I.
It's frustrating as fuck that every time I try to check out a new spot on a Sunday, that spot is mysteriously closed. It happened with Max's a few weeks back, and it happened again today with The Beer Store at Franklin Mills. The place got good reviews on Beer Advocate, and I had the means to get there, so it seemed like a good time to go.
Google said 11 AM opening. Their own Facebook page said 11 AM opening. The front door said 11 AM opening. The front door was also closed. It was dark inside at 11:05, with no signs of life. And it's not like Franklin Mills was on my normal route. That shit is kind of out of the way! What a fucking waste.
I get that maybe COVID is fucking things up, but if you're going to decide to open late, why not post it on social media so all the fucking rubes like me can at least not waste their time? Why piss off a future customer like that? I am less inclined to drive 100 MPH in a minivan up I-95 a second time since the first time was a bust.
I just don't get it. I don't get how you can run a business like that, even in these "trying times" or whatever.
II.
I still needed to re-up on beer, and I had limited time, and the Richmond Bottle Shop (a.k.a. IGA) didn't start selling booze till noon, so I hoofed it all the way down to Northern Liberties, and checked out their Foodery for the first time this year.
With fresh eyes, the selection seemed above average, with way more non-IPAs then IGA has. Prices were... well, if you are also five months into a craft beer drinking project, then you know what the prices are (it helps that I'm only drinking seven beers a week). I was able to pick up a few uncommon styles from the master list.
III.
I'm still not at the point where I feel comfortable spending more than $8 on a beer, though. There were so many beers in these fridges that looked really interesting and tasty, but costed like $8.95. Maybe if I was drinking one beer a week, I could take the hit. But you can't build a six pack out of those beers and still pay the bills too. I stuck with mostly the $2.95-$3.95 offerings, with the occasional $4.95 thrown in for good measure.
It's a shame, because there was a ton of beers that looked like they would be a great choice. The Foodery takes their beers seriously! There were even "staff picks" lined up near the register. But they were all so fucking expensive. I can't justify that. Not right now.
IV.
Today's purchase was a classic seven-pack, which means one for now and six for later. I won't go into details about where I drank it (for employer reasons) or what I paired it with (okay, fine, it was Burger King again, fucking sue me).
Since I knew I was going to be babbling on about other bullshit on the blog for this post, I purposefully bought a repeat style, kind of. Remember how I said that there were other beers that were exactly the same at Oktoberfests? Vienna lagers were one of them (this beer style was created in Vienna, Germany). I wanted to know if it was true, if they really were the same.
They were, for the most part. I'd argue that Double Nickel's version was a little hoppier, a little more bitter, but definitely not enough that I'm starting to question its validity as a Vienna. This was one of those rare occasions that I drank straight out of the can, so I cannot report on foam or color, but I can say that it was just as good, taste-wise, as Lager Town. Smooth, slightly caramel-y, went down easy. Also maybe a bit of apricot? But not enough that it overwhelmed.
V.
I am not good at Mother's Day, or any Pam-centric holiday, for that matter. It's always a last-minute affair, and because of the pandemic, would-be last-minute plans just straight up couldn't happen at all. I couldn't find flowers anywhere. I was too late in ordering the BBQ I had promised. I basically just bought some wine for her, and hoped that that would be enough.
I also didn't say anything when Pam wanted to split a quart of a sour beer. It's her day, and it shouldn't matter that I'm not the biggest fan of sours, or that I had already consumed my daily beer. If she wants to split a sour ale, we're gonna fucking do it. I want her to be happy. Every day should be Mother's Day, at least to make up for the days she's been having lately.
VI.
I found out after the fact that Bel Air Sour is brewed by Brooklyn Brewery. I've always held a bit of a grudge toward this brewery. You see, back in 2016, the brewmaster made comments that basically shit on Philly: "Philly’s like, 'Philly pride!' New Yorkers, we never do that. It’s part of that classical New York cool. We just don’t do it." Which actually is a classic New Yorker comment—of course some asshole who can't stop talking about New York is going to claim that he "never does that." What an oblivious, hypocritical asshole.
Still... the whole Yuengling thing has kind of put things in perspective for me. My new perspective is that I should save my negative opinions for the breweries who really deserve it. Brooklyn Brewery wants to talk smack on Philly? Bring it. I'd rather have that then a brewery support a racist con man who is considering 76K deaths a "successful response."
VII.
Sour flavors, like any other flavor, is best in subtle amounts, at least as far as beers are concerned. Bel Air Sour is a beer that is only slightly sour, and for that, I commend it. I was able to find refreshment in it without puckering my face like I'm in pain. I'll still take any other beer over a sour any day of the week, but if a sour is in front of me, I want it to be like Bel Air.
VIII.
I have no idea why I'm writing so much, since it seems like I'm saying so little.
NOTES (Beer #1)
BEER: Vienna Lager
STYLE: Vienna Lager
ABV: 5.3%
BREWED BY: Double Nickel Brewing Company
LOCATION: Pennsauken, NJ
PURCHASED AT: Foodery
PAIRED WITH: 2 for $6 Whoppers!!!!!!
GRADE: 3 pukes out of 5
NOTES (Beer #2)
BEER: Bel Air Sour
STYLE: American Wild Ale
ABV: 5.8%
BREWED BY: Brooklyn Brewery
LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY
PURCHASED AT: Malt House
PAIRED WITH: buffalo chicken sandwich and kielbasa eggrolls
GRADE: 2.5 pukes out of 5
BEER COUNT: 187.5
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