Green Flash Palate Wrecker

Green Flash is a great West Coast brewery, and I always enjoy their offerings.  I had heard rumblings of Palate Wrecker on the Internet and had to check it out when I saw a four pack available at my local store.  Touted as an Imperial IPA, this is an absolute hop bomb that checks in at 9.5% ABV.  This beer is obviously extremely hoppy, which as regular readers of my blog know, is my favorite style of beer!  The smell and taste run the gamit of hops, piney and resiny in taste, long finish, fantastic mouthfeel.  I would give this beer an A- as it is just a little too over the top for me to give a straight A.

Morning Routine: Aeropress Coffee & Four Hour Chef Eggs

So my morning routine consists of scrambled eggs and coffee.  Pretty normal, right?  I have tried my best to optimize this routine to make the best quality coffee and eggs in the shortest amount of time.  I really enjoyed Tim Ferriss' book The Four Hour Chef, and saw that he also uses the Aeropress, which I have been a convert to for several years now.  However, I used to be a fried egg man, Tim's book has convinced me that scrambled is the way to go.

Here is what you need to get started with the coffee.  I use freshly roasted beans, from Barismo, if I have recently taken a trip to Boston.  Whole Foods is a local stand by as they offer freshly roasted beans at a great price, and there are no good local roasters.  The beans in my grinder this morning are actually from Coffee Labs Roasters of Tarrytown, NY.  Happened to be down that way and picked up an lb.

Not gonna give you the play by play, I pretty much follow the standard instructions.

Today I decided to use a combo of Curry Powder, Garlic Powder, Red Chili Flakes, and S+P.  Organic Eggs and Grapeseed oil are all the other ingredients needed.

Yum!

Cleanup is an absolute cinch!  

CFA Level 1 Results are Released Tomorrow

"Some time after 9:30 AM EST"

Historical pass rates around 40% really don't make me feel confident, but we shall wait and see, wish me luck

EDIT: I Passed, sweet!

Recent Beers: Stillwater Of Love & Regret and Oude Gueuze Tilquin

Christmas Beer Haul

Stillwater - Of Love and Regret - a little too floral/spicey for me, did not love it

Oude Gueze Tilquin - dry and sour, great gueuze $11.99 though :/

ATL Essentials 2012 Winter Edition

Let me begin by pointing out the new ATL Essentials page on the top of the blog.  These posts are some of my favorite on the site, and I really hope that people who read my blog will chime in with comments.

1) Merino Wool.  My favorite brand is Ibex, but I also like Smartwool and Icebreaker.  Merino wool is the best material you can buy.  It is good for the planet, sustainable, great for performance, and looks great too.  I stay warm in a variety of base and mid-layers.  My favorite piece is the Ibex Shak.

2) LL Bean Boots of varying size and color.  Great for slushy weather, and they look cool.

3) Arc'teryx Goretex Shells.  The best piece of outerwear money can buy.  Also, some of the most expensive.  Alpha SV is the highest end, and is on top of my wish list right now.  I would settle for an Alpha LT though!

4) Bloody Marys.  Use sriracha. I also like eggnog, and if you are going to drink craft beers, avoid the winter warmers and pick a nice stout or porter.  I don't have a problem, honest!

5) Reading.  I always love to read, but this is the best season to read indoors, by the fire, with a drink in hand.  I really don't have a problem.

6) Salmon.  Wild. Sockeye.  Here is How I Cook Salmon.

That's all til Spring folks.  Check out the other ATL Essentials post from Summer and Autumn!

How I Cook Steaks

I enjoyed writing my last post on how I cook salmon, so I decided to follow up with how I cook steaks.  As usual, you want to start with good ingredients.  I prefer, but can't always afford grass fed beef.  This is just a nice sirloin from Whole Foods.  You will also need some frying oil, I generally use coconut, but olive works in a pinch.  Mushrooms and onions were what I had on hand, but you can go with just one or the other, or add pepper into the mix.

Turn the burner to medium high and put the coconut oil in

5 minutes to a side

If it starts to brown, not a problem at all. 

I started to take a couple of bites before snapping a pic.  The other steak is in the fridge, packed with some more frozen vegetables.  More kale and broccoli.  Lunch tomorrow!