Da Rockies

The Beer: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale in a plastic cup.

The Perfect Pairing: Meatballs, cocktails, a table of "overserved" coworkers and, of course, the 2010 Rockie Awards Show. They may have relegated our small group to a corner table on the balcony, but we persevered with unrestrained and boozy abandon. To our credit, we triumphantly stumbled away from the Knitting Factory with a promotional swag-bag full of Rockies and only one small marinara stain between us.

The Experience: Crunk. But seriously, how can I justly describe the taste of one drink as it's set against an evening backdrop of bacchanalian pleasure? It was delightful, I suppose, as Sierra Nevada Pale Ale always is, and a welcome reprieve from the cocktails, mixers, and dirty looks from neighboring tables.

The Taste: A lovely pale ale, full and balanced.

(and the only other surviving pic from the night)

The Secret: Don't Look Up

I Am: 1) Highlands Hollow Spoon Tongue Ale (not pictured) and 2) Highlands Hollow Bonnie St. Nan Brewer's Whim in a plastic cup.

I Am Best Paired With: Successful completion of "the toughest half-marathon in the Northwest" (otherwise known as Race to Robie Creek), a baked potato, and new friends. As a so-called Robie virgin, I took things slowly this time around. I did, however, fulfill my goal of running the entire thing (even the really steep stuff) and met some nice folks after the run who I roped into helping me with my pictures. They also let me bum a ride with them back to Fort Boise. Evé, Courtney, Jackie, Steve, Lacey, Nick - good on ya, guys.

You Think I Am: 1) Refreshing. A perfectly nice and light beer for post-run celebratin.' 2) Whoa. This one felt like it was brewed above a campfire. A very smokey malt, this wouldn't be my 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice for a hot day.

I Taste Like: 1) A bit like TableRock's Woodpecker Light (see 4/13 post) without as full a flavor. 2) An ESB brewed with Liquid Smoke and just a hint of barbecue sauce.

(from left: Nick, Jackie, Courtney, Steve, me, Evé, Lacey)

Meanwhile, back on the Northside...

The Beer: Ninkasi Believer Double Red in a pint glass.

The Perfect Pairing: Bardenay's Mediterranean Albacore Tuna sandwich with nine friends and coworkers. In which 60% of our workplace hop-skipped two blocks over to a local restaurant/distillery, ate too much, and divided a check eight ways. (I also enjoyed a side of apricot walnut cous cous).

The Experience: I would say "meh" but the tuna sandwich was fantastic, particularly the bread and tapenade. (And the half-sandwich I ate for leftovers the next day = nom nom). As for the beer, it's never a good sign when you've made it through 2/3's of the meal and you still have 2/3's of a pint left. In other words, the beer felt like an afterthought. For a red ale, there were too many nut, raisin, and overly malty tones.

The Taste: A particularly bitter India Pale Ale and little grape cough syrup.

(and the meal)

"Poets, stranded on the island of Prose"

(photo courtesy of Patricia Zaballos' Wonder Farm blog)

Despite the Unrelated Photo, I Am: TableRock Woodpecker Light at $4 a pint in a plastic cup.

I Am Best Paired/Shared With: A significant other (or "siggy" as I like to call her) and a Michael Chabon reading at the Egyptian Theatre. Here's my confession: I've never read one word of Mr. Chabon's work. I know he's a relatively-young, highly-regarded, Pulitzer-prize-winning author but I haven't yet sat down and cracked the short story collection of his I just checked out of the library. Even so, when my aunt & uncle gifted us the tickets, we hoped it would be more engaging than staying home and watching a rerun of "Parks & Recreation." And, by and large, it was. Chabon was offbeat and funny while reading from a non-fiction piece about his quasi-relationship with Poe and there was beer on tap (though, as you can see, I forgot my camera).

You Think I Am: Not bad. TableRock's site lists their Woodpecker as "low-calorie & low alcohol" (which is a little redundant) and purposely reminiscent of a domestic pilsner. It drinks a little thicker and sweeter than, say, Bud Light but it'd be a decent, nimble little beer on which to overindulge.

I Taste Like: Equal parts Full Sail Session Lager & Widmer Hefeweizen.

Post-work & Pre-supper

I Am: Spaten Optimator Doppelbock in a German wheat beer glass at Melting Pot.

Drink Me With: A Friday evening, a nearby fondue restaurant, and sporty conversation with new coworkers. What can I say? It was a long day, it was rainy outside, I didn't wanna walk home - I didn't need any more motivation when my boss said he'd buy me a beer. Beyond that, I had a good chat with a few new acquaintances and didn't fall off my stool after two pints and a meager lunch.

You Think I Am: Wunderbar. Spaten is, admittedly, one of my favorite beers. It's a dark malt with a light head and thick, coppery color. You can find toffee, molasses, raisin and other nice things in the smell and taste of this German wheat beer. A very fitting way to start a Friday.

I Taste Like: An uber-rich [riché?] hefeweizen mixed with a more subtle barleywine.

(and the nice fellows who served me)

One for all the small schools...

The Beer: Aventinus Wheat-Doppelbock Ale in my pint glass at $3.99 a bottle.

The Perfect Pairing: The Men's NCAA Championship Game. C'mon. Besides those rabid Blue Devil alums, who wasn't pulling for Butler in this matchup? While it's true they weren't exactly a Cinderella team - they were ranked in the top fifteen before the season even started - the idea of some hometown Hoosiers winning it all was pretty appealing. And Gordon Hayward (and his teammates) almost pulled it off. I do have to remind myself that even though Duke has won numerous titles throughout the years this particular squad has not, and they were just as thrilled to cut down the net as the Butler boys would have been.

The Experience: Bittersweet. "Germany's Original Wheat-Doppelbock" (as printed all over the bottle) is a bit cidery, with more malt and cherry tones than bitterness. For the high alcohol content - 8.2% ABV - it's well-balanced and not too sweet.

The Taste: Hoegaarden Belgium White with a darker finish.

"Land your stag!"

Introducing: Widmer '10 Pitch Black IPA in a pint glass at $1.25 a bottle.

Also Starring: "Gentleman Broncos" and cupcakes made from scratch. The former we got from M&M - that's my brother and sister-in-law for the two reading this who aren't my brother and sister-in-law. It features battle stags, snake diarrhea, popcorn balls, and Sam Rockwell. And the cupcakes were Adie's doing, the bulk of which ended up going straight to my coworkers' thighs.

With: A maltier nose than I usually like in an IPA (which gives this brew its signature shade) but it's well balanced with the bitter finish.

And of Course: India Pale Ale. With some black food coloring. And molasses.