebuff such un-American legislation.

Sincerely,
[The Quiet Man]

Purdue 75, Iowa 68

2012-01-17T22:35:00.003-06:00

Yeah — three images this time. This game was very photogenic.

Football!...is done for another season

2012-01-17T13:17:00.003-06:00

I am a week late on this one, but such seems to be how I blog now.

Well — that was interesting. Not! The first BCS Championship Game played between two teams that met during the regular season was a huge bust given the incredible level of hype. Though I wanted LSU to win, I have to admit Alabama deserved to hoist the crystal ball, especially as a lover of hard-hitting, impenetrable defense. (The cliché is true: defense wins championships.) How crazy is it, though, that the national champions did not win their conference or even division?

So the state of Alabama is home to the FBS champions for the third straight year, and the SEC has claimed its sixth straight National Championship. Southern football is king, at least in terms of hardware. College football analysts and, especially, the folks at ESPN drool over the SEC, and I suppose much of it is deserved given the league’s talent pool and recent success. As annoying as it is for a Big Ten fan like myself, I have no choice but to endure it. (That SEC commercial during the game, touting the conference’s sixth straight BCS title, was a tad egregious. But I suppose they have the right to brag.)

Despite Bobblehead’s convincing argument that the Big Ten is the most balanced conference in the country, I cannot help thinking it is devolving into a glorified MAC with a television network. At least that is my fear. Michigan State’s victory against Georgia was definitely the bright spot of the bowl season for the conference, and Michigan’s return to the national stage is a welcome sign, but overall the Big Ten did a belly flop — again. Iowa got Bell-dozed. Northwestern left its regular season feistiness and stubborn resolve in Evanston. Penn State either underestimated Houston or just got whooped by a much better team. (It was probably a combination of both.) Nebraska made a good showing against South Carolina to represent the Big Ten for the first time, but came up short. As ESPN’s Big Ten blog put it, “Another strange finish haunts Wisconsin,” and Ohio State lost the Urban Meyer Bowl. But Illinois and Purdue won, which is a boon for two floundering programs. The conference sent an impressive 10 teams to bowls and came away with four victories. It could have done better, but it could have done worse. But how well can you assess a college football conference solely on its bowl record? Your guess is as good as mine.

Once again, the Hawkeyes are losing players left and right. The departure of Mika’il McCall and Marcus Coker have basically emptied the running back stable, and former back-up QB AJ Derby announced his intention to transfer. Derby’s decision was unsurprising since he wants to play quarterback, and I do not know why McCall left, but Coker, the focus of a sexual assault investigation, needed to leave. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but his reputation has been permanently stained and even the implication of his involvement should be enough to send him packing. The Iowa football program has fallen victim to the sickening rash of immature and thoughtless player criminality that has become all too common in major college athletics, and it needs to be dealt with swiftly and strongly (which, it seems, did not happen).

Somewhat fittingly, I read on ESPN’s bottom line ticker during the Championship Game that the NCAA powerbrokers will discuss changes to the BCS format during the off-season. I highly doubt any radical changes will be made — I bet the Cotton Bowl will be branded a BCS bowl — but here is my humble and current opinion of how a champion should be crowned at college football’s highest level: abolish the bowl system and institute a playoff similar to what is played at the FCS level (i.e. every other level of college football). I do not know exactly how teams are selected for the playoffs, but believe it functions much like the famous basketball tournament: tickets are automatically punched for conference champions and the remaining at-large spots are filled with teams chosen by a committee using obscure rankings and reasoning. Everyone else stays home. (Perhaps a tournament for those passed over, much like the NIT, would emerge.) The current Division I playoff includes 20 teams, 10 of which are conference champions. Many teams get a first-round bye. I have no clue how the at-large teams are chosen, but it is a system that seems to work. When Wikipedia returns from its rightful protest, check out the page for this year’s Division I season and playoff. Behold the blueprint for crowning a true champion on the field.

Obviously, the bowls would hate this, as would their myriad corporate sponsors. As a Big Ten fan I would be sadden by the loss of the Rose Bowl; its sanctity was one reason I was a longtime supporter of the bowl system. But I realized it is a dinosaur that needs to be wiped out by a NCAA Chicxulub. Sometimes you need to destroy something you love to make it better. Also, I am sure there would be a ton of backlash from the SEC and other programs based in more temperate climes. Just like in Division I, the playoff games would ideally be played on one team’s home turf, and everyone knows how cold and crazy the weather can be in the Midwest and Northeast in November and December. The home field advantage created by cold weather may be overrated, but I doubt if Alabama and LSU have ever played in the snow. (This could also be a linchpin of the current system as it takes cold weather out of the equation — a definite boon to warm weather teams.) Needless to say, though, this is probably all wishful thinking. Television revenue will dictate any changes, though I cannot help thinking a second round game in such a playoff would generate a lot more interest than the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl. (Believe it or not, there are now 35 bowl games!)

Oh well. The countdown to next season has begun. I believe the festivities will kickoff (literally) on August 30.

Hot off the Press: Blessed dog (cat) edition

2012-01-17T13:16:00.000-06:00

Iowa House Speaker Kraig Paulsen made a beastly new desk for his office at the Capitol: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2012/01/12/take-a-look-at-the-iowa-house-speakers-new-desk/. You have to admire the handiwork. There are not many people who can make stuff like this themselves anymore.

A cat has been stuck in a tree on Clinton Street in Iowa City since last Thursday and, despite a few rescue attempts (how hard can it be to rescue a cat in a tree?) it is not coming down and the city says it will stand by and do nothing: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Cat-Causes-Concern-Along-Clinton-Street-in-Iowa-City-137398878.html.

Update: the cat was rescued: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Rescued-Cat-Now-Resting-Comfortably-137508023.html.

The Novel Diary: Week 53

2012-01-16T23:50:00.000-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

I am still working on “Paths.” Frankly, if I were not so pathetic I would have finished it a long time ago, but I seem to want to drag this current revision job on as long as I can. It is getting there, though. However, I need to be more deadline and goal oriented. How about this: I will finish this latest version by next Thursday, January 26.

Reworking the second timeline of the piece is going well, but I fear I am cutting too much and losing a key element. Or, I wonder, perhaps I should cut it out all together. Regardless, the second timeline is now much shorter and much more abstract.

Iowa 75, Michigan 59

2012-01-14T20:18:00.002-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #320: Summit Black Ale

2012-01-13T23:28:00.003-06:00

After a long week of using my tulip glasses, I will serve this week’s proper BotW in the comfy confines of a shaker pint glass. Ahh — good old shakers.

Next Friday I will be venturing to the Twin Cities, so in honor of the upcoming trip the beer of the weekend is Summit Black Ale, brewed by the Summit Brewing Company of Saint Paul, Minnesota.

While at John’s today, I almost bought a four-pack of Sprecher Irish Stout. However, I have no clue how long that stuff has been sitting in the basement of good ol’ 401 East Market Street (the packs on the shelf were pretty dusty — again!), so I grabbed the sixer of SBA instead.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The faint “ENJOY BY” date printed on the shoulder of the bottle is “03/28/12.”

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is non-opaque black; light passed through with a red tint. Lots o’ thick, lightly tanned head on this one: about three fingers worth stopped me mid-pour. It settled very slowly, dissipating first in the center, and a thick ring of foam lingered around the edge.

Smell: The grapefruit citrus was noticeable as I was pouring. Up close and in the glass, it offers an enticing hybrid of citrus hops and dark malts. Grapefruit citrus is most prominent, but lurking in the background are roasted caramel, chocolate, toffee, and coffee.

Taste: The hops are dialed up a notch, providing a nice grapefruit tinge that tickles the cheeks and tonsils. As with the smell, the citrus dominates the dark malt chocolate, caramel, and coffee.

Drinkability: I thoroughly enjoy this one. It is a fairly balanced marriage between two styles, though the hops tend to overpower the “Black” aspect of the beer.

Fun facts about SBA:

-Style: Summit obviously refers to it as Black Ale, and BA classifies it as “American Black Ale.” Here is the skinny from BA:

Also referred to as a Black IPA (India Pale Ale) or Cascadian Dark Ale, ales of this style range from dark brown to pitch black and showcase malty and light to moderate roasty notes and are often quite hoppy generally with the use of American hops. Alcohol can range from average to high depending on if the brewery is going for a "dobule / imperial" version.

-Price: $8.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF. Basically, fresh from the fridge.

-Alcohol content: 6.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: Summit does not list any pairing suggestions and neither does BA, so screw it. I suggest enjoying it with another glass of SBA.

-IBU: 65.

-Enjoy a chat with SBA’s brewer, Mike Lundell:

Yes, he appears to be wearing a giant, wooden bottle cap à la Flavor Flav. Those crazy Minnesotans.

-SBA is “Batch 08” of Summit’s Unchained Series. They are one-time releases, so when they’re gone, they’re gone. I have seen earlier batches at John’s and the Co-op, but have failed take advantage. Now that I know they are limited in the strictest sense, I may review each from now on as I do Millstream’s Brewmaster’s Extreme Series.

-Summit also released a special brew to commemorate the brewery’s 25th anniversary last year. A few sixers are still hanging around IC so I may grab one while I still can.

-You know what sucks about Summit? They apparently do not have a public taproom at the brewery. I am sure tours end with Norse libations, but there is no place that serves Summit pints and pub grub. I know not every brewery can offer that, but I assumed Summit would be one of them. I do not even think there is a shop to buy Summit gear. I will need to call and ask.

-Due to my trip to the Medium White North (as Bobblehead calls it), BotW will be on hiatus next Friday. Not only do I need a vacation, I need a break from documenting my beer consumption. I will, however, try to bring back a couple choice Minnesota beers unavailable in IC, especially some from Surly.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

Beer of the Weekend #319: Scaldis Belgian Ale (Bush Ambrée)

2012-01-13T13:12:00.001-06:00

Today’s brown bottle lunch is another beer with an ambiguous name. However, I will be referring to it as it is called on the front label: Scaldis Belgian Ale, brewed by the Brasserie Dubuisson of Pipaix, Belgium.

On BA the beer is known as “Bush Ambrée” because that is apparently its name in Belgium. Though the Belgians are excellent brewers, they are horrible with consistency.

Serving type: 250 ml bottle. That’s right: 250 ml. The back label features “Best before end” tabs along the side to be notched, but there are no notches.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is cloudy, dark, caramel/honey. Two fingers of eggshell-colored, buttery head dissipated quickly, like it was late for a hot date. It left a bubbly ring around the edge and a thin skim.

Smell: Sweet fruit and spice. Apple, banana, plum, fig, cherry, raisin, raspberry, honey, a little brown sugar, and caramel. After a couple whiffs the spice fades far into the background. As expected, it has a hint of booze sharpness.

Taste: It basically mirrors the smell, but the booze is sharper once it hits the tongue. It is far from overpowering or distracting; instead, it compliments the other flavors. The darker fruits (plum, fig, cherry, raisin, and raspberry) are much more prominent in the taste. It is not overly spicy, either, but there is a hint of spice.

Drinkability: This definitely gets two thumbs up, but I now understand why it is offered in 250 ml bottles. Though it is very well masked, the alcohol is still potent.

Fun facts about whatever the hell it is called:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Belgian Strong Pale Ale.” Here is the skinny:

Like a Belgian Pale Ale, the strong versions will also be pale to golden in color. What sets them apart is a much higher alcohol content that can range from hidden to spicy to devastatingly present. Expect a complex and powerful ale, yet delicate with rounded flavors and big, billowy, rocky, white head. Hop and malt character can vary, most are fruity and quite hoppy, but hop flavor and aroma will generally be within the low range and artfully balanced.

Duvel is the quintessential example of this style, and many others have tried to imitate it with similar references to the devil.

-Price: $3.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 50-55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 12 percent ABV. One webpage called it “the strongest beer made in Belgium.”

-Food pairings: BA recommends “General (Apéritif, Digestive) Meat (Game, Salmon).”

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

Beer of the Weekend #318: La Trappe Quadrupel

2012-01-12T23:04:00.001-06:00

The beer tonight, and fifth candidate for my February LV recommendation, is La Trappe Quadruple, brewed by the Brouwerij de Koningshoeven B.V. of Berkel-Enschot, The Netherlands.

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. There are batch codes on the back label but no freshness dates.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is cloudy mahogany with mostly caramel brown tones. Two fingers of slightly tanned, buttery head dissipated to leave a skim of foam and a ring around the edge.

Smell: Big time spice, dark fruit, and sweetness. Plum, cherry, raisins, red apple, yeast, lemon, caramel, chocolate, and boozy sharpness. All of it is tinged with spice.

Taste: Velvety and sublime. It is so good it is hard to taste. The dark fruit from the smell is most prominent, especially the plum and cherry. All the fruits, though, create an excellent blend that is difficult to deconstruct. It is also maltier than the aroma led me to believe; there is quite a bit of caramel that balances everything. The yeast is there, as well as the spice, though it is not as potent as it is in the smell. The alcohol is noticeable, but faintly.

Drinkability: Excellent stuff. For some reason I get the feeling I am drinking a piece of heaven.

Fun facts about LTQ:

-Style: Quadrupel. Here is the skinny from BA:

Inspired by the Trappist brewers of Belgium, a Quadrupel is a Belgian style ale of great strength with bolder flavor compared to its Dubbel and Tripel sister styles. Typically a dark creation that ranges within the deep red, brown and garnet hues. Full bodied with a rich malty palate. Phenols are usually at a moderate level. Sweet with a low bitterness yet a well perceived alcohol.

-Price: $4.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City. (I did not realize it was that expensive until I looked at the receipt.)

-Serving temperature: The beer’s webpage suggests “pouring temperature 10-14 ºC,” which is 50-57.2ºF. The thermometer in my fridge read 30ºF when I took the bottle out, so this puppy needed to sit for a while. (Thirty degrees is way too cold for a fridge. It should be around 40ºF.)

-Alcohol content: 10 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), “General (Digestive),” beef, smoked meat, and game meat.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A.

Beer of the Weekend #317: Tilburg's Dutch Brown Ale

2012-01-12T13:41:00.002-06:00

Today’s brown bottle lunch, and candidate for my February LV recommendation (though I doubt it will be my final choice), is Tilburg’s Dutch Brown Ale, brewed by Brouwerij de Koningshoeven B.V. of Berkel-Enschot, The Netherlands.

It is brewed by the same people who brew La Trappe label beers.

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. There are what appear to be batch codes printed on the back label, but no discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is deep, deep brown (almost black); light passes through easily, turning the beer a ruby red. Two fingers of tan-tinted head dissipated quickly to leave a spotted, bubbly lacing and a ring around the edge.

Smell: Very malty. Both sweet and toasted caramel, chocolate, toffee, black raspberry, a little hazelnut, and maybe fig and plum.

Taste: The flavor is a disappointment compared to the smell. The mouthfeel is light and flavors of caramel, toffee, and brown sugar dominate. The nuttiness from the smell also plays a bigger role, and the dark fruit peeks its head out after the beer has continued warming.

Drinkability: Though it is not spectacular, it is a good beer.

Fun facts about TDBA:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Belgian Dark Ale.”

-Price: $2.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: The back label suggests to “Store and serve cool.” BA recommends 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina) and aperitifs.

-All your questions about the strange character on the label (which is swallowing a human and, it looks like, wearing a caldron on its head) can be answered here.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.

A1 Bassline, 'Stabs'

2012-01-12T10:11:00.003-06:00

I stumbled on this video for this A1 Bassline song a couple days ago and thought I would post it. (Here is the direct link.) As much as I would love to say I am current with the dizzying number of electro-infused acts out there, I had never heard of A1 Bassline before seeing the video in the related links sidebar.

The song is okay, but I especially like the way it is matched to the movie sample. I have no clue what movie that is, but based on the dress and location it has to be from the 1950s. For some reason I automatically thought it was French. Go figure. I also have no clue what the hell is going on, but I like that about this video. Also, I am pretty sure the Tighten Up Records logo (or whatever it would be called) uses a variation of Futura. I have been fond of Futura since my days at the Little Hawk (we used it for headlines). It is sleek and unostentatious.

Beer of the Weekend #316: Maredsous Abbey Triple 10

2012-01-11T23:36:00.001-06:00

Do you know what I just realized? I need to fit in another tasting tonight. Grr! (And I was all excited to go to bed.)

The third candidate for my February LV recommendation is a relative of today’s brown bottle lunch: Maredsous Abbey Triple 10, brewed by the Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV of Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium.

Much like with Maredsous Abbey Brune 8, there a lot of inconsistency regarding the name. Mostly, though, it is referred to as Maredsous 10, but I will follow the format I used earlier.

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. The “Best before” date on the back label is “03 2014.”

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is honey with amber and ruby tones. Lots o’ head on this one: after three fingers formed I needed to stop pouring for a minute. The head was eggshell-colored, fairly light, and dissipated to leave a rocky lacing and trails along the sides. A couple swirls builds a buttery, half-finger cap that lingers for a while.

Smell: Tons of yeast, spice, and sweet fruit. The aroma is very potent. Coriander, clove, pepper, granny apple, orange, lemon, green grapes, yeast, and caramel.

Taste: Mostly mirrors the smell, but the spices and citrus zest are most prominent. Coriander, clove, pepper, orange, lemon, and green grapes. The yeast is present and so is a little caramel. Overall, though, it is nice and spicy.

Drinkability: It is a solid brew. I really have nothing else to say.

Fun facts about MAT10:

-Style: Everybody calls it “Tripel.”

-Price: $3.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 10 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA suggests Mediterranean cuisine, sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), pork, and poultry.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

Beer of the Weekend #315: Maredsous Abbey Brune 8

2012-01-11T14:19:00.002-06:00

Today’s brown bottle lunch (exception card!) is Maredsous Abbey Brune 8, brewed by the Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat NV of Breendonk-Puurs, Belgium.

As with last night’s brew, there is some confusion regarding the name. I did a Google search for “Maredsous brune.” The results presented a hodgepodge of different names: Maredsous Abbey Brune, Maredsous Brune 8, Maredsous 8 Brune… BA refers to it as “Maredsous 8 – Dubbel” and the picture on the beer’s page has a red and black label. The label design probably changed recently, but why is there so much confusion regarding the name? Ugh!

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. The “Best before” date on the back is “09 2012.”

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color looks black, but I think it is a very deep brown. Three fingers of slightly tinted, thick head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy cap in the middle, a ring of foam around the edge, and trails along the glass; it eventually settled to a thin lacing.

Smell: Scents of yeast, caramel, toffee, fig, plum, apple, red grapes, brown sugar, spice (I am not sure what, though), and maybe a little molasses. There is a hint of booze — the aroma features the alcohol sharpness — but it is not distracting. A number of other reviewers say it smells like wine, and I agree. (It is thankfully not, though.)

Taste: Not as fruity or sweet as the smell; instead, it has a surprising roasted quality. Lots of roasted caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and molasses. The yeast is omnipresent and the mouthfeel is bready. An earthy hop bite lingers on the cheeks and tongue after each sip, and pepper spice emerges. The dark fruits, especially a red grape skin flavor, begin to sneak in as the beer continues to warm, but they are not as prominent as they are in the smell.

Drinkability: This beer is a very pleasant surprise. I like this stuff a lot. Complex, well-crafted, and very tasty — I expect nothing else from someone who has made a vow of celibacy.

Fun facts about MAB8:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Dubbel.”

-Price: $3.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends buttery cheeses (Brie, Couda, Havarti, Swiss), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), chocolate, and beef.

-Maredsous is a former abbey beer that is now brewed by Duvel, though monks still apparently oversee the brewing process.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A.

Beer of the Weekend #314: Ommegang Abbey Ale

2012-01-10T22:44:00.003-06:00

There will be at least one exception to my newly reinstituted mid-week teetotalism: samplings for my LV recommendation. My recommendation for February is due Sunday, and I moseyed on down to John’s today and brought back a custom sixer worth of candidates to try over the next couple days. Needless to say I will be playing the exception card.

The first candidate for my February 2012 recommendation is Ommegang Abbey Ale, brewed by the Brewery Ommegang of Cooperstown, New York.

On the brewery website the beer is referred to simply as “Ommegang.” On BA it is listed as “Ommegang (Abbey Ale).” Perhaps this is just my opinion, but I think beer names should be straightforward and distinct.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. There is no freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. The color is ruddy, dark caramel brown. Three fingers of thick, buttery, caramel-tinted head diminished slowly to become a billowy, rocky cap before dissipating to leave a spotted lacing, ring around the edge, and trails of foam along the glass.

Smell: I popped the cap and immediately got a whiff of brandy-like booze from the pressurized air. It was much more inviting than intimidating. Once in the glass it offers scents of caramel, toffee, a little chocolate, fig, plum, granny apple, and maybe a little molasses. Plus the brandy booziness.

Taste: It is not as fruity as the smell; much darker and boozy. Caramel, toffee, fig, plum, sweet fruit (in the background), yeast, and brandy booziness.

Drinkability: Subtle, smooth, and very tasty. It is solid stuff. I was not that impressed with a couple other Ommegang brews, but this is good stuff.

Fun facts about Ommegang Abbey Ale (“Ommegang,” “Ommegang (Abbey Ale”):

-Style: The label refers to it as “Abbey Dubbel” and BA classifies it as “Dubbel.”

-Price: $2.79/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 8.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: The beer’s webpage suggests “savory dishes, meats, slow-cooked French dishes made with pork, lamb, rabbit, beef, carbonnades, hotchpot, marinated roasts, barbeque, rich cheeses, almost every dessert.”

-Nerdiness from the webpage:

Meditate on this dark ruby elixir. Breathe in its deep emanations of fruit and spice. Is that clove you smell? Licorice? Fig? Sip serenely as revelations of honey, toffee, chocolate and dark dried fruit delight your senses. Can a beer be holy? you wonder, and Where can I get a grail on-line?

Ommegang, our first brew, was inspired by the centuries-old brewing practices of the Belgian Trappist monks. This burgundian brew gives off a variety of aromas, including plum and cinnamon, and packs in flavors such as caramel, toffee, and licorice. At 8.5% abv, it is known to cause spontaneous meditation.

-Ommegang (the brewery, that is) really needs to work on its website. The beer profiles are pathetic. Aside from the above nerdiness and pairing recommendations, the page for Ommegang (the beer, that is) features a number of guest comments, the most recent of which is over four years old. In our tech-obsessed era, an awesome beer demands an awesome web presence. (Dear Ommegang (the brewery, that is): Talk to Unibroue. Sincerely, The Quiet Man.)

-This is on the label:

Pour slowly so as to not disturb the yeast sediment, but with enough vigor to create a luxurious head and release the rich bouquet.

Brewery Ommegang is 3,264 miles from Brussels, but its heart is right in Belgium. It was created out of our devotion to the unique ales brewed by the country where brewing is an art and partaking is a passion.

I like that: “…partaking is a passion.”

The Quiet Man’s grade: A.

Michigan State 95, Iowa 61

2012-01-10T20:08:00.002-06:00

The Novel Diary: Week 52

2012-01-10T10:40:00.001-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

Welcome to another Tuesday edition of my novel diary. Obviously I was watching the BCS National Championship Game last night and did not write a single word. Much has been the theme the last couple months, but no more.

One year ago tomorrow night I started my novel-writing push. After a year, where am I? Just over 40,000 words in and adrift. I have not written a single, novel-related word since August 30 or 31. (Fittingly, as I write this “state of my novel” I am listening to Governor Branstad’s State of the State address. Did he just propose something akin to syndicalism? ACT is no doubt salivating over his proposal to require all high school juniors to take a college entrance exam — all costs covered by the state.)

I am not completely directionless in the sense I have no clue where I am going, but I am off course regarding determination and effort. The transparency this diary provided to Quiet Man readers and its prospect of public humiliation has done nothing to motive me. Making the problem worse is the fact I am writing somewhat aimlessly without a guideline. I have characters, a setting, and a general idea of what I want to do, but need to make all three coalesce into a solid story. Building a brief but useful and informative outline will, I think, help me do that. That is my mission once I have finished the latest revision of “Paths.”

Like I said, this novel diary has not given me the motivation I thought it would. It is necessary? Should it continue? I need to think about that. Perhaps I need to repurpose it as a writing diary in general, but the fact is I need to get working regardless. I need to get writing.

Hot off the Press: A few stories from the past weeks edition

2012-01-10T09:17:00.001-06:00

Down at the Pizza Ranch...is where many Republican presidential candidates have gone to gladhand with voters: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pizza-ranch-20111227,0,4931403.story. Pizza Ranch: Iowa's Bürgerbräukeller?

Residents in New London are calling for their new major to step down after he used a racial slur while talking with friends at a convenience store klatch: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120109/NEWS/301090016/Residents-blast-racial-reference-by-Iowa-town-s-new-mayor.

There is a newly renewed (again) push to make Washington, DC the 51st state, called New Columbia: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2012/01/washington-dc-push-bid-to-become-51st-state.html.

Ohio State 76, Iowa 47

2012-01-07T21:17:00.002-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #313: La Trappe Tripel

2012-01-06T23:57:00.000-06:00

The beer this weekend is not a typical BotW. It is another 750 ml gift of sudsy goodness so it will technically be the beer of Friday night, not the whole weekend. Normally, when I buy sixers, I drink three bottles Friday and the remaining three Saturday. That will not be the case this weekend and I am cool with that. I have three leftover bottles of Eight Ball Stout chilling patiently in the fridge and they will make very good substitutes.

The beer of the weekend (courtesy of my cousin) is La Trappe Tripel, brewed by the Brouwerij de Koningshoeven B.V. of Berkel-Enschot, The Netherlands.

That’s right: Trappist beer from The Netherlands. Who knew?

Serving type: 750 ml bottle. There is a batch code on the label but no discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a tulip/snifter. The color is cloudy orange/amber. Three fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated quickly to leave a thin, bubbly lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: It smells like a boozy, tangy hefeweizen. There are a lot of nice fruit scents, mostly banana, apple, orange, pear, lemon, and grapefruit. It is yeasty and spicy, too, and there is a nice caramel presence.

Taste: It basically mirrors the smell, but the fruit is much sharper. The banana, apple, and orange are most prominent, but there is also some play from the lemon and pear. The yeast is also there, but the spice is not as noticeable. Neither is the alcohol, though there is a very light hint. Everything is balanced by subtle caramel. Overall, it is very smooth.

Drinkability: Impressive. It is nothing orgasmic — I can definitely “Taste the Silence” — but it is impressive.

Fun facts about LTT:

-Style: As the name suggests, it is classified as Tripel.

-Price: I do not know and do not care. Thanks, cuz! (Fittingly, he is on the Catholic side of my family.)

-Serving temperature: The beer’s webpage recommends 10-14ºC, which is 50-57.2ºF — surprisingly warm. BA recommends the usual 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends Mediterranean cuisine, sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), pork, and poultry.

-IBU: 27.

-In banner type on the back of the label is this motto: “Taste the Silence.” Precious. Just precious.

-Nerdiness from the back label:

Since 1884, the monks of Koningshoeven have brewed La Trappe Ales to support themselves. Made with traditional ingredients and age old recipes, La Trappe Ales use the most modern quality-control methods to produce beer that is the perfect marriage of the old and the new. Fermentation takes place using a type of yeast which is most active between 62 F and 68 F. This type of fermentation is called top fermentation.

La Trappe Ales are made from carefully selected malts and hops and fermented with a strain of yeast unique to Koningshoeven. Each of the La Trappe Ales bottles is conditioned for a full, complex flavor and long shelf life. Unlike commercially produced, filtered and pasteurized beer, La Trappe Ale can be aged like fine wine.

-According to the Brouwerij de Koningshoeven Wikipedia page, the brewery is one of only seven Trappist breweries in the world authorized to use the “Authentic Trappist Product” logo. The six other authorized breweries are in Belgium: Achel, Westvleteren, Orval, Rochefort, Chimay, and Westmalle.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

Beer of the Weekend #312: Saison-Brett

2012-01-05T23:43:00.004-06:00

I have been a good boy this week. I have not consumed a single drop of beer or alcohol since Saturday night, which was one of my New Year’s resolutions (no mid-week drinking). (I am not counting the delicious Guinness-infused cupcakes Bobblehead gave me.) Like I said last week, though I am far from an alcoholic I felt my beer drinking was getting out of control. So what better way to celebrate my reinstituted mid-week teetotalism than by drinking one of the beers I was given for the holidays? (There is no better way.)

The beer tonight is courtesy of Bobblehead and his Missus: Saison-Brett, brewed by the Boulevard Brewing Company of Kansas City, Missouri.

I am not a big fan of saison — the farmhouse funkiness is not my favorite — but I am very eager to try Saison-Brett. I looked up its Beer Advocate profile and was astonished by the ratings. Not only does it have a “BA Score” of 95 (the average score given by all BA user reviews), but “The Bros” score is 100. (Both scores would easily be A+’s in the old rating system.) I have never seen that. The Bros gave 100? Wow. Those guys know beer.

Serving type: 750 ml bottle. The “BEST BY DATE” on the back of the bottle is “03-2013.”

Appearance: Poured into a tulip. It produced a ton of dense, white head (WARNING: pour cautiously), which thinned and dissipated slowly. The color is cloudy straw yellow.

Smell: Lots of farmhouse mustiness, à la “Brett” (?), though it smells like there is a hair salon nearby. Lemon zest, tons of clove and grassy hop spice, and very sweet fruits (I am thinking tangerine, grapefruit, and mango). Everything blends together to create one funky aroma.

Taste: It tastes like a saison-IPA hybrid, and it is thankfully hoppy enough to lean more toward its IPA half. It is sweet, but it also has a balancing bitterness. The fruit flavors from the smell (tangerine, grapefruit, and, to a lesser degree, mango) come first, then it is mixed with the farmhouse yeast funkiness, and finally the grassy hops finish the sip with a does of bitterness. There is not a hint of alcohol despite the higher ABV.

Drinkability: I would drink a lot more saison if saison tasted like this. This is excellent.

Fun facts about Saison-Brett:

-Style: Both Boulevard and BA classify it as “Saison/Farmhouse Ale.”

-Price: $11.99/bottle at the Hy-Vee on First Avenue in Iowa City. (Bobblehead accidentally left the receipt in the bag. At the same time he purchased “BBQ RIB BEER CHIPS,” some kind of Bloody Mary thing, milk, a box of Marlboro Gold 100 (tisk tisk), a box of Swisher Sweets, and a can of Whipsy Loco Cocoa.)

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 8.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends curried and Thai cuisine, earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), nutty cheeses (Asiago, Colby, Parmesan), pungent cheeses (Gorgonzola, Limburger), salad, poultry, fish, and shellfish.

-Nerdiness from the back label:

A traditional Belgian-style saison was the starting point for this limited edition ale, but then the fun began: It was dry hopped, followed by bottle conditioning with various yeasts, including Brettanomyces, a wild strain that imparts a distinctive earthy quality. Though this farmhouse ale received three months of bottle age prior to release, further cellaring will continue to enhance the “Brett” character, if that’s what you’re after…

-Here is something that is cool, which is also mentioned on the back label:

Our Special Limited Release ales are produced in batches so small that we individually number each bottle. When they’re gone, they’re gone.

The number of my bottle is “13403” — which, to me, makes it seem like it was part of a pretty big batch. If my math is correct, and the bottles were numbered starting from 1, Boulevard brewed at least 10,052,250 ml of Saison-Brett. That is 26,555.235 gallons. Small batch? You be the judge.

-I would also like to say the cork was a pain to pull out. Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate the seal and freshness it provided. But goddamn!

The Quiet Man’s grade: A.

Nu shooz: Brooks Ghost 4

2012-01-05T15:30:00.001-06:00

After pounding the pavement with the same running shoes for almost six months, it was high time to visit Running Wild. I drove there Tuesday in a somewhat unpleasant mood: I had just discovered the hit-and-run damage to my car. I had the radio off so I could listen intently for any strange sounds, hoping nothing mechanical was wrong. I arrived in one piece and assumed everything was all right, but could not help feeling disheartened by the blemish.

My baby!

Unlike a few years ago, when I was trying new brands, buying running shoes is easy now. I sat and asked for a pair of Ghost 4’s, size 12. I put them on (I had to buy a new pair of Wrightsocks because I forgot to bring my own pair), did a test run in front of the building, and pulled out my wallet. I thought about trying different shoes but did not. I have been very satisfied with my Brooks (except the Defyance 3’s) and do not want to change something that works. As far as I know the series has remained the same — except for the color. My new pair is very Hawkeye inspired. (The owner said many customers have made the comment that Brooks “must really like Iowa,” or knew to send black and yellow Ghost 4’s to Hawkeye country. However, that is not the case. “They are the same color in Ames and the rest of the country,” the owner told me.)

Iowa 64, Minnesota 62

2012-01-04T22:52:00.002-06:00

A hit-and-run — and a possible prelude?

2012-01-03T20:31:00.001-06:00

At some point between midnight and noon today, some inconsiderate asshole hit my car and drove off.

I have no clue what happened or when. Obviously another car damaged my left front fender and bumper, but I do not know when or where exactly it happened. I parked on the street last night and did not notice any damage this morning when I cleaned the frost off the windows and drove around. I did not notice anything when I returned, parking in the lot behind my building. I only saw the dents and scraped paint when I took a banana peel to the dumpster around noon.

Ugh. Though it pisses me off I know it is (cross my fingers) an easy fix. As far as I can tell there is no mechanical damage and the car runs and drives well. It is an aesthetic blemish that can be repaired with a new fender and bumper. I called my insurance company and the wheels are rolling on that as I write. What I am most worried about instead is this portending a bad year.

I have mixed memories of 1992, and suppose 1982 was good because it was my birth year. But the last year ending in “2” was the worst year of my life. I am not offering any more detail than that. Trust me: it was bad. So bad, in fact, I have dreaded 2012 for the simple reason 200_ (I will not even write it) may have forever made me weary of years ending in “2.” It sounds strange, but I guess I am a strange guy.

Perhaps I am being über paranoid and today’s hit-and-run is nothing but an unfortunate facet of car ownership striking at a dubious time. I have learned, experienced, and grown a lot, and feel I am much better prepared for life’s curveballs than I was during the deep doldrums of 200_; there is a lot of year left and I am committed to returning “2” to its former glory. However, I cannot help being a tad leery.

The Novel Diary: Week 51

2012-01-03T16:55:00.001-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

I usually write my novel diary update on Monday night but am doing it today (Tuesday) because last night I enjoyed football and drunken debauchery at the home of Bobblehead’s parents. (I did not drink a single drop of alcohol, including beer, much to the dismay and astonishment of others.) It was good fun and indicative of the many and welcome holiday diversions that kept me from my once regimented writing routine. However, the fun stops tonight.

One year ago next Wednesday I began writing my novel. I paused in late-August for the college football season and have not touched it since. Before restarting I have committed myself to finishing the next revision of “Paths,” and I will start that in earnest tonight — probably while watching the Sugar Bowl. And the Orange Bowl tomorrow night. I may be partly distracted but I will get the work done. Hey — it worked well in California when I had Dodgers’ game on in the background.

The New Year's Day that wasn't

2012-01-01T22:56:00.002-06:00

Every New Year’s Day I have an odd habit of marveling at the “1•01” date on my watch. To me it is the symbol of a fresh year and has been a Quiet Man quirk ever since I owned my first digital Timex. The above pic is pretty bad but I am sure you get the idea. Happy 2012, everyone.

However, though the date on my watch may have read “1•01,” it did not feel like the first day of a new year. There was no snow on the ground (everything is brown and bare), the sky was mostly overcast, and it was windy as hell. I forgot it was New Year’s until I was walking up First Avenue, warming up for a run, and an older man greeted me by saying “Happy New Year.” At one point I considered today the shittiest New Year’s Day I have ever experienced. Though it may be, I felt that label was way too harsh; the day could have been much worse for many different reasons.

Regardless, today felt very awkward and unlike any New Year’s Day I can remember. And I know exactly why: there were no bowl games.

The traditional and glorious pageantry of the New Year’s Day bowl line-up, including the Rose Bowl, was bumped to tomorrow by the NFL — at least I assume. Though the NFL probably had nothing to do with it directly, I am sure the television networks, the bowl committees, and each bowl game sponsor were hyper aware of the scheduling conflict created by a Sunday New Year’s Day. January 1 bowls generate a lot of interest, audience, and money, and there is no way anyone wants to compromise that. Again, I do not know this for sure but assume this is the reason America was left waiting another day for the likes of the Outback, Capital One, and Rose Bowls. Though this is not the first time it has happened (the 1995 Rose, Fiesta, and Cotton Bowls were played January 2), it is the first time I was very aware of it. Needless to say, it affected me more than I expected.

Perhaps tomorrow will feel like New Year’s Day.

Iowa 72, Wisconsin 65

2011-12-31T17:40:00.002-06:00

Oklahoma 31, Iowa 14

2011-12-31T01:28:00.001-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #311: Snowstorm 2011

2011-12-30T23:01:00.001-06:00

At halftime of the Insight Bowl, Iowa trails Oklahoma 14-0. If the Hawks keep it close I think they have a chance.

I cannot think of a clever way to say this so I will just say it: I semi-canceled my goal to try as many holiday/winter beers as possible before New Year’s. Though I am far from an alcoholic, I think I have been drinking too much; for a while I was drinking a beer or two (or three) every night. Needless to say I decided to cut back. I may not go so far as to reinstitute my “Friday and Saturday nights only” rule but do want to limit my beer intake. Given my new strictness, the holiday/winter beer thing needed to fall to the wayside. However, that does not mean I still cannot try at least one more.

The beer of the weekend is Snowstorm 2011, brewed by the August Schell Brewing Company of New Ulm, Minnesota.

Much like Anchor’s Christmas Ale, Schell’s Snowstorm will be a must-try every December. Last year’s version was excellent and Bobblehead said this year’s edition is also good, so I am very eager to try it.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. There is a smudged batch code printed on the shoulder of the shoulder but no freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is deep caramel that is leaning toward brown; the Schell website calls it “mahogany” and I will not disagree. Two fingers of off-white, very lightly tanned head dissipated to leave a bubbly and thin lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: A nice balance of malts and sweetness. At first it smells pretty straightforward, but upon further inspect it presents a lot of complexity. Lightly toasted malts, caramel, butterscotch, dark fruit (mostly cherry but maybe some raspberry), some molasses, brown sugar, cocoa, and toffee. It also exhibits a smooth, barrel-aged woodiness.

Taste: Tommy likey. The flavor is toastier than the smell led me to believe, though the sweetness is also there. Lightly toasted malts, caramel, butterscotch, cherry, molasses, brown sugar, cocoa, toffee, and the barrel-aged woodiness from the smell. The mouthfeel is on the wee heavy side, which fits it perfectly.

Drinkability: It is so solid the North Stars could play on it. This is a very good brew — another tasty edition of the Snowstorm series.

Fun facts about Snowstorm 2011:

-Style: Schell calls it “Wee Heavy Traditional Scotch Ale” and BA classifies it as “Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy.” Here are the BA details:

Scotch Ales are strong ales, also known as "Wee Heavy." In the 19th century Scotland, they'd also be known as 160/-, a nomenclature based on the now obsolete shilling currency.

Scotch Ales traditionally go through a long boil in the kettle for a caramelization of the wort. This produces a deep copper to brown in colored brew. Compared to Scottish Ales, they'll be sweeter and fuller-bodied, and of course higher in alcohol, with a much more pronounced malty caramel and roasted malt flavor. A low tea-like bitterness can be found in many examples. Best served in a "thistle" glass.

-Price: $6.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), smoked meat, and salmon.

-As far as I can tell, the Snowstorm 2011 label is exactly like the 2010 version. It is probably a facsimile of the 2009 version, too. Just to spice up the series, Schell may want to take a chapter from Anchor’s book and give each Snowstorm version its very own, distinct label design.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

Things I missed in 2011

2011-12-29T23:55:00.006-06:00

Blogwise there is a lot I need to take care of before putting 2011 to bed. I have that high school thing, that California thing, and a couple anniversaries and milestones to recognize.

I am usually on the ball regarding notable dates but let a couple fall through the cracks this year, both purposefully and accidentally. However, I want to make up for it and decided to make a little list tonight.

~

January 19: The Quiet Man turns five.

I want to move to a Caribbean or South Pacific island, tend bar for money, and read, fish, swim, and write all day; learn how to play bongo drums and form a band called The Rummies.

Holy cow — I wrote that in my very first Quiet Man post way back on January 19, 2006. Needless to say I never remember wanting to move to the Caribbean or South Pacific and form a band called The Rummies. My excuse: the prospect of college graduation and the unknown thereafter wracked me so badly I forgot who I was. Plus, I must have been reading a lot of Hemingway. I was not taking any English classes and probably had the time.

Shamefully, I just forgot about this anniversary. It was one of those when I thought, “I should write about that. I wonder when— Oh. I missed it.” Oops.

Why did I start the Quiet Man? I do not recall one specific reason but believe it stemmed from the confusion of my personal life and the era: my graduation induced identity crisis, blogging was all the rage, and I was trying to be more social and adventurous. I wanted to break my sometimes painful shyness and blogging seemed the perfect way to do that by writing. At the time The Quiet Man mirrored my personal uncertainty: I had no clue what I was doing or who I was. Eventually, though, I figured it out and The Quiet Man came into its own. It is now my own personal newspaper and I can write whatever I want.

Anyway, happy very belated birthday, Quiet Man.

~

August 1: MTV turns 30.

I have to admit to not being a MTV person. I watched a handful of shows — “Beavis and Butthead,” “Liquid Television,” “MTV Oddities,” “The Grind,” “Live” (the all but forgotten predecessor to “Total Request Live”), “Pimp My Ride” — but I was never one who watched a lot of MTV. It never influenced me as it did many others and I never got into “The Real World,” “Road Rules,” the nauseatingly long combination of Real World-Road Rules challenges, and just about every other “reality” show. By the time I was in junior high MTV had all but stopped playing music videos except for once in a blue moon (MTV2 was launched August 1, 1996 to be “the music channel’s music channel,” and it truly was for a while), so the broader appeal escaped me.

However, MTV turning 30 is notable. It became a cultural icon and force in the eighties and has now hit the big 3-0 as us Millennials are now doing. I want to say its power and influence has diminished at lot since the advent of the Internet and the development of social media, but do not know that for sure. It does, however, still hold sway over part of a demographic.

~

September 2: [adult swim] turns 10.

Yet another good thing about 2001, the year that became dark: [adult swim]. According to its Wikipedia page (which offers the total history), Adult Swim, as it was stylized back then, officially premiered September 2, 2001.

I was a freshman at Iowa at the time and vaguely remember watching “Cowboy Bebop” or something one night that fall, but the channel (it apparently is a channel that shares space with Cartoon Network) never really registered with me until a few years later. I would return from one of those awful, 7-9:30 p.m. creative writing classes in North Hall on Thursday night, sit in my recliner in Apartment 12, and happen to find it while channel surfing. At first I thought it was only a weekend thing, like “BET: Uncut” (that deserves its very own post), but eventually realized it aired nightly, much to my amusement.

I am willing to go out on a limb and say that [adult swim] influenced my generation more than MTV — at least during the naughties/noughties (however the hell it is spelled). We already loved “Space Ghost Coast to Coast” and the Nickelodeon original cartoons, so we were primed and ready, even yearning, for [adult swim]. It made anime, adult cartoons, and discarded Fox favorites easily accessible. Its bumps are iconic. Some of the programming is hit or miss, and I am not familiar with the newest batch of original shows, but my favorites include “Cowboy Bebop,” “The Venture Bros.,” “Metalocalypse,” “Sealab 2021,” “Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law,” “The Boondocks,” and “Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace.” I rarely watch it now, but there were times when I did watch it nightly.

~

September 11: 9/11.

Everyone was talking about it so I decided not to throw in my memories. We all know what happened.

~

So, what else? Am I missing anything? Hmm… I do not think so.

Purdue 79, Iowa 76

2011-12-28T23:54:00.000-06:00

The Novel Diary: Week 50

2011-12-26T21:06:00.000-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

A much more talented (and dedicated) writer would have finished a comparable revision/rewrite long ago, but I am still chipping away at “Paths.” Slowly (very slowly) but surely I am getting there. I am dawdling for sure, but this is not a race. However, it is not like I am getting any younger; I am well aware that every passing day is one less day of my life so I need to make the most out of each. (Yes, that is a corny cliché. And, no, I am not dying of cancer. At least I think…)

Once the distraction of the holidays and bowl season are over and there is nothing to do but work, I will buckle down. I will have no excuse except laziness after that.

Planet Funk, 'Chase the Sun'

2011-12-24T11:05:00.002-06:00

Another sun themed song post, though this one does not feature a trampoline, short shorts, and tube socks.

“Chase the Sun” is a blast from my senior year of high school. (Which reminds me: I really need to tie the loose ends of my “Ten years gone” series before the year is over.) Back then I used Real Player to listen to the BBC Radio 1 online stream. On Friday’s I stayed at school a few hours after the final bell to listen to Judge Jules. (There was no way I could listen to previous shows whenever I wanted, as I can now. I either listened live or missed it and waited a week for the next show. I guess life required a lot more patience back then.) I know for sure I first heard “Chase the Sun” during one of those devout listening sessions, though I do not remember when.

However, I do vividly remember one time I heard it. It was a dreary, foggy, and cold Sunday in either January or February 2001. At the time I worked 12 hours a week at the Goodwill in Coralville and usually worked all day on Sunday. However, it was a very slow day and my manager sent me home after lunch. I was ecstatic; I hated working Sunday’s. I drove home via First Avenue/Mormon Trek and everything looked gray. When I got home nobody was there. I fired up Real Player on my mom’s computer in the basement, started listening to whatever was on Radio 1 at the time, and watched Hertha Berlin and 1860 Munich play on Fox Sports World. I cracked open a pop, sat back, and relaxed. At some point “Chase the Sun” was played and I thought it fit perfectly.

I do not care for the official music video so I am embedding the club version, which is the one I have as a .mp3 from back in the day. Interestingly, “Chase the Sun” apparently was the theme song for a professional darts league in the UK and is now beloved by darting fans.

Beer of the Weekend #310: Anchor Christmas Ale 2011

2011-12-23T23:10:00.004-06:00

No, I did not forget about Anchor’s annual Christmas Ale. Reviewing it has been a mission of mine all month, as it will be every December for the rest of my life. (I truly hope Anchor continues its dedication of brewing quality beer and its famous Christmas Ale for as long as that may be.) It has become a BotW holiday tradition. However, I wanted to wait until closer to Xmas to try it. I think it is much more fitting that way. So, without further delay…

The beer of the weekend is Anchor Christmas Ale 2011, brewed by the Anchor Brewing Company of San Francisco, California.

My plan was to use my mom’s Christmas Ale 2009 commemorative pint glass but I forgot to get it. I will be spending tomorrow night at my parents’ place so I will definitely use it then.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The clever but stupid (PRINT THE DATE!) freshness code “1NJ” is decrypted to mean this bottle rolled off the line on November 10, 2011.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is dark mahogany with ruddy tones. Three fingers of thick, slightly tanned head dissipated to leave a billowy cap and later a thin lacing with a ring around the edge.

Smell: The cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices are immediately noticeable, and underneath are aromas of caramel, chocolate, cherry, and plum. There is a touch of pine and spruce, or maybe that is my imagination.

Taste: Surprisingly tame for an Anchor Christmas Ale, but it does have a nice smoothness and is very mellow. Toasted malts dominate with flavors of caramel, chocolate, and toffee, and the spices are subdued compared to the smell. The cinnamon and nutmeg are prominent, however, as well as a good dose of earthy hops, pine, and spruce.

Drinkability: This year’s edition lacks the spice intensity from previous versions, which is a little saddening (I really want to point the figure at Anchor’s new corporate lords), but it is still pretty good. It offers both malt smoothness and holiday spice. Technically, it is very drinkable and should probably appeal to a broader range of palates than previous editions.

Fun facts about ACA ’11:

-Style: BA classifies it as Winter Warmer. Anchor, of course, keeps its mouth zipped. Frankly, it is beyond classification.

-Price: $10.99/sixer at the New Pioneer Co-op on 22 South Van Buren Street in Iowa City. It was the last sixer there that day. And the only reason I bought it at the Co-op was because John’s was out of six-packs; all they had left were the massive “Magnum” bottles.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: The Anchor website says it varies, which it does from year to year, but the label pegs the ABV at 5.5 percent.

-Food pairings: There are a few quick recommendations in this cool video:

-As the movie mentions, each label is hand drawn and features a different tree every year. This year the tree is a bristlecone pine. Here is some info from the beer’s webpage:

Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. Our tree for 2011 is the bristlecone pine. Found high atop California's White Mountains, bristlecones are among the oldest living things on the planet. Some date back nearly 5,000 years, to the dawn of the ancient art of brewing.

The Anchor website was redesigned since my list visit and the Christmas Ale page no longer features the cool slider showcasing the labels since 1975.

-A couple weeks ago Bobblehead compared the 2010 version (he saved a bottle from last year) with the 2011 version, back-to-back. I took a whiff of both and have to say the 2011 version is, in terms of spiciness, much less intense.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.

Beer of the Weekend #309: Santa's Butt

2011-12-22T23:14:00.001-06:00

The holiday/winter beer tonight is Santa’s Butt, brewed by Ridgeway Brewing of South Stoke, England.

Serving type: 500 ml bottle. There is a code printed on the label but no clear freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a tall half-liter glass. The color is very dark brown. Three fingers of lightly tanned head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy/spotted cap and trails of foam on the glass.

Smell: Mostly dark and sweet malt action. Caramel, cocoa, toffee, vanilla, molasses, dark fruit plum, and brown sugar.

Taste: The mouthfeel is pretty watery but the taste is decent. It offers a nice toasted malt and earthy hop character along with caramel, chocolate, and a hint of coffee. The sweetness from the smell is absent.

Drinkability: Meh. That is about it.

Fun facts about Santa’s Butt:

-Style: BA classifies it as English Porter and the importer calls it “Porter, Winter/Holiday Beer.”

-Price: $5.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 50-55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, Latin American cuisine, earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), chocolate, beef, shellfish, smoked meat, and grilled meat.

-Here is some nerdiness from the importer’s website, some of which also appears on the label:

They said it couldn’t be done, but we did it: Santa’s Butt, the beer, coming to a theater near you for the holidays. It’s a splendid, satisfying Winter Porter at 6% -- a souped-up version of the classic Entire Butt Porter that you’ve enjoyed in the past. Everyone wants a piece of Santa’s Butt.

This special porter is made for winter -- rich and warming, the way they like it in the North Pole. It was inspired by this famous line from a well-loved children’s story book:

"And Santa sat on his great butt, drinking a hearty brew."

In case you find that amusing, we hasten to point out that in England ‘butt’ refers to a certain barrel used in brewing -- a very large barrel, in fact, holding 108 imperial gallons. Back in the day it was quite a normal thing for a brewery to put its beer up in a large butt for storage.

Still snickering, eh? Get your mind out of the gutter or Santa will skip your house entirely this year.

The illustration for the Santa's Butt label was painted by Massachusetts artist Gary Lippincott. Go to his web site and buy something for chrissakes. The poor guy works for beer.

The Quiet Man’s grade: C.

Iowa 81, Boise State 72

2011-12-22T22:56:00.002-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #308: Pickled Santa

2011-12-21T22:07:00.001-06:00

My original plan for tonight and tomorrow was to try the last two Elf series beers from the Ridgeway Brewery: Criminally Bad Elf and Insanely Bad Elf. (Being “Criminally Bad” is, I think, better than being “Insanely Bad,” which was why I was going to have them in that order.) However, I could not find them at John’s so I decided to nab two other Ridgeway holiday/seasonal offerings.

The beer tonight is Pickled Santa, brewed by Ridgeway Brewing of South Stoke, England.

Serving type: 500 ml bottle. There is a cryptic batch code printed on the label but no discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is hazy light rust/amber. The label says “ruddy chestnut” but I think chestnut is a little darker. A lousy pour yielded a lousy head (not the beer’s fault), but I got a half finger of white head which dissipated quickly to leave a very thin lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: Caramel, warm chestnuts, nutmeg, honey, dark fruit (mostly plum and cherry), sweet fruit (like green apple), pale malts, toffee, and a little cinnamon spice. I do not get too much spice, but that is fine. Overall it is pretty sweet.

Taste: I really do not know where to start. My first sip was full of spice, but it faded quickly as my taste buds adjusted. The mouthfeel is much like soda, which is very off-putting and does not allow the flavors to truly emerge. However, the chestnut, nutmeg, and cherry do come through, and a little grassy hop spice makes a short appearance after the beer has warmed significantly.

Drinkability: I do not really feel this one. It is neither a winter warmer or spiced beer, but it is another experience.

Fun facts about Pickled Santa:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Winter Warmer” and the importer website calls it “English Ale/Bitter, Gruit/Spiced Beer, Winter/Holiday Beer.”

-Price: $5.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF. The label suggests, “Serve chilled or at ambient temperature to suit your palate.”

-Alcohol content: 6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends general dessert, poultry, and game meat. No pickles?

-This Ridgeway beer features a different label sans brewer signed nerdiness. Instead there is this:

Brewed and Bottled for Shelton Brothers Importers by BEER COUNTER, Ltd. — Oxfordshire, England — Exclusively for distribution in the United States.

I see how it is. They ship the okay stuff here and drink the good stuff themselves.

The Quiet Man’s grade: C+.

Beer of the Weekend #307: Seriously Bad Elf

2011-12-21T16:35:00.001-06:00

After putting the finishing touches on their bathroom repaint last night, I ate a delicious dinner with Sweet Meat and Zaza. With our plates polished we enjoyed conversation and beverage: two bottles of red wine for them (color me impressed, though not surprised) and two bottles of Aventinus for myself. Needless to say I was tapped out when I returned home and did not feel like reviewing my next holiday/winter brew. I am making up for it right now with a late, brown bottle lunch.

The brew today is Seriously Bad Elf, brewed by Ridgeway Brewing of South Stoke, England.

Serving type: 500 ml bottle. There is a code printed on the label but no clear freshness date. Boo!

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is clean and clear honey. Two fingers of white head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy/spotted cap and foamy ring around the edge.

Smell: During the pour I could smell the alcohol, but when I put my nose to it the booze had faded. Pale malts, sweet caramel, toffee, honey, apple cider, green grapes, and musty basement.

Taste: The first sip offers sharp booziness, which serves as a fitting prelude for the rest of the pint. The alcohol is not completely overpowering — it fades after a bit — but it is very noticeable throughout. There are flavors of grapes, pale malts, apple cider, light caramel and toffee, honey, raisins, and lemon citrus.

Drinkability: It is okay. Not seriously good but not seriously bad. Seriously, though, I doubt I will ever buy it again.

Fun facts about SBE:

-Style: BA classifies it as “English Strong Ale” while the importer calls it “English Ale/Bitter, Tripel, Winter/Holiday Beer.” The label says, “A Rather Serious English Double Ale.”

-Price: $5.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City. (Being “Seriously” bad means it is 50 cents more expensive than its Very and Bad brothers.)

-Serving temperature: 50-55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 9 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends curried cuisine, earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), tangy cheeses (Brick, Edam, Feta), pork, grilled meat, and salmon.

-The sale of Seriously Bad Elf has been banned in Connecticut. Here are the details from the importer’s website:

Seriously Bad Elf has been banned in Connecticut! That little red speck you see in the background of the label? Why, that's none other than Kris Kringle, Santa Claus, who, according to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, cannot appear on a beer label. Sleep well, Connecticutians! Your government is working overtime to protect you. (By the way, you can buy Seriously Bad Elf in Massachusetts. And New York. And Rhode Island. But please do not carry the offending bottles across state lines.)

-More brewer signed nerdiness on the label:

“I suppose I should have seen it coming this time,” groaned old Claus. “Holiday ornaments mysteriously disappearing — turning up broken — reindeer falling from the sky inexplicably...and then of course, I discovered that tiny hands have been prying into that cask of wonderful new Double Ale I’ve got stashed down in the cellar. That’s when I called in a specialist from the Elf Department. He just confirmed what I already suspected. We’ve got a rather serious elf problem here at the Pole.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.

Hot off the Press: Croaked autocrat edition

2011-12-20T13:38:00.000-06:00

"European banks are dumping clients with US citizenship due to a new American law meant to curb tax evasion. The law would require financial institutions around the world to report on certain client activities. Compliance, say many banks, is way too expensive.": http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,803742,00.html.

Scientists are eager to watch the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy partly devour a cloud of gas: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16178112.

In his 'Observations' about Iowa published on the Atlantic website, UI professor Stephen Bloom claimed the front page of the CRG on his first Easter in Iowa proclaimed "HE HAS RISEN." Well, CRG sports writer Scott Dochterman checked the microfiche files and found something different: http://thegazette.com/2011/12/14/heres-the-gazettes-easter-sunday-front-page-in-1994/. Note the 1992 headline "Voter anger intensifies" and the deck "Perot gains as voters lose faith in status quo." The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh?

Will Ferrell apparently loves Old Milwaukee — and is trying to get those in Davenport to drink it: www.marketplace.org/topics/life/punchline/will-ferrell-loves-old-milwaukee.

There is some scary stuff going on in Hungary: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,803865,00.html.

Beer of the Weekend #306: Very Bad Elf

2011-12-19T22:50:00.001-06:00

After a two night hiatus I am continuing my reviews of holiday/winter brews. Tonight’s beer is Very Bad Elf, brewed by Ridgeway Brewing of South Stoke, England.

Serving type: 500 ml bottle. There is a cryptic code printed on the label, but no clear freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is a clean and clear light copper with honey tones. Two fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated slowly to leave a beautiful sudsy cap, thin lacing, and a lot of foam stuck to the side of the glass.

Smell: Very British and enticing. Sweet caramel forms a strong backbone from which toffee and earthy hop branch. There is also a touch of cocoa, dark fruit, and booze.

Taste: It has a nice spice/hop edge to it, which I suppose is due to the namesake. The bite is a blend of grapefruit citrus and holiday pine, and, for the most part, it outshines the malts: caramel and toffee.

Drinkability: I like this. I like this a lot. The cashier at the store said she liked it, too, so it is not very bad after all.

Fun facts about VBE:

-Style: BA pegs it as English Pale Ale.

-Price: $5.40/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 7.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends curried and Indian cuisine, nutty cheeses (Asiago, Colby Parmesan), sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), and shellfish.

-Reminiscent of Bad Elf, here is some brewer signed nerdiness from the label:

“Is it just my imagination,” queried old Santa, surveying the scene, “or is my Elf only getting worse and worse every year? What’s next? Seriously Bad Elf, I’ll wager. Mark my words.” [Tune in tomorrow night, too.]

This Very Bad Elf is one fine ale — rich, hardy, and flavorful, brewed to an original 1795 Thames Valley recipe, with a very special pale amber malt that is rarely used nowadays, and balanced by a modest addition of English Fuggle aroma hops. ‘Ere’s to your elf!

-As I mentioned in Drinkability, the cashier said she liked Very Bad Elf. She also said a ton of other stuff. She yakked my ear off, and even apologized for it as I stood there awkwardly, waiting for her to tell me the total. She was very energetic and sociable and I was being The Quiet Man: observant, listening, and unsure what to say other than “Yeah.”

-Also, tonight I noticed BA ditched the A-F grading system. Odd.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

The Novel Diary: Week 49

2011-12-19T22:20:00.001-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

The good news is I finally pinned that segue I was wrestling last week — at least I think I did. For all I know I will shake my head disapprovingly when I read it for the first time.

That cliché is true: writers do not finish anything; they stop writing.

Though there may be a couple highlighted areas to return to in the first timeline of “Paths,” I moved to the second last week. It needs extensive reworking. My plan is to compress 1,000 words into 100 or 200. It can and will be done. The question is, “When?” Last night I was helping prep Sweet Meat’s bathroom for painting (we removed an awful looking border along the top; I put two coats of primer on today) and tonight I attended Iowa’s beat down of Central Arkansas (it is a rare occasion these days when the Hawks are up by 40 and putting on a show, so I needed to relish it to the end). Tomorrow and Wednesday should be clear, but the Hawks play Boise State Thursday night. Friday is my usual off day and Sunday is Christmas and time for family craziness. I may be away Monday but will most definitely be out of town Tuesday, and on Wednesday the Hawks play Purdue at 8:30. Next Thursday looks good, Friday I am off, and then New Year’s Day looks clear since there are no bowl games. Those come on January 2.

See what I mean? Absolute craziness. A dedicated man would set aside time during the day… I will leave that line hanging.

Iowa 105, Central Arkansas 64

2011-12-19T21:55:00.002-06:00

Iowa 82, Drake 68

2011-12-17T23:21:00.000-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #305: Frambozen

2011-12-16T23:49:00.002-06:00

Tonight was the annual Mervgotti Distributing holiday party. I just returned and have to admit to being a little tipsy. Next year I need to have a DD. Or ride my bike. ANYWAY, I drank some unbelievable stuff and will now attempt to do a proper tasting.

The beer of the weekend is Frambozen, brewed by the New Belgium Brewing Company of Fort Collins, Colorado.

I was given a taste of Frambozen last week and decided to officially try it. Fittingly, it is also a seasonal — a Thanksgiving seasonal, but a seasonal nonetheless.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The “BEST BEFORE” date is “26FEB12.”

Appearance: Poured into a becker glass. The color is clean and clear dark amber/red. Three fingers of dense, billowy, buttery, eggshell-colored head dissipated slowly to leave a rocky cap, lacing along the glass, and a thick ring around the edge.

Smell: Very fruity. Lots of raspberry, which makes it smell much like pop (which is what we call soda in my hood). The brown ale also comes through in caramel and cocoa.

Taste: Really sweet and tart; it gets the cheeks puckering. Lots of raspberry juice followed by the brown ale elements of cocoa and caramel.

Drinkability: It is pretty good, but it does taste and feel much more like juice than anything else.

Fun facts about Frambozen:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Fruit/Vegetable Beer,” which is a little off-putting. New Belgium calls it “Raspberry Brown Ale.”

-Price: $10.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: The label says “Serve at 10ºC (50ºF).”

-Alcohol content: 6.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: Just check out the beer’s webpage (http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/detail.aspx?id=284aa352-e5a3-48a3-abbf-a4de361bcab3).

-IBU: 15.5.

-Calories: 200.

-Here is some nerdiness from the beer’s page:

Frambozen begins with the aroma of fresh red raspberries, followed by the ripe seductiveness of a fruity brown ale with depth and delicate malt notes. It is deep ruby in color, with flavors just as rich. Every year, New Belgium sends a delegate to the Pacific Northwest to oversee the process of turning freshly picked berries into a pure juice to be added in fermentation. The coming of Thanksgiving at New Belgium is ushered in with the first sighting of our cellar operators scuttling about, covered head to tow in a festive crimson berry wash.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B.

Beer of the Weekend #304: Bad Elf

2011-12-15T22:46:00.002-06:00

Remember back in the day (last Friday) when I wrote about sampling as many holiday seasonal beers before New Year’s as I could? No? Well, I did. With my LV recommendation out of the way it is time to start chipping away at the unbelievable array of holiday beers available at John’s. (Thinking about it now, I should have done a “12 Beers of Christmas,” but it is too late now. How about the “17 Beers of New Year’s”?)

The beer tonight is Bad Elf, brewed by Ridgeway Brewing of South Stoke, England.

Ridgeway will be featured a lot in the coming weeks. You will see what I mean.

Also, tonight I decided to use my half-liter Hobgoblin glass just because I could. Frankly, I do not think I use it enough; I bust it out maybe once every year. It fits the serving size and is British. Boom. Perfect beerware.

Serving type: 500 ml bottle A batch code is printed on the label but there is no discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a half-liter Hobgoblin glass. The color is a clean and slightly hazy honey that is a touch on the light side. Three fingers of dense, billowy white head dissipated fairly quickly to leave trails along the glass, a rocky lacing, and eventually a ring around the edge.

Smell: This is truly an English IPA as the aroma is dominated by floral, earthy hops. However, it definitely has a citrusy aroma to it, along with pale malts, caramel, toffee, honey, buttery biscuit, and apple cider.

Taste: The mouthfeel is coarse and grassy and the flavor follows suit. Lots of floral and earthy hops, which the labels warns about. The hops are not overpowering, but they provide a consistent presence throughout each sip that keeps the cheeks and tongue tingling. Along with the grassy/earthy element are flavors of lemon citrus, caramel, pale malts, toffee, and honey.

Drinkability: If this elf was bad (and the dude on the label looks pretty sinister), then he cannot be too far from good. It is pretty decent stuff, though.

Fun facts about Bad Elf:

-Style: BA classifies it as English India Pale Ale, while the US importer calls it “IPA/Hoppy Beer, Winter/Holiday Beer.”

-Price: $5.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 40-45ºF.

-Alcohol content: 6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends curried and Indian cuisine, nutty cheeses (Asiago, Colby Parmesan), sharp cheeses (Blue, Cheddar), and shellfish.

-Here is some nerdiness from the importer’s website:

A little malt, a little hops, and lots of holiday trouble-making; this Elf is so bad, it’s way good.

Olde England meets the New World in this strong, warming golden ale. A generous amount of famous English malt is masterfully balanced with an astounding 45 ounces of fresh hops – including English Cascade – per barrel. Bad Elf is brewed by Peter Scholey, master brewer for the late and much-lamented Brakspear Brewery of Henley-on-Thames, England. Peter has bought up the entire crop from the single row of Cascades grown in the U.K.

ELF WARNING: Consumption of too much Winter's Ale may be bad for your elf and may impair your ability to drive a sleigh or operate toy-making machinery.

The illustration for the Bad Elf label was painted by Massachusetts artist Gary Lippincott, whose work also adorns Shelton Brothers labels for Inveralmond Blackfriar and Isle of Skye Wee Beast.

-Nerdiness on the label:

‘Tis a heavy hand what adds the hops to this festive golden ale. Truth be told, there’s near to three pounds of fresh hops goes in every barrel of this treasured brew. Pull up a sturdy chair, let’s fill up yer best flagon with the season’s finest natural ale, and I’ll tell you a dark tale of elf and woe. ‘Ere’s to your elf!

Signed, “Peter Scholey, Brewer”

The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.

Thoughts on Bloom's 'Observations'

2011-12-13T15:41:00.001-06:00

The local and state media are abuzz with reactions about “Observations from 20 Years of Iowa Life,” an Atlantic article written by UI journalism professor Stephen Bloom. I first heard about it while reading Bobblehead’s response and, given the direct link via the P-C, decided to read the article myself.

The purpose of the piece, Bloom wrote, is, in the context of the upcoming Caucus, “to explain to the geographically challenged a little about Iowa, including where Iowa is, and perhaps more importantly, in both a real and metaphysical way, what Iowa is.” He describes the state’s Mississippi River towns as “the skuzziest cities I’ve ever been to,” the political split symbolized by it’s US Senators as “schizophrenia,” and generally characterizes its rural simplicity, homogeneity, and religious and social traditions as backward.

Tim Hagle, an associate professor of political science at the UI, is quoted in the P-C as saying, “It seems to be written by a liberal elitist snob who can’t see anything good about Iowa.” Such has been the gist of the statewide backlash, and I have to say it is well-founded. Bloom’s tone is surprisingly elitist and condescending for a seasoned and skilled journalist, which is my major qualm with the article. But as much as I disliked the generalizations and stereotypes Bloom pandered to, I have to admit the article has some truth to it.

Some Iowans are uncultured, xenophobic, insular bigots. Some are crazy religious fundamentalists. Some are unable to travel and experience life outside of their small, homogeneous communities. There are rough, run-down, poor neighborhoods. There are skuzzy and depressed towns. Thousands of Main Street shops have been vacant since the agricultural crash in the eighties, and Walmart is sometimes the only shopping option. The number of meth addicts overwhelms the underfunded and sparse rural health services. Some drink Busch Light while driving and toss empties out the window. Starved for infrastructure funding, more and more counties have fallen under the spell of casino revenue. Large meat packing plants recruit and exploit children and illegal Latino immigrants. And we have a serious outflow of homegrown talent. I think Bloom especially hit the nail on the head with this:

Those who stay in rural Iowa are often the elderly waiting to die, those too timid (or lacking in educated [sic]) to peer around the bend for better opportunities, an assortment of waste-toids and meth addicts with pale skin and rotted teeth, or those who quixotically believe, like Little Orphan Annie, that "The sun'll come out tomorrow."

Such is the state of rural America, and there is no hiding that fact. It is sometimes not a pretty place. He did not sugarcoat it, and I think that is why many have their panties in a bunch over the article.

Yes, Iowa has problems and shameful elements, and I think Bloom rightly illuminated them. But the way he belittled the state’s citizens and culture — disparaging people living in towns small enough to have one telephone prefix, mocking our accent and unique word choices (“They speak English in Iowa,” he felt needed to assure readers), and writing he has never lived in a place more “foreign” — is uncalled for and tasteless. Frankly, it is blatant intolerance.

Despite having lived in Iowa for almost 20 years (albeit, Iowa City), many are questioning whether Bloom knows anything about the state. Personally, I think he knows more than people are willing to give him credit for in their emotional rebuttals. Instead I think the question should be whether Bloom understands and respects Iowa. The answer is an obvious no.

Small town skylines are dominated by grain elevators, water towers, and church spires. Many Iowans love a good demolition derby. (I have never been to a demo derby with combines, but would love to go.) Many live unostentatiously. In the summer many have farmer’s tans. (I, for one, am guilty.) Homeowners garden and enjoy spring and summer evenings lounging on porch swings or wicker chairs. Vegetables, lemonade, honey, and all kinds of homemade goods are sold in parking lots or markets. Detasseling is a rite of passage in rural communities.

Not everyone has a mudroom, but most living in older homes and farms do. (It is a useful feature.) Many young Iowans are members of the local 4-H club (guilty) or FFA (in rural communities, though I suspect the numbers have dwindled). Many parade their farm animals at county fairs for prizes. (My mom raised prize-winning lambs.) Kings and Queens of various kinds are crowned. (My mom was the Franklin County Pork Queen.) Livestock outnumber people, though, driving through the country, one does not smell the fact as much as in the past. (Probably because the animals have been moved from failing family farms to confinements operated by those who can afford it.)

Many enjoy hunting, fishing, and camping. Many go to a church of one kind or another, usually of Christian denomination. Almost all of us graduate from high school and many have advanced degrees. And I learned by example to answer the phone with a “Hello” followed by our family name.

We have potlucks with Jell-O salads, casseroles, and meatloaf. (I have never heard of Red Waldorf cake.) Farming is a dangerous job and it sometimes costs farmers their fingers, health, and lives. People eat deer sausage (it is pretty good) and collect postcards, figurines, and all sorts of whatnot. We drink “pop” and play “putt-putt.”

For the most part, that encompasses a wide cross-section of Iowa. That is who Iowans are. That is our culture, and Bloom really has a problem with it. Why? Because he seems to be an intolerant, liberal, East Coast elitist. Instead of respecting our quirks and accepting them as part of who we are, he resorted to angering hallmarks of the far right: prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

Conveniently overlooked in the article? The fact Iowans caucused for Obama in large numbers and gave him all seven of their Electoral votes in 2008. What say you about that, Professor Bloom?

Hot off the Press: Cats and Christmas trees edition

2011-12-13T09:48:00.000-06:00

This may be a "duh!" moment. TV news experts who review products are often corporate shills whose advice is just a thinly veiled sales pitch — which is illegal under federal law: http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/despite-law-against-it-stealth-commercials-frequently-masquerade-as-tv-news/2011/12/05/gIQANXaxaO_story.html?hpid=z2.

I do not know how to describe this column: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/republicans-color-the-abortion-debate/2011/12/06/gIQAbNvpaO_story.html?hpid=z3.

Overlooked in the discussion about building a new jail in Johnson County are the modernization needs of the 110-year-old courthouse: http://thegazette.com/2011/12/07/johnson-county-justice-center-debate-focuses-on-courthouse-space-security-concerns/.

"Looking at all the evidence, it's clear that around 40% of all cancers are caused by things we mostly have the power to change": http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16031149.

A photographer captured an image of polar bear cannibalism in the Arctic, which she attributes to the bears being "trapped ashore, completely food-deprived for extended periods of time due to the loss of sea ice as a result of climate change": http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16081214. Yes, there may be less and less ice, which is their natural habitat, but I wonder if there are now fewer seals, too.

The world's oldest living dog died last week at the age of 26: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/12/guinness-book-of-world-records-oldest-living-dog-hachiko.html. I find this graph a little confusing:

Last December, Pusuke made it into the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest living dog, breaking the previous record of 21 years and 3 months, according to the Daily Yomiuri newspaper.

So he did not break the record of 21 years and 3 months until he was 25? I assume this means his record was not recognized until then.

The $50 Canadian bill is getting a makeover, and many are not pleased that an Arctic research vessel is replacing the "Famous Five" women who championed women's rights in the Great White North: http://www.cbc.ca/news/yourcommunity/2011/12/should-the-new-50-bill-show-an-arctic-research-boat-instead-of-the-famous-five.html.

Under pressure from an evangelical Christian group, Lowe's has pulled advertisements aired during TLC's "All-American Muslim": http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-1212-lowes-muslims-20111212,0,5764837.story.

"A rash of tuba thefts at Southland high schools": http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tuba-thefts-20111212,0,5110587.story.

Beer of the Weekend #303: Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche

2011-12-12T23:48:00.002-06:00

Calm down, everyone! I found it: Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche, brewed by the Brauerei Heller of Bamberg, Germany.

Having bought an Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche snifter I thought it was imperative that I find a bottle and sample the beer in its own commemorative glass. Though I had never looked for it, I could not recall whether I had seen Eiche before or not. I thought it was an elusive import, something available only in certain markets and not in little ol’ Iowa City. What was I thinking? Last week while browsing the shelves at John’s I spotted a row of Eiche next to the other Aecht Schlenkerla offerings. Hallelujah! (For whatever reason I am really stoked!)

Serving type: 500 ml bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Fittingly poured into an Eiche snifter (glassware that BA, ironically, does not recommend for the style; screw it). The color is cloudy amber/deep honey. Two fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated to leave a thin lacing, ring around the edge, and lacing along the glass.

Smell: The smokiness is not as intense as Schlenkerla’s märzen, but it is still prominent. It offers that smoked bacon/sausage aroma that is enticing. It has me craving landjägers. Beyond the smokiness are faint scents of caramel, maybe some fruits, and grassy hops. Other than that it is straight and beautiful smokiness. After taking a couple sips it is much easier to detect the earthy element from the hops.

Taste: Heavenly. The oak smokiness is obviously prominent, but it is almost balanced by sweet caramel and floral and earthy hops. It has just a touch of pepper spice and also exhibits an incredible burnt edge, much like that of smoked bacon. There is also a hint of honey and a brandy-like alcohol edge, which is hidden very well.

Drinkability: Incredible. This is all I want for Christmas.

Fun facts about Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche:

-Style: BA classifies it as doppelbock.

-Price: $4.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: BA recommends 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), chocolate, and game meat.

-According to Google Translate, “eiche” is German for “oak.” Which is as good segue for…

-Instead of being dried over beech wood fires, the malts for Eiche are kilned over fires made with oak. According to the beer’s webpage, “The resulting Oak Smoke Malt has a smoother and more multi layered smoky note than the intensely aromatic Beech Smoke Malt.”

-Here is a little more about the beech/oak comparison and a little history from the Eiche webpage:

Since ancient times beech has been the common fuel for fire-drying food in central Europe, e.g. for the malt of “Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier”. Beech was and is abundant in German forests, it has a high energy yield and a pleasantly intense smoky aroma.

Oak however, with a smoother and more complex smoky note, was seldom used as fire wood. Different than beech, oak is very pest- and wheather [sic]-resistant and hence was valuable timber. Apart from buildings, mainly ships used to be made out of oak wood. The acorns were important animal fodder and during times of hardship necessary for feeding humans as well. Being so precious, kilning with oak was a rare specialty and its fine and multi layered smokiness a unique treat. “Schlenkerla Oak Smoke” is being brewed following this tradition, to present smoke beer lovers that special taste experience today.

-According to the Aecht Schlenkerla website, Eiche is only sold during Christmastime. “From the wooden keg at the Schlenkerla. In bottles at selected shops. Exported in very small quantities draft and bottles to the USA.”

-On the beer’s webpage, Eiche is pictured in the same snifter I have: http://www.schlenkerla.de/rauchbier/sorten/schlenkerlaeichee.html. Very cool.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

The Novel Diary: Week 48

2011-12-12T22:34:00.001-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

My revision of “Paths” is taking longer than I anticipated. Regardless of the reasons (which, amazingly, I cannot think of any), tonight I put in a good two hours of rewriting and semi-productive crafting. I wrestled with a segue for 40 minutes. In place of something I felt was corny and amateurish — which had an unfortunate meeting with the “delete” button — I want to insert something new and weave it seamlessly into the subject of the next graph. I read and reread the proceeding text to find a rhythm and strike inspiration, but was not feeling it. I decided to move on and made a note to return in the future. (We shall meet again, segue.)

Ah, the joys of rewriting. I will say, though, I grow fond of axing entire paragraphs. When making line edits I often write “needed?” and draw an arrow to questionable sentences or graphs. At the time I am unsure what to do with them, but when I get down to brass tacks I cannot resist the urge to highlight and delete. Click. Drag. Tap. Problem solved. If I question its importance it needs to go. So far I have axed 603 words — and I have yet to finish one timeline and move on to the second.

The novel has taken a backseat, but I am being productive. Hooray, productivity!

The Townie Bar Challenge: The Vine Tavern (Coralville)

2011-12-11T23:26:00.002-06:00

The Vine Tavern
39 2nd Street
Coralville

It was my turn to pick the “townie bar” and drive. Being Sunday night I knew the options would be limited since most true taverns (as oppose to eateries) would be closed, so I took Bobblehead to The Vine Tavern in Coralville.

(I forgot to take pictures. I had my camera in my backpack, but forgot all about it.)

The Vine is a mini-chain. Along with the two locations in our area (the one we visited tonight in Coralville and the East Prentiss Street address in Iowa City, which is on our list), there are two Vine’s in Tempe, Arizona. I assume the same people, who may split their allegiance between the Hawkeyes and Sun Devils, own them. (It is kind of an odd combination, but not out of the question. My first roommate in Huntington Beach was an Arizona State grad, so our apartment was like a Vine in that sense.)

We entered with our notebooks and thirsts and stood for a moment at the hostess station because the “PLEASE WAIT TO BE SEATED” sign was out. Perhaps someone forgot to put it away because there was no reason for it to be out. About 20 or so people peppered the elevated bar and seating area near the entrance and the sitting area in the far back was closed for the night. The wait staff was cleaning tables, filling condiment racks, and sweeping so I was immediately under the impression we would not stay long. I had called earlier to ask what time they closed and the hostess told me the kitchen closed at 10 but people could hang out afterward. Sunday night, I realized, is not the best time to do a challenge (plus, we did not arrive until after 8 o’clock). From now on I think Bobblehead and I need to reserve Sundays for lunch at sports bars.

However, our hour or so at The Vine was enough to provide a good impression of the place. Unlike Shakespeare’s, which I had never been too, I am very familiar with both area Vine locations. It is a favorite fallback for lunch outings with family. My dad loves the buffalo wings, and Bobblehead admitted the same when we grabbed a booth. However, Bobblehead said he had never been to the Coralville Vine and had a major problem with the high ceilings. The building definitely does not lend itself to coziness and intimacy, and I found myself wondering (probably for the first time ever) what it had been before The Vine. Perhaps it has always been The Vine. I really do not remember for sure, which is a shame. Neighboring Wig and Pen has always been there, but I am fuzzy about The Vine. The date engraved on the bar was “1998,” and I remember it opening around that time, but I do not recall if there had been anything else there or not.

After sitting down we immediately started looking for a beer list, which our waitress assured us did not exist. She rattled off the available brews and we both settled on the “in house” beer; Bobblehead got the stein (“the legendary Vine stein” as the local commercial intones) and I got a pint. I have no clue what style it was, and did not want to scrutinize it, but thought tasted like a red ale and lager (heavy on the lager) hybrid. It was good — much better, at least, than the domestic swill I know for certain they have on tap. After our beers arrived we relaxed (just as the commercial asks; “Cooommme reeelaaax at The Vine), chatted, and watched the Giants-Cowboys game. There were cheers for both teams from the handful of fellow patrons.

Basically, the Coralville Vine is a big sports bar. It is not a townie bar in the traditional sense, but we included it because it is a local watering hole. The East Prentiss location has a college student clientele while the one on the Strip feels more family and professional friendly; close to the hospital, it is a popular lunch destination for UIHC staffers. It leans more restaurant than bar, but still has the same brews, great food, and scenery, if you catch my drift.

I will say this about many local restaurants and bars: the waitresses are very easy on the eyes. The Vine is no exception. As we made our way to our booth, I took a route past the bar to the wall. Coincidentally, a waitress was cleaning the first booth. She had her back turned to me and was bent far over the table, showing me how well she fit into her tight jeans. “Thank you,” I thought.

Speaking of the food, though The Vine has no true veggie-friendly entrée the menu offers a gardenburger substitute for all the burgers. However, most of their burgers are garnished with bacon so vegetarians need to be vigilant. I always get the Sourdough Jo with the gardenburger substitute and fries. The fries are always awesome, especially dipped in a cup of ranch or ranch-chipotle.

Hanging from the high ceilings are Hawkeye flags. Framed pictures of Hawkeyes of yore or jerseys decorate the walls. The booth Bobblehead and I sat at was straddled by a Jess Settles jump shot and a team photo of Iowa’s first wrestling national championship. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Kinnick and Carver, I imagine the place is crazy on football game days and probably used to be equally lively back when the men’s basketball team was nationally relevant.

Overall: The Coralville Vine is a nice place, and I have to give kudos to the ownership for reopening after the building was flooded in 2008. However, I think it is more of a restaurant than bar. Physically, it lacks the kind of intimacy and character a townie bar needs. But being a townie bar is not The Vine’s thing, and I knew that. The food is great, the beer selection is average (not having a beer menu is a big disappointment), and it is a great location to watch a game.

The Quiet Man’s grade: C.

Beer of the Weekend #302: Taddy Porter

2011-12-10T17:08:00.002-06:00

My second sampling today is Taddy Porter, brewed by Samuel Smith Old Brewery of Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England.

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. There is a cryptic batch code printed on the neck but no discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is an almost opaque black; light passed through when I held it to a lamp. Two fingers of thick, tan head dissipated slowly to leave a billowy and creamy lacing, a ring around the edge, and lace along the glass.

Smell: The first whiff is of smooth, dark malts. Dark chocolate, toffee, caramel, butterscotch, plum, cherry, black raspberry, lactose, and perhaps a little oatmeal. Coffee gives it a light roasted character, but it is far from prominent.

Taste: The first sip offers coffee bitterness, which was unexpected. When the taste buds adjust and the beer has warmed, the sweetness from the smell — chocolate, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and dark fruit — counterbalance it nicely.

Drinkability: A solid version of the black stuff. Drinking a couple more would give me a heinous hangover, but it would be well worth it.

Fun facts about Taddy Porter:

-Style: BA classifies it as English Porter.

-Price: $2.79/bottle John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: The beer’s webpage recommends 55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: Here are the suggestions listed on the beer’s webpage: “Mussels on the half shell; oysters cajun style; clams; cockles and whelks; crab or prawn cocktail; lobster bisque; veal escalope; chocolate mousse or chocolate cake.”

-According to the Samuel Smith website, Taddy Porter is registered with the Vegan Society as being suitable for vegans. Good to know.

-Among the ingredients listed on the beer webpage is “seaweed finings.”

-Taddy Porter is the name of rock band from Stillwater, Oklahoma. I hear the name a lot on Rock 108 but could not name any of their songs. Needless to say, I have always thought of the beer when they are mentioned.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

Beer of the Weekend #301: Fuller's London Porter

2011-12-10T12:42:00.001-06:00

Today I want to try the last two bottles in my “black stuff sampler” from John’s. Right now I am leaning toward Back Road Stout, a bottle of which I drank yesterday — conveniently and cheaply off screen, as the MST3K crew would say. (I took tasting notes in my trusty steno book, which will need to be replaced soon.)

The brown bottle lunch for today is Fuller’s London Porter, brewed by the Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C. of London, England.

I have checked as best as I can and verified that I have never sampled London Porter before. Having officially reviewed 300 beers, it is getting hard for me to remember, off the top of my head, which beers I have and have not tried. I need to make a master list to consult before my weekly beer run.

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. (I decided not to spell the volume amount anymore. Screw it. “Three hundred thirty ml” does not look good.) The “BEST BEFORE” date is “ 04 JUN 12.”

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is black but not opaque; light passed through when I held it to a window that receives no direct sunlight. Two fingers of dense, tan head dissipated to leave a cappuccino-like lacing with creamy bubbles, a ring around the edge, and a lacing on the glass.

Smell: More toasty than roasty. Dark chocolate, cocoa, toffee, toasted caramel, molasses, black licorice, and brown sugar. A hint of coffee gives it a little bitterness, and there is also dark fruit cherry and perhaps black raspberry.

Taste: The taste has a much stronger roasted character than the smell led me to believe. Lots of coffee and roasted malts. As the taste buds adjust, flavors of dark chocolate, cocoa, toffee, and molasses emerge. The roasted character continues to be the backbone, though. As it warms, flavors of dark fruit (cherry, plum, black raspberry) emerge as well.

Drinkability: The flavor and aroma are well crafted and true to style. Though I expect a much thicker body, I think it does the job.

Fun facts about London Porter:

-Style: BA classifies it as English Porter.

-Price: $2.49/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 50-55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 5.4 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, Latin American cuisine, earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), chocolate, beef, shellfish, smoked meat, and grilled meat.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

Beer of the Weekend #300: Hitachino Nest Lacto Sweet Stout

2011-12-09T23:39:00.002-06:00

Holy cow. I never realized John’s had so much winter/holiday beer available. Once I get my LV recommendation put away, I want to focus on the plethora of seasonal beers I have yet to try. I want to sample as many as I can before New Year’s. After that the whole seasonal/holiday appeal is gone.

This is the 300th edition of Beer of the Weekend. Since I did nothing special for either the centennial (Peter’s Brand Classics) and bicentennial (Anchor Porter) installments, I decided to sample something I have been eyeing for a long time: Hitachino Nest Lacto Sweet Stout, brewed by the Kiuchi Brewery of Naka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

Actually, I have been more interested in the brewery’s Espresso Stout, but John’s was sold out.

Based on the BA reviews, I fear HNLSS my not live up to the occasion. The member average rating is a C+, and The Bros gave it a C-. I asked the beer guru at John’s if it was worth the price (see below) and he assured me it was. We shall see.

Serving type: 330 ml bottle. No discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is just a few shades shy of opaque black; when I held it to a lamp, the light gave it a faint ruby tint. Two fingers of light tan head dissipated to leave a spotted lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: Very sweet; the lactose really makes its presence known. Besides the lactose, there are scents of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, caramel, and dark fruit (probably plum and cherry syrup). As the beer continues to warm, a subtle roasted coffee character becomes evident, complimenting the sweetness.

Taste: The mouthfeel is thick and creamy, and the initial taste is a light mélange of flavors mirroring the scent. The sweetness of lactose, caramel, and milk chocolate is balanced by roasted characters from the coffee. Overall, the flavor is on the weak side, but it is still satisfying.

Drinkability: I like this stuff. True to style, it is not going to be sinister so I think it does its job. It is very smooth, offers a nice (though subdued) flavor experience, and is on the light side in terms of ABV. It is not, however, worth $5 a bottle.

Fun facts about HNLSS:

-Style: BA classifies it as “Milk/Sweet Stout.”

-Price: $4.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City. Seriously — five bucks a bottle! At that price the brewery should throw in a Geiger counter.

-Serving temperature: Beers of the World recommends 50-54ºF.

-Alcohol content: The front label says, “4%alc./vol.,” but the back label says, “alcoholic content not in excess of 4% of volume.” BA pegs the ABV at 3.9 percent.

-Food pairings: Beers of the World recommends, “Shellfish and other seafood.”

-A little nerdiness from the back label:

Brewed with pale, crystal, caramel malt and authentic Lactose (milk sugar, 10% of grain bill) which is added about 10 min before end of boil.

-The Kiuchi Brewery has been in operation since 1823 and initially produced saké before first brewing beer in 1996.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B-.

Iowa State 86, Iowa 76

2011-12-09T21:42:00.002-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #299: Bell's Porter

2011-12-08T22:47:00.001-06:00

The beer I will recommend in the January LV will be dark and vicious. The question is, “Which one?” I will try to answer that in the next couple days — the due date is next Thursday — with the brews I picked up at John’s today. If I do not like them I may fall back on Moo Joos, which was stellar and from a small town Midwestern brewer.

The beer tonight is Porter, brewed by the Bell’s Brewery, Inc. of Comstock, Michigan.

If I remember correctly, this will be the fifth porter/stout I have sampled from Bell’s. Usually a brewery will have a stout or a porter, but Bell’s brews an impressive 13 different versions of the black stuff, including special draft-only brews. That is insane. I have to give mad props to the Bell’s crew for their dark malt obsession. In our age of excessive hoppiness, it is very noteworthy.

Serving type: Twelve-ounce bottle. The “PKGD” date written on the back label is “8/30/11.”

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is black but not opaque; when held to a lamp, light passed through. One finger of cappuccino-like head dissipated quickly to leave a thin film, a group of bubbles in the middle, a thin ring around the edge, and a little lacing decorating the side of the glass.

Smell: Roasted scents of coffee, caramel, and dark chocolate are subdued with cream or milk chocolate. The coffee stands out more than the rest.

Taste: The mouthfeel is thick and smooth, and the flavor matches it perfectly. The roasted bitterness is prominent but not overpowering. The coffee is balanced by sweetness from dark chocolate, caramel, and milk chocolate. It is creamy, too; very reminiscent of oatmeal stout.

Drinkability: I tend to suspect porters and stouts that are not opaque, but this is solid. It is very thick and flavorful.

Fun facts about Porter:

-Style: Should be self-evident. BA classifies it as American Porter.

-Price: $1.79/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 5.6 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: BA recommends barbecue, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), chocolate, beef, smoked meat, and grilled meat.

-Marketing nerdiness from the beer’s webpage:

One of our many award-winning beers, Porter emphasizes the darker, roasted aspects of malt. Hints of dark chocolate and freshly roasted coffee provide the focus, while hops remain in the background. Not as full-bodied as a stout, Porter bridges the gap between malty brown ales and our more heavily roasted stouts.

-Porter is available year round and has a six-month shelf life.

The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.

The Townie Bar Challenge: Shakespeare's

2011-12-06T23:58:00.005-06:00

Shakespeare’s
819 South 1st Avenue
Iowa City

Last night, Bobblehead and I kicked off what we decided to call The Town Bar Challenge — an exploration of the so-called “townie bars” of the greater Iowa City metro area and perhaps all of Johnson County. Our plan: to visit every locally owned watering hole outside of IC’s downtown core in search of the best dive (and I say that affectionately) to enjoy a brew without being deafened by LMFAO hits, asphyxiated by Acqua de Gio, and crushed by mobs of scantly clad sorority blondes and the fraternity hounds on their scent. In a nutshell, as Bobblehead put it: “Illuminate the best drinking spots free of college douche bags.” Unless we decide otherwise, we will crown a winner at the end.

Equipped with my notebook and camera, hunger for dinner, and the craving to drink a couple brews and not have to worry about driving (Bobblehead kindly picked me up), we entered Shakespeare’s and took a booth. There were a dozen or so people at the bar or sitting at the tables within short distance to the taps. I have never been a fan of the large, crowded bar scene — The Airliner was as much as I could stand, and even that was sometimes too much — so the quiet, intimate, easygoing vibe was to my liking. Bobblehead ordered a Shiner Bock and I a Schlitz, a boca burger with fries, and a cup of ranch dressing (my crack). (The ranch was for the fries, just so you know. It is not like I drink ranch straight — in public, at least.)

Understandably, where there is a kitchen and menu I will be looking for vegetarian options. My assumption is that many IC establishments will have them, but those in Coralville, North Liberty, and points beyond will not be so veggie-friendly. (George’s Buffet, I know, does not have veggie burgers, which is a surprise.) Though veggie options will be an added bonus, their absence will not be a deal breaker; my focus is the ambience and beer selection. The good news last night was that Shakespeare’s had a few veggie options: a boca burger, a black bean burger, and, on a page that was taped into the menu, a veggie melt. The veggie melt sounded tempting, but I opted for the boca burger garnished with pickles, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and ketchup. It was good, and the fries were fantastic (especially with the ranch). Unlike at a bar/restaurant chain, where one is presented a mountain of food, the serving size at Shakespeare’s was perfect. It was enough and left room for a couple beers.

I want to point out that last night was my first ever visit to the Shakespeare’s building, which, much like Bobblehead, I have always remembered being a bar. We were stumped regarding the previous name (which I felt was iconic for some reason; probably because I passed it millions of times driving along First Avenue), so we asked the waitress/bartender. She said it was Jerzes’ (sp?), but that did not ring a bell. I consulted Mervgotti and he said the same thing, but could not recall what it was before. Perhaps a few of the older patrons would remember.

Speaking of fellow patron’s, Bobblehead mentioned a rumor about Shakespeare’s being a lesbian bar. I am no expert on lesbian bars, but to me nothing about Shakespeare’s screamed anything of the sort. Shakespeare’s had a VFW or Eagle’s Club feel. It was well decorated and had a lot of TVs, but did not feel like a sports bar. It was humble and simple, but not bare bones utilitarian like a small town American Legion. Bobblehead felt the green light fixtures at each booth and the wood paneling gave the bar a retro look, but I considered it thoughtful and comfortable, reminiscent of my image of a quant neighborhood public house in Dublin. There were, I will say, a few butch looking women there, and at one point I thought t.A.T.u.’s “All the Things She Said” started playing on the sound system. It turned out to be a different song, but my memory of it came from the deep recesses of my mind. (Admittedly, I always liked that song and have since listened to it about 20 times on YouTube.)

Speaking of the music, the selection was, as Bobblehead wrote in his post, stellar. It was leaning toward late-seventies/early-eighties punk and new wave, but not in that cliché, overplayed way. Romeo Void’s “Never Say Never,” Talk Talk’s “It’s My Life,” The Smith’s “How Soon is Now,” Sex Pistol’s “Holidays in the Sun.” At one point it jumped from Beastie Boys to Elvis to Joan Jett. A little after nine, the volume was increased for Mötley Crüe for some reason.

Beer #2 was a Fat Tire, which did not taste like Fat Tire at all. It tasted too light and seasonal, making me wonder if it was a New Belgium seasonal offering. Beer #3 was a Shiner Bock. In my notes I wrote, “I will just drink; not taste,” but I could not help making a few mental notes. It was thin and not bock-like. It did not help that the beer was served very cold. Since I do not drink at bars much any more, I guess I am spoiled by my own attention to serving temperature. Bobblehead was impressed with his Backpocket Slingshot. Backpocket was previously known as the Old Man River Brewing Company. They will be opening a brewpub in Coralville (thanks to a fat loan of tax money) sometime in 2012. Bobblehead offered me a sip and I wondered if Slingshot was the brewery’s German Pale Ale (which I mistakenly called German IPA) after tasting quite a bit of citrus. (Granted, it was not the ideal tasting since my mouth was contaminated by Fat Tire.) It is not the GPA, which is called Jackknife. Slingshot is, instead, a dunkel.

Before I forget I want to mention that there was a coin-operated pool table (seemingly standard at neighborhood bars) and a few arcades, including Golden Tee and Big Buck Hunter. There was a Golden Eye pinball machine next to the bathrooms, which I thought was cool.

Overall: I really enjoyed my visit to Shakespeare’s. It was inviting and a nice place to sit, enjoy a brew and bite, chat, and catch up on the NHL’s four-conference alignment for next season. (Way to think outside the box, I might add.) The beer selection consisted of the usual suspects and a few local favorites, notably PBR, Schlitz, and Shiner Bock, which I thought was adequate. There were veggie-options on the menu, which my stomach liked. Basically, Shakespeare’s is a nice neighborhood bar I will definitely visit again.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B. (As Bobblehead mentioned, there will be no pluses or minuses; only solid letter grades or stars, which are easily convertible to numbers. He prefers stars, I prefer letters.)

[Inaudible mumbling] 80, Iowa 60

2011-12-06T21:42:00.003-06:00

Tonight I was a bad Hawkeye fan. I did not watch the game.

Since returning to Iowa, I may have made my peace with the UNI men’s basketball team. As you may recall, a deep hatred for the Panther men burned inside me. As a young Hawkeye fan, I grew to loath UNI after watching a number of talented and highly ranked Iowa teams fall in the UNI-Dome. (I only remember one time for sure, and it obviously made a huge impression.) For years I loved it when the Panthers lost, and even did an impromptu celebration dance at The Que Bar (RIP) when UNI lost in the Division 1A football championship. However, I have mellowed and become a fan of both rival public schools out of state pride. But my friendly, citizen allegiance takes a vacation whenever UNI and Iowa State are pitted against the Hawks. Tonight was one of those nights, and my historical hatred for the Panthers burned hot again. I checked the score every now and then online, but stayed away from the TV.

The Panthers are now the state’s perennial power, and the Hawks took their brow beating. McCaffery was ejected with about four minutes left, but I am unsure why.

To punish my cowardice tonight, I will watch all 40 minutes of the showdown in Ames on Friday, if you can call it a showdown.

Hot off the Press: Moving day edition

2011-12-06T11:39:00.003-06:00

Tracking, monitoring, and eavesdropping technology made in the ol' USA is being bought and used by repressive governments in Syria, Iran, and China: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trade-in-surveillance-technology-raises-worries/2011/11/22/gIQAFFZOGO_story.html?hpid=z2.

Apple denies claims the Siri feature on its new iPhones is anti-abortion after the voice-activated assistant suggests pregnancy advice centers for abortion inquiries: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15982466. This may be a bit overblown, but it is kind of scary to think there are people unable or unwilling to do their own thinking. This is where corporations step in to try thinking for us. (Perhaps I am being a bit too paranoid here.)

After a "60 Minutes" exposé "highlighting investments that congressional leaders made in companies while legislative efforts were underway that may have affected stock values," a bill to ban insider trading in Congress is suddenly very popular: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bill-to-ban-insider-trading-in-congress-is-suddenly-popular/2011/11/30/gIQAn193DO_story.html?hpid=z3.

Cumulus Media, which as a voracious appetite for radio stations nationwide, has given pink slips to a number of Des Moines radio personalities at stations the company acquired earlier this year: http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2011/12/01/kggos-round-guy-among-des-moines-radio-layoffs/. The best thing about driving through Kansas last year was listening to small town, locally owned radio stations that played whatever they wanted. There are fewer and fewer of them every year.

LA has introduced a bright green colored bike lane to the downtown area: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bike-lanes-20111121,0,4835734.story. It is not a bad idea, but I have noticed that types of pavement paint are very slippery when wet.

The Hansen brothers — who annoyed everyone except 12-year-old girls with "MMMBop" — will soon be releasing their own beer: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/12/hanson-mmmhop-beer.html?track=icymi.

In other beer news, the Boston Beer Corporation, of Sam Adams fame, has sued Anchor regarding a previous employee now working for Anchor: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/11/boston-beer-anchor-brewing.html. Consider this line:

In its complaint, Boston Beer claims it taught Hausner everything he knows about the beer business: “His expertise in the beer business is Boston Beer, exclusively.”

So wait: Boston Beer owns his knowledge and he cannot use it unless it is for Boston Beer? Crazy.

LA officials estimate that 30 tons of debris was left behind at the Occupy LA encampment, which was cleared out last week: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/11/occupy-la-30-tons-of-debris-left-behind-at-city-hall-tent-city.html. The dude interviewed in the article blames a lack of leadership for the filth, an opinion I find naïve. It was a lack of personal responsibility (i.e., acting like an adult), civility, and community. How sad (yet fittingly hypocritical) it is that the people clamoring for change cannot pick up after themselves. Granted, many were arrested, but seriously.

Wracked by rheumatoid arthritis, the author of a recent Dennis Hopper biography writes letter-by-letter using a red, plastic chopstick: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-chopstick-book-20111203,0,2389268.story.

45,000 residents in the German city of Koblenz were evacuated when two World War II bombs, found in the Rhine River, were defused: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/tens-of-thousands-evacuating-german-city-as-experts-defuse-massive-british-wwii-era-bomb/2011/12/04/gIQAiqDMRO_story.html?hpid=z3.

Emergency room visits involving energy drinks have tenfold in the US since 2005: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-energy-drinks-20111205,0,2151254.story.

The Novel Diary: Week 47

2011-12-05T23:45:00.000-06:00

Word count: 40,082.

There is not much to report this week. I am slowly but surely (hopefully) crafting a new revision to “Paths.” It is very slow going as I have been busy most nights. I am cool with that, though. Tonight I had a couple drinks at Shakespeare’s with Bobblehead and will write about that tomorrow (which probably means I will not be able to work on the essay). There have been many worthy distractions recently, but at some point I need to buckle down and get to work. Will it happen this week? It better.

December 4, my original novel restart deadline, has passed and we are steaming ahead to the holidays and my revised restart deadline. Frankly, I need to get working on the essay revision in order to focus on my novel outline. I have totally neglected it, but for good reason. I will return to it, but do not want to do that until I am finished with another “Paths” revision. I could do both at the same time, but I am way too lazy to do that.

California dreamin', Part 4

2011-12-05T12:49:00.000-06:00

Today I synched my iMac and MacBook desktop pictures to the above pic. I did the same thing three years ago when I found “Snow Shed” on the now semi-abandoned MacDesktops.com. At the time I had just bought my MacBook and was eagerly counting the days until I flew back to Iowa for the holidays. Needless to say, I was yearning for Midwestern winter.

Last week I listened to some of the Henry Rollins stand-up Zee German gave me. Rollins is originally from the Washington, DC area and now lives in LA between tours. In a track called “The Hollywood Method” on Talk is Cheap, Volume 3, he calls LA “the city of whores” and tells the audience to stay away: “It is a polluted hellhole covered with used condoms, dried pools of blood, and expended bullet casings.” He says it is “a business capital” where the basis for every relationship is money. There is no good excuse why he lives there; “…it’s kind of where my modem ended up years ago,” he says. He goes on to promise:

One fine day I will move back east to the land of zero bullshit and deciduous trees and seasons…

I laughed at everything he said about LA (because it is totally true), but his line about returning east resonated with me. It took me back to those final few days before a holiday trip to Iowa and my impatient longing for bitter cold, ice, and snow — to experience a different season.

In terms of the weather, people think I am crazy for returning to Iowa. “Don’t you miss the weather?” they ask. I respond: “What weather?”

Yes, sometimes it rained and the Santa Ana’s kicked up and blew hot and crazy. The coast experienced “May Gray” and “June Gloom,” when the marine layer did not burn off until noon. Every once in a while we were battered by a Pacific storm that brought wind, rain, and massive waves, and Labor Day always seemed to bring desert heat. But for months and months it was the same thing: clear skies and temperatures in the 70s and 80s. It is paradise for many, but boring for me.

When I moved to Huntington Beach about five years ago, it was nice not having to deal with ice, snow, and bitter cold. I remember my mom calling me one night during an ice storm. Power was out, tree limbs were breaking, and the roads were a nightmare. “That sucks,” I thought. For whatever reason I was at the Westminster Mall. There was no ice, the temperature was probably in the 60s, and the lights were on. I was safe and warm, and it was so nice to hear about others suffering from winter and not being stuck in it myself. But around April, as wet spring changed to dry spring, I felt I was missing something spiritually. April did not feel like April. I did not feel the giddiness of spring fever as there was no warming trend or natural rebirth to kick-start it; the plants had actually been greener thanks to winter rains. As the year progressed and “spring” seamlessly became “summer” and then “fall” without any real difference, I began to think, “This is not right.” The spiritual void inside me was growing and growing, and I knew exactly what was missing: seasons and weather variety in general. The lack of both was confusing my inner calendar. By 2008 I was completely fed up with the constant sunshine and warmth. It irritated me. I cherished the rare cloudy and rainy days because they broke the mind numbing monotony.

When I left Iowa I knew I would miss fall, my favorite season, but never imagined I would also yearn for winter. It shocked me but also made perfect sense once I thought about it. As I wrote in the long essay I am now eviscerating:

It had been my way of life for as long as I could remember, and dropping it entirely for something different exposed the transcendental bond linking me to the heartland. Iowa influenced me in ways I never imagined. It was my natural habitat, and my heart, mind, and body pined for it like a lost love.

Not all transplants felt the same way — I met many Midwesterners who never wanted to return — and those who have never relocated to a more temperate locale cannot understand (like those who think I am crazy for returning just because of the weather). But seasons are a part of my personal fiber, and without them I was missing a vital part of myself.

Yes, that includes winter. It epitomizes my personal connection to the seasons as the polar (literally) opposite of summer. The trees are bare and perennials dormant, the ground is often covered with snow, and it is cold. Sometimes it can be downright Arctic and inhospitable. But it is beautiful to me, especially right now. Though it is technically not winter yet, it feels like it. I love this time of year since it is so iconic in that holiday way. I love that first, wet, sloppy snow that covers the trees, making everything white. I love putting on my Triclimate, stocking hat, and gloves to brave the cold. The air is crisp and dry, and I can see my breath. It is magical. I even love cold, dark, overcast days when automatic headlights never turn off. (I wonder, though, if I love them for the weather or for the feeling of being warm and snug inside. That is a very rare experience in SoCal.) It is a bitch dealing with the ice and shoveling snow, but that is life in the Midwest. If you do not like it, stop bitching and leave. I will gladly enjoy it for you.

Go ahead and think I am crazy. The fact is I lived in Southern California.

Iowa 75, Brown 54

2011-12-03T17:58:00.001-06:00

Beer of the Weekend #298: Sprecher Russian Imperial Stout

2011-12-02T22:47:00.002-06:00

Let’s hope the inaugural Big Ten championship game is more competitive than its Pac-12 counterpart.

The plan for tomorrow night is to watch football and drink leftover Thanksgiving brew with Bobblehead. Frankly, I may spend the night on his couch. I do not like couching it, but I may need to. Either way, I will not be chez moi tomorrow night and do not want to neglect any remaining BotW bottles. So I bought a four-pack that should be easily — or not, given the ABV — drinkable tonight.

The beer of the weekend is Russian Imperial Stout, brewed by the Sprecher Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Ah, Sprecher. I forgot all about Sprecher. My first BotW after returning to IC in July 2010 was Sprecher’s Abbey Triple and I have totally neglected the brewery ever since. It has not been intentionally, though. Given the unbelievable selection at John’s, I have overlooked Sprecher, which I suppose is understandable. However, I will not make any promises to try more in the near future. I have resolved to do many things in past BotW posts, but forgot most after a few beers.

As you can see I have added yet another piece to my beerware collection: the Aecht Schlekerla Eiche snifter. “Eiche” apparently means “oak” in German; the beer is, according to the brewery webpage, a Christmas doppelbock. (I will look for it the next time I visit John’s.) Anyway, I will be using the snifter for Belgian brews and imperial stouts. (According to the guy at John’s, it is good for “95 percent of beers.”) I have been meaning to get a snifter for a while and decided today was the perfect time.

Serving type: Sixteen-ounce bottle. There are cryptic batch codes printed on the shoulder, but no easily discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Poured into a snifter. The color is a beautiful, opaque black; no light passed through when I held it to a lamp. About one finger of very tan, almost brown, head dissipated quickly to leave a thin film and bubbly ring around the edge.

Smell: Very dark and imperial. Exhibits a roasted character that is not overpowering. Dark chocolate, coffee, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and black licorice. It is very enticing. It has a brandy-like edge, which is very faint and sexy.

Taste: The mouthfeel is pretty dry and on the thick side. It basically mirrors the smell, but the flavors do not stand out as much as their aromatic counterparts; they overlap deceptively. The roasted character, though, is more pronounced. The dark chocolate, caramel, brown sugar, molasses, and black licorice are also present, and each sip is punctuated by a little alcohol sting.

Drinkability: I am not an expert on imperial stout, but this is good stuff. It is not excellent, but is quality stuff. Leave it to a brewery from a city with deep socialist roots to brew a good Russian stout.

Fun facts about RIS:

-Style: Both Sprecher and BA concur that it is “Imperial Russian Stout.” Here are the details from BA:

Inspired by brewers back in the 1800's to win over the Russian Czar, this is the king of stouts, boasting high alcohol by volumes and plenty of malt character. Low to moderate levels of carbonation with huge roasted, chocolate and burnt malt flavours. Often dry. Suggestions of dark fruit and flavors of higher alcohols are quite evident. Hop character can vary from none, to balanced to aggressive.

-Price: $7.99/four-pack at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: Sprecher recommends 55ºF.

-Alcohol content: 7.9 percent ABV. According to the Sprecher website, the ABV has been boosted to 8.5 percent “to meet int'l standards for contests.” This four-pack is obviously a little older, which I suspected from something I will mention later.

-Food pairings: BA just recommends chocolate.

-IBU: 32.

-Gravity: 20º Plato.

-First introduced in 1994, RIS is aged 12 weeks.

-Why else was I able to tell this four-pack was a little old? The bottles were really dusty. The row of RIS was next to a row of Sprecher Irish Stout, and I actually took a pack of Irish Stout from the shelf. However, I replaced it when I noticed the back bottles were covered in dust-caked cobwebs. Nasty. The beer inside was obviously safe, and was probably still good, but one should generally avoid beer with dusty bottles. Dust means the pack has been sitting around for a while, and you have no clue where or under what conditions.

-RIS had a twist off cap. You do not see that too often in the craft beer world.

-Yes, I could not resist the socialist-Milwaukee connection. Milwaukee was the home of Sewer Socialism.

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

Beer of the Weekend #297: Millstream Weizenbock

2011-11-30T23:18:00.003-06:00

This is my 40th post of the month — a new Quiet Man record. Granted, most of the posts have been about beer, football, or basketball, but they count the same nonetheless. And, fittingly, I will toast it with a brew. (Also, I am toasting the Big Ten’s victory in the annual men’s basketball challenge with the ACC. It is the Big Ten’s third in a row. Woo hoo!)

The beer tonight is Weizenbock, brewed by the Millstream Brewing Company of Amana, Iowa.

Weizenbock, which I believe was released last month, is the latest edition of Millstream’s Brewmaster’s Extreme Series. I think the last time I had one was in June (BotW #242: Big Honey Hefe). According to Mervgotti, the series as a whole is not selling well. For the most part, the big draw is the higher alcohol content. Iowa breweries were unable to distribute beer with an ABV higher than 6.25 percent until last year, so Millstream is obviously trying to cash in on the novelty of high proof indigenous beer. However, they are pretty pricy, on the boozy side (duh!), and will probably not draw many repeat customers (people who will buy it more than once). I, for one, have been disappointed by the crafting; they taste more like alcoholic bombs than good beer. Millstream can do better, so I am keeping an open mind, as always. I will have to say, though, that the label design for Weizenbock is a big improvement.

Serving type: Twelve-ounce bottle. The notch for the born-on date along the side of the label is between the “O” for October and “N” for November.

Appearance: Poured into a 300 ml weizen glass. The color is spot-on weizenbock: cloudy, dark caramel brown. One finger of thin, fizzling head (much like pop) dissipated quickly to leave a thin, galaxy-esque film, a ring around the edge, and trails of foam on the glass. There was a ton of yeast caking the bottom of the bottle, and it remained even after a couple swirls. I do not think I have ever seen that much yeast sediment.

Smell: Boozy like a weizenbock, but it also features fruit sweetness: almost ripe banana (turning yellow, but still a bit green) and green apple. There is also a nice clove bite along with a little pepper spice. Caramel sneaks in, as does lemon citrus and a thick, yeasty, fresh-from-the-oven bread quality. After a while, a touch of bubblegum emerges.

Taste: B-double O-Z-E, booze! It is very noticeable upon first sip, but gradually hides behind the other flavors. It was still there, stinging my taste buds, and is still prominent, like the really tall guy in the team photo, but it does allow the other flavors to emerge as the beer warms. Banana, green apple, clove and pepper spice, yeast, bubblegum, lemon citrus, and caramel make an appearance, and even balance the alcohol toward the middle of the glass.

Drinkability: Though boozy at first, it turns into a solid weizenbock. I have to agree with the other reviewers that this is, so far, my favorite of the Extreme Series.

Fun facts about Weizenbock:

-Style: Millstream obviously considers it a weizenbock, as does BA.

-Price: $8.99 per four-pack at the New Pioneer Co-op on Van Buren Street in Iowa City.

-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.

-Alcohol content: 8.5 percent ABV.

-Food pairings: The generic pairings from BA are German cuisine, chocolate, and grilled meat.

-Speaking of German cuisine, while driving Bobblehead home from the game last night, he asked me: “If Hannibal Lecter visited Hamburg, do you think he would kill someone and then cook and eat them like a hamburger?” I have no clue why that came up, but I then asked: “If Hannibal Lecter were visiting Frankfurt, would he murder someone and make them into frankfurts?”

The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.

NIVA, 'The Boy From the Sun'

2011-11-30T16:44:00.003-06:00

I want to reach 40 posts this month (for the first time in Quiet Man history) and thought a music video post would be perfect to push me closer to that goal. November does not have one yet, so it is only fitting. (Here is the widescreen glory: http://youtu.be/h3sm3sIeaGg.)

I stumbled across “The Boy From the Sun” after checking out videos for Neon Indian, most notably “Fallout.” I heard “Fallout” one night when I had IPRs’ Night Music on in the background, and was curious enough to check it out on YouTube. Among the related links was a whole bunch of hipster alt that gave me LA flashbacks, quasi-porn, and a few gems, like “The Boy From the Sun.”

Yes, I suppose I have a thing for chicks dressed in short shorts, striped tube socks, and salvation store baseball/softball t-shirts. It is very seventies. For one to be jumping on a trampoline in slow mo is an added bonus, I guess. (It is, as one YouTube commenter said, like an American Apparel ad.) That said, the music is pretty good, too. If not for that, I would not be posting the video.

I have been into much more mellow and melancholy electronic lately (I suppose this is kind of electronic in a way), and this song fits into that style. I also felt the tone fits well with late-November. The trees have been stripped of their leaves, the sky is overcast, and the temperatures are falling. I like this time of year, but I will get to that some other time. The cinematography and choreography are also notable. The video compliments the music perfectly.