TalkJunkie

This is precisely the way to win me over to visiting PajamasMedia sites more often – beer. POLITICSCENTRAL, a beta level podcast project of PajamasMedia, is slated to be a “civil . . thoughtful discourse on our views and aspirations.” Apparently Howard Dean will never be a featured guest.

Tammy Bruce says she will be seriously involved with the enterprise. One of the initial posted interviews is her discussion with Senator Rick Santorum about his tough re-election campaign. Tammy presents her view of the project on her blog Tammy Bruce.com. Glenn Reynolds of Instapundit and Instawife Dr. Helen, are two of the key contributors to the project, bringing their Glenn and Helen Show to to PoliticsCentral. Other current shows include interviews with John McCain and the Israeli Ambassador to the US, Daniel Ayalon. And other topics involve North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, business trends, the ‘08 election and America’s health care system. But Enough fluff.

The real important interview right now on the site is a look at micro brewing from Knoxville’s Downtown Grill & Brewery. Glenn and Helen speak with the Grill’s brewers about how they got started there, Downtown’s products and some history of local brewing. I haven’t heard the Glenn & Helen Show in awhile, and I’m impressed. Many podcasts are so stilted. Glenn and Helen sound polished and relaxed. But they didn’t mention how much sampling they might have done.

For people interested in brewing, the restaurant business or bringing excitement to downtown areas it’s a fun listen. And once in awhile its nice to hear a show with no screaming or doubletalk and a clear exit strategy of empty bottles. BEER HERE.

from Sunday

I been busy. I can report that sampling the following beers in one afternoon in no way diminishes one’s interest in talk radio. I started the afternoon at The Celebration of The Suds in Atlantic City with Magic Hat HIPA because I’ve already enjoyed their #9 and the goal was trying new beers.

What follows may or may not be the precise order or precise list or precise anything. Barley Creek Angler Black and I think, Antler Brown Ale. Young’s – Old Nick, Young’s Special London and Winter Warmer. Blue Ridge Rainbow Trout ESB. Chimay’s Grand Reserve and Cinq Cents. Rogue Arrogant Bastard Ale. Abita Old Scratch. Allagash Dubbel. Brookly Brewery’s Smoked Porter, Brooklyn Pale Ale and Fortitude Lager.

Off in the corner was a booth from some upstart company, Anheuser something. I wandered over. It didn’t smell like beer, so I tried one that might have the best chance of tastink like beer – the BareKnuckle Stout. Somewhat beerlike, but I don’t think this outfit has much of a future. Working my way back up to speed, I moved to Sam Adams Brown Ale, and requested a ticket for a later tasting of Sam Adams Utopia.

I grabbed a salted pretzel and since they didn’t have any Mountain Dew I thought I’d test whether pretzels and beer can compliment each other. That works fime. Lancaster Brewing provided me some Hop Hog and Lancaster Milk Stout – mmsmooth – Got Stout? I think I also had their Strawberry Wheat or ah somebody’s strawberry something. I had Tun Tavern’s somewhat unusual BarleyWine. Back to Adamsams for the special pour of their Utopia. Strong alcohol smell, I mean “aroma” – yeah aroma. The tast made me think sherry while others say brandy. Someone mor beerliterate than I had this information- packed post on a beerboard – “this is an ass-kicker of a “beer.” Do I even know what beer is anymore? Do I care? How does one rate this beer fairly? I sure don’t know.” There – exactly. It’s supposadyly 27 thousand percnet alcholol, requires special financing and according to Adam website, “Utopias can not be sold in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Washington, and West Virginia.”

Back to beer. Heavyweight coeerced me into their Perkuno’s Hammer, a porter from the Baltic region of New Jersey. Also their B’iere d’Art Ale. And of course some Lunacy Belgian-Style Ale. I don’t know what the hell else I had at what was basiclly a six hour open bar forall of 25 bucks. Wonderful event. Of course sampling these in a different order or making subsitutions might bring different results – this requires much testing. I can also recommend finishing with dinner at Cuba Libre – good plantain soup and of course, drinks. I not drivin – I probbably shoudlnt’ be drivin for a few days.

Cigars, beer and streudel on the Oktoberfest edition of the Cigar Dave Show.

Noon – 2:oo here.