Watching a good bowl game with a dark Frank Zappa beer
Last night I put myself in the full Barcalounger position -- maximum recline -- to watch the battle of journalism school giants, Missouri v. Northwestern, in football's Alamo Bowl.
It was a spirited contest, proving I guess that schools that turn out scribblers (I got a journalism degree from Northwestern, my dad got one from MU) can also play good football.
The brew that I sipped while watching the game, pulling the lounge chair up to take a swig, was Ruben & the Jets, a dark chocolate stout from Lagunitas Brewing in Petaluma, Calif. The brewery issued the beer in honor of the 40th annivesary of the release of the Ruben & The Jets album by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Zappa, of course , was a Baltimore native and Dec. 21 was declared Frank Zappa Day in this town.
The brew poured very dark, almost black. It had nice chocolate notes, but overall was much milder than I expected. Some folks report tasting pepper notes, but I missed them. It was 8.6 per cent ABV.
Overall it was a pleasant companion to a good game. It was about midnight when Mizzou pulled out the victory in overtime and the last sip was swallowed. It was a nice way to spend a December evening.
Anyone else have Frank Zappa's beer?
Anybody ever meet Zappa?
What beer do you recommend to sip while ringing in the New Year's Eve?
Comments
Hi Rob,
I had a bottle of Frank Zappa Lumpy Gravy beer last year from Lagunitas. They must be issuing a Frank Zappa series of beers.
The closest I came to meeting Frank was him waving at us from his limo after a 1980 concert at the beloved Civic Center. I remember it fondly.
I'll be sipping some Kronenbourg 1664
New Year's Eve
Posted by: Doug Niels | December 30, 2008 2:54 PM
I've never had a Frank Zappa beer but I like his music. I'l probably be drinking some Wild Goose IPA among other beers tonight.
Posted by: Jr Copper | December 31, 2008 10:33 AM
I actually met Frank Zappa outside of the Frankfurt Opera House in 1982. He signed a record of mine, which, it turned out, was one of a series of albums released without his consent. He made a joke about it and signed it anyway. Quite a thrill for this 17 year old. However, I kind of lost interest in his music not long after that as I was taken in new directions musically Thanks for the kind words re: Res in the bottle, BTW!.
Posted by: Volker | January 4, 2009 10:21 PM