The intelligent man is always thirsty. He stretches his gaze ever outward; he is never satisfied with his body of experience, but instead pushes his horizons as far as resources will allow. He raises himself above his peers, always; first he conquers the fruits of his native land, and then he moves on—the heathen Chinee, […]
Monthly Archives: August 2007
keep your 40 – I’ll have an Earl Grey tea
Friday, August 31, 2007
Although it is known that the second Earl Grey, who served as Prime Minister from 1830-1834, gave permission for the production and sale to the Twinings tea company of the blend of black teas flavored with bergemot oil that bears his title, the actual inspiration for this blend seems to be lost to history. The […]
A report on some new hardware
Friday, August 31, 2007
Chicago Ted basically shamed me into buying a flask. (This is the second major favor he’s done me. The first was a free pack of Chinese cigarettes.) I bought this one, and a funnel to go with it. Now I drink every day, but I drink especially on Thursdays. So last night, despite that my […]
RIP Michael Jackson
Thursday, August 30, 2007
…the beer guy, not the pederast, has gone to that great lauter-tun in the sky. He passed away in his London home last night, 2007-August-29. Aside from his voluminous works on beer, in fact he could single-handedly be responsible for getting beer into the mainstream press, he traveled extensively and suffered from Parkinson’s for the […]
First Taste: Tanqueray Rangpur Gin
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Gin seems to have taken a back seat to vodka in recent times. One needs only visit their local package store to see this. The vodka section takes up the whole aisle: vodkas infused with every conceivable berry, fruit, or spice; unheard-of brands in bizarrely shaped bottles, trying in vain to jump on the “premium” […]
A very long paragraph describing the only bone I’ve ever broken while drunk
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
This is from a draft of a novel I’m writing. At this point in the story, the perspective has switched to third-person from first-, and the narrator is now a plastic action figure. Really. It’s a true story. Please don’t think I’m a hack because this one paragraph is so long. The book has many […]
the Greater Northwest American Distillers’ Festival
Monday, August 27, 2007
This weekend I (and Misuba and Xen) attended the Great American Distillery Festival at the Armory Theater in Portland. This was an event co-sponsored by Rogue Spirits and Imbibe Magazine. Someday they’ll grow into the name, but in this, their fourth year, the majority of distilleries that attended were from the Northwest region. That said, […]
The Bodine Value and You
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Imagine a familiar scenario. It is 3:30 on a Saturday morning and you don’t really know where you are. The last clear memory you have is thinking that the hot blonde you’d been flirting with was really into your shit before suddenly realizing you’d actually been talking to a potted house plant for 40 minutes. […]
quick shots
Thursday, August 23, 2007
I’m back home after a whirlwind trip through California. During the weekend I had the chance to sample a number of noteworthy beverages. Here are some quick summaries. At a family party we drank a jeraboam (5L bottle) of 1979 Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon (Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, California). It was rather amazing. […]
On Mojitos, and the Men That Make Them
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Mojito. First, let’s get this as clear as a cocktail: if you are of the opinion that Mojitos are meant to cost $14 and come with a black straw, you are a victim of small thinking. If you believe rum drinks are for girls in Ugg boots, I’d like to remind you that pirates […]
