Amsterdam never fails me. Fantastic scenery, free society, decent beer. The Heineken out there was fantastic, even extra cold. I would say my top three beers there:
1. Heineken
2. Moreeke
3. Weickse (Wheat/Rose)
The food out there was fantastic. I didn't remember that the Dutch love some pomme frites. I was tearing through some french fries the whole time. Somewhere in there, our Aussie roommates told us there was some terrorist threat on Oktoberfest. For a while our crew was under the impression we could not get a flight into Munich at all, when it turns out that they only banned prop planes. The Aussie girls were asking if we would still go, and after telling them that we get terrorist threats every other week, we are certainly going. Then somewhere one of the ladies asked if I liked fried chicken. I'm sure they were wondering that the whole trip and only had the guts to ask the night before we left. We just laughed it off. I guess Dave Chappelle is not exactly helping stereotypes.
However, Amsterdam is a great place to visit, probably not to live. I prefer a more singing language like French or Spanish. However, being there is like living in a few magazines. On the square, you are in Vogue. At the club scene, your in Maxim. In the Red Light District you're either in Playboy, Hustler, or Black Men magazine, pending what section you're in. Just love Amsterdam, however plan on budgeting a few hundred or a couple thousand in jewelry, restaurants, and gifts for your wife when you get home, b/c you're bound to do something stupid.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Best Beer Cities
The Men's Journal http://www.mensjournal.com/top-five-beer-towns put out their list of the top 5 beer cities. San Diego of course topped the list. More importantly, the 3rd largest city in the country, the home of Engineering, Energy, NASA, and the most recession proof city on the planet is probably not in the top 25.
1. SAN DIEGO
San Diego isn’t just surfing and LaDainian Tomlinson anymore — it’s the new beer capital of the U.S. Stone (maker of our number one ale) exemplifies the local approach, with aggressively hopped but completely drinkable brews. The variety of beers across the city is the most eclectic in the country.
2. NYC
America’s alpha city is home to more young, finicky drinkers than any other city in the country. The result: the greatest beer-bar scene in the U.S. More than 20,000 bars and restaurants operate within the five boroughs, and even dives carry great imports such as Jever and Hoegaarden.
3. PORTLAND, OR
Portland brewers — once the anarchists of Craft Beer Nation — are now practically the establishment. But the Rose City’s festivals and a new vanguard of innovators haven’t let the city get all fusty yet.
4. PHILADELPHIA
The City of Brotherly Love boasts a huge crop of emerging microbreweries, an upsurge in beer-focused events, and a strong brewing tradition dating to before founding beer godfather Ben Franklin and the Revolutionary War. But what earns Philly its status as one of the country’s best beer cities is its abundance of truly world-class micro-pilsners.
5. CHICAGO
The neons may say Old Style, but now that Chicago has become the epicenter of the Midwest’s microbrewing revolution, most bars stack the chalkboard tap list with craft beers brewed an L ride away. As a result, the Windy City has become one of the country’s best places for small-batch beer you can’t get anywhere else.
1. SAN DIEGO
San Diego isn’t just surfing and LaDainian Tomlinson anymore — it’s the new beer capital of the U.S. Stone (maker of our number one ale) exemplifies the local approach, with aggressively hopped but completely drinkable brews. The variety of beers across the city is the most eclectic in the country.
2. NYC
America’s alpha city is home to more young, finicky drinkers than any other city in the country. The result: the greatest beer-bar scene in the U.S. More than 20,000 bars and restaurants operate within the five boroughs, and even dives carry great imports such as Jever and Hoegaarden.
3. PORTLAND, OR
Portland brewers — once the anarchists of Craft Beer Nation — are now practically the establishment. But the Rose City’s festivals and a new vanguard of innovators haven’t let the city get all fusty yet.
4. PHILADELPHIA
The City of Brotherly Love boasts a huge crop of emerging microbreweries, an upsurge in beer-focused events, and a strong brewing tradition dating to before founding beer godfather Ben Franklin and the Revolutionary War. But what earns Philly its status as one of the country’s best beer cities is its abundance of truly world-class micro-pilsners.
5. CHICAGO
The neons may say Old Style, but now that Chicago has become the epicenter of the Midwest’s microbrewing revolution, most bars stack the chalkboard tap list with craft beers brewed an L ride away. As a result, the Windy City has become one of the country’s best places for small-batch beer you can’t get anywhere else.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Live Blogging: Blue Point and Widmer
Getting back into the game...
Blue Point Brewing Company (Long Island) Toasted Lager
Has a touch lemony smell. Basic amber color. The beer has a decent lemon taste to it with healthy dose of hops. I maybe can get a hint of toast, but not much. High 2 Star. I think it would be a little better but it's one we had in our collection since May. Happens sometime.
Widmer Octo
Amber color and whatnot. Fantastic caramel-malty nose. Taste is the same, but also has hints of toast and cinnamon. This one is hitting the nail on the head with a fall oktoberfest beer. I still think Paulaner (in Munich) is going to take the cake this season, however this beer is fantastico. Low 4 Star. The wife was tearing this one up while I was out of the country.
Blue Point Brewing Company (Long Island) Toasted Lager
Has a touch lemony smell. Basic amber color. The beer has a decent lemon taste to it with healthy dose of hops. I maybe can get a hint of toast, but not much. High 2 Star. I think it would be a little better but it's one we had in our collection since May. Happens sometime.
Widmer Octo
Amber color and whatnot. Fantastic caramel-malty nose. Taste is the same, but also has hints of toast and cinnamon. This one is hitting the nail on the head with a fall oktoberfest beer. I still think Paulaner (in Munich) is going to take the cake this season, however this beer is fantastico. Low 4 Star. The wife was tearing this one up while I was out of the country.
Beering in Amsterdam: And Later On
We met this one energetic American outside the Heineken Experience and she was going on about how we should go to this random pub crawl. We saw their flyers around the hostel and were kinda blah. We figured whatthehell, but had some time to kill. I went to the smallest pub in Amsterdam.
I messed around and had some Palm and some Leffe Blonde. The Palm was terrible, the Leffe was just fine as usual.
Next thing we know, that night we are on the street train to Leidesplien, an area with lots of bars and clubs. We ran into many Americans and others folks, lots of Australians. They had some sort of vodka shots that you took at every bar. Although if someone told me it was a rose wine I would have believed you. But if that stuff were real 80 proof vodka, I'd probably be posting this post at the bottom of a river Amstel. We enjoyed Heineken at every bar (one free beer per bar). Lots of techno and American music. Everything was fine save the last bar, which for some reason was about 1.5 miles away from the second to last bar. Great partying regardless. I have some videos but lighting is all screwed up.
Next Day we had some downtime so we hit this little cafe to try some:
Juliper
This beer from Piedboeuf has a plain lager veggie smell. Clear amber color and head has some staying power and lace. This tastes basically like a bready pilsner. Decent. Low 3 Star. Word on the street is that they are owned by InBev.
Ij Bok
By the Brewery of Amsterdam (or Brouweri 't IJ from Amsterdam). I think I threw my finger out of joint typing that name. Anyway, with some good ol' Dutch Apple Pie, I was very much looking forward to a Bock beer. Apple cider nose and has a cloudy apple cider looking with a tan reddish head. I get a lot of citrus bitterness like grapefruit on the taste, leaves your mouth dry, and has a low bitter aftertaste. Not very appealing and not what I look for in a bock. 2 Star.
I messed around and had some Palm and some Leffe Blonde. The Palm was terrible, the Leffe was just fine as usual.
Next thing we know, that night we are on the street train to Leidesplien, an area with lots of bars and clubs. We ran into many Americans and others folks, lots of Australians. They had some sort of vodka shots that you took at every bar. Although if someone told me it was a rose wine I would have believed you. But if that stuff were real 80 proof vodka, I'd probably be posting this post at the bottom of a river Amstel. We enjoyed Heineken at every bar (one free beer per bar). Lots of techno and American music. Everything was fine save the last bar, which for some reason was about 1.5 miles away from the second to last bar. Great partying regardless. I have some videos but lighting is all screwed up.
Next Day we had some downtime so we hit this little cafe to try some:
Juliper
This beer from Piedboeuf has a plain lager veggie smell. Clear amber color and head has some staying power and lace. This tastes basically like a bready pilsner. Decent. Low 3 Star. Word on the street is that they are owned by InBev.
Ij Bok
By the Brewery of Amsterdam (or Brouweri 't IJ from Amsterdam). I think I threw my finger out of joint typing that name. Anyway, with some good ol' Dutch Apple Pie, I was very much looking forward to a Bock beer. Apple cider nose and has a cloudy apple cider looking with a tan reddish head. I get a lot of citrus bitterness like grapefruit on the taste, leaves your mouth dry, and has a low bitter aftertaste. Not very appealing and not what I look for in a bock. 2 Star.
Beering in Amsterdam: Heineken Experience
Basically this post is some free pub for Heineken, as if their company and brand were hinging on a 19,000 hit blog out of Houston, TX. After flopping around that day and night getting into Amsterdam, we dragged ass out of bed the next day and walked over to the Heineken Experience.
Apparently this is their old brewery that has sinced been turned into a kind of a Discovery Zone (shout out to my Charlotte, NC folks). For 15 Euro, they have lots of educational videos, mini-lectures, interactive exhibits; you can crush some grains, mix up the grist, and even take pictures of the horses they use for delivery. Not to mention that you can look inside the old coppers, etc. Fantastic for the beer geek and nonbeer geek. The best part is you get three free beers.
Apparently this is their old brewery that has sinced been turned into a kind of a Discovery Zone (shout out to my Charlotte, NC folks). For 15 Euro, they have lots of educational videos, mini-lectures, interactive exhibits; you can crush some grains, mix up the grist, and even take pictures of the horses they use for delivery. Not to mention that you can look inside the old coppers, etc. Fantastic for the beer geek and nonbeer geek. The best part is you get three free beers.
The first beer you get is at this funky tasting room with a bartender who breaks down the way they like to serve their Heineken. Trust me, this is probably the best you'll ever have Heineken in your life. They serve it on these taps that are "Extra Cold". They also wash out the glass with water before each pour, and slice off the top of the head with a plastic knife. The man says that they do this to surround the beer with water to hold in the flavor. Without this slicing technique, they believe the beer would lose some of its essence as it would float away with the carbonation. I don't know about all that bullsh8t. Personally, I don't think it does much of a damn thing, but everybody in Amsterdam at the bars and pubs were doing it, so whatever. The beer was excellent. Take everything you normally dislike about Heineken, and throw it out, and that's what you're left with.
Everyone in our crew and around the table wanted to know why this tasted so much better than the Heiny's we get in the US of A. The man said it's just the long trip causes more oxidation. I didn't want to raise my hand mention that your lovely green bottles cause waaaaaaaay more harm than the FedEx trip. Letting in all that light is NOT good. What's funny is that their Heineken Dark (in a brown bottle) is fantastic.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Beering in Amsterdam: First few hours
Yes, THAT Amsterdam. The Amsterdam with the grandiose castles, beautiful blond women, and decent beer. The Amsterdam that after you visit it with the guys, you may as well budget to buy your wife some jewelry and block out some time to clean the house, take care of all the yardwork, etc.
So our plane takes off
and eventually lands in AMS. We are TIRED as all get out as we drag our bags from the Centraal Station to the Bulldog Hostel (a good 0.5 mile walk). We check in, drop off our bags, and I ask the lady at the table at the hostel where some good beer is. She looks at me and says in a dutch accent that "I don't know the beer, I just smoke weed." Both ladies at the front desk light up some blunts and I know that they are NOT going to be any help. Moving on...
We make our way to the Cafe Majestic right at the Dam Square and I order the English Breakfast and the Moreeke Beer (brewed by Beer Brewery de Koningshoeven the only Trappist Brewery in the Netherlands).
Beer Log: Sept 27, 2009
State: Groggy, been up over 24 hours, still ready to hit the mean streets of AMS
Moreeke
Ha ha, the menu only calls it "Dark Beer"
Nose is yeasty and fruity. Amber and clear wtih 2 finger head. Light wheat beer character on the nose wtih a slight bitterness. Low 3 Star. I had this beer a LOT while I was here, so I recall when I later had it with fries and bread, I got a slight toasty breadiness to it, very pleasant and made for a nice breakfast beer. 3 Star.
At some point I had some Weickse Wheat, but found it be a basic wheat beer.
Beer Log: Sept 28, 2009
State: Sitting at a different cafe on the square in the morning, the rest of the boys are asleep.
I take my book and sit in the cafe on this early morning. Unless I have a very long night, I can rarely sleep late, so I left a note for the crew and figured I'd scare up some breakfast and people-watch on the square. In Paris, I did the same thing but at a much smaller cafe to talk politics with the locals. But here people aren't quite as chatty, so I'll be introverted with my paperback and whatnot. I orders up a Dutch Apple Pie and some Weickse.
Weickse Rose by De Ridder
A nice chill in the air combined with a warming sun makes me wish I'd never leave. ROse color beer with pink head, brilliantly clear. Nose is cherry, raspberry, and rose water. High-moderate carbonation with a nice sweet cherry, but not tart at all. Thereer some slight pilsner bread going on in there which is very nice, and I get a bubble gum finish. 3 Stars for the Girlie beer.
So far so good. I didn't expect to get anything much higher than a 3 Star out of AMS.
So our plane takes off
and eventually lands in AMS. We are TIRED as all get out as we drag our bags from the Centraal Station to the Bulldog Hostel (a good 0.5 mile walk). We check in, drop off our bags, and I ask the lady at the table at the hostel where some good beer is. She looks at me and says in a dutch accent that "I don't know the beer, I just smoke weed." Both ladies at the front desk light up some blunts and I know that they are NOT going to be any help. Moving on...
We make our way to the Cafe Majestic right at the Dam Square and I order the English Breakfast and the Moreeke Beer (brewed by Beer Brewery de Koningshoeven the only Trappist Brewery in the Netherlands).
Beer Log: Sept 27, 2009
State: Groggy, been up over 24 hours, still ready to hit the mean streets of AMS
Moreeke
Ha ha, the menu only calls it "Dark Beer"
Nose is yeasty and fruity. Amber and clear wtih 2 finger head. Light wheat beer character on the nose wtih a slight bitterness. Low 3 Star. I had this beer a LOT while I was here, so I recall when I later had it with fries and bread, I got a slight toasty breadiness to it, very pleasant and made for a nice breakfast beer. 3 Star.
At some point I had some Weickse Wheat, but found it be a basic wheat beer.
Beer Log: Sept 28, 2009
State: Sitting at a different cafe on the square in the morning, the rest of the boys are asleep.
I take my book and sit in the cafe on this early morning. Unless I have a very long night, I can rarely sleep late, so I left a note for the crew and figured I'd scare up some breakfast and people-watch on the square. In Paris, I did the same thing but at a much smaller cafe to talk politics with the locals. But here people aren't quite as chatty, so I'll be introverted with my paperback and whatnot. I orders up a Dutch Apple Pie and some Weickse.
Weickse Rose by De Ridder
A nice chill in the air combined with a warming sun makes me wish I'd never leave. ROse color beer with pink head, brilliantly clear. Nose is cherry, raspberry, and rose water. High-moderate carbonation with a nice sweet cherry, but not tart at all. Thereer some slight pilsner bread going on in there which is very nice, and I get a bubble gum finish. 3 Stars for the Girlie beer.
So far so good. I didn't expect to get anything much higher than a 3 Star out of AMS.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Just got back from Munchen
I just got back late last night from Munich. Oktoberfest was UNREAL. I haven't seen that many people that happy for that long. Made it into 4 tents (you really don't want to leave once you find a good spot), saw the castles in Fussen, and of course we did Amsterdam as well. Posts on the way, but time to hit the Texans game.
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