Attorney General defeats Sparks. Campuses to become less annoying at 4am(drinkn)

[Greg Nog]

I actually just sent an e-mail to coldie, apologizing for the fact that I probably won't be coming after all, as the Tusk doesn't start until late, and I have work the next day.

[donblood]

Yeah, it sucks, I don't blame you.  I have a feeling we'll be playing to basically no one.  (Not that this has ever bothered me in the past.)

[Lucy]

That has been the story of all of B's show's lately too (the not starting until sometime between 11p and 12:30a thing.) Blech.

[elpollodiablo]

Yeah, it sucks, I don't blame you.  I have a feeling we'll be playing to basically no one.  (Not that this has ever bothered me in the past.)

I will straight up be there since I'm taking Friday off!

Nog, you want to do some Dogfish Head after work at least?

[donblood]

pollo is STILL the Flaming Tusk fan club president.  Because I say so.  Our other fans are too busy creating weird art for us.

Plus he said he's "not really a metal guy" which makes his support all the better.

[elpollodiablo]

I always wanted to be a hypeman

"These guys are pretty good I mean their guitars are pretty loud and also the drums"

[Greg Nog]

Nog, you want to do some Dogfish Head after work at least?

I could be persuaded!

[dumbfish]

So the beer store has in the last two months started carrying two of the three Ft. Collins, CO, microbreweries I could name-- New Belgium (the Fat Tire people) and Ft. Collins Brewery. Sadly, the one they don't have, O'Dell's, was the one making, by far, my favorite beers of the bunch.

Anyway, what are the local beers you'd recommend your fellow LPJers grab? There are several new micros appearing on my shelves these days, and while I know some are winners (Bell's, Stone) others were underwhelming.

So, without further ado, the NC beers you oughta grab when you see them:
Highland Brewing Co. (Asheville, NC), esp the Gaelic Ale and the IPA.
Duck Rabbit (Farmington, NC), esp the Milk Stout.
French Broad Brewing (Asheville, NC) esp the Wee Heavy and Wee Heavier Scotch Ales. Not so much with the 13 Rebels IPA.
Carolina Brewing Co. (Holly Springs, NC) Pale Ale decent-to-good beer at Yuengling prices.

And the NC beers I probably won't buy again:
Big Boss (Raleigh, NC)-- I like how they've worked themselves into the local music and social scenes. Shame their beer is bleh.
Red Oak (G'boro?) OK when it's good, but I've gotten several bad bottles.
Blue/Shooting/ something Star-- the definition of underwhelming
Top of the Hill (Chapel Hill, NC)-- Nice view, lousy beer
Carolina Beer Co. (Mooresville, NC)-- Cottonwood Endo Ale used to be good, but the guys who started it sold the place.

[davy]

Been too dehydrated to drink lately. What is up with this nonsense?

[Thermofusion]

Good list, df. I especially love Highland's stuff: the Gaelic Ale is good and I'm also partial to their Oatmeal Porter and Mocha Stout

Also agree with your jeers list. Red Oak's stuff doesn't inspire me at all, not sure they deserve to have that flashy building overlooking I-40. Carolina Beer Co. is a joke and it's kinda sad that one of their shittiest beers, Carolina Blonde, seems to be the most ubiquitous NC micro.

But yeah, Highland can do no wrong in my eyes

[Antero]

Dear Bulliet Bourbon: I have changed my mind, you are tasty after all.

[YojimboMonkey]

I DISAGREE


But I could go for some bourbon right now, or as I like to call it in these situations, "my cough medicine"

[Ignatius]

My dad used to tell me Irish whiskey was cough mediicine, but only when it was administered to me. Sometimes it would be also be called "Irish tea" but it was still only for when I was sick.

[FreddyKnuckles]

I just made myself a manhattan...

I need to work on that skill.

How do you guys make it?

[Maaik]

there's an Amber Bock in my fridge, suggestively calling my name and making inappropriate gestures toward its cap.

[YojimboMonkey]

I just made myself a manhattan...

I need to work on that skill.

How do you guys make it?

OK Freddy.  Same basic prep as a martini, only you use rye whiskey instead of gin, sweet vermouth instead of dry (and you use a bit more of it), and a maraschino cherry instead of an olive.  Oh and you add a dash of bitters.  So anyway, 2.5 oz of rye, 1/2 oz of sweet vermouth, dash of bitters and some ice in your shaker.  shake.  strain into a chilled cocktail glass (martini glass) that has a maraschino cherry in it (or a fancier kind of booze-preserved cherry if you got something like that).

[Ignatius]

Good mid-priced rye whiskey suggestions? We've made these with bourbon, and they're not bad but also not very special. Sum not greater than its parts. Also, some recipes say use orange or lemon. Those aren't necessary for the real thing? Between the cherry and the vermouth, seems like there's enough sweet fruit things going on already.

[YojimboMonkey]

Old Overholt is quite cheap ($13 or so for 750ml?) and a very acceptable rye for a Manhattan.

[Ignatius]

Good looks. Thanks!

[jess]

Rittenhouse, if you can find it, is by far the best value for your money when it comes to rye. It was really hard to find a while back, but I think it's more available now. I have some Sazerac (slightly more expensive) which I like quite well. Wasn't as crazy about Old Overholt (slightly less expensive), but I've had cocktails made with it that are delicious. But if you aren't particularly loving Manhattans made with a good bourbon, I'm skeptical using rye will convert you.

Also, I've never had citrus in my Manhattan. I know lemon peel can be used as a garnish (though again, I've never had it done that way), but orange is more commonly added into an Old Fashioned than a Manhattan, if I'm not mistaken.

[girl]

How come I never have drinks with cherries in them?

[DCDave]

Cuz you hate fun?

[Maaik]

DRINKIN AIN'T FUN

[girl]

Nothing I drink comes with cherries. I'm suddenly sad about this.*


*except that I don't even like maraschino cherries. It's like when I realize that I could've ordered an ice cream soda--like someone at the next table ordered one or something, and I decide that I really want one and think about it longingly, but I don't even like ice cream sodas so if I did order one, I wouldn't enjoy it at all.

[Maaik]

I don't even like ice cream sodas

this is madness right here