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Stone Brats

Usually I review beers but today, I will be reviewing a beer bratwurst. Silva Sausage teamed with Stone Brewing on a Delicious IPA brat. “Seasoned with German-inspired spices and mixed with fresh onion and Stone IPA, our beer bratwurst are finished with a light hickory smoke process for flavor.”

First off, this is a pretty good sausage. That is the good news to report. But there is not really any IPA flavor to be found. I also didn’t get a bunch of hickory flavor either to be fair. Perhaps these just go well with Delicious IPA?

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Bâtonnage

So, yes, this is not beer related or cider or spirits.  In fact it is my fourth pick of alcohol but the really short video does show how one little thing can be done that really changes the flavor of your favorite drink. Plus the name is real cool too.

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Sean Suggests for July 2024

This month we are staying in California for our beer shopping list but we will travel far when it comes to different styles so buckle up.

Enegren 13th Anniversary Czech-Style Amber Lager – 4.8% – This lager features a perfect blend of malt sweetness and mild bitterness, offering flavors of caramel, toasted bread, and a hint of spice. Crafted to honor our legacy, it boasts a clean, crisp finish that leaves you wanting more.”

21st Amendment Hell or High Twilight – 5.6% – “a citrus wheat ale brewed with sweet orange peel and natural flavor.” The latest in the Hell or series.

Ambitious Ales / Riip Beer All in the HIIPS – West Coast IPA – 7.2% – “Making a WCIPA that was truly a balance of both our house brewing styles. Starting with a super pale malt base to showcase the massive punch of Mosaic and Riwaka we threw in both the kettle and dry hop, then just a kiss of Hop Kief to round it out! Booming with big notes of dankness, pink grapefruit, melon, and fruit from the tropics!”

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Review – Livewire Cocktails

Time to check out a new to me, bartender focused canned cocktail brand, LiveWire.

I started with Golden God who looks like a Doctor Who villain and has apricot, green tea and elderflower on top of Rye Whiskey and Brandy. GG pours white with a hint of taupe to it. Sweetened green tea hits the nose first. Both sweet and tart in flavor. Apricot reigns supreme here which leads me to believe that the brandy is a bigger player than rye. The brandy does show up after the apricot plays out. Not bad if a touch too sweet.

Tropipop is big, big on that candied coconut flavor. The pineapple comes in behind but is a clear second fiddle to the coconut. Coming in third is the rum. Which makes sense when you find out that Casa Magdelena from Guatemala is a blanco / light rum. I might have added a third flavor to tone down the coconut.

The winner is Golden God but both were a little too light on the abv and too sweet overall.

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Old Potrero 12-Year Christmas Spirit Whiskey

I have never been one of those Christmas in July people or Christmas in November person either.  But this Anchor adjacent 12-year California Whiskey has certainly turned my head based just on that nostalgic Our Special Ale style label.  Bet it tastes good to if the quality is near their gin.

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Decompose

With the rise of 4-packs came a rise in rings.  Thankfully most breweries are not using the translucent ocean killers as in years past but I still have a major league stack of the plastic snap ons and only one brewery that I know of that takes them back.

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But now comes the Craft-Pak Versa can carriers.  They “use up to 50% less plastic than competitor carriers without compromising form or function. Plus, certified 100% biodegradable*, Craft-Pak Versa completely decomposes within months. This produces fewer emissions and creates less waste.”

I am hoping to see more of these on the market.

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Sports & A Beer – Caps and Aprons

I was going to talk about climate change and how that would affect attendance at sporting events but decided to tackle a far sexier topic. Player salaries.

I am A-OK with players fleecing team owners (especially if they donate some of it to charity). But the arcane rules and breaking the spirit but not letter of the law is a bit crazy now.

I got started on this because July 1st is Bobby Bonilla Day. Every July 1st until 2034, The New York Mets Baseball Club pays him 1.1 Million Dollars. Not bad to just pay that, you might say, except for the fact that Mr. Bonilla has been retired since 2002.

And once that contract finally expires, the Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Club will start paying Shohei Ohtani north of 65 Million a year whether or not he is playing for them or anyone. Deferred payments.

Not to pick on my least favorite sport of baseball. My Chelsea FC is addicted to 10 year contracts simply to skirt yearly wage bill limits set by the Premiere League in Britain. Also, just this year, my Portland Trailblazers made the final payment to a player who hadn’t ever suited up for them in a trade so long ago there was considerably less gray hairs on my head.

Every league is trying to promote parity even while some owners are parsimonious to the Nth degree. See Colorado Rockies and Sterling era Los Angeles Clippers.

No matter what salary caps you put into place or tax aprons you add, there will be a math guru finding a way around it. So how about let the owners pay what they want and if they hit a tax threshold, put that money into the local schools or homeless shelters or food banks.

For a beer, you can go one of two ways. You can buy something barrel-aged and exclusive or you can find bargain gems. Either way, I want you to fill out a six-pack roster within a budget of $50.