Hella Cool

I stopped by MyLHBS yesterday to pick up some ingredients for a maibock.  If you live in NOVA and homebrew you've probably heard of MyLHBS, it's a great little homebrew/winemaking supply store in the Seven Corners area run by guy named Derek.  I asked Derek what yeast strain he recommended for a maibock and he fortunately had a few activators of the Wyeast Hella-Bock strain left.  Apparently this is the same strain used by Ayinger.  From Wyeast:

"Direct from the Austrian Alps, this strain will produce rich, full-bodied and malty beers with a complex flavor profile and great mouthfeel. Attenuates well while still leaving plenty of malt character and body."

Sounds pretty good, right?  I am also using Hallertau and Saaz hops, pilsner malt, a little dextrin and crystal malt as well.  The wort ended up with an OG of 1.066 and looks like:

 Ah cloudy (the cloudiness should settle out during lagering) and golden deliciousness.  The only real snafu I foresee is that the yeast's optimum fermenting temperature range is 48 - 56 degrees Fahrenheit, I am fermenting this in my kegerator and the temperature that I usually serve my beer at is right around 40 degrees, so I may have to come to some sort of compromise here.  I am planning a 3 week primary fermentation followed by a two month lagering phase.  I'll keep you updated on the progress.

Hella sweet,

HolzBrew

Happy Holidays...and a Hoppy New Year!

Pho Van

There are few things in life that I love more than a big steaming bowl of good pho. Luckily for me, there is almost no cuisine more rampant in California than Asian food! Besides Mexican food, the most readily available international dishes come from the Far East, and there's no shortage of hole-in-the-wall markets and restaurants filled with the chattery talk of the AZN Persuasion.

There are delicate differences in each bowl of pho, and they aren't always completely obvious to the pho newbie. You should expect to get a small side dish of optional additives such as lime, bean sprouts, and perhaps jalapenos or some other leafy herb. Most of the time they come with meat, noodles, broth, and some leaves or small spring onions, but there's a world of difference in each bowl. I love a good seafood pho, but few things beat the thinly sliced beef pho standby. Pho Van on El Cajon Boulevard in City Heights had an extensive and surprisingly cheap menu filled with pho and noodle dishes. It was obvious that pho was the main focus and as we were the only palefaces in the place, that was a good sign from the start. I got the somewhat off-putting meatball pho, in which the meat was not actually identified, but delicious nonetheless. Ashton got the mother of seafood phos, and with squid, shrimp, and god knows what else swimming around in there it was a delight to the palate. The large unidentifiable white chunks were a complete, albeit delicious, mystery.



Do I think Pho Van had the best pho around? Probably not. Was it a damn good place with fast and cheap service? Hell yes! Mr. Vo's still holds the title for (thus far in my San Diego pho travels) best pho, but Pho Van's innovation and menu put it right up there.

Trouble in Paradise

Had a little snafu this evening as far as the dry hopped keg of Hopsloitation goes.  The keg line must have gotten clogged by the hops in the keg and the flow of beer was stopped.  Terrible, I know.

In order to troubleshoot this problem I took the CO2 gas line and plug it into the out line (liquid line) and blasted it with CO2 for a minute.  Foam erupted out of the "in" line, but it was easy enough to clean up.

At least temporarily this seems to have remove the blockage and restored the flow of brew.

Keep the kegs flowing,

HolzBrew

[RANDOM] download..hq..you're beautiful..A.N.JELL..

currently..i have downloaded too much videos..ranging from performances up to dramas..anyway, i just watch beautiful you which every kpop fan is crazy for..after watch it then only i know what is the reason..A.N.JELL is really an addiction..they are totally crazy good looks..hoho..park shin hye's character reminds me a lot of eun chan from coffee prince..maybe the hairstyle is kinda similar..but

[RANDOM] HAPPY BIRTHDAY TVXQ!!!

..always keep the faith..happy birthday to my dearest group, TVXQ!..i'm hoping that you guys will be stronger and stronger mentally and physically after what has happened..anyway, i don't have much to talk but i just wanna say that..i still hold my faith in you and never let it go..i wanna believe that you guys will be one again..flaming up the stage and move the audience hearts with your singing

Snowed In

Like a lot of people in the Mid-Atlantic we were more or less snowed in yesterday. It gave me sometime to keg the Hopsploitation. The ABV came in at 7.2%. I dry hopped the keg with a half ounce of Amarillo whole leaf hops. I've never tried that before, so I'm interested to see how fresh, the hop flavor is. So I officially have nothing fermenting in the house. Sounds like a problem I will have to remedy over the holiday break. I think I might brew a maibock for spring. Also, lately I have been infatuated with Duchesse De Bourgogne, so I like to possibly brew a flanders red. The fermentation time is at least a year, if not 18 months, so this one will require a lot of patience and a good resting spot in chateau de HolzBrew. Anyone have a good recipe?

I also had a bottle of Two Turtle Doves (by the Bruery) yesterday and I was blown away. It is definitely a monster dessert beer, brewed with cocoa nibs and toasted pecans, flavor country, to say the least.

Hope you stayed warm yesterday and your back is not aching too bad from all of the shoveling!

-HolzBrew

[RANDOM] HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY RELATIVES AROUND THE WORLD!~..

SOMETIMES ALLAH BREAKS OUR SPIRIT TO SAVE OUR SOUL..SOMETIMES ALLAH BREAKS OUR HEART TO SAVE US WHOLE..HE SENDS US PAIN SO WE CAN BE STRONGER..HE SENDS US FAILURE SO WE CAN BE HUMBLE..HE SENDS US ILLNESS SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF OURSELVES..AND..SOMETIMES ALLAH TAKES EVERYTHING AWAY FROM US SO THAT WE CAN LEARN THE VALUE OF EVERYTHING HE GAVE US..MASYAALLAH...SELAMAT MENYAMBUT AWAL MUHARAM KEPADA

Perfect Holiday Beer: Old Ale

Sitting around this evening decorating the HolzBrew family Christmas tree and sipping on some Old Ale (North Coast Old Stock Ale). Sounds like a bad thing, right? Despite the name, Old Ale is a very very good thing. The perfect beer to enjoy this time of year sitting around the fireplace.

While not easy to define, because barleyewines and some winter warmers taste similar, old ale generally refers to darker english ales lowly attenuated so there are a high level of residual sugars. Per the name, these beers are typically fermented longer than the average english style ales. The alcohol levels can be anywhere from 7% to 10%.

During the early to mid 1800's brewing was big business in England. Porters and pale ales were being churned out at a quick pace. Typically fully fermented in just a few weeks. This was a change in business plan from brewers who were hoping to turn their inventory over faster. Naturally, it wasn't that easy. These beers with shorter fermentation tasted different. In order to get around public backlash (due to different tasting beer) brewers kept a smaller volume of beer around for a very long time, hence "old ale", and they would blend this beer with the fresh beer to achieve the flavor profile desired by their patrons.

By the 1850s - 60s, porter started to decline in popularity, so brewers started selling "Old Ale" directly to the pubs. These Old Ales sold to the public began to be brewed to their own unique recipes instead the Old Ale that was used for mixing. These beers were typically fermented for a year or more.

These Old ales had another unique quality, a noticeable acidic flavor. Around the year 1900 the yeast responsible for secondary fermentation (while the beer was being stored in casks, for aging) in old ales was identified in the Carlsberg laboratories in Denmark, and given the name Brettanomyces. Which is commonly found in Belgain ales.

Examples of classic english style old ales are Theakston Old Peculier and Thomas Hardy's Ale. Some of my favorite American takes on this style include North Coast Old Stock Ale, Great Divide Hibernation Ale, and Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale.

Sometimes older is better,

HolzBrew

[REQUEST] TAEMIN+MINHO of SHINee PICS!

I'M SO INTO TAEHO [TAEMIN+MINHO] RECENTLY..SO ANYONE CAN GIVE ME A LINK OR SITE THAT CONTENT FULL OF THEIR PICTURES???..PLEASE..PLEASE..PLEASE..THANKS IN ADVANCE..=)

[RANDOM] HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, JUNSU!~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR JUNSU!~..i know it's already belated birthday and sorry for the late wish..i cannot online that often coz the line is too slow..damn..huhu..anyway Junsu i hope that every wish that you made will be granted so that you can be happy..i'm hoping you to stay healthy and take care of yourself..i'm looking forward to see five of you to be together again..this is one of your wish

[RANDOM] HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR MINHO!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR LIL BOY CHOI MINHO!..how come i almost forgot your birthday..*aish..bad noona*..must be a lil sad for you to celebrate birthday at oversea instead of having fams and close friends celebrating for ya, right?..it's ok dear..they won't forget you..hehe..hwaiting babe in everything you do..you are already 18 this year..a grown up boy now..=)anyway, i'm glad to see your growing

Blog Note

Per requests, I've tried to add some sort of social networking links at the end of each post. I am terrible at html, so I more or less copied and pasted some code I found on the web. If you are a code writing fool and have a better suggestion on how to add the social networking links to each post, please let me know, for I know not what I do.

Also, if you scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page (ridiculous, I realize), and click on "Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)" you should be able to subscribe using feedburner.

Bottling the tripel sunrise today, can't wait to try it.

-HolzBrew

Transgressions

"I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart, but it's not really my fault because I was hopped up on that high gravity HolzBrew. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone, but everyone should enjoy a HolzBrew from time to time."

-Tiger Woulds

Shocking words from the golf-icon yesterday. Who would have thought that the 'ole HolzBrew played a role in his transgressions?

Seriously though, who is tired of this story already? Me. Tiger's coming back like Kobe next year and probably going to win the Grand Slam.

I spent a few days in Durham, NC over the holiday weekend and got the chance to try some brews that are not available in the NOVA area. Namely from Triangle Brewing and Big Boss Brewing. I had the Triangle Golden Strong Belgian Ale. It was pretty nice, a sweet banana smell, with a lightly spicy Belgian body to match. I also tried the Big Boss Coffee Stout (I think it is called Aces and Ates). Also, a nice offering, as you would expect the taste was nice and roasty with a very noticeable coffee bitterness. Until just now, I didn't realize both of these beers were 8.0% ABV, kind of explains why I felt half-cocked after having these two beers with lunch. I was also looking around for Foothills Brewing offerings at Sam's Qwick Mart, but unfortunately I didn't realize that they don't bottle their beer.

I brought back a 22 oz. of Rye Hopper by French Broad and a 22 oz. of Highland Brewing Black Mocha Stout. I am looking forward to trying both of those (both from Asheville). The Misses and I also brought back a BrewDog Bashah and Punk IPA, because we don't really see the BrewDog stuff up in VA. Both of these beers were great. I had been hearing some hype about the Bashah and I had to see for myself. Believe the hype. The Bashah is serious flavor country. I'll spare you a lengthy review and just tell you to GET SOME, if you can find it.



The guys from BrewDog picking out casks in which to age the Bashah.

Also, I saw this comical article yesterday about another new beer from BrewDog:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/russ-wellen/beer-gone-nuclear-can-onl_b_372895.html

A few highlights:

"A controversial Scottish brewery has launched what it described as the world's strongest beer -- with a 32% alcohol content. Tactical Nuclear Penguin has been unveiled by BrewDog of Fraserburgh."

and

"If BrewDog's new beer was called "Strategic Nuclear," the wary drinker might fear the high alcohol content would lay waste to him, her, or the whole bar. "Tactical" suggests that, if the beer is used judiciously, its effects are manageable."

Those Scots are crazy. A 12oz. bottle of this stuff, might kill you.

-HolzBrew

[RANDOM] CHANGE LAYOUT FINALLY..

i finally changed my layout!..haha..thanks to HARA actually..she's the one who gave linkie to the template site..i already planned to change it long ago but only this time the broadband line is ok, then i decided to customize everything..hehe..now, u can see me..=)so, it's just a random talking anyway..CAN YOU GUYS RECOGNIZE WHO IS THIS?..IT'S JOON! from MBLAQ!..resembles RAIN a lot right?..this

[RANDOM] JUST WATCHING NINJA ASSASSIN..

today..after i finished work at 10pm..i rushed to GSC in dataran pahlawan..well, i worked at mahkota parade, so it's kinda near to the cinema..i watched with my families and we entered the cineplex around 10.30pm..i gave 3.75 stars out of 5 for this movie..woah, i can tell that this show is flooding with blood..the excited part came when RAIN appeared..everybody in the theater was like "oh my,

Antique Row Cafe, Normal Heights, San Diego

In my humble but completely undebatable opinion, fall is the best season for food and drink. Don't get me wrong, a crisp shandy or electric lemonade enjoyed on a hot summer day or a steaming bowl of homemade soup during a wintery storm are delights that can't be replicated. Still, I find the spicy, earthy, homemade tastes hit the spot unlike anything else, and when the sun is still clinging on to the last delicious bits of summer, it's a great time to chow down.

Our latest brunch expedition before the break was to the Antique Row Cafe in Normal Heights. Don't be fooled by the cheap diner-esque feel, on weekends this place is so hopping that there's often a crowd spilling out into the street as they anxiously await a table inside or out. (Note- they even offer coffee and pastries while you wait!!) Inside is a dark maze of bizarrely lined tables winding around oddly placed walls and cramped spaces, but I personally like to hide in a corner to enjoy my meal in a dim setting without worrying about scooting my chair into the obese man next to me or having to step over an unruly child. Bitter? Not as much as that sounded...

Back to the point. This place caters to all sorts of people, and by the looks of it people who enjoy a damn fine breakfast. The menu offered more, of course, but as the Brunch Warriors we focused solely on that menu plus the specials. The Fall special caught my eye, and with Pumpkin Pancakes smothered in homemade applesauce paired with a generous helping of cheesy potatoes and 2 eggs, how could I resist?!? Ashton opted for a standard veg omelet, and we anxiously awaited our goodies.

Our wait was not in vain! Two heaping platefuls were presented to me as my eyes bulged as much as my stomach soon would. Ashton also received a generous helping, and we quickly dug in. Before too long, both plates defeated us, but who needs syrup when applesauce is on the pancakes? They were fantastic, fluffy, huge, well-cooked, and piping hot with great spices. The eggs were also cooked perfectly, and the potatoes were smothered in cheese and hot sauce to make an excellent addition. The cost was definitely on the lower end of the spectrum, and the plates we received could have easily fed twice as many people. The service was okay, and the clientele was diverse, but the breakfast was quick, cheap, and true to the diner feel. Nothing outrageous was found on the menu, but all the expected diner fare was there, and it looked like they had some great specials cooked up. A definite recommendation.


Ashton's scramble


Pumpkin pancakes with applesauce


2 over medium eggs with cheesy potatoes

Cider Making Lesson #1

We all knew it would happen, when one just willy nilly starts brewing something new, there is bound to be a lesson learned. I kegged the cider on Friday and poured up a sample glass on Saturday and sure enough the taste was bone dry. More or less like sucking on a mixture of water, alcohol, and apple skins. The yeast fermented the cider down to a gravity of 1.002 (for non-brewing nerds, that's basically water, i.e. Coors Light). Well not to fear I had an idea. I boiled some water and threw in about a pound of light brown sugar. Once the sugar dissolved nicely, I added this to the cider (or "apple beer", as Mrs. HolzBrew refers to it). Shook up the keg and repressurized. By Sunday, the cider was tasting pretty darn good. Another day or two at higher PSI and it should be fully carbonated, just in time for Thanksgiving.

Crisis averted (probably not the last),

HolzBrew

[RANDOM] cassiopeia and TVXQ!

i dunnoe what is the suitable title for this post..anyway, i just wanted to dedicate this song for the boys and my cassies..it's in malay by the way..i really love this song..and i will just write a part of it which marks deeply in me..sesegar hijau daunanbegitulah..kita diibaratkan..tiada siapa yangbisa memisahkan kita..antara..kita semua..seerat simpulan..yang tidak terbuka..seteguh langit

[RANDOM] just feel to write something..

heyya everybody and all readers!..i'm back!..anyway, i was away for a vacation with beloved family..hehe..we went to cameron highlands..woah..i feel it was a really short holidays..only 2 days and spent one night there..but anyway, it still fun..of course when all the family members are gathered together..hehe..on the other hand..i'm missing to get back on9..can u guys see it?..i'm totally an

APOLOGIES!

Thanks to a flurry of activity such as moving, new job, holidays, etc. I took what was supposed to be a short break from blogging! Thanks to the infinite wisdom of Cox Communications, this break was extended much longer than it should have been, and I still do not have access to my computer. To everyone desperately waiting, hoping, praying for an update, I assure you they are coming. I've stockpiled a few choice items that have just been ripening and are ready to hit the web. Once we get this whole internet shenanigan figured out (hopefully this week) we'll be back in business! Stay tuned...

Holy Mother of Bourbon

Many beer aficionados are aware of the bourbon barrel fad that has passed through craft brew nation the last 3 or 4 years. Quite honestly, at times it seems like some late adopters have just started doing it in order to keep up with the Joneses. That's a shame because a well thought out bourbon barrel brew is a spectacle to behold. Well I haven't had a bourbon barrel brew lately that really stood out amongst the crowd, until this evening. While browsing the new arrivals at Norm's, I came across Backwoods Bastard by Founders. As a kid who went to school in southern Virginia (Go Hokies!) is apt to do, the bourbon barrel brews usually catch my eye. I couldn't resist.

The thing that really made this beer stand out from the other bourbon beers is that the bourbon flavor was big and fresh and in your face. This beer isn't for the faint of heart. Seriously, Mrs. HolzBrew had one wiff of it and turned up her nose. You've got to love bourbon (not just tolerate it) in order to appreciate this one.

Here goes:

Look:dark brown to deep copper in color. A thin tan head slowly forms during then pour and then instantly fades. The carbonation level is fairly low.

Smell: The initial nose is sweet maltiness followed by a pronounced woodiness. Then a bit of char and a whole lot of bourbon and alcohol.

Drink: The first sip is a malt and bourbon explosion. The alcohol is hot and spicy on the back end. Lots of bourbon in this one the scotch malts fill in the background.

Overall: Personally I love the fresh and biting bourbon side of this beer. Browsing some of the reviews on beeradvocate some people feel this is "over-bourboned." They are right, but thats why I like it. It's an A in my book, but if you have an aversion to bourbon this might rank fairly low to you.


“How well I remember my first encounter with The Devil's Brew. I happened to stumble across a case of bourbon -- and went right on stumbling for several days thereafter.”

-W. C. Fields

Switching over...

Just a quick reminder to my readers that I haven't stopped blogging, I've just temporarily moved locations (and changed subjects, a bit): head on over to my Bavarian Bride wedding planning website here!!

http://weddingdiplomat.blogspot.com/

[PICS]MIR WITH HIS NEPHEW~

credit: ABM+sarang@blogspothe is the son of Cho Dong Won who happens to be The CEO of j-tune and Rain’s BFF. Rain is this child's godfather and Mir as the uncle..how lucky this kid is, right?..=)

[NEWS] JYP NEW BOYGROUP..CROSSFIRE..

credit: allkpop+sarang@blogspotRumor has it, JYP Entertainment has a new boy band in the works who will be debuting soon. The group name is Ship Ja Hwa or translated into English as "Crossfire."Apparently the new boy band will have 5 members and some of the members are from Cube Entertainment, JYPE's sister company.In addition, they will supposedly be introduced through a variety show from Mnet,

[NEWS] JAEBUM WAS WITH 2PM DURING THEIR COMEBACK STAGE!

credit: DONGA NEWS; hazyfiasco@2ONEDAY; kbites+sarang@blogspotAfter starting their activities as a 6 membered group, it has been revealed that 2PM’s leader Park Jaebum also participated in their comeback through an international phone call. Before they prepared to get on stage on KBS Music Bank, 2PM gave a phone call to Park Jaebum in Seattle and gave a promise to show their best stage along with

[PICS] BIG BANG 2010 CALENDAR~

credit: as tagged+soompi+sarang@blogspoti really want this calendar!..the boys are so adorable..hahaha

[NEWS] JOON INJURED IN TODAY'S PERFORMANCE

credit: absolutemblaq@worpress+sarang@blogspot“Joon hurt his ankle today!!! =(((he landed wrong while flipping during Oh yeah @ HanYoung’s Rock U show =(apparently he was on his manager’s back and went to hospital, but they say its not too serious .. =(““Update on injury (these are fan accounts from Bestiz btw, so not sure how accurate)Joon didnt appear at their 2nd schedule for today, just the

[AUD] PREVIEW: BREAK OUT FOR TOHOSHINKI NEWEST SINGLE!

this single will be coming out on 27th january 2010..hehe..the song kinda catchy..i like the "break out" part of course!..and i miss them on being 5 again..=)

[RANDOM] HAPPY ONE MONTH DEBUTING MBLAQ!

i'm already home right now!..hehehe..i totally forgot that mblaq debuted date was on 15th..aish..sorry for the late wish, boys..hehehe..hope you guys will be more successful in the future..i really enjoy watching you guys..hehehe..love seung ho, joon, mir, GO and thunder..hehehe..btw, here some pics MBLAQ FOR VOGUE!..trying to kill with your abs, joon?..haha

Abandoned Breweries

I love pictures of old breweries or old breweriana, such as old beer cans or funny old beer advertisements. I particularly find artistic pictures of abandoned breweries fascinating. I'm not sure what it is about an abandoned brewery that seems interesting. Perhaps its that I find it appalling that a functioning brewery could be left to rust. It seems like a crime. Regardless, the following pictures from the web are some my favorites. The photographers have a real gift, the ability to capture the essence and despair of a place.

Old Stella Artois Brewery
(http://www.opacity.us/)




Heurich Brewery (former DC brewery)
(http://dckaleidoscope.wordpress.com/)



Gunther Brewery (former Baltimore brewery)
(http://www.spiritsoftheabandoned.com)



May your mash tuns never rust,

HolzBrew

[RANDOM] I'M GOING BACK HOME TODAY!~

I'm writing this while waiting my parents to come and fetch me..hehe..all my housemates already gone home yesterday and only nurul and me are going back today..but nurul already left me..huhu..and now i'm all alone..aish..but it's ok..i can sit here while downloading videos..haha..if in the morning the broadband kinda faster than the usual time..i'm still pissed off coz cannot find mblaq-good

[RANDOM] what a day..

i supposed to post this entry yesterday but the line was not so good so i decided to post it today..i went out to shopping mall, accompanied my friend who wanna bought some clothes..we didn't expect that the unfortunate event will befell on us..haha..when we were enjoying our meals..heavy rain was pouring hard..and included with the windy breeze..woah..my back totally soaking wet..hahaha..but the

To Fruit or Not to Fruit

Few ingredients rouse greater passion than the addition of fruit to a beer. Many people are strongly opposed to fruit in their ales and lagers. Heck, the Germans enacted the Reinheitsgebot literally outlawing the addition of "foreign" ingredients, such as fruit, in their beer. Many guys won't even touch a beer if there is any indication of added fruit, as if drinking "fruited" beer is equivalent to drinking a Zima. Beer brewed with fruit additions at either the end of the boil or during secondary fermentation can add take a beer and add another layer of complexity. I think a critical point of a decent fruit beer is that it should be a beer with fruit, not the other way around. Meaning if it just tastes like alcoholic fruit juice then it ain't worth brewing or buying, but if the fruit enhances or adds another aspect (e.g. added acidity or sourness) to the beer then it can be a welcomed addition.

To experiment, I recently brewed a Belgian Brown ale and split it, one half of the batch remained untouched and the other half was racked onto several pounds of sour cherries for a month. The result was definitely interesting, the two beers didn't taste like they were brewed in the same kettle. The untouched brown (or brune or bruin) was more viscous, malty, and sweet with some moderate hop bitterness on the back end. The "cherried" version was tart, with a thinner body (and not surprisingly a lower final gravity), and ended with a blend of hop/fruit bitterness. To be quite honest I enjoy the regular brown more, but I think this was a cool experiment. Next time I think I will blend in some sweet cherries.

Several years ago I brewed a west coast style pale ale and added grapefruit to the secondary fermentation. The fruit really enhanced the natural citrusy taste of the cascade and centennial hops that I used. Thinking back to that beer makes me wonder, why I haven't tried this combination again, perhaps a future brew.

A commercial beer brewed with fruit that I think is worth a try is Dogfish Head's Aprihop.

-HolzBrew

Dr. Dremo's ... Back in the Saddle?

As reported on Yours for Good Fermentables (TM) there are plans to revive Dr. Dremo's, an old car dealership that became an old brewpub (Bardo Rodeo) that subsequently became a funky and eclectic bar. Almost every young Arlingtonian has some story about a fun and possibly blurry evening at Dremo's. One of the few bars at the time where you could regularly play beer pong, flip cup, etc.

Dremo's closed its doors in January 2008 because the landlord's wishes to redevelop the land, which currently sits idle. Read the interview with Dr. Dremo's owner Andrew Stewart about the possible re-opening of said Dremo's here in Clarendon in 2010.

-HolzBrew

PS - At lunch I oddly came across this article about Steven Tyler quitting Aerosmith. It's odd because "Back in the Saddle" is one of my favorite Aerosmith tunes.

[RANDOM] FINALLY...

woah..haven't blog for a while ne~..anyway, today i juz wanna say how happy i am..hahaha..these few days i try to explore photoshop and today i'm able to do gif words..haha..even i know all of you already expert in this software but not me..huhu..i'm juz a fresh beginner anyway..gonna try explore more and let see what we can do next..hehehe..all this while i have no idea how people made nice and

[PICS]Heaven's Postman Brochure

credit: as tagged+dnbn+sarang@blogspotthere are many pics that i haven't upload..i cannot upload since the net is too slow..so decided only post these 2..i really love JAE in this pic..hehehe

[PICS] MBLAQ TVIAN PHOTOSHOOT

credit: as tagged+absolutemblaq+sarang@blogspotRain's boys look effin' good in this photoshoot..heheaish..i really can't take my eyes off from joon's smile in ths pic..killer smile i suppose to say especially when he is performing..hahacaps really suit with Thunder perfectly..he looks cute and adorable..GO really handsome looking like this..heheheMIR is looking so cute wearing those glasses..hehe

[RANDOM] How Can They Treat JaeChunSu Like This?

when i opened people's blog..it is full of their disappointment of Yunho and Changmin stand behind SME instead of their so called best brothers, JaeChunSu..i'm being part of it..why they are behaving like this..and the 3 members must make decisions before 10th or 11h this month if they want to continue being with DBSK..well, if i'm not mistaken regarding that matter..i'm having my finals right

Hopsploitation

Disclaimer: No hops were harmed during the writing of this post.

A few weeks back I placed a sizable (for me at least) hop order from the good people at http://www.freshops.com/. I purchased approximately 24 oz. of hops in variety of types. I've been itching to use them, so that's how it went down this afternoon. After brewing strange concoctions for the past couple of months like tripels with agave syrup, cherried belgain browns, cider, and wooded wild yeast beer, I decided to get back to my roots. What's that? Aggressively hopped west coast styles.

Enter the HolzBrew Hopsploitation. My main inspiration for this recipe was Nugget Nectar, the Imperial Amber Ale brewed by Troegs. I was at Norm's last weekend browsing the shelves and wishing I'd come across some Nectar. Unfortunately it is a seasonal and doesn't come out until February.

I decided to shoot for something close. I started with a split of approximately 50/50 pilsner and munich malt, which I think is fairly on point. I threw in about 6oz. of 120L crystal malt. My OG ended up at 1.064, probably a little lighter that I was shooting for, but that should put me around an ABV of 7% which is close to NN. Now for the hops. According to the Troegs website they use: Nugget, Warrior, Palisades, Tomahawk, and Simcoe. I did mine a little different: Nugget, Simcoe, Centennial, and Amarillo. The IBU calculator at rooftop brew, put this batch well past 120 IBU, but I think that's probably somewhat overstated. I'm fermenting with straight up California ale yeast from white labs, 'ole faithful.

I've got an empty keg that is begging to be filled with this IPA/Imperial Amber (What's the difference? Seriously, if someone can explain the difference to me I'd appreciate it.)

Life's better when it's bitter,

HolzBrew

[RANDOM] finally..a me2day account..

since every kpop lover is busy with me2day account..so, i wanna be part of it..today, officially i have created one account..hehe..i'm still blurr on how to use it but will try my best to explore it..hara and wawa unnie are there too..i wanna add them but since net is too slow so the loading process will be taken forever..haha..so i just being a lone ranger right now..later only i will make a

[RANDOM] 1st paper already passed..

today is friday, right?..hehe..i just passed my 1st paper for my finals..seriously i'm so blurr out there..when i got the paper, as usual, i wrote down my name and other stuff and started answering..this part is funny..i think i have already read the instructions properly but my tiny brain just din get to process the one word since i did the last questions as whole..it instructed to answer only

What will $20 get you?

Nowadays a twenty spot doesn't go far. Maybe you can get a half a tank of gas or possibly an XL pizza.

Twenty dollars WILL get you a pack of cider yeast and three gallons of organic (code word for foolishly expensive) apple cider. That right folks, I've decided to brew up a batch of fermented apple drank. I really have no idea what I'm doing, but sometimes that works out, surprisingly. I hope the yeast will do most of the walking, so I can do all the talking (I'm not sure that makes sense here, oh well, when in Rome).

See the first day of HolzBrew cider bubbling away.

-HolzBrew

[VID] Samsung Zipel CF - Lee Seung Gi & Yoon Eun Hye

the cf is so cute!..hahaha..well, i love Eun Hye and i like Seung Gi too!..it's really an adorable advertisement show..lol..

[PICS] I'm in LOVE with MBLAQ..

this is leader Seung Ho..he is really a manly guy..hehehe..love his chest muscle in 'oh yeah' mv..pheww..totally can't take my eyes off from that scene..hahaha..and his pouty lips really...kissable..hoho..*am not betraying Jae ok..lol*this is cutie lee joon..well, that is what i call him..he has really cute smile!!..i almost fell down from my chair seeing him smiling..hahaha..and the ultimate one

[PICS] Big Bang for FILA Winter Collection '09

credit: as tagged+soompi+sarang@blogspotBig Bang pull them off the best!..hehehe

Scenes From The NOVA Brewfest

Well it was a muddy one for sure, but great beer was enjoyed by all who made it out to this fall's NOVA Brewfest. I poured for awhile at Lagunitas and Sierra Nevada. I always forget how darn good that Lagunitas IPA is, seriously, its world class stuff. Other notables included: Mad Fox Wee Heavy, Williamsburg Bourbon Amber, St. George Fall Bock and Star Hill Saison.

Keep the great beer flowing,

HolzBrew

brown baggers unite!

I work in an office, and with that comes a vending machine, sodas, snacks, and the ability to eat out every single day. This proves appealing, albeit unhealthy and expensive, guised under the veil of "convenience". However, I believe that eating is not singularly for filling your stomach, but to experience the most primal of pleasantries and an opportunity to enhance ones' daily routine at least a few times a day. I understand that the promise of a $5 foot long sandwich is just too much to pass up, because in this fast-paced world "time is money" and no one wants to take the time to prepare a meal when it's just "easier" to buy it.

Harumph. I don't buy it. I'm a brown bagger, and proud of it. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the occasional treat of a convenient meal, or that sometimes I'm just too tired or lazy to put something together. I just don't see the overall savings of purchasing an individual, probably unhealthy, quick meal 5 times a week. Meals shouldn't just be about eating. It's an experience. What fun is lunchtime if you have to rush rush rush before it's time to clock back in? Do you really think it's cheaper to spend $5-$10 and save some time than going to the grocery store, spending a little bit more up front, and enjoying a healthy, homemade meal at your leisure?

ReadyMade has explored this very enigma. How Much Was That Sandwich In Your Bag? delves into the hidden costs and compares the "time is money" argument. If you're the type of person who enjoys putting together a meal, planning ingredients, buying exactly what you want instead of settling for what's available, then read on. However, if you don't care or notice what slop you shovel into your fat mouth day in and day out for a seemingly cheap and easy way to fill the soulless void in your belly, then don't bother. Eating isn't simply about food. Take a few moments out of your day and think about what YOU want instead of choosing from a menu designed to numb your senses and fatten your thighs. I think if you took the time and challenged yourself to ONE WEEK of making lunch, we'd be better off all around.

[RANDOM] MOM CAME TO PAY ME A VISIT..

today my fams came!..they arrived around 4.30pm and went back at 6pm..seeing them make me miss home too much!~..i wanna go home..miss my bed, my pillows, my air-cond, my tv, my sofa, my walls with dbsk on it and everything inside it..haha..and not forget i miss my granny too..how well is she now?..huhu..i really hope to finish this final ASAP..i don't have good expression to show my love towards

[NEWS] MKMF IS NOW MAMA

credit: soompi+sarang@blogspotThe year 2009 was like a gust of wind that has brought along tons of new girls groups, but whose hand will MAMA (no pun intended but that's the acronym) hold now?Mnet has announced that their Mnet Korean Music Festival (MKMF) will now be renamed as Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA)!Mnet announced on October 23 that the live broadcast will change its concept and the way

[PICS] JAE AT HIS SIS WEDDING CEREMONY..

credit: as tagged+sarang@blogspoti really miss his smiles and laughter..=)jae seems happy to attend the wedding event..aish..he also wanna step onto the isle in the nearest time, is it?..haha..yoosu also were coming with him..i hope to see homin but it's hopeless..aish..jaejoong ah~..jeongmal bogoshipo...=)

[VID][MV] Butterfly - G-Dragon (Eng subs/Romanized Lyrics)

i really love g-dragon new mv!..it's totally cool with the animation..=)..enjoy!~

Oktoberfest!

Is it just me, or is October THE BEST FREAKING MONTH OF THE YEAR?!?! Not only is it fall, the time of harvest, crisp winds, brisk nights, hoodie weather days, pumpkin bread, zucchini bread, spiced chai, it's home of OKTOBERFEST! Strangely, the original Oktoberfest had little to do with the drunken debauchery that it stands for today- that was just a happy accident. San Diego is home to quite a few of the largest Oktoberfests around, and while the big crowds head to La Mesa, the actual Germans and enthusiasts alike head to El Cajon every year for one of the best gatherings around.

Bowen and I are enthused about what we are about to experience. He's got attendance on me, however, as someone who drinks beer and eats meat, I think I feel a little more at home.

A great Bavarian band graced us with their tunes, and the German dancers never seemed to stop!

Believe me when I say that this brat (extra sauerkraut, extra spicy mustard) and Hofbrau brew NEVER tasted as good as it did then. It's all about the atmosphere...

There was an abundance of German pastries (an entire tent dedicated to their sweets!) and while I'm familiar with a few standards like apple strudel and Black Forest cake, I'd never heard of poppyseed cake. It was unbelievably sweet and crumbly, moist and dense and totally delicious. It had faint twinges of phantom chocolate, although there was nary a cacao bean to be found. An absolute delight.

Ashton was jealous of my brat and decided to retaliate by getting a pretzel the size of his torso. This gigantic monstrosity seemed well worth the price, and I feel confident stating that it could feed a family of four.

Alas, the season for 'festing is over all too soon, but it's never too early to start thinking of next year!

2009 NOVA Brewfest

HolzBrew and friends will be pouring beer at this weekend's NOVA Brewfest on Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 6pm. The fest is both days, Saturday and Sunday, out at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville. Tickets are still on sale, see all the details at the official site: http://novabrewfest.com/fall/

The list of brewer's and beers can be found here. My favorite Oktoberfests this year will be available, Left Hand and Flying Dog.

If you've never been to this fest you've got to come out for it. Or even volunteer for it.

-HolzBrew

[RANDOM] New addiction

what is my addiction currently?..haha..of course it's the adorable boys, SHINee!!!..hehehe..i can't get rid of the ring ding dong song out of my head..it juz keep on playing and playing..hahaha..i love the rap part and "break down, hey! break down, hey!, break down, hey!...." :pda song is really addictive.."oh yeah" from MBLAQ is second currently..and g.o.o.d love comes in third..new comers are

[PICS] Kim Bum 180 degrees transformation for 'emergency'

credit: as tagged+allkpop+sarang@blogspot this is so 'yi jeong' stylei love the hair!!..seriously..looking like a hot bad boy..hoho

Fest Rundown 2009

While most Oktoberfest celebrations are dwindling, lots of Oktoberfest beers are available in the bars and on the shelves. I've done my best to try as many as I can and to take notes. When I tried some of them, I did not have pencil and paper around to record my thoughts, so the summary on some of these is limited. My favorites this year were Flying Dog Dogtoberfest, and Left Hand Oktoberfest (several years running now). Drink'em if you got'em.

Here goes:

Left Hand

This one has been my fave three years running and there is a reason for it. Left Hand knows what they are doing and they need to keep it up.

Look: Pours an orange-copper color with a thin cream colored head.

Smell: The aroma is downright malty, sweet, and some toffee.

Drink: As always this one is sweet all the way through. Not a cloying sweet, but big time caramelly goodness. Some noticeable hop bitterness in the finish to balance out the sweetness some.

Overall: As always, A.

Lancaster

Meg liked this one last year and was excited to see it on the shelves. Unfortunately, I think she was a little disappointed.

Look: Pours up a fairly clear bright golden orange body with a small white head which disappears quickly.

Smell: Some sweet malt smell and little hop bitterness

Drink: Initially caramel maltiness, but something here just ain't right. There is an odd sourdough bread thing going on here, then a little fruitiness. Finishes off with some hop bitterness.

Overall: The thing that threw me about this beer was the sour-tart thing going on. Its almost like they brewed it with an ale yeast strain instead of a lager yeast. Not my cup of tea, D.

Spaten

Had some of this early on in the Ok-fest season and then again this weekend. Definitely my favorite German example.

Look: Pours up a deep orange-almost brown color with marginal head.

Smell: A nice mixture of caramel - toffee maltiness with touch of nuttiness.

Drink: Brown sugar, and spiciness up front. A little bit of some orange flavor and it finishes with the expected German hop crispiness.

Overall: I definitely like this one and it was easy drinking, B+.


Bell's

Overall: Forgot to take notes with this one. I don't remember it blowing me away, but I remember it getting the job done. B-

Sam Adams

The BBC continues to disrespect this the style by spelling it with an Oct- instead of Ok-, I kid. I had a love jones for the '08 batch of Sam O-fest, but this year back to just liking it. I like to think that the beer keeps changing from year to year, but maybe its me.

Look: Amber color with a nice thick white head.

Smell: Smells malty, not much in the way of hop aroma.

Drink: Lots of munich malt up front. Sweet caramel with some roasted peanuts through the middle. Slightly thicker mouthfeel in comparison to some of its brethren. Finishes with a nice crisp bitterness.

Overall: B

Hacker Pschorr

Look: Bright and clear maple syrup color, with a thick ring of lacing.

Smell: Biscuit and nutty aroma.

Drink: Nice toasty malt and biscuit flavor upfront. Ends with a tart bitter finish.

Overall: B-

Flying Dog

Look: Pours up a a copper color, topped off with a thick foamy off white head.

Smell: Great mixture of caramel and bready aromas, blended with a pleasantly fresh floral hop aroma.

Drink: Great malt body, consisting of caramel, toffee, and something sweet like graham crackers. The body is somewhat thick with medium level of carbonation. The floral hops round out the back end with some bitterness.

Overall: I really liked this. Since flying dog moved from Colorado to Frederick, MD, I've found their beers more appealing, must be freshness. A

I also tried Paulaner this year, but I didn't take notes and I don't remember it being notable. Not sure where that puts it, but most likely in the B to C range.

Get'em while you still can,

HolzBrew

[RANDOM] Bored of Assignments loads

in the middle of night..or should i say morning since when i'm writing this, it's already 4am..i'm still figuring out how to settle this html codes (i'm building a website) and the dateline is this thursday and i'm still here, staring on the screen like an idiotic..damn..i juz hope it can be finished soon..however, i still like to solve html..i really like this lesson since i love to customize

[RANDOM] A PERSON NAME 'DAD'..

i returned home on last friday and just returned today, sunday..yesterday which on saturday, my sisters and i went to watch some movies..haha..that is our routine whenever we are going for an outing..along drove and truthfully, she improved a lot..heheh..we watched 2 stories which were "papadom" and "whiteout"..for "papadom", i gave 4 stars out of 5 and as for whiteout..maybe 3 will be enough..

Cooking with Beer!

Here's a great article from NPR about the wonder of cooking with beer! Be sure to check the links at the bottom for more great beer related articles.
Sorry this is a short one, but who can compete with NPR? Just read it!

Jyoti-Bihanga

FINALLY! We have been hearing NOTHING but good things about Jyoti-Bihanga, a vegetarian venture in Normal Heights run by the followers of Sri Chinmoy's teachings. It's described as a "divine enterprise" and is closed for a few weeks and weekends out of the year specifically for congregating with their (now deceased) spiritual leader and sporting events such as the World Harmony Run. Hey, as long as the food is good, they could be worshipping Nico for all I care! Still, our several attempts for brunch were thwarted with their odd weekend closing schedules, so naturally we were thrilled to finally make it to dinner.

Luckily, our dining partners were regulars of the establishment, and offered helpful tips on what to order. The mashed potatoes and mushroom gravy were particularly highly recommended, and how convenient that they were the included side for most dishes! Their meatless "Neatloaf" was available vegan and vegetarian, and their special curry of the night was Lentil and Spinach. Their menu is very impressive for a vegetarian/vegan specialty place, and not with the normal boring fare.

The whole place was extremely serene; its high vaulted ceilings and white walls were decorated sparsely with minimalist and spiritual art, with books and pamphlets available to read while you wait. The staff moved slowly, deftly, quietly, and while the voices remained hush, it still maintained a very casual feeling, not at all like being uncomfortably stifled in a place of worship. The food arrived quickly, and it did not disappoint. I'm not a huge tea drinker, but pairing my famous Neatloaf sandwich (pictured below) with a cup of hot Bengal Spice tea was absolutely divine. My friends are now very used to me reaching over to try a particularly tasty looking morsel on their plates (all for the good of the readers of course!) and I managed to sneak a slurp of the broccoli soup (WONDERFUL), the BBQ duck sandwich (a third of our group ordered it- it was as excellent as I had hoped) and the lentil/spinach curry (fantastic). Everything we had was perfectly made, the sauces were delicious, and the service was polite, prompt, and understated. I'd give this place an enthusiastic recommendation with every intention of returning!


All this neatloaf just for me?!?!?!


Their "tziaziki" was just as good as the Greeks!

3351 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116
(619) 282-4116

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 noon to 9:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Two to three Sundays a month we do an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 9:00 am to
1:00 pm. Please make sure to call for the monthly schedule.

[NEWS] Dream Concert Enraptures 40,000 K-pop Fans

The 2009 Dream Concert was held October 10 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. It featured Big Bang, Super Junior, 2PM, MC Mong, Chae-yeon, Whee Sung, Park Hyo-shin, Jewelry, Girls' Generation, 2NE1, Kara, 4Minute and SHINee, among many others.Co-organized by the Korea Entertainment Producers Association and SBS, the concert was attended by some 40,000 fans, who came to see Big Bang performing for

[NEWS] Reason Why TVXQ is at the Top of J-POP

Recently in Japan, the main keyword/stars for Hanllyu (Korean Wave) is the 5 member Idol group TVXQ. Last week, TVXQ swept away 2 #1’s in 2 categories on the Oricon Chart, which can also express Japan’s popular artist’s popularity most accurately. It is clear that TVXQ's a top star in the J-Pop industry.Recently (30th of last month), the news of their release of the ‘4th Live Tour 2009 ~ The

Toronado

If you're like me, you're on a constant quest for a few life staples such as a great beer bar, a great brunch spot, and hey, if the two happen to coincide, so much the better! Toronado has been a solid stop for any beer enthusiast for the last year since opening in North Park (even mentioned in Men's Journal WHERE SAN DIEGO IS NAMED THE NUMBER ONE CITY IN AMERICA FOR BEER DRINKING!), and is now open for brunch! As an avid appreciator of all things brewed and also brunched, obviously we had to give it a try as soon as possible. Luckily, we caught the second Sunday brunch, so a few bumps wouldn't have been surprising.

However, none were to be had! The bar service was much better on a quiet Sunday morning than the usual bustling Friday night crowd, and the menu was solid with fantastic options and reasonable prices. I was torn between the Big Breakfast (2 eggs any style with 2 sausage links and a potato pancake) and the Soyrizo scramble (2 eggs or tofu scrambled with soyrizo and an assortment of red, green, and jalapeno peppers with rosemary potatoes and Bread & Cie cracked wheat toast) but when Ashton declared his intent to order the former, I happily accepted my soyrizo fate. I wouldn't recommend pairing this incredibly spicy dish with an organic wheat beer, which unhappily I did and what a poor pairing it was. However, the jalapenos were plentiful and some of the spiciest I have EVER had. As a spice lover, I relished in this searing, tear-inducing, tongue-scorching masterpiece, but unless you're prepared for it I wouldn't recommend this particular scramble! However, it was absolutely superb, and the generous helping didn't go unnoticed. Ashton's big breakfast was pretty standard, the eggs were well cooked, the potato pancake solid, but the sausage was the star of his plate. Maple cured and piping hot, these puppies were a joy to have reside (albeit briefly) in my mouth.



If you're willing to forgo the usual bloody mary for brunch, make Toronado your next Sunday destination. Don't worry about missing your mimosa, those are available as well!

Toronado
4026 30th Street
San Diego, CA 92104

[RANDOM] TO ALL MY VISITORS~

don't worry..it's not an announcement that i want to move site or quitting blog..it just that i want to say sorry to all my visitors..dun care lah whether at chatterbox or commentators..i have no time replying to each of you like i did before..it's all about the net again..huhu..to chibi, my dotty, rochee, jija, cho, sanchia, DBSKholic and others..thanks for dropping by..i really appreciate that

[VID] 2PM Again and Again Dance Flash Mob

ANNYOUNG YOROBUN!..it's a long time since i wrote my last post..aish..living in college without wirelessly connected really put my life in mess..i leave my most important job of the day..updated blog, moderating forums and even seeking latest news of kpop..i update only if i really 'rajin' to use the "high-speed" broadband..aigo~~..but as for forums..i will check regularly..hehe..fine, cut the

One last kiss from Oktoberfest Girls

This is the last post for Oktoberfest 2009. This shot comes courtesy of K.G. Thanks!

Last day of Oktoberfest 2009!

Ein Prosit!

Cheers!

Oktoberfest Girls just passed 100,000 hits!

GABF Hardware and Best State For Beer

Last week's announcement of the Great American Beerfest ("GABF") winners got me thinking... BUT first, major congratulations are in order to DC/Baltimore area breweries that came away with medals:

-Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, MD
Brewer’s Alley India Pale Ale won Bronze for English-Style India Pale Ale

-Clipper City Brewing Co., MD
Clipper City Marzhon Vienna Lager won Bronze for Vienna Style Lager

-DOG Brewing Co. MD
Pub Dog Black Dog Stout won Bronze for Classic Irish Style Dry Stout

-Flying Dog Brewery, MD
Horn Dog Vintage 2007 won Gold for Aged Beer
Dogtoberfest won Gold for German Style Märzen
Gonzo Imperial Porter won Gold for Imperial Stout
Barrel Aged Gonzo won Silver for Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer

-Devils Backbone Brewing Co., VA
Gold Leaf Lager won Gold for International-Style Pilsener
Natural Born Keller won Silver for Kellerbier/Zwickelbier
Danzig won Silver for Baltic-Style Porter
Vienna Lager won Silver for Vienna Style Lager

-Great American Restaurants ( Sweet Water Tavern ), VA
Crazy Jackass Ale won Gold for Rye Beer
Wits End won Bronze for Belgian-Style Witbier

-Rock Bottom Brewery – Arlington, VA
Dude! Where’s My Vespa? won Gold for Coffee Flavored Beer

-Starr Hill Brewery, VA
Dark Starr Stout won Gold for Classic Irish Style Dry Stout

Also the “Mid Size Brewery of the Year” went to Flying Dog and Brew Master Rob Malone of Frederick, Maryland.

All of this talk about the GABF got me thinking again about the best city or state for beer. As you can see from the results of the HolzBrew poll on the right, California won the poll easily. What if we look at the state whose breweries have won the most GABF medals? I logged onto the GABF website and downloaded the results of the last four years, 2006 - 2009(it actually took a little Excel work in order to extract the necessary data, that's why I stopped after 4 years). The top 10 states in order of total medals were:

California: 158
Colorado: 134
Oregon: 67
Wisconsin: 51
Illinois: 43
Pennsylvania: 40
Washington: 35
New York: 28
Michigan: 25
Delaware: 21

According to this analysis California is the best state for beer in the US. BUT is this really fair considering that California is the most populated state in the US? I mean California can sustain a lot of great breweries with such a large population. What if you adjust the rankings to account for population? By using the 2008 census estimate, I divided the total awards won from 2006 - 2009 by the population of that state. This yields the following results (stated in medals per million residents):

Colorado: 27.1
Delaware: 24.1
Alaska: 21.9
Oregon: 17.7
Wyoming: 15.0
Montana: 9.3
Wisconsin: 9.1
Utah: 7.3
Washington: 5.3
Vermont: 4.8

Congrats to all GABF winners,

HolzBrew

Beer and dirndls!

Vegan Zone, Pacific Beach

It still shocks me that for such a gastronomical explorer such as myself the majority of my friends in San Diego have aligned themselves with the vegan movement! Focusing on the glass-half-full mentality, this does offer me the opportunity to dine at establishments that I might tend to overlook, or at least not actively seek out. One of these is Vegan Zone, an all-vegan restaurant in Pacific Beach, somewhat off the beaten track on Hornblend Street just a few blocks from the beach. Our Bostonian friend assured us that though small, the selections were good and prices reasonable for the animal-friendly Asian bistro. We stopped by for snacks and light fare, and with seating for only about 25, at 3 o'clock the place was deserted.

The menu was standard Asian fare sans any animal product, but looked tasty and the prices decent. We shared an order of the Golden Nuggets (fried soy chicken nuggets) with their "barbeque sauce", which tasted like cocktail sauce mixed with BBQ sauce with a dash of black pepper. Not the greatest, or even exciting, but not bad by any means. A clean presentation added some bonus points.


Ashton got the Tom Yum soup (traditional Thai soup flavored with khaffir limes leaves, chili and lemon grass served with soy shrimp, straw mushrooms and tomotoes), which was great! Served hot in a crisp white bowl, it was chock full of fresh ingredients and the perfect amount of lemongrass. The faux shrimp was wonderful and made me believe it was swimming in the sea only a few short hours ago. For $5, it was a lip-smacking delight.


For vegans, definitely a place worth trying. I can't vouch for the quality of the entrees, but based on the solid ingredients and elegant presentation, I'd guess that it would be a nice experience!

Vegan Zone
859 Hornblend St
San Diego Ca 92109
858-272-1913
Delivery/Take Out

Hours:
Tuesday - Sunday
11:30am - 9:30pm
Closed on Mondays

The Station

South Park is what I consider to be the "mature" North Park. For as much as North Park is booming and expanding with plenty of art galleries, shops, and restaurants opening up, South Park enjoys a slightly more established neighborhood and quieter tree-lined blocks, along with a closer vicinity to Downtown. It's one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Diego, with a small but solid community of local businesses ranging from family-owned delis, a fixed gear bicycle shop, the quintessential corner coffee joint, and now a new tavern to boast as their own- The Station Tavern and Burger Lounge on 30th.

The Station opened its doors the last week of August 2009, and had an absolutely insane soft opening. Owner Sam has already had a successful run in his other ventures, with include the Riviera Supper Club in La Mesa, Turf Club in Golden Hill, and a couple other establishments that San Diegans are more than happy to frequent. People poured in from all directions, and it seemed like South Parkians had really claimed this as their own place on their own turf. I worked a few shifts there running food and waiting tables, and this is EXACTLY the type of place I'm likely to frequent. Tons of regulars, good tunes on the stereo, small but solid menu, and some good brews. There's not much of a selection, so unless you're in the mood for a burger you're SOL. There's only 5 beers on draft, and 4 available in bottles, but with selections like Stove Leviathan Ale, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Tiger, and a few more, you're bound to find something to tantalize your tastebuds. The menu is simple- burgers. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers, black bean, turkey, or veggie. That's it. Your side choices are fries, tater tots, garlic fries, sweet potato fries, or a house salad. Personally, I'll recommend the Spicy Black Bean burger with either tots or sweet potato fries. I wouldn't steer you wrong!

Like I said, don't bother going unless you're in the mood for a great burger and good times. The bar is an inviting curvaceous triangle, and The Station offers outdoor and indoor seating with great corner views of the nearby streets. Kid-friendly gravel lines the outside patio, with a bona fide choo-choo for the younguns to play in. A fun decor is splashed inside, with multicolored faux train lights above the tables, and if you're looking to rest your tired tootsies at the bar, just plop them on top of the train rails that line the bar wall!


What they lack in choice they make up in quality. You can spruce up your burger with caramelized onions, avocado, or dip your fries in their feta-red pepper-paprika aioli, or perhaps smear their cilantro/lime sauce on your veggie burger. Whatever you get is sure to please.


The Station gets an A for atmosphere, price, quality, and service. Now add a few things to the menu, open for lunch, and you'll have an unbeatable place!