Beer

Ah beer...another one of those wonderful things we humans have figured out that speaks to our collective soul. Like wine, beer is an ancient experiment in chemistry and biology that resulted in a beverage that brings people together and just tastes great. Unfortunately, beer went through a pretty major downturn here in the United States so much so that a significant portion of Americans have no idea that beer can actually taste good. Here's a guide for the beginner.

Let me start off by saying that like all things, beer can become an obsession. I have friends who get a dreamy look in their eye and a small but noticeable smile as they talk about beer. Some home brew small batches of beer that end up being some of the most amazing bottles I've had the privilege of drinking. However, we don't all have access to this. The quickest way to get your hands on a bottle of suds is at a local store. So in this post I'm going to give you a rundown on the beers I've been enjoying that are also quite easy to get a hold of.

If you've only ever had one of the "big three" beers in the US, you're really missing out and you have tasted recipes that are really quite poor. I'm not going to name names, but you know the brands I'm talking about. Ironically, I'm sure some of those brands actually own the beers I'm going to recommend below. I won't get in to the politics and hypocrisy of some of the big beer companies in this post but if you're interested, you should really check out a great documentary called Beer Wars. Its on Netflix streaming and its awesome.

Refreshing Beer
Sometimes nothing hits the spot like a refreshingly cold Mexican beer. Lots of people start out with Corona but I suggest trying Dos Equis (XX) and Negra Modelo. Dos Equis has two flavors commonly found on store shelves and I usually prefer the darker brew (The Ambar) which can easily be found by the brown label it sports. Modelo is awesome as well and has a foil wrapper over the bottle cap. Both are great and go well with Mexican food or can be enjoyed by themselves on a sun drenched deck by the pool.

Wheat Beer
Recently, wheat beers took on an unnatural popularity similar to what Pinot Noir had after Sideways so the tendency for people to automatically default to Hefenweizens can be a bit annoying. Still, its hard to deny that they can taste incredible. I like Blue Moon which is one of the most popular of the wheat beers. Enjoy it with a slice of orange thrown in or drink it as is. Usually when someone tells me they don't like beer or have no idea where to start, I suggest a wheat beer. Its really friendly on the palette of the novice.

Bold Beer
Like wine, once you start, its hard to stop experimenting with new varieties. I call the following beers "bold" only because I group them together this way in my own brain. Beers like Spaten Optimator and Newcastle are darker beers which are usually a bit intimidating for new beer drinkers. Its hard to just jump right in and start drinking these right away but eventually when you acquire the taste for beer, these become really enticing. The darker varieties of beer really open up a whole new world beyond the yellow limp beers that most people are used to.

Exotic Beer
In my mind, the exotics are the beers I've encountered that are hard to classify. They're also harder to find so a store like BevMo is usually where you'll need to go to find them. Duvel is definitely my favorite of the exotics and indeed, is my favorite beer overall. The flavor is rich but light at the same time. It feels refreshing to drink. Its also a high alcohol content beer at around 8% so a single bottle will make you feel really good. Its also more expensive per bottle but to me its worth it. Some other great exotics are Chimay (all varieties) and Delirium. Delirium comes in a bottle the size of a traditional wine bottle. Its an old brew and packs a punch of flavor and alcohol content. Work your way up to these beers but once you're ready, I promise you won't be disappointed.

Am I an expert? Hardly. Let me know what beers you like. What really satisfies your thirst for a good brew? Taste is a subjective thing so there are no wrong answers. Would love to hear what you think.

Book Review: Bossypants

I love Tina Fey. She's funny. She's smart. She's cute. She's dorky. There isn't much not to like. So when she came out with her book, Bossypants, I knew that it would be something I would enjoy. I was not disappointed.

Tina's style of writing feels very real to me. You can tell that she has been in the same life situations that you or I have, that she has dealt with anxiety, embarrassment, stress, and not feeling good enough. Her ability to laugh at herself and the silly situations that life places us all in helps to keep our own troubles in perspective. Despite a difficult situation in her childhood, she pushes through and is able to make herself into a star, but a very real one at that.

Even while discussing difficult topics, she was able to keep me laughing through the whole time. I was hooked and read through the book in less than a day. So if you want a light, easy reading that is entertaining, but not unrealistic, I suggest you give this a read. And let me know, you can borrow my copy!

Chase Bank: iPhone App Review

Have you seen the Chase Bank commercial with the newlywed couple hanging out in their wedding attire in bed depositing checks with their phone? When I first saw this commercial I was intrigued so when we bought our new iPhones, I downloaded the app to see if it was as good as the commercial led on. Here's what I think after a few months of using it.

I'm a relatively hip dude when it comes to technology. Much of what I do as a part of my profession makes use of some of the latest and greatest computer technology. But I have to admit I was a bit weirded out by the concept of depositing checks simply by submitting a picture of them. I tried it out in good faith as I've been happy with Chase's online services so far.

The app has a lot of functions including your balance log, finding a nearby ATM, transferring money, and even paying bills. All of these are great and have worked great for me but the centerpiece of this app is the check depositing system.

Its pretty simple really. After logging in to your mobile banking through the phone you tap the deposit button and it brings up a screen asking you which account you'd like to deposit to. Then you tap on the "front" button and it brings up your phone's camera. You take a clear (no blur!) picture and press submit. You do the same for the back and if the app sees that everything is clear and readable, it allows you to submit. After submission you get an email that lets you know they received the deposit and that its under review. If you do this on a weekday during business hours, it only takes about an hour for the deposit to clear.

I suppose the only drawback I've found is that there is a limit to how much money you can deposit through the app. I guess it means things are going well enough for me if the app says I am trying to deposit too much money! Not a bad problem. However its meant that I only use the app to deposit on certain occasions. Its great for those days where you just don't have much time to spare or any other reason to get in the car and go to an ATM. Busting out the app and making a quick deposit saves time and gas!

As always, this is an iPhone app we recommend that is also free to download. All you need to have is a bank account with Chase to use the awesome check depositing feature along with all the other great stuff.

Have you tried the Chase app? What do you think about it?

Favorite Places: NGY Jewelers

NGY Jewelers is a hidden little gem that I feel very lucky to have found. We first discovered NGY when Thomas was looking for a place to buy the diamond for my engagement ring. We found that his coworkers' wife's family owned a small shop in the middle of Orange and they helped him pick out a diamond. Just a month later, I kept my sister-in-law busy for a day of fake shopping while my younger brother and Thomas went up to NGY to pick out a diamond and design an engagement ring for her. And a couple months after that, we brought one of my older brothers and his wife to NGY to pick out their wedding jewelry. Just after our wedding, we purchased diamond earrings for me, and we have brought countless friends and coworkers to NGY to help them get what we feel is the best service and jewelry possible.

I recently made my favorite purchase from NGY, a set of stack-able rings for my birthday. My mom always wore garnet rings, and I have been eyeing their pretty gemstone bands for years (every time we bring someone new to shop, I always have a look around myself). For my birthday, I decided that I would finally buy myself that ring in memory of my mom, and I knew I needed to start by looking at NGY. When I walked in the door, they immediately remembered that I have always wanted a garnet ring and brought me a beautiful one to try on. I spent the next 10 minutes mixing and matching small diamond bands to wear on either side of the garnet ring, and I was sold.  They sized my finger and just 3 weeks later I had them in my metal of choice and my correct size. I am thrilled with my new beautiful right hand rings and I cant wait for my next jewelry purchase at NGY.



If you ever need to make a jewelry purchase, big or small, let us know, we are happy to take a trip to visit our friends and to introduce new people to their wonderful store.

Meme Monday: The Most Interesting (Drunk) Man

Meme Monday brings you a weekly Internet Meme that we have found. Internet Memes are described as something that catches on like wildfire with Internet communities with no outside source of promotion. They exist purely for enjoyment and laughs.