Highly recommended. I just visited there after my commute home and was thoroughly impressed with their selection. They have a wide variety of various beers that I've never seen before, including various Japanese beers (one of which is coming - a red rice beer that will sell for $24 a growler) and other things. They also allow you to walk into their cooler, and they also carry what I dare say will be the best variety of draft stuff available anywhere in the area, by a LONG shot. Get a growler and try something new - expect to pay about a tenner but depending on what you get it may be a little higher- the Dogfishhead stuff is notoriously expensive.
The prices are generally higher - I'd say a buck or so higher than Consumer's. The sixers ranged in price from $8 to $20. We are talking about a selection that carries some hard to find things and/or relatively rare things - I wasn't exactly outraged by some of the prices but be forewarned of impending sticker shock on some stuff. I don't freak out about pricier beers because, frankly, I am in it to enjoy it and I'd rather spend more and drink something nice at home than bar hop, spend far more money and not enjoy any of the alcohol at all. Not everybody is the same though, so I wanted to give you fair warning if you are accustomed to spending no more than $7 for a six-pack.
I bought a bottle of Schneider Weisse (suggested as an alternative to my much desired but hard to find locally Hacker-Pshorr Weisse), a bottle of Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout and a six-pack of Smuttynose Old Dog Brown Ale. I'll let you all know the sloppy results later!
They are not just about beer - they also have a general store that carries specialty/upscale items as well as a small deli. It is a generally upscale store, with dim lighting, reddish hues and smart decor. The guys that work there are cool and know their beer. For someone who rejects gentrification like a baby spitting up involuntarily, I say that this store is a most welcome addition to our community. I would recommend it to anybody in the mood to check out a nice store with high quality beers, knowledgeable staff and a small but neat general store. Well done Village Beer Merchant - we'll be back.
Joshua's Journal
My Podcast Link
02/08/2008 17:53 #43248
Village Beer Merchant02/07/2008 17:33 #43235
This is weirdFor once I'm the one at home and Jason is the one out of town. I have a weekend by myself - I have no idea what I'm going to do! One of the things I took home with me sorta from California was a recipe from Trader Joe's for an easy pizza. Frozen naan bread (I hope I can get this at Super Bazaar or somewhere local), chevre and vegetable tapenade. This is the sort of thing even my brother can put together, but I want to test it out to see if it would be a good party item.
I also have been reading a book by a Briton named Simon Winchester - its called A Crack In The Edge Of The World. It is a historical account of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, told through the eyes of an author who is an Oxford-trained geologist. The man writes beautifully and it really is a gripping read, but right now I've been working through a section of the book that is more technical in nature and its been a bit of a lowlight. Still though, a friend recommended the book highly to me and for the most part I've enjoyed it. My progress has been slow - I always wait until too late at night before I decide to read.
Also my kitchen needs some TLC. (e:jason)is a lazy bastard left me with the job of taking the bottles back all by myself when we agreed we'd do it together! Usually when it comes to cleaning, I prefer to just be by myself and crank it out - all I need is time, weed, music and the right supplies. I found an awesome cleaner that I want to recommend to you guys - its an Oxy product that is a little thicker that is meant for bathroom use. I haven't done an environmental impact study to determine the earth friendliness of the product - all I know is that its awesome. Still though do any of you have a suggestion for a product to use on a laminate countertop? We have a white counter and I have faint but still annoying wine stains, etc. that are driving me crazy.
I also have been reading a book by a Briton named Simon Winchester - its called A Crack In The Edge Of The World. It is a historical account of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, told through the eyes of an author who is an Oxford-trained geologist. The man writes beautifully and it really is a gripping read, but right now I've been working through a section of the book that is more technical in nature and its been a bit of a lowlight. Still though, a friend recommended the book highly to me and for the most part I've enjoyed it. My progress has been slow - I always wait until too late at night before I decide to read.
Also my kitchen needs some TLC. (e:jason)
ladycroft - 02/11/08 05:07
I almost bought that book last week! However, Paulo Coelho won in the battle of funds that day. Now I know my instincts were right about it, I'll check it out next visit.
I almost bought that book last week! However, Paulo Coelho won in the battle of funds that day. Now I know my instincts were right about it, I'll check it out next visit.
jason - 02/08/08 11:10
Oh, like JT said, Cry me a river!!
Oh, like JT said, Cry me a river!!
fellyconnelly - 02/08/08 06:48
'all i need is time, weed, music and the right supplies.' i used to smoke and go on cleaning binges. Once i moved a couch into my roommates bedroom at 2 am while i was high and cleaning and it took three men to get it back out. you just get so focused on the mundane little tasks.. have fun!!!
'all i need is time, weed, music and the right supplies.' i used to smoke and go on cleaning binges. Once i moved a couch into my roommates bedroom at 2 am while i was high and cleaning and it took three men to get it back out. you just get so focused on the mundane little tasks.. have fun!!!
jbeatty - 02/07/08 23:50
I'm gonna go with "toxic". Generic soft scrub is the shit!
I'm gonna go with "toxic". Generic soft scrub is the shit!
james - 02/07/08 21:21
Every time someone mentions Trader Joe's I cry a little.
I miss them. They never return my calls.
Every time someone mentions Trader Joe's I cry a little.
I miss them. They never return my calls.
libertad - 02/07/08 19:28
Is it the Oxy spray for the shower? If so I do know that it does work very good. It is pretty toxic though and isn't very good to be breathing in. I will say it again though that Method's Eucalyptus and Mint shower spray is amazing. It broke down deposits that the toxic cleaners wouldn't touch in my shower. Save the Oxy for very occasional use if you have mildew stains. As far as the wine stain...not quite sure. Have you used anything that contains bleach? I don't use bleach as much as I used to but rather as a last resort. Just dilute it with water and put it on the spot and see if that doesn't take care of it.
Is it the Oxy spray for the shower? If so I do know that it does work very good. It is pretty toxic though and isn't very good to be breathing in. I will say it again though that Method's Eucalyptus and Mint shower spray is amazing. It broke down deposits that the toxic cleaners wouldn't touch in my shower. Save the Oxy for very occasional use if you have mildew stains. As far as the wine stain...not quite sure. Have you used anything that contains bleach? I don't use bleach as much as I used to but rather as a last resort. Just dilute it with water and put it on the spot and see if that doesn't take care of it.
02/06/2008 09:23 #43209
Hillary ClintonFrom a comment someone wrote on The Politico -
interesting: Hillary Clinton has been telling America that she is the most qualified candidate for president based on her 'record,' which she says includes her eight years in the White House as First Lady - or 'co-president' - and her seven years in the Senate.
Here is a reminder of what that record includes: - As First Lady, Hillary assumed authority over Health Care Reform, a process that cost the taxpayers over $13 million. She told both Bill Bradley and Patrick Moynihan, key votes needed to pass her legislation, that she would 'demonize' anyone who opposed it. But it was opposed; she couldn't even get it to a vote in a Congress controlled by her own party. (And in the next election, her party lost control of both the House and Senate.)
Hillary assumed authority over selecting a female Attorney General. Her first two recommendations, Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. She then chose Janet Reno. Janet Reno has since been described by Bill himself as 'my worst mistake.'
Hillary recommended Lani Guanier for head of the Civil Rights Commission. When Guanier's radical views became known, her name had to be withdrawn.
Hillary recommended her former law partners, Web Hubbell, Vince Foster, and William Kennedy for positions in the Justice Department, White House staff, and the Treasury, respectively. Hubbell was later imprisoned, Foster committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign. - Hillary also recommended a close friend of the Clintons, Craig Livingstone, for the position of director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of up to 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies ("Filegate") and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, both Hillary and her husband denied knowing him. FBI agent Dennis Sculimbrene confirmed in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 1996, both the drug use and Hillary's involvement in hiring Livingstone. After that, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office, after serving seven presidents for over thirty years.
In order to open "slots" in the White House for her friends the Thomasons (to whom millions of dollars in travel contracts could be awarded), Hillary had the entire staff of the White House Travel Office fired; they were reported to the FBI for 'gross mismanagement' and their reputations ruined. After a thirty-month investigation, only one, Billy Dale, was charged with a crime - mixing personal money with White House funds when he cashed checks. The jury acquitted him in less than two hours.
Another of Hillary's assumed duties was directing the 'bimbo eruption squad' and scandal defense:
She urged her husband not to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit.
She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor. After $80 million dollars of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting his affairs.
Then they had to settle with Paula Jones after all.
And Bill lost his law license for lying to the grand jury
And Bill was impeached by the House.
And Hillary almost got herself indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice (she avoided it mostly because she repeated, 'I do not recall,' 'I have no recollection,' and 'I don't know' 56 times under oath).
Hillary wrote 'It Takes a Village,' demonstrating her Socialist viewpoint.
Hillary decided to seek election to the Senate in a state she had never lived in.
Her husband pardoned FALN terrorists in order to get Latino support and the New Square Hassidim to get Jewish support. Hillary also had Bill pardon her brother's clients, for a small fee, to get financial support.
Then Hillary left the White House, but later had to return $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork she had stolen.
In the campaign for the Senate, Hillary played the 'woman card' by portraying her opponent (Lazio) as a bully picking on her.
Hillary's husband further protected her by asking the National Archives to withhold from the public until 2012 many records of their time in the White House, including much of Hillary's correspondence and her calendars. (There are ongoing lawsuits to force the release of those records.)
As the junior Senator from New York, Hillary has passed no major legislation. She has deferred to the senior Senator (Schumer) to tend to the needs of New Yorkers, even on the hot issue of medical problems of workers involved in the cleanup of Ground Zero after 9/11.
Hillary's one notable vote; supporting the plan to invade Iraq, she has since disavowed. Quite a resume. Sounds more like an organized crime family's rap sheet.
interesting: Hillary Clinton has been telling America that she is the most qualified candidate for president based on her 'record,' which she says includes her eight years in the White House as First Lady - or 'co-president' - and her seven years in the Senate.
Here is a reminder of what that record includes: - As First Lady, Hillary assumed authority over Health Care Reform, a process that cost the taxpayers over $13 million. She told both Bill Bradley and Patrick Moynihan, key votes needed to pass her legislation, that she would 'demonize' anyone who opposed it. But it was opposed; she couldn't even get it to a vote in a Congress controlled by her own party. (And in the next election, her party lost control of both the House and Senate.)
Hillary assumed authority over selecting a female Attorney General. Her first two recommendations, Zoe Baird and Kimba Wood, were forced to withdraw their names from consideration. She then chose Janet Reno. Janet Reno has since been described by Bill himself as 'my worst mistake.'
Hillary recommended Lani Guanier for head of the Civil Rights Commission. When Guanier's radical views became known, her name had to be withdrawn.
Hillary recommended her former law partners, Web Hubbell, Vince Foster, and William Kennedy for positions in the Justice Department, White House staff, and the Treasury, respectively. Hubbell was later imprisoned, Foster committed suicide, and Kennedy was forced to resign. - Hillary also recommended a close friend of the Clintons, Craig Livingstone, for the position of director of White House security. When Livingstone was investigated for the improper access of up to 900 FBI files of Clinton enemies ("Filegate") and the widespread use of drugs by White House staff, both Hillary and her husband denied knowing him. FBI agent Dennis Sculimbrene confirmed in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in 1996, both the drug use and Hillary's involvement in hiring Livingstone. After that, the FBI closed its White House Liaison Office, after serving seven presidents for over thirty years.
In order to open "slots" in the White House for her friends the Thomasons (to whom millions of dollars in travel contracts could be awarded), Hillary had the entire staff of the White House Travel Office fired; they were reported to the FBI for 'gross mismanagement' and their reputations ruined. After a thirty-month investigation, only one, Billy Dale, was charged with a crime - mixing personal money with White House funds when he cashed checks. The jury acquitted him in less than two hours.
Another of Hillary's assumed duties was directing the 'bimbo eruption squad' and scandal defense:
She urged her husband not to settle the Paula Jones lawsuit.
She refused to release the Whitewater documents, which led to the appointment of Ken Starr as Special Prosecutor. After $80 million dollars of taxpayer money was spent, Starr's investigation led to Monica Lewinsky, which led to Bill lying about and later admitting his affairs.
Then they had to settle with Paula Jones after all.
And Bill lost his law license for lying to the grand jury
And Bill was impeached by the House.
And Hillary almost got herself indicted for perjury and obstruction of justice (she avoided it mostly because she repeated, 'I do not recall,' 'I have no recollection,' and 'I don't know' 56 times under oath).
Hillary wrote 'It Takes a Village,' demonstrating her Socialist viewpoint.
Hillary decided to seek election to the Senate in a state she had never lived in.
Her husband pardoned FALN terrorists in order to get Latino support and the New Square Hassidim to get Jewish support. Hillary also had Bill pardon her brother's clients, for a small fee, to get financial support.
Then Hillary left the White House, but later had to return $200,000 in White House furniture, china, and artwork she had stolen.
In the campaign for the Senate, Hillary played the 'woman card' by portraying her opponent (Lazio) as a bully picking on her.
Hillary's husband further protected her by asking the National Archives to withhold from the public until 2012 many records of their time in the White House, including much of Hillary's correspondence and her calendars. (There are ongoing lawsuits to force the release of those records.)
As the junior Senator from New York, Hillary has passed no major legislation. She has deferred to the senior Senator (Schumer) to tend to the needs of New Yorkers, even on the hot issue of medical problems of workers involved in the cleanup of Ground Zero after 9/11.
Hillary's one notable vote; supporting the plan to invade Iraq, she has since disavowed. Quite a resume. Sounds more like an organized crime family's rap sheet.
jenks - 02/12/08 11:22
this is totally too late and like 4th hand.... but did anyone see- apparently someone did a parody- it was tom brady's wife saying she was going to play QB in the superbowl... she cited "being married to a QB" as making experienced enough to do the job.
good point.
this is totally too late and like 4th hand.... but did anyone see- apparently someone did a parody- it was tom brady's wife saying she was going to play QB in the superbowl... she cited "being married to a QB" as making experienced enough to do the job.
good point.
james - 02/06/08 12:50
HA! And people make fun of Gonzo for the "I do not recall" routine. Her record argument has been one which irked my for a while. She came to New York state with a carpet bag full of sunny promises, not one of which she has kept.
Have you heard she is now calling Obama the "establishment candidate"? As Jim said to me, that one is right out of the Rove playbook.
Why do New Yorkers love her? Moynahan's successor she is not.
HA! And people make fun of Gonzo for the "I do not recall" routine. Her record argument has been one which irked my for a while. She came to New York state with a carpet bag full of sunny promises, not one of which she has kept.
Have you heard she is now calling Obama the "establishment candidate"? As Jim said to me, that one is right out of the Rove playbook.
Why do New Yorkers love her? Moynahan's successor she is not.
joshua - 02/06/08 11:12
It reminds me of the bumper sticker I commonly see - "When Clinton Lied, Nobody Died." Of course, they always forget Vince Foster and his "suicide." People went to jail or died for them, and that is something that I don't think they'll ever shake.
Still though, I thought that this was a pretty comprehensive summary for a comment on a blog article on the Politico - particularly regarding her inaction in NYS. How could NYS voters ignore this and hand her NYS in the primary? Dems, please explain. A couple hallmark conservative proclivities still bug me in this comment though - using Bill's activities as a criticism of Hillary, which is totally invalid. The fact that President Clinton pardoned FALN terrorists has nothing to do with Hillary.
It reminds me of the bumper sticker I commonly see - "When Clinton Lied, Nobody Died." Of course, they always forget Vince Foster and his "suicide." People went to jail or died for them, and that is something that I don't think they'll ever shake.
Still though, I thought that this was a pretty comprehensive summary for a comment on a blog article on the Politico - particularly regarding her inaction in NYS. How could NYS voters ignore this and hand her NYS in the primary? Dems, please explain. A couple hallmark conservative proclivities still bug me in this comment though - using Bill's activities as a criticism of Hillary, which is totally invalid. The fact that President Clinton pardoned FALN terrorists has nothing to do with Hillary.
mrmike - 02/06/08 10:36
Basically, they fucking squandered the middle four of the eight years in the white house. I love how she says she's ready from Day One based on her many years of experience. Her many years of experience seem to be summed up in 35 years of living in taxpayer subsidized housing.
Basically, they fucking squandered the middle four of the eight years in the white house. I love how she says she's ready from Day One based on her many years of experience. Her many years of experience seem to be summed up in 35 years of living in taxpayer subsidized housing.
jason - 02/06/08 10:25
I don't like the way the Clintons operate, but I'm not ready to compare them, or the Bush family, or anyone else to a legitimate crime family. Unless, of course, Vince Foster really did get snuffed out shadily - but I don't think there is any real solid proof of that.
I don't like the way the Clintons operate, but I'm not ready to compare them, or the Bush family, or anyone else to a legitimate crime family. Unless, of course, Vince Foster really did get snuffed out shadily - but I don't think there is any real solid proof of that.
jbeatty - 02/06/08 10:20
Those were the good ole days.
Those were the good ole days.
02/05/2008 21:39 #43201
Tuesday, Mr. T says you isn't supah!Fuck politics - check this out. Its actually a pretty good fake.
Ginger man didn't have the Hacker-Pschorr. =(
Agreed I love that store. I'm a big fan of the Schneider and Sons Brewery. Their weissebier is really good. They also make an awesome Dopplebock called Aventinus which is probably my favorite they make. And they also have a beer that was a collaboration with the Brooklyn brewing company called Hopfen-Wiesse. It's almost like a mixture between an IPA and a weissebier, hard to find but very delicious. When you have found Hacker-Pschorr in the states have you found it sold as single 0,5L bottles or in sixers? When I was in Germany I fell in love with Hacker-Pschorr weisse. I was thrilled when they started selling it in sixers at Party source in Syracuse a year ago until I drank it. It definitely was not the same beer I remember. I'm guessing that if I can find it in the proper bottle it will be the same.
Well shit (e:libertad) - allow me to find something gourmet that anyone would love. I'm thinking a pilsner. Let me get back to you on that!
(e:james) - its my own fault but I had for a short time a running beer review in my journal. I've gotten lazy about it. =(
It is nice inside. For me it isn't something I would frequent that much because I guess I just like cheap beer more, but I knew that you would love it. I did try something new and it tasted like ass to me, but I am willing to give something new a shot.
It is the same with wine. Cheap wine will do the job, but isn't a pleasure to drink. For some reason people need a little more convincing when it comes to beer though.
I will check it out and await your reviews, as I don't know nearly as much as I would like to about beer.