from the twisted minds of snm
So we were fooling around Bigfoot’s Jump Playground, and for some reason I decided to video capture Taro riding through some fun tracks, but instead caught this:
[flashvideo file=media/P1010896.flv /]
Good job! Â Thankfully the previously wrist injury wasnt made more serious.
One of the fun things about travelling around Japan is trying out regional food and beer. While in Iwanai on the Southwest coast of Hokkaido on the Sea of Japan, I had a chance to try this local offering. Considering that the farming belt above the coastal town of Iwanai was where hops were first cultivated in Japan, and this is where Sapporo Breweries sources the hops for their “all Hokkaido” Hokkaido Meibutsu “gold can” lager, I was expecting at some kind of mind-altering hops experience from this beer, particularly since it was labelled a “pilsner”. I was disappointed. Perhaps I should have been expecting something more from the “deep ocean seawater” also called out on the bottle labelling of this rather watery beer. This is another case like the Otaru Bakushu beers where you can start out with premium ingredients and still produce an unremarkable beer. The initial pour and good head excited me, but the first sip fell flat. There was a good carbonation dry bite, but as that faded out, it was replaced with neither a malty richness nor a hoppy bitterness. There was a faint flowery hop aroma if I tried really hard to detect it, but it was otherwise a rather bland beer. I guess I should be glad that it was mild and easily drinkable, as opposed to being strongly flavored in a negative way.  I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Iwanai Ji-biiru Lager’
As a follow-up to the review of the “green letter” Sapporo Classic, I dutifully tested a “blue letter” Classic. Between the two, I can say the 2010 Vintage “green letter” has a stronger malt flavor with a more Pilsener-style bitter. The “blue letter” is more of a traditional Japanese dry pale lager. I am now curious to see if the difference between the “blue letter” Classic and regular Sapporo Black Label is primarily the point of origin. Whereas the two Classic varieties and the “gold can” are brewed at a facility in Hokkaido and are set for retailling only in Hokkaido, the standard Black Label sold nationwide could have been made in any number of regional breweries. Both Classics have a similar color and level of carbonation, but remember, this wasn’t a side-by-side test. Although I said the “green letter” Classic had a more pronounced maltiness, the “blue letter” was not without a solid malt flavor. The Classic will be available beyond the production cutoff of the 2010 Vintage Classic, so it will be available into the forseeable future. Give one a try when you’re on Hokkaido! Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Sapporo Classic lager’
The dark version of Suntory’s premium Malts lager, this dunkel arrives with the same high quality ingredients and solid taste foundation. If given the choice between all the standard offerings from the major Japanese mega-breweries, I’ll usually reach for a Suntory Malts above all others. The moderate hoppyness and full malt flavor makes it my favorite. This dark version has a slightly different flavor than the regular Malts. The obvious difference is the smoky flavor imparted by the darkly roasted malt, but there is a hint of a sweet note, perhaps from a stronger decoction resulting in a less complete attenuation: I’m not convinced that the sweetness is from something different in the hopping, and the mouthfeel does feel a little thicker than regular Malts.  This dark is an interesting change from the regular Malts, so if you see one, give it a try! Continue reading ‘Beer is Good – Suntory Malts Kuro lager’
Ok, beyond the usual third day aches this morning, the wrist sprain is now quite obvious.
No new snow, no announcement of the alpine opening, so it looks like it’s going to be a lazy morning.
Undergoing the recommended treatment for sprAins. Ice, Compression, Elevation, Beer. Sprained my wrist avoiding a Flaily boarder that kept riding into my path just before the Red Chair lift base, where all the traffic packed and scrubbed the snow down to concrete. Caught a heel edge and went down hard on my back. Didn’t even notice after collecting my wits a bit and moving to the side that my Flow highbacks had become flipped open. When I tried going again, I was pretty close to freeboarding and super wiggly!
Anyway, aside from that it was a good day on slopes, some soft stuff still was to be found on runs.
Next up in the variety pack is the Pale Ale. approached with some trepidation as I don’t like IPAs, but it seems that is a different beast. Pours medium amber with a medium head if poured aggressively that dissipates fairly quickly but carbonation stays. Pretty bright and dry, with a bitter that stays for a bit. But no strong flowery or weed taste. Not my fave of the bunch, but drinkable. 2.5 pale monkeys.
Waiting at the Excalibur gondola download crowd, checking out the hot dark complexioned Asian cutie. making up stories of why she’s standing by herself looking all pissed off after Mountain Safety talked to her. She must have been scolded fir being too extreme on her board. And now she’s getting pissed waiting for her flailing boyfriend to come down the mountain.
And then Derek comments that she looks like Ckucky, if he were a girl. Look out Chucky, someones been checking you out!
So we were riding the meadows under Franz’s chair in the 19cm of new overnight snow and overheard this conversation:
“I hate you!”
“Powder sucks!
“This is the worst run ever!”
>Reported 19cm overbite on mountain, woke up, no snow falling, finish breakfast getting ready, look outside, dumping! The plow went through less than an hour ago!