52 Beers in 52 weeks project postponed.

It's been an exciting couple of weeks for me, I exercised my rights as a free agent and I'll now be pitching in the starting line-up for the Pittsburg Pirates. Ah, yeah, I did exercise my rights as a free agent but I'm still not making big league money... we have to live the dream. I've had a busy June and had a stretch earlier this month when I worked nineteen days in a row. I can now say that it was worth every minute. But, during my climb to the next rung of the 9 to 5 ladder my weekly beer reviews fell into obscurity if not shame and near destruction.

I do hope to jump start the Fanatical Recycling Times and type the notes for a few beers I've had and not shared with my loving audience. Keep the faith and I'll attempt to keep you all posted.

Old Hickory Brewery: Brown Mountain Light

So, it ain't Monday and I skipped last week, it's sad that my job prevents me from keeping a regular blog post schedule. Of course that's another story, anyone hiring in the beer industry?



I enjoyed this brew on tap at my favorite local pub Union Jacks. Brown Mnt. came out of the tap with a solid, foamy head. The barkeep stopped the pour to let the head settle down before she filled the glass. There are definitely some vanilla and buttery flavors in here. The color is a light gold, it is at least as light as an Anheusere Bush product and lighter and more transparent than Corona. Without a Budweiser for comparison, this is the lightest beer I have ever seen. I keep starring at the pint glass and determine that the appearance of this brew reminds of of a cider.

Just when I think that the vanilla may be a sensory mirage from the restaurant next door, I taste vanilla again in my next sip. Brown Mnt. Light is a great example of what a craft brewery can do with the American Pilsner style and remains reminiscent of the beers for Milwaukee and St. Louis. It remains refreshing to the last sip and ends with a bit more buttery taste.

I have to give Brown Mnt. a 4 out of 5 pints because it's just so darn light.

Finally, T-shirt Thursday & Deep Thoughts!

Two more Tees in an attempt to begin to ol' shirt count again. These are the only two comic book related shirts in my collection. I read Marvel comics nearly exclusively as an adolescent. Lately, I've been catching up on the backlog of DC comics which I never read in my youth but I'm not gonna run out and buy a DC related shirt. (It's not the best photo ever...)



32 shirts presented and 333 more to count.

More Deep Thoughts;

"If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let 'em go, because, man, they're gone." -- Jack Handey

I assume he is speaking of metal keys rather than figurative keys (ideas.) I never realized that J. H. used so many contractions?

Sierra Nevada Summerfest

This week I have to take a break from writing about our regional craft beers. I had intended to feature Highland Brewing Co's Cold Mnt. Winter Ale but I often enjoy a beer and fail to take notes while drinking it. Cold Mnt. Ale is a very complex plot of a beer and I wouldn't want to write about it based on my memory alone so I'll have some Sierra Nevada Summerfest and write while I drink.

I'm certain that the beverages of the Sierra Nevada Brewery need no introduction. I actually heard a fizzy release of gases when I opened this bottle of Summerfest. It pours with a tiny bit of white head which quickly vanishes. The beer in the bottle had a distinct pilsner aroma which I don't detect from the beer in the glass. On the tongue I detect more body than is found from mass market Am. Style Pilsners and more hops as well. I even detect a hint of wheat beer flavoring which doesn't surprise me.

Craft breweries have a talent for making very mellow light beers reminiscent of the Canadian Lager style. I can only describe these taste impressions as "fresh." That taste of freshness is the reason that Sierra Nevada Summerfest is another seasonal beer I'd like to have available all year.

This one is very difficult to grade, I don't wanna give all the beers an A+. But, I've been reviewing some of my favorite drinks; 5 out of 5 Summerfest pints!

Highland Brewing Co. Oatmeal Porter

Continuing with my appreciation of regional craft brews I return to the Highland Brewing Company's stock for one of their Oatmeal Porters. Highland beers are avaliable at most grocery stores in the Knox Co. area.

The Oatmeal Porter smelled malty and almost chocolaty while still in the bottle. It produced a bit of beige head when poured and smelled very malty from the glass. The first sip is bubbly and thick on the tongue but not syrupy thick. Full bodied, to say the least, I get an impression of coffee flavoring rather than oatmeal. Hops are not apparent to my taste but are certainly blended well, covering any unwanted sweetness in the malt. (The hops strains are not listed with the info on the bottle.)

This is a dark, solid beer in a style that's an old favorite of my own. I highly reccomend this beer if it is avaliable in your neck of the U.S.
4.75 our of 5 pints.

Old Hickory Brewery: Ruby Lager

Here's another brew from North Carolina, another liter from the Old Hickory Brewery. Ruby Lager pours a dark caramel color with a bit of white foamy head. The liquid is as dark as a cola or, again iced tea. The caramel malts are apparent to the nose as well as the eyes. For a lager, this is a very full bodied beer and I even detect hints of chocolate malt. This dark lager reminds me of the Oktoberfest style and is indicative of the inventive nature of our regional craft brewers.

Ruby Lager gets the full 5 out of 5 pints, get one/some if you can!

--Ruby Lager image borrowed from the Old Hickory Brewery.--

Paperback Friday: Alan Dean Foster

Splinter of the Mind's Eye
Copyright 1978, The Star Wars Corporation
First Ballantine Books Hardcover: Feb. 1978
First Paperback Edition: April 1978
Cover Art by Ralph McQuarrie

I read this book when I was just a lad, when the book was first released. When in college I traded my copy of the book at some used book store. Then I found the book again at McKay Used Books for $1.25. I haven't reread the tale yet.


The Day of the Dissonance
Copyright 1984 by Thranx, Inc.
First Printing: September 1984.
A Warner Books Edition



I found this one at the Goodwill Store last year and so far it's just been collecting dust. I'm not a big fan of A. D. Foster as owning only two of his books should indicate. I have read one of his Star Trek Logs and wasn't impressed by the storytelling. I also recall owning his novel Glory Lane but I can't recall ever having read it. I suspect I may have owned that book for the silly cover art alone. I often see Glory Lane on the shelves at McKay Books but have yet to purchase a copy, only time can tell...