Yep.

From The Onion = hilarious.


Study: Nearly 80 Percent Of Roommates Got So Drunk Last Night

Become a Maker's Mark Ambassador

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to say that I'm now an official Maker's Mark Ambassador. I get my name on a barrel of Maker's, they're sending me a certificate, and I get all sorts of special offers. Pretty Rad. However, it's your responsibility as an ambassador to recruit more ambassadors.

So if you love Maker's Mark Bourbon, I encourage you to join the family.

Makers Mark website

Beer of the month nominations

You can now email your beer of the month nominations to:

brewofthemonth@brewsnbooze.com

On the 26th of every month, one of the regular bloggers will be selected to pick the best nomination. He/She will have to pick the winner by the 30th, for it to be posted on the 1st or 2nd.

So, nominations are now open for July, with the nominating period ending June 26th. Dig?

For any other inquiries, email thecaptain@brewsnbooze.com

That's right.

Leninade - A drink for the Masses!!!

I found this gem through Pete's link. When it asked "flavor?" I clicked "strange."

What a fantastic mixer for Russian Vodkas. In fact, apparently people call any mix with this stuff, a COMMIE KAZI.

F'n genius.

Here's it's Narration, from the site:

Leninade
12oz Bottle. Many people who once escaped from the Soviet Union, upon tasting Leninade, have overwhelmingly remarked that it is "BETTER THAN EXPECTED"; and those who prefer vodka in their potables have been known mix it with Leninade and ice to make a COMMIE KAZE. The Marx Brothers would be so proud. But even if you're a teetotaler you can get tired of Russky Chai and Drink As Lenin Drank!

Contains: Carbonated water Cane Sugar Citric Acid Gum Acacia Natural and Artificial flavors. Calories: 150

SODA GURU'S RATING: 5 Red Stars

...came the unforgettable October of 2002 when the flavours and colours of seven decades of Soviet History were condensed into a bottle for the first time. Thus presented itself the choice that needed to be made as to whether this bottle should be placed on display in a mausoleum or spread out for the masses to enjoy. Choice... what a concept; so a compromise was made: Only one flavour of Leninade but enough for everybody!!!

At your next Party, follow the Party Line by mixing Leninade with your favourite Soviet Vodka and make COMMIE KAZES for your comrades who will then name you a Hero Of Socialist Flavour!
__________________
BINGO. This is amazing.

Leninade via SodaKing

By Popular Demand

Although there doesn't appear to be a Kentucky Nip website, it is allegedly made by White Rock beverages, who make Sioux City Sasparilla, among others, and it is available from bluedogbeverages.com.

Also found this review from bevnet:

"Kentucky Nip is one of the smoothest, most easy sipping cherry flavored sodas that we have ever tasted here at The BevNET. Actually, it is much more than just a cherry flavored soda. Kentucky Nip has natural raspberry and mint flavors as well. This gives it an even more sophisticated taste. A highly recommended beverage."

June Beer of the Month = Summer Shandy

Looks like Leinenkugel pretty much wrote their own nomination on this one. But from personal experience, this beer is one of the finest citrus flavored beers I've ever tasted. First off, it's lemonade, not just lemon. So you get the sour of lemon, with the sweetness of aids.

Wait, that didn't come out right.

When it comes to beer, lemon is the best citrus. Orange can go to hell. And don't give me your "what about Blue Moon" b.s.. Orange and beer are a match made in anus (unless it's orange beers at a morning tailgate). And Lime is the first cousin of Lemon, so I won't bash it too much, in fear of some citrus mafia thugs throwing me in the Rio Grande with "cement shoes" or "zapatos cementos."

But back to Summer Shandy. What a fine summer drink. Normally, citrus-based drinks are very strong and bitter, with too high of a fruit to beer taste ratio. But not the Shandy. It starts smooth, with just a hint of lemon. But as you finish, the drink ends with a perfect summer taste of lemonade.

Personally, I took a first sip, sat for about two seconds, then thought to myself, "Whoa," then proceeded to pound about 7 back. You can't do that with many fruity beers, the fruit is just too sweet. But you can easily throw back 100 of these gems and not think twice.

There's probably a lot of funnier and more interesting things I could write about the perfect summer beer...but I'm at work...just wishing I was outside, at a lake, drinking some Lieiny Summer Shandies. But if anyone asks, this 1/2 hour was totally billable.

New recipie: Kahlua Strawberry Shots

So, I joined a BBQ team this year and while it has its own host of stories, one pertinent tidbit of information that I thought I should offer up that is mostly unrelated to BBQ is something new that I experienced in the way of artful intoxication. This really seemed to help the transition from eating and hanging out to a full on frenzy on the dance floor (read: it will get females dance floor tipsy in a hurry).

What you need:
-fresh strawberries, with stems and cores removed with a paring knife so as to create a hollow cup-like vessel
-vodka or grain alcohol
-kahlua or other coffee liquer
-whipped cream

1. Soak the prepared strawberries in the vodka or grain alcohol for an hour or two in the fridge to absorb some of the booze and to cool them off.

2. Pour the strawberry shot glasses full of Kahlua and top with whipped cream, preferrably the stuff in the can.

3. Eat the whole thing and enjoy.

Let me know what observations and comments you have on this, variations you come up with or have heard of, or even better, stories and pictures of the results of trying it on your own.

Cheers!

Major Brew Merger in the Works?

Stories from around the globe are telling of a potential merger between InBev and Anheuser-Busch. Who the hell is InBev you ask? Well, InBev is the Belgian brewer responsible for such beers as Stella Artois and Becks.

Read about it here, on MSNBC

Oh, and apparently it would be bad for Mexicans. That comes from the International Herald Tribune.

Hello, wheelhouse

Well if this isn't a story that is all-encompassing what this blog stands for, I don't know what is. I'm too excited to properly editorialize.

American Craft Beer Week May 12-18. Celebrate the History of Beer-making by drinking for 7 days, possibly losing job/friends

Here is a schedule of special 'toastings' next week with some key members of Sam Adams, across the country, and believe you me, these people would love to meet you. So get out there, get some face time, and lets convert them to Brews&Booze fans:

City	Date & Time	Restaurant	Brewer
New York	Monday, May 12, @ 6:30pm	Bloomingdale's	Jim Koch w/ Chef David Burke
San Francisco	Tuesday, May 13, @ 6:00pm	Monk's Kettle	Grant Wood
Boston	Tuesday, May 13, @ 7:00pm	Toro	Jim Koch
Chicago	Wednesday, May 14, @ 5:30pm	Harry Caray's	Bob Cannon
Los Angeles	Wednesday, May 14, @ 6:30pm	Daily Grill	Grant Wood
Denver	Thursday, May 15, @ 8:00pm	Rioja	Bob Cannon
Philadelphia	Thursday, May 15, @ 6:00pm	Monk's Belgian Cafe	Jim Koch
San Diego	Thursday, May 15, @ 6:00pm	Dussini Mediterranean Bistro	Grant Wood
Washington D.C.	Friday, May 16, @ 6:00pm	Mie N Yu	Jim Koch
Phoenix	Friday, May 16, @ 6:00pm	Rustler's Roost	Grant Wood

And if you don't live by one of these cities, well, maybe think about it.

Partially related; I attended an event last night that featured several local heavy hitters, Sierra Nevada, Pyramid, and Pacific Coast(whom does not distribute outside of a 50 mile radius, but still delicious). I worked the Pyramid 'special events' chick, so hopefully, look for their presence on this blog in the future. They will also come serve at an event we throw and talk beer talk. The only catch; it really needs to be in the Bay Area. Think about it.

I'd like to pimp Pyramid Brewery for this post.
Whether its a hot sunny day in your backyard or watching the Athletics at the Mac, Curveball Ale, is always the right pitch!

Celebration Beer

Brewsnbooze.blogspot.com, is now just brewsnbooze.com.

If anyone knows of some professional brewers that would like to contribute, that'd be awesome. I'd love to rock this mutha out. Maybe get some advertisers and whatnot. We'll see. As of now, keep it rockin' with your posts.

May Beer of The Month - Corona Light

Finding a Mexican Beer that really stands out is a tough task. Unless you're Ricardo Gonzálo Pedro Montalbán Merino.
But one Brews & Booze writer came up with one brilliant nomination, for a not so brilliant beer. So with that, I give you the May beer of the month, Corona Light, as nominated by JimStock.

JimStock's Nomination

NebraskaLand Days: No Longer Just a Choice Between Miller Lite and Bud Light

WILD WEST microFEST

"Thursday, June 12 features the 2nd annual Wild West microFEST at the Wild West Arena Pavilion. Come join in the fun and sample 15 different Craft beers made available by Johnson Brothers Liquor Company from Omaha, Nebraska. The tasting begins at 5:00 p.m. and runs through 9:00 p.m."

In case any of you missed the first annual microFEST (which I assume most of you did because I don't recall seeing any of you there); here is your chance to taste 15 exotic beers; receive a free tiny glass; and feel like a true beer snob in the heart of light beer land. You will have the opportunity to really feel like a professional "dark beer drinker" and attempt to justify your choices in beer to the rest of the Plattelanders who will stare at you through the chain link fence and wonder why you can't just drink Bud Light like everyone else.

The NebraskaLand Days staff would also like to remind all of you that following the beer fest you will have the opportunity to watch some live Professional Boxing in the arena.

To sum up: 1. Taste some beers delivered especially for you from Omaha; 2. Watch local boxers pound eachother. If you were looking for a reason to come to North Platte this Summer--there it is.

In other NebraskaLand Days news. . .

• Finger 11 cancelled out as headliner for rock night, but don't be discouraged because Lifehouse have stepped in to graciously fill the coveted spot (although at a higher price). . .
  
• Due to negative press for not conveying a family friendly theme, The 2008 slogan, "10 Days of Disorderly Conduct" has been replaced with "Nebraska's Official State Celebration." Not sure who officially decided that, but if you were planning on conducting yourself in a disorderly fashion, please be advised.
  

May Nomination: Mexican beer is Polly Pocket of Booze

Cinco De May, gone and passed. Thoughts? Its great, I guess. For a Monday. Without football.
I really struggled with nominating a beer for May that was 'mexican'. I've been trying to understand why that is. I love their food, labor, and generally appreciate paper mache decor.
Why then do I not have a soft spot for their beer?
Its great on a hot day, obviously. I love drinking on hot days; nothing there.
Its not expensive. Cheap is great so; nothing there either.
No frills labels. Awesome as well.

The one thing that bonds man to the beers he openly defends is a good hard session of binge with a beer in its purest form; a party keg.
Like our friends the Navajo will tell you, you don't experience the magic without throwing it up.

Nobody buys 3 cases of Corona and sits down with co-pilot for a suicide mission. You pick one out of the ice at a high school graduation party so you don't look as drunkenly.

Or in my case, you buy a 12 pack on your way to an impromptu Cinco party. Only to almost check out before realizing you didn't get a lime or two.
Buzz kill.
This is why I don't get this stuff. A required accessory? Come on Polly Pocket. You shouldn't need the pink comb, black corvette, and racially quota-ed pack of friends.
If I must, I'll choose Corona Light. You can't taste the diesel version anyway.

The Premie Bomb

It has taken quite a while for me to post over here--and really, when all you're dealing with is Budweiser and Busch Light, what is there to add?--but I have finally found some new inspiration:

The Premie Bomb.

The Premie Bomb, dear friends and readers, is perfect. It is on par with a Car Bomb, which I didn't think to be possible.

Quite simply, you do the following:

1. Take a pint glass and put an ounce or two of orange juice in it.
2. Fill the pint glass with a Friendly Grain Belt Premium until the glass is a little under 2/3rds full.
3. Take a shot glass with your choice of orange-flavored vodka.
4. Drop said shot into the beer.
5. Chug.
6. Move back to Step 1.

It is an incredible concoction--it actually somehow tastes like an Orange Julius, which is the king of mall drinks.

So step up to the plate, have a few of America's Party Beers, and have yourself a Premie Bomb in the process. You'll be glad you did.

As for our Omaha readers, Grain Belt Premium and Premie Bombs can be found at the Crescent Moon Ale House, 36th and Farnam.

Old Chicago, Cinco de Mayo Tour

I'm not sure why I find myself at Old Chicago all the time. Maybe it's the sub-par heart-attck food? But most likely it's because of the beer selection and TVs. Long story short, right now they're featuring a Cinco de Mayo tour. Overall it's pretty lame. The beers on the tour are your run of the mill Mexican beers: Dos Equis, Corona, Negra Modelo and Pacifico. If you ask any white person what Mexican beer they can think of, this list pretty much covers it. It's like a Cash-cab Red light challenge. Lame.

I want some exotic Mexican brew. 'Cmon Old Chicago, drive down to Tijuana, make some shady negotiations and bring back some real Mexican beer. Give me something that smells like Selma Hayak, tastes like Antonio Banderas, and gives you a hangover like Cheech. I mean, I can get your list at Albertson's.

The one redeeming thing about the tour is the t-shirt you get for completing it. I can't find a picture, but just imagine a brown shirt (obviously) with sombrero-wearing beer bottles.

Okay BeerBloggers, enlighten this blistering sunburner about some great Mexi beers.

News Belgium Flash

This is great news for me. Kind of.

I love cans of beer, probably 10 to 20 times more than I love bottles of beer. Yeah, yeah, "but bottles!". "Bottles taste way better! Cans are for pussies, and people who don't care about what beer tastes like." "Bottles!"
Yes bottle-guy, you like really can taste the difference. You love bottled beer enough to fore go the portability of a portable product.
Thankfully, and this is no surprise, New Belgium shares my opinion on this topic down to the letter. Check out the article, and have fun shot-gunning your bottle with those ridiculous bendy straws, captain sophistication.

Readers' Choice; Favorite Bar Pastime - Shuffleboard

Even if you're the dive bar among dive bars, if you have shuffleboard you're automatically elevated in status. There's something about the game that has motivated our readers to overwhelmingly vote it as their favorite bar game.

Maybe it's the history? Although precise accounts are incredibly hard to find, there seems to be some consensus that "indoor" or "table" shuffleboard was invented by the Brits sometime in the 15th century. In its earliest stages, shuffleboard was nothing but two blokes sliding coins across a table, in fact, its early name was "shove-penny" or "shovel-penny" and it became insanely popular around the time of colonization. Mostly confined to the east coast, shuffleboard didn't really become popular nationwide until WWII when soldiers spread the game back in their hometowns.

But maybe the allure of shuffleboard is the dazzling vision of a giant block of well-varnished wood? Most non-JC Penny catalog tables are between 9' and 22 feet long and made of Maple or oak, with the dickens lacquered out of them.

Or maybe it's the needed skills of precision and touch after you've drank 6 scotches. The standard game of shuffleboard is called Knock Off, but other shuffleboard games do exists. So if you're in the mood to mix it up, try these:
Crazy Eight, Horse Collar, Target, or Tap & Draw.

And to note, the beauty above is from Champion Shuffleboard and will probably cost you upwards of $5,000. And if you want to build one on your own, good luck finding a reliable how-to.

Here's to you shuffleboard...one big cheers from our readers to you.

What's your favorite shuffleboard venue? We're always on the look out for new ones.

Cocktale: Long Shot with Gordita

In the spirit of Sam Adams' B&B April drink of the month victory, I picked up a chic six pack of the brewery's Long Shot winners last weekend. For review purposes. Why else would you only buy six beers. Paired with Taco Bell's ground beef Gordita, this tale is littered with pre-mature heartburn and those spice-cabinet, craft beer belches.

(Please note: had this been a Cheesy Gordita Crunch, these beers just don't have the balls to be in the same photo.)

Long story short, the Long Shot competition highlights winners from Sam Adams' annual competition of their own employees and home brewers. A few winners have their beers bottles and distributed in small quantities. Great idea. Love it.



Grape Pale Ale
I was nervous. There is an ordinary middle-aged woman on the label. Generally, I don't like middle-aged women. I'm not into the cougar culture. Not my deal.
The beer's name reminds me of Clearly Canadian, or some ironic Wal-mart calorie free drink with 'natural flavors'. Not good.

Start: It began with a crisp ale taste. Sort of ordinary. A little purgatory. Not great, not horrible.
Finish: It ended with the subtlest of subtle fruit aroma. I must admit, it was really pleasant. A little nancy, but pleasant.
Final Impression: This would be a great choice for say, shooting a higher quality porn on some yacht named 'Daddy's Girl'. It did, indisputably, get its ass handed to it by Taco Bell's Fire Sauce and partially drained beef. Grow a pair (or bunch), Grape Pale Ale.

Weizenbock
Super beer-sy name. Way to go. You not only love beer, but you need to make it at home to, and you name your beers to reflect that. Your dresser is spilling out micro brewery shirts. Your keychain has more openers than keys. Sweet.

Start: This thing opens up a foot away from your face. It smells like it was made by Quakers or Mennonites, sans unfinished rocking chair and inbreeding.
Finish: More of the same. Every square inch of your tongue is harassed by this beer. If you're a 'need the most flavor ever, all the time'-guy, you'll dig this brew. Really craft-tasting. Like those brew tour samples that you pretend to the sample-giver that you really can pick out the coriander and northeast Belgium origins.
Final Impression: Great beer for beer lovers. I hated it. Why? It owned my gordita's Baja sauce, one of the top 5 sauces in all of cheap fast food-dom. Listen, you may contribute to my buzz. You can make me look like I do a good job picking out beer. But to overpower my baja sauce? There's still one left in my fridge.

Beer of the Month - May nominations

In celebration of Cinco de Mayo, the May beer of the month should probably be narrowed down to import beers from our good friends down south. So with that, nominations for May are now open.

And please, when you nominate, create a new post and possibly add a picture...you know, for an enhanced viewer experience.

Jesus...blogging is turning me into a nazi.

Your Snowday Care Package

This one goes out to theRealNP. Happy snowday. May we suggest putting on some thermal socks, sitting in your favorite recliner or davenport, sipping on some fine whiskey, and reading a gentleman's magazine while watching the Masters. Congratulations.

We may also recommend Miller High Life, 'cause you're livin' it.

Snow Day/Masters--What's the drink?

So school got called off early today because of snow, which is awesome--but this leaves me with quite a decision. What's the drink for a day like this? Right now it's vodka and orange Powerade because that's all I got. But what would THE drink be for this day. Snow Day usually = Guiness or some other stout-type. Masters usually = Michelob Light or Heinken. But a Snow Day and the Masters, WTF?

Guilty pleasure alert: Breweriana on eBay

I find myself often scouring eBay in search of things that I absolutely do not need, yet covet. This is an example. I want this fucking sign. Which makes me believe that I:

a. should have been in a fraternity to explain such douchey purchases

b. need to fucking grow up

c. should not look at eBay anymore

d. both a and b

e. all of the above

(correct answer 'd')

But seriously, look at this and this and this.

I swear to god, for white males this is kryptonite.

April Beer of the Month - Sam Adams Lager

A tough decision this was, with multiple well-written and thought-out nominations. But this one goes to Pete and Sam Adams Lager. Cheers!

I nominate Sam Adams Lager as my April Beer of the Month. Despite the fact that I usually despise things from Massachusetts that aren't Boston Baked Beans, this hoppy darling has been on the top of my list for the last couple of weeks. Sam Adams beers, with the exception of the detestable Cherry Wheat, are all really exquisite but only the Summer Ale can compete with the original one.

Get a nice frosty mug for yourself and see. As the commercial notes, they use a pound of hops for every barrel. The result is a complex draft beer that is palatable for both my refined taste buds and also for the Mrs', who is known to order something other than Miller Lite about once a year.

I have no idea how you do it, Sam Adams, you generous patriot, but your Lager gets a big April thumbs up from ol' Pete.

Recommended occasions for a frosty mug of Sam Adams (cannot stress the frosty mug enough for this one):

1. With red meat
2. During a Spring blizzard while indoors
3. Viewing The Masters
4. As a delicious afternoon start to a long Saturday of binge drinking

Samuel Adams Fans Attn:

There seems to be a few people who enjoy Boston Beer Company's product (not sure who doesn't), and as a huge fan myself, I thought I would share this. I don't think this is any reflection of their beer. Unfortunate.
Aside: I visited their brewery last summer, and highly recommend it. Probably in my top 5 brewery tours (There will be a B&B brew tour post. I'm too excited about it to predict when it might debut, someone help out with a distillery review. I haven't had the balls to visit one yet. I just put more shit in parentheses than not.)