Helpin' Hamburger & Guinness Black Lager

On the last night before Sarah returned, I realized that I'd only had either leftovers (that she'd made the prior week) or sandwiches while she was gone. It appeared that my self-concept as a creative bachelor-chef extraordinaire was in jeopardy. Taking stock of the fridge contents, I began to cook.

1/4th Onion, chopped
1/3rd bell pepper, chopped
1 lb ground beef

Chop and sauté the bell pepper and onion with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Throw the meat in and brown it.
Then add:

11.2 oz Guinness Black Lager
1 cup water
2 healthy dollops of sour cream
1 box Kraft macaroni and cheese (noodles and cheese-powder packet)

Mix and heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Remove from heat, allow to cool. Kit kinda of turned into a DIY Hamburger Helper

Beginning and end of the simmering stage

Well it doesn't look great, maybe adding something like peas or using red pepper bell pepper instead of yellow would make it pop more. Oh well; I thought it was decently tasty.

Guinness Black Lager



I got this six-pack because I like schwarzbier, but also because it was actually brewed in Ireland. A huge percentage of the Guinness and Harp you've seen on shelves this week with prominent "IMPORTED" labels is brewed in Jamaica or Canada. It's a solid, if unremarkable schwarzbier. But what's interesting to me is that you'll never hear the marketing out of Dublin use that term. These commercials are targeted toward a different sort of beer drinker, one that's more concerned with image and justifying his beer choice to others. It's quite the contrast to, say, Sam Adams' advertising campaign that revels in independence and attention to brewing specificity.

Basketball and Blackened Voodoo Lager

Convenient, pay-as-you-go wireless internet will be shutting off at some point in the near future.  I don't know if the phone or computer banks on base will still be operating or if I'll simply be out of touch again.

I'm not good at Basketball.  As an altitude-disadvantaged youth, I actively avoided the sport and related skills.  Despite going to Pitt, I never went to a game at the Pete or owned a Zoo t-shirt.  Most of what I know about the rules and strategy comes from watching Space Jam.

Nevertheless, I've been playing a lot more basketball here than I have since middle school gym class.  This began as mandatory squad PT, just a break from cardio machines and weightlifting.  It was good to do something not army-related as a group, even though there was a wide range of skill levels and experience and almost zero penalties called.  Since then I have occasionally stepped up to make even teams in non-mandatory games, but that can be less fun with pick-up game egos and such.  Mostly, I cannot shoot or dribble, so I'm only really useful alongside people who can.  That way I can focus on finesse defense, rebounds, and passing.  I don't know if my techniques would be legal in a normal game, but it works well enough here.  My flailing arms have earned me the nickname "Octopus" on the court.

Dixie Blackened Voodoo Lager

The Dixie Brewing Company is the last of the old brewers from Louisiana and they almost didn't make it through Katrina.  Their Blackened Voodoo is a Schwarzbier is one of the last beers I tried before leaving the States.  It has a bit stronger hops profile than I usually go for.  Far from a hops-demon, though; the balanced roasty malt flavors came through while staying rather light in body.  I'd like to compare it head-to-head with Shiner Black which I remember being a bit sweeter and less hoppy.  

Photo from FoodMayhem.com

Temperature & Ugly Pug

Shade

Sun

Forgive me for being unsympathetic to the "golly gee it's hot" statuses and posts from folks back in the states. Yes, I know the dry-vs-humid argument, but you're not wearing boots/cargo pants/overshirt or, as occasions warrant, gloves or body armor either.

Ugly Pug Black Lager

This is a Schwarzbier from the Fort Worth brewery Rahr & Sons.  They've only been around since 2004, but seem to be making a splash in the Texan craft beer community.  This wasn't bad, but I felt it was over-roasted in comparison to Shiner Black.  Unfortunate for them because most establishments that carry this will also have Shiner, so I'm afraid I wont be getting it again.  I look forward to trying their other styles, though.

Picture from drinkeattravel.com

No Budget and Shiner Black

So as of writing, it looks like the US government is going to shut down at midnight.  Which (as it stands currently) means that we (folks in the armed forces) will only be paid for this past week and nothing further.  For the Army that translates to a half check on the 15th and then nothing until a budget is signed.  After we get a budget, they will begin back-paying us.  Hopefully this will be resolved before the 12th or so, so no one will get a lean or empty check. This is not a huge deal for me personally, but not all of the guys here are the best savers and kinda live paycheck-to-paycheck. Not to mention those on tight budgets because they have kids to feed/clothe or who are deployed. Especially if their spouses have government jobs which will be suspended concurrently.  Naturally, we still have to work, though many of the civilian contractors around the base will have to stay home.

Shiner Bohemian Black Lager is the second-best seller from the Shiner family of beers and probably my favorite.  This was my first introduction to a Schwarzbier and I think I am a fan.  It's dark, roasty, and good without being thick or heavy at all.  I'd say it's similar to an old friend Yuengling’s Black and Tan, but a bit lighter and perhaps more drinkable because of it.  The packaging says it's made with "Czech Saaz and Styrian Hops."  I'm no hops connoisseur, but I like it.  I will definitely try more in this style.

p.s. No one says the "bohemian" in name, even though it's right there in the label and promo stuff online. It's simply "Shiner Black" (to contrast with "Shiner Bock").