I like beer. Maybe more than a lot of people. Maybe more than I should. Regardless, I want to see what all is out there and setting such a high goal will allow me to really taste a ton of beers to start to see the real differences between what I am drinking and have a sense of how things stack up against each other. I will try to do some formal tastings with notes as I am educated in the art of doing so, but in the meantime it will just be some basic notes to discern the ones that strike me the most. I might end up moving the formal tastings to their own separate posts.
In this post I will track the beers I have tasted, including name, brewery, type, and date.
1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 21-25 26-30 31-35 36-40 41-45 46-50
51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 81-85 86-90 91-95 96-100
1. Flying Dog - Classic Pale Ale - 01/01/08
2. Guinness - Draught - 01/02/08
3. Chamay Red - Trappist Ale - 01/04/08
4. Unibroue Maudite - Belgian Strong Amber Ale - 01/04/08
5. Jockamo - IPA - 01/05/08
6. North Coast Brewing Co.'s Brother Thelonius - Belgian Style Trappist Ale - 01/06/08
7. Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar - European Brown Ale - 01/08/08
8. Abita Turbo Dog - Dark Brown Ale - 01/12/08
9. Anderson Valley Boont - Amber Ale - 01/12/08
10. Anchor Steam - Steam Beer - 01/13/08
11. Anderson Valley Hop Ottin' - IPA - 01/16/08
The color was a nice thick amber with a head that stood up tall and lasted for a good 5 minutes of drinking before settling down to a good thick ring. Even for an IPA this is hoppy and abrasive, but settled on your tongue pleasantly. It reminded me somewhat of Mad Hatter.
I sort of stressed about this one on the purchase, because it was something like $9.50 for a six-pack at Whole Foods. But what do you expect I guess. It was definitely worth it. Well deservant of its A- on BeerAdvocate.com. I will definitely drink it again (after making my rounds to the rest of Anderson Valley's offerings) although next time I hope to find it for a little more palatable price.
12. Wingwalker Amber Ale - 01/19/08
I don't think this one deserved the C rating it got on BeerAdvocate. I reserve that letter for a beer I would avoid ever drinking again. The Wingwalker definitely didn't have a whole lot going on it, but I guess that is what I was in the mood for when I sat down with this one: a beer that I didn't have to think about. This one definitely faded to the background, but it wasn't so bland or uninteresting as to be terrible. Of the dozen beers I have had so far, it was on the lowest end, but these have been some really stellar drinks.
13.
14.
15.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
#97: Read 50 Books
That comes out to be a book every 20 days. I initially wanted to be more ambitious, claiming 67 books (roughly 15 days per), but decided that with all of the other stipulations, 50 would do just fine. Hopefully I will keep up my one day pace so far (31 pages yesterday) and be able to read more.
In this post I will track the books I am reading and have completed including dates started and finished. At the end of each added paragraph about a book I will include a time stamp to update how the book is unfolding and my final conclusions. I will probably do a separate post for each book as I finish it, to simplify this list and go into a little detail about my thoughts.
1. Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan - 01/01/08 - 01/14/08
2. Complexity - 01/15/08 -
I had started this book before, but I am revisiting it as a theme after reading Omnivore's Dilemma. Read here to get a decent idea of what the book deals with.
In this post I will track the books I am reading and have completed including dates started and finished. At the end of each added paragraph about a book I will include a time stamp to update how the book is unfolding and my final conclusions. I will probably do a separate post for each book as I finish it, to simplify this list and go into a little detail about my thoughts.
1. Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan - 01/01/08 - 01/14/08
2. Complexity - 01/15/08 -
I had started this book before, but I am revisiting it as a theme after reading Omnivore's Dilemma. Read here to get a decent idea of what the book deals with.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Here it is....
This is definitely more for me than for anyone else, but if anyone stumbles upon this page and is at all interested: the basic concept is that I am trying to accomplish 101 preset goals in 1001 days starting Jan.1, 2008 and finishing Sept. 28, 2010. The goals are extremely varied from solving a rubik's cube to having another child. Here is the list as I have it now.
SCRABBLE
1. Be rated over 1600
2. Be rated over 1700
3. Play in two consecutive Nationals
Play in the following tournaments:
4. Boston Area
5. Albany
6. Lake George
7. Toronto
8. Div. 1 at Arden Cup
9. Score 100% on Jumbletime/Aerolith 4's for 60 straight days (0/60)
10. Score 100% on Jumbletime/Aerolith 5's for 60 straight days (0/60)
11. Know top 4000 7's ice cold
12. Know top 4000 8's ice cold
13. Go to 12 tournaments in a year (0/12)
DIY/ART STUFF
14. Learn to sew proficiently (including buttons, seams, quilts, etc.)
15. Learn to knit (more than just scarves and hats)
16. Plant a garden (including seasonal rotation)
17. Sell something I have made
18. Put out 5 issues of The Armchair Revolutionary's DIY (0/5)
19. Make a cover for Brian's CD
20. Make at least one large collage (0/1)
21. Set-up rotating "gallery" in home
22. Own five pieces of art that I am proud of (1/5)
23. Write 10 pieces of fiction that I am proud of (0/10)
24. Write 40 poems that I am proud of (0/40)
25. Complete one skit that I am proud of (0/1)
26. Go to RoboWriters
PHYSICAL
27. Run 3 miles a day, 5 days a week, for 10 weeks (0/50)
28. Weigh between 175-180 lbs.
29. Be able to touch toes
30. Be able to sit "Indian style" (Half Lotus?) without cheating
31. Do not consume any caffeine for 30 straight days (0/30)
32. Do not consume any sugar (knowingly) for 60 straight days (0/60)
33. Do not consume any alcohol for 30 straight days (0/30)
34. Maintain Vegan diet for 30 straight days (0/30)
35. Do not consume anything that I (or someone I know personally) did not prepare for 14 straight days (0/14)
TRAVEL
36. Go on a real vacation (no Scrabble, no outside family)
37. Go to Canada
38. Go to Mexico
39. See the US/Mexico border wall
40. Go to Washington State with Katy and Quinn
Do the following 5 Chicago things: (0/5)
41. Sears Tower
42. Symphony
43. Field Museum
44. Museum of Science and Industry (with special exhibits)
45. Planetarium
46. Take a trip on a train
47. Go backpacking for 4 days without any outside contact
LIVING ON THE EDGE (aka making myself do things that scare me)
48. Camp one night in the woods completely by myself
49. Become pregnant/have another child
50. Ride a horse
Eat the following 5 nasty foods: (0/5)
51. Tongue
52. Brain
53. Snails
54. Pickled Pigs Feet
55. ???
56. Get a tattoo
57. Shoot a gun
58. Feed a cow with my hands
59. Skinny dip in a natural body of water
60. Tell my mom that I do not now, nor will I ever, believe in God or any other phantom of a higher order
61. Take Katy dancing and actually dance
ETC.
62. Have a wardrobe that reflects me
63. Learn how to do a Rubik's Cube
64. Volunteer for Obama during the primaries
65. Volunteer for a candidate I agree with for the presidential election
66. Compost
67. Do not shave or trim beard for 60 days (0/60)
68. Bic beard and head
69. Get a dog (preferably a bulldog)
70. Go ice skating
71. Get a professional massage
72. Give something away that I could have made at least $100 selling
73. Make one meal per week from a recipe (1/143)
74. Take a full lunch hour outside of the office once a week (1/143)
75. Have 30 GB of straight music on my iPod/iTunes (9.3/30)
76. Give $1001 to charities I care about (185/1001)
77. Start a college fund for Quinn
78. Move to Asheville, NC
79. Read a good book about wine
80. Read a good book about beer
81. Taste 300 different beers (6/300)
82. Taste 75 different wines (1/75)
83. Spend over 200 dollars on dinner (Katy and I)
84. Fly a kite
85. Roll down a hill
86. Stay up all night with friends and watch the sunrise
87. Replace all light bulbs with super efficient ones
88. Own a car that gets better than 35 miles to the gallon (preferably better than 40)
89. Do not drive or ride in a car for 30 straight days (could also be, do not purchase gasoline for 60 days) (0/30) or (0/60)
90. Host a party
91. Decide 100 percent definitely whether or not I will ever go back to school
92. Contact a different friend every day for 30 days (0/30)
93. Replace all furniture that we do not like with things that we do (1/3)
94. Go see one movie a month in the theatres (preferably more of course) (0/33)
95. Bike to work at least once (0/1)
96. Perfect a bread recipe
97. Read 50 books (0/50)
98. Chicago addendum: Go see a Bears game
99. Chicago addendum: Go to a Bulls game
100. Chicago addendum: Go to a Blackhawk's game
101. Give $5 to a charity of Katy's choosing for each one of these points not completed
Hopefully, I will be using this blog to track my progress and update the list as things are completed. In the instance of books read, movies watched, etc. I will include titles and dates in separate posts. and edit them as they are completed. I want very much to keep up with this. All of these things are important to me and I feel that if I am able to complete this whole list in 1001 days I will have a lot to look back and and fee good about.
Wish me luck.
SCRABBLE
1. Be rated over 1600
2. Be rated over 1700
3. Play in two consecutive Nationals
Play in the following tournaments:
4. Boston Area
5. Albany
6. Lake George
7. Toronto
8. Div. 1 at Arden Cup
9. Score 100% on Jumbletime/Aerolith 4's for 60 straight days (0/60)
10. Score 100% on Jumbletime/Aerolith 5's for 60 straight days (0/60)
11. Know top 4000 7's ice cold
12. Know top 4000 8's ice cold
13. Go to 12 tournaments in a year (0/12)
DIY/ART STUFF
14. Learn to sew proficiently (including buttons, seams, quilts, etc.)
15. Learn to knit (more than just scarves and hats)
16. Plant a garden (including seasonal rotation)
17. Sell something I have made
18. Put out 5 issues of The Armchair Revolutionary's DIY (0/5)
19. Make a cover for Brian's CD
20. Make at least one large collage (0/1)
21. Set-up rotating "gallery" in home
22. Own five pieces of art that I am proud of (1/5)
23. Write 10 pieces of fiction that I am proud of (0/10)
24. Write 40 poems that I am proud of (0/40)
25. Complete one skit that I am proud of (0/1)
26. Go to RoboWriters
PHYSICAL
27. Run 3 miles a day, 5 days a week, for 10 weeks (0/50)
28. Weigh between 175-180 lbs.
29. Be able to touch toes
30. Be able to sit "Indian style" (Half Lotus?) without cheating
31. Do not consume any caffeine for 30 straight days (0/30)
32. Do not consume any sugar (knowingly) for 60 straight days (0/60)
33. Do not consume any alcohol for 30 straight days (0/30)
34. Maintain Vegan diet for 30 straight days (0/30)
35. Do not consume anything that I (or someone I know personally) did not prepare for 14 straight days (0/14)
TRAVEL
36. Go on a real vacation (no Scrabble, no outside family)
37. Go to Canada
38. Go to Mexico
39. See the US/Mexico border wall
40. Go to Washington State with Katy and Quinn
Do the following 5 Chicago things: (0/5)
41. Sears Tower
42. Symphony
43. Field Museum
44. Museum of Science and Industry (with special exhibits)
45. Planetarium
46. Take a trip on a train
47. Go backpacking for 4 days without any outside contact
LIVING ON THE EDGE (aka making myself do things that scare me)
48. Camp one night in the woods completely by myself
49. Become pregnant/have another child
50. Ride a horse
Eat the following 5 nasty foods: (0/5)
51. Tongue
52. Brain
53. Snails
54. Pickled Pigs Feet
55. ???
56. Get a tattoo
57. Shoot a gun
58. Feed a cow with my hands
59. Skinny dip in a natural body of water
60. Tell my mom that I do not now, nor will I ever, believe in God or any other phantom of a higher order
61. Take Katy dancing and actually dance
ETC.
62. Have a wardrobe that reflects me
63. Learn how to do a Rubik's Cube
64. Volunteer for Obama during the primaries
65. Volunteer for a candidate I agree with for the presidential election
66. Compost
67. Do not shave or trim beard for 60 days (0/60)
68. Bic beard and head
69. Get a dog (preferably a bulldog)
70. Go ice skating
71. Get a professional massage
72. Give something away that I could have made at least $100 selling
73. Make one meal per week from a recipe (1/143)
74. Take a full lunch hour outside of the office once a week (1/143)
75. Have 30 GB of straight music on my iPod/iTunes (9.3/30)
76. Give $1001 to charities I care about (185/1001)
77. Start a college fund for Quinn
78. Move to Asheville, NC
79. Read a good book about wine
80. Read a good book about beer
81. Taste 300 different beers (6/300)
82. Taste 75 different wines (1/75)
83. Spend over 200 dollars on dinner (Katy and I)
84. Fly a kite
85. Roll down a hill
86. Stay up all night with friends and watch the sunrise
87. Replace all light bulbs with super efficient ones
88. Own a car that gets better than 35 miles to the gallon (preferably better than 40)
89. Do not drive or ride in a car for 30 straight days (could also be, do not purchase gasoline for 60 days) (0/30) or (0/60)
90. Host a party
91. Decide 100 percent definitely whether or not I will ever go back to school
92. Contact a different friend every day for 30 days (0/30)
93. Replace all furniture that we do not like with things that we do (1/3)
94. Go see one movie a month in the theatres (preferably more of course) (0/33)
95. Bike to work at least once (0/1)
96. Perfect a bread recipe
97. Read 50 books (0/50)
98. Chicago addendum: Go see a Bears game
99. Chicago addendum: Go to a Bulls game
100. Chicago addendum: Go to a Blackhawk's game
101. Give $5 to a charity of Katy's choosing for each one of these points not completed
Hopefully, I will be using this blog to track my progress and update the list as things are completed. In the instance of books read, movies watched, etc. I will include titles and dates in separate posts. and edit them as they are completed. I want very much to keep up with this. All of these things are important to me and I feel that if I am able to complete this whole list in 1001 days I will have a lot to look back and and fee good about.
Wish me luck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)