Thursday 2 June 2011

BEER SWAP!

This is easily the most beer-geeky thing I've ever done. I'm not sure that I'm totally comfortable with it, and given how bad a beerswap buddy I was, I can't imagine that anyone will be rushing to do it again with me. I took ages to mail my parcel, and longer still to do this unboxing video. But hey, it's done now, and here's the result.

Part of the deal is that I video review these beers. I'm so rusty at talking to camera that I fear I might not do them justice, but that's not going to stop me. What I am sure about is that the reviews are going to be pretty brief, allowing me more time to sit on the leather sofa in the corner of our living room and savour them. Perhaps I'll do before-and-after videos, cutting back to me after having drunk a bomber of really strong beer, a little like those early recordings of Aldous Huxley experimenting with mescaline and LSD:

"It's been 40 minutes now since I finished that bomber of Southern Tier Gemini. I received this beer by chance, and enthusiastically drank it by choice. Those aromas of the hops - what a labyrinth of endlessly significant complexity! And the texture of the smooth malt - how rich, how deeply, mysteriously sumptuous. Are there any chicken wings left?"

I don't know what else to say. My name's Zak, and I'm a beer geek. The revolution is dead. Long live the revolution.



Many thanks to Chad of Chad'z Beer Reviews for the beers, and the gentle bullying that finally got this whole thing to happen. If any beer geeks would like to get together in Leeds (or elsewhere) and try them, do let me know.

.

9 comments:

  1. Brilliant idea Zak, I love the thought of sending beers I think are fabulous to someone who I think will appreciate & reciprocate.
    Maybe you could both do linked reviews of each to get two perspectives?

    Whatever you do, I'm sure you will enjoy!

    Cheers

    Phil

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  2. Southern Tier Gemini is a stonking beer. Probably the best Southern Tier beer I've had, I'm sure you'll enjoy it...

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  3. This is hilarious! Those are all local beers, to me! Chad must be from the Hudson Valley of NY!

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  4. Glad to see they all arrived in good condition. As anxious as I was to see your unboxing video, I'm even more excited at the thought of seeing and hear your thoughts on these beers. I'm sure you're going to really like them all.

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  5. I think there's talk of doing a bottle swap evening at Mr Foleys sometime in the next month or so. You could bring them along to that? i'd definately love to try them.

    I've got a pretty old (1999) Fullers vintage ale that i'll bring along which i'd love to get your thoughts on.

    p.s. Thanks for commenting on the blog, your comment made me feel like a beery padawan to your jedi knight!

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  6. internatiopnal beer swap nice one!! it's been a while since i've done a beer swap but i've always ended up with some cracking beers, shame it's so much for postage!

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  7. beersay - I think that's the idea, but the execution is all Chad's - ha basically kept nudging me to get this far, and I'm sure he'll do the same with the tasting vids

    Craig - Albany area, I believe

    Chad - thanks again, appreciated!

    Neil - maybe, or maybe I'll just DRINK THEM ALL MYSELF.

    Andy - yeah, in terms of £££ it's not a go-er, but it does give you nice fuzzy feeling inside.

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  8. Drink them all yourself!
    Chad is clearly trying to coax you out of work-inflicted semi retirement. I've been impressed by most of the beers I've had from Southern Tier but have preferred their Blackwater series to the hoppy ones.

    Please join us for our next bottle-share it was a jolly good afternoon last time. No doubt more great beer will be pouring that day

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  9. Rob - that's very perceptive, work is indeed getting in the way of my life at present. My previous work-life balance is now a sad memory.

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Sorry about the word verification - the blog was getting spammed to bits.