Alive Alive'O!  Alive ALive'O!  Sing Cockles and Muscles Alive Alive OH!  She wheeled her wheel barrel, through streets wide and narrow...

This is my city!  Pittsburgh!  I've lived her 11 years and have really grown to love this town.  Its a big town or a little city and the people here are great.  The weather can be cold and bitter and miserable at times but its all worth it for the love this city has for its citizens.  The weather was PERFECT.  Blue Skies!  And green shirts were every where.  My father in law and I got dropped off down town at walked over to meet my buddies at the famous Oyster House.  The story is long and I could go on for hours but I'll say this about the day; we have been going down for 11 years.  We always start at the Oyster House and in those 11 years there are some people we know like BEST FRIENDS and only see once a year.  Its pretty incredible.  The bar is small and friend and the drinks pour cold.  The boys were there before us and already started.  We jumped head first in and got the day going proper.  It was great.  It actually was a fun time.  Met some great new people that I may never see again.  Actually, this years stories were a little light since I was only out for a few hours and ended up losing the crew by 2pm.  I haven't really caught up with them yet to know their stories... but some of the Facebook picks and texts that I've seen assures me they were in good hands and had a great trip.

I was drink Iron City Ambers this day.  I don't know if it was the atmosphere, the taps were clean, the temperature was ICE COLD or the weather was perfect but this beer was REALLY good.  Not good like fine cuisine but good thirst quenching and session-able.  I definitely know we payed to much as these types events often go.  In general, they went down easy and nice.  We held real estate at the bar at Oyster House all day and really just had a great time.  I'm not going to give this beer a HUGE number but in general I was quite happy with it.  Another St Patrick's Day in the books, and great fun was had by all.  Everyone was safe and no one got arrested.  In general that is a huge success!  Thanks again guys for continuing the tradition.  Thank you Iron City for your Pittsburgh Beer.

"Hey Jimmy, you know anybody in Miami that can get me a passport
real quick?"
Really did you just ask who Jimmy is?  And why does he need someone in Miami?  Well, Jimmy is Jimmy Buffett.  The quote comes from "Everybody has a cousin in Miami".  I have had a cousin in Miami for, well since I married my wife - cousin-in-law I guess!  Anyway, though I don't like Miami persay my relative-in-laws that live there treat me like family myself.  And I love visiting them.  This weekend, my cousin is visiting us!  Yay!  So far we are haing a great time, with snow on the ground and cold in the air my cousins friend is LOVING IT ALL while my c-i-l is wanting the warmth of the south!

Why do I start with the quote?  Not just because my c-i-l is visitin from Maimi... NO!  I had so much fun playing 6 degrees yesterday I thought I'd do it again today.  So, Miami... what is just a we bit north of Miami? A 'quaint' little town called Ft Lauderdale!  And what is in Ft L?  I little restaurant called Primanti's!   Well 3 of them actually!  Where is the original Primanti's from?  Oh yea, Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh is home of the 6 time Super Bowl Champions Pittsburgh Steelers.  And what do the fans of the Steelers drink?  Iron City!!  Yes, so in the last 6 days I've drank two different Iron City Brews.  Today happens to be an Iron City Light.  This is going to be a small blog for a reason - Iron City Light has a very specific purpose in life.  It is - in my opinion primarily used to washed down Primanti San-miches!  Or large pepperoni pizzas from Belle Note at the strip.

Don't get me wrong - I don't hate the brew.  I don't like it either.  I'm not going to evaluate it for tase/color/mouth feel.  It isn't that kind of beer!  It is a mans man kind of beer!  It doesn't ask to be commented on.  It doesn't ask to be evaluated.  And I pay it respect by drinking it with out reviewing.  Basically, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans!" - when in Pittsburgh drink an Iron City.  Yes, there is better Pittsburgh Beer.  Yes, there is beer that tastes incredible to the point that I had our c-i-l's friend pick up a 6'r of Penn Dark in the fridge (this beer to be reviewed at another time).  So, don't be a beer snob.  Don't say MAN this beer sucks!  No, drink it and shut the hell up!  Its refreshing and cold!  Its awesome with some original Pittsburgh food; ie Primanti's samich, pierogies, or salad with french fries on it.  If/when you are in Pittsburgh have one - and don't judge!  Just drink!

'Everybody's got a cousin in Miami
(Everybody's got a cousin in Miami)

Everybody understands the impromptu
Dancing in the heat to the beat

That turns your clothing clammy (ooooohhhhh)
Everybody needs to have a
  dream come true'

I have not lived in Pittsburgh all my life.  But next to my home town of Wrightsville, PA I've lived here longer then anywhere else.  I like it.  Its a no frills kind of a place.  This city loves its football.  And it is also an educated city on Beer.  The German population is strong and it shows if you go over towards the North Side of the city.  This beer is a tribute to the German heritage of this city.  It is a man's man kind of beer.  It is a working class beer.  Reviewing some info on line I found that this brewery was opened in 1861 by a German immigrant by the name of Edward Frauenheim.  It was one of the first breweries in the united states to produce a lager.

Iron City Brewery was formed and ran for almost 150 years in Lawarenceville until recently 2009 they moved the brewing to Latrobe PA.  It happens to be brewed in the same brewery as one time great Rolling Rock beer until they were sold and moved (BOO!).  Though, I can't find any redeeming quality to say about the taste/quality of this beer it as with many other "cheaper" beers serves a purpose.  The reason I got started on this venture was not to find the best/most expensive beer.  It was not to avoid any one style.  It was/is to experience beer in all its glory.  And in my opinion Iron City is a perfect example.  I can't go down to Strip District, to Belle Notte Pizzeria (check the link on urban spoon), or Primanti's with out ordering at least one of these on draft.  Its crisp and "fresh of the tap".  It is refreshing since most of the city that serves this brew takes pride and serves it super cold.  So, here's to you Iron City!  Thank you for coming back and thank you for continuing to brew a beer that is the "official beer of the Pittsburgh nation."

As I stated, drink this beer extremely cold.  As cold as you can find it without freezing.  Now, any one that enjoys a good brew understands that beer like wine all have their own temperatures to be enjoy at.  The reason for this is because you will find "hidden flavors" that come bursting out at different temps.  Its almost like the hops/yeast/barley all know as most of us do that when it is to cold... just stay in side.  Why do you think Coors and the Colorado Rockies beer has the color sensor on the outside to tell when it is super cold.  Its marketing of course.  Genius marketing if you ask me!  The colder you drink a brew the less of any imperfections you will find in any given brew.  Ever wonder why most people want to drink ICE COLD BEER.  Cause the #1 sellers in America are the big brews, the Millers, Coors, Bud beers that if drinking a single degree above 32 degrees starts tasting like the bottom of an ash tray.  Of course, of these beers - they all have their degree of badness.  BUT they all have their purpose as well.  On a hot summer day after mowing the grass, or digging a post hole for a fence post, or even a nice run on the trail - give me the refreshing taste of an ice cold brew.  After scrimmaging in the back yard football or making a triple double on the courts, nothing better then an ice cold Miller.

That said, in tribute of Pittsburgh Steelers starting another journey to the big dance, I chose Iron City.  Its crisp, fresh and local!  The hops do seem to pop out of this beer a bit more then the barley.  Many people say it is undrinkable, and an equal amount of people will ONLY DRINK IT.  If you are one of those beer snobs that REFUSE to drink certain beer that is fine.  To each their own.  I chose to embrace all beer equally!  And find a use for them all.

Thanks for reading - and LETS GO STEELERS!!  Lets beat them Broncos down!!

NOTE: My notes for this mostly came from wikipedia at this link.  Feel free to continue the research and review.