Beer of the Week

The beer: Chai Milk Stout

The brewery: 7 Locks Brewing, Rockville, Maryland

Description (from Untappd): "A medium bodied stout with moderate roast paired with a residual sweetness. It is accompanied by tasty masala chai tea aromatics, such as ginger, clove, cardamom, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg."

Would I buy it again? I am not an expert in Indian cuisine, so in order to determine the fidelity of the spice content of this particular beer, I had to call in a local expert on the subcontinent. According to her, the spices are right for Indian chai, but it's lacking milk. She enjoyed it quite a lot, however and so do I. It's very tasty, and definitely not what you expect from a dark stout. It's too bad about the milk though, it's kind of a curious omission. Lactose in beer is a contentious subject, I feel, but for this? Ah well, I'd still buy it again.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Redland Lager

The brewery: 7 Locks Brewing Company, Rockville, Maryland

Description (from the can): "The first sip brings you back, smooth caramel notes cresting to meet gentle floral hops, creating a layered, balanced finish. The second sip says: This is home, atop a sturdy red land foundation. The third sip? Simply put, life should always be this easy."

Would I buy it again? It takes a lot to stand out in the drinkable lager category, but this beer definitely manages it. It does have a pleasant floral yet slightly sweet taste, making it taste distinctly different from your standard Yuengling. I've never seen a red lager before, but I'll have to keep my eye out for more in the future, because this was very good.

A Very Interesting Article

I was coming back from work one day last week when I saw a truck covered in anti-Obama and Tea Party banners.  Now, this would be no big deal at home, but this was in Montgomery County, which like most urban areas is very liberal.  It made me laugh, and it also reminded me of a very interesting article I had read a few years back about the differences between Red America and Blue America.  It's a very interesting read, but especially for me, since it focuses on the differences between Franklin County and Montgomery County.  I live in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, which is in Franklin County, and I work in Rockville, Maryland, which is in Montgomery County.  So yes, I find what it has to say quite relevant.  It's a pretty long article, so I won't go into any detail, but I will say that even though the two counties are only about 50 or 60 miles apart, there is a world of difference between the two.