C-Note X-mas Present - Item 01.

Empirical supporter/reader, C-Note, gave me the awesome gift basket as a belated x-mas gift. It was filled with all sorts of interesting items and came with a special request: that it would be an honor to see some of these treats highlighted on the Empirical.

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Item 01: RED SEAL ALE



This beer bottle has been sitting in the fridge since I opened up the basket weeks ago just waiting for the perfect moment to come along. Yesterday I was reminded by Ryan that it was Ash Wednesday and that Lent was officially in full-swing; for forty days, he will avoid any alcohol. Sounds rough and best of luck to him. I am not much of a drinker these days and rarely have anything stronger than Diet Coke or fruit punch, yet in my crazed mind (mostly just bored) I begin to think that I can somehow re-balance the universe by drinking his share. Well, I'd never get close, but I can start by having one of the beers given to me by C-Note. OKAY, I realize that by doing this writeup a day later, how little sense this is making. I'm hardly following it myself. The really compelling part of this post, I think(?), is the menu I came up with.

I go to Marie Callender's after work and pick up a pie at the pie sale. I highly recommend doing this. You can get any pie during the entire month of February for $6 + a pie tin deposit. An excellent deal. The downside is that if you are like me and have to do this after work, the choices are few. They were sold out of the Double Cream Blueberry, Double Cream Lemon, and Banana Cream. I went with my 4th choice: Razzleberry. Well it turns out Razzleberry pies are the perfect match for the Red Seal Ale. The berries' sweet/tart combination bring out just the right notes in the beer and as I described it earlier to Alex, "It is like a dance in your mouth." I'm a big advocate for the beer/pie pairing but it is tricky territory. Not just any pie will step up to the Anchor Steam, for instance.

Yes, this was my dinner. And certainly not the first time I've made a meal out of a pie slice and beer. This, is common. On another occasion, it might be a giant bowl of steamed broccoli and a soda. You just never know.

More on the Red Seal...It's from Mendocino. I'd never had it before. When I was last up in the Petaluma area, I was out to dinner with Senor Crane and I made a huge [enthusiastic] deal about being served "ONLY LOCAL BEERS. NO, CHICO IS TOO FAR." A request I'd made to Chef Tony Najiola in his own restaurant. At no point was Red Seal made available to me. I would have remembered this little gem of a beer. Gorgeous amber color, just the right amount of spicy kick, a touch of sweetness (helped along by the pie, of course), and the perfect finish. Really, perfect. May soon unseat Anchor Steam as my old standby. It is one of several offerings from the North Coast Brewing Company. You may be familiar with their Old Rasputin which I know I've seen before. Rasputin's label is a lot more memorable anyway. I've seen better, but Red Seal's label is nicely designed and generally very pleasing to look at. I'll have to be more mindful of it when I go on my next beverage-stock-up outing and if I can find a steady supply I believe the Empirical office fridge will soon be well-stocked.



I've decided that the universe doesn't need me to re-balance these sudden changes in its system. I'm going back to my sober life for the most part. Pie goes just as well with a well-brewed coffee. One more beer from the C-Note basket will have to keep chilling in the fridge to wait for the next special moment that will give it its time to shine. Maybe we'll start digging through the candy selections next!

Note: I feel the lure of Thai food coming on. Drink suggestions for Tofu Pad See Ew are welcome.

Note: The Pinkberry in Rowland Heights is now open. Brea Canyon Cutoff/Colima in the Stater Bros center. Previous occupant was Mama's and Papa's Pizza.

EDIT: Still more blog-synergy with Ms. Citizenrobots. [[Click here]] for a review on some brews sampled at Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park and a little Empirical cameo. Also, Old Rasputin and Red Seal are both readily available at your local Trader Joe's or supermarket.