columbus yogurt

photo by Gregory M. Dew

Bell's Hopslam

2012-01-31T10:14:00.001-05:00

My column for Indians Prospect Insider

photo by Gregory M. Dew

Top 10 Reasons the Tribe still contends in 2012

2012-01-31T10:10:00.002-05:00

Prince Fielder (Photo: AP)

North Peak Brewing's Dark Angel Cherry Porter

2012-01-31T10:06:00.005-05:00

photo by Gregory M. Dew

Bell's Special Double Cream Stout

2012-01-31T09:58:00.004-05:00

photo by Gregory M. Dew

Great Lakes Brewery's Nosferatu

2011-10-12T13:24:00.000-04:00

Nosferatu - photo by Gregory M. Dew

Review of the movie 'Captain America: The First Avenger'

2011-09-06T21:12:00.000-04:00

'Captain America: The First Avenger' - Marvel Studios

Review of the movie 'Our Idiot Brother'

2011-09-05T16:44:00.000-04:00

My latest column for Indians Prospect Insider

'Our Idiot Brother' - Big Beach Films

The Cleveland Indians, For Whom the Bell Tolls

2011-08-26T10:33:00.002-04:00

Barley's Infinity Grand Cru

2011-08-25T17:10:00.000-04:00

Barley's Infinity Grand Cru - Photo by Gregory M. Dew

With each passing pint, Barley’s reinforces their reputation as the favored brewery of Columbus.

They’ve been around since 1992 yet refuse to rest on their laurels.

This summer alone, they’ve featured the entirely unique and refreshing Blood Thirst as well as the glorious Infinity Grand Cru.

Named in honor of their General Manager’s wedding, here’s hoping this dark Belgian Ale and the marriage that inspired it are around for an infinite amount of time.

First tapped on July 9, 2011, the Infinity arrives fresh from the tap in a stemmed snifter.

It has a red-tinged dark brown body supporting a thin but full and creamy head.

Full as well is the body. The beer provides a mouthful of flavor with even the tiniest of sips.

It is chock full of sweet malts, fruits and spice. If those sweet and toasted flavors don’t get your attention, the alcohol content will. This is a very strong ale.

The Infinity comes in at 9.2% ABV with an estimated 24.3 IBUs.

The combination of all these brewing factors makes it a complex ale. It is going to take many a tastings to fully understand what is going on with this beer. And then, you’ll have only scratched the surface of what makes it so good. Just like the best enduring marriages.

Review of the movie 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2011-08-18T14:38:00.000-04:00

'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' - Walt Disney Pictures

Barley's Blood Thirst Wheat

2011-08-17T13:28:00.000-04:00

Barley's Blood Thirst Wheat - photo by Gregory M. Dew

The craft beer revolution has been something of a revelation for the beer industry.

Breweries are springing up all across the nation determined to produce a depth of alternatives to staid macro brewed choices.

Similarly inspired are home brewers. They, who are hidden away in their private kitchens and basements, are fermenting flavors inhibited only by their imaginations.

In some instances, microbreweries and home brewers have developed something of a symbiotic relationship.

Brewing enthusiasts head to their local brewpubs to sample the latest concoctions, return to their homes inspired to replicate or improve what they’ve just tasted, then return to the pubs with a new brew ready for validation.

Here in Columbus, a fine example of this relationship exists at Barleys with their annual home brewing competition. And in particular, the amazing winner of the 2009 competition that is currently on tap at the Ale House.

Lloyd Cicetti’s winning wheat beer, Blood Thirst Wheat, is a hefeweizen infused with Sicilian blood orange zest and puree. The beer is estimated to have 2.9 IBUs with an ABV of 5%.

Poured from the tap, the pint contains a medium bodied, hazy, tang-tinged brew.

There is little to no head with minimal lacing as well.

The beer is wonderfully balanced. The orange essence, as would be expected is predominant. It is sweet but not intrusively so. There is hint of spice to it as well. The carbonation is spot on, producing a nice mouth feel. All of the beers attributes blend seamlessly together to finish perfectly clean. It is almost impossible to describe how refreshing this beer really is.

The only downside is this is a one-off brew for Barley’s. Once it is gone, it is gone. Which is going to be a problem. Cicetti and Barley’s have developed a taste for blood not to be satiated without Blood Thirst Wheat.

Blue Jackets lease issue a microcosm of larger economic problems

2011-08-15T17:00:00.000-04:00

The problems the Blue Jackets are having with their lease at Nationwide Arena is a microcosm of the economic issues the world is currently experiencing.

There were bad deals consummated with an eye on instant gratification. These deals were signed with little to no concern for long-term sustainability.

Couple these deals with the practice of providing consumers with a sub-standard product and the current situation becomes far more understandable.

In this light, the Blue Jackets should be the favorite team of every homeowner who secured a balloon mortgage with no ability to pay it off within just a few short years. They should have a fan in every developer of complexes struggling to find tenants in unsustainable markets.

Every member of the team's front office should be driving vehicles produced over the past two decades by American’s big three automakers. These are the vehicles consumers routinely rejected even as they were continuously and ignorantly produced by companies ignorant of a changing world.

John McConnell deserves all the praise for getting the team to Columbus in the first place. He also deserves blame for the current predicament by not demanding the team have access to revenue streams other successful franchises have to fill their coffers. The Blue Jackets have lost $53 million over the past three years. The man who now owns the team, McConnell’s son John P. McConnell, is growing tired of losing money thanks to his father’s bad business deals where the hockey franchise is concerned.

The deals while the main culprit in the losses would not be so onerous were the team drawing fans at a better clip. The fact that they are not is solely the fault of every talent evaluators the team has employed since their inception. One playoff appearance, and a brief one at that, in the Blue Jackets history points to an inability to put a quality product on the ice. Losing takes a toll on a fan base’s willingness to fill Nationwide arena. It takes a toll on their desire to buy merchandise. It takes a toll on the team’s ability to make money.

Now there is talk of the team leaving town if their revenue streams cannot be corrected.

That would be a development Columbus can’t afford. The city is ready to be major league if only the major business leaders were ready as well. Small businesses have already responded. They built up the Arena District around the team’s home. The area’s growth helped fuel the Short North’s explosion. That growth is now in danger of being damaged should the team leave. An empty Nationwide Arena would leave a huge hole in the area. The hole won’t kill the growth, Huntington Park will still be a draw and the Short North has taken on a life of its own, but the loss of the team will definitely hurt the area and the city’s reputation.

The solution to the Blue Jackets lease problems, like the problems the country and world have experienced in the past few years, now falls on the people. Tax revenue might be needed to correct the negative revenue stream. For Columbus, saving the Blue Jackets is worthwhile. The team should be saved.

It just would have been nice for once had the leadership existed to not create this situation. Nice to have had someone not built never-filled buildings existing as blights on the landscape. Nice to have had companies not mismanage their production necessitating a bailout. Nice to have had an area built up on a sustainable lease deal to house a team winning on the ice and on the ledger sheet. But when did the world last work like that?

Review of the movie 'X-Men: First Class'

2011-08-10T15:05:00.000-04:00

'X-Men: First Class - 20th Century Fox

Indigo Imp's Hefeweizen

2011-08-09T11:38:00.000-04:00

Indigo Imp's Hefeweizen - photo by Gregory M. Dew

Fickell deserves to be Ohio State's permanent head coach

2011-08-08T12:43:00.001-04:00

Life is unfair.

Malcolm in the Middle will tell you that.

So will Luke Fickell.

Today the new coach of The Ohio State University football team begins the first day of fall practice with absolutely no assurances he will ever have the chance to open another camp.

How fair is that?

The man, whose sole goal since he got into coaching was to become the headman at his alma mater, gets that position going into what is shaping up as potentially the most trying season for the Buckeyes in several decades. He gets that position knowing the university fully intends to conduct a search for a new coach once the 2011 season concludes.

How is it fair that this is all because of the transgressions of Jim Tressel, Terrelle Pryor and the other tattoo tots?

Fickell was in line for the job without the asterisk. He was being groomed for the job. The way Jumbo Fisher was groomed at Florida State. The way Chip Kelly was groomed at Oregon. The way Will Muschamp was supposed to be being groomed to take over Texas. Fickell should have been handed the keys the Buckeyes on a bright, sunny day; not when storm clouds hover ominously over the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

Well, Ohio State should return a modicum of fairness to a very unjust world. They should give Fickell the assurance that this is his job to loose. Give him the assurance that he will not be judged on a number of the wins he can muster this year. Give him the assurance that if the team plays hard and well, next season Fickell will have the authority to build his own coaching staff and develop his own philosophy. That way he can truly be judged for the type of coach he can be.

This isn’t even a plea for fairness for fairness sake. Sure it would be nice to believe in a fair and just world, but that world has never existed in reality.

This is actually a plea for Fickell to be more than an interim coach because he just might be the right man for the job.

First of all, the team needs a sense of continuity to reassure the next batch of recruits.

But secondly, and more importantly, he shapes up to be a better option than a lot of the other options in the coaching ranks. Just look at the batch of candidates that have been floated in rumors.

Urban Meyer is probably the biggest name out there. He has the best track record of building programs and he won two National Championships at Florida. He also has serious health concerns. He has retired twice in two years. Does the University really want to put the long-term development of its football program in the hands of a man whose body may not let him complete the task?

Bo Pelini would make a nice story of a coach returning to his alma mater. Like Fickell, Pelini played at Ohio State. Having a Buckeye man in charge of the team is sure to be enticing. Pelini has an impressive track record as a defensive coach. As Nebraska’s head coach, he has helped return the program to National prominence. But his offensive acumen is borderline Neolithic. Pelini is also something of a powder keg. He could emotionally blow up at any moment. Coming off an offseason of discontent, does Ohio State really want to invite the possibility of more controversy?

Jon Gruden would not come with any concerns about offense. In the NFL he was known as a quarterback guru and offensive mastermind. It would certainly be fun to see what sort of fireworks he could provide in Ohio Stadium. He also has no collegiate coaching experience. Would his coaching techniques translate to the college level? Would he be committed to staying at Ohio State or would he jump at the first opportunity to return to the professional ranks?

Other candidates include Mark Dantonio from Michigan State, Gary Pinkel from Missouri, Gary Patterson from TCU, Chris Peterson from Boise State, and a myriad of other successful coaches in charge of non-traditional football programs. These candidates have a certain level of comfort in that they have already proven themselves as head coaches. But there is no guarantee that their success will translate to a more pressure-packed environment.

It could be argued that coaches groomed in those pressure-packed situations are better equipped to handle the position. Florida State thought so in hiring Fisher. So did Oregon with Kelly. Florida believed Muschamp’s training with Texas made him qualified to take over for Meyer.

Ohio State should roll that same set of dice with Fickell. He is as qualified as any for this particular Ohio State situation. And, to be fair, he does deserve the chance at more than just an interim job.

Introduction to new Clipper Thomas Neal

2011-08-06T06:00:00.002-04:00

Thomas Neal - photo by Dinur

Technically, Thomas Neal has been with the Clippers for about a week now.

The problem is he’s been on the disabled list since then with a hand injury suffered before the trade. He is now healthy and expected to be activated today, making him eligible to debut with the Clippers.

The injury is one of the reasons the Indians were able to trade Orlando Cabrera for him. This particular injury is not quite disconcerting, but he has developed a reputation as being injury prone. That history, coupled with the feeling around San Francisco that Neal had begun to plateau made him available for the Indians system.

That said he also has the talent to make this a very good trade for the Indians.

In 2009, Neal had a season in high A ball that put him on the MLB radar after he hit .337/.431/.579 with 22 home runs.. His season led Baseball America to name him the 96th best prospect in all of baseball prior to the 2010 season.

Not a bad return for a prospect drafted in the 36^th round of the 2005 amateur draft. His future looked bright, even considering the numbers he posted were reached in the notoriously offense-friendly California league.

The past year and a half has not been as kind to Neal. In a way he has been the Giants’ organization’s version of Beau Mills. Neal has jut not followed through with that initial breakthrough.

Injuries have no doubt played a part. So have the adjustments that come with advancing to AA and now AAA. In 2010, Neal hit .291/.359/.440 with 12 home runs. So far in 2011, he has hit .295/.351/.409 with only 2 home runs.

Not a good progression for a corner outfielder.

The plus side is Neal is still only 23 years old. By all accounts he has a great attitude and works very hard. He also still has some very good tools. He has very good raw power that has translated to more doubles than HRs since his 2009 season. He has good speed, even if it hasn’t translated into a lot of stolen bases. He is very close to being considered a 5-tool player. As a bonus, he is a right-handed hitter, something the organization desperately needs.

All of this makes Neal a breakout threat while in Columbus. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential to be a very exciting player for Clippers fans.

Long term, he grades out to be a solid 4^th outfielder option at the big league level. If he has another breakthrough in him, he has the opportunity to earn a starting position as a corner outfielder.

Indigo Imp's Firebrand

2011-08-04T18:28:00.000-04:00

Indigo Imp's Firebrand - photo by Gregory M. Dew

Review of the movie 'Cowboys and Aliens'

2011-08-04T17:30:00.000-04:00

'Cowboys and Aliens' - Universal Studios

Sabol and NFL Films Honored by the Wexner Center for the Arts

2011-08-02T23:56:00.000-04:00

3 NFL Films were presented by the Wexner Center for the Arts on Tuesday night along with a panel discussion following the screening featuring former Buckeye and NFL greats Eddie George and Jim Lachey. The event was to honor the induction of Ed Sabol into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sabol, a former Buckeye made films famous for featuring John Facenda, “The Voice of God”.

Fitting, considering the films Sabol and NFL Films have made immeasurably contributed to Sunday becoming a day of rest for millions of fans. All across the country, people camp on their couches watching football game after football game.

The game has become sacred for many, including a television industry reliant on the record-shattering audiences the sport has provided over the past couple of years.

But before the game became required viewings on Autumn Sundays, Sabol and the folks at NFL films documented mid-century football for posterity.

For many, nothing conjures the soul of the game like hearing Facenda utter “the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field”.

“They (the films) really capture what the essence of football is all about,” said George. “Nobody does it like NFL Films”.

That voice, that delivery are the epitome of what Sabol tried to capture with NFL Films. The sights, sounds, emotions and feeling of the gridiron were distilled for consumption for those unable to see the games in the era before 24/7 coverage of the sport became commonplace.

Lachey added the films provide an old school approach to football.

The films presented, They Call It Pro Football (1966), the 1964 NFL Championship film featuring the victorious Cleveland Browns, Anatomy of a Championship (1964), and NFL ’74: Championship Chase (1974), were selected as films indicative of Sabol’s career.

Indigo Imp's Summer Pale Ale

2011-08-02T13:32:00.000-04:00

Since 1980, obesity rates have nearly tripled for teens and children in the United States.

Indigo Imp's Summer Pale Ale - photo by Gregory M. Dew

Cleveland Browns Development at the start of Training Camp

2011-07-29T14:38:00.002-04:00

The infernal lockout ended earlier this week; Browns players officially began to report to training camp today.

A free agency frenzy is sweeping across much of the National Football League.

Rumor has it the Browns are somewhat aware of this frenzy.

They’ve made scant player acquisitions thus far, signing defensive back Usama Young and running back Brandon Jackson.

Next exactly headlining type moves, but just the type of moves this team needs to make at this point in their development.

Sure Ray Edwards would have been a nice signing to pair with Jabaal Sheard on the defensive line, but honestly the Browns really just need a few more solid contributors like Young and Jackson. They should not be going after any big-ticket free agents.

Like it or not, this is going to be another developmental year for the team and for quarterback Colt McCoy.

The team absolutely has to find out what it has in the former Texas star.

By all accounts, he has done everything he can and more during this finally concluded offseason. He is a leader. His is smart. He is dedicated. He is well liked. He is everything a NFL quarterback should be…if only he were 4 inches taller with a stronger arm.

You know, the type traits Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck possesses.

Now, it is not necessary to have the complete package, but it sure is hell helps.

Which is why, barring injury, McCoy should take every single offensive snap for the Browns this season.

Should the team start 0-1, 0-5, 0-10, no matter how bad the team may look, Seneca Wallace should do nothing but hold a clipboard this year.

To be clear, this is not to advocate the Browns tank the season. Tanking is a strategy reserved for eternal losers. The team should do everything in its power to win with McCoy under center.

The guess here is McCoy is up to the challenge; that he can be a winner in the league. But there is little to no certainty in that guess. The team must make McCoy the present starter to find out if he is going to be the future starter.

The Browns season will be a relative success if they can muster anywhere from 6 to 8 wins or more with McCoy taking significant strides forward. The Browns season this year will be a bittersweet success if they are so bad with McCoy that they end up with the first overall pick in the 2012 draft. It will be an unmitigated disaster if McCoy proves not up to the task but the team still wins 4 to 6 wins; costing the team any chance of a little Luck.

Following the Mediterranean Diet in Columbus

2011-07-28T20:41:00.000-04:00

It is a statistic, troubling though it may be, that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. The weight gain for Americans in general has been well documented.

What is now being documented is the weight gain of people who traditionally had low occurrences of heart disease and obesity.

NPR recently reported the Mediterranean people are abandoning their traditional diet that made these health concerns comparatively rare.

They are adopting a diet comparative to the familiar American diet of red meat and potatoes.

In Italy, 36% of 12 to 16 year olds are now considered to be overweight or obese. It is a gain being seen in other Mediterranean countries like Greece and Spain as well. Children in these countries are now expected to live shorter lives than their parents.

So what constitutes this diet they have given up?

They have given up basing every meal with a combination of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, beans, nuts, legumes, seeds, herbs and spices.

They have given up eating fish and seafood at least two times a week.

They have given up moderating their intake of poultry, eggs, cheese and yogurt.

They have given up limiting their intake of red meats and sweets to no more than a few times a month.

It is a diet becoming increasingly more rare in the lands of its origin. It is a diet very difficult to find in the US.

The rise in popularity of Mediterranean restaurants should not be seen as a plus sign. These restaurants typically follow a Mediterranean flavor profile, not the Mediterranean diet. Following the diet when visiting these restaurants is not impossible if you choose wisely.

Columbus has a number of Mediterranean restaurants offering both wise and poor choices for your health.

At Lavash Café in Clintonville skip the meat kabobs, shawarmas and gyros. Save them for a monthly treat, they’ll be well worth the wait. Focus instead on the hummus, baba ghanoush and fatayer as an appetizer. Or get the lentil soup and a lavash, tabouleh or fatoush salad. For an entre, select between the shrimp kabob, red snapper fish and vegetarian options. Avoid the Falafel; deep fried chickpeas would not have been found on the traditional Mediterranean diet. The desserts are delicious; they also should be saved for a monthly treat only.

At Nazareth Restaurant and Deli in Northland, the choices are decidedly difficult. The spicy chicken on rice and their fries are a personal favorite. That said, their tabbouli salad falls right into the Mediterranean diet’s wheelhouse. As do a lot of their appetizers and entrees. Nazareth actually makes following the diet particularly easy, just look for the little green leaves next to the menu items. It signifies the item is vegetarian. Just avoid the falafel. Delicious though it may be, its fried state is best left as an occasional treat. Same with their gyros, fries and, sigh, spicy chicken on rice.

The same rules are going to apply at the other Columbus restaurants specializing in Mediterranean fare. At places like the Pita Hut, Aladdins, Barcelona or Firdos, avoid the kabobs and desserts except for occasional indulgences. Look instead for salads, whole grains and beans.

Of course doing so is easier said than done, the dishes to avoid are some of the best in some damn fine restaurants. These restaurants do however have alternatives following the traditional Mediterranean diet. The diet well known for its long-lasting health benefits.

St Louis Contemplating a History

2011-07-27T15:38:00.000-04:00

Francisco de Zurbarán [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

St. Francis Contemplating a Skull hangs in the St. Louis Art Museum.

Hung prominently in the European Art to 1800, Francisco de Zurbarán’s painting is the perfect image to use when contemplating St. Louis.

The city wears its European ties proudly with fleur-de-lis dotting the cityscape.

The city also trumpets its importance to American history most famously with the iconic Arch serving as a symbolic gateway to the West.

It is a city with a history though long since dead, still lives in the hearts and minds of the citizens and visitors teeming in this Midwest town.

Like the cradled skull in the painting, St. Louis holds the bones of it’s past everywhere you look.

Take in the architecture of the past still largely been preserved. Look around downtown, or in the historic Soulard neighborhood, or Lafayette Square, or the Central West End, or in Forest Park and you are bound to see relics of those who lived in the area long ago.

Visit the famous Arch along with the corresponding museum dedicated to America’s western expansion. There you’ll find the hopes and dreams of a young nation competing for attention with the dead and dying dreams of the native people standing in the way of our progress.

Brave the blighted, forgotten neighborhoods of the city where hopes and dreams still flicker for some while dying for others under the crush of inescapable poverty and violence.

Ingest the results of recipes past down from generations to generations. Toasted ravioli, Gooey Butter Cake, Provel cheese, frozen custard and many more items have all become favorites traditionally found in St. Louis.

Whatever it means to be alive today can be found in St. Louis. As can the loves and hates and passions of those who have been born and lived and died in and around the city.

Take a cue from St. Francis, live and contemplate the meaning of it all when in St. Louis.

Godzilla!

2011-07-23T13:49:00.000-04:00

My column for Suite 101

'Godzilla' - Toho Films

Introduction to new Clipper Beau Mills

2011-07-22T11:47:00.002-04:00

This has been a long time in coming.

It is better late than never.

He’s just a late bloomer.

Use whatever cliché you want to describe the event, the truth is Beau Mills should have been promoted to AAA long ago.

Mills, the Cleveland Indians 2007 first round selection out of Lewis-Clark State, has been something of a disappointment.

His first two years in the system, 2007 and 2008, he progressed as should be expected. In 2008 alone he hit .293 with 21 home runs and 90 RBIs while in high A Kinston. They were the numbers of a man with the power and strength he possess. All signs pointed to a bright future.

2009 dawned with Mills in AA Akron ready to continue the march in the majors. The march subsequently stalled with an average of .267, 14 HRs and 83 RBIs.

By the time 2010 ended with the regressive stats of .241/10/72, Mills had become an afterthought to the Indians major league plans.

Starting his third season in Akron, with little to no expectations, Mills has had something of a resurgence this year. He has an average of .300 to go along with 11 HRs and 49 RBIs.

His resurgence has now been rewarded with a call-up to Columbus.

What does it mean?

In the short term, it means the Clippers are getting a much-needed influx of offense. Although the team has been a strong offensive team for much of the year, they’ve struggled recently following the call-ups to Cleveland of Jason Buck, Chord Phelps, Louis Valbuena, Lonnie Chisenhall and now Jason Kipnis. Sure Phelps and Valbuena are back in Columbus, but the sparkplugs of the team were Chisenhall and Kipnis. Without them and with the disappointing seasons of the now designated for assignment Jered Goedert and the failing experiment of Nick Johnson, help was needed.

Mills can help. Even at his worst he should be able to beat Johnson’s .194/2/3 numbers.

In the long term, he can still be an option for the big league Tribe. Mills will be turning 25 on August 15 so he is a little old to be considered a prime prospect. That said, he still fills a need. The Indians are woefully short on the raw talents Mills exhibits at the power positions of first base and right field. He doesn’t have the athletic ability to play the outfield, but at first base he should be fine.

The incumbent at first is the serviceable Matt LaPorta. Serviceable is not what the Indians had in mind when they traded CC Sabathia for LaPorta. This year he’s hit .242/8/34 and has been a disappointment, no matter what the team says. If he doesn’t start showing something more on offense, the door could reopen for Mills on the Major League roster.

For that to happen, Mills will have to show that he is just a late bloomer. He’ll need to prove it is better late than never and make the most of this promotion that has been a long time in coming.

A Requiem in Film for the Space Program

2011-07-21T09:51:00.000-04:00

My column on Suite 101

'Battle In Outer Space' - photo by Spiff_27

*Battle In Outer Space is being screened at the Wexner Center this evening as part of the Wex Drive-In series.

Whither Josh Tomlin

2011-07-20T10:27:00.000-04:00

My latest column for Indians Prospect Insider

Hoppin' Frog's Turbo Shandy Citrus Ale

2011-07-19T13:15:00.000-04:00

Hoppin' Frog's Turbo Shandy Citrus Ale - photo by Gregory M. Dew

Columbus Hefeweizens - A Comparison

2011-07-18T15:14:00.000-04:00

Neil House Brewery

Buckeye Roots Hefeweizen

An Unfiltered Wheat Beer

4% ABV

Neil House Brewery's Hefeweizen - photo by Gregory M. Dew

It comes as no surprise to hear that college kids like beer. Most subsist on cheaper varieties; your Natty Lights, PBRs and malt liquors. Every so often some of the kids actually develop a taste for the finer craft beers. Even more rare is the college students brewing their own beer.

And then you come to the kids who actually brew, bottle and sell their beer commercially; like the lads from Neil House Brewery.

One of their selections is an unfiltered Hefeweizen.

It pours a deep honey color with a slim head.

As would be expected of a Hefeweizen, it smells sweet, faintly of bananas.

Unfortunately that is where the Hefeweizen expectations come to an end.

This is an overly flat beer. It tastes a bit stale, like a Magners or any other apple cider gone bad. The aftertaste is almost unpalatable; it would be difficult to ever want to order another.

Full props for the ol’ college try, most kids this age have no interest in beer beyond reckless consumption. But these boys need to go back to school before anything from Neil House Brewery is tried again.

Elevator Brewing Company

Heiferweizen Wheat Beer

Traditional German Style Weizen

5.5% ABV

Elevator Brewing Company's Heiferweizen - photo by Gregory M. Dew

Contrast the Neil House Brewery with the more mature Elevator Brewing Company. The experimentation Neil House claims is nice but pointless when you know not what you do. Elevator has been around since 1999 and it shows in the restraint found in their Heifeweizen. Sometimes traditions exist for a reason.

In their Heiferweizen, you are going to find all that should be expected of this style of beer.

The pour produces a thin, quickly fading head. A sip produces little lacing along the side of the glass.

It smells of citrus.

There is a good level of carbonation.

The bubbles give way to a flat wheat taste of cloves and bananas.

There is also a slight spice to the beer to keep things interesting.

On a hot summer day it amounts to a good sipping beer.

Columbus Brewing Company

Barley’s Brewing Company

Had no Hefeweizen options available at the time of tasting.

Review of the movie 'The Arbor'

2011-07-16T10:44:00.000-04:00

'The Arbor' - Artangel Media

Graffiti Burger

2011-07-15T10:07:00.000-04:00

There's just something about that fast-food chain restaurant experience.

There's almost always a full serving of incompetence with a side of attitude.

And that's before the "food" enters the picture. Forget the grease and fat, their just par for the course, but when you're eating something inherently bad for your health, why settle for offerings devoid of flavor?

Especially when local burger chains like Graffiti Burger exist.

First off, the attitude of the workers is inviting. Be it good parenting or the culture of the restaurant, Graffiti Burger's Clintonville location has teenagers who honest to god seem to like their job. They smile; they engage in polite small talk, they get your order right. Whoever's responsible for this miracle, well done. Well done indeed.

Well done with the burgers and fries as well. No, they do not make the greatest burger you’ll ever taste, but for the price, speed and options, it is a damn good sandwich. Graffiti Burger also offers their burgers in a Junior or Original size to satisfy any appetite.

The Buffalo Blue burger sampled consisted of the cooked patty dipped in buffalo sauce, and topped with blue cheese, mayo, lettuce and tomatoes. It is sloppy enough to provide a heaping of taste in every bite, but put together well enough that it can actually be eaten without a fork and knife. Perish the thought.

Order the fries with the cheese sauce. The skin-on fries themselves are very good, crisp and salty. Far better than soggy mess Wendy’s tries to claim are a step up in fast food fries. But it is the cheese sauce that makes them the real winner. Graffiti Burger’s creamy signature sauce has a little spice kick to go along with a depth of flavor that was a real pleasant surprise. Like the burgers, the fries come on several sizes, small regular and large.

Because of the pace of modern society, avoiding the fast food chains altogether is going to be difficult. But when you’ve got the time to choose and you’re in Columbus, find one of the 4 area Graffiti Burger restaurants. The choice and experience will make you happy.

Review of the movie 'Horrible Bosses'

2011-07-14T13:18:00.000-04:00

My Review as the Youngstown Craft Beer Examiner

'Horrible Bosses' - Warner Brothers Pictures

Victory's Storm King Stout

2011-07-13T09:52:00.000-04:00

Victory's Storm King Stout (Photo: Gregory M. Dew)

Thoughts on Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran'

2011-07-12T13:12:00.000-04:00

My article on Suite 101

'Ran' - Rialto Pictures

Goodguys 2011

2011-07-11T14:34:00.000-04:00

Their natural habitat is the residential garage.

Hours upon hours are spent inhaling petrol-scented air.

Their hands are caked in layers of grease of grime.

They are the American Gearheads.

Their lives are spent breaking down, rebuilding, fine-tuning, adding horsepower, washing and polishing their classic automobiles.

It is often a solitary existence spent rubbing their cars with a diaper.

Until the weather breaks and the Gearheads emerge with pomaded hair, rolled sleeves and cuffs. They turn their keys and return their roadsters, Studebakers, Model A’s and T’s, Impalas, Corvettes, Mustangs and Cabriolet’s to the roadways the vehicles once owned.

It is a celebrated emergence of rumbling engines, vibrant colors, shining rubber, and gleaming chrome as they make their way to their ancestral homes of the hop, drive-ins and car shows.

The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association held one such show in Columbus this past weekend at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.

It was an event where Gearheads and over 6,000 classic cars from all over the country were able to congregate and mingle.

They came together to show their cars and buy and sell their cars and parts for vehicular improvement. They raced AutoCross, with Mike Maier driving the winning ’66 Ford Mustang. The Goodguys also selected Fastlane Rod Shop’s ’32 Ford 3-window coupe as the Street Rod of the Year and Alex Covington’s ’67 Nova as the Street Machine of the Year.

It was a weekend celebrating the American automobile and the Gearheads who keep the heritage alive.

It was one weekend of many during the summer when the Gearhead and car can be seen in all their glory.

Take stock now, soon they will retreat to their cold weather habitat where the cars may hibernate, and the Gearhead will tinker the winter away.

Yellow Brick Pizza

2011-07-07T15:42:00.000-04:00

Yellow Brick Pizza is located at the corner of Oak St. and S. 18^th St.

The restaurant sits at the end of a row of townhomes, boarded and vacant.

This would be indicative of Olde Town East. The section of Columbus where dreams once thrived, died, and now live again. The area is coming back.

The residents of Olde Town have few options for dining, this being one of them. When you consider all great neighborhoods should have a great pizzeria, Yellow Brick gives Olde Town one hell of an attraction in its comeback.

Their pizzas are artisan and imaginatively crafted, but feel free to create your own from their list of 26 toppings and 6 sauces.

Our table chose to split the Boise Surprise, a pie of potato, cheese, bacon, sour cream and chives. Enjoyable although it was agreed more bacon was needed, although isn’t that always the case?

The desire for more swine may have been a result of the blandish crust. It was nicely seasoned with something of a garlic salt that couldn’t hide the fact the crust really is nothing more than a blank palate for the toppings.

It is inoffensive dough unable to hold up against the best crusts of the city, Figlio and Hound Dogs. Yellow Brick would be have a grand slam on their hands if they could follow in their competitor’s footsteps and take the crust into consideration when crafting their pies.

In other comparables Yellow Brick holds up well. Whereas Figlio crafts their pizzas with an eye towards their wine list, and Hound Dogs crafts theirs with a nod towards drunken hipsters, Yellow Brick pairs theirs with a very impressive beer list.

As a Drafthouse, provides a very nice selection indeed of 16 different taps as well as a whole host of bottled beers. The choices include local favorites, national standouts, and some international examples as well. The range includes examples of just about every beer style going. There is no doubt there’s a beer here to satisfy every taste.

So while the crust may have been a slight disappointment, it is admittedly nitpicky. The pizza split on this trip was still very good. The variety of toppings and sauces demand return trips. The beer selection would have been a draw no matter what.

Kind of like Olde Town East; the neighborhoods grimy beauty still shines though, a return an eventuality. Yellow Brick Pizza is another draw, demanding a return of the neighborhood.

The Maharaja by Avery Brewing Company

2011-07-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

Stories of its existence have long circulated in certain circles.

Most thought the stories were just told to scare away children and frat boys.

A few felt the stories held a semblance of truth, but had been enhanced by aging, bitter beer drinkers.

Could The Maharaja have actually dictated his Thugee cult at Avery Brewing to create a beer at 102 IBUs and an ABV of 10.24%?

Most will never know, scared off by peasant folklore.

A few will sample this Imperial India Pale Ale, urged on in their quest for fortune and glory.

For the brave, they’ll find The Maharaja pours as an amber body, producing an off-white head.

Surprisingly, the nose is strongly reminiscent of pineapples.

There is a bitter intensity to the beer. As is the sweetness contributed by the malted barley.

This beer really overwhelms the senses. The aroma fills a room. The alcohol content feels as if it could rip out a still-beating heart. It is thick, the beer will coats the palate and lingers for a very long time.

It is definitely not for everybody, especially the faint of heart.

For a select few, The Maharaja makes true believers who find their fortune and glory in a glass.

Om Namha Shivaye! Om Namha Shivaye! Om Namha Shivaye!

Doo Dah Parade 2011

2011-07-05T11:38:00.000-04:00

Dissent can be such a beautiful thing.

As a word, it is all that we are as Americans.

Our revolution was fought in the name of dissent.

The Founding Fathers laid out the Bill of Rights to protect our ability to voice our dissent.

Dissent is in every protest rally.

It is in every march for civil rights.

Right or wrong, it is in our political gridlock.

It is in every act of irreverence.

Dissent is in Columbus’ 4^th of July tradition, the Doo Dah parade.

The intent to dissent is announced loud and clear when the Doo Dah band opens the parade, led by a thong and McDonald’s apron-clad Jim Maneri.

It is celebrated in the mocking of a political party known as much for its intolerance of the “other” as it is for its adherence to fiscal responsibility.

Dissent questions the deification of a media prophet made grotesquely wealthy by her ability to sell herself as a caring individual.

It is found in the image of a sainted coach who preached not only to turn the other cheek while he turned a blind eye to the corruption of his football program.

Dissent gives strength to those disenfranchised by mainstream society.

It allows us to question the intelligence of those who choose to shop at big-box department stores while relegating mom and pop establishments to history’s scrapheap.

Dissent questions society’s feeding into the insatiable egos of people we’d never want to have a beer with at the neighborhood bar.

It gives us a reason to gather in revelry at Doo Dah’s irreverence.

Dissent brings us together at bars to talk, laugh and toast America’s birth.

Ales of the Revolution in Honor of the 4th of July

2011-07-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

The Founding Fathers have given the country an endless bounty of gifts.

The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution still guide our daily lives.

The Founding Fathers gave us the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

They gave us the right to free speech.

They gave us the right to bear arms.

They gave us the right to be tried by a jury of our peers.

They gave us beer.

Yes that’s right, they gave us beer.

The Founding Fathers knew we had a right to enjoy beer.

Ben Franklin is rumored to have said, “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

It is in that spirit that Yards Brewing Company, operating out of the City of Brotherly Love, developed their Ales of the Revolution.

This specialty line of beers is not brewed to honor the spirit of the Founding Fathers.

The line is a continuance of the gifts bestowed upon these United States. Remember, they gave us beer.

The Ales of the Revolution are made from recipes based on those used by three of the Founding Fathers.

General Washington’s Tavern Porter follows a recipe our future first President used to brew for his field officers.

Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce Ale is based on Ben Franklin’s original recipe that featured molasses and spruce essence.

Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale is based on the original recipe Jefferson concocted specifically to use ingredients found on his Monticello estate.

Regrettably, Mr. Franklin’s addition to this line of beers proved difficult to find on a recent visit to Philadelphia.

The Presidential contributions, fortunately, were not.

General Washington’s Tavern Porter

General Washington’s Tavern Porter pours a dark garnet hue with a thick, long lasting head.

The beer smells of molasses with a stronger alcoholic presence than is usually detected in a porter. The 7% ABV content is, however, in line with the stronger porters custom to the late 1700s.

It tastes of dark cherries and chocolate. The beer is slightly bitter. It is a nicely balanced and has a slight carbonation.

There’s no doubt it would have kept the good General and his officers warm during long, hard winter nights spent planning the crossing of the Delaware River.

Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale

Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale pours to reveal an amber-golden body. The pour produces an enticing, creamy head.

It is surprisingly hoppy, with a distinct note of honey.

As with General Washington’s recipe, there is not a lot of carbonation. It also compares in a stronger alcohol content, coming in at 8% ABV.

It confirms what Yards likes to profess, “All beers are not created equal.”

Indians in for a Hell of a Ride in the Second Half

2011-07-03T10:44:00.002-04:00

My latest column for Indians Prospect Insider

Times New Viking at the Wexner Center

2011-07-02T09:31:00.000-04:00

Art school aesthetic met low-fi sounds on the Wexner Center stage last night.

It has happened before, obviously.

The Wex is home to modern art in Columbus and Times New Viking is the spawn of the city.

But this time, something a little more special seemed to be in the air.

Maybe it was the collective intelligence, some 120 people escaping the dumbed down masses at Red White and Boom for something more authentic.

Maybe it was maturation; Times New Viking has cleaned up their sound.

They still sound as if they’ve arrived from a 60s garage, still hooking you with their catchy sound. It is just all the more defined, a little more melodious, a little more accessible.

They’ve colored their punk in brighter colors of pop. They’re aspiring to a higher art by keeping their music as simple as ever.

Times New Viking has changed, but not changed at all. They’ve evolved. And they laid it all bare on the Wexner stage last night.

Lagunitas Little Sumpin' Sumpin' Ale

2011-07-01T12:26:00.000-04:00

Columbus IPAs - a Comparison

2011-06-30T16:02:00.000-04:00

Columbus Brewing Company's IPA

6.50% ABV

Columbus Brewing Company’s IPA is the hidden joy of attending a Clippers game. Sure, Huntington Park is beautiful and the team is pretty damn talented and entertaining, but this IPA on a hot day just can’t be beat.

CBC’s version tastes pretty standard for the style. It is an unfiltered, non-pasteurized joy to drink.

It pours a hazy pale orange and provides a long-lasting head.

It has a prominent citrus nose, focusing on oranges. It is nicely hopped, not overbearing at all.

The beer has a clean finish with just a trace of a lingering bitterness and the pride of Columbus Brewing Company.

Elevator Brewery

3 Frogs IPA

7.6% ABV

Elevator’s IPA reminds of the old story involving frogs and boiling water, one may not be a boiling shock to the system, but drink enough over the course of a sitting and you’ll be left nicely stewed.

3 Frogs has a different flavor profile than what has come to be expected of the style.

It pours a cider-like body with a thin clinging head.

It has a strong citrus and herbal hopped aroma. There is a sweet, malty taste not expected usually expected of an IPA.

The flavor hangs on the pallet a bit long, probably due to the creaminess of the beer.

Blurry Bike IPA

Barley’s

5.8% ABV

As an aside it should be noted, Barley’s tends to rotate their various IPAs through their taps on the brewery’s own whim. It kind of makes for a fun hide and seek game whenever their establishments are visited. Blurry Bike was the IPA on tap this particular visit.

This IPA is brewed with Columbus hops, giving it a true hometown flavor.

Blurry Bike pours as a copper body with a creamy white head.

It has a very strong citrus flavor profile, more prominent than with most IPAs. The profile is backed by hops. It is crisp, clean with a bitterness that rests comfortably in the background.

Fill a growler confidently with this eminently drinkable IPA.

Review of the Movie 'Midnight in Paris'

2011-06-30T13:04:00.003-04:00

Introduction to new Clipper Tim Fedroff

2011-06-28T11:17:00.005-04:00

So you are fan of the Columbus Clippers and you’ve just seen your star 3^rd baseman called up to the Cleveland Indians. It was expected, he is the organization’s top prospect and this is a minor league after all. Prospects come and go; the process is just the nature of the minor league beast.

So Lonnie Chisenhall goes, Jason Kipnis slides into the top prospect slot, and the Clippers get a new prospect added to their roster. His name is Tim Fedroff.

Who is he?

Fedroff is an outfielder that was a 2008 7^th round draft pick. The Indians considered him a priority selection and gave him quite a large bonus by the Indians to get him to sign.

He has progressed nicely through the Indians system. He started this season in Akron with the Aeros where he was hitting .338 with 2 HRs, 35 RBIs and 7 SBs.

Fedroff is a very good hitter with a nice combination of power and speed. His talents come with caveats, however.

His power is not prodigious as obvious by his home run totals. He does make good solid contact with an ability to line hits from gap to gap.

Fedroff’s speed is above average but undisciplined. On the base paths, his 7 stolen bases are tempered by being caught 5 times. His technique is still a work in progress.

Unfortunately for Fedroff, it is work that will probably always languish in the minors. He is not considered to be a prime prospect. If he does make it to the major leagues, he projects to be a reserve outfielder.

Fortunately for Clippers fans that means Fedroff should be around for a while. His talents don’t translate well to the majors but they should play very well at the AAA level. They are talents that should make him a fan favorite very quickly.

Fedroff has well-rounded talents both offensively and defensively. He has a good batting eye, and should be a fixture on the Clipper base paths. On defense, he has the speed to cover a lot of ground. He employs all talents to play all out, all the time.

Fedroff will be a valuable asset to the Clippers, as are fellow organizational prospects Ezequiel Carrera and Jerad Head. Like them, Fedroff will make Clippers fans proud to ring their bell in support.

Comfest 2011 Recap

2011-06-27T12:09:00.000-04:00

The following is a personal recap of Comfest 2011, from Friday to Sunday…

A steady rain kept clean the dirty funk of Mas Bagua. Their saxophone wail greeting Comfest 2011 welcomed all, despite the damp weather.

As the rains subsided, The Ferals found a home on The Offramp stage and Miller-Kelton brought Southern rock to the Gazebo Stage.

While clouds threatened and winds changed, Whoa Nellie held true to their heart felt rock flavored with the salt of the earth.

By the time Showlin Funk hit the live arts stage, the threat of further storms faded and it was finally started feeling like Comfest.

As the sun set the jazz tent came alive. The Liquid Crystal Project glittered in the dusk before Flypaper electrified the night, letting everyone know The Price Is Right.

Saturday's weather brought the masses down upon Goodale Park. The crowds made it all the more to stake out a space in the grass to relax with family, friends and kids at play.

In spite of the sedentary day, our ears were filled w/ jams kicked out by The Floorwalkers and soothed by Shaun Booker's voice.

She kept the crowded blues at bay until Lost Revival was able numb all annoyances with a their Morphine-tinged rock.

By the time The Bush League Allstars provide the crowd a third wind with a driving drum beat, all signals were a go for some life affirming New Orleans street jazz from the New Basics Brass Band.

With the return of the rains Sunday morning, so came a wandering spirit. It found community with New City Gypsy. They took the Off Ramp pulpit and preached with poetic anger tempered with a message of love and life.

As the day wore on, The Professors bestowed lessons in classic rock upon the Bozo crowd.

At the Healing Arts stage, Brothers Drake Mead nurtured the gathered souls with their knowledge on brewing with the nectar of the gods.

By the time evening came, the Solar Stage still had enough juice for Doctah X to pass out prescriptions for his dub filled pill bottles of reggae-tinged beats.

He got the dancing shoes moving just in time to set the stage for the Tony Monaco Trio to close out Comfest 2011 in style at the I Wish You Jazz stage. Monaco’s organ ground any remaining inhibitions away. The street bounced in celebration of the concluding weekend, it bounced in anticipation of next year’s 40-year anniversary of the greatest weekend in Columbus, year in and year out.

Superstars not in the offing for the Cavs in the 2011 NBA Draft

2011-06-23T08:00:00.004-04:00

Kyrie Irving (photo: Chamber of Fear)

It is time to be honest Cavs fans.

No matter whom the Cavaliers choose with their 4 picks in this evening’s NBA Draft, Cleveland will not be selecting their next franchise player.

No matter if the team is able to make a move with Ramon Sessions or with their trade exception, a new superstar will not be wearing wine and gold if and when there is a next season.

To be clear, Kyrie Irving should be a very nice player. He should be a difference maker. He should make the Cavs better. He should be the 1^st overall pick. The Cavs need him. The NBA game is changing. Point guards are becoming a dominant position on the court. Derrick Rose, John Wall, and Chris Paul are dynamic forces at the point guard position. Irving is not Rose, Wall, or Paul. He is not going to carry the team. And honestly, who was the last point guard to carry his team to the promise land, Isiah Thomas?

Neither will Derrick Williams carry this team. Sure, he is a very intriguing athlete. So intriguing that it would not be a disaster if the Cavs were to shock the experts and select Williams as the number one overall pick. He is that good of a scorer. But he also does not have a set position. Scouts fear he is too small to consistently play power forward. Other scouts believe he’ll be too slow to consistently play the small forward position. He’ll likely not be dominant at either spot. How many tweeners between the 3 and 4 have ever become dominant in the NBA?

Enes Kanter might be that dominate if you believe the legend. You’ll have to believe the legend if you want the Cavs to make the Turkish 19 year old one of their selections, because on the basketball court he is a ghost and rumor. Almost nobody’s seen the kid play in the past year, except maybe John Calipari as he surveyed the Kentucky practice courts. Despite this Kanter has been compared to Al Horford. Horford is a nice player. Horford will not be leading an NBA team to a championship anytime soon.

Best-case scenario, the Cavs will be picking up players to be their Jason Terry or Chris Bosh. They will hopefully be selecting very good NBA stars every championship team needs to take the pressure off of the superstar.

They’re just not getting the caliber of player Dan Gilbert needs to fulfill his promise of winning an NBA championship before LeBron James.

That player is not in the 2011 draft. There is but one such player potentially available on the trade market. And Dwight Howard is not coming to Cleveland.

To win that championship Gilbert promised his fan base, the Cavaliers can only hope this draft gives the team two players who will develop into 2^nd class NBA stars. They just better not develop too quickly; the Cavs are going to need pick high again in the 2012 lottery to secure that badly needed superstar.

Review of the Movie 'Super 8'

2011-06-22T20:54:00.001-04:00

My review as Youngstown Craft Beer Examiner

Hollywood Bowing to Chinese Money

2011-06-22T12:31:00.001-04:00

My column on Suite 101

Victory's Summer Love

2011-06-21T12:41:00.001-04:00

Elevator Brewery's Watermelon Wheat

2011-06-20T18:22:00.000-04:00

Even for men aspiring towards an illuminated state, there's something emasculating about a fruit-based beer.

Beer just has that aura of a man’s drink.

Even in the midst of this craft beer revolution, when breweries all over the country are creating innovative uses for every flavor under the sun, it is still difficult to order or consume a brew that brutes would consider has gone to seed.

No matter if you are in the shadow of the Great American Ballpark, at the Holy Grail pre-gaming before the Reds fist pitch. There is just something unnerving about their Blueberry Grail Ale. Maybe if it didn’t seem so gimmicky, a consumable lava lamp with the berries bouncing here and there, up and down. Maybe if there were more craft included in the brew, you’d feel more respected holding that blueberry-flecked glass. Maybe.

Or maybe if the venerable Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas hadn’t made the word Ruby so prominent in their summer seasonal, Ruby Redbird you’d feel better about picking up that six-pack. Actually, scratch that. You won’t feel better consuming this beer. How a beer brewed with ruby red grapefruit and ginger can possibly be this bland is mystifying. You won’t feel good plunking down your money on this one, no matter the label.

Perhaps the best way to rise about this emasculating fray if to lift your spirits on the Elevator Brewery’s Masters of Beer Appreciation (MBA) June ’11 selection. Their pub exclusive Watermelon Wheat is a sweet, thirst-quenching option for hot summer days.

It is a little reminiscent of a Jolly Rancher, but not in an adult kind of way. The wheat holds the concentrated melon flavor well but doesn’t let it linger on the palate. It has a silky smooth mouth feel that makes the beer eminently drinkable.

The beer won’t even tip off the High Life crowd. The Watermelon Wheat pours into an opaque haze, a glass-contained cloud ready for a summer daydream.

No, there’s nothing about this beer that should be emasculating if you’re smart about ordering the beer. Rather than asking for the Watermelon Wheat, tell the bartender you’re in for June’s MBA. You’ll save face while enjoying a lovely summer treat.

Review of the Movie 'The Hangover Part II'

2011-06-17T22:53:00.001-04:00