Monkey Brewster» Drinking

Contest: Win a Free Zaca Patch

Cornelius Aesop — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 14:29:54 +0000

You ever have one of those mornings were your first thought was, I shouldn’t have drank that much?

It’s even worse when you realize how much stuff you have to do that day, it could be work, school, travel…anything really. The fun of last night comes rushing to a halt while sobriety smacks you in the face reminding you of what is yet left undone.

Well I’m working with Zaca and their fun new product – a recovery patch to help prevent that morning from happening. On my recent trip to North Carolina I had the opportunity to try out this patch with my old college room mate. This was like a free-for-all to relive our freshmen dorm days.

To be honest the results were slightly mixed, true neither of us had a hint of a hangover the next day but I did have some sort of an allergic reaction to it. Nothing major that a benadryl couldn’t fix, but according to the people over at Zaca I’m one of the lucky few who end up finding an allergic reaction. Which there is always one lucky fellah who is, no matter what product. Although compared to things like anti-depressent pills whose side effects can be suicidal thoughts mine was a rash on my arms and sun reaction to the adhesive. My roomate – he ended up right as rain which is odd because he ends up with allergic reactions to everything and usually I am not allergic to anything. Like the time he became all blotchy when we made a giant vase with tubes into a harry buffalo of sorts, except no fruit just juice and liquor.

That’s besides the point. Now I can’t make a bold claim as to say this patch is why we didn’t have a hangover, I’m no scientist, but I can say that after power hours, $2.50 Margaritas and $1 beers I wasn’t feeling as groggy as I should have been. If I had to put money on it, I’d say it at least helped, especially because I didn’t do anything else to help prevent the hangover. And when you are faced with a night of drinking why not be prepared for the morning and try and one-up that hangover. All the ingredients are natural and was even shown on NBC so it doesn’t hurt to win this contest and put it to the test for free!

How To Enter: Just comment below on where you would use this patch and how it could help you. I will use Random.org to select the winner and will announce them on my Twitter, Facebook and notify via email.

It doesn’t improve your odds but you could also Like My Fanpage, Follow me on Twitter or tweet this to your followers (Hit the Tweet button).

Contest Ends: Saturday June 25th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST.

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Contest: Win a Free Zaca Patch is a post from: Monkey Brewster

New Brew Tuesday: The Battle of the Modelos

Cornelius Aesop — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:34:45 +0000

I like this Mexican (although more celebrated in the US than Mexico) holiday. It isn’t even their independence day, but merely a battle victory; Yet they party all out on this day. I think the US should take to this style of celebration. We should have a day of celebration to commemorate every battle won and maybe even those that we lost with parades, grilling out and lots of beer of course. This is not for my own selfish reasons. I mean, think of the poor workers at the brewery. We can help save their job! And what about the local grocery store where you will buy your hamburgers and hot dogs. Don’t you want to help them out too? This is for our country – our fellow Americans (and if you aren’t American same goes for you and your country men/women) don’t be selfish.

OK, whew breath monkey breath…

Back to the point, and yes I’m sure you are thinking Cinco de Mayo why not choose Corona. Well my furless friend, it is for the same reason I didn’t pick Guinness for my St. Patty’s Day NBT. Although, I didn’t venture far off because the makers of Corona, Grupo Modelo, also happen to make these two popular Mexican beers. I purchased a 6 pack of each costing $8.47 each so that I had fully completed some extensive research on this comparison, I take my research serious like any great scholar. Hmm Dr. Aesop research beerologist, I like the sound of that.

A notable aspect of these beers is the gold foil wrapping on the bottle neck which if not cleared off completely will end up mixed in your drink. This reminded me of a favorite Brazilian beer of mine, Itaipava, which always had a loose fitted foil wrap over the mouth of the can but those came off easily while the Modelo foil was stuck on there good.

Type: Beer – Munich style Vienna
Name: Negra Modelo
Made: Mexico
Alc/Vol: ?%I’m always a little more partial to the darker beers so this was an easy win over Especial, but it wasn’t by much. As for dark beer goes it didn’t win me over with a full bodied taste as it was light in flavor. There was a bit of a chocolaty mocha flavor in the taste but mild overall, I wish I had a lime to try it with because I wonder how it would pair with the beer.

I am not to sure how many other darker Mexican beers are out there, but this is my only encounter with any so it is hard to compare it to something else. This beer would probably go good with a spicy Mexican meal as it’s sweet light flavor wouldn’t contrast with the food. I couldn’t tell you why but I wrote down in my notes that it would likely pair well with asparagus.

Overall I give this beer 2 1/2 out of 5 bananas, I like it a little bit better than the Especial but it didn’t win me over in flavor.

Type: Beer – American Adjunct Lager
Name: Modelo Especial
Made: Mexico
Alc/Vol: ?%This beer comes in a clear bottle just like Corona, which for any beer experts know that this affects the taste. Sun is bad for beer, I don’t know the science of it, I’m a monkey not a scientist dammit, I do know one thing – it makes it taste bad. It gives a quality beer a cheap or also described as ‘skunky’ taste which would match the initial smell. It’s not a bad smell but strong and resembles that of a Corona which get’s me to wondering what is the difference between the two.

Why am I sharing this, because that was my initial reaction to this beer, it had that taste that gave you an Edward Robinson stogie in the mouth, “Yeah See” kind of face. This is probably not what you want to hear but it get’s better. No seriously, after a few sips it becomes an acquired taste and the beer goes down smoother.

I can see myself eating tacos and enjoying this beer with some chips and salsa, would I choose it over a Corona – I’m not sure maybe because this feels a little more ‘Mexican-ish’ than Corona but neither give a great taste.

I’ll give this beer 2 out of 5 bananas after the first few sips it starts to go down smoother and is an easy pairing with any Mexican dish.

What is your take on these two beers, did I insult your Cinco de Mayo favorite or did both of these beers leave the same dare to be average taste that I experienced. Leave a comment and let me know.

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New Brew Tuesday: The Battle of the Modelos is a post from: Monkey Brewster

A Lot O' Lapa

Cornelius Aesop — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:46:14 +0000

So you made it to Rio de Janeiro and you are attempting to explore all the great things that Rio has to offer. Besides the beaches and bikinis there are many other great things to see outside of Ipanema and Copacabana. While Lapa can be a dangerous area for the less traveled explorer there are plenty of great things to see. The biggest part to know about anywhere in Rio is that it is most wise not to explore any uphill traveling. Unfortunately uphill is where many of the favelahs are which, for the most part, leaves you as an easy tourist target. Sure Santa Teresa is one of the few exceptions and happens to be in Lapa and the stairs of Selarón are a beautiful sight to see but these explorations are best during the day. Those are the ‘debbie downers’ of Lapa but there is plenty of sin and fun to be had in the former red light district.

The beauty of the aqueducts is something to take in with awe, as you scarf down your street vendor meal and beer. Sure they sell liquor but I’m always a little leery about drinking out of the already opened bottle, a freshly opened can of beer will do it for me. I recommend you hit one of the street side cafés and enjoy the live music, drinks and snacks for a while because the fun doesn’t begin till after midnight. A fun game to play while you watch people walk buy is guessing if the prostitute is pre or post op, that or watching the American male tourists flirt with a ‘woman’ who is more than meets the eye. Ultimately the ‘woman’ will wait till the opportune time to get her money and have him spring for the love motel, and that’s when the real surprise will come because this sultry Chiquita hides her banana somewhere other than her hat.

Somewhere between midnight and one find yourself down Rua do Lavradio to an amazing Samba club called Rio Scenarium Pavilhão da cultura. You don’t want to rush to get there too early because it will be dead and you’ll miss out on the street shows, but if you arrive too late be prepared for a long line. This place is packed with live samba music, beautiful people and three floors of dance entertainment. There is plenty of nooks and crannies to explore also, if you search near the bathroom on the second floor you will find a whole different dance floor with a live DJ. This place has a great vibe and is a sure way to enjoy yourself with some friends on an exciting night. There is a good mix of locals and travelers so even if you didn’t bring a date you can chat up someone and maybe even find a local help you to properly samba. This place goes until the early morning leaving you plenty of time to romance or drink up to your hearts content.

A final and slight forewarning, from the main strip of bars in Lapa this is a little bit of a walk down a side street and technically lands you in Centro Antigo part of town. This shouldn’t be any problem in your drunken stumble but if you feel uneasy about the walking the streets at night you can always have a taxi drop you off at:

Rio Scenarium

Rua do Lavradio, 20

Centro Antigo | Rio de Janeiro

www.rioscenarium.com.br

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A Lot O' Lapa is a post from: Monkey Brewster

Tincaps and Flashbacks

Cornelius Aesop — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:46:10 +0000

So you found yourself in Fort Wayne, Indiana and you are thinking “What the hell am I going to do here?” Well desperate traveler fear not for your favorite travel companion will steer you straight into an enjoyable drunken side-stepped staggering night. If it is baseball season, which is over for Fort Wayne’s beloved Tincaps, I recommend you go see the local team. They have a great stadium, inexpensive tickets and the necessity of any baseball game beer and dogs. If that doesn’t get you moving towards downtown I don’t know if you can be saved, because I have lost hope. Additionally, the downtown Fort Wayne area is no ghost town, while it isn’t a big city it has that feel to it in the downtown area which provides plenty of opportunities for a great night.

After you cheer on the home team, well their home team, find your way towards West Columbia St. for a collection of great bars and nightlife entertainment. There is the obvious choice of Columbia Street West on W. Columbia St, but I was carried away to a magical place of bright colors and bad haircuts. Ok so not everyone in this place was dressed like the 80’s but if you are feeling like letting loose 80’s style then Flashbacks on the Landing is the place for you. There is a host of great music and entertainment to be had with retro beats and clichés. In all actuality I really didn’t see any people dressed 80’s style, which is good because there was too much of the 80’s in the 80’s that we don’t want to tempt fate. The two nights I was there we saw the Tincaps out partying and a wedding party the other night with newlywed in full gown, to surmise I remember them coming in but I don’t remember me walking out, which usually means it was a good night.

After a fun-loving night I recommend walking around the downtown area during the day, the parks are a beautiful site to see. And if you end up waking up next to someone in the park, sit back and enjoy the view. Enjoy your Indiana travels because I can’t think of many other things to do in Indiana.

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Tincaps and Flashbacks is a post from: Monkey Brewster

A Drinking Guide to Rio de Janeiro

Cornelius Aesop — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:29:08 +0000

Whether you are at a fancy resort on Copacabana’s beachfront or in some hostel in Botafogo you need to know the ins and outs of drinking in Rio. This isn’t for the faint livered traveler with the khaki shorts, camera around your neck and sunscreen on your nose. No I’m talking to you the brave explorer with a liver black as night, rock hard stomach not from crunches but greasy street vendor food that doesn’t resemble what it claims to be and Havaianas on your feet, I’m talking to you.

We shall start where else but the national drink of Brazil, the infamous caipirinha (kai-pee-reen-ya). Every tropical coastal place has some fruity tasty drink that not only has an umbrella in it but should be drunk under one. Now I know this sounds like a frilly fufu drink but trust me this drink is predominantly made with a Brazilian rum like liquor named cachaça made from sugar cane. It is also know as pinga which refers to a guys umm banana in some Spanish slang, so when someone asks you to attend the pinga festival make sure you know if you are talking to a Brazilian or Puerto Rican – otherwise you might be surprised at what pops up. So what exactly is a caipirinha, well it is nothing more than sugar cane sugar, cachaça, crushed limes and ice all mixed together – yet creates something so delicious you will have to order a second and third. If the taste isn’t to your liking at first you can always ask for more sugar and adjust it to fit your taste buds. You can also order straight shots of cachaça but there is a difference between the cachaça that goes in your caipirinha and the cachaça that goes into a shot. If you get confused don’t worry the bartender should be able to assist you, and if not find your closest Brazilian and ask for some help and pay them with a celebratory shot as well.

“No,” you shout, “I’m a man; I make things out of metal and bronze. I don’t drink frilly fufu drinks.” This is an understandable dilemma because if it has sugar added to it and as a man there is no way this is allowed. You take a shot of cachaça straight and need something to wet your pallet, where do you go from here. Well luckily Brazil has a great selection of beers, which most happen to be a pilsner or pale lager beer. In hot temperatures you don’t want a thick and heavy dark beer resting in your stomach. So what do you order, well there is Brahma, Itaipava or Skol these are the three most common beers, Skol being considered the lower level of the three. You can ask for these by name or simply ask for a chopp (schop) which is usually a draft version of these three, in my experience most commonly chopp was Brahma. When you order a chopp expect a thin glass with ice-cold beer, it is as most advertisements claim – refreshing.

You can enjoy your small refreshing chopp, but if your manhood is calling I recommend you find yourself in Botafogo in a marketplace call Cobal. Here there are a few restaurants most of which serve a tower of beer, yup that’s right 3 liters of beer. This is like chopp on steroids. When I ventured into this behemoth of beer with two American soldiers on leave do you think we shared this tower each downing a liter. Ha, no we didn’t and neither shall you. We each ordered a tower, 3 liters apiece, and happily ate our meals which needed an extra table because it got in the way of our beer.

So now you know what to drink it is important that you know one major rule of drinking in Rio clubs. When you enter a club you are given a drink card, now this card has a list of all there drinks and boxes to be checked off for each time you order one. The plus of this is that it makes it easy for you to order your drinks, just point if you can’t pronounce it. It is very important that you don’t loose this card, if you do expect to pay a lot to get out of the club – visa cards accepted. So keep track of your card which can help you keep track of your drinks. You usually have two alternatives to cash out, either there is a person at the door that you pay or at/near the bar someone who cashes you out. It is a simple method as long as you keep track of you card.

Two last tidbits from me to you, if you notice you had one too many while consuming your tower of beer and want to order water there are two options água com gas or água sem gas. It is pretty simple once you understand what they are talking about, but when you are ever so slightly intoxicated it might cause a hang up. Água com gas is carbonated water and água sem gas is not, see I told you it was simple. The other jewel of knowledge I wish to share with you is a great drink I experienced in a town called Buzios, a few hours north of the city of Rio de Janeiro but still in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This drink is called Maracujack with the jack sounding like the French Jacque. Maracuja is Portuguese for passion fruit and the Jack part is for Jack Daniels. You make this drink with passion fruit juice, a shot (or more) of Jack Daniels and a table-spoon of sugar over ice. It sounds like a weird mix but I liked it. This is compliments of The Mix Bar in Buzios, but that is its own story best saved for another day.

Bom Noite!

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A Drinking Guide to Rio de Janeiro is a post from: Monkey Brewster