Old Chub Beer
Saturday, October 8th, 2011 at 12:03 pm
Comments (1)
While the name, Old Chub, might sound like pipe tobacco, a fishing lure or a plump old man, I assure you it is beer. Old Chub Beer comes in a can and a 6-pack sells for $8 to $9 dollars. Rated at 8% alcohol, Old Chub, is a very strong, dark scotch ale beer. I learned about Old Chub from a friend, whom recommended it when I explained to him how crazy I was about the pricey, thick-syrupy, chocolate-molasses Bourbon Barrel Stout that costs $16.00 per 750 ml bottle. So how does it taste?
Eristoff Vodka is a triple-distilled, bargain-priced vodka made in France. To me, premium vodkas are a rip-off. The top-shelf brands in the elegant bottles like Grey Goose are overpriced. It is my belief that the majority of people who pay a pretty penny for these expensive vodkas could buy brands for less than 1/2 the price and be just as happy with the smoothness and flavor. It is really tragic to pay good money for vodka than mix it with sour, cranberry juice or a dirty martini full of salty, olive juice. Don't get me wrong, some vodkas are better than others, but don't think you have to pay a Grey Goose or Ketel One price to enjoy a good clean taste. There are 1.75 Liter brands selling for less than $21.00 that will satisfy most people. Is Eristoff Vodka one of those that compares favorably to the top-shelf brands?
If you love a rich, dark, full-bodied, complex beer, you'll love Bourbon Barrel Stout by Odell Brewing. When I toured the Odell Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado, I had absolutely no idea that I would leave the place craving a rich and creamy bourbon barrel stout. Having never even tried it, I knew I would love it just by the tour guide's taste description: 
The best bagels in Denver are made by the Rocky Mtn Bagel factory in Indiana. If that makes as much sense to you as it does me, join the bagel club of confusion. Actually, I’ve got nothing against Brueggers Bagels. What makes Rocky Mtn Bagels special is that that they come in a bag from the grocery store and they really are delicious. So, if you don't reside near a great bagel shop, you can still get really bagels without having to take a long drive somewhere. And no, you don't even have to drive all the way to Indiana where they’re made; they sell them at our local King Soopers (Kroger) Grocery story. My wife bought a baker’s dozen bag of 13. I was skeptical when I first saw them. Rarely, do I care for store-bought bagels. In fact, even most of Denver’s Bagel shops don’t make them right. Good bagels have a firm texture on the outside with fresh chewiness on the inside. Store bought bagels are usually more like bread in texture; they are either too flaky and dry or too soft. Even Einstein’s and Brueggers Bagels don’t quite get it right; though they fool everyone with their size and dazzling number of flavors and varieties. Unfortunately, the privately owned shops that use to make the best bagels in Denver have been run out of business by the big chains like Einsteins and Brueggers Bagels. Hint: A good bagel never leaves crumbs. 
