Boys & Girls by Alabama Shakes Vinyl

So I accidently ordered this vinyl album.

Well that isn't strictly correct. I was thinking I was buying a Heartless Bastards album. I keep confusing the bands. This was the best mistake I have made. First, I paid under $11 for 11 songs on a 33 vinyl and 3 songs on a 45. I also got a code to download the songs. Plus the price has jumped a couple of dollars. So yeah considering music purchases this is in my top 3 bang for your buck purchases.

I first heard them on KXT, a local independent music radio station for North Texas, with their single "Hold on". This single can be found in the Youtube video below. I really liked the single. It turns out the whole album has a similar R&B and soul sound. Honestly this isn't my favorite genre of music but I am one of those people who likes good music no matter what the genre is and this is good music.

How it was consumed: Technics Quartz sl-q300 record player.

Rating: 7/10 Good.

Indian Wells Whiskey Barrel Amber

The packaging for this brew reminds one of beer from medieval times with wax sealing the top of the beer. Sadly this is a pain to open. I used an average knife, a wine opener, and 5 minutes to finally get rid of that wicked wax sealing.

I personally think you can't go wrong with an amber beer. At the very least you can enjoy the sweet taste of an amber beer. When you add the fact that it was aged in whiskey barrels you have a decent combo. Personally I was looking for Fort Worth's Winter Warmer but I still delighted in the taste of this whiskey beer.


How it was consumed: Via my German stein.

Rating: 7/10 Good. 

Juno the Soundtrack

They actually still sell this album on vinyl at Amazon. So if you don't remember the masterpiece, Juno, it is about a teenage girl who gets pregnant. For those who haven't seen it, it is better than you think. This isn't "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant" or something lame like that. Juno was an indie classic and so is the soundtrack. Not only do you get 19 songs you get a cool see through orange vinyl. Well it is sort of cool but very thin and light, which makes me fear for it's life.

In short this is what a tomboy, rock guitar playing, 16 year-old would have listen to in 2007 if she new cool music. We have Buddy Holly, The Kinks, Kimya Dawson, Sonic Youth, The Velvet Underground, Cat Power and more. Explore some different music and check it out on Spotify or some other free way.

How it was consumed: 2009 vinyl on my dad's Technics SL-Q300

Rating: 7/10 Good. I would give it an 8 but the physical quality of the record could be better.

Dire Straits self-titled album

The Dire Straits released a self-titled album 7, October 1978. The band got their name due to their financial situation.

This album has gone double-platinum and isn't hard to tell why. It isn't revolutionary but it is easy listening. Dire Straits mixes rock, blues, and a tad of country. This was their first album with the hit song Sultans of Swing which held the number 4 spot on the billboards hot 100. Sultans of Swing is that 70's song you know but had no idea that you knew it. It was played in your dad's living room when you were young or in an old rock bar. In fact when you hear this song you feel like you have to get up and ramble on to explore the night.

This would have been a great band to see live when they toured in the late 70's early 80's but I guess this album will have to do.

How it was consumed: My father's old vinyl.

Rating: 7/10 Good

Guinness Black Lager

Guiness Black Lager commercials came to the American airways a few months back and peaked my interest. I picked up a 6-pack of this roasted barley beer. It reminds me a more bold Shiner Black. This isn't as tasty as some of Guinness's fine beers but if you like darker beers that won't fill you up as quick as a regular Guinness will, try Guinness Black Lager.


How it was tasted: in a mug. Though I just read the "drink out of the bottle" text. D'uh!

Rating: 7 Good

Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale

I am not the biggest fan of the regular Blue Moon. Any beer that a person has to put fruit in is not a good beer. I am looking at you Corona. Blue Moon Winter Abbey Ale does not need any fruit to make it taste good. It has a sweet malty taste and is smooth. I don't think I would drink this beer year round, even if I had the opportunity, but it is a refreshing seasonal beer.

How it was consumed: Out of the bottle.

Rating: 7/10 Good

The Vesper

This is Bond's first drink, James Bond's. I recently had a party with friends while we drank some of these bad boys.

Now this drink is not for the faint at heart. It is basically pure alcohol. The alcohol isn't cheap either but you only need 2 of these to be feeling great through out the night.

I personally don't like drinking straight alcohol nor do I love shots of cheap liqueur but after having one of these drinks you start to appreciate the drink more.

Also you have to know the right mixture of the gin, vodka and Lillet else you can sure ruin this concoction. I like both vodka and gin so I didn't have much of a problem with this drink. If you prefer one over the other I would recommend changing the recipe to fit your needs. I have read though the gin mixes well with the Lillet so keep that in mind when tampering with the weapon of choice.

As a side note I have heard that the drink will become cooler if you stir it with crushed ice. I choose not to take this route and go 100% Bond style.

I believe every man who appreciates Ian Fleming's work should have one of these in his or her lifetime but one definitely goes a long way.

How it was consumed: 3 oz of Tanqueray Gin,
1 oz of Russian Standard Vodka (That was the name of this premium vodka),
and 1/2oz of Kina Lillet (It is better with a little more Lillet, perhaps a full oz),
shaken and strained in a martini glass garnished with a lemon.
I also added a little lemon juice to help with the taste.

Rating: 7/10 Good

Ziegenbock

This smooth amber beer is a tasty larger. Brewed and only sold in Texas, Ziegenbock is not our states best beer but for the price it is hard to beat. Ziegenbock has a sweet taste and though it is dark in color this beer is not as filling as it looks.

The Labb is a clean sports bar in Denton Texas that sells $1 Ziegens every Mavricks and Rangers game. This is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the sport minus actually being there.

How it was tasted:From the tap in a glass at The Labb.

Rating: 7/10

1-2= Disgusting

3-4= Not worth the calories

5-6= Average

7-8= Good

                                                           9-10= One of my favorite beers

Green's Discovery (Amber Ale)

This is a nice gluten free beer. I personally don't have to worry about gluten or how it affects me but if I did this wouldn't be the worst beer for me to par-take in. I do have to note that this beer seems to lack some flavor, especially for an amber beer. I think that is the cost of making a beer gluten free or making a beer "light". Even though it lacks some amber beer flavor it does have an odd musk of its own that reminds me of licking a Rain forest scented air freshener.



How it was tasted: at the flying saucer in a glass.

Rating: 7/10
1-2= Disgusting
3-4= Not worth the calories
5-6= Average
7-8= Good
9-10= One of my favorite beers

Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Samuel Adams Latitude 48 IPA

A standard slightly bitter IPA. If Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA is too hoppy for you but you want to give IPA another try, sample the Latitude 48 IPA.

Rating: 7

1-2 = disgusting
3-4 = not worth the calories
5-6 = Average
7-8 = a good beer
9-10 = one my favorite beers 

Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Samuel Adams Boston Lager was very good. A not too dark larger that has a slight, pleasant after taste.

Rating: 7

1-2 = disgusting
3-4 = not worth the calories
5-6 = Average
7-8 = a good beer
9-10 = one my favorite beers 

First item. Samuel Adams® East West Kölsch

So I decided to have a beer tonight and I am enjoying my Samuel Adams® Summer Style pack I got from Costco. I tried a few different ones during the 4th of July but I didn't sit down and analyse the taste.

I believe I am going to rate the over all beer and write a little article about it. The rating will be 1-10 from worst to best.

1-2 = disgusting
3-4 = not worth the calories
5-6 = Average
7-8 = a good beer
9-10 = one my favorite beers

So lets begin!

Consumption: from a bottle.

Beer rating: 7

This is a better than average beer with an almost sweet taste at the beginning. I dare say it is close to being an 8 but it lacks a certain Je ne sais quoi. The taste is different enough to enjoy and isn't very pungent.

This will probably be the format of my beer reviews as I go on. A brief description and a Beer rating.