Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Maiden West IPA | Little Beast Brewing


Little Beast Brewing creatively crafts beer — fruited sours, barrel aged ales, and west coast IPA's are some of the elixirs you can expect. Certain offerings are available in single bottles, while select others can be found in four packs. I recommend hanging out in their (hopefully sun-soaked) yard on SE Division with a fresh pint.

The delicious Maiden West is beautifully done in the spirit of west coast IPA's. Early aromas lean toward white peach and yellow nectarine. Carbonation moves about with glowing clarity. Those notes of stone fruit fade into pleasant bitterness. Contrast in smell and taste can really add to the complexity of an IPA. Maiden West accomplishes this in both a surprising and respectful way; nothing seems out of the ordinary, ingredients and methodology work in tandem to achieve such distinct aromas, flavor and nuance. Little Beast crafts with care in order to create quality beer. Enjoy responsibly.

Cheers,
80choices

Monday, February 17, 2020

NBA | FANtastic ALL-STAR Break


All-Star weekend is a reminder of the immense talent the NBA possesses. The break allows us to assess the Association. The events and game itself showcased how basketball is both fun and exciting, perhaps like no other major sport in America. I thought the ELAM ending was good. I also liked how each quarter felt like a mini game, bringing more of a competitive edge. Third quarter intensity ramped up near the horn as teams jockeyed for point totals leading into the fourth. Big ups to both squads for bringing more to the All Star game.

Los Angeles 
I'll begin in the City of Angels due to the star power of both Staples Center teams, and an unfathomable tragedy (I'll briefly address this at the end). The center of the NBA universe seems to be LA. The Lakers stood pat while the Clippers made a move at the deadline. I thought it was okay, and in some way spiritual right, that the Lakers didn't make a move. They were probably doing their due diligence behind the scenes, and yet it may have felt inappropriate to overhaul the roster. Whether or not they should have is for the talking heads to debate. 

The Forum Blue and Gold destroys teams they're suppose to, and although they have a winning record against plus .500 teams, they don't always look as great against superior competition. The primary teams to be concerned with in this regard are Milwaukee, Toronto, and the Clippers. 

It's no secret that the Lakers offense looks pedestrian when LeBron is off the court. Do Davis and James have to do more? Perhaps in the playoffs, which they are capable of. The ball is almost always in LeBron's hands, but when he does turn it over, I want him to hustle back. On botched possessions he rarely crosses half court before the opponents trigger a shot. I'm not expecting game seven of the Finals, chase-down LeBron, but more effort to invigorate his teammates wouldn't hurt. His "free safety" role on defense sometimes confuses his help-side defenders who are trying to rotate and recover. I want him to be more engaged on defense. Also, too often he settles for that mid-post fade away. He should attack the rim to score or facilitate. Ultimately I'm just nitpicking my favorite player because I want his squad to shine. Maybe he's angling for the playoffs.  

Davis could use a jolt of assertiveness. I'm wondering if he'll play as though this team is his. It's no secret he's a beast on both sides of the ball, the best two-way Laker. Davis leads the team in scoring, rebounding, steals and blocks. His PER is more than 3 points higher than LeBron's and he hits free throws. AD's a machine sent to earth to wreak havoc on basketball opposition, and LeBron's his running mate. So why doesn't he consistently get touches when it's crunch time? Again, I'm nitpicking an all-time talent. I just want him to excel.

The Clippers traded for a ball-stopping Morris twin. They appear to be the ultimate Dr. Jeckyll Mr. Hyde, lacking consistency and chemistry. PG and especially Kawhi have powers to summon once postseason begins. Regardless of the talent, chemistry and health play major roles in the march toward a Finals. Will the Clippers have enough court time together to build cohesion?


Dame Time ? !!!
How severely did he strain his groin? Why did he even attend All Star weekend, especially if he had to move around in skinny jeans? There were more than enough rappers in Chicago to fill in, however none as slick as Dame. Can he and the Blazers catch the Grizzlies? They can if he plays in most of the 26 games that remain.

Gary Trent Jr. is making the leap. GT's play has been a revelation. He plays with confidence and physicality. If he continues to shine his value to the team will only grow moving forward. He's earned his increased minutes, especially in the fourth quarter. Trent's proven he has the onions to take shots and make them. He's an NBA scorer. Good on him for continuing to work hard.

Ariza's been a helpful surprise. His veteran smarts, long limbs, and ability to shoot the deep ball has increased the Blazers ceiling. Swanigan may be a bull in a china shop, but he plays hard and brings a bit of nasty onto the court. Simons needs to recapture his swagger and that ability to be lightening in a bottle on offense. He showed flashes of it just before the all star break. Little is getting little to no run, yet the new guys acquired from Sacramento are, what gives? If Dame misses prolonged time, McCollum better pick it up. CJ where have you gone?

Minnesota or Golden State?
Who won the trade? Which key player is better? Who's contract is more of an albatross? Will Russell help the Wolves out of dysfunction, or just lighten the load for Towns? Can Wiggins excel as the Warriors fourth best player? Which guy lasts longer on their new team? The answers to these questions won't be known until next year. Only one team will continue to stink; hint, it's not the one from the Bay area.  

Houston Skill Ball
Unleash the beast...Westbrook that is. I'm all for a front office and coaching staff that go for it. Why not play your best guys? Size be damned. If this version of the Rockets fully gels heading into the playoffs, Harden and Westbrook will not be fun to defend. In the meantime it sure is fun to watch.

Milwaukee Finals bound?
A scenario does exist that could prove to be worrisome. If Milwaukee has to play Miami in the second round and Toronto in the conference finals I'm not sure they advance. Each team stands in their way with 28 games remaining. Giannis is beyond superlatives, but the rosters and coaches for Miami and Toronto are decidedly better in my opinion. I for one want those matchups to unfold. If the Bucks only have to play one of either the Heat or Raptors, they'll gallop into the Finals. Oh, and if you're wondering about Philly, they stink.

2 * 8 * 24
Considering the heavy hearts that are obvious in all of us, this year will be remembered for a deeply sad reason. A note of positivity I have taken from this tragedy is to make each day count. A super hero-like star taught me to honor that which you love and to always try your hardest to do your best. 

Rest in Peace

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Space Danger


Danger, danger, danger Will Robinson. Er, I mean, Space Danger, a real west coast IPA. This beer is not a hazy juice bomb, thank you Fremont Brewing. A great interplay takes place between the hops and malt in this fantastic beer. The malt helps to produce a fluffy head as bubbles loft upward from perfected carbonation. Space Danger is so clean and transparent. If you see this beer, buy it.

Space Danger livens my taste buds like fresh garden greens, think escarole, arugula, even parsley. Those notes of bitterness meld perfectly with malted barley. Space Danger's complexity gives it an actually voice against the muted homogeneity of hazy IPA's. Another tasting note worth mentioning is that of moist tree bark. Mirabelle Plum comes to mind. If you've ever pruned that particular tree you know exactly what I'm talking about. I could smell that one-of-a-kind smell when I wrote this. This ale is a new favorite of mine. I will gladly seek it out between now and April 1st. 

Space Danger is one of the best IPA's I've had in quite some time. It's truly memorable. Hops include Centennial, Simcoe, and Sabro. The grain bill consists of 2-row pale malt, rolled oats, and white wheat. Find this IPA and drink it responsibly. 

Space Danger IPA | 7% | 61 IBU

Cheers,
80choices

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Heaven Help Us All

Stevie Wonder

"Heaven Help Us All"

Heaven help the child who never had a home 

Heaven help the girl who walks the streets alone
Heaven help the roses if the bombs begin to fall
Heaven help us all

...

Now I lay me down before I go to sleep
In a trouble world I pray the Lord to keep
Keep hatred from the mighty
And the mighty from the small
Heaven help us all


80choices

Friday, February 7, 2020

The Collective


Antti Ollila | Athlete


City streets, urban beats
Mountains, big air
Winter everywhere
Cityscapes, landscapes
Outside to escape
Sculptures, kickers, transfers, cold air
Winter everywhere

- 80choices

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

C-Side

Khruangbin & Leon Bridges

"C-Side" | Texas Sun | EP


80choices

Monday, February 3, 2020

Magnanimous IPA | Fort George

Fort George may just be my favorite Oregon brewery. Their Magnanimous IPA is another benchmark in creativity, it can also be called a west coast IPA. This particular nectar is brewed with Grand Doug Fir. In our neck of the woods this delicious offering is available on draft and in four packs. I was lucky enough to score the latter. 

An absolutely awesome glow of marigold illuminates the glass. Streaming carbonation livens the liquid. Outstanding clarity heightens the senses as you take in the resounding taste—west coast style yo. The Grand Fir is subtle, acting as more of an enhancer. If you're in search for a new to you IPA, look no further than Magnanimous. Enjoy craft beer responsibly.

Magnanimous IPA | 7%

Cheers,
80choices