The Educated Pour

WE'RE MOVING

2009-09-26T23:09:00.000-07:00

We have a .com! You can now find us at theeducatedpour.com We're bigger, faster, and snobbier. I hope you like red curtains, because we've also just added "Theater View" to our video watching experience. Check it out!

What a downer!

2009-09-25T22:38:00.000-07:00

This guy tells the truth in a creepy way. If you are trying to lose weight or build muscle, alcohol handicaps you in a most extreme way:

Please Excuse The Snobbery: Hipster Brewing

2009-09-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

I'm always keeping an eye out for booze-related news, so when a friend sent me this article from yesterday's New York Times, you'd think I'd be happy. But instead it just inspired The Snobbery.

Having been born and bred in Queens, I have a special contempt for Brooklyn hipsters. They're like East Village hipsters but instead of being talented starving artists with no real purpose, they have jobs as graphic designers and web technicians and just pretend to have no purpose.

Immediately upon reading the article, a few things came to mind:

#1: I bet they read "The New Yorker." Yep.

#2: The operation is being funded entirely by the guy. He is either a) the gay best friend, b) in love with the girl but she "doesn't want to ruin their friendship" and the pathetic sap keeps trying anyhow, or c) boning her. Further research found the third scenario to be case. Well at least he's getting bang for his buck.

#3: They prepared to start a business by taking a seven-week trip through Europe. What? Who decides to spend thousands of dollars on a vacation before investing your life's savings (or rather, his life savings) in a business venture? They claim it was to see if they were compatible. They're already dating each other!

(Besides, everyone knows the best way to ensure unconditional trust between two people is to have some deep dark secret from their past. Instead of spending several grand going through Europe, they could have achieved the same end by going upstate somewhere, murdering a hitchhiker, and hiding the body. That's just smart business.)

#4: Their business plan is assembled on random pieces of paper and, no doubt, a few napkins from their favorite sushi restaurant. They also only sell out of the Brooklyn Flea, which is open only on weekends. Are they really moving that much merchandise that they can cover overhead, support themselves, pay back their investment, AND turn a profit? The economics baffle me.

#5: Each batch only brews a gallon of beer at a time to save space. That's a little under 11 beers, which, for someone like me, is just your average Sunday night. And I'd argue a traditional home brew kit doesn't take up a whole lot of space to begin with.

#6: Screw healthcare. Obamacare is right around the corner! *Conservative facepalm.* Then again, this is the New York Times.

My personal gripes aside, an investigation of their website proves the Brooklyn Brew Shop to be an intriguing option for the home brewer. Their kits are small, but quite inexpensively priced at $40 apiece. And damn, do they have good taste. The kit that gets top billing is for a Belgian-style trippel and they have a wide-array of Belgian yeasts. Furthermore, they seem to be padding their revenue by hosting brewing class/tastings, which might be worth a visit.

I'm curious to see what Tim, our resident home brewer thinks of this. What about you?

The Alcohol Snob

2009-09-06T08:12:00.000-07:00

He's a dick

Drinking Songs: Is Drinking that prevalent in music?

2009-09-03T11:11:00.000-07:00

if love and rejection of it are the #1 theme in music, what's #2? One may think that drinking may be at least in the top 5 most over used themes.

We've all heard drinking references in songs: Country songs about whiskey, irish pub songs about pints of beer, and rap songs about patron and crystal. But are there really enough to say its a worn out theme?

I went through my itunes to see what i could fish out and found only about 75 references of booze out of nearly 2000 songs. Am i missing a truck load of booze tunes? Lemme know what you think

Home Brewing Revolution

2009-08-25T12:48:00.001-07:00

Its estimated that 750,000 americans brew beer as a hobby. Why home brew you ask? Well...

1) For 30 bucks you can make 60+ beers. Thats more than 2 cases of beer or aka 50 cents for a quality beer of your choice. So if an average 6 pack is 7.99 + tax, that means you triple your moneys worth!

2) No preservatives = better tasting and fresher beer

3) Make a beer that fits your exact taste.

4) Be a part of a underground family of brewers

5) As Kevin says, "Take your alcoholism to the next level. Now you don't have to go to a store or bar ever again!"

6) Its fun!

7) Drink Smart, Drink Well

But, as Reading Rainbow's Levar Burton once said, you don't have to take my word for it:

Next week The Educated Pour will dive into home brewing!

Episode 3: Red Wine

2009-08-18T21:37:00.000-07:00

Episode 3 of the ongoing series exploring the wide world of alcohol. This Month: Red Wine.

Good Place, Bad Place: Short #2

2009-08-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

We explore more good and bad places to drink beer.

TAX on Liquor and Wine in NJ: Big deal?

2009-08-08T16:47:00.001-07:00

There has been a big hubbub about the recent tax increase starting this August in New Jersey. The new tax was rumored to be a 25% increase but in reality it is nothing to go crazy over. First of all the increase on tax is between the wholesaler and the retailer. So what does that mean for you? Well, that means that the tax increase does not happen until the retailer gets NEW shipments of your favorite wine and spirits. So how much will it run you to get a typical wine or liquor? In reality it is not 25% more. It comes out to 25-50 cents more. So don't panic, it wont kill you to buy a handle of Captain Morgan or a airplane size shot of vodka. As always Beer is the best choice. No tax on that stuff because its awesome. Drink smart, drink well... drink beer its cheaper and better.

I like my beer like my chocolates: in boxes.

2009-08-02T18:18:00.000-07:00

MillerCoors is testing boxed beer. For $20 you may soon be able to obtain a “draft-beer system” perfect for those occasions when you’d like to drink your Miller or Coors periodically, rather than all at once in a spectacular bacchanal bender. Similar to boxed wine, just stick your “draft-beer system” in the fridge and pour in glorious moderation.

According to this WSJ article this boxed beer concept, along with the Heineken mini-keg are part of a change up in the way major breweries are packaging their beer, in response to a lagging market.

From the WSJ article:

"In this economy, we are seeing an increase in packaging innovation" in consumer-goods industries, said Kara Gruver, head of the North America consumer-products practice at consulting firm Bain & Co. "In many cases, it can be less costly [than creating a new product] and a very effective form of innovation."

Here’s an idea for free. Ready? Mini-wooden casks. Bam. You're welcome.

Beer-ack Obama

2009-07-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

So, today's the day. If you've been following the news at all, you've heard about the controversy surrounding President Obama's comments regarding Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates's arrest in his own home.

I'll put aside my own personal opinions on the matter and the political circus that has ensued to focus on the one important matter: beer.

Today, following an invitation from the President, Gates and his arresting officer will visit the White House so the three men can sit down and share a beer.

For the President: Bud Light. His favorite? Perhaps not, but it at least seems to be an attempt to reach out to blue-collar and middle America. Indeed, it is the same beer suggested to him by the steel workers of Eire, PA during a stop at a bar during his campaign.

On a separate campaign stop, Obama ordered a "5.5-oz. sampler glass of ESP, a Belgian sour ale," that he subsequently nursed and led to another media frenzy.

Why do we care so much about the President's drinking habits? What does a person's choice in beer say about them/their character?

(As an aside, Gates will enjoy Red Stripe, while Sgt. James Crowley--the arresting officer--will imbibe a Blue Moon. C'mon man, at least make it a Hoegaarden!)

The Science of Drinking

2009-07-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me (Kevin), know I studied Psychology in school and plan on making a career in the field. As such, I try to keep up with psychological research and developments. Here are two studies that caught my eye recently.

First, a group of French scientists investigated the effect of music volume on beverage consumption:

"Because everyone is shouting, the bar becomes even noisier and soon people start to give up trying to communicate and focus on their drinking, meaning more trips to the bar, and more regrets in the morning.

Of course this is exactly what bar owners are hoping for. People sitting around quietly nursing their drinks for hours are no good for profits. Talkers aren't the best drinkers."

I recently found myself in a loud bar and thought of this study. The conversation went something like:

Me: Hey! You know why they turn the volume up so loud!?

Friend: What?!

Me: I said, "You know why they turn up the volume so loud!?!"

Friend: WHAT?

Me: Forget it.

Friend: I know! Awesome song, right!

Second, a group of researchers investigated whether a wine's perceived quality had any effect on food consumption. One group received wine labeled as being from California and the other from North Dakota, the former considered higher quality than the latter:

"Actually both groups had been served the same wine, a Charles Shaw Cabernet Sauvignon costing $2.99. All were then served the same three-course meal with the weight of food carefully measured before and after they had eaten.

By measuring the difference, the researchers found that those served wine they thought was from California ate 12% more than those who thought their wine was from North Dakota."

So if you're counting calories this summer, you might be better off fooling your psyche and opting for the cheap stuff. Your wallet will appreciate it, as well.

International Brewers Day!

2009-07-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

Merry International Brewer's Day! This is also the feast day of St. Arnold, the patron saint of Brewers. St. Arnold was born in France. He founded the Abbey of St. Peter in Oudenberg, where he began to brew beer.

With the invention of filtered water like Aquafina and Budlight hundreds of years away, Middle aged drinking water was often unsafe. Beer on the other hand, was safe to drink. During the brewing process, beer was boiled thus removing pathogens -- unknown to the dark-age-brewers of course. St. Arnold encouraged peasants to drink beer rather than water for its "gift of health."

"From man's sweat and God's love, beer came into the world," St. Arnold told his congregation.

So if you see a brewer today, raise your glass to your collective health, and wish them a happy Brewer's Day.

Pro Beer Pong

2009-07-13T08:04:00.001-07:00

CNBC.com posted an article today about the growth of beer pong outside of the college sphere. It seems multi-day tournaments are popping up all over the United States, carrying with them grand prizes in the tens of thousands:

"Last month, players in Atlantic City competed in a three-day tournament for $25,000. And this Labor Day, beer pong, um, "athletes" in California will compete for $10,000 just outside of Los Angeles.

"In January, Las Vegas will host the big showdown, where an estimated 1,000 people will battle in the World Series of Beer Pong, with the winning team (of two) walking away with $50,000."

So, if you're unemployed and looking for a fun weekend, or just looking to relive your college glory, you just might be able to bank some serious cash in the process. Could this be the start of a professional beer pong circuit? Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Flying Fish Brewing Co. ♥ 's the NJ Turnpike

2009-07-09T09:51:00.000-07:00

If you love New Jersey and you love beer, Flying Fish has something just for you. The largest craft brewery in the Garden State announced the release of "Exit 11" Hoppy American Wheat Beer. Exit 11 is the second release in the "Exit Series" -- kicked off by Exit 4 -- and the series is slated to continue, "with three or four beers a year, to eventually encompass all turnpike exits," according to the brewing co.'s press release.

Even if Jerzey pride isn't your thing, taste may win you over in the end. Exit 11 is 50 percent Belgian pale malt and 50 percent white wheat -- a concoction that is sure to be a perfectly refreshing summer brew.

Drinkers to the Economy: We don't care!

2009-07-07T22:46:00.000-07:00

A recent Gallup poll finds that drinking habits in the United States have remained steady across the board despite the recession. It does, however, point out that consumers may be substituting less expensive products in order to accomodate this trend.

It also states that the results of our own poll are so far not representative of the overall American population:

Beer continues to beat out wine and liquor as the beverage consumers of alcohol say they drink most often. Four in 10 drinkers say they prefer beer, compared with 34% naming wine and 21% liquor.

More than half of men prefer beer, while an even 50% of women state they prefer wine. Just further proof that Matt is a little girl.

Speaking of wine, winemakers in Australia are facing a crisis due to an over-supply of vino. In fact, there is so much wine on the market, that a bottle can cost less than water:

Major wine retailer Dan Murphy's is currently selling cleanskins for $1.99 a bottle - cheaper than some

bottled water - due to the oversupply crisis that has led to some vineyard owners leaving grapes to

wither on the vine.

Although the wine in question is the cheapest of the cheap, I wouldn't be surprised to see the price of Australian wines across the board decline in the coming months, so keep your eyes peeled for some good deals out there.

Good Place, Bad Place

2009-07-07T04:40:00.001-07:00

A short lesson in beer etiquette.

I Thought Arrests Were Also Required

2009-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

I Stand Corrected

2009-06-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Matt explains an error he made in the alcohol debate. (If you see an ad for "FlicforMac" in there somewhere, we had some irresolvable equipment issues.)

Turn Heads

2009-06-23T07:47:00.001-07:00

I understand that in representing Liquor, I am at something of a disadvantage in this debate, at least among our target demographic. Young 20-somethings typically have far more experience with beer and wine at this point in their lives. Just why is beyond me. This is the demographic that is also most enthusiastic about binge drinking, so you would think Liquor would be a favorite. But alas, ‘tis not. Having more experience with something doesn’t necessarily make it better. Like a teenage boy who spends too much time with his right hand, you’re probably just painfully unaware of the far superior alternative.

To be blunt, if you’re looking to have a drink, then at least have a DRINK. If you weren’t looking to feel a little tipsy, have yourself a Kool-Aid. Oh, but you’re gonna sober up later, before driving home? Ah, but it only takes one hand to scroll through your phone as you search for a designated driver, leaving the other one free to prepare yourself a refreshing Mojito. Oh, you don’t like liquor? Of course not, but you didn't like beer at first either, did you? Yet we all know how that turned out, don't we. Yes, Liquor is an acquired taste, but once you've got it, nothing else will compare. Is concentrated orange juice as good as freshly-squeezed? Or are implants as good as real double-Ds? The answer, of course, is no.

Liquor’s best feature is its chameleon-like adaptability. Ever go to a raging kegger and ask the host for his wine list? Or have you ever been at a fancy restaurant with a date and asked the waiter to bring over his finest Miller Lite? I think not. Like a role-playing lover, Liquor can be whatever you want it to be. Want to be classy? Go with a martini. Want to be a Class-A mess? Throw back a few (dozen) shots of tequila. You can drink Liquor out of elaborate cocktail glasses or a cheap paper bag.

Furthermore, Liquor’s mixability is not something to be casually overlooked. While beer and wine are trapped within their natural flavors, Liquor can interact with just about anything. While beer and wine are loners at the corner of the bar, Liquor is a true socialite, a swinger unlike any other. Got a sweet tooth? Make it a Cape Cod or Screwdriver. Need to add some calcium to your diet? How’s about a White Russian or Sombrero. Feeling feminine? Have yourself an adorably pink Cosmopolitan or the sultry Sex on the Beach.

Yes, its flexibility is one of the things that makes Liquor a standby in any variety of situations. Your typical bar won’t have much in the way of a wine selection, so not only will you look like a tool for ordering some there, you’re also not getting top-notch booze when you ask for whatever generic brand they uncorked three weeks ago. Similarly, the sheer volume inherent in storing beer limits the number of varieties a restaurant or catering hall can carry, very often leaving you to choose among the most common domestic draughts and perhaps a few bottled imports.

Beer’s volume is a problem at private parties as well. Anyone who dormed at college knows—excuse me I need to go to the bathroom—it’s far easier to sneak a night’s worth of liquor past security than a night’s worth of beer. And then you’re left with dozens or hundreds of empty cans/bottles—excuse me I need to go to the bathroom—that need to be cleaned up and disposed of. And did I forget to mention—excuse me I need to go to the bathroom—the effect of beer’s volume on your bladder? Long lines at the toilets are common at every bar or frat party. And then, even after the night is over, you’re still liable to wet the bed (not guilty), take a blacked-out trip to the bathroom and pass out on its floor (guilty), or wind up in someone else’s bed entirely (also guilty--sorry man, it was dark).

Finally, I’d like to point out the artistry involved in serving Liquor. Serving beer is just a question of popping open a bottle and handing it to you. Perhaps you’ll meet a tender who prides himself on presenting a glass with the proper amount of head, but he is a rare breed. Wine sommeliers bring with them a slightly higher standard, what with the ritualistic presentation of a bottle before uncorking and tasting. But the mixing of a cocktail is a skill honed over years of experimentation. The knowledge of glassware, the proper way to affix the appropriate garnish, and the entertainment of flare bar tending are exclusive to the world of Liquor. Wine and Beer, eat your hearts out.

So go for it. The next time you find yourself surrounded by the bored and boring, order up some Liquor. You'll turn heads.

Cheers,

Kevin

Wine Offers You More

2009-06-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Arguing about which alcoholic drink is the best -- wine, liquor or beer -- will in the end hinge on a factor over which we have no control: Which tastes better to you?

That is a decision that you and your palate develop sans outside advice for the most part. However, I want to tell you why wine offers you more than liquor or beer, in case you’re still on the proverbial fence when it comes to taste.

Let’s look at three considerations: the range of ways wine can be enjoyed, which I’ll call Versatility; the world of color and taste that wine offers, that’s Diversity; and the benefits to your Health that come from drinking certain wines.

Versatility

Wine goes well with food. A similar argument could be mounted for beer, but a list of “beer food” will only include a limited assortment of culinary characters: hot dogs, burgers, fries, etc; in Germany the list expands to include sausage and sausage-like products, not to mention the krauts. Yum. And as for drinking liquor with meals? Good luck tasting anything.

Wine, on the other hand, can be paired with most every good meal you enjoy. Red wine like Pinot Noir and Shiraz bring out the best in a hearty steak or lamb. Chicken -- broiled, baked, or breaded -- goes great with Chardonnay. You can even pour Riesling when your tasting Thai food. Pairing food and wine is half the expertise of a good restaurant. And since there is no perfect pair between a meal and a wine, you’re free to experiment and find what you enjoy the most.

In the art of bingeing, Wine is at a disadvantage to liquor and beer; but maybe that’s not such black eye (In fact, French MPs encouraged youth to drink wine rather than uselessly binge on liquor, referred to in French as “le binge-drinking” -- seriously). Bingeing is a whatever-gets-the-job-done affair, like settling for the girl or guy with the snaggle tooth because everyone else has gone home already. Wine will get you to the point where it’s severely illegal to drive a car, no doubt; but that’s not always what you want from alcohol. Sometimes you just want to relax. For relaxation a glass of wine will do you fine.

A single glass of wine usually contains twice as much alcohol as a 12 oz bottle of beer. So to achieve the equivalent of a 5 oz glass, you find yourself two to three bottles in and all of a sudden you understand why you’ve never heard the phrase “wine belly.” Liquor, on the other hand, contains an average 40 percent alcohol per volume compared to Wine’s 10 percent, which is like using a fire hose to water your plants. That’s what cocktails and mixed drinks are for, someone might posit; but that broaches another argument -- taste.

Here is where Versatility and Diversity segue nicely. When you want to relax with a drink, Wine gives a world of choices, subtle to strong, where beer and liquor often leave you hanging.

Let’s take liquor as our first example. Liquor has plenty of different flavors, but they’re all terrible. (Even Schnapps; if you get sick just once off of Schnapps your body will never let you drink it again.) “It’s an acquired taste” is the argument for straight liquor -- whisky on the rocks, extra dry martini, tequila shots, etc. But that’s code for: “This is horrid stuff, but you get used to it.” Cocktails and mixed drinks merely hide liquor’s taste behind sugar and carbonation. Wine does not have to hide. Wine tastes good.

The latter argument resonates strongest if your are a naturalist about what you like to drink. Naturally, wine is a wide open experience. If you prefer a light touch then wine has Pinot Grigio and Zifandel for you. If complexity reflects you better then a dark red like Cabernet Sauvignon will give you something to ponder. If you’re a Mama Bear who likes the middle, there’s hundreds of choices there too. Beer, admittedly, shares the advantage of Diversity, so in the end that argument will come down to whether you prefer grapes or hops.

Now to Health. Is wine good for you? According to studies like the one recently reported on by MSNBC, “In moderation and as part of an overall healthy diet, the short answer is yes!”

The long answer is that if you drink the right amount of wine, it has been shown to lower your chances of heart disease, certain cancers, and neurological degenerative disorders like Parkinson’s. Drink too much, however, and your health suffers, as with any other alcohol. What’s the right amount?

For men its no more than two glasses a day. For women no more than one.

You can check out more yourself here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21478144/

So raise a wine glass, it’s better for you.

A last consideration that I didn’t mention before is style. Each drink makes you look a certain way when you drink it, and we all started drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes to look cool like those camels in leather jackets and aviators you see everywhere, surrounded by pouty-looking models.

Tough is not the traditional vision exuded by wine. James Bond doesn’t order a Pinot before he sacks a Bond girl. They don’t toss bottles of Malbec to you in Yankees Stadium. Really, a drink’s style will be what you make it. I’ll take a bottle of wine to a ball game, if they don’t confiscate it first, because it’s cheaper than a 8 dollar plastic cup of Bud light (no doubt Kevin already takes a hip flask, touche Kevin). Does it really matter what James Bond orders? Most of it’s advertising. ~~Bombay Sapphire sales shot up after Daniel Craig ordered a Bombay martini with lemon twist in Casino Royale.~~* But do you ever see him actually drink more than a sip of it? No! He’s a British secret agent. He’s not getting toasted; but gin’s paying better than Bacardi at the moment.

Admittedly, I probably won’t order wine in a bar, unless its a wine bar. Beer and bar go together. If I’m going to a bender, I’ll expect to see liquor and beer in abundance. But understand, when I’m home you know I’m going to have a good wine ready. When I’m taking somebody out to a restaurant, I’m thinking about what wine goes best with pasta cabanara. When I’m looking for something new and exciting to take home, I’m heading to the Wine Section of my local liquor store.

Cheers,

Matt

*Incorrect sourcing: Bombay Sapphire was not used in Casino Royale. Leave it to my gin friend to notice.

Beer Is the Best

2009-06-21T11:04:00.000-07:00

FACT: Beer is the third most consumed beverage world wide behind WATER and TEA. Therefore making it the most popular alcoholic drink. 6.7 billion beer fans cant be wrong. (Yea that’s right it even beats coffee. Take that Starbucks!)

FACT: Beer was the first alcoholic drink. We got a little thing called experience under our belt, which are underneath our proud beer bellies

(Kind of )FACT: Beer has the widest range of ABV. While your wine will generally range from 13-15% abv and Liquor will range from Strong to… strong (40%-50% abv.) Beer can range from water (3% abv) to manly yet drinkable (25% abv)

FACT: Best known movie about beer: Beer Fest. Booyah! Best known movie about wine: Sideways zzzzzzzzzzzz (snore) Best known movie about Liquor. Hmmmm um well there is that one scene in Sandlot when the SONG tequila is played and they all puke. That’s pretty funny I guess.

Lets take a look at liquor. It is said to be an acquired taste. Well I guess if you drink rubbing alcohol enough you could get used to it before your liver decides to move to Nebraska. Fucking Nebraska. But alas, you can mix in juice, special water AND put in fruit! But, did Picasso need viewers of his art to wear 3-D glasses? Did Shakespeare have a laugh track to make his comedies funny? Was there free coffee at the Loyola Coffeehouse when Otis is the Elevator played? Well maybe that last one, but I digress.

Why pay for these expensive spirits only to have to buy more junk to fondle around, figuring out how much crud put in to make garbage taste like orange flavored garbage. I mean, I could put whip cream and put it on a cow pie but it wont taste like pie, I assure you this. Adding a mixer is like a girl who cakes on makeup thinking she’s fooling people into thinking she has smooth skin. Having to add a mixer in order for your liquor to taste good is like buying a computer and saying “Hey can you put a Mac sticker on my Dell to make it look cooler and better than it actually is?
How many times have we heard girls say, “Oh my God, you have to try this? You can’t even taste the (Insert liquor here)!” What’s the point of even choosing a liquor if your just going to hide it. Sure it will get you sloppy wasted and burn a hole in your pocket at the tiki bar but why not savor the fruits of a brewers labor as opposed to enjoying fruit disguising Popov a bartender, at best, put together in a dirty shaker.

Now lets take a look at wine. I love wine don’t get me wrong. It’s delicious and pairs wonderfully with food. However as many of my wine associates would agree, wine jargon is all a bunch of Nebraska. Fucking Nebraska. The difference between red wines is so fine even if you are pairing them side by side, the taste difference is minimal. Furthermore, anyone who has ever actually gotten really drunk on wine can tell you the next day it was an awful idea.

The wine world tries to make everything confusing in order to keep you down while the Beer world welcomes you with warm arms and a foamy head. Wine labels make absolutely no rhyme or reason. Sometimes the grape name is in large letter s, sometimes the growers name is in big letters, and sometimes the type of wine you are buying is the fine print on the back! When you walk into a wine store you never know what you are going to get because labels, sections, and years that are good, are constantly in flux. However, in the beer world you will be comforted by the simple selection of domestic beers for partying, the selection of imports for every taste, and then a lovely selection of microbrews and Belgians for the explorer. All beers labeled very simply: Brewers name and type of beer. Best of all, the taste will be the same year after year.
There is a Beer for all occasions and seasons. It comes in all sorts of sizes, colors, tastes, and body. They have light beer for that crisp refreshing taste on a hot summer day. That thick stout or porter for a cold winter night. That pumpkin ale to get you in the Halloween spirit. They even have springtime ales to transition you from the cold to the warm! Every beer can taste different and give you a sense of phantasmagoria as the complex flowery hops tickle your taste buds and warm your soul. It can pair well with food like wine. It can get you wasted like liquor. There is an entire culture of gaming surrounding it because it is the only real alcohol an average Joe can chug or drink heavy loads of. On the other hand it can be as elegant as wine or liquor. See a Duvel being poured into its signature glass and try not to tear with joy.

FACT: Beer tastes good from the beginner drinker to the drinking enthusiast. You can even get a good beer in Nebraska. Fucking Nebraska

Cheers,

Tim

Announcing the first Educated Pour Debate!

2009-06-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Matt: do you want to have a written debate?
Matt: about alcohol preferences
Kevin: I guess we'd each write up a piece supporting our territory
Matt: say you did one on liquor, what would i counter with
Matt: wine is better?
Kevin: yeah, we just each make our case
Kevin: I'm actually working on mine now
Matt: kk, just send to me when your done
Kevin: so you can respond to all of my arguments?
Kevin: I guess you'd have to resort to such low tactics
Matt: send yours to tim
Matt: and he'll post it
Kevin: nah, he's got to write one too
Matt: i already have my beginning
Kevin: how about this... we announce the debate now
Kevin: and post them next week.
Kevin: and ask people to vote at the end of the week
Matt: okay, that's fair
Matt: so we're writing why each is the best over the two others?
Kevin: right
Matt: and i gather your argument is something along the lines of it has a greater substantial influence on humanity than the less complex, less manly competitors
Kevin: I didn't go for that angle specifically
Kevin: it's more implied
Matt: sounds like you're out for blood
Kevin: only because I'm right

The Debate will be posted like so:

The argument for Beer by Tim Hillmann will be posted on Sunday.
The argument for Wine by Matt Lindeboom will be posted on Monday.
The argument for Liquor by Kevin Hughes will be posted on Tuesday.

May the best buzz win!

Cheers.

I Call Him Squishy

2009-06-16T07:58:00.001-07:00

Gin: A Brief History and Taste Test

2009-06-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

The Educated Pour presents a short history of gin. Kevin hosts the taste test. See if you can tell where Matt mispronounces the herb, anise, and where Kevin out performs him by pronouncing it correctly.

Just Be Glad I Didn't Name You Dogfish Head

2009-06-12T07:34:00.000-07:00

An Intimate Conversation With: Gin

2009-06-10T19:40:00.000-07:00

K: Ginny, can I talk to you?

G: Of course, Kevin. What about?

K: Well, we're discussing you in our next video and they asked me to write a primer on our blog. I just don’t know where to start. I mean, we’ve been through so much together.

G: That’s true. Ours has been a whirlwind romance.

K: How can I summarize into a few hundred words what you mean to me? It would do you a disservice.

G: Well, why don’t you start at the beginning and worry about all that later?

K: That’s true. It was that night at the country club.

G: Was that really the beginning? Wow, I’d forgotten about that.

K: I know, seems so long ago. But you were my first, so I guess it’s held a special place in my heart.

G: I was your first?

K: Heh, yeah, believe it or not.

G: I always thought Stella was your first.

K: Oh no. She came later.

G: In Europe.

K: Gas station parking lot, actually. But that’s another story.

G: A gas station! Hah! And she’s always so prissy.

K: Hey, leave her out of this. I love her too, you know.

G: No wonder the country club is such a fond memory, if you’re screwing around in gas stations with supposedly classy girls.

K: She IS classy. And we weren’t in the station itself, we were in a car. God, I can’t believe I’m telling you this. Point is, you were my first.

G: Well, I’m flattered. And still kind of surprised. Most guys I know screw around with their Buds a bit before they have the guts to even look at me.

K: You’re pretty intimidating, Ginny. If I knew what I was getting into at the time, who knows where we’d be now.

G: Certainly not a gas station parking lot.

K: Yeah, that’s true. I guess that’s what I’ve always liked about you. It’s kind of tough to denigrate you. I could never imagine you at a frat party.

G: Oh please, they wouldn’t even let me in the door. I’m quite content to leave that scene to Jim and Jack.

K: I remember at the end of college, that final prom thing. What was it called? The Ball?

G: Gala, I believe.

K: Right. I remember holding you all night, and the way all the other guys looked at me. It was like they were simultaneously jealous and impressed.

G: The girls too.

K: You see? Whenever I’m with you, it turns heads. You’re just so different and mature. People don’t know what to make of us.

G: I’d also like to point out that I was covered in olive juice that night.

K: Heh, well you know me. Sometimes I like it dirty.

G: I bet little Miss Stella would never do that for you.

K: Ginny....

G: Fine, fine. I’ll stop. But let me just say you’d catch her at a frat party LONG before me.

K: Yeah, you’re more of a summertime, beach girl.

G: Oh, there’s no place I’d rather be.

K: Remember that trip down to Cancun?

G: You were insatiable.

K: Every time I kissed you I just wanted more.

G: How could I forget? I can’t even count the number of times you had me. On the beach...

K: By the pool...

G: IN the pool...

K: The mini-golf place...

G: The hotel lobby...

K: The hotel room?

G: Hrm. You know, I can’t recall any specific time.

K: Huh. Strange.

G: But that was after Europe, wasn’t it? And we didn’t really become close until then.

K: I don’t want to talk about it.

G: Sure you do. What was that girl’s name?
K: I said I don’t want to talk about it.

G: Oh, she had such beautiful, long auburn hair. Was that what attracted you to her?

K: More like an ass you could bounce a quarter off of.

G: You mean a Euro.
K: Whatever. It was all a misunderstanding anyway.

G: What’s there not to understand? You asked her out, she said yes, then changed her mind.

K: Ginny, you can be a real bitch sometimes.

G: So then you tell it.

K: She loved Tanqueray, so I thought it would be nice to get a bottle and have gin and tonics after our date.

G: Which never happened.

K: Do you mind? Anyway, I couldn’t find Tanqueray, so I picked up Sapphire. Then two days later I spotted a Tanqueray in an airport duty free.

G: So when she backed out, you had two bottles without a purpose.

K: Yeah, and only about a month before I returned to the States.

G: Oh yes, you and I became quite close that month.

K: Quite.

G: You see, Kevin, I’ve always been there for you. And always will be. I’ll never string you along just to knock you down.

K: I did almost miss my college graduation because of you.

G: Ah, but that’s only because you needed consoling the night before. Rejected and hurt by another girl. But I’ll never reject you. And I’ll never blame or criticize you. Not even your mother can say that.

K: No. No, she can’t. Though she’s considerably less creepy.

G: Don’t blame me. This conversation’s in YOUR head after all.

K: That’s true. Oh, Ginny, what would I do without you?

G: Let’s hope we never have to find out.

A Brief History of Beer

2009-06-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

What was the connection between beer and marriage proposals in ancient Egypt? Tim Hillmann shines a light on the fascinating history of beer; following that, The Educated Pour does a taste test of light, medium, and dark beers. Which is right for you? Click play below and find out.