Here I sit, 12:46 am, my "day" job is getting the best of me.  So, lets recap the last two days; Sunday morning I wake up very under the weather.  I'm sure the beers the night before had something to do with it (live by the sword, die by the sword right?) but there has also been a nasty something going around.  And I think I've been rolling with it for the last 2 weeks.  Nothing that has completely taken me out but just really messed with my immune system.  Or at least that is what I'm going with for now.  So, Sunday morning wake up was not good.  I knew I had a party to go to that night that involved watching multiple funny commercials.  And apparently there was some "football game" in the middle of them.  If the Steelers aren't in it I mostly don't care.  I was sort of routing for the Pats at first - I sort of think Brady is a pretty damn good quarterback and probably "deserved" the win.  But then someone at the party reminded me of the whole "Bill-a-cheat" coaching debacle from a few years back.  And reminded me of why exactly I shouldn't have been rooting for them in the first place.  So, then I said, well I just don't care cause I'm not a Giants fan either.  No reason, I don't "Hate" the team or anything?  I just like the Steelers.  That simple.  There is only a team or two that I really wouldn't want to see win.

So, yes, I did drink a beer that day; and NO I haven't blogged about it yet.  It was a Sammy Seasonal - Alpine Spring.  I'll say it was an interesting beer - and hopefully sometime later today (2/7/2012) I'll get to blog about it.  Today, was an extremely stressful day because of the night of work ahead of me.  Here I sit 3 hours in and still haven't started but looks like things will be ramping up soon.  So, tonight's beer was a drink because I had to selection; I"m still under there weather (maybe more today then yesterday), my throat is sort, I have a deep raspy cough and I'm not sure if I'll be awake at all tomorrow or in a zombie like trance just trying to make it through the day.  But today's beer (actually now yesterday's beer 2/6/2012)  was a Heineken Light.  I have to say I was slightly surprised.  Not sure if it was the sickness or what... but it wasn't to bad.

Anyway, my work is starting now and I have to actually participate - 1:15 am and just getting start.  I love my "day job".

"Yeah with a tin cup for a chalice, fill it up with good red wine And I'm a' chewin' on a honeysuckle vine"

OK, so anyone that knows me should know where that quote comes from.  Some, of you that don't know me - may simply know the quote itself.  Its from one of my favorite songs from Jimmy Buffett - Tin Cup Chalice.  That song talks to me on so many levels.  Honestly, I think that is part of the reason I've founded myself here in the great city of Pittsburgh, PA.  I know there are many instrumental cities in this country of the great USA.  Philadelphia, Boston, Washington DC go with out saying.  Then you have places of port, trains and airports.  Lets face it, there is a lot of greatness in our beautiful U.S.A.  But, I think, I feel many people give one city a bad rep.  I think historically one city in this country goes so UNDER RATED.  And honestly, I'm OK with that.  I live here now.  I have absorbed this city as my own and I think the city loves me and I know I love the city.  It is a city that isn't "fancy".  It is straight forward.  It is honest.  It is just!  Pittsburgh gives you so much in one little area that to over look it or think it a stinky/over cast/groggy city would be a huge mistake.  Healthcare is a HUGE industry here, and Google has a major office.  Technology is finding out that Pittsburgh has a lot to offer and isn't going to hide.  Even American Idol quoted something about 'why did we wait so long to come here'.  It is upsetting most reality shows, cooking shows and reality shows do not come here more.

So, when I decided to drink Duquesne beer and Paisano Wine, its because I have embraced my city and my person and I am comfortable with who I am.  I've always embraced my person.  Was I looking forward to having that first sip of Duquesne Beer?  I mean, my mouth wasn't salivating.  Was I thinking to myself, self - if I die driving home am I going to be happy that the last beer I drank was Duquesne?  NO!  But for what it is worth Pittsburgh and PA make a lot of low end beers.  They are traditional.  This city is/was built on sweat and tears of steel workers and coal miners.  This city is a BLUE COLLAR town.  It is a man's man town!  I've walked in the lowest of low bars here and the richest of rich restaurants and I feel comfortable in both.  I've lived elsewhere and it isn't the same.  I've lived where you go where your "class" is wanted - "BELONGS".  Not here, this city has the rich and the pour and I like to believe that there has been days I've sit at the bar with both and had a civil conversation about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  I don't like to classify myself as a huge traveler, but I've been in a few cities in this country.  And it is definitely a generalization to say that north/south/east/west - cities generally are the same.  They have their own clicks, their areas, their issues.  And I'm not here to say Pittsburgh is the only city to be this way, what I am here to say is that Pittsburgh deserves more respect.  Do we have the glitter/glamor/money of Miami, New York, L.A., or Las Vegas?  NO... but do we have real people, down to earth, that know what is important, and know what is real?  Yes?  Have great people come from Pittsburgh?  Plenty!  Just check out this list to name a few - but off my cuff - Michael Keaton, Dan Marino, Brett Micheals, Andy Warhol, Arnold Palmer, Andrew Mellon, Andrew Carnegie, Jeff Goldblum, to name a few.  Oh, and that wasn't even mentioning the FAMOUS NFL Football team the Pittsburgh Steelers winners of 6 Super Bowl Championships (the most of any NFL Team as of 2012 the writing of this article) - and all the incredible athletes that have donned the black and gold.

So, today's beer is Dueqense Beer.  Check out the website as it gives a lot of history on the beer.  In particular, I saw this page that I enjoyed reading.  Now, I enjoyed this beer the way it was meant to be enjoyed.  It was in a little LOCAL bar called the Tower Lounge.  I don't think they even have much of a Internet Presence.  Why would they?  Right?  I did see a facebook page or two that could be them, but the people that visit this bar would not be looking them up on Facebook or Googling them for sure.  This is a local bar.  This is a no shirt, no shoes, who gives a fuck kind of place.  They still are smoking cigs at the bar and still lamenting about the days that used to be.  So, Duquesne Beer.  This draft beer wasn't great.  It had little head - can't attribute that to the beer as it could have been from the poorly cleaned glasses or lines from this 'fine establishment'.  The flavor was... ummm... well... you know... not good.  It tasted of rice malts, and cheapness.  But it was cold.  It was slightly refreshing.  And it set my mind at ease as I sat at that bar, solo with my pint of brew and shot of jager (they didn't have ginger brandy).  It was comforting sitting there knowing that I could potentially be sitting beside a Billionaire and a homeless guy as they enjoyed their beer and talked about the snow that was falling outside.  Basically, that is Pittsburgh.  I'm sure there are locations that the rich are not wanted, or the poor are outed, but it is FEW and far between in  this city I call home.  I'm proud of this home.  I've lived here 11 years.  It is the second longest lived city of my life and I'm happy about that.

Thank you Pittsburgh!  Cheers!

So, Friday evening got away from me quick and as exciting as it was I had ended up crashing way earlier then I ever have before on a Friday night.  I did have a chance to drink a beer or two before crashing so have no fear.  But frankly, I didn't get a chance to take any good notes from it or take a picture.  So, today's review is coming from a beer I am drinking last night and am "re-drinking" today to get some inspiration.  Unfortunately with Heineken - I think I'll need more inspiration then a next day sampling can bring.  I seem to remember back as a kid when Heineken was a "PREMIUM QUALITY" beer.  Granted, that was back before micro-brewery and craft brewing was what it is today. So, maybe the competition today is to much to large to have Heineken compete.  One thing that surprises me is investigating this label - it states that the beer should be served at 40-45 degrees.  Who knew?  I'm always so used to drinking this straight out the fridge.  Maybe that is a reason this beer does not tickle my taste buds as it might.

The Heineken beer pours a very bright yellow.  The head holds a very thin head.  And the carbonation is not bubbling through this glass as I've seen from other brews.  The smell is a slightly metallic smell.  I almost get the sense that I'm drinking a beer from a can but this is most definitely a bottled brew.  I think as I'm doing this I'm learning that my aversion to certain beers may be the "LAGER" that I once held high in my heart.  It seems that the lager style beers have some off smells flavors that I am not particular too.  If you are not aware yeast is a major part of beer - it is actually the second component next to the barley sugars that creates the alcohol.  In the brewing process when the brew is left to ferment the yeast is a living organism that sits in the pot of sugary goodness and goes to town.  The by product of fermentation is two part; part 1 is carbon dioxide; part 2 is alcohol.  Now, this was something that wasn't readily known in the beer world until honestly quite recently, like the last 100 years or so.  Now, yeast... one of the greatest godly inventions out there (arguably) comes in two general styles when it comes to brewing.  Ale and Lager yeasts.  Can anyone tell me what the major difference is between these two?  Well, if you want to get all scientific - I have no idea.  I really wish I would have studying harder in high school and college when it came to science.  What I know is the major difference is the temperature at which these yeasts function and the area that they work.  Lager yeasts work at much lower temperatures in the range of 38-50 degree.  Ale yeasts on the other hand work at a higher temp, usually in the 60-74 degrees and are top fermenters.  In general, it is easier to work with Ale yeasts when home brewing because you just need a cooler basement.  With Lager Yeasts, you have to get creative and find a way to get your wort to be in the 40 degree temp for roughly 14-21 days, not always a easy task.

As I was saying, lately Lagers do not seem to agree with my tastes.  This one is no different.  It isn't an offensive taste.  It isn't even like a really economy taste beer that has that CORN mash taste.  No, this beer comes across with a light hop flavor to it.  I guess I can get some malt sweetness in the taste.  There is some sort of "off flavor" to me.  It honestly tastes like that 'can taste' so many people complain about when drinking beers from a can.  I don't particularly no if the 'can taste' is real or perceived; and reality is that 'can taste' typically comes from low end beers and/or the big 3 company.  So, it is really hard for me to pin point exactly what that is.  I'm sure there are experts out there that no exactly how to explain it.  This Lager is really light in texture and just not a lot of body to really give it any shock and awe.  Now, I know I know, We are not always looking for a shock and awe style beer.  That said, if you aren't looking for a shock and awe style beer, if you are into a lager style taste, maybe this is just your beer.

Cheers and salute!  I'm going to pour my self a glass of Paisano Red and prepare for today's blog selection._

Tonight's writing is coming to from "Get'r'done'R'Us".  So much happening at 365 through today and this weekend I didn't want this day to get away from me.  My 9-5 job is getting in the way of my 5-9 job.  Who am I kidding?  My 9-5 job is more like - 24/7 on and off depending on the day/week/month/ect.  And this week and next is one of the heavy weeks.  So, lots of preparation going on there I can't do much preparing here.  Until I find a way to make a living drinking/making beer I'll have to settle for the paycheck I get from my grown-up job.  Even with out that, I got some daddy day care work going on, dinner cooking, and I'm getting a bit tired.  Dinner tonight is one of our favorites - quinoe cakes with poached eggs.  Recipe compliments of annie-eats.com.

Anyway, not much time left.  So this is going to be quick.  Bottom line - the beer nice.  It pours a nice golden almost redish tint.  It has a hazy unfiltered look to it that I always love in a bottled beer.  I'm probably drinking it a few degrees colder then it should be but refreshing none the less.  When you take a whiff of this one you get a hint of the hops used in the beer but I don't get a lot more for it.  The taste is a little light for a pale ale.  It is refreshing and crisp for sure.  It has sort of a orange / grapefruit citrusness to it.  I like this beer because it doesn't SCREAM hops but you can tell their presence is accounted for.  The malty sweetness does support this beer nicely.   It is a medium body drinker which makes it nice to have 2 or 3 of these with no problem.

One nice note about this beer was the reason it was brewed - the bottle states:  "This ale was created after back-to-back hurricanes devastated Louisiana.  With your help the Abita Brewing Company raised over $550,000 for hurricane relief."  I love it when beer does good for the community.  I hear by state if/when I ever get involved in the brew industry it will be in an attempt to help the community that it is served in.  That is a great reason to brew beer.  Thanks for listening.  Have a good night.

_I'm a little upset as I had just finished a great article for you all to enjoy and as I was trying to finalize the post I lost it all.  I don't know how, I don't know where, it just got wiped out!  DAMN YOU TECHNOLOGY!

So, I'll try to recreate as best as I remember.  I'm sure the second time around will not be quite as good:

Tonight's beer is a special presentation, buy one get one!  Its a story of time.  Last night I wrote about beers being brewed to age.  Yes, certain style beers are meant to be brewed and aged before drank.  I have never been very successful with aging beers; I like them to much and end up drinking them before they get to be more then a few days old.  The only beer I've successfully aged myself is a few years of home brews a friend of mine and I were brewing a few years back.  Sadly, that was a about 3 years ago and all my barley wine home brews are gone (barley wines are a favorite of mine and for another time - but if you are not sure they are most definitely a beer).  I am lucky enough to have a few good friends out there.  Of those good friends a few are beer friends, and one particular friend C.D. affectionately known as Nik to me was routing around his basement and found a version of beer from '09.  I happened to have an '11 in stock just waiting to be drank so I happily accepted.  I'm not sure of his beer "storage" area but I assume he stored it as appropriately as possible and the aging process was not wrecked with spikes in temperatures and sunlight.

So, enough of the garbage talk, lets get to the beer.  The beer I'm drinking tonight is a GREAT LAKES BREWERY Burning River APA.  It is 6% alcohol beer so nothing light about this.  On first impression, I notice nothing noticeably different between these two beers years.  The bottles are identical from the purple ribbon around the top, the wording on the bottle that talks of this beers history of the burning river in Ohio, to the label and picture of Cleveland and the fire coming from the river.  These bottles have not changed at all.  Once I poured the two beers into identical tasting glasses I immediately start to notice the difference.  The aroma from one is most definitely a stronger hoppy note, where the other is a bit more tame and sweet maltiness.  You can definitely smell a difference of age between the two.  The older '09 definitely hits you in the nose saying the malts have prevailed and will win the battle of this beer if given just enough time.  The second most obvious difference to me was the color.  The younger more immature '11 pup was a more bright yellow clear tint with a TON of gushing bubbly carbonation flowing through the beer as if there was an air filter in the bottom of the glass continuously flowing.  The '09 on the other hand, shows a more refined age, and shows a much more handsome brown'sh yellow... almost amber but not quite.  The carbonation shows in the glass but it is hidden by the darker tint of the beer.  The head on the two beers were even different.  On the '11, there was a thin covering of white head that sat on top of the beer as if the 'pretty boy beer' was going for some sort of 5'oclock shadow.  Where the more mature '11 has a very small almost none existent film across the top of the beer; almost as if it thinks being clean is a more professional look.

More important then anything - do they taste different?  As a matter of fact they do!  The younger '11 Burning River definitely screams of HOPS.  It is bitey and spicey.  You get the tingle of the hops on your tongue and the acidic oils of the hoppy goodness screaming through every sip.  The malts really never seem to show up till just before you swallow the beer.  They add a hint of sweetness in the finish that tells you, if you keep this beer around long enough you'll get a much more balanced and more centered brew.  All told it is a very nice and balanced malt to hop ratio with the balance a little in favor of the hops for sure.  It is definitely light and crisp and refreshing on the tongue.  Almost sort of a thin quality to it that would make it incredible for a hot summer evening get together by a camp fire.

Now, the '09 to me really presents as a much more refined, clean, smooth, solid beer.  The mouth feel is a little thicker and maltier.  It is sweet and sticks to your tongue and sides of your mouth more.  You still get the hoppy goodness but they are much more mellow and balanced out by a sweeter maltier body that shows that it knows how to take charge.  I would call this '09 equally balanced between hops and malts.  The carbonation seems to have calmed down a lot more and it almost presents it self in a more refined feel suchas a fine scotch or bourbon.  I think this beer at '09 is looking for a nice cigar to compliment it as you sit back relax and watch the day pass you by on some remote beach.  There is a side of me that thinks . o O ( wait, this beer almost tastes off, the smell isn't quite right, the hops are gone, it isn't really an APA any more... it is refined.  I mean I'm no professional beer taster here am I?  Maybe this beer is skunked.... what if this beer was BETTER 6 months ago and it is on its way down... maybe 10 months ago is really when I should have been enjoying this '09... ) O o . when I finally stop, and come to my senses I smack myself.  I'm no beer snob.  NO, I enjoy beer.  I enjoy some cheap beers.  And there has been some REALLY expensive beers that I have hated.  So, I come back to earth and realize why I'm doing this blog.  It is for me to find beers I LIKE.  And I LIKE this '09!  It is solid, it is mild, it is almost an oaky/woody backbone to it even though this beer surely never touched any barrels in the whole production.  Though, it got me thinking - what if Great Lakes did that; or what if they do?  I should look for that.  If this was an aged - cask conditioned Burning River... Oh my!

Anyway, thanks for listening.  I want to thank my friend C.D. for giving me the '09 to taste (and make this a two for one night).  I also want to thank my friend B.G. for re-introducing me to Pale Ales.  This particular Great Lakes is one of his favorites and I ALMOST feel guilty sitting here with out him drinking these two brews.  I'm sure he understands.  Please take a look at the photo shoot of these two beers below.  Tell me what you think, I'm trying to work on my photography skills.  The subjects as different in tasting were difficult to shoot.  The colors in the pics do not come through quite as vividly as I feel I could see in person.  But, I lend that to the '09 being a hard ass and just not cooperating as nicely as the '11 did.  Please enjoy!