English Ale Tasting at Manderes

One of my new favorite places to go is Manderes in Folsom. It is a beer lover's dream as they have 20 beers on tap plus another 150 more in bottles - and all the beers are special. You won't find any Bud or Coors here. Manderes also features an outstanding wine list - in case you might want to invite someone who doesn't like beer as much.

It doesn't even stop there. The food also gets an excellent rating as I haven't been disappointed yet. One of my favorites is the Crab, Lobster & Sweet Corn Chowder. I've also enjoyed their Angus Burger and Pastas, but their house specialty is Korean Barbecue Beef (Bulgogi). My friend Tony, who has been to Korea, says it is absolute authentic. You will also love dipping your fries in their Cusabi Sauce - a cucumber/wasabi combination.

Every 2nd Wednesday Manderes has a beer tasting party. I really wanted to attend last month when they were tasting IPAs, but a meeting was scheduled that night which I needed to attend. I did make it last night for the British Isle Tasting, which wouldn't be my first choice in beer styles, but at least it would be an opportunity to try some different beers. Everyone has a different preference in beer styles, which is what makes Manderes so great. If there isn't one beer to your liking, there are maybe about 100 which are!

Our first taste was Fullers 1845. It was a little too smooth for my taste. The overall flavor was fine, there's just not enough there to impress everything in my mouth.

Next beer was Bellhaven Wee Heavy. This was more like the beers I enjoy, slightly bitter, but the flavor was not completely to my liking.

After that we tried Wychwood Hobgoblin ESB. I like the name and the picture on the bottle. By the description our host gave before tasting, I was expecting a very robust beer. However I was surprised (and disappointed) that it was instead very smooth and really lacked flavor. There was at least a tiny bit of bitterness which made the finish a little better.

Next on the list was Bell Haven Twisted Thistle IPA. This is not like the typical IPAs that I'm used to, but it was very good. Again, slightly lighter than what I prefer but this had an excellent flavor.

We sampled St Peters Cream Stout next. It is a typical cream stout. I'm just not a big fan of the chocolate taste in a beer.

A very different, yet good beer was our next selection: Meantime Coffee Porter featuring Rwandan coffee beans! You have to like coffee to like this beer - and I like coffee! Perfect flavor and a nice bite to it. Best one that I've tasted so far.

Next up was Theakston Old Peculier. One thing you have to say is that the English at least come up with interesting names. This had the potential to be something special, but I think it fumbled on the 5 yard line. There wasn't enough to wake up my taste buds.

Our final taste was Fullers Vintage Ale. Our host said that this beer actually ages like fine wine. WOW! Everything I previously said about British beers, I may take back after tasting this one. It was fantastic, clearly the best was saved for last.

Now I can really look forward to next month's taste, which is much more up my alley - Oktoberfest beers. October 8 at 7pm - mark it on your calendars and let me know if you want to join me - I'll make the reservation.

A New Football Year

The 2008 NFL season is now under way! As I write the New York Giants have an early lead over the Redskins.

I'm excited this year. Mark my words: The Detroit Lions are going to surprise a lot of people this year and actually pull off a good year. They will make the playoffs - and maybe even advance a round or two!

Of course, things got a little crazy, or bizarre actually, the last couple days back at the Lions practice facility. They signed running back Rudi Johnson Monday, forcing Tatum Bell out of a job. While Johnson was going over paperwork in Matt Millen's office, Bell is seen on surveillance tape taking Johnson's luggage. Bell insists that it was all a mistake, telling the Detroit News, "It's crazy. I wouldn't just steal somebody's stuff on purpose. I'm no thief, and I'm not stupid. I know they got cameras at the facility. I mean, I parked right in the front. It wasn't like I was sneaking out of there or nothing." He says he was asked by Victor DeGrate, another player who was cut, to get a bag that he had left there, and somehow got the bags mixed up.

Johnson doesn't believe Bell at all. Eventually the luggage was returned, but without the contents including cash, credit cards and underwear.

It could have been an innocent mistake, but it doesn't look like it. Besides the story sounding shaky, what happened to the missing contents? How come DeGrate hasn't said anything?

Bell probably would have been picked up by another team shortly after his release. Now there is a good chance that his NFL career is over. But I can't help to think that Matt Millen had something to do with this. He, after all has been stealing the dreams of Lions' fans for years, being the extra baggage that the Lions don't need.