EATFREAK

There’s a dumb game.  What’s your favorite Color?  What’s your favorite mixed drink?  Put those together and that’s your Superhero name.

I’m not a mixed drink guy.  I’m a Californian, so I’m pretty sure I can get arrested if I don’t enjoy a Margarita now and then.  I’m also partial to a good Bloody Mary.  But other than that it’s very very rare that I have a mixed drink.

This game got me thinking …. what is my favorite mixed drink?  This is what I came up with.

The Black Velvet.

I’m generally surprised to find how many people aren’t familiar with The Black Velvet.  For those of you reading – A Black Velvet is what happens when you combine Beer and Hard Cider in a glass while not allowing them to mix (much like a black and tan).  More specifically when you combine a Dark Stout with a British Draft Cider.  And if you want to get traditional – The Classic Black Velvet occurs when you combine equal parts Guinness Imperial Stout and Strongbow “England’s Dry Cider”.

A brief word on both of these beverages before we get going – as I have been ridiculed for my love of both.

Guinness.  No – it is not a meal in a drink.  I don’t care if you are used to spouting that useless cliche.  Knock it off.  Guinness is lighter than Pabst for shit sake.  The whole point of this drink it that the Guinness literally floats on top of the Cider.  It’s also not a Strong Beer.  It’s dark because the barley is roasted before fermentation – the roasting burns off much of the sugar in the barley – it’s that sugar that makes beer heavy and fatty, and it’s that sugar that turns into alcohol.  Guinness is a light beer in all respects.  It has a different, bitter taste compared to the squirrely crap most people drink in America.  Allow yourself to enjoy something different.  Guinness is a great drink.

Now Cider.  I have been mocked in all corners of the world for drinking Cider.  Some dude with a Heineken will treat me like a pansy for having a Strongbow.  When did apples become “pansy”?  There are flowers in Heineken.  Hops.  Hops are flowers – pretty ones – like pansies.  I’ve said it before on this blog.  Cider is a complex and awesome drink that is completely underrated.  There are higher end Ciders that aren’t sweet at all and make that Heineken taste like a jolly rancher.  Strongbow is a nice halfway point – Sweet and Hearty.  Awesome.  Drink it.  It’s rad.

Better yet – Enjoy them both – Together – Like this!!

1 Can of Guinness
1 Can of Strongbow
1 Pint Glass

1.  Get your Strongbow and pour it into the Pint glass until said pint glass is half full.  Pour it along the side of the glass slowly to avoid a big head.  Remember those tricky pint glasses get wider at the top – so half full goes a lot higher up on the glass than you think..

2.  here’s the tricky part.  people usually tell you to do this you need to bend a spoon and use it.  Well, there’s no need to bend a spoon – but you will be using one.  I recommend pouring the Guinness into a measuring cup.  You don’t have to – but an important thing in this process is accuracy, and it’s easier to do so with a proper pouring vessel instead of a metal can.  Stick the spoon halfway down the glass til it rests just above the Cider, and lean it up agains the glass wall.

3.  Now, slowly, pour the Guinness out of the measuring cup and directly onto the spoon.  Keep pouring, slowly, and raising the spoon as the liquid rises.  When the glass is full – you’re done.

Now Drink Up!!  If you did this right – Your first few sips will be straight Guinness, bitter and hearty – The main stay of your drink will be an awesome combination of the Biting Cider and the Dark Guinness – Then you’ll finish up with a few sips of Sweet Undisturbed Cider.

It’s fun.  It’s great for St. Patty’s Day.  It goes real good with any Irish or British meal you might make.  Shepherds Pie, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Fish and Chips.

There’s a dumb game.  What’s your favorite color?  What’s your favorite mixed drink?  Put those together and that’s your Superhero name.

I am The Grey Black Velvet.

Who the hell are you?

ok bye.