Well here is beer two atwater brewing company Lebkuchen Christmas ale. Its tag line "like trimming the tree this beer should be part of every holiday tradition." Some decorate whilst drinking Bud Light this is better than that but not enough so tat it would replace some of the better Christmas beer I have had. To it's defense this beer is past it's one year mark it was brewed oct 2015 but i think it lacks pazza's.


Now the official word:

ABV 6.10% IBU: 28

Style: Herb & Spice Beer  Color: Copper

Brewed with respect to the season, Atwater’s Winter Bock boasts the body and deep malt flavors matched with a warming, but well blended hint of alcohol. Extended aging reduces the sharpness and acidity typically apparent in strong ales.

Historically traced to the 14th century and the Northern German town of Eisbeck, the popularity of these lagers spread via the commercial and defensive confederations of the region. Bocks range from the deep gold of Mai Bocks to the more traditional copper and brown. The aromas and flavors tend to be malty and lightly roasty, with only enough hop character to clear the finish.

Sweet Baby Jesus

Sweet Baby Jesus Chocolate peanut butter porter. Merry Christmas to all. I just got done opening a bunch of great presents and realised that I wanted a drink. The Christmas beers I got are not chilled. The Christmas beers I had are not chilled either so here is a beer I have been looking forward to for ages. Here goes rich chocolatey and yes there is the peanut butter. The Duclaw brewing Company of Baltimore Maryland, described it's beer well. In all honesty I would drink this beer as a change or novelty  but it would not be a beer I would drink multiples of. It was good but very strong flavours would get boring after awhile.
Well that was beer one beer two to follow (atwater brewing company)


The official word:
33IBU 16PLATO 6.2%ABV
STYLE Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter
COLOR Black HOP VARIETY Fuggle & Goldings GRAINSPale Malt, Chocolate Malt, Crystal Malt, Munich Malt, Brown Malt and Roasted Barley
AVAILABILITY12 oz Bottle 

seagram's escapes jamaican me happy

First we went to help my daughter move to Delaware Ohio (not that we were that much use) We did have to stop to eat. So it was off to downtown Delaware. After a walk around downtown with it's antique stores and various restaurants. We decided on a place my daughter likes J Gumbos.
I went to the bathroom when I came out my family had made their choices.The choices were all Vegetarian since they are Vegetarians. I am not so i tried a taster of  Drunken Chicken (Tender chicken with stewed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and Cajun spices slow cooked with beer) and
Etouffée (Plump shrimp or crawfish in our hearty golden roux sauce with onions, celery and a dash of red, white and black pepper). They were alright but neither seemed as spicy as some Cajun food I have eaten.
My families selection was as follows:

Creole Ratatouille VEGETARIAN (V) $7.00 A New Orleans twist on the French classic! Hearty tomato stew with zucchini, squash, okra, onions and peppers

Bumblebee Stew (GF & V) $7.25 A blend of corn, stewed tomatoes, onions and black beans in a creamy sweet & spicy butter sauce

White Chili (GF & V) $7.00 Cajun white chili with stewed tomatoes, onion, cilantro, jalapeno and a hint of dill

I tried all of those and found my wife's choice the best Bumblebee Stew served on rice with a piece of bread and butter I had sour cream cheese Green onion and jalapenos on my it was tasty but not at all spicy. Well other than the Jalapenos which seemed to be jarred and thus not that spicy either. Still good.
 So my wife assures me that it is national chocolate  milkshake day. I will be honest I don't recall hearing of such a thing. Where do these days come from who makes them up. I think i will invent a few.
 So anyway we stopped on the way home at United Dairy farms for a malted chocolate milk shake.  A little chocolate milk a scoop of ice cream and some malt powder and you have a tasty treat that people will drink for centuries. However at $4.69 for a 32oz I settled for a few drinks of Tammy's and for only $1.25 bought Seagram's escapes jamaican me happy. Did it make me happy? Well it was ok at first a light fruity drink. The more I drank the more I realised that the guava was overpowering everything else. So short answer I would drink it again if thirsty but would not choose it over many other drinks.
Now the official word:

JAMAICAN ME HAPPY

Filled with luscious lemons, sweet strawberries, mouth watering melon and great tasting guava.

3.2% alcohol 

Coney Island Brewing Company Hard Ginger ale

Another HOT night so how about a ginger ale ? It has been what the beatles referred to has "a Hard days night" so lets make that a HARD GINGER ALE. Coney Island Brewing Company Hard Ginger ale to be precise. Just happened to have this nicely chilled in the fridge. The initial aroma is ginger. Mits the taste bud like a lightly gingered ale. A little lighter in ginger than a lot og ginger ales but still good. Do I have the urge to put some vodka in there and some lime and make a Moscow mule? No it is not gingery enough. I would drink it again if the price was right.


Now the official word:

Hard Ginger Ale

Hard Ginger Ale

ABV: 5.6%

What we have behind the curtain will amaze you! Astound you! Astonish you! Hailing from deep in the ground in a far off land comes an ingredient so fragrant and so delightful that a single sip will wash away your worries like waves crashing on sunny shores.

Feast your eyes on Coney Island Hard Ginger Ale: a tantalizing libation enhanced with exotic West African ginger. Are you tall enough to ride?

Available In
Bottles and 6-Packs

KICKSTART HYDRATING BOOST from mtn Dew

It is over 90 fahrenheit approx 32  celsius Yes it's HOT. So this is the perfect time to try KICKSTART HYDRATING BOOST from mtn Dew. I got this as one of Krogers friday freebies so lets give it a shot.
At first a nice sparkling fruit flavour comes through, very sweet. Then and to its credit only then not at first like with so many low calorie drinks, comes  a slight taste of artificial sweetener.
This caused me to check the ingredients list and sure enough SUCRALOSE, SUCROSE,and as a bonus ESTER OF ROSIN Full list of ingredients below. So the true test of a food or drink is would you get it again? Sorry probably not unless it was really cheap or I was really thirsty with little or no other choices.  The reasons are as follows I do not like the idea of artificial sweeteners they cause risks of an undetermined nature to my body. With sugar I know what the risk is and infact already have diabetes. Cancer and all of the things caused by  sucralose and its friends appeal far less. Then has the name of my blog might give away Taste is important to me. The taste of artificial sweeteners have never appealed to me.Sure it has ten percent juice. It is the other ninety percent that worries me at least most of it.



Now the official word:

Mtn Dew Kickstart Pineapple Orange Mango combines the great taste of DEW with real fruit juice and coconut water to get you charged for your next big moment.Serving Size 12 fl oz (355 mL)Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Container 1
Amount Per Serving
Calories 60
Total Fat 0g
Sugars 14g
Protein 0g

% DV

Vitamin C100%

More Informatio

Niacin60%

Vitamin B660%

Pantothenic Acid45%

Phosphorus10%

More Information

Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding ale

My first impression of  this beer was it's not boringly transparent  Sadly the most popular American beers are lacking in any colour not this beer. Then I looked closer and realised part of the reason why it was brewed in England Wells Sticky Toffee Pudding ale is brewed in Bedford UK by Wells and Young. Some reading the name of the beer might expect thick or even syrupy. That is not the case.Although the beer is a nice darker brown colour with a modest head it is not thick or syrupy instead it is toffee and malt brought together for your drinking pleasure. A great flavour without overpowering your senses.



Now the official word:

AVAILABLE IN: BOTTLE (5.0% ABV) 

Tasting Notes

Rich full flavoured beer with a deep copper colour, Wells Sticky Toffee pudding has all the warmth, aromas and appeal of the rich pudding from England. Brewed with our trusted best pale ale malt and a secret blend of complex sugars and molasses, initial sweetness is tempered by a gentle bitterness from two of England’s most traditional aroma hop varieties – Fuggles and Goldings. It has a sweet taste of caramel and toffee along with a smooth and robust aftertaste. As with all puddings, this beer offers full contentment in a glass.

Coney Island Hard Orange Cream ale

I just got home from work. I'm hot and tired so how about a nice Coney Island Hard Orange Cream ale.The aroma is definitely Orange cream soda. Strangely the tasie hits me more like root beer mixed with orange cream soda. Although that sounds possible nasty it really is not though. I was expecting one thing and got something else. That is not a reason to despair. I say always be open to different things and enjoy what they offer. This ale tests that theory and depending on your viewpoint either I or the ale passed.

Now the official word:

Hard Orange Cream Ale

Hard Orange Cream Ale

ABV: 5.0%

Get your tickets here! It’s a small price for a thrilling escape. Buckle up, passengers,  and hang on to your hats; we’re on a steep track to bring you back to the boardwalk.

Some rides are deceiving, but this one is all there. Coney Island Hard Orange Cream Ale is an amalgamation of orange, vanilla and spice inspired by the deliciously unexpected concoctions you only find on the boardwalk.  Are you tall enough to ride?

Available In
Bottles and 6-Packs

My opinion is that it is different to other IPAs but not in a good way the resiny quality is present but the rest is some what boring. If I had not expected the excitement tht other IPA's offer the pallette I might of found this an ok beer but I expected more from it and it did not deliver,




Official word:HOPTICAL ILLUSION

What you’re seeing is a hop lover’s dream. 

To brew this award-winning well balanced IPA, we add plenty of hops five different ways. Adding it five ways allows the “Essence of the Hop” to really shine through and give Hoptical Illusion its signature resiny, citrus-burst punch. From aroma to first sip, this beer is sure to be one of your new favorites.

ABV: 7.0%

IBU: 70

OG: 1.061

Availability: Year-Round

Lindt Excellence Black currant Dark Chocolate

A recent visit to world market netted a big savings on lindt blackcurrant chocolate. My wife and I were both excited but for different reasons. I like to try new things and grew up with blackcurrants as a regular part of life, but I had not had this particular application of it's flavour. My wife thought my eldest daughter would like it since our trip to England introduced my daughter to several blackcurrant treats that she had very much enjoyed. However when she told my daughter about it, it seems she had not only already tried it but decided she didn't care for it.
 I offer this review as an example of why you should listen to peoples opinion about things food or otherwise and then if it is not harmful to you try it for yourself.
I tried this item and although my daughter and I often share similar tastes on this we were at opposite sides of the spectrum. I loved it!

 It has slivers of almonds which add texture. Unlike my daughter led me to believe it does have a clear Black Currant flavour and it is not an artificial flavour. They have added some articial flavour if it is black currant it is merely to accent what is already there.
Should  you try this in my opinion yes will you like it in my opinion yes. Always try things for yourself and don't let others opinions stop you from a new experience.

IHOP vs PANINI OPA

So we went to Columbus Ohio to spend the day shopping etc, but like Rally's say you have to eat so first meal of the day was at IHOP wait staff did a good job my wife ordered scrambled eggs to go with her pancake's they didn't come out with it but the problem was solved quickly enough. I had the all you could eat shrimp. The waitress managed to get the fries exchanged for pancakes (I have lost the taste  for American fries after having English chips). The shrimp was popcorn shrimp and although I did eat three orders it was at best ok lots of breading and some very small shrimp bits. The main thing Ihop is known for is not shrimp but pancakes. They have on each table a holder containing for different syrups blueberry strawberry butter pecan and Original. My guess is they cant call the original that tastes "like" maple syrup maple because it contains little or no maple syrup. It still works as a pancake syrup the area of biggest dissapointment for me and my wife was the pancakes themselves like the shrimp they were at best ok. For a place known as the "INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES" they could have been better. My daughter whose exposure to restaurant pancakes is considerably less then ours didn't seem to mind society is training us to except less (quality taste reliability etc).
Anway on to shopping and at the end  of the night my family is not hungry but realising eating should occur more than once a day they agree to get something my wifes choice since it is the last day of her birthday month. So she chooses panini opa. An  eatery offering "authentic Greek Italian st food" Never been there so I went in ahgead to scout it out for vegetarian options etc. The man behind the counter is friendly and helpful. The menu even has the vegetarian options marked very nice. Yes when I said I was looking for vegetarian options he did do the cliche we have some very nice salads but followed it up with several other options. The scouts job is done so I call in the troops. They choose spanikopita I wan't one too but want more do I go shrimp gyro something I have never had or go eggplant al italian. If i do the eggplant my wife might try it thus allowing us both a fuller experience. So the eggplant it is. They both got a create your own flavour pop Raspberry / sprite and peach fanta. (It was ok). I went with beer la rossa.

The spanikopita was very good nice flakey pastry with a hot delicouse filling. The eggplant al italian had good tomato flavour with well cooked eggplant and cheese so another winner now lets try for ithe trifecta. The beer was everything that was promised flavourful and smooth. We have a winner. 

The question is would I order those things again yes. Though most likely in my attempt to  try more new things I would do something different. Would I go back to panini opa yes I nearly did that night but time was tight and saying no to something is as close as I come some days to dieting.

So if you find yourself in columbus and wanting something good to eat I say give panini opa a shot. You could do worse.

It's my Birthday Aab India and J.Alexandar's

My Birthday took me through a series of eating pleasures. Since it was on pancake day I started the day with yes you guesssed it pancakes. Sorry no photos of the pancakes. Using my new paula deen frying pan some plain or all purpose flour eggs and a little olive oil I have to say some fine looking pancakes were created. I then took sugar and clementines on one and treacle on the other. Good start to the day but when you see what I had next, it did have competition.
My wife and daughter joined me for lunch at Aab indian restaurant on sawmill road in Columbus. See I didn't just eat all day I paused to take this photo!

I didn't do a close up of my plate instead since I tried everything on the buffet I took a picture of it.

Did I make you hungry I did me. It was all very tasty though the pakora did not live up to several I have had including a wonderful one my daughter brought back from a skilled lady in san francisco.

 These items are the winner of best tasting at Aab india that day. Chicken Masala. Mushroom Mater and the Saag Paneer. Of course for dessert Kheer. Fine flavours prepared by people that know how to properly use spices to make food exciting.

So it was back home to get the rest of the gang. My other daughter and my son and his girlfriend.

Then back to Columbus where we had reservations at J.Alexanders.

To begin at a restaurant you are asked what you would like to drink for me other than the standard water (which our waitress did a fantastic job in keeping full) I decided to have a two hearted ale a very full flavoured beer for a day full of flavour. with my meal I requested the sweetest white wine they had. Yes I know red wine with red meat. Truth is i do not care for convention i care about taste, and i like the taste of sweet white the wine i had was not majorly sweet but close enough to be very palatable.

According to the menu this is "shrimp Louie Salad Georgia white shrimp, avocado and diced tomatoes finished with Kiawah Island dressing" To me it was a tasty pile of shrimp with lettuce avocado and dressing with a hint of tomatoes that to be honest I hardly noticed. The plume of radicchio lettuce on top was my least favourite bit. Still it looked pretty and was really jut a garnish.

The next and most important or main part of the meal was of course the Prime rib cooked  a very nice medium rare, the way steak should be. Served with au jus and mashed potatoes. At my request Bearnaise was added to the mix. The au jus was ok though I have had better. Bearnaise was good and the Prime rib itself delicious Tender flavourful with areas of fat as it should be. The mashed potatoes however had a problem so often the case in restaurants it was over peppered.  Why with perfectly good grinders and or shakers do restaurants insist on over peppering or over salting food especially mashed potatoes? We can add more if needed. It definitely was not .

The majority of our party was of course vegetarian. I am usually the odd one out being the only meat eater. On my birthday my family endulge me by saying I can go anywhere. I still prefer to go somewhere with something they can eat Tonight was tough though. I wanted prime rib on a tuesday most places that do prime rib do it on a friday and saturday The selection for my vegetarian family was extremely limited salad which they passed on vegetarian burgers as you can see to the right came with ridiculously thin fries (give me a plate of chips anyday). The burger was from what I could tell from the piece my wife gave me not bad (though no prime rib).

We made enquires about some items such  as Mexico City Spinach con Queso - Served with warm tortilla chips (it was made with chicken broth).

All the Sushi was made with one form of meat or another. We asked if it could be made without meat our waitress started to give away the fact that it was pre-made and covered by saying that it was designed a certain way. People of the world wake up most chains use pre-made and frozen items. It is what makes it possible for McDonald's or upscale restaurants to offer the same experience to you in Alabama  as you got in Texas. Pay the price accept you are getting frozen and  pre-made or eat at those hard to find family owned restaurants that still make most items fresh and on the premises (they are very hard to find these days but if you find one share it with the world and help keep it in business.

The other meateater with us tried after being pushed into it by me  a prime rib sandwich we ordered it med but it showed up looking medium rare we had it recooked but it was still fatty which appealed to me but not to the person that was suppose to eat it. So this great looking piece of meat that was by the way not much smaller than mine was sent back to be replaced by the Cheeseburger you see to the left. Apparently it was pretty good.

Time to try the dessert aka  Crème brûlée - Finished with mascarpone cheese and fresh fruit we all had a taste and a fine taste it was. Still not enough dessert for this birthday boy. Fortunately my wife loves me enough to have made  me a chocolate cake with orange flavoured icing. See below. People seem to rarely realise some great combinations of tastes orange and chocolate or cheese and onion.  I  did have a goodtime and my tastebuds were celebrating all day with great taste sensations.
I don't know what you like to do to celebrate a birthday  but to me the above was a great way to celebrate. So until I eat again I bid you peace!