Luke wrote:I also pass the Red Oak brewery frequently and often wonder how their beer tastes.
I had a few Yuenglings (not yuengling light) last night, and perhaps my tastes are changing, as it tasted like any old light beer. Bland.
As MC Rex Rexler noted, Red Oak is a very solid beer. It is by no means North Carolina's best, IMO, but I would definitely pick it over a bland, mass market light beer (...like Yuengling ).
Luke wrote:If you're ever passing through Eastern NC, visit their brewery. Free tour, free drinks, free swag (usually).
For what's basically a three man operation, Duck Rabbit is pretty incredible.
Never been, but I agree. Down here in Atlanta I'll often go with a Duck Rabbit, especially since most places usually only carry a couple porters or stouts.
To be quite honest, most of the homemade Bloody Mary's I've had are pretty terrible. One of my good friends makes a "signature" bloody Mary that tastes like bbq sauce with a hint of vodka. I've also had plenty of watered down, over garnished versions of the cocktail that are barely tolerable. To top it off, I've been to a few Bloody Mary Bars where they have plenty of mixes, garnishes, and other things that should not be included in this "It's okay to drink booze at 7am" beverage.
So if you do enjoy a Bloody Mary, even if it is from a prepared mix, share your thoughts.
I have always enjoyed the Mr. & Mrs. T mix. Spicy, not too heavy on Worcestershire sauce, and thick enough to not leave the drink watery. Plus it is quick and easy. So, my prep for my go to Bloody Mary is:
Pint glass, full to the brim with ice
Rinse glass, full of ice under cold water (This cools the glass and gets rid of any freezer burn taste from the ice...Always rinse your ice and glass)
Two shots of your favorite and moderately priced Vodka
Fill 3/4's top with Bloody Mary mix
Dash of freshly ground black pepper
A whiff of celery seeds
Garnish with a dill pickle spear and a giant Queen green olive
I love using a pickle instead of a celery stalk. Adds flavor to the drink, and my tongue is a huge fan of almost anything pickled.
Tonight will be an odd one. PBR, and champagne. The PBR is for casual drinking with some friends, and we're also having a champagne toast for my Dog's 14th Birthday. My dog LOVES champagne.
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