Friday, December 30, 2005

Fuller Pound and Pence

Rocco and I checked out Pound & Pence, a English style pub in downtown formerly occupied by Devine, an overpriced/stuck-up wine bar. The bar has a great selection of Brit brews on taps. The crowd...Wall Street yuppies. I think our group is the only "non-suits". Suit or Non-Suit. The place definitely served up some great tasting or perhaps the freshest line-ups from Fuller. Other than that, the beverage menu looks alright with the exception for listing craps like Coors and Rheingolds in bottle for $4.

Well, without advertisement for this place here my reviews for Fuller's ESB, Fuller's London Pride, Fuller's Porter and my Fuller Crap.

Fuller's ESB

Appearance: A copperish rusty color with decent amount of head that quickly faded after the first sip.

Smell: A rich buttery aroma and yet with a nice hint of caramel apple.

Taste: Truly well balanced with a great Golding hop note. A toffeeish aftertaste; rich but not filling.

Mouthfeel: Moderate body and mild carbonation which is true characteristic of ESB.

Drinkability: I can drink this all day without food.

This is the best beer I have since the Goose Island experience.


Fuller's London Pride

Appearance: An orangy amber color as I point it toward the light

Smell: Not a lot of aroma as the ESB but it does have a light yeasty sweetness to it.

Taste: ahhh...very grainy and not overpowered of maltiness. A very modest beer with great taste.

Mouthfeel: A pretty light body beer with the weight of dark pilners.

Drinkability: Again all beers from Fuller's are extremely drinkable.

This is the flagship beer of Fuller's! Back to the basic, sophistically simple.


Fuller's Porter

Appearance: Nice dark color topped with a light tanned foam.

Smell: Roasty and malty. Big...just the way that a true porter should behave.

Taste: It has great note of Arabica coffee with a light hint of tabacco smoke and a rich finish.

Mouthfeel: Mild carbonation and full body collided with impact that I will never forget.

Drinkability: This is a king of all classic porters. No other porters can top this one.

I finally found a real deal porter and truly understand the concept behind "classic original".


Fuller Crap

This is not a beer but a public advisory. I am here wishing everyone a prosperous year 2006. Drink more beer, sake, whiskey, wine and other libations of choice in the mission to appreciate. Please drink responsibly and drive safe!


Pound & Pence
Liberty StNew York, NY 10005
(212) 233-245155


Cheers.
AzianBrewer

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Born Into Brothels

Born Into Brothels is perhaps the best documentary film since Roger & Me. I have always want to check out this film in the theater but the Mrs. Netflixed it 2 months ago. For those who are in the sh*tty mood, this movie is definitely a no go. You will be more p*ssed than ever and eventually depressed. However, it is a great movie for inviting that redhead hoochie you just picked up from a bar and show her your sensitive side after all that wine and dine session at your pad!

The story takes place in modern days Calcutta's red light district where a group of kids each given a 35mm camera to capture the world they see and interpret. The director/producer Zana Briski, a British/American photojournalist who originally planned to shoot the photos of these sex workers has gradually bonded and earned the respect of their kids. "Zana Auntie" became the teacher/mentor or these misfortunated children age range 10-14....alright, I am not going to give the entire movie away. Just Netflix it you cheapo!

One thing I find disturbing in the movie is when a country is embracing a tech boom and new economy, Calcutta or Kolcotta is still a backward slump! The "Ration" office is piled with paper and seemingly chaotc. I also find it disturbing when some folks actually knocked this movie and called the director imperialist. Some critics even go further and drew a comparative conclusion that Zana is a Mother Teresa wannabe. Well, to these nay sayers, y'all can take all the negetivities and shove it where the moon don't shine. The woman is helping these kids achieving the lives they can only dream of. Just put yourself in the shoes of these kids. They are pretty much spending their innocence witnessing their old men pimping the mothers and wondering when will be their turn. What is the future of these kids? Hashheads, pimps, criminals and ho's? What??? Prostitution has been a socio-tradition of Calcutta even before the arrival of the British so why is it a concern of foreign photographer to help these kids? Calcutta not ready to and should not be Westernized?? Bull.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Jimmy's

Last week the steering committee of the New York City Homebrewers Guild took place at Jimmy's. I have been to a beer bar formerly known as Brewsky's for 3 years and never check out their partially renovated basement. That because the damn landlord "J" owns the building and so darn lazy or cheap to finish the renovation. Anyway, the place is very impressive. Totally, my kind of place. There are 6 beers on taps and at least couple of dozens in bottles listed on the menu. The menu are designed to pair with beers. The food are rustic Italian; more from the Tuscany or the surrounding region and is quite different from the Italian-American's meatball parms or the Sunday sauce kind of style. Sleazy ordered a muschroom risotto with pancetta, Phil had a bowl of steamed mussels that looks pretty weak and I am in love with the worker's special. The worker's special perhaps varies every week and it is a combo of 1 cold plate. 1 hot plate and 2 pints of beer from either IPA or Pilsner for $20!!!! What a deal for Victory IPA, Sixpoint IPA, a cold antipasto plate with olives, string beans with slices of Italian cold cut and a hot serving portion of lamb stew.

Drop by and high 5 Jimmy for the great job he is doing. Maybe he will buy you a pint of fine brew. He is the short Italian dude in the kitchen.

Jimmy's
43 East 7th Street
(basement)
New York, NY

Friday, December 16, 2005

NYC Transit Strike

Get back to work and quit cryin' is what I have to say these lazy transit workers. The workers want 8 percent annual raises over three years and contend they should get a share of the MTA's $1 billion surplus. And after the transit bombings in Madrid and London, they also want more terrorism training. Pensions and health care have also been sticking points. What a bunch of greedy mofos. Go ahead, go on your pathetic strike. Once the stipend fund dried out you guys still have to haul a*ses and go back to work minus the days wage. There goe$ the holiday$