from the twisted minds of snm
Next in the variety pack is this not commonly seen german style, Kellerbeir. Pours hazy medium amber, medium light head. Medium hop aroma, medium bitter that stays even throughout. Malt and grain is not pronounced, fairly dry mouthfeel and finish. Pretty easy drinking.
3 out 4 unfiltered monkeys.
I’ve noticed something in my recent orders from Amazon, and it kinda bugs me. It’s the shipping. Pay more or get a membership and you get faster shipping, opt for cheaper and you get slower shipping, right? I usually am not in a rush so usually go cheaper, but noticed it wasn’t slower shipping, rather you are paying to get your stuff sooner. Instead of sending the items out cheaper USPS, which sometimes would arrive quite fast, they would hold my order until 2 days before the quoted arrival date, then ship it out 2 day UPS air. So yes, it arrives by the date they said it will, but the freight cost is the same to them. I still order from them, but it doesn’t leave a good taste. Oh, and their packing is usually pretty lame. Pick a box bigger than the item, throw in a few air packs, throw item in, ship it. Its amazing my camera was ok rattling and sliding around in the box. I guess if items get damaged in transit, its nothing to them to replace it.
Another domestic tool I picked up, this cordless trimmer from Makita uses the same batteries that my drill, impact driver, demo saw, circular saw set uses. Well constructed and nicely balanced, I’ve used it a few times already. It’s got enough power for consumer use, I have on occasion jammed it when encountering a hard branch so it won’t cut everything that fits within the teeth. With a fully charged 3 AHr battery, I honestly get tired before the battery runs out.
3 out 4 hedging monkeys.
Next up in the SA pack is this Helles. Pours a clear yellow with amber tint, light head. Soft floral aroma and mild hops. Even bitter that fades out. Clean finish and crisp mouthfeel. Occasionally a light grain reveals itself in the finish as it warms up. I’m a little undecided on the orange blossom, it does give it a weissen feel, which I like.
3 out 4 hella monkeys.
Next up in the SA variety pack is this black lager. Pours opaque virtually black, medium light head. There is the roast aroma, but not of fresh brewed coffee. Its a bit mustier with a touch of shoyu. Mixed with some hop aroma. The medium bitterness lingers, carbonation lessens some of the medium heavy mouthfeel. Not bad, but I’d like more malt.
2 out 4 coffee monkeys.
I’ve had these bags for a little while now, the board roller this is second season. The Patagonia is well constructed, a soft bag with wheels. Hypolon like material holding up to travel. The webbing handles on three sides are designed nicely that they don’t cut into hand. The two little internal pockets are too small to be of much use. The two hooks interface almost perfectly to the duffel, I didn’t use the duffel for travel before because of lack of wheels, but with it hooked to the board bag it worked well. It becomes more like handling one bag. The print blurbs for the ASO claim its carry on sized, I don’t think so. It’s big enough that without all the video gear, it can fit clothes and gear for the 10 day trip easily. The ASO is constructed with top quality materials. It has stowable backpack straps, but I couldn’t use them on the first trip I used it, because I was already using a backpack as my carryon. I instead used one of straps as a shoulder strap. It worked, but was not ideal and if it were longer would have been pretty unpleasant for me.
Anyway, this combo gets the monkey thumbs up.
4 out 4 anvil shaped monkey objects.
Next SA variety pack is a lager pack. This is their take on a pils. Pours clear light amber, light head. Strong hop aroma, pine. Strong bitter and astringent. This is too much like an IPA for my taste without much else for me to enjoy, no matter how noble it is.
1 out 4 noble monkeys.
Yes, an IPA. It’s the one selection in the variety pack that I will have to suffer through. Pours clear yellow, medium head that goes down fast. The moment seal is cracked, can smell the hops. Strong pine aroma, citrus and floral undercurrents. Bitter comes on but is pretty controlled, does linger. Thankfully no skunk (aluminum can FTW?) Did OK with the spicy shoyu poke bowl I had with it. Medium mouthfeel. 7% ABV is sneaky.
Dare I say it, it’s not horrible. It’s not giving me an instant headache. The artwork is cool. I give it 2.5 out 4 voodoo monkeys.
Given to me from sister’s mother in law when I visited this past Thankgiving, this simple lemon ice cream recipie that I used with our yuzu. It’s quite simple to remember, 1 cup sugar, 1 cup milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 1 lemon. Mix the sugar into milk until sugar dissolves, easier to use fine sugar. Mix in the juice and zest of lemon, in my case I used 2 yuzu. I also had a vanilla bean that was getting old that I tossed in. In separate bowl, whip heavy cream until it holds peaks. The Braun immersion blender did a good job of that. Combine into the milk and mix, trying not to have lumps but keep the air still in the cream. Pour into container and put into freezer. After it freezes, enjoy! Just had my first bowl, pretty darn yummy! If I were to do this again, I would probably adjust down the sugar, it was a bit sweet.
This one’s been sitting in fridge for a while waiting to be sampled. Brewed for Japanese company, by Belgian brewery. Pours a medium dark reddish amber, slight haze, strong head. Fruit, citrus and spice aroma, but not overwhelming. You can tell there’s coriander, but it doesn’t smack you in the face with it, and there’s other things going on. Hops and bitter comes in, but very well balanced. Woohoo, the 8% ABV is kicking in on my empty stomach there! Medium mouth feel with some sweetness. I’m finding this a very intriguing ale, Belgian style flavorings, but not overwhelming. Perhaps its the buzz on this pau hana Friday, but I’m enjoying it.
Easy 3 out 4 Japanese Belgian monkeys.