Product Review: The Chill Bag

Having worked in a couple of wine stores there was always one thing that was pretty consistent. None of the stores sold gift bags that could keep the purchased product chilled or cold while the customer transported it to wherever it was they were going. I saw this a lot with champagne. People were always calling and asking for chilled champagne and then looking at us oddly when we told them we really didn't have a nice gift bag for them to keep their product cold.  Sure we had items that could keep your product cold but not nice packaging.

Recently I received an email from a company called ChillBag USA. They wanted to send me a sample 6 pack holder that could be used with beer. I have to admit I liked the idea but wasn't really sold but told them to send it anyways.

So I've had a chance to try the bag out and I must say it's pretty cool. As you can see it looks like a clear purse so I spiced it up a bit with some brewery stickers I had lying around. And it holds more than just your average six pack. I had 5 22 oz bottles and 1 750 ml bottle in the bag. Just add some ice and water and it'll keep those beers nice and cold. This sure beats bringing a cooler to those Beeradvocate events when you only have 6 beers!! And it's not really expensive at $11.95.

For those companies that are reading this review this is a no brainer. You can add your own logo to it and I guarantee it would sell! Hey Chan's Wine World and Martin Wine Cellar! This is one you guys should definitely bring in!!

Anyways, check out the Chill Bag I thought it was very cool product and I recommend it to you guys! Just wish I had thought of it first!!

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

Have a Beery Hoppy Mother's Day

Behind every beer fanatical husband and dad is a woman who has to deal with all the crap. This Mother's Day I want to thank my wife who is the mother to my little girl, Evangeline. Without my wife The Beer Buddha wouldn't be possible. Here is a list of the top 10 beer related things my wife puts up with on a regular basis:

1) Me always on Beeradvocate.com.
2) Me always messing around on www.thebeerbuddha.com.
3) Me always saying, "Honey, I have to get that beer so I can review it on my website."
4) Me always planning beer trips for our vacation. I can always find something beer related no matter where we go. And also letting me buy tons of beer to bring back home.
5) Me always spending my Friday nights down at Avenue Pub. And she never complains.
6) Always letting me go to Beeradvocate events. And helping out when she is there.
7) Being my designated driver. ALL the time. She doesn't drink so of course she'll always be the DD.
8) Allowing me to follow my dream even when it changes or I get laid off or it doesn't pay a lot.
9) Allowing me to buy 5 different beer magazines in order for me to do "research". Let's see there is Beer Magazine(my personal favorite), Beeradvocate Magazine, Draft Magazine, All About Beer Magazine and Zymurgy Magazine.
10) Always trying every beer that I try even though she doesn't like the taste of beer.

So there you have it people. Make sure this Mother's Day you are thanking the mother of your child who is letting you get your beer on. Oh and of course I can't forget to say Happy Mother's Day to my mom. Without her giving birth to me The Beer Buddha wouldn't even be alive. So Mom, thanks for getting drunk and conceiving me.

Cheers!

The Beer Buddha

PS I really don't think my mom was drunk but she could have been.

Beer Review: Sweet Water Dank Tank Wet Dream

Working at a store as the beer manager really has it's perks sometimes. Ok, not sometimes, most of the time. One of the really cool ones is the "free sample" perk. Brewery reps and sales reps from distributors will sometimes leave me some hoppy goodies in the hopes that I'll bring their beer into the store. Sometimes they do it because they just want to be nice and because I'm awesome. Ok, their just being nice.

Recently my Sweet Water sales rep, Jackie, came in and brought me an awesome surprise: a bottle of Sweet Water Dank Tank Wet Dream. I was so pumped! I've heard great things about the Dank Tank series and couldn't wait. I was going to write a little background info about the Dank Tank series but Sweet Waters website is like navigating a website for Smurfs. The words were way too small and I couldn't find what I was looking for. Oh well on to the review:

Brewery: Sweet Water

Beer: Sweet Water Dank Tank Wet Dream

Style: American Amber/Red Ale

Recommended Glassware: Pint Glass

Appearance: This beer poured a nice amber/reddish color with a huge, fluffy off white head. Nice lacing present throughout.

Smell: Not too overpowering. A nice hint of hoppiness. A nice citrus and grassy aroma.

Taste: Fantastic brew. Not too hoppy. Has a nice mild hoppiness which is balanced well with the sweetness. Very sessionable brew in my opinion.

Mouthfeel: Mid range carbonation and medium body.

Overall: This beer was fantastic! I think many people are confused by what style of beer this is. On Beeradvocate this beer has a score of B+ and for a while was listed as a DIPA which this beer clearly is not. Someone has gone and changed it now but I think unfortunately many people reviewed this beer as a DIPA instead of it's proper style.

Score: 4.5 out of 5 Buddhas

Beer Review: Stone Ruination

Ah, Stone Brewing Company. What can I say other than they are one of the coolest breweries we have here in the US. They have one of the coolest logos with that gargoyle demon thing(pictured below) and in the most recent issue of Beeradvocate Magazine they were named All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth .

Unfortunately here in Louisiana we don't have Stone yet but hopefully we'll be seeing them this year!! As for the beer I'm reviewing it's the Stone Ruination IPA which is a Double or Imperial IPA which basically means it's hoppy as shit. If you click on and read the label below it gives you a great description of the beer.

Enough jibber jabber. On to the review!!

Brewery: Stone Brewing Company

Beer: Stone Ruination

Style: Double/Imperial IPA

ABV: 7.70%

Recommended Glass: Snifter, Tulip, Oversized Wine Glass

Serving Type: Tulip

Appearance: This beer poured an orange-y yellow with a nice fluffy white head. Lacing was present the whole time.

Smell: Hops, hops and more hops! A nice subtle hint of sour grapefruit and then more hops.

Taste: A nice toasted bread flavor in the front that is quickly masked by a HUGE bitterness. This beer is HOPPY! Again, as in the nose, a subtle hint of grapefruit. The piney hoppiness dominates here though.

Mouthfeel: Slightly heavy body with medium carbonation. Kind of thick and syrupy.

Overall: Overall this beer appeals to the hopheads only. For the style of beer(Imperial IPA) it is a great beer. It fits the style quite well. I see why they call it Ruination because it completely ruined my palate.

Score: 4.5 out of 5 Buddhas