Just So Brew Know

Many Americans imbibe exclusively low-quality beer and either don't realize it or don't care. And while there are certainly problems in the world more worthy of my attention, this one in particular stokes my passion, and I long to correct it by making readers aware that there are categories of beer other than "light."<br /> <br /> <b>Styles of Beer</b><br /> <b><br /></b> The two major styles of beer are ales and lagers. The former is made with top-fermenting yeasts, is brewed at a higher temperature than lagers, and is usually served only slightly chilled. The latter is made with bottom-fermenting yeasts, brewed slower at colder temperatures, and is often served thoroughly chilled. For wine-lovers, ales are similar to red wine, strongly flavored and complex, while lagers are more similar to white wine - usually light and crisp.<br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBsALAhFy3gOFhylddGK2PVSCUCNmfxdwTr2US4yt-cakTf4w1tzZICL6LvJhydJXxEatpMULwT7rZvk16_MU7Oqa0x8N5gxZEJNeGtAvB9yQLijpIXmQCcohgdkaJ8PyrYLyDQ88yNPG/s1600/file6671234665917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBsALAhFy3gOFhylddGK2PVSCUCNmfxdwTr2US4yt-cakTf4w1tzZICL6LvJhydJXxEatpMULwT7rZvk16_MU7Oqa0x8N5gxZEJNeGtAvB9yQLijpIXmQCcohgdkaJ8PyrYLyDQ88yNPG/s320/file6671234665917.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You must respect the bubbles.</td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> <b>Ales</b><br /> <br /> Common styles of ales include pale ale, amber ale, porter, stout, and wheat beer, among many others. Each has a highly distinct flavor profile. A particular favorite of beer snobs is the India Pale Ale, an accidental success that supposedly occurred when the English experimented with extra hops and higher alcohol content in an effort to preserve their beer on its trip to the colonies in India, resulting in a powerfully bitter, herby delight. It's rumored that the rest of the world was exposed to this concoction when a ship wrecked on its way to India (viral marketing stunt much?).<br /> <br /> The Imperial (or Double) Pale Ales "Pliny the Younger" and "Pliny the Elder"" produced by Russian River Brewing Company are called two of the best beers ever made, and take second and third place respectively in the top 250 beers on <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/lists/top" target="_blank">Beer Advocate</a>. If you're lucky enough to be in a city where it's occasionally available, be prepared to wait in line to drink. For something more accessible and available by the six-pack, I recommend Sierra Nevada's "Torpedo" for an herbal punch in the face. Turoni's "Blue-Eyed Moose" is also worth a try on tap.<br /> <br /> If strong hop flavors aren't your thing, Hefeweizen (German wheat ale) is a particular favorite of mine for day-to-day drinking, especially in the summer. It basically tastes like a delicious, citrusy glass of liquified bread, and is much better than it sounds. Turoni's seasonally-available Hefeweizen is beyond delicions, and even though it doesn't make the top of the list on Beer Advocate, I'd recommend Schlafly's version to anyone. Red or brown ales are also great choices for casual drinking (try "Rivet" at Tin Man).<br /> <br /> Also of note are <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/215/672" target="_blank">Trappist Ales</a>, originally brewed by monks and incredibly balanced and delicious, and dark, smoky-flavored <a href="http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/96/297" target="_blank">stouts</a>.<br /> <br /> <b>Lagers</b><br /> <b><br /></b> If you lost your beer virginity at a frat party, you probably lost it to an abomination known as the modern American pilsner (Busch, Natty Ice, etc.) or as Beer Advocate describes it, the American Adjunct Lager. If you're lucky, you were at least given a Genessee or Corona, but that is tragically unlikely.<br /> <br /> Nearly everyone hates his/her first swallow of beer, and it's no wonder when this is what we have to work with. But in recent decades, America has had the pleasure of discovering varieties of lager such as bocks, Maerzens/Oktoberfests, Dortmunders, and authentic pilsners and recreating them within microbreweries. What a wonderful time to be alive!<br /> <br /> If you've ever had Samuel Adams' "Winter Lager," you've already had a very tasty, crispy bock, with subtle notes of spice and citrus (you can pretty much count on Sam Adams to guide you through every variety of beer successfully). Another dark, readily available lager is Heineken's "Dark Lager," a huge improvement over the original Heineken. "Dead Guy Ale" is a fantastic variety of Helles Bock, as is Turoni's version available in the spring.<br /> <b><br /></b> So, now that you know better, you have no excuse to crack open another Bud Light and feel that you have made the right choice when there are so many inexpensive and delicious varieties of beer available in stores. All you have to do is research and experiment to find the variety that suits you in a world of seemingly limitless flavor possibility.<br /> <br /> What's your favorite brew, and where is it available?<br /> <b><br /></b> <br /> <br />

Many Americans imbibe exclusively low-quality beer and either don't realize it or don't care. And while there are certainly problems...

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How You Wear Your Hair: Trends for 2013-2014

More than anything else, hair is what defines the look of a decade. In the '80s, it was about volume. In the '90s, severe parts and greasiness. In the early 2000s, slightly-too-deliberate shags and emo cuts that hung constantly over one eye became inexplicably trendy.<br /> <br /> Next year shows a return to sophistication and adulthood, and a different quality of manliness than other eras - one that incorporates a degree of softness, and style-savvy that doesn't require hours of standing in front of the mirror with a tub of wax to get that lock of hair to drape just just just juuuuuust right.<br /> <br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk2YLUcWOlD147fcyPT1FXXwAlgabbwC9WkPSog4GfaVSBv7ro6fxPoj_RKz1Cb-jUWnM-HIu9jgnefsdtaWkSaCqP1V_CKeXWpyFgnHAqsJf6eKlR68Rkce50V-UUYOoxCyoeAyibctF/s1600/02-pompadour-haircut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSk2YLUcWOlD147fcyPT1FXXwAlgabbwC9WkPSog4GfaVSBv7ro6fxPoj_RKz1Cb-jUWnM-HIu9jgnefsdtaWkSaCqP1V_CKeXWpyFgnHAqsJf6eKlR68Rkce50V-UUYOoxCyoeAyibctF/s200/02-pompadour-haircut.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://menshair.about.com/od/thelatesttrends/ss/Men-S-Hair-Trend-Short-Sides-Disconnected-Top_2.htm" target="_blank">menshair.about.com</a></td></tr> </tbody></table> The most effortlessly sexy style of the year is a variation of the pompadour, with the same close-cropped sides and long top, but it's touchably soft instead of greasy and hard with just a hint of gel or pomade. This cut allows for major variety, too. You can wear the top curly, tousled or straight, you can slick it back or let it hang over your forehead like fringe, and you can buzz the sides instead of cutting close. Best of all, it works with just about every quality of hair (although African American men run the risk of looking a little '80s if the top gets too much longer than the sides). Wear this cut with a denim shirt or a sharp suit and you will never be lonely again.<br /> <br /> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody> <tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aWgpYiMJw_faElS7cFwiHEtZzzOoOKc2baNLxVwBHThTqUbUtjaVH5DRjTAVILF6WaohjizV8F1I7c3sWDdVAPyOCXrCU8-Z6deSUImjtVqoXeRQBBeeH_BINgx3XzRoAJ7Q3mgVqw8X/s1600/top-10-hairstyles-for-men-the-best-mens-hairc-L-sbvm7f.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4aWgpYiMJw_faElS7cFwiHEtZzzOoOKc2baNLxVwBHThTqUbUtjaVH5DRjTAVILF6WaohjizV8F1I7c3sWDdVAPyOCXrCU8-Z6deSUImjtVqoXeRQBBeeH_BINgx3XzRoAJ7Q3mgVqw8X/s200/top-10-hairstyles-for-men-the-best-mens-hairc-L-sbvm7f.png" width="190" /></a></td></tr> <tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://en.paperblog.com/top-10-hairstyles-for-men-the-best-men-s-haircut-styles-of-2012-403881/" target="_blank">en.paperblog.com</a></td></tr> </tbody></table> <br /> This next look probably already has a name, but I'm going to call it the Don Draper because it's reminiscent of the same left-hand part and shellacked look worn by Mad Men's leading man. It's a look we've seen before in decades past, but this variety is softer and looser than its predecessors. It's a grown-up look that goes perfectly with a suit, or even just a plaid or checked shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a tie. This cut has just the right degree of retro chic. It's also easier to style than it looks - just apply gel and comb into place. Don't worry about getting it perfectly even - a little bit of texture is sexy.<br /> <br /> Have you tried wearing these looks before, or maybe your own unique variety? Tell us about your style in the comments!<br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

More than anything else, hair is what defines the look of a decade. In the '80s, it was about volume. In the '90s, severe parts and ...

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