A bit later today, possibly quite a bit later today, I'll be posting my answers to my own questions posed to the Irish Blogger Gathering. Primarily, I'll be posting my explanation of why I hate Michigan. It may well be my opus. But even if it doesn't live up to its billing, this video by Fr. B certainly does.
The Roundup
Detroit, we didn't hire a "pensions trophies for everyone" coach. The FREEP sort of misses the point, but there's some pretty good stuff in here anyway, so read it.
Chuck Klosterman and the Read Options Would Make For A Good Band Name And I can practically guarantee that John Walters was thinking that as he worked on this piece.
Take His Advice Too. When John Walters recommends you read this piece on stopping the read option in the article linked above, do it.
I'm Not Mad At AJ Green And neither is Tony Barnhart. The big difference between Tony and I is Tony knew who AJ was before this whole NCAA letter on inquiry thing.
You Really Think You're In Control, Don't You? You're Not. Texas is. Or at least, they feel empowered enough to believe it. Meanwhile, I'm going to start calling Jack Swarbrick "The Shadow."
Yeah, dude, I heard the games are like sooooo easy there. Villanova to the Big East for Football?
The Beer
Some readers have suggested that each week in the season, we feature a beer here that represents the opponent. And I like that idea just fine, but for Michigan I couldn't find a beer that I'd recommend that also tastes like urine and the tears of suffering children, nor could I bring myself to recommend a beer that, actually on second thought, is pretty darn representative of Michigan: That is, anything by Bell's Brewery in Kalamazoo Michigan. Specifically, never has a beer been more undeservedly over-hyped than Bell's Oberon Ale - a beer for people who don't actually like beer and loathe themselves. It's like they took the mediocrity of all that is Michigan and bottled it. Bell's is the General Motors of beer. Doubtless people across Michigan drink that stuff all the time, pat themselves on the back for its "quality," and then discuss ways to get the federal government to bail them out so they can go buy more crappy beer.
So with that, I turn your attention to something excellent: Troegs Nugget Nectar. Troegs is located in Harrisburg, PA. They also happen to make the greatest Christmas beer ever. But today I pick them because Nugget Nectar rocks, and they're from PA, and I want to see Penn State win tomorrow just to watch tears flow across the SEC.
By Titus September 10, 2010 - 10:47 am
OK, I think you’re a little harsh on Bell’s. Sure, Oberon is over-hyped, but their stout and porter are quite good. And they’re not nearly big enough to be the GM of beer. That would be somebody like Schlitz: we used to make a quality product everyone liked, but now we just get laughed at.
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By Matt September 10, 2010 - 11:04 am
I hate Michigan more than I Coukd possibly loathe anything, yet the criticism on Bells I can’t possibly stand for. I am definitely a beer aficionado and I have only had one brew of theirs (Kalamazoo stout, icky licorice flavor) that I did nit highly enjoy. The Two Hearted Ale makes my top 5 near to New Holland Dragon’s Milk, Chimay, Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence and Great Lakes Octoberfest.
Even the Oberon is a high quality brew. There’s nothing better to drink when sitting in the mid-afternoon heat at a baseball game in July. It’s like a drop of golden sunshine in beer form and is one of the few wheat beers that I don’t think are over spiced (great lakes holy Moses and most German wiezen styles), too citrused (Sam Adams summer or Leine summer shandy) or too damn bland (Blue Moon). So seriously, I generally think your opinion on beer is pretty good bur you need to give bells and their 30+ varieties of craft brews another chance.
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By domer_mq September 10, 2010 - 11:26 am
The attack upon Bell’s is an attack on the beer tastes of most Michigan grads I knew in Chicago. It’s a smart-bomb. I’m willing to eviscerate Bell’s simply for the strategic advantage.
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By Matt September 10, 2010 - 11:42 am
Ok, fair enough just don’t go too far with it, they do good work at Bells.
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By Josh September 10, 2010 - 11:22 am
I agree Bell’s isn’t the best brewery in Michigan (that would be Founder’s) but to dislike Bell’s because someone you know over-hyped Oberon is just TOO much.
Oberon is a good summer brew, though. Much better than the real GM’s of beer (namely, horse piss Miller, Coors, and Bud).
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By Matt September 10, 2010 - 11:40 am
Completely agree on Founders being the best brewery in Michigan. Their Centennial IPA is stupid good.
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By trey September 10, 2010 - 1:28 pm
You could have picked Corona to represent the skunks. *Like you mentioned, it DOES taste like sour piss from the depths of an unspeakable hell that only someone like Bo Scumbelcher could inhabit.
*The color is very similar to the vomitous ‘maize’ that the skunks have on their lids.
*Like Corona with citrus, for scUM to be palatable and even worthy to watch, you have to add an additive like THE ohio or ND.
*Finally, also like Michigan, what has it won in decades? I dont remember Corona winning any international beer fests just like i cant remember Mich winning a MNC.
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By Josh September 17, 2010 - 11:29 am
I like it!
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