My favorite bars

You regulars may have noticed that in the column to the right, I list 1) the last five books I've read, 2) the last five restaurants where I had great meals, and 3) the last five great movies/TV shows I watched.

Well, I've added a new category: the last five cool bars I've visited.  My criteria are simple.  I look for cool, down-to-earth clientele and staff; a varied and in-depth beer and/or liquor selection; and value.  Most will definitely fall in the "dive bar" category.

200 bottles of beer opened in 80 seconds

Somebody's going to drink all that, right?

PBR Pabst Blue Ribbon in China

Yes.  That's PBR.  As in THAT cheap beer.  And yes, it's selling for $44 a bottle.  Just ask for "Blue Ribbon 1844".  I assume it was impossible to transliterate PABST into Mandarin.

Vernadsky Research Station in Antarctica: Southernmost bar in the world

I'm renewing my quest to travel down to the tip of South America.  I assumed the southernmost bar would be in Ushuaia in Argentina or Puerto Williams in Chile.  I was wrong.  Apparently, it's at a Ukrainian research station in Antarctica, at about 65 degrees south.

The Vernadsky station used to belong to the UK and was called Faraday.  As the UK consolidated its stations, it sold the station to the Ukraine for one pound, on condition that the Ukraine continued research there.  The hole in the ozone layer was discovered there, you know.

The Foxes took these photos and shared their experience.

Bay outside station.

Arrive via Zodiac.

Typical office.

Bow made out of skis.

Vodka made of glacier water.  Pineapple on plate.

Free drink in exchange for bra.

F1 beer vibrations

That's LOUD.

Via Sweet F1.

Johnnie Walker Black Label review taste test

Well, the Red Label taste test did not go so well.  After trying it a few times, it was so nasty I just dumped the rest out and recycled the glass bottle.

Black Label is the next step up.  It is the best selling of the line-up and has had many positive reviews.  Not wanting to waste money on a whole bottle, I ordered a Black Label on the rocks at this strange bar.

Well, though it's got the general taste and flavor of the Red Label, it was much smoother and easier to go down.  It's not milder per se, but the nasty edge was definitely gone.  I tried Chivas on the rocks recently for the first time.  I liked the Chivas better, but the Black Label is definitely not bad.

So onwards to the Green Label.  Now where am I going to find a bar that serves it?

Johnnie Walker Red Label review taste test

I know nothing about whiskey and Scotch.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  I think I've had two kinds in my life.  Jack Daniels and Crown Royal.  That proves how little I know.  Which again, isn't a lot.

But I've always been fascinated with Johnnie Walker.  It might be because they're displayed at virtually every airport duty free shop I've been to.  Or it might be because it is used as currency in many third world countries to bribe mid- to high-level officials.  So what does it taste like?  Will a neophyte like me enjoy it?

I will start at the bottom-- the Red Label.  I will then slowly ascend to the pinnacle-- the Blue Label.

I got a 750ml bottle of Red today at BevMo for $18.  That seems reasonable, I think.

I will start by drinking it at room temperature, by itself.  As I tilt it in my glass, it looks slightly syrupy and leaves a thin film on the glass.  It has a yellowish, golden hue.  It smells sharp and a bit like rubbing alcohol.  It's not unlike cheap booze I've had in my younger days.  The smell changes in intensity every time I sniff it (I've sniffed it 4-5 times now).  I wonder why that is.  Now, it just smells like hospital.

Sip.  Wow, it's nowhere nearly as nasty as I thought it was going to be.  I can feel its punch and warmth about 5-10 seconds after swallowing it.  And as I finished typing the last sentence, the punch and warmth disappeared almost instantly.  The flavor was mild.

I did not enjoy the second sip.  I'm going to add ice and club soda now.  Be right back.

Yack.  The club soda made it bitter.  Now, my mouth tastes like Band-Aid.  Maybe I'll just add regular water next time.

Stay tuned as I try Black Label.  In the meantime, here is the history of the brand.

Anchor Steam sold to Skyy Vodka people

If the new owners mess with the recipe or start selling Anchor Steam in blue bottles, I will lead the revolt.

My earthquake beer

Baltika No. 9 beer review

Sorry, but Baltika No. 9 is about as bland and forgettable as those Soviet apartment blocks in the background.

After drinking Nos. 2 through 9, I conclude that the only ones worth trying are No. 4 and No. 6.  I got them all at BevMo.  2 though 8 were in the foreign beers aisle.  9 was the only one that was refrigerated.  I have no idea why.

Baltika No. 8 beer review

Baltika No. 8 is a lighter wheat beer that is on par with your mid-grade Hefeweisen.  Decent drink on a summer day.  I should have had it with a thick wedge of lemon.

Baltika No. 7 beer review

Aside from the innovative and unique pull tab, there is nothing else to write home about.  It is just a plain, average lager.

Baltika No. 6 beer review

Brezhnev Square

Baltika No. 6 porter is dark.  Like molasses.  No, wait.  Like squid ink.  Despite its color, it is not thick like Guinness.  It goes down quick and easy.  The aftertaste is a bit sweet, with a hint of Nyquil.  I recommend it.

Again, I am convinced that Nos. 2 and 3 are the anomalies and the rest of the line up is delicious.  I'll try No. 7 now.

Baltika No. 5 beer review

Leningrad

Baltika No. 5 is a Golden Lager.  And, as a lager, it is much easier on the taste buds than Nos. 2 and 3.  In terms of quality, it falls somewhere between macrobrewed Korean and American lagers, but with a little more bite.

One thing that doesn't make sense in terms of nomenclature is why the 5 is not darker than the 4.  But that is something for the marketing people to answer.  Overall, it is a very drinkable beer and I can see a lot of this being downed on a hot summer afternoon.  Cheers.

Baltika No. 4 beer review

Minsk motorcycle factory

Ah, much better.  Baltika No. 4 Dark Lager is hundreds of times better than Nos. 2 and 3.  4 is crisp, slightly fruity, and reminds me of some microbrew I had from the Pacific Northwest (I can't remember the name of it).  But I would definitely not describe it as a dark lager.  In a pint glass, the reddish brown hue is gorgeous.  The cloudy, almost muddy, appearance of the beer made me suspect that it was going to be heavy.  I was wrong.  It's not light, but it was much lighter than I thought it would be.  I still have to try Nos. 5 through 9, but I think I have already found my favorite.

Baltika No. 3 beer review

Shopping for shoes at GUM

Baltika No. 3 is supposedly the most popular of the Baltika range.

After the first few sips, I found it spicy, sharp, with a hint of nuttiness.  These are all positive qualities, but there's just something off about this beer.  Maybe it's a flavor I'm just not used to.  Like Baltika No. 2, it's like the brewmaster mopped up a floor's-worth of sweat from a locker room, wrung the mop into a beer bottle, and stored it in a musky warehouse for two years.

But as I drank the last drops, I began to get used to the flavor.  I think it's an acquired taste.  My odyssey has barely begun.  I still have to try Baltika Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.  Maybe I'll love it by the end.

I must say, the beer is quite potent.  And it's not because of its alcohol content (4.8%).  It's because a bottle has nearly 17 ounces (versus 12 for a regular American beer bottle) of beer.  Pow!

Please stay tuned for my review of Baltika No. 4.

Baltika No. 2 beer review

Lake Baikal in the background

Baltika is a popular brand of beer in Mother Russia.  They range from Baltika No. 2, which is a pale lager and the lightest of the bunch.  The darkest and heaviest beer is Baltika No. 9.  I am not going to review Baltika No. 0, as it is non-alcoholic (and because I can't find it anywhere).

Baltika No. 2 is not very satisfying.  It has much more body and flavor than an American light beer, but that's not necessarily good.  It tastes sweet, flat, and stale, almost like cheap champagne.  Really cheap champagne.

Next, I will try Baltika No. 3.  Burp.

St. Pauli Girl New Hairstyle

I was at the beer aisle today and I noticed that St. Pauli Girl has a new look.  Is nothing sacred anymore?

Basque restaurants in Carson City and Reno

I stayed in a small Mono County town overnight. I wake up and it's 9 degrees outside. I drive two hours north to Carson City so that I can eat a proper breakfast.

Much of Idaho and Nevada is Basque country. Many men from France and Spain were brought here as sheepherders.

Villa Basque Cafe, Carson City

I had heard a lot of great things about this place. The restaurant is in an unassuming strip mall about a mile from downtown Carson City. As I approach the door, it looks closed. I enter the overflow annex. The large room is unoccupied, dark, and filled with empty tables and chair. I walk across the room and enter another set of doors. That is when I arrive at the restaurant proper.

Credit

The place is known for their homemade chorizos. There are reminders everywhere-- painted on the walls, in the large refrigerators for all to see, dangling from the ceiling. I order a chorizo with eggs ($9.50). It came with corn tortillas, beans, and rice. I also get jalapenos for an extra 50 cents.

The coffee was sour, kind of like the crap we drank in the 80s in those small white styrofoam cups. The chorizo was dry and gamey. The whole thing was overcooked and sloppily prepared. I am disappointed. It didn't help that I could overhear the conversation from the table behind me. The guy, a very religious chap, was lecturing his mail order bride about the value of money and the sin of wasting food. Oh, brother.

Louis' Basque Corner, Reno

Credit

The restaurant serves its meals family style on large tables. The introvert in me shudders. So when I walk in, I instinctively ask if I can eat at the bar. Of course I can.

The guys sitting next me and the bartender immediately ask in a friendly manner what I'm up to. They impulsively start ordering for me. I start with a picon punch (see the video below). They get me roast leg of lamb ($11.95), but instead of a side of Basque beans, they order tripe so that I can have a taste of another entree. The conversation flows. It was awesome.

Credit

The only thing of note about the meal itself was that the lamb was really heavy on the garlic. Though the food is definitely above average, people come here out of tradition and camaraderie. It is a really fun place. I even got to meet the French Basque owner, Louis.

They have a vulgar saying about the picon punch. Something about how having two is just right and three is too many. I think I may have had four. Woops.

What Does Baiju Taste Like?

I've never had baiju before. It's a Chinese liquor made from sorghum or a combination of other local grains. It's mentioned in every book about travel to China. No one has ever had anything positive to say about it.

I went to the local Asian market and bought a bottle. I picked Red Star Brand because the label looks very old school Red China. Some research done after I got home confirmed that this is the most popular brand amongst blue collar guys in northeastern China. For the record, it's 112 proof. I will now proceed to drink a shot. While I pour myself a glass, here is a primer. The brand I got is shown in the beginning of the video, in the scene where the guy is playing the guitar.

Verdict: Just pouring it, I could smell the alcohol. This stuff is strong, bad, but drinkable. After I downed it, my eyes were shut for five seconds because my head felt stung. My throat, my stomach, and everything in between, were burning. When I inhaled through my mouth, I felt flammable. The aftertaste can best be described as the taste and feeling you get after you've been sick already.

Volvo White Zinfandel

In high school, if I wasn't driving around in my car, then I was most likely riding in my friend E's yellow Volvo 240 wagon. It was the slowest, and safest, car I've ever had the pleasure of riding in.

But the best part of the car has to be what it came with. It came with a free bottle of wine! E was kind enough to go down to his vast wine cellar this evening and dig this puppy up. That's got to command a pretty penny on ebay.

In exchange for the time and effort E took to take and send me these pictures, I promised him a future post about how Moon Bloodgood (of Terminator Salvation fame) became the most famous passenger in his BMW E28. Stay tuned.