Family, Friends, Great Beer, Road Trip and a Toast to a Beer Legend

Took a couple days off so it was slow on the brewing front, but I did get to taste some good beer. Here's a list of all that was offered over the weekend in various parts of Pennsylvania. Rogue Dead Guy, Rogue Glen Ale from the John's Locker Stock, Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA, Yeungling Lager, Bell's Kalamazoo Stout, Bell's IPA, Bell's Porter, Brooklyn Brewery Lager, Spaten Oktoberfest, Penn Oktoberfest, Victory, Dogfish Head and on and on.. As you can see there wasn't a shortage of good beer to choose from. The best part was that I hadn't planned on seeking it out. It just kept showing up :-)

Lots of driving involved this weekend and some incredible weather to do it in. What a great opportunity to take the RX-7 for a spin. I put a bunch of miles on this ol' car and it took it like a champ. Can you see the huge smile on my face cruising through the mountains down country roads, windows down and music flowing? I'm wishing I was still there.

The weekend came to a close with the Michael Jackson Memorial Toast over at The Drafting Room in Exton. Gavin and I headed over and grabbed a Rogue Glen Ale in preparation for the toast. Bryan from The Brew Lounge led it in the absense of Patrick the beer manager. It was low key and respectful and somehow very full of good energy.

Cheers!

Michael Jackson Memorial Toast: The Drafting Room!

I'll be raising a pint at 9:00 PM Sunday night over at TDR in Exton, PA in honor of the late Michael Jackson.

The Drafting Room

I think I'll have to watch one or two of those Beer Hunter episodes too.

-Cheers

Michael Jackson mentioned on NPR: 09-04-2007 Fresh Air

Bloggers note:
Welcome to those of you visiting from Personal Finance Advice. Beer Bits 2 is a blog where I post daily about home brewing and other beer related topics. Take a look around. There are even some time lapse videos of hops growing and beer fermenting over there on the right.

For those of you interested in a good introduction to beer via a comparison to wine. Follow the link below. Fast forward to the 40 min 43 second mark in the podacst to hear the interview with the late Michael Jackson.

-Adam

NPR: 09-04-2007 Fresh Air

Stories: 1) Author Stephen Walt Takes On 'The Israel Lobby' 2) Anti-Defamation League Takes On Stephen Walt 3) In Memory of Michael Jackson, King of Beer"

(Interview starts around 40 min 43 seconds in)

---> Click here to listen to this podcast on your computer. <---

.

A Toast to Michael Jackson Sept 30th

Here are the details. Count me in.
http://michaeljacksonthebeerhunter.blogspot.com/2007/09/join-national-toast-sept-30.html

Lew Bryson, Tom Peters and Scoats @ The Grey Lodge etc. seem to coordinating some efforts in this area (Southeastern PA)
http://lewbryson.blogspot.com/2007/09/toast-to-michael-jackson.html

I'll bet there will be all kinda ways to donate.

Some events already planned on upcoming.com...
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/tag/mjbeerhunter/

Link to flyer
http://www.beerhunter.com/toast/jackson_poster_8.5x11.pdf

Cheers!

The Session: Cinderbock & Michael Jackson

I wrote earlier this week...

This is a hold over from my days over at The Brew Lounge. I'm really trying to focus more on brewing and less on "off the shelf" beer, but I really enjoy stuff like this. Not to mention it gets people to come to my site ;-)

Anyway, Stan over at Appelation beer started this thing a long time ago. Every first Friday of the month a blogger/site hosts The Session. They pick a theme. Fellow sites/blogs typically have beer and blog about it. That's the drill. We're stuck with it until everybody in the beer blogosphere has had a turn. At the rate it is growing these days I'd say there's little chance of that ever happening ;-)

Check out Rick's intro over here...
Lyke 2 Drink: The Session #7: Lions and Tigers and Beers, Oh My!

My pick will be Cinderbock from now defunct Heavyweight Brewing. There's a smokin' goat on the label. I'm choosing this for a variety of reasons. I didn't want to buy any beer. It is the only beer I have left with an animal on it. I don't put labels on my homebrew so that was out. Heavyweight is interesting to people because it doesn't exist anymore. Any smokin' animal is fun to talk about. And oh yeah, I absolutely love tasting this beer.

In the spirit of Rick Lyke's dedication I think this will conclude my mourning of Michael Jackson's passing here on the blog. Still not sure why it hit me so hard. Here's to you M. J.! I wonder if you ever tasted this wonderful brew.

So Tom Baker brewed this beer and it is good. Cinderbock is amazing. I've never had a beer taste so good at room temperature. This might be the secret to this beer. Not that the smokin' goat on the front wasn't influential in the selection process. Hell, the goat is why I'm talking about this beer for this iteration of The Session.

Get some cheese. The kind you like. Then crack one of these babys open and enjoy at room temp. Not too sweet, but malty. Not too smokey, but delicious. Kinda like good smoked salmon. If you were dying of hunger this would be the meal you should enjoy in honor of your death.

Just one more thing to say. This beer kicks ass. There isn't much of it left out there. I only have one more bottle after this. (Heavyweight is defunct) Here's to you Tom Baker and Heavyweight Brewing! May your soul carry forth.

The Beer Fox writes a bit about Michael Jackson and his passing

The main article about Michael.
Michael Jackson Passes Away - World Beer & Whiskey Authority

The forum post in BellaOnline.
Michael Jackson Passes Away - A Tribute - BellaOnline Forums

Via Home Sweet Homebrew: National Toast to Michael Jackson

Via a newsletter from Home Sweet Homebrew in Philly. I'm running out the door, so I don't have time to look for a site or link with more information.

"There is a proposed National Toast to Michael Jackson at many beer bars coast
to coast on September 12, with proceeds from the bars to go to the National
Parkinson’s Foundation. Please consider joining in and contributing something to
the Memorial Fund."

Update: Looks like September 30th is the new date. Check out this post from Toranado.

Beer Haiku Daily - Michael Jackson

A good toast if you'll be toasting Michael.

Beer Haiku Daily - Michael Jackson

OMG...the beer blogosphere cries out over Michael Jackson's passing.

Check out RSBS over at beerinator.

I wonder if he knew how many people he has touched. If he didn't then perhaps he does now.

I'm in awe.

The Passing of Michael Jackson.

I didn't know Michael Jackson very well , but, I did get to meet him recently. Sometimes people can affect you in even the shortest of encounters. Such is the case with Mr. Jackson.

I'm sorry to hear of his passing. He was a kind soul indeed.

I'll uphold my promise to read John Barleycorn as he suggested during our brief conversation.

Cheers Mr. Jackson!