WHL #2: Seattle Thunderbirds "Spilled Sportsmanship"

My home team:  The Seattle Thunderbirds.  While I have been to about a dozen of these home games over the years, I hadn't been to one when on this official WHL pilgrimage.  So, yet another Friday night was planned to meet up and enjoy some hockey.

Fans:  I've got to be honest.  The Thunderbird fans completely disappointed us.  Not only did they interrupt the National Anthem by shouting "Portland Sucks," they proceeded to shout that phrase at any and every opportunity during each period.  Yes, I understand rivalry.  Totally get it.  I even participate it in from time to time.  However, it seemed just a tad bit excessive to interrupt the group of nervous middle schoolers singing the hardest song ever prior to the puck drop.

Arena:  I totally love the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.  Ample concessions, clean concourse, decent gift shop, and plenty of room to move around.  The regular stadium offerings were present with some alternatives to please any picky eater.  I watched them hand carve my turkey for an epic sandwich full of meat and fresh veggies.

Beer:  Being the first of our hockey games to enjoy some suds, I opted for some Canadian beer, of course.  Was it Kokanee or Molson or Labatt?  I can't remember.  What I do recall is enjoying one, spilling the next, and carefully holding my third.

WHL #1: Portland Winterhawks "1970s Portlandia"

Probably more well known for their exceptional breweries, organic living, and Trailblazer basketball team, it was actually at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum one random Friday night where our plan was hatched.  A quick Google search for all the WHL (Western Hockey League) arenas and before the end of the second period, we had committed to visiting every single one of them.  Why?  Because I love a good checklist.

Each one of our visits will include the following information:

Fans: Taking in the home team and observing the fans.  How they react to the opposing team, how they support their home team, and how they treat a couple of crazy girls on a hockey mission will all be taken into account.

Arena: The overall feel, technology, refreshments, gift shop, and other amenities will be the focus of this rating.

Beer:  Well, let's face it.  It really is all about the beer, right?

Portland Winterhawks at Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Fans:  We attended a home game during a Living Social promotion at the same exact time that the Chicago Bulls were playing the Portland Trailblazers just a stone's throw away.  So, the fans were more interested in the score of THAT game than the one they were watching.  If they weren't shouting out the basketball score, they were knitting scarves or noshing on all sorts of food offerings.

Arena:  It was like a trip back into the 70s.  Men on scaffolding were operating the lights, random cheerleaders that looked like they were my age (which is WAY too old to be dancing on ice), and lack of technology felt like I was back in yesteryear.  Refreshments ranged from the typical stadium type food to some key Portlandia type offerings, such as an artisan veggie panini with homemade potato chips.  

Beer:  Well, let's be honest, this WAS Beervana.  More people were in line for beer than actual food itself.  Unfortunately, I was doing a cleanse during this game so I didn't partake.  Yes, I know.  Shame on me.

Moscow Mules: A Ginger Beer Comparison

A few months back, a happy hour date ended up at quaint little bar in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle.  There, I had my first Moscow Mule: a flavorful yet light drink made up of vodka, ginger beer, simple syrup, and lime.  While I rarely find a vodka drink that I don't like, I particularly loved the ginger spice in this mix.  In fact, I loved it so much, that I set out to find the best ginger beer in my town to make this new fave at home.

Even though I just learned of this cocktail, the story of the Moscow Mule goes all the way back to 1939.  It is believed to have been the brain child of John Martin, a then new owner of the Smirnoff brand vodka.  While gin was preferred in the United States at the time, Martin promoted the Moscow Mule to get the word out about how versatile vodka was.  Now as you know, history has a tendency to rewrite itself, but Martin maintained that this cocktail was indeed an invention by him and his good friend Jack Morgan, owner of the Cock'n'Bull pub, which had a house brand of ginger beer.  It wasn't long for the Moscow part of the moniker to cause a bit of controversy.  While the recipe stayed the same, Smirnoff Mule became the stand in name to reference this quencher by.

For my comparison, I picked up five different ginger beers from my local boutique grocery store.  Usually a free pouring mixologist, I made sure to make each Mule the same way:  1oz of Ketel One vodka, 3oz of ginger beer, and one lime wedge.  I decided to skip on the simple syrup.  After all, a lady has to watch her figure.  Noting the aroma, color, and taste, I gave each mix a rating out of 5, with five being the highest.
1.  Rachel's Ginger Beer
This first ginger beer poured lighter in color than I expected.  The aroma was also faint.  But when I took a drink, it went from being a bit tangy in the front to having a pleasurable ginger zing in the back.  Rating: 3
2.  Fentiman's
The aroma was botanical, like that of a sachet.  On first sip, the taste of drinking a medicinal syrup overpowered my mouth.  I had to dump it out.  Poor Ketel.  Rating: 1
3.  Cock'n'Bull
The original ginger beer to make a Moscow Mule had to be the best, right?  The color was deep and rusty.  Refreshing aroma greeted my nose, almost like that of a light Pepsi cola.  The taste? Like I was drinking a dirty ginger root.  I could have drank it if I had to.  But I didn't have to.  Down the drain it went.  Rating: 2
4.  Bundaberg
First of all, I loved the packaging.  I know, that sounds like I follow a football team based off of their uniforms.  But in a market saturated with trendy sodas, Bundaberg's team got it right.  The clean aroma had a gentle ginger taste.  It almost had a creamy texture and there wasn't a harsh medicinal after burn.  I had to finish this bottle.  Rating: 4
5.  Ginger People
This was the final cocktail of the night.  After seeing too many sacrificial dumps of my precious Ketel, I crossed my fingers for this one to make it.  Unfortunately, I spoke too soon.  The spicy aroma had me hopeful.  But, as soon as it touched my lips, it was as if I was drinking the disinfectant I was forced to scrub desks with back in private school  Needless to say, this was a dumper.  Rating: 1

But fellow imbibers, don't take my word for it.  Pick up some artisan sodas, a fifth of your favorite vodka, and have your own tasting party.  And yes, a tasting party of one is totally acceptable.

2014: Hockey, House of Cards, and Home Brewing

A new year.  A new beginning.  Here is what I'm looking forward to in 2014.

Hockey

One thing I love about my social circle is the ability to find someone to go along with just about any haphazard hair brained plan.  While I won't take full credit for this one, a Western Hockey League tour of all the arenas is underway.  What does that mean?  That means that two girls in a Mazda are making their way across the Western states and provinces to root on future NHL stars.  Look for blog posts about the games, the teams, and, of course, the beer.

House of Cards

How have I not heard of this series until now?  For the last two days, I have been consumed with Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his tyrannical reign on the happenings in DC.  This is smart backstabbing political drama at its best.  Even though I am three episodes away from completing the first season, I know that I will be rewatching every single one of them in preparation for the Season 2 premier on Feb. 14.  Don't worry, this new addiction will fit into beer.  Just wait and see.

Home Brewing

With the exception of putting some hard cider of mine in a bourbon barrel (yes, it is THAT good), I haven't stood over a brew kettle for nearly five months.  How is that so?  It is time for me to throw on those brew boots, measure out some hops, and get my tush back in there.  First up, a tasty milk stout that will entice even those friends of mine that claim that they still don't like beer.  Hopefully brewing is like riding a bicycle and I haven't forgotten how.