Howdy everyone, here's a little video on how to properly pour your beer. Now I didn't film this, but it does have some good tips, so pay attention everyone.
J
News from J's house: I got asked how's my kitty. I took him to the vet, he is fine, they are not quite sure what caused it though, but it has more or less stopped. So let's hope it stays that way.
Showing posts with label J Answers You. Show all posts
Showing posts with label J Answers You. Show all posts
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
J Answers You: Your supermarket and you.
Howdy everyone, time for another J Answers You. Today I'll be talking about your local supermarket, even if I've never been there.
Now we all go to the supermarket to buy food, toothpaste, cat food and various other goods. Sometimes this includes beer. Sadly most supermarkets don't carry good beers. They generally only have what I like to call "watered-down piss" (the common folk may know these products as Bud, Coors and various other terrible non-beer beers).
Today's J Answers You is basically a public service announcement. Don't buy these beers. They are bad beers. They are bad beers. I know I wrote that twice, it's emphasis on how bad these beers are. See, the less people buy these, the more your local supermarket will look into selling other beers (because huge profit margins and all that). You can also always leave requests at your local supermarket asking them to encourage local brewers by retailing their products. This is how good beers get know.
So everyone, show your support for good beers. Remember to support your local brewers and not buy the over-commercialized crap that's being passed off as beer on TV.
J
PS: Due to a change in my schedule, updates will no longer be posted at 6pm, but later at night. Sorry guys, but work comes before drinking (I doubt my boss would be happy to see me reviewing beer at my desk).
Now we all go to the supermarket to buy food, toothpaste, cat food and various other goods. Sometimes this includes beer. Sadly most supermarkets don't carry good beers. They generally only have what I like to call "watered-down piss" (the common folk may know these products as Bud, Coors and various other terrible non-beer beers).
Today's J Answers You is basically a public service announcement. Don't buy these beers. They are bad beers. They are bad beers. I know I wrote that twice, it's emphasis on how bad these beers are. See, the less people buy these, the more your local supermarket will look into selling other beers (because huge profit margins and all that). You can also always leave requests at your local supermarket asking them to encourage local brewers by retailing their products. This is how good beers get know.
So everyone, show your support for good beers. Remember to support your local brewers and not buy the over-commercialized crap that's being passed off as beer on TV.
J
PS: Due to a change in my schedule, updates will no longer be posted at 6pm, but later at night. Sorry guys, but work comes before drinking (I doubt my boss would be happy to see me reviewing beer at my desk).
Thursday, October 28, 2010
J Answers You: Drinking and Rating your beer.
In today's "J answers You" I'll be talking about how to rate beer. Since many of you have expressed wanting to expand your horizons, its important that you know what to look for when you pour yourself a beer.
Preparation:
First things first: You'll want to prepare your beer. This means getting it the right temperate to drink it. Now normally, this would be cellar temperate, so more or less the temperature of your basement. In order to get to this, I would suggest leaving it in your fridge. Although it is colder than your basement, by the time you have poured your beer and examined it, it will have warmed up a little. Under no circumstances should you freeze it! I know lots of people that enjoy putting their beers in the freezer. This is a bad idea, you'll damage the taste of the beer.
Second step: Find a place to rate your beer. Someplace where you won't get distracted and leave it sitting on a table for half an hour.
Third step: Pouring your beer. Silly I know, but it is important. Beers are made to be drunk out of glasses, not bottles. Ideally you'll want the right type of glass too: a pint pub glass for stouts, ales and lagers, a champagne glass for lambic beers and a chalice glass for belgian ales. These will help you get the most out of your beer. For most beers, you'll want to tip your glass a bit and slowly fill it. For stouts and lagers, you will want a smaller angle.
Forth step: Rate your beer.
The rating:
Looks (Appearance): What does your beer look like? What color is it? How much head does it have, how long does it stay? Basically just try to describe what your beer looks like. Things to keep an eye for are sediments. Some beers are supposed to have them, others not.
For me, if I rate a beer highly on its looks, it means that by just looking at it I want to drink it.
Smells (Aroma): What does your beer smell like? Take your time, give it a good sniff. Try to detect what the beer smells like. Is the smell too overpowering? Does it smell like fruits? Malt? Chocolate? Try to pickup the obvious smells and the less obvious ones too. Personally I like to keep a small cup with coffee beans nearby in order to clean my nostrils between smells (one good smell of it and you'll find them cleared right up). This might help you pickup on the more subtle aromas, as does swirling the glass.
Again with this, the higher the mark, the more I want to drink it.
Tastes (Flavor / Palate): Now I'll split this into 2 parts. Most people will rate taste only on flavor, however its important to also consider Palate.
Palate: For those of you that don't know what this is, its basically: How does this beer feel in my mouth? Is it smooth? Harsh? Does it feel watery or filling? There's no real tip to this one. Try lots of beer, know what you should be expecting from the kind of beer you are drinking.
Flavor: What does it taste like when it first hits your lips? What about after you've swallowed? How long does the aftertaste like and what does it taste like? Try to detect everytaste that comes at you. Is it bitter? Sweet? Does it have anything special about it?
Rate your taste over how much you enjoyed drinking your beer and how willing you would be to drink it again.
I hope this will help you all with your tasting and your exploration of future beers.
J
News from J's house: My cat (who's 17), recently starting pulling out clumps of his hair with his teeth. Anyone know why he might have started doing this out of the blue? I've already set up an appointment with the vet next week, but I'd love to see if I could do anything for him before then. Let me know in the comments.
Preparation:
First things first: You'll want to prepare your beer. This means getting it the right temperate to drink it. Now normally, this would be cellar temperate, so more or less the temperature of your basement. In order to get to this, I would suggest leaving it in your fridge. Although it is colder than your basement, by the time you have poured your beer and examined it, it will have warmed up a little. Under no circumstances should you freeze it! I know lots of people that enjoy putting their beers in the freezer. This is a bad idea, you'll damage the taste of the beer.
Second step: Find a place to rate your beer. Someplace where you won't get distracted and leave it sitting on a table for half an hour.
Third step: Pouring your beer. Silly I know, but it is important. Beers are made to be drunk out of glasses, not bottles. Ideally you'll want the right type of glass too: a pint pub glass for stouts, ales and lagers, a champagne glass for lambic beers and a chalice glass for belgian ales. These will help you get the most out of your beer. For most beers, you'll want to tip your glass a bit and slowly fill it. For stouts and lagers, you will want a smaller angle.
Forth step: Rate your beer.
The rating:
Looks (Appearance): What does your beer look like? What color is it? How much head does it have, how long does it stay? Basically just try to describe what your beer looks like. Things to keep an eye for are sediments. Some beers are supposed to have them, others not.
For me, if I rate a beer highly on its looks, it means that by just looking at it I want to drink it.
Smells (Aroma): What does your beer smell like? Take your time, give it a good sniff. Try to detect what the beer smells like. Is the smell too overpowering? Does it smell like fruits? Malt? Chocolate? Try to pickup the obvious smells and the less obvious ones too. Personally I like to keep a small cup with coffee beans nearby in order to clean my nostrils between smells (one good smell of it and you'll find them cleared right up). This might help you pickup on the more subtle aromas, as does swirling the glass.
Again with this, the higher the mark, the more I want to drink it.
Tastes (Flavor / Palate): Now I'll split this into 2 parts. Most people will rate taste only on flavor, however its important to also consider Palate.
Palate: For those of you that don't know what this is, its basically: How does this beer feel in my mouth? Is it smooth? Harsh? Does it feel watery or filling? There's no real tip to this one. Try lots of beer, know what you should be expecting from the kind of beer you are drinking.
Flavor: What does it taste like when it first hits your lips? What about after you've swallowed? How long does the aftertaste like and what does it taste like? Try to detect everytaste that comes at you. Is it bitter? Sweet? Does it have anything special about it?
Rate your taste over how much you enjoyed drinking your beer and how willing you would be to drink it again.
I hope this will help you all with your tasting and your exploration of future beers.
J
News from J's house: My cat (who's 17), recently starting pulling out clumps of his hair with his teeth. Anyone know why he might have started doing this out of the blue? I've already set up an appointment with the vet next week, but I'd love to see if I could do anything for him before then. Let me know in the comments.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
J Answers You: Finding your beer. (Montreal)
So I was asked in the comments:
"J, where do you find your beer?"
Good question! If you like beer, its important to know where you can find some. Now, I can't really list places outside of Montreal, as when I'm out of town I tend to go to bars and not shops, but I can give you a few pointers as to where you'll be able to find some nice places for beer in Montreal. Do note I'm talking about real beer here. If you just want a case of bud, go to your local super market (and stop reading this blog until you grow a taste for real beer).
*the best*
Le Grand Duc - rue Mapie, Longueille.
By far some of the best selection around. This is where I go when I want something I can't find Anywhere else. They've had at least good 500 different kinds of beers on their shelves at one point or another. The prices are very reasonable considering some of the beer they have there too.
Le Paradis de la Bière - Corner Beaubien and De Lanaudière.
Good selection of local beers and a few decent choices in terms of foreign beers. Low priced too.
Métro Joannette Supermarket - l’Église in Verdun.
One of the best spots to go for local beers. They have some of the best selection out there. Can be a bit pricey though.
Épicerie Au Coin Duluth - Duluth Est.
Great selection of local beers, low prices and awesome service too (one of my favorites since its not far from where I live). The owner loves his beer and he always goes out of his way to try and find some nice local bottles.
I also have a few other places I sometimes go to. If you guys want me to list them, I'll make a "Finding your beer part 2" next week.
J
"J, where do you find your beer?"
Good question! If you like beer, its important to know where you can find some. Now, I can't really list places outside of Montreal, as when I'm out of town I tend to go to bars and not shops, but I can give you a few pointers as to where you'll be able to find some nice places for beer in Montreal. Do note I'm talking about real beer here. If you just want a case of bud, go to your local super market (and stop reading this blog until you grow a taste for real beer).
*the best*
Le Grand Duc - rue Mapie, Longueille.
By far some of the best selection around. This is where I go when I want something I can't find Anywhere else. They've had at least good 500 different kinds of beers on their shelves at one point or another. The prices are very reasonable considering some of the beer they have there too.
Le Paradis de la Bière - Corner Beaubien and De Lanaudière.
Good selection of local beers and a few decent choices in terms of foreign beers. Low priced too.
Métro Joannette Supermarket - l’Église in Verdun.
One of the best spots to go for local beers. They have some of the best selection out there. Can be a bit pricey though.
Épicerie Au Coin Duluth - Duluth Est.
Great selection of local beers, low prices and awesome service too (one of my favorites since its not far from where I live). The owner loves his beer and he always goes out of his way to try and find some nice local bottles.
I also have a few other places I sometimes go to. If you guys want me to list them, I'll make a "Finding your beer part 2" next week.
J
Thursday, October 21, 2010
J Answers You: The dreaded beer belly.
Hello dear readers. Remember when I said today's post was going to be late? Yeah I lied. Turns out I have enough time between my 2 exams to squeeze in some writing for you. Thus I bring you today's new type of post: The "J Answers You". What exactly is "J Answers You" you ask? Well since I've started the blog, I've noticed that sometimes people ask me questions (either in the comments or in emails). So the J Answers will be dedicated to answering your questions that you have asked (of course they need to be about things related to this blog - so please feel free to ask more in the comments).
Today's question came to me by email:
"J, you drink a lot right? I bet you must have one hell of a beer belly."
Now that I look at it, its not very flattering. Silly asker, let me rephrase that into something more appropriate.
"J, you are wonderful and your body is the pentacle of human beauty and perfection. How do you keep off that pesky beer belly?"
Much better.
Truth be told, my body is not the pentacle of anything. However, I don't have a beer belly (even though I do love my drinking) and today we'll talk how you can avoid having one too.
See its pretty simple. Beer bellies come from sitting all day drinking beer. How can you avoid them? Well easy: Just don't sit around all day drinking beer. Now I'm all for drinking beer, but when you drink 10 bottles a day, followed by over-sized meals and no exercise, that's how you end up with a beer belly.
Take me for example: I love my beer. I really do. However, I'll have maybe one or 2 a day at most. Moderation is the key. I also try to get some physical exercise in there every once in a while too (about 3-4 times a week). I also try to eat healthy and not snack on junk food all the time. And that dear readers is how you can keep your beer away while still being able to enjoy a nice cold one after a long day.
J
PS: Got more questions for me? Post them in the comments, I'll note them down and try to answer as many of them as I can in the next installment of "J Answers You". Tune in tomorrow for more beer reviews.
Today's question came to me by email:
"J, you drink a lot right? I bet you must have one hell of a beer belly."
Now that I look at it, its not very flattering. Silly asker, let me rephrase that into something more appropriate.
"J, you are wonderful and your body is the pentacle of human beauty and perfection. How do you keep off that pesky beer belly?"
Much better.
Truth be told, my body is not the pentacle of anything. However, I don't have a beer belly (even though I do love my drinking) and today we'll talk how you can avoid having one too.
See its pretty simple. Beer bellies come from sitting all day drinking beer. How can you avoid them? Well easy: Just don't sit around all day drinking beer. Now I'm all for drinking beer, but when you drink 10 bottles a day, followed by over-sized meals and no exercise, that's how you end up with a beer belly.
Take me for example: I love my beer. I really do. However, I'll have maybe one or 2 a day at most. Moderation is the key. I also try to get some physical exercise in there every once in a while too (about 3-4 times a week). I also try to eat healthy and not snack on junk food all the time. And that dear readers is how you can keep your beer away while still being able to enjoy a nice cold one after a long day.
J
PS: Got more questions for me? Post them in the comments, I'll note them down and try to answer as many of them as I can in the next installment of "J Answers You". Tune in tomorrow for more beer reviews.
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