Beer 1 - Zeigen Bock. I had a 2 hour layover in he Houston airport. So I killed the time in a Buffalo Wild Wings drinking some beer. I asked the bartender for something local, a beer made in Texas. She turned around and looked at all the taps. She replied with "Well, I think Sam Adams is made here in Texas". Uhmmm, she was blond. So I said to her, "You mean Boston Lager is made here in Texas"? She had a look on her face like I asked her to perform a math question. I could tell I was loosing brain cells talking to her, so I asked her for the Zeigen Bock. Big Mistake!
It wasn't good, at all. I made notes right away. This is exactly what I wrote. "Weak, watered down taste, like a homebrew gone bad". "Has a slight chemical taste that I just can't figure out".
So I asked the other bartender about this Zeigen Bock. I asked if it was made in Texas. He told me it was, and that it was made by Shiner. I was really disappointed when he told me that. I think they make much better beers than this.
I later found out, from an informative reader, that it is a beer made by the evil empire. I had been duped! Yes, Anhueser Busch had tricked me. Those bastards!
Beer 2 - Heineken. It sucked! I talked about it a few posts back. It's in the past, and I don't want to think about it ever again.
Beer 3 - Yuengling. Loved it! I talked about it in the same post. It's in the past, and I think about it all the time. I really wish I could get it here.
Beer 4 - Pilsner Urquel. It was the first beer on the boat. It was the safe choice. I needed a beer in the worst way. I shotgunned it once I realized it cost me $4.75 plus a $1.35 gratuity. This was going to be an expensive vacation.
Beer 5-9 - Boston Lager. Yes, from Texas. I spent the first night at sea drinking with my old friend Samuel Adams. It helped drown out the sticker shock from the first one. No need to grade, we all enjoy a beer from the Boston Beer Company.
First city of port, Key West Florida. First stop, Irish Kevin's. This is where the fun began.
Beer 10 - Tucher Belgium Ale. On tap. This was my first time having a Tucher. I enjoyed it. I didn't make any notes about it. I tried to pull out my netbook and blog about it, but as I would realize much later, WiFi is a hard thing to come by. Grade - 3 1/2 Burps
Beer 11 - Murphy's Red. I have seen it before, but never had the chance to enjoy it on tap. Honestly, it was OK. It was just another beer on the list. Grade - 3 Burps
Beer 12 - Banks Caribbean Lager. From my notes, "Actually a good beer, nothing like I expected". "Has a nice malty flavor". Grade - 3 1/2 Burps
As much as I wanted to stay, and drink with our new friends "Team Ship Faced", It was time to leave Irish Kevin's. There was a brewery on the island someplace, and I had to find it.
Next stop, Kelly's Caribbean Bar, Grill, and Brewery. How cool is it to visit "The Country's southern most brewery". I know I was. And I was even more excited to try all their different beers. Imagine my reaction when my new friend Jenny, told me that all they had available was their Wheat. Of course it was. My least favorite style of beer. But I was on vacation, and dammit, I was there to drink, and write about it. So that is what I did. Jenny poured me a pint.
Beer 13 - Southern Clipper Wheat. From my notes, "Hops taste, which blends well with the sweetness of the Heffe style". "A slight sour taste". Grade - 3.5 burps
Jenny, an aspiring brewmaster informed my that they were currently without a brewmaster. She had been asking to help, and learn the skills to no avail. But she was cool enough to take me into a small building around the back. This was their brewery. She pointed out the tanks, the filters, and where they kept their grains. She said I could stay as long as I wanted and take pictures. So I did.
Jenny was cool. And I hope she gets the chance to brew someday.
It was time to move on. After a quick stop at a Bong Store to ask for directions to some bar that supposedly had 10 plus different beers on tap, we found ourselves at Sloppy Joe's. Yani. my new friend from the Czech Republic brought me beer number 14.
Beer 14 - Key West Sunset Ale. From my notes. "A slightly above average ale". "Leans to the hops side". "I could drink it as a session beer". Grade - 3 burps
Yani was awesome. She told me how to say Cheers in Czech. Not sure how to spell it, but I will tell you it is "Naa-Straa-Vee". I spent the rest of the trip saying this. I'm still waiting for my facebook friend request from her.
It was about time to head back to the boat. But I had to stop by Irish Kevin's to get a t-shirt. Imagine my surprise when we run into out old friends, "Team Shipfaced". Yep, they were still there drinking 4 hours later. And they were all wasted when we got there the first time. I want to party with them!
That concludes the island of Key West. What a blast it was. I was actually had a good time, and had plenty of beer. All of which I had never had.
Back on the boat, I proceeded to drink more beer.
.
Beer 15-20 - Boston Lager. It was the staple of my diet on the boat. My old friend Sam kept me happy. I learned that it was cheaper to buy them in a bucket, 4 at a time. So I would buy my bucket and carry it around with me on the boat. I'm sure I looked like an absolute alcoholic carrying around my bucket of beer. But believe me when I tell you, there was so much more horrifying things to look at. I'll show you later.
The trip continues tomorrow. Until then, Naa-Straa-Vee!
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