Beer, Bikes and Butts

A Tribute to Beer, Motorcycles and Cigars

If you haven’t yet discovered CigarMonster.com, you should probably leave it that way. I usually have a tab on my browser open to CigarMonster. It’s a cool hourly timer, with a demonic laugh playing at the top of every hour when Famous Smoke Shop offers a new deal for that hour.

Problem is, I always feel compelled to check out the deal and end up ordering waaaaay too often. (Damn you, FSS.)

One such order was a box of Alec Bradley Medalist Churchills. I’d never smoked one, so what the hell am I doing committing to a box of ten? Because it was $20 for a box of ten!

In this case my impetuous nature really paid off. I fired one up with a couple of friends on the Lido deck. It has a dark, oily wrapper and I was immediately impressed with the complex taste. It stayed consistent to the end with a strong but not harsh finish.

I’m giving this one a 9.3 on The Morris Scale, but rating it as a $2 cigar, it’s off the scale.

Posted on February 28th, 2010 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Cigars, Reviews | 1 Comment »

The weather here in Southern California has been crazy, dipping down into the low 60s!  I had to search through the back of my closet to find a light jacket in order to go outside to smoke a cigar.  They’ll probably close schools and stuff until we get back into the 70s.

Nonetheless, I braved the cold for tonight’s tasting.  I selected a dark beer from one of my favorite breweries, Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon.  (For fun, whenever I’m in Oregon, I always make it a point to pull into a gas station and start pumping my own gas.  Self-service is not permitted in Oregon, and I’m always met with someone who goes crazy and explains to me why it is good for the economy to force gas stations to hire people to pump gas.  Quite entertaining.  Give it a try.)  For my cigar, I chose a Diesel Unholy Cocktail.

Mirror Mirror 2009 Reserve

Mirror Mirror is a barley wine, with 35% of the contents aged in oak barrels.  It follows from and is inspired by Mirror Pond Pale Ale, which has been doubled up to barley wine strength.

The beer pours a dark amber with a small but persistent head.  The initial nose consists of caramel and oak, and the taste follows with the addition of malt and chocolate.  The aftertaste is sweet.  Even though the ABV is 11%, there is no sense of a high alcohol content with an IBU of 30.  The pint plus six ounces was eminently drinkable.  Deschutes Brewery has never failed to please, and this one comes in at a strong 9.4 on The Morris Scale.

Diesel, Unholy Cocktail by  A.J. Fernandez

Abdel (A.J.) Fernandez is said to have studied under Don Alejandro Robaina in Cuba, and to have produced cigars for brands such as Rocky Patel and  Padilla.  The Diesel was introduced in 2009, and is available only in the 5’ x 56 belicoso.

This torpedo stick had flawless construction, and possessed tastes of spice and leather.  The taste was very good throughout, with perhaps just a hint of harshness toward the conclusion.  A very pleasant smoke, garnering an 8.9 rating, and the hope I will come across this one again.

P.S.  A special thanks to Danny De La O, who gave me a heads up on a store that sells Blue Label for $120!  Quite a deal.

Posted on February 13th, 2010 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Beer, Beer Facts, Cigar Facts, Cigars, Reviews | No Comments »

It never hurts to be prepared, and I don’t want to burden my loved ones when I die, so I went ahead and picked out my headstone today.

Question is, should the taps actually dispense beer?  It could be my version of an eternal flame, only much more refreshing.

Posted on February 9th, 2010 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Beer, Beer Facts | 1 Comment »

To paraphrase the milk ads, research has revealed that Beer Builds Better Bodies. A number of studies have found that small quantities of alcohol have health benefits, but it really didn’t matter whether it came from beer, wine or tequila. In this case, beer provides a benefit not found in other alcoholic beverages.

Researchers from the Department of Food Science & Technology at the University of California, have found beer is a rich source of silicon and may help prevent osteoporosis, as dietary silicon is a key ingredient for increasing bone mineral density. Researchers tested 100 commercial beers for silicon content and categorized the data according to beer style and source.

The study also found that the silicon in beer is in a form that is most readily used by the body. In that regard, lighter beers such as pilsners were the best, with stouts and wheat beers providing less of the useable silicon. Although it is still to be determined exactly how much silicon is optimum for health, the current estimate is that people should consume about 46 mg per day. Two or three beers will provide that amount.

Yes, you can also get silicon from fruit, vegetables and whole grains, but with this latest study I think we are getting even closer to the day that beer will take its rightful place on the food pyramid and kegerators will be sold at GNC. Now I need a study touting the benefits of cigars.

Posted on February 9th, 2010 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Beer, Beer Facts | 1 Comment »

The fine folks that brought us the Orange County Beer Festival last year were kind enough not to make us wait an entire year for a repeat.  The event was both magnificent and munificent last year, and in my review I suggested that any self-respecting beer drinker west of the Mississippi should plan on attending OC Beer Fest 2010 at Irvine Lake.

Last year’s Beerfest was held on a very hot August 30, so I’m hoping the new date of May 15, 2010 (that’s a Saturday) will make the experience a little cooler.  There will likely be around 50 breweries represented, all giving unlimited pours (four ounces at a time), so be sure to arrange for transportation so you don’t have to skip any of the samples.  Last year they offered a $15 designated driver ticket price.

Admission is $40, and you can buy tickets here.  If you wait until a little closer to the event date, you can probably pick up some discount tickets for $25.  Just don’t wait too long, because it will probably sell out.

Posted on February 5th, 2010 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Bargains, Beer, Micro-Breweries, News, Reviews | No Comments »

I have not yet persuaded the American Psychiatric Association to include this disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, better known as the DSM-IV, but I am pushing for inclusion of a disorder I have named Competitive Compassion Disorder, or CCD.

You see the classic example of CCD every time you go to a large shopping mall, especially around Christmas time. You are forced to park miles from the mall, while dozens of handicapped parking spaces near every entrance go unused. That many handicapped spots make no sense whatsoever, but long ago in some legislative session a conversation took place that went something like this:

“I am a compassionate person who cares about the handicapped, and I therefore propose that we pass a law that reserves a parking spot close to the entrance so they will not need to travel so far in their wheelchairs.”

“I too am compassionate, but more so than you. I propose that we force businesses to reserve two handicapped spots near the entrance.”

“Your suggestions are sound, gentle persons, but you do not have the level of compassion that I possess, or you would see that a mere two parking spots is not nearly sufficient. I propose that every business be forced to set aside five percent of the available parking spaces for the wheelchair bound.”

“Your compassion is impressive indeed, kind sir, but if you possessed my much higher level of compassion you would understand that handicapped persons are not limited to those in wheelchairs. I propose that doctors be permitted to declare that anyone is handicapped, and that ten percent of all spaces should be reserved for their use, and that anyone that uses such a spot who is not handicapped, should be assessed a large fine.”

And so it went.

CCD was in full effect last year when Congress decided that the Food and Drug Administration would regulate tobacco products. In passing the new law, Congress added many CCD provisions, including a regulation that made it illegal for tobacco companies to use any color or graphics in their advertising. You see, Joe Camel was voluntarily discarded years ago since it was decided a cool camel in a leather jacket would encourage young boys to smoke. But the legislators are more compassionate than that, and decided that any pictures or color might have the same effect. U.S. District Judge Joseph McKinley in Kentucky ruled late Monday that those marketing restrictions violate the tobacco companies’ free speech rights.

In a fun twist, now that the FDA is regulating cigarettes, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. had also argued that it must be permitted to say that its cigarettes are “FDA Approved.” The FDA screamed, but Judge McKinley ruled the FDA must let companies say it has approved their products. Congress; can you say “hoisted on your own petard?”

Thankfully, when thumbing through a copy of Cigar Aficionado, we will still be able to see the beautiful cigars in the ads, and will not be limited to black and white text.

Posted on January 5th, 2010 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Cigar Facts, News | No Comments »

Great minds think alike.   Back in June, I wrote of the perfect convergence of beer and smoke when I teamed an Out of Bounds Stout, by Avery Brewing, with a God of Fire Robusto by Don Carlos.  I rated the Out of Bounds Stout a 9.6 on The Morris Scale — the highest ranking ever for a stout.  I declared it my new favorite stout.

In the US Open Beer Championship, as reported on BeerInfo.com, the Out of Bounds Stout ranked number one out of all the stouts tasted.  Here is the complete list of the top ten stouts (but what happened to number 4?):   

1. Out of Bounds Stout, Avery Brewing – Colorado

2. August Schell Stout, August Schell Brewing – Minnesota
3. Milk of Amnesia, Maui Brewing – Hawaii
5. Sweetwater Happy Ending, Sweetwater Brewing – Georgia
6. Pikes Stout, Pikes Place Brewing – Washington
7. Zonkers Stout, Snake River Brewing – Wyoming
8. Obsidian Stout, Deschutes Brewing – Oregon
9. Sierra Nevada Stout, Sierra Nevada Brewing – California
10. Shakespeare Stout, Rogue Ales – Oregon

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by Aaron Morris
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A Cuban government-owned tobacco company won its 12-year legal battle to stop a U.S. cigar producer from using the Cohiba name and trademark in the United States. A federal judge in Manhattan once again backed up Cubatabaco, which accused General Cigar of “exploiting the reputation and goodwill of the Cuban Cohiba.”

Cohibas are among the world’s most famous and sought-after cigars, and were originally produced exclusively for Fidel Castro.

U.S. District Judge Robert W. Sweet barred General Cigar from using the Cohiba name in the United States, but allowed it to keep using the name on its Dominican-made cigars, pending appeal.  Judge Sweet said his most recent opinion was “nearly identical” to his previous finding that General Cigar Holdings had tried “to plagiarize the mark” and engaged in “intentional copying.”

Cuba had to work for this victory.  The judge’s original decision was reversed by the 2nd Circuit, which dismissed the federal claims, saying the embargo between the two countries barred the Cuban company from acquiring property in the United States, including trademarks.  The U.S. Supreme Court then declined to hear the case.

But when New York’s highest court clarified its position on what constituted unfair competition, Cubatabaco’s state law case was back on.  The New York Court of Appeals found that “bad faith” wasn’t necessary to prove unfair competition by appropriation, only that “deliberate copying” had taken place.     Cubatabaco argued that on the cusp of the 1992 cigar boom, General Cigar selected the “Cohiba” name for a new line of premium cigars “in order to exploit the reputation and goodwill of the Cuban Cohiba,” according to the ruling.

Judge Sweet agreed, and said the U.S. company’s choice was “in part to capitalize on the success of the Cuban Cohiba brand and especially the good ratings and notoriety that it had received in Cigar Aficionado,” a magazine for cigar enthusiasts.  The debut issue of the magazine proclaimed Cohibas to be Cuba’s finest cigars, in an article called “The Legend of Cohiba.”  Cubatabaco further claimed that the Cohiba name was protected under the Lanham Act by the “well-known marks” doctrine, even though the company held no U.S. trademarks.

Judge Sweet agreed that this was the case, but said Cubatabaco’s challenge of the Cuban Asset Control Regulations was obsolete after the state court’s ruling.  ”The New York Court of Appeals held that plaintiff could be entitled to relief against use of its foreign mark if it could establish deliberate copying and secondary meaning, even though the plaintiff had no U.S. trademark rights,” Sweet wrote.  ”For certain kinds of cases … goodwill can, and does, cross state and national boundary lines.”

Posted on December 16th, 2009 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Cigar Facts, News | 1 Comment »

Enjoying a great night with some friends at the Winery at The District in Tustin.

The Winery has a great cigar-friendly patio with Monday night football on the big screen.  With my Glenmorangie Scotch I enjoyed an Alec Bradley Harvest Selection 1997 and a CAO America.

Typing on my iPhone so I’ll keep it short.  Both very good cigars, but not great.  A little mild for my taste. Although I have to say, the CAO is growing on me the more I smoke it.

Here are other more detailed reviews of the Alec Bradley and CAO America.  And check out the 2007 YouTube video introducing the CAO America.  I had no idea it was as American as baseball and apple pie.

Posted on November 23rd, 2009 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Cigar Lounge, Cigars, Reviews | 1 Comment »

Trying a new app on iPhone that’s supposed to post to my blog. We’ll see how this goes.

I’m at the 8Eightyeight Lounge in Fullerton.  Frankie the manager talked me to a Gurkha Evil, but he’s going to owe me one for this travesty.  Harsh just turned into slightly less harsh, and it won’t stay lit worth a damn.  It’s evil all right, but not in a good way.  A 6.0 on The Morris Scale.

Go here for an extensive review of the Gurkha Evil (this reviewer liked it a whole lot more than I did).

Posted on November 19th, 2009 by Aaron Morris
Filed under: Cigar Lounge, Cigars, Reviews | No Comments »