8/12/10

Victory Hop Wallop Double IPA- Community Beverage, Queens, NY- 12oz. Bottle into Pub Glass- 8.5% ABV- Its been about 2 weeks since my last review due a bachelor party in Miami for a friend, and I was a little preoccupied with that. I din't drink any good beer there but I did do alot of drinking. Pours a hazy straw color. Almost a pilsner color but slightly hazier. Nice fluffy head which receded quicker than I expected. There was a moderate amount of lacing which I also expected to be more intense. Light to medium mouth feel with subtle but noticeable carbonation. Aroma is definitely hoppy with a bit of citrus and pine in the mix. This beer is brewed in Pennslyvania and I have to say this is my favorite beer that I have reviewed so far. I have had it in the past in a bottle and from a tap but had not had a chance to review it here. It's a bit more bitter than I remembered but very good. I think what put this one over the top is its rather a light and refreshing compared to the other double IPA's I have tried. It also leaves me wanting more, as in, another one! This is a quality beer and definitely would drink it again if I came across it in a bar.

On the turntable is All In The Family- The Stonemans- Recorded in 1967 and was produced by Jack Clement for MGM Records. There was no indication of where it was recorded but if I had to guess I would say Nashville. I felt like indulging my Bluegrass jones which I have been neglecting as of late. I had a few years around 2002-2005 where I was heavy into Bluegrass. Playing it and listening to it. In the last few years I have fallen off a bit but feel the urge to start exploring the genre again, but, I do not think I can define this LP as straight Bluegrass. The Stoneman's were founded by Ernest "Pops" Stoneman who was one of the pioneers, and earliest recorded artists, who popularized early American stringband music. Stoneman, who played a variety of instruments including the banjo and autoharp. Stoneman was the man who encouraged Ralph Peer, of the Okeh Recording Company, to visit southern Appalachia which resulted in the Bristol recording sessions. These recordings turned out to be the earliest known recordings of the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers (1927). Many consider these recordings the Rosetta Stone of American Roots Music. Stoneman later went on to reord with his children in the 1960's which is when this album was produced. Despite the music on this LP being rooted in the 1920's it reflects the production values of the 1960's. Particularly Donna Stoneman's electric mandolin which sparkles, rings and resonates throughout. This is an album which exhibits both traditional bluegrass songs and instruments but also has electrictrified elements which make this record a real standout for me. If you are intreterested in exploring the Stonemans on CD I reccomend The Stonemans: In All Honesty released by the Omni Recording Corporation in 2009.