Category Archives: Alcohol Related

I thought tonight would be a good night to start my resolution of learning to make cocktails.

When I originally posted my intent of this resolution there was much discussion over how to make an Old Fashioned. So I decided to go with that one first! I have to thank Stacey Cullen for this recipe and instructions! Here are her instructions.

1 sugar cube
2 dashes Angostura orange bitters
2 ounces quality bourbon (I used Rye Whiskey. A suggestion from my friend Zac Stengel)
1 expressed strip of orange rind

Place your sugar cube in your glass, and dash your bitters onto the cube. Muddle until well combined. Pour bourbon on top of muddled sugar and bitters. Add one large ice cube, and give it a stir. Express your orange rind over the surface of the drink, run the rind around the rim of the glass, and place the rind in the drink for aromatics.

I thought it was pretty nice tasting!

Tonight, Enrique and I took a trip to BJ’s, which is a chain brewhouse restaurant.  This restaurant has some of their own beers and a good gluten free menu. Enrique has been gluten free since about the time we got married. They have gluten free pizza, beer, and now pizookies.  We just learned about the pizookie.

I order their light beer sampler which included their Lightswitch Lager, Blonde, Hefeweizen, and Piranha Pale Ale.

Something sad happened as soon as I received my beer, Sebastian threw up. Well, I just received the beer and we had ordered our food so we really couldn’t just leave at that point. Sebastian said he was feeling better so I just ran to target and purchased him a new clothes. Crises averted. Thank God the target was across the parking lot.

Enrique had a gluten free pizza and I had a normal one. Isaac, our 1 year old, ate both of our pizzas indiscriminately.

Since I have been trying to be more discerning about beers I drink I am definitely disappointed with their light selection of beer.  The Lightswitch Lager tasted like alcoholic soda water.  That’s what you get when it tagline contains the calories.  The Blonde was a little better, but I’ve also had better blondes, no pun intended. In my mind the Hefeweizen and Pale Ale where the better beers.  Hefeweizens are always fruity and and the Pale Ale had a good taste that didn’t make me throw my head back.  The overall experience left me feeling a little bitter.  That’s what I get for going to a chain brewhouse and restaurant.

I am looking forward to getting some better beers down my gullet. What do you think about BJ’s Beers?

I have reasonable New Year resolutions. This year there are three.  One, Learn more about beer. Two, not buy any books with my own money.  Three, lose weight. I realize one and three have potential conflict.

My plan of attack in learning about beer will be to sample widely, read, and talk with others.  I would like to be able to intelligently talk about beer, not necessarily become a beer sommelier. A good friend, Jeremy Fuerst recommended that I go through this Beer Judge Certification Program. Looking at how they organize styles of beer will help me learn to describe styles and know what to expect.

In starting this resolution I am not a blank slate. I drink beer. So, here is a list of beers I like.

Blue Moon

Corono, Pacifico, Dos Equis, Modelo

Fat Tire

Ballist Point Pale Ale

Almost any Hefeweizen

Boddingtons

Stella Artois

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

It seems to me that I am attracted to lighter beers.

How do you think I should handle this endeavor?  What can you tell me about the beers that I am attracted to?