EdgarDiazRocks

http://www.dvdrama.com/imagescrit/pointbreakint01.jpg Adios muchachos.

so i'm really worried about my possible bias in these areas, so I've been trying a lot of out of region stuff. My first review, sadly, is poor. I had a coney island freaktoberfest, and it was terrible. talk about trying too hard. rock an ocktober or harvest or don't. the beer was actually colored red. how freaky! it tasted terrible. crap.

I don't disagree with that statement either, at least the Hale's part. They're just okay too. The second part of that list isn't a ranking, but they are better than the others on the list like Laughing Dog. Full Sail and Pyramid. Now to the other part, I actually do disagree. I don't travel as much as some, but when I do I always try the regional stuff and I search it out when at festival or at the stores and I gotta say the Pacific Northwest has the best beer right now, probably because they grow the best hops and get them the freshest. Also the brewery culture is different. I was talking to the owner of Big E Brewing about the relationship between them and the others here in the north suburbs (Diamond Knot, Lazy Boy) and how they have this weird sort of brotherhood. It's really not a competition between them, it's a labor of love. None of them really desire to be bigger than they already are. They make good beer, they make money and they have a great time doing it. The California breweries I've been to seem like more of "investments" and restaurants who are trying to follow Gordon Biersch and Redhook to the promised land. Other regions are catching up but it takes a couple of years for a brewery to "find" itself. http://www.gordonbiersch.com/

I don't disagree with that assment. You will note I had them last on the list. I'm accused often of not giving the California breweries enough of a chance, but other than Fifty/Fifty really, "okay" is my best recommendation. My local store just started stocking 21st Amendment in cans, so there's that. Boundary Bay doesn't have bottles and Diamond Knot just started, but Maritime Pacific has a couple which might make it out there. The Flagship Red is their main seller in sixers. I bet you could find an Elysian or Ninkasi pretty easy 'tho. Baron just brews german style beers so that might be around too.

Yeah, I was at that brewery recently too and I pointed out to my collegues after the third one that you know it's a fantastic beer when you're already well buzzed from it and you take that first sip from the newest pint you still go, "damn that kicks ass!" It's really that good. It and the Amnesia Copacetic IPA are my favorite non-seasonals. But the breweries around here always have just the most kick ass stuff at their brew pubs. Maritime Pacific had a special Double Dry Hopped Pale in a Firkin Cask a few Fridays ago that was sublime. And $2.75 a pint I might add . . . it went quick like a bunny quick. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2499/3839135953_c7ae53bf26.jpg

I've never been to Denver's but the best tip I can give you is pace yourself. Everybody gets drunk, just don't be in a rush to do it. A lot of people scan the guide for the higher ABV stuff early so they can "get in the mood" then when somebody later on when asks them what they thought of a certain beer, it's like "I dunno, what'd you say about my sister? ....she's got a pretty mouth...." nobody wants that. I'm sure altitude doesn't help that. The breweries for sure to put on your list from the left coast . . . Diamond Knot Boundary Bay Hopworks (pause, those three stand apart from the rest of these) Elysian (had a fantastic seasonal Hefe at their brewery recently, so glad we brought a girl!) Ninkasi Fifty|Fifty (my favorite CA brewery!) Hale's Baron Lagunitas I see Pabst is there, that made me laugh. If they came to PDX, they'd clean up at the festival. Half the town drinks that swill. TLB, did you try those Diamond Knot I gave you?

Mark Grace makes me hit the mute button faster than anyone else, 'tho Thom Brennaman is right there too.

i too, would like to be reminded of better times . . . http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2007/05/09/nZiqzLDH.jpg

Gamel's terrible hitting in Milwaukee = Gamel's terrible hitting in AAA Wow, i guess I missed a memo. Gamel can't hit? Who knew? Great return for the M's on a guy they couldn't GIVE away last year at the deadline, plus getting two starters back at the deadline (Snell and French) they still have an outside shot at the playoffs.

I just usually sit back and shout "Enhance . . . Enhance . . ."

Ahhh Good times at the PDX Beer Fest! http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2556/3761300499_070d93d18a.jpg My favorite beer was Boundary Bay's Amarillo Double Dry Hopped Pale Ale brewed special for the festival out of Bellingham WA, but there were several top notch offerings to go around. Between my dying iphone battery and TLB's inability to figure out how email works, I was worried there would be no Brewers Baseball talk, but we pulled it off and a good time was had. The Sprecher was the first beer I tried and was solid, but with so many Breweries pulling out the stops I don't think this was the best venue for it to really impress me, especially since i got about 8oz of it. I'm going to try to find some around town so that i can really focus on it. And I have a rule now for my unborn daughter, that I'm not taking her to a baseball game until she's actually old enough to remember it. Well maybe the Everett Aquasox . . . . rookie league, that barely counts.

Oh I'm no New Belgium fanatic, I would class it the same as Newcastle, Kona and Alaskan Brewing . . . someplace to start into craft beer. Near the end of my time in Minnesota, I finally found a place that had Portland Brewing's McTarnahans which Capitol stood up to very well. I'm sure there's a place here where I can score a bottle of that and the New Glarus, 'tho freshness might be an issue. I'll make the effort. I am planning a trip at least to the Chicago area next summer, but with new child in tow brewery tours and baseball may not be a priority. Sha whaaaa??????

Hey TLB, I shot you a note about Beer Fest.

Yeah the Mac n Jack is the baseline of Seattle. When they don't have anything interesting you go "Alright, I'll have a Mac n Jack" It's an African Amber and the only one they distribute ('tho you can get others at the brewery) Or did you actually see a tap that had the rarer IPA? I've only seen that one at the brewery myself. Like all their offerings, I found it average and inoffensive. I'm putting together a little brewery tour up here and didn't even think of putting them on the list. The Manny's Pale on the other hand comes from the absolutely superior Georgetown Brewing. Which is where the tour is going to start. If you can ever get your hands on their Chopper or even better, the Super Chopper they are top 10 offerings. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2319/2907397024_892fdb319d.jpg Pyramid is Pyramid (meh.), but occasionally Pike's can hit one out. Not often 'tho. I'll make sure to make it "the first catch of the day" before the ion canon of beer wipes me out. My opinions of midwest beer comes entirely from 8 years ago where the only non-miller or bud offerings were Summit(eww...) and Capitol(meh.). When last there (two years ago now?) I could at least get a Fat Tire and Rogue was around in bottles. Still very little small local stuff. Here I look at the list and always try something I have never had before, there you searched for anything remotely drinkable. Has it changed? Remember most of my time was spent in the Twin Cities or to a lesser extent, Iowa. Wisconsin might have been a different animal even back then. Here there are little places around every corner. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3482/3723902494_a1317618ee.jpg It's pretty easy to find on tap, I don't know about in PDX, but here anyway. My local grocery has it in bottles too, but you'll need to go to someplace better than Fred Meyer's for it. My opinon is solid to good, not outstanding. I can't think of any California beer that has really knocked me out 'tho. I think they might be trying too hard maybe? I like the tasting Anchor Steam Christmas, but it's different every year and some people hate "tree" beer as much as I hate fruit beer.

Portland Beer Festival list is out. Roots, Diamond Knot, Maritime Pacific, Georgetown and Big E are all out. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/indifferent.gif This is really becoming a major-micro kinda thing. midwest entries: Sprecher (bringing the Mai Bock . . .any good?) and Summit (eww . . .) Still, this is my big event of the year! http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/3104871633_be7265ce0e.jpghttp://farm4.static.flickr.com/3167/2724485630_7d2452df00.jpg

You would prefer Chris Woodward starting at 3B? Baker had a fine minor league career and never got ANY consistent playing time with Colorado thanks to Helton and Atkins. True, right now Atkins could be had for a plate of cookies and some warm milk.

Damn. I was hoping the M's would be in on him. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.c...p;fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

Miguel Bautista is learning Sax from a Seattle legend . . . http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2008/02/27/2004247410.jpg Plus he has those dreamy eyes . . . . FLUTTER!

Chuck of the Hagerstown Suns? Max better sign and then get a lot of accidental triples in AZ. Man crushes die hard. On Walla's side, his girlfriend IS pretty cute in that video. But how well does he look in a chef's hat? The world wonders. Edit: DUDE!!! Chuck's on Facebook. He's still the coolest. Edit Edit: Then again, so's Max . . . . and he's already got a Brewers logo up.

"I like Oklahoma State, but I talked to the Brewers and we have a dollar figure in mind," Walla said. "I'm going to talk to my adviser and my parents but, at this point, I'm 99.9 percent sure I'm going to sign." Man I love this kid already. I may have a new favorite.

Mat Gamel: 4th round pick. He knows how to win

"he's a baseball player . . .. " Harold, I would like to introduce you to Josh Murray.

yay! not a Jack Z pick for sure. Speaking of Jack Z . . . . .

"he just knows how to win." just like Lenny Dykstra.

The Twins aren't dumb. Great pick.