Archive for December, 2007
BTotD #4 - The Smell is Swell
Welcome back all my fellow beer drinkers out there. This next one is just a short tip for those who are looking for the full experience here.† If you remember from BTotD #1, your perception of taste is drastically affected by you sense of smell. From some research that I did on the internet (a quick google search), your sense of smell affects the way something tastes by up to 75%. From some other research that I’ve done (listened to a podcast), it is said that your first smell of a beer is the most important. So how do we make that first smell of a new beer count? Use a coaster.
No this isn’t some random way for me to get you to save your furniture from unsightly rings. You actually cover the TOP of the glass with the coaster. While you are doing the four step beer tasting process (Look, Agitate, Smell, Drink), you cover the top of the glass with a coaster while agitating the beer (the cheap paper coasters from bars, applebees, and the sort work real well and keep you from getting in trouble for making all you coaster smell like beer). Then when you go lift the coaster to smell your beer, all those good smells have been trapped for your smelling pleasure.
One other small tip. Unless you are using a really big glass, only fill the glass about 3/4 of the way full. This gives you room to agitate the beer without covering your coaster with beer. This also gives your beer room to breath. After you’ve tasted the beer, then you fill it up the rest of the way.
So here is your homework. Get a beer that you haven’t tried before (or haven’t tried in a glass before) and taste it straight from the bottle. Then try the coaster method and see how much of a difference it makes.
Until next time, enjoy your beer.
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iPhone Update
It has been a few months since Shannon and I got our iPhones. I must say….THEY STILL ROCK!!!! Yes I have become a complete sell-out for Apple. I would buy Apple underwear if they existed (especially since the kind I like are no longer made…there’s nothing harder than finding a new brand of underwear). The iPhone has completely changed my life.We use our iPhones all the time. The main features being email, maps, and searching the internet. I always have my email with me now. I love having the ability to respond to someone’s question right there on the spot.I don’t know how many times the google maps feature has kept me from driving around aimlessly for hours looking for a customer or a friend’s address. And I love being able to look up the answers to random questions right there on the spot. “How many ounces are in a pound?” “Does ExpressJet fly to Austin?” “How old is Barrak Obama?”If I didn’t have my iPhone, I would just be making stuff up like I use to. But now I actually know the answers.(So you’re wondering why doesn’t he use the phone feature…I do. We just get really bad service at our house…So I would rather text.)
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BTotD #3 - Drink, Drink, Drink
‘So I’ve been listening to a lot of what I have learned about beer has come friends, podcasts, and the beeradvocate.com. One of the greatest tips I learned was from the podcast beerschool.com. It is as follows…it takes three drinks of a beer to really know if you like it.
Before you look at the reason for three drinks, go to the beeradvocate.com article on How to Taste Beer. There are certain steps to drinking a beer (Look, Agitate, Smell, Taste).
This one sounded a little weird to me when I first heard it, but I have found it to be so true. Here is the reason why. Drink one cleans your pallet from all the weird tastes that are already in it (for instance I have the coffee taste in my mouth right now). Drink two is for the retro-olfaction process.† This is where you swish the beer around in your mouth and exhale after you drink the beer.
“This process of exhaling is called “retro-olfaction” and will release retained stimulations at the mucus and mouthfeel level, but at a higher temperature.” - beeradvocate.com
Drink Three gives you your final overall taste of the beer giving you a full experience of what the beer really tastes like.
Like I said I thought this was crazy talk. But as I started doing this, I noticed that certain beers that I thought I didn’t like after one drink I started to like after three.† As a side note, this works for any drink: beer, wine, Dr. Pepper.
So here is your homework for this tip. Take a beer that you had discredited before and give it the three drink chance. You never know you might find that you’ve found your new favorite beer.
Until next time, enjoy your beer.
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Five Wishes
So I was thinking about writing a really nice piece on how we should all think about reaching out to those who are less fortunate this year for Christmas. But I figure everyone has already heard that already. So I’ve decided to write about something that I imagine no one really has heard yet this year. What I want for Christmas….
Yeah I know this is self centered…but I’m self centered so it’s ok.
Number 5: Wii
Nintendo has done it! I’ve said this for years. I could care less about better graphics. Just give me a game that is fun to play. The Wii has done that. The fact that Shannon even loves to play the Wii has got to account for something (plus the fact that they have basically been sould out since their debute). I “borrowed” my brother-in-laws for a few months, and I must say the experience was amazing. I went pro in every sport on Wii Sports (except Baseball…but it’s really just a passtime anyways…so it doesn’t count). Plus some good friends of ours are going to be getting one for Christmas…so that just means more people to play with.
Number 4: Guitar Hero III
Now if I got with number , I would want this for the Wii. But I must say that I nearly wet myself when we were walking through Target the other day and they have it for the Mac. Yes you heard me right…the Mac. Someone should get a raise for this bright idea. In all honesty, I probably won’t use a Wii that much…but I would for sure use this on my Mac. This has got be one of the best games ever invented. I can play regular guitar…but I’m never going to put in the time to learn how to play the songs that are on this game. This just allows me to live out every marginal guitar players dream…to play like a rock god!
Number 3: MacBook Pro
Let’s just say that this would be a nice addition to anyone’s enormously oversided stocking this Christmas year. I’ve wanted a laptop for a long time. The ability to take my work with me everywhere I go would be nice. Plus, it’s Apple…so I have to buy it at some point.
Number 2: Taylor 314ce Guitar
I’ve been in love with Taylor Guitars since the first time I played my friend Tim’s in college. I’ve just never been able to find anything that sounds as good as they do. And their new Expression pickup system is amazing. I know some people sware by Gibson…but I just have to go back to Taylor every time.
Number 1: A Butt Load of Cash
Really, when have you ever said to yourself, “I don’t need a butt load of cash…” Never. This would allow me to quit my job and do whatever the heck I want. I could also buy items 5 through 4 on this list. I think everyone should get a butt load of cash for Christmas. But if you only have one butt load of cash to give away this Christmas season…please remember me.
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Acts 29
Some of you know that I eventually plan to plant a church in Albuquerque. I’m just waiting on God’s timing and some good training before I do. So in the mean time I’ve been doing a lot of reading and listening to a lot of podcasts. Through reading and the direction of my pastor, I came across Acts 29 Network . These guys rock! If you are thinking about planting a church or have a friend who is, you really need to check them out. There are one of the first groups I’ve found who really stand for truth and love. I just thought I would give them a quick shout out.
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BTotD #2 - Pour Equals More
So it has been a little while since I posted my first Beer Tip of the Day. So, I thought I better put up another one. Things have been a little hectic and nobody really responded to my first one. I’m also going to add a new feature to the BTotD…homework. So if you like what you are reading let me know and I’ll try to do these more often. So here is today Beer Tip. There is a certain way that you are suppose to pour beer into a glass.
In the last BToD, I told you why you need to drink you beer from a glass, but how are you suppose to pour your beer into that glass?
Good question!!! Here is how:
1. Hold you glass at a 45° angle.
2. Pour your beer aiming at the middle of the wall of the glass.
3. When the glass is half way full, turn the glass to a 90° angle.
4. Continue to pour the beer until the glass if full.
See a video here.
This will give your beer the right mixture of air and beer releasing all these wonderful smells that come along with great beer. These are some just general steps and each glass and beer are a little different (I don’t turn my glass to a 90° angle until the glass is 3/4 full). It will take a little bit of practice, but you’ll get it down.
Homework: Commit to pouring your next 6 beer’s in a glass and seeing how much the flavor changes.Until next time, enjoy your beer.
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Baby Update!
Sorry it has taken so much time to post an update on the state of the baby. Shannon and the baby are doing fine. We had a couple of scares with some bleeding, but everything is fine. We’ve had several ultrasounds and we’ve heard the baby’s heart beat. The doctors have said that everything should be clear sailing from here on out.
Shannon is currently at 16 weeks. Her nausea has gone away and she is feeling better than ever. We will have her next appointment in January and should find out the babies sex shortly thereafter.
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