Completing the years best.

So a buddy of mine mentioned on this blog that there is no reason to slow down beer reviews. "More baby, less beer" what bunk. Once the Baby gets here there will be less beer that's for sure. So for now, onward with the search of good beer. I have three reviews for you.

The Mad Elf Holiday Ale

Beer Advocate 3.94 / 5
RateBeer.com 3.5/5.0
I bought a six pack of this on a whim, which is a hell of a thing to do at $15 a six pack. Part of the cost has to be the 11%ABV. The beer it self is an ale, using a Belgian yeast, honey, cherries, and spices. For high ABV it sure is easy to drink. I got may Father-in-Law to have 2 and he didn't even notice the strength... at first. The flavors blend very well, add to that a creamy mouth feel and you have your self a hell of a beer. Don't know what to get for that guy friend on your list, well invite him over to split a six pack. Even at $15, it's cheaper than a bar bill.

Oaked Arrogant Bastard Ale

Beer Advocate 4.22 / 5
RateBeer.com 3.86/5.0

I started this beer of buy yelling across the main level of the house at Erin "Get out the beer in the fridge, open it and bring it here for me." Just trying to get in the spirit. So after I got Erin some water I went to the fridge and pull out the bottle and off I went. Now you should know that Stone Brewing Company goes all the way with the arrogant part. Under the front label it says "Your not worthy!" and on the back of the bottle it takes 2 paragraphs to tell you, you aren't possible good enough to drink this beer let alone understand how good it is.

My thought, it's a very nice beer. The flavor is clear and concise. The hop flavor hits you after a second and very clear and hoppy. If I new a little more about hops I could probably name the hops used b/c the flavor is so straight forward. As far as oaked, I didn't get any of that. For me it was a very good beer and nothing more. Nothing I would recommend, especially at $15 a six-pack. I'm glad I bought a single.

I would be remiss however if I did not remind you of another of Stone Brewing Co. beers "Ruination IPA" which is the best beer I've had to date.

Golden Monkey

Beer Advocate 3.81 /5
RateBeer.com 3.73/5

So I think the guy at the beer store has got me pegged at this point. Every time I come in he recommends a $12 or up per 6-pack beer. This was the latest. Dinner came rolling out of the oven (Liz and Brian's baked Ziti) and I pulled out this one to have a go. I started laughing almost immediately after having a sip. You see one of the last batches of beer I brewed was a wheat beer. It was the same recipe I had used on my first from scratch batch of beer, but with a different yeast. The second time I used a Belgian yeast, which as it happens gives the beer a kinda banana like flavor. The second I sipped Golden Monkey I could taste that yeast, and I could also figure out where the monkey comes from in the beer name. But unlike my last brew this beer comes with a full package of flavors to go with the banana esters. The taste is smooth and slightly sweet. You can taste the spices in the beer that help balance and improve the banana element. At 11% ABV this is the second beer on my list that is high alcohol yet easy to drink. Smooth, full, balanced. this Beer is a winner.

We have drywall!

Got some new shots of the house in a quick stop today. It's amazing how fast this stuff goes up. If you want to see the captions click on the dialog box that pops up in the bottom left hand corner when you put your mouse over the slide show. You can pause the slide show, and then go forward or backward slide by slide if you wish. Click on the Picasa logo in the bottom right to go directly to the web album.

Dr Office Snafu

 
 

We had another check up at the Dr's office today. When we showed up it was to be a quick check up. Well it turns that Erin hadn't read the appointment card and we found out that she had to take a sugar test, which takes an hour. This is further complicated by the fact that she was not supposed to have any sugar for the 24 hours before the test. Not only had she had some sugar, but she had stopped by the Candy Kitchen for a "treat" during the day, and then the 2 of us polished of a huge chocolate covered carmel apple she had gotten from work. The test is probably going to be a complete bust, which means she'll have to go back for a 3 hour version of the test later. Fun, Fun.

On the up side, since we were waiting for an hour, they fit us in for an ultrasound. We were supposed to have one the following week so this will save us a trip. While there we got a secret sealed envelope with a very revealing ultrasound picture of the baby. We didn't look, the envelope is for Erin's mom Cindy, so she can do some baby planning stuff. Having that information out there is dangerous with Erin, she always snoops. I think she might stay clean on this one.

House Updates

Stopped out at the house today to sign some stuff and snapped a couple of shots while I was there. The house is now fully enclosed except for garage doors. It got it's energy seal yesterday, and got "predrywall electrical" and general inspections today. My parents went with me so they got to meet Joe our builder and the inspectors as well. Not that the inspectors said a word to us, they were very busy eying details. Since that's my future tax dollars hard at work I was thrilled to see them so focused.

My parents approved of the place with my dad commenting that if he and my mother had bought a house that large they probably would have had another kid. Interesting thought. I'll put up more pictures in a week or so, it should be fully drywalled by then.

More baby, less beer

It starts. I have my first (of many I'm sure) request to cut back on beer (reviews) and focus on baby (updates). I knew it was coming but just not this soon. I'll admit that I have been on a mission to review beers, and my blog shows it, but cut me some slack, the baby isn't even here yet.

That said, here are the baby updates. I'm just now seeing Erin feel some discomfort from pregnancy. Not that nothing has bothered her till now, but she has been real tough, no complaints. I've noticed recently that her back has been bothering her a bit more. Four months to go, here's to hanging tough.

I can feel the baby pretty much every day now. Little kicks, rolling, shifting and such. We have and ultrasound up coming. I'm not sure why, but it will be one more temptation to "peek" at what we are having. Which reminds me that every time someone asks "Do you know what your having?" I feel like I should place an order. "I'll have a cute and chubby baby with all the fixens, and a side order of sass and unpredictability".

We toured the maternity ward at Washington County hospital. It was very good, and a little emotional. I was born at that hospital, and so will my first kid. Add to that being in the room where your child could be born, kinda gets you a little. After the emotions faded, the other lasting impression was the security. It would be easier to rob a bank, than to walk out with your own kid before the hospital says so. It is either reassuring, or unnerving I can't decide which. They put a ankle bracelet which monitors the pulse on your baby (which never leaves you room after birth unless there is a problem), if the baby's pulse gets funny an alarm goes off and the docs and nurses come running(So far so good). If the bracelet get near the doors a different alarm goes off and the entire wing gets locked down. No one in, no one out. That's some serious security. I'm afraid I'll be checking out he baby and the swat team will roll in b/c I touched the bracelet.

That's the baby update for now, guess what I'm going to have now...