What are YOU drinking

i'm not sure about a bottle of wine with the word 'puddle' in it lol

 

Texas wine is quite different from the wine grown on the West coast. For one the industry isn’t as big, but it has been steadily growing in the last 40 years or so. Also, the grapes grown in Texas are mostly Mediterranean style grapes and it’s often compared to Spanish wine.

 

That sounds incredibly refreshing for a hot summer day.

 

This is in front of me now!



Though the temperatures out here were pushing 100degF over the weekend...
Winter is indeed here!

 

“I don’t always drink beer, but when I do, I prefer Star Wars. Stay thirsty my friends.” - The Galaxy’s Most Interesting Jedi

 

Went to a place that gave you a wristband and let you serve yourself from a wall of craft beer taps. It keeps track and you pay by the ounce. Let’s you try a little or a lot of whatever you want.



Cool mason jar glasses from St Pete brewery:

 

+

 

Multiple craft beer breweries are continually popping up in every town. They produce excellent quality beverages and offer great deals on growlers to take home. Most offer glass growlers with their logo on the side. I actually collect those, but when it comes to taking a great beer home, there are lots of better options. Here is my review of three popular growlers:







Growler Review:

From left to right pictured are the Drink Tanks, Miir, and Stanley.



First up, Drink Tanks:
This is the most expensive one, around $69 for the 64oz. It is well designed and forms a tight seal, and is very attractive. It's double wall insulated so it will keep liquids cold for a very long time. The only thing I don't like is that it does not have the Surgeon General's warning on it. Instead it comes with a sticker that you can affix. I have never had anyone refuse to fill it, but I am sure somewhere out there is someone who looks for that sort of thing. Plus, I don't want a sticker on my growler. The Miir and the Stanley both have it engraved on the bottom. Most glass growlers have it printed on the side.
Four-stars


Next, Miir:
This one makes a great seal and is insulated as well, so freshness and temperature again are no problem. You can find them for around $50. At first glance the clamping mechanism looks like your typical swing lock cap that you would see on a bottle of Grolsch or some olive oils, but the arms are much shorter. Once you open and close it a few times it is very simple, but at first it's very counter intuitive. This makes getting it filled a pain, because most bartenders try to force it and pop it loose. Also, it does not have a handle and isn't as easy to pour while holding a glass.
Two-stars


Finally, the Stanley:
This is the one I was initially least interested in, even though it is the cheapest, because it looks similar to a typical Stanley thermos. I purchased mine for around $40. As expected it makes a great seal and is insulated. After using it a few times, the design really grew on me. The locking mechanism seems the sturdiest and the thick gasket seal is easily removable when cleaning and should be easy to replace if ever necessary. This is the one I use most often. I love it.
Five-stars!



*I still want to try one of the Klean Kanteen growlers.



If you like fresh draft beer, I highly recommend upgrading from the glass growlers most places use. The clamping seals are an improvement over the screw caps because they form a tighter seal to preserve carbonation. Glass growlers wont keep things as cold and that is very important when it come to draft beer. Draft beers taste fresher because they have not been pasteurized like bottle and canned beer. That's why kegs have to always be kept refrigerated. I hope this was useful for anyone considering making a purchase.

 

Beer is my preference

At this exact moment I’m drinking some Rising Tide out of Portland Maine

 

Lately I’ve really been enjoying the hazy IPAs from various breweries with all the citrusy notes, but nothing beats all those great porters that get released in the fall and winter. I’m sure to enjoy a few with The Rise of Skywalker!