Life In The Weeds

Monticello Reserve Ale

Jefferson is renowned for his many interests, including architecture, horticulture and inventing gadgets.

However, the third president's lesser-known pursuits was making beer, and modern-day visitors to his mountaintop estate at Monticello can soon get a taste of the past.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation says it's working with Starr Hill Brewery in Crozet to offer Monticello Reserve Ale, inspired by what was produced and consumed regularly at Monticello. Brewing beer was among the plantation's important activities, and the drink was one of the "table liquors" served with meals, Monticello officials said.

Starr Hill's master brewer Mark Thompson will brew Monticello Reserve Ale using a combination of lightly hopped wheat and corn, as Jefferson did in his day. Local ingredients will be used, including some hops grown at Monticello.

"It's different from beers today," Monticello spokeswoman Lisa Stites said Thursday. "We wanted to make it a little more modern, too, so people would enjoy it."

Thompson calls the unfiltered wheat-style beer "very light on the palate with a clean finish," with citrus and earthy aromas.

The ale will make its public debut at the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center museum shop with tastings on Feb. 21. The ale will be sold at Monticello and Charlottesville-area restaurants.

Monticello's new beer-crafting efforts follow the restoration of many of the estate's operational areas, such as the downstairs quarters where slaves performed the daily house work and its beer cellar. Researchers are still working to determine the location of the actual brewhouse.

Jefferson's beer-making records date back to 1772, when his wife, Martha, oversaw periodic brewing. The enterprise produced 15-gallon casks of low-alcohol beer about every two weeks, then expanded its scale with some outside help.

According to records, Monticello's brewhouse was built by 1814, five years after he ended his presidency.

The Monticello Reserve Ale follows the 2006 opening of a restored liquor still at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate in northern Virginia. Washington was the nation's most successful whiskey maker after his presidency. By 1799, the year he died, the estate was producing 11,000 gallons of whiskey a year.

Jefferson was not one of my favorite Founding Fathers...but the fact that he brewed beer makes me think he might not have been that bad of a guy!

mj

 

The Space Shuttle, Challenger

Where were you 25 years ago wen the Space Shuttle Challenger disapperaed in front of thousands of spectators...not to mention the millions that watched on television!

I was in Chemistry class.  Each classroom was outfitted with a monitor, allowing the entire school to pause to watch Christa McAuliffe, a teacher, fly off into space.

At liftoff, cheers were heard thoughout...but 73 seconds later, you could here a pin drop in our Chemistry class.  Our teacher did not know what to do...she cried, along with several students...no one really knew how to react...was it even real?

Like many, this moment was one that will be etched in my memory bank...such a sad day.

It's hard to believe it was 25 years ago!

mj

Jack LaLanne dies

What a bummer...if anyone could live forever, I thought for sure it was Jack LaLanne!

The fitness guru, who inspired television viewers to trim down and pump iron decades before exercise became a national obsession, has died at age 96.

LaLanne died of respiratory failure due to pneumonia Sunday afternoon at his home. 

I remember my mom working out at the local Jack LaLanne fitness club...long before Gold's Gym ever existed.  I loved trying out the "belt machine"...you know the one!

I love this quote by Jack LaLanne -  "The only way you can hurt the body is not use it.  Inactivity is the killer and, remember, it's never too late."

mj

Generation (F)acebook

Like it or not, technology is here to stay...if you don't believe it, here are a few facts to enlighten you.

Close jaw now!

mj

Starbucks; at it again!

This week, the mega coffee giant, Starbucks, revealed a logo change.  While the logo appears in lots of places, the most obvious location - the Starbucks coffee cup - is where most consumers see the change.

Changing the Starbucks logo is not a new thing...in fact, way back, they not only changed the logo, but the color as well.

I find it funny when I read about consumers and marketers who are "outraged" over the change.

I think it's great...and certainly a testament to how strong the brand IS.  And, it is not really a great departure from their first ever logo.  The siren has always been the mainstay of the logo. Now the logo is more iconic...like McDonald's. The golden arches do not need a name to make the brand more clear.

Having an iconic logo is much more flexible in today's social media world...YOUR logo should look great as an App icon sitting on your iDevice.  That is exactly how ANY brand new or old should be viewing their next logo design.

mj

355 Million...Why not me?

Or, better yet, someone I know...family member or friend, I'll take either!

I played 7 separate tickets - one for each family member and one for my brother - I thought I was IN with lucky number SEVEN.

I must say, I get pissed when I do not win.  

Do I have all my teeth, yes.  Do I live in a trailer, no.  Do I have a job, yes.  Should these facts prevent me from winning, no!

Fact is, I did win.  One of my tickets had TWO + Powerball = $10.

I'll wait again to play when the jackpot builds to 200 Million or so...I mean, who really needs 50 or 100 million.

mj

How Big is Yours?

The first week of January always brings out the latest and greatest in electronics with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.  The NY Post ran a great article on some of the BIG televisions that are on display (and sale) right now...

With the Super Bowl on the horizon, it might be time to get one of these:

* Mitsubishi 82-inch -- The SUV of TVs. It's two yards wide and suitable for a (gulp) 8,000-square-foot room. $3,200 (add another $1,000 for 3D)

* Mitsubishi 75-inch rear projection with laser -- Includes a service for streaming new movies. $7,000

* Mitsubishi 73-inch 3D -- The biggest bang for the buck. So popular, Amazon is sold out. $2,700

* LG 72-inch "Dynamic" 3D -- Darling of the upcoming electronics show. Not on the market yet and no price listed.

* Panasonic 65-inch, flat-panel Plasma -- Considered a professional-quality picture for gamers at a price few stoners can afford. $2,000

* Samsung 65-inch LED LCD -- The biggest and baddest out right now. It has its own WiFi, and they throw in a couple pairs of 3D glasses. $6,000

* Vizio 65-inch 3D -- The Chevy of big sets. A lot of 3D for the dough. $3,500

* Samsung 63-inch Plasma -- You can get high-quality plasma smaller, but then you'll always wonder what the bigger one is like. $2,000 ($3,000 with 3D)

Talk about an inferiority complex!

mj

Is Notre Dame Football Back?

It's been 17 years since the Fighting Irish have won a Bowl Game!  

It had been 20 years since the Catholics versus Convicts game and the Sun Bowl on New Year's eve was ND's 30th appearance in a bowl game. Their latest victory over University of Miami was quite convincing. 

The big question is whether or not ND football is really back?  Here are a couple things to consider:

• The last Irish team to end with four consecutive wins was the 1992 team that finished with seven straight.

• Based on results from the GoDaddy.com Bowl and Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, there will be as few as seven or as many as nine teams that will enter 2011 with a longer winning streak than Notre Dame.

• It was only the fourth undefeated November by a Notre Dame team in the last 15 seasons.

• Notre Dame's defense allowed a total of four touchdowns and Irish opponents totaled only 39 points in the four games. The 39 points allowed were the fewest by an Irish defense in any four-game stretch since the '89 Irish allowed 36. The defense gave up 9.4 points, 91.8 rushing yards, 184.8 passing yards and 276.5 total yards per game.

There is really no grey area when it comes to Irish football, you either love ND or hate ND!

But, a Notre Dame football team that is in contention for the National Championship is a good thing for college football...(and my brother might get another tattoo!)

mj