Beer No#4

Hi again, it's time to tell you about a beer that I really like. This one is made with espresso and is high in alcohol. It's from Southern Tier Brewing company in Lakewood NY. It's the high octane Jah-va Imperial Stout.
Here is what their website had to say about the Jah-Va Imperial Stout..."Three thousand feet above sea level in the misty mountains of Jamaica, some of the world’s finest Arabica beans are hand picked on their way to becoming Blue Mountain Coffee. Halfway around the world, plump spring barley grows to maturity in the loamy soil of North America while aromatic hops are cultivated to exacting standards. Here in our kettles, these three special ingredients are blended to create a heady mixture of sweet sugar, dark roast, and complex flavor. Please enjoy this brew in moderation." Enjoy in moderation because this one packs a punch at 12% alcohol. This Stout has a 2-row pale malt / caramel malt / chocolate malt / black malt / roasted barley / cascade & Columbus hops / Jamaican blue mountain coffee. When you pour this one, it comes out of the bottle and fills the snifter glass with a black color with ruby highlights. The head of the beer is a caramel cream color that looks like it wants to be in my tummy. When you smell this one the coffee been and chocolate really come through. Now the alcohol is pretty high in this one at 12%, but it really was smooth and easy to drink. It was noted that good food pairing would be Cheese (buttery; Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss) General (Chocolate, Digestive) Meat (Beef, Smoked Meat, Game, Grilled Meat). You can really taste the chocolate and roasted coffee in this one. If you are looking for a beer to watch football with this one might not be the one. But if you want a beer to just drink and enjoy every sip, try it.

Now I also had another beer that was written up in Beer magazine (which if you love beer you would like this magazine). I'm sure some of you have tried it too and it was from the Spoetzl Brewing Company in Shiner Texas... Shiner Bock! I wouldn't waste your money on this one unless you like the Bud's and Miller's of the mass produced beers ( which I do). This one was watery and very carbonated and fizzy with not a lot of taste. I thought I was buying a beer that was special... I was wrong.




Now on to other news and that is that I'm starting School tomorrow, Monday April.20th. I decided to go back and take classes at Ross Medical Education for Dental Assistant. I still am looking for full time work but I need to find a new career as there are way too many Announcers out of work right now with limited jobs available. So there ya go... I may have to put a new beer in the fridge for this afternoon as I tried both of the ones above about a week or so ago.

3rd Beer Tasting

This week I decided to have a beer that I also had for the first time last year at the World Expo of beer. This week we head to New Holland Brewery in New Holland Michigan. The beer this week is Dragon's Milk! From the looks of it you would think it was a Stout but it's really an Ale. I liked it when I had it a year ago in a small amount but a big bottle was too much of this one. The flavor's were good with a noticeable vanilla taste with toffee plus a sweet chocolate taste. This beer is aged in oak barrels and that taste comes thru in the alcohol, with a high 9% in this one. The color was very dark, with a slight hint of red. With such a high alcohol content, it's not at all hoppy and the carbonation is there but noticeably lower than other beers, making it very smooth. In a small amount like a half a glass I would like it but the sweet flavor of this one gets old to me after a while. Good thing I was able to only buy a single of this one. If you like a smooth, sweet, high alcohol content ale this one may be for you! Next week I picked up one I'm really looking forward to made with expresso as one of the main flavors.

Beer tasting

Well it was time again to try a different beer and well, I cheated because I've had this one before. Up next is an Oatmeal Stout from Breckenridge Brewery in Denver. I knew I liked this beer the first time I had it and that was about a year ago at the World Expo of Beer in Frankenmuth MI. Frankenmuth is the host of the World Expo of Beer in May (same day I proposed to my now Fiance) and is hosted as a fundraiser for the Jaycees. I tell ya, if you like different beers this is the place to go. We had a blast, but it was crowded and by 5pm it was packed with a lot of people who I hope weren't driving. You buy tickets and then one ticket is one sample which is about 2 or 2 and a half ounces of the beer. Some of these people must of had at least 10... 20 samples because they could hardly stand. It was a good time and we hope to go back again this year but of course we will see. Now on the the beer...

Breckenridge Brewery - Oatmeal Stout

Here's the story of Breckenridge Brewery: Back in the 1980s our founder, Richard Squire, had a dream – to ski all day and drink great beer every night. Since he lived in the snow-kissed Rocky Mountains, fulfilling the skiing portion of his dream was easy. But the great beer part – at a time when a "micro brew" was a rarity – that was another story. So Richard started brewing his own, more flavorful beers for himself and his thrill-seeking ski pals.

His home brewed creations were a hit, and soon Richard was spending more time brewing than skiing. So he chased after another dream – making exceptional beer for a living. In February, 1990 that dream became reality when Richard opened the original Breckenridge Brewery & Pub in the town of Breckenridge, Colorado. Richard's ski bum days were over, and so were the days of bland beer for the folks in Colorado's ski country.

Today Breckenridge Brewery continues to work hard to satisfy the thirsts of discerning beer drinkers. Richard's original recipes – and a handful of seasonal creations – are now handcrafted at our three Breckenridge Brewery locations in Colorado. In 1992 we opened our sister brewpub in downtown Denver, at 22nd and Blake Street. Just a block from Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, our Denver brewpub is home to locals, baseball fans and Denver visitors who seek a quality meal and craft beer with character.

In May 1996 we expanded our family again with the opening of our brewing and bottling facility in Denver's historic Golden Triangle neighborhood. Here our brew masters and staffers craft and package the bottled and kegged versions of our nationally acclaimed beers. An adjoining tasting room allows guests to savor their brews in a cozy setting, in full view of the brew kettles and bottling line.

Sure, our growth means we're spending a little less time on the slopes and in the high country. But we're not complaining. In the past two decades we've grown from a small 3,000-barrels-a-year brewpub to one of the most successful craft beer companies in the nation. We now handcraft nearly 30,000 barrels of fresh beer each year and sell it across Colorado and 25 other states.

This beer is so smooth and yummy, even my fiance likes it with its coffee notes. I would have to describe it as Bold but very smooth, Rich in flavor with a nice taste of coffee and chocolate, that good Oatmeal taste and a good amount of hops. I must say if you don't like a hoppy beer this one may not be for you with the after taste quite hoppy. But... it's not to much for me as the coffee and chocolate are also tasted after it goes down. As you can see by the picture it's 12 ounces and not a pint. That creamy head you see is full of flavor with the oatmeal making it! This is one of my favorites when it comes to dark beer. Here's some quick facts about Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout :

Beer Style: Specialty Stout
Flavor: Chocolate coffee maltiness, round oatmeal mouth feel with very slight hop character
Yeast: Top Fermenting Ale Yeast
Malts: Two Row Pale, Caramel, Roasted Barley, Chocolate, Oat Flakes, Black
Hops: Chinook, Perle
Color: Black
Bitterness Units: 31
Alcohol By Volume: 4.95%
Alcohol By Weight: 3.96%







They have what looks to be a good recipe for BBQ sauce with the Oatmeal Stout on their website.

The Players

Oatmeal Stout

* 1/2 cup molasses
* 1/4 cup mustard
* 1/2 cup chili sauce
* 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
* 1/4 cup powdered onion
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon pepper
* 1/2 cup Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout

Details

Combine all the players in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes

So there ya go with this weeks addition of beer tasting. Next week it's another beer I've had at the World Expo of Beer as well. I couldn't really remember what I liked about it but I know it's good.

Trying New Beer

Well hello one and all. I haven't been blogging much lately since there is really nothing new to talk about and Aija and myself don't go out anywhere since the money is really tight right now. I thought I needed something to do so... why not try different beers and see if I like them. I'll be trying different beer about once a week and blogging about it. Before I get into the beer for this week... This is where I like to go in Saginaw for different beer and that is this place pictured below which is Oppermann's Keg and CorkThe nice thing about Oppermann's is that if they can get it shipped to them you can get it even if they don't carry it. Now I've never tried it and I'm guessing that a case of beer special ordered would be pretty expensive. Also you really don't need to order it since they have so much to choose from already. Here's three pictures from the store to get you an idea of how big it is and how much really unique items they have. This is the beer isle...These are all the single shown here and from there it goes down and gets into the 4,6,12 packs and cases. Also along the wall they have coolers with beer. Next is the liquor Section which if you're looking for a cheap bottle of say vodka, you might not find it here. They have some really high end stuff and different kinds of liquor from around the world. And last but not least is their biggest section which is their wine. Row after row of wine from around the world. So if you are in the Saginaw area and looking for that hard to fine beer, wine or liquor? You may want to try Keg and Cork.

And now on to the beer tasting

The first beer I thought I would try is St.Peter's old-style Porter which comes in a Pint bottle. It's brewed at St. Peter's Brewery situated in Suffolk England and imported by Eurobrew Inc. out of Maryland. This is what the brewery's web site had to say about the beer...

"This fine beer is a blend of a mature old ale and a younger light beer – just as a true Porter should be. The marriage produces an extremely characterful brew which is dark in colour and complex in taste. CAMRA Champion Beer of Suffolk 2005 / Bronze medal CAMRA Winter Beers Festival 2007."

Now as for the taste of the beer it was pretty good. It was a little light for my taste. When I think of a Porter I think of a dark rich beer and this was on the light side. It had a good flavor consisting of caramel toffee, coffee, and brown sugar taste to it. The finish was a little bitter but the coffee flavor really came thru and was quite nice. It had a good color too it and nice head as you can see, and the flavor was OK. I must say I probably won't be getting this one again but if you like the lighter side of Porter, you may like this one. Well there ya go, the first beer review. I think I'll keep going on the Porter's and Stouts. I think I have a nice Oatmeal Stout I'll have on here next week. Until then it's back to the cheap American beer brewed in mass quantities.

Hello Blogger Land, I know been a long time since I blogged but not a lot has happened since I last blogged. Still looking for a job, although my expectations are now lower for what to ask for when it comes to a salary. I put together a list of concerts that I've seen so I figured why not blog about it. I know I'm missing a bunch but here goes...

Charlie Daniels
Don Henely
Susanna Hoffs
Jimmy Page
Tesla
Grand Funk Railroad
38 Special
Ratt
Firehouse
Blackfoot
Wishbone Ash
Loverboy
Huey Lewis & the News
Rick Springfield (2)
John Waite
The FIXX
John Fogerty
Santana's Gregg Rolie
Edgar Winter
The Allman Brothers Band
Lynyrd Skynyrd (2)
Little Feat
Ronnie Baker Brooks
ZZ Top
Chris Robinson & NEM
Randall Zwarte' Band
Big John Dickerson & the Celebrators
Kory & the Fireflies
Mark Anthony's Storm Project
Alice Cooper
Sammy Hagar & the Waboritas
Boston
Joe Cocker
Rick Springfield
Joan Jett
Eric Johnson
Gypsy
Lou Gramm
War
The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Indigenous
Mitch Ryder
Head East
Corey Stevens
Rockin Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters
Scorpions
Deep Purple
DIO
Loverboy
Journey (2)
Blondie
Indigenous
STYX (4)
Gin Blossoms (2)
Black Oak Arkansas
The Little River Band
Paul Revere & the Raiders
Gary Puckett
The Mighty Roostas
Ted Nugent
Pat Benatar(2)
Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Night Ranger
Dave Mason
George Thorogood & the Destroyers (3)
REO Speedwagon (2)
Big Head Todd & the Monsters (2)
Molly Hatchet
Blues Traveler
The Marshall Tucker Band
Head East
The Byrds Celebration
The Little River Band
Mountain Ash
Peter Frampton
The Beach Boys
Paul Rodgers
The Knack
The Yardbirds
Joe Walsh
Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band
NRBQ (New Rhythm & Blues Quartet)
Leslie West of Mountain
The Doobie Brothers
Creedence Clearwater Revisited
Leon Russell
Eric Burdon & the New Animals
Rockin Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters
Cheap Trick
John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band
Johnny Lang
LIVE (2)
Collective Soul (2)
Dave Matthews Band
Rush (3)
Wynton Marsallis
G.B. Leighton (38? too many to count)
Avril Lavigne
Quiet Riot
Slaughter
Velvet Revolver
Linkin Park
P.O.D
Incubus
Nickelback
Tantric
Woody Herman
Rolling Stones
Freddy Jones Band (2)
Santana
Garth Brooks (2)
Bon Jovi
Saliva
Third Eye Blind
Kid Rock
Keith Urban
Hoobastank
Smashing Pumpkins
Lifehouse
The Beacon Brothers
Fountains of Wayne
Rod Stewart
John Mellencamp
Derek Trucks Band
Billy Joel
Elton John
Alien Ant Farm
Sugar Ray
Matchbox 20
Maroon 5

I know there are more but at my age trying to remember 20 years ago is way too hard. Remember if you hear of a job (or your parents do which happened) let me know cause I can't wait to get back to what I love, Radio!!! or something that pays money for that matter...hehehehe. Oh and No Mom, the sign is fake!! I don't know if I am Bob Moore anymore now that I'm not working for a radio station... it's back to Bob Mamer.

Pizza

Well it's been two months of unemployment and still no job. I keep sending out stuff but still no work. From what I hear from friends in the industry, there are lots of Dj's out of work right now. Since being unemployed money is of course short. The things you don't even think about when you have job like ordering a pizza for delivery is a premium now for Aija and myself. So I decided to make a pizza which is a lot cheaper and oh so tasty too. I got thin crust pre-made pizza crusts at the store and made an Alfredo pizza. It has Alfredo sauce, chicken, fresh mushrooms and a little sauteed onion, sun dried tomatoes, spinach and of course Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Oh and I forgot that I brushed an oil that had a bunch of herbs in it on the crust. So here is what it looked like when it was right out of the oven.
It was so good and we saved a bunch of money on doing it ourselves. The pizza crusts came in a two pack so I made a peperoni pizza a few days later and we had that which was good also. So there ya go, a quick great meal on a unemployed dj's budget. Make sure to check out Aija's blog as Lucy had to get a hair cut for a lot of mats in her fur so... try not to laugh to much. She looks like a different animal and so cute and tiny!! Her blog is right here, just point and click HERE

Hellloooooo!!! I know I haven't been writing much on here but being unemployed sucks and I really don't feel like it right now. Well Aija and I haven't been out since I've been unemployed so we decided to go out for Halloween. We really didn't go out a lot or even at all before no job but we were both getting cabin fever and it's not even winter yet. Well I was a nerd and she was a nerd school girl! So it was fun and here are the pictures.
This is Josh and Andreja, future sis and bro in-law. Josh has had some back problems so he didn't really dress up and Dre was... well some kind of punk army person and of course had to try and show some cleavage(which she doesn't have).
We made some new friends with Snow White and Beer man in the picture above... and of course Aija had to make friends with Mario and Luigi.

It was a fun night and didn't cost a whole lot so that was important too. It really sucks being out of a job. I was close to getting a job in MN and came in second. I really was over qualified for the job but I figured it was job. When I was interviewing the Operations Manager told me he had 45 applications for the job. I know you probably don't know but... that is huge for just a afternoon shift!! I hope to get something soon cause I'm getting sick of the Food network when I can't afford to make the things I see...hehehe. Oh and I almost forgot Aija knitted me a new had for winter and it is pretty cool.Hey I'll try to take more pics and get them on here for ya but for now... I just keep looking for a job!!!

This is my cat Saki playing yahtzee with Aija. Lucy also likes to play as you can see by her coming to check if Saki is done so she can play... kids these days. Looking for work is at a standstill as there is just nothing open right now in radio. That sucks so if you know of anyting that may be open let me know... ok???

Flank Steak for dinner

Since I'm not working right now (anyone need a radio announcer) I've decided to make things for dinner. Since Aija is tired when she gets home from work as I would be if I had a job...wink wink, I figure why not! So a nice flank steak is what's in the fridge marinating and it looks delicious. I did find something out when I was chopping the garlic and fresh ginger. My cat Saki joined me on the other half of the counter(other side) so I put a piece of ginger up to her nose and she as usual tried to sniff it but didn't like that at all and backed away. So I did the same with the garlic and she took one whiff of that and started licking her nose and decided she would watch from the floor...hehehe. I'm just going simple and making mashed potatoes with butter, three cheese and parsley on top for the side with the flank steak. Here is how it turned out and it looks more red in this picture than it was. We had left overs so I'm planning on having lunch with some warm tortillas and the meat...yummy.

Grandma Doreen's Flank Steak

1 flank steak (any size)
2 tablespoons sesame oil
Red pepper flakes, to taste
4 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
2 (1 1/2-inch) pieces fresh ginger, peeled and sliced as thinly as possible
1 cup dry red wine
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey

In a shallow non-reactive dish spread 2 garlic cloves and half the ginger slices so that all parts of the meat will come in contact with them. Rub the meat with the sesame oil and red pepper flakes and place the steak onto the garlic and ginger. Spread the remaining garlic and ginger over the meat and pour the red wine, soy sauce, and 2 tablespoons of honey into the dish. Cover with plastic warp and marinate for 2 hours or overnight. Turn the meat once during marinating.
Heat a barbecue or grill. Cook the meat for 5 to 7 minutes on each side depending on the thickness of the meat. This may also be cooked under the broiler or, on the stove if you have a large enough skillet. The marinade can be used by bringing it to a boil in a saucepan and then straining.
After removing it from the heat, let the flank steak sit for a few minutes, then slice thinly against the grain and serve in its own juices with cooked marinade sauce drizzled on top.

My cat Saki

Well some of you may know I have never had a pet, unless you consider that little hamster that bit my finger and was killed... Little S%#t!!! Well I have a cat now and her name is Saki and she is a little stinker. A couple of nights ago I was watching T.V. and on the computer at the same time(both in the living room). I turned my chair around and usually I'll find her in my recliner as that is her chair when I'm not in it. Well the picture to the Left is what I found... She was watching TV on her back with her head up and her feet out! She just gave me a look like "what are you looking at"...hehehe. Oh well she is a good cat but I have to watch my feet in the morning while I'm in bed because she will sit at the end of the bed and anything that moves under the covers is fair game for her to pounce on. Then she has to get it(my feet) and that means getting the claws out and biting my toes!! Yes if you can believe it she has been kicked out of my bed in the morning. All in all she is a good cat and getting along with Lucy the Diva much better than a couple of months ago. Now they are buddies for the most part and even like to get by the patio door and watch squirrel's together

This next picture is what they have been doing lately and that is just loving each other... well I should say Lucy licks Saki and Saki... well let's her. You would think that they would groom each other but I guess Saki doesn't feel like it...

Ok just a couple of random pics of the kids as Aija and I like to call them...

Saki's usual place at night is in my chair with her legs over the edge!

Lucy's favorite position, on her back sleeping

So there ya go, another blog of really nothing but not a lot happening. If you are a Magic 106.3 listener checking out the blog, we have some really cool BIG contests coming up thru the end of the year that you'll love so keep listening!!