Non-Tally News

I received my first issue of All About Beer Magazine a couple weeks back. It also came with a DVD called The American Brew which was a great documentary about the history of beer in America stretching from colonial days, through prohibition, the rise of micro-brews and up to today.

Less than 2 weeks until the Durham World Beer Festival. I am feeling more prepared and more educated to truly enjoy this year's Beer Fest. Not that I didn't enjoy the last one, I just think I will have a better idea of what to look for and discern a bit better for what I want to sample.

I went to Total Wine on Friday to get a bottle Merlot for Amy. I ended up getting two: a 2005 Martin Ray Merlot and a 2003 Edgewood Estate Merlot. No, I'm not turning this into a Wine Tally... just thought I'd let you know, I highly recommend the Edgewood Merlot though. I'll let you know about the Martin Ray when we cork it.

Anyway, while at the Total wine, I wanted to look for an IPA I hadn't tried and an employee recommended the Stone Ruination IPA that went on the shelf just an hour before, so I deceided to bring it home and give it a go.

A little history on IPA's: an IPA is an Indian Pale Ale. They are called Indian because they were the style of beers that were shipped across the Indian Ocean from the UK down around the southern tip of Africa and up through the Indian Ocean to British occupants in India in the 18th Century. By the time beer arrived, it would be bad or flat. In an effort to preserve the beers during a not only long trip, but a trip with extreme temperature fluctuation, the British brewers tried brewing their ales with hops. Hops is not only a fantastic flavor, but it acted as a natural preservative.

I tell you this because when you drink an IPA, you get a big nose full and mouth full of hops. That's why when you hear me (or more experienced and much smarter beer reviewers) say that a beer is 'hoppy' that means my tastebuds are getting kicked by enough hops in one bottle to survive a six-month voyage.

Anyway, with all that nonsense being said, Stone Ruination IPA is one killer India Pale Ale.

So, uh... yeah. It's a pretty good beer.