Yickit: Its not a word...yet » Beer

Print: Fewer Single Beers Available in DC

eschapp — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:36:10 +0000

: Image via Wikipedia

From Washington City Paper : Young & Hungry – “Bottle Royale”.

James Ackerman is the wine manager for Georgetown Wine and Spirits, but right now he has a beer problem. He can’t sell singles in sizes less than 70 ounces because the drunks went and ruined it for everyone. They pissed once too often in the wrong people’s yards until D.C. Council members, sympathetic to ANC Commissioners bitching about piss and puke and vagrants on their property, decided last year to ban single beer sales in both Wards 2 and 6. The law officially went into effect on Feb. 9.

Yikes! I’m not sure whether or not single beers should be sold here in DC, but man after reading the story I wonder how effective and fair the law will be in its current form. No one contacted, including those who helped to write the law, seems to know what to do, or how to apply the new law.

Just by chance I happened to buy a single beer yesterday at our local Cleveland Park Liquor Store, and I must say I would miss the opportunity to do so. I love trying new beers. And frankly, I’d rather not worry about having to buy a bunch of beer I may not like. What better way is there to explore the world of beer, than to try it for yourself? In order for that exploration to take place it must be cost effective, especially considering today’s economy. The only way it can be cost effective for me is if I can purchase singles which are probably smaller than 70oz. Hopefully the DC Council doesn’t decide to expand the new law beyond its current borders.

What do you think? Should store owners be allowed to sell single beers?

Mr. Beer on Clearance

eschapp — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 22:22:17 +0000

I dedicate this post to one, Steven Kaleidoscope Perkins.

I’ve been doing quite a few photo posts lately without much commentary. I’m going to continue that trend today as well. I usually don’t have that much to actually “say” anyway.

Well, since the beginning of time, I’ve always had the urge to brew my own beer. But alas, I neither have the room, nor the time, for a legitimate operation at this point of my life¹. Enter Mr. Beer.

While at Bed Bath and Beyond with my fiancee², I came across what I thought was an mirage, a dessert oasis in a sea of girly pillowcases and shower curtains: a product to make my own 8 gallons of beer for under$20! That’s right, the Mr. Beer kit and refill materials were on clearance at the store!

If you haven’t seen this product, I’ll just say that Mr. Beer is extremely easy to use. While it didn’t really satisfy my dream of home brewing, for now it is an adequate substitute. At the very least it should help me to decide whether or not this is a hobby I would like to pursue in the future. And hell, I had a lot of fun brewing with the Mr. Beer.

If you have $20 to spare, and want to dip your toe in the waters that are brewing, run don’t walk to your nearest BBaB to get your own Mr. Beer. Seriously, 8 gallons for twenty dollars. Doesn’t that sound fun? With out further ado I present yickit brew:

[flickr]photo:3230789182(medium)[/flickr]

You’ll notice a couple of things in the pictures after the break, which I’ve bullet pointed to emphasis each:

Mr. Beer seems to be a quality product;
Mr. Beer might be the easiest way to brew your own adult beverage outside of trying to turn Welchs into wine. Actually that seems much more difficult;
Brewing beer for a study break = one happy law student;
You need empties to fill with your home brew, need I say more?

Alright I should be bottling this stuff, so I should go. Anybody have good brewing tips? More pictures after the break:

[flickr]set:72157613034372452[/flickr]

I need a basement stat! ↩
We were registering for wedding gifts. It was a mediocre experience. Make sure you know exactly what you want before you ever do this. Not just the big stuff like china, but small stuff like pillows. I am not kidding. ↩

Ready . . . Break!

eschapp — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:31:21 +0000

Well I the last time I’ve slept was for three hours on either Wednesday or Tuesday night, I’m not sure which. I’m a little groggy. I’m on my way back to the great city of Fargo, and am currently sitting in O’hare wishing the jazz band would stop downing out the music that is playing on my Zune [which enable me to not have to talk to strangers when I'm traveling]. Although the mix is mildly intriguing. It was raining in DC when I left, and there are all kinds of travel delays here in Chicago, but somehow none of my flights have been delayed. I did have to bribe a cabbie to forgo another fair to take me to the airport, but that was the worst of my problems. Based on these pictures:

O'hare is growing on me.

Hmm not quite 11. Damn.

I’m at least a bit happier here in Chicago than I was in DC. I can’t put my finger on the reason why . . .

I don’t have anything original to say, so if you are traveling this weekend be safe, and may the air delays be slight.