And The Beer I Had For Breakfast....

9/23/10

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale- New Beer Distributors, Chrystie Street New York, NY-12 oz. bottle into 10 oz Brandy Snifter- 7 % ABV- Another first this week...pumpkin ale. I've never had a pumpkin ale and have always been a bit skeptical of this seasonal brew but I finally decided to try one. I have another one to try in the coming weeks but I'm gonna try and wait till October. Orange copper in color. About 3/4 inch of head with very strong retention. Not much in the way of lacing. As the label implies the nose on this beer smells of cinnamon, nutmeg and maybe some brown sugar but the aromas aren't as powerful as I expected. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with nice light fizzy carbonation. I thought this ale would have a heavier body but it does have a hint of creamieness which is nice. Suprisingly this does not have an overpowering pumpkin taste. I was imagining it was gonna be like drinking a pumpkin milkshake but really it tastes more like an ale with some "complexities". I like this but I was hoping for more of a pumpkin taste to it. It would definitely be interesting off a tap and maybe better but this is a pretty fresh bottle so its taste should ring fairly true. That said I wish I had another bottle of this I would like to try another bottle served slightly warmer.

On the turntable is Border Lord- Kris Kristofferson- The third solo album for Kris Kristofferson recorded for Monument records in 1972. There are a number of studio musicians on this album but the only one I recognize is Pete Drake on Steel Guitar. I put this record on because I was speaking to a friend at work who recently saw him in a movie and remarked that he was "hot" even thought he is much older. I asked her if she liked his music and she didn't know that he was a musician/ songwriter. I told her his most famous song was "Me and Bobby McGee", she was shocked. U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Rhodes Scholar, songwriter, etc. This guy has done alot in his life. He is also the star of two of my favorite movies of the 1970's Cisco Pike and Alice Doesn't Live Hear Anymore. The following 4 lines from his song Sunday Morning Coming Down are some of my favorite song lyrics ever written:

Well I woke up Sunday morning,
With no way to hold my head that didn't hurt.
And the beer I had for breakfast wasn't bad,
So I had one more for dessert.

He was and is a hardcore ramblin' guy and there is an indefinable autonomy present in his songs. Are guys cut from the same cloth as this guy anymore? This record makes me wish I was around and on some type of road trip through the American southwest when these songs may have been played on the radio. Suffice to say I had this LP out and decided to put it on. I'm not sure if this is my favorite record of his but its a very good one. I don't really know what my favorite song on this album is but the Burden of Freedom is definitely up there and so is When She's Wrong. Really though there are no stinkers here. As far as the music goes it rides that fine line between genres. It incorporates country, gospel, blues and rock n' roll into something which rises above definition. For me there are alot of qualities I look for in songs on this album in general and these feelings are the emotions that Mr. Kristofferson excels at describing: frustration, inner turmoil, contradictions and redemption to name a few. Human imperfections and their spiritual ramifications.

Oyster, Radio!

9/16/10

Porterhouse Oyster Stout- Whole Foods, East Houston St. New York, NY-11.2 oz. bottle into 10 oz Brandy Snifter- 5.2%- An Oyster Stout...finally! And my first stout on the blog. I have been looking for one of these since I first read about them about 4 or 5 months ago. According to the label, from this Dublin, Ireland based brewery, this stout states that oysters are added during the brewing process and add a "discernable, yet unidentifiable note." Definitely two of my favorite things served together are oysters and beer. It does not get much better than that. I think oysters are something I could eat competitively. Problem is their cost always prevents me from completely indulging. Traditionally stouts and oysters were a working class staple in NYC and other coastal areas. This is not the case these days and at least in these parts oysters are a bit of a luxury. Oysters are great with stout but just about any beer will do for me. A friend and I actually enjoyed them with ice cold pints of Pabst Blue Ribbon. This beer poured with a thick fluffy, off white two finger head with strong retention. Typical stout lacing. The mouth feel is little more light bodied than I expected and is fairly carbonated. I was hoping for a heavier silky quality but It seems to be a bit watery. Now I don't taste oysters in this beer, but I do get a smokey quality and I do believe I smell a bit of a salty, briney quality. Maybe its wishful thinking but I think its there. This is a good stout and to be honest I haven't had to many varieties but I definitely drink it on draft if I could find it. This bottle alone was $5 so I don't forsee seeking it out at the store but I certainly will be keeping my eyes peeled for other Oyster Stout's!!

On the turntable is This Years Model- Elvis Costello- Mr. Declan McManus' 2nd LP and his first with The Attraction recorded in 1978 at Eden Studios in West London. This was one of the half a dozen or so records I bought and I got it at one of those flea markets down in the Chelsea area which I don't think are around any longer. One of the reasons I started buying records was albums like this was that I wanted to hear these classic albums but did not have the money to spend on buying the CD. I realized I could still find (and still can to some degree) these records relatively cheap on vinyl. This was a few years prior to the widespread use of MP3's and I was on a tight budget. With what I spent on one CD I could buy 5 or 6 records. So not only did the economics make sense I became a enthusiastic pursuer of records and was exposed to alot of music I didn't really even know exsisted. I didn't put this on for any specific reason. I recently pulled it out of storage with a couple of records and felt like listening to it. My favorite song on this record is Lipstick Vogue and Radio, Radio with it's unmistakable organ riffs. This record is alot poppier than his first LP My Aim Is True and in my opinion has a punkier, new wave vibe. What attracted me to Elvis Costello is definitely his vocal delivery and the phrasing of his lyrics which is really engaging for the listener.

9/11/10

Bluepoint Oktoberfest- New Beer Distributors, Chrystie Street New York, NY-12 oz. bottle into 10 oz Brandy Snifter- 5.5 % ABV- A little early for Oktoberfest but with the recent turn in the weather (cool, crisp in NYC) I decided to shift to some beers with autumn in mind, and they are starting to fill the shelves around here. Light orange in color. 2 finger head which receded quickly. A few patchy spots of lacing. The label is eye catching but a little two busy for my taste. Blue Point, is a Long Island based brewery. Kind of has a sweet, caramel like aroma with a hint of hops. The carbonation is there with lots of little bubbles visible. Mouth feel is medium bodied. I like the taste of this beer but I don't really get a whole lot of complexity. Kind of reminds me of Bass Ale but a little lighter. I have had a few of their Blue Point's beers in the past: Toasted Lager, Hoptical Illusion and their Blueberry Beer. I liked them but I don't make a habit of drinking them but I will from time to time have a Toasted Lager. As the name implies it does have a nice roastieness to it. Much like those beers I wouldn't seek this beer out but I would drink it on a cool October night if I came across it on tap. I bought this beer at New Beer Distributors on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Nice store! Alot of bottles to choose from and I am definitely going back in the near future. The guys in the store were helpful as well.

On the turntable is Ronnie Hawkins self titled LP Ronnie Hawkins. Recorded for Cotillion Records (subsidiary of Atlantic Records) in September 1969 at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios, Muscle Shoals, AL. I was watching the Last Waltz last night on DVD. The first time I saw the Last Waltz I was a novice fan of The Band. Additionally I wasn't familiar with some of the guests during the show and Ronnie Hawkins was definitely unfamiliar to me. 7 or 8 years later I know who Ronnie Hawkins is and this a really good LP. Ronnie Hawkins was a singer who employed members of The Band before they were The Band in his group The Hawks. Before finding this LP I had listened to some of Ronnie Hawkins earlier late 50's and early 60's rockabilly/r&b tracks which featured him and his Hawks. I like these sides but they are not exactly groundbreaking. This LP is pretty close to outstanding in my opinion. The LP is a richer sounding example of his work, with probably a bigger budget than his earlier records, and he is backed here by the Muscle Shoals boys in addition to Duane Allman on Slide Guitar and King Biscuit Boy on Harmonica. The songs he chose to sing really showcased his ability as a song interpreter and his delivery as a singer. Some of the songs on the record are: Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Matchbox by Carl Perkins and Forty Days by Chuck Berry {an earlier hit for him. Two real gems on this album are One More Night and a spiritual, churchy sounding rendition of One To Many Mornings originally written by the Bands new "boss" at the time of this recording, Bob Dylan. He also included the song "Who Do You Love" which he performed in the film the Last Waltz. There are no Ronnie Hawkins originals here but the LP is solid from back to front and the musicians are in top form, especially the keyboard players.

Heeyyyyy Bo Didley...and Muddy Waters.....and Little Walter

9/9/10

Coney Island Sword Swallower Steek Hop Lager- Community Beverage, Queens, NY- 22 oz. bomber into Pub Glass- 6.8% ABV- Slightly hazy burnt orange color. 2 finger head and fairly dense but dissipated quickly. Some patchy, sticky looking lacing but not heavy. The label is pretty cool unfortunately as you can see was marred by a giant orange price tag. This beer although its namesake is in Brooklyn, NY was brewed in Saratoga Springs, NY. I think I may have had a Coney Island Lager before when I lived in Brooklyn, but I don't remember it standing out in any way. The aroma is kinda of sweet a bit fruity but not necessarily citrus. I think I smell more maltiness in this beer than hops. I'm not quite sure. Pretty smooth light bodied beer with subtle carbonation. I was not really expecting much from this beer but actually it is good in my opinion. I expected something a bit hoppier but this is nice. I would lean towards calling this an American pale ale but the bottle says lager. Pleasantly suprised by this beer, I actually would like to taste this beer off a fresh keg because I think it would be even better. Quite frankly this beer would be a nice draft beer to have on a hot afternoon out in Coney Island.

On the turntable is Super Blues/ Join Forces- Bo Didley, Muddy Waters and Little Walter- Recorded for Checkers Records at Tel Mar Studios Chicgao, Illinois in January 1967. Checkers was a subsidiary of the mighty Chess records the home of the albums artists during their heyday in the 1950's and 1960's. I am not sure why this album is on Checkers as opposed to Chess but I do know that by the late sixtes Chess was trying record their staple artists in a new light. Records like Electric Mud by Muddy Waters and the "Fathers and Son's" series pairing the old blues masters with young British upstarts (clapton, stones, etc.) started to appear. This was probably an attempt to introduce the old guys to a younger audience and at the same time cash in a bit. At the time these records from what I have read were critically unappreciated and not always successful in the artists opinion. Muddy Waters stated he didn't like the Electric Mud album and was not a fan of the Wah-Wah pedal he was aksed to employ on the album. History though has been kinder to these records and they have all aged very well in my opinion. This album doesn't indicate the other musicians but according to koolkatjazz.com Otis Spann was piano and Buddy Guy was also on guitar. This is a funky little record and unfortunately kind of short at only 8 songs. That doesn't really matter though because these guys hit hard and the groove is infectious. Most of the songs are mid to up tempo and they sound like they are having fun. My favorite track is probably the lead off song on side two, You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover which has some nice vocal interplay between Muddy Waters and Bo Didley. When I found this record I had never seen it or heard of it but I immediately bought it. If you look closely at the photo of the LP sleeve it appears like the previous owner had some sort of mishap with it, but a little water damage couldn't keep me from this LP!

9/6/10

Southern Tier Hop Sun Summer Wheat Ale- Community Beverage, Queens, NY- 12 OZ. bottle into Pub Glass- 4.9% ABV- Golden in color, maybe a bit darker than a pilsner. About a 1/4-1/2 inch head, with little retention. Some lacing but not extensive. Average carbonation. Some some citrus and grassy, wheat to the aroma. Today is Labor Day and the symbolic end to summer. Ironically this is the first summer ale I have reviewed for the blog and being that I started in May I probably should have done more especially since I am a big fan of summer ales. I seemed to have focused mostly on double IPA's instead being that I just discovered them. This is unfortunate being that this beer is very good, probably one of the better beers I have tried in the last few months. It has all the qualities I would in a summer ale. Crisp, some citrus, some hop bitterness and refreshing. It is a shame I am discovering this beer now at the dawn of the fall because I definitely would have bought a sixer of this if I had the chance. Regrettably I am almost already finished with the only one I bought but I could easily have a few more.

On the turntable is Ron Wood- I've Got My Own Album To Do- This is one of my recent purchases and it is actually the first time I am listening to it which is not exactly ideal for a review but I was fairly sure I was going to enjoy it...and I do! Again this is a record I had passed on in the past and regretted the decision. Luckily the record gods were kind enough to grant me the opportunity to get it again and at a good price. I consider myself a pretty big of both the Rolling Stones and The Faces and this record has them both probably at the height of both of their careers, at least artistically speaking in my opinion. Recorded in 1974 it would not be long before Ron Wood be a full time Rolling Stone and The Faces would be closing out there all to brief career. Written and performed with Keith Richards (stones) Ian McLagan (faces) there were also appearances by Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, George Harrison and Mick Taylor. This record has all the gritty elements you would hope for with the pairing of these musicians. All the tracks are not winners here particularly the first track on side two, "Shirley", which seems like an odd Stevie Wonder inspired R&B track which sounds a bit out of place here. Most of the LP has all the hallmarks of great mid period Rolling Stones and Faces style rock n' roll. "Sure The One You Need" also sounds like Keith Richards on vocals which has a nice ragged quality to it like his lead vocal on the song "Happy" from the album Exile On Main St. Ian McLagan adds some really nice electric piano throughout the LP, which is a treat being that I am a big fan of his and will be reading his autobiography shortly, All The Rage. Additionally there are some high quality harmonies and background vocals to be found here. And last but not least the early, fiery, interlocking guitar stylings of Keef and Woody, which we are now accustomed to but at the time of this recording were in its infancy.

9/2/10

Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA- 22 oz. into Brandy Snifter- 10% ABV- Its been awhile since my last post, we just got back from Hawaii 5 days ago. Unfortunately I didn't get a chance to bring back any beers or records, but had a great time anyway. The best beer I tried out there was the Waimea Brewpub's Captain Hook IPA, which was great. Tonight's beer is the Southern Tier Unearthly Imperial IPA. I did not realize until this week that Southern Tier is a New York State brewery. I have tried their IPA before and enjoyed it quite a bit. This beer is a dark orange in color. Very little head, but I did not poor to aggresively. Minimal lacing. One thing to say about the aroma...grapefruit. Definitely a strong grapefruit smell to this beer which was a little unexpected. Little carbonation but it tingles nicely on the tongue, light bodied and a bit resiny on the finish. This a high alcohol beer but it is hidden pretty well. This is a bit much for me. I was hoping it would have more of the qualities of their regualr IPA but this is an imperial and should have expected it to be a bit stronger than what I was hoping for. I don't think I have ever had a beer with such a grapefruit aroma before. A good imperial ale but not one I would revisit if I saw it on tap.

On the turntable is Richard Betts- Highway Call- Richard Betts aka Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers. Recorded for Capicorn records in Macon, Georgia, 1974. Dickey and his friends, most notably Vassar Clemments on Fiddle and John Hughley on Steel Guitar. Much like the Grateful Dead I grew to appreciate the Allman Brothers Band later in life after I was subjected to them by alot of people in high school and college who I am not sure ever truly got them to begin with. This opinion is a bit presumptous of me, but its a hunch. I had seen this record once before and passed on it. Then a few years later I saw it and snatched it up. Dickey Betts is a masterful guitar palyer, songwriter and singer and this album does not disappoint. Very much in the vein of the Allman's but with a stronger country edge as opposed to the Allman's bluesier side. Additionaly the songs seem a bit more fleshed out for my tatse. I picked up some records today at one of my Brooklyn spots but felt like throwing this on instead since I dug it out of storage a few weeks ago on a Friday night. Its a shame Dickey is no longer with the Allman's but I guess that is how thing go sometimes. From what I have read some of his old habits die hard and did not mix well with some of the older guys in the band. This was his first solo LP and to be honest I have not heard any of his others. Nor have I heard his most recent band Great Southern, but I would like to.