CRUSH bin #079 - October 2009
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SWEET POISON: The Terrifying Tale of Sugar Substitutes
By Laurie Gilchrist
[Excerpt] "Since the dawn of time, mankind has possessed a seemingly insatiable sweet tooth. And while early cultures might have been satisfied with succulent fruits or healthful honey, modern society craves sugar. An entire slave trade was established because of our endless desire for the stuff. Somewhere along the way however, it was proposed that consuming excessive amounts of refined sugar might not be conducive to good health. It would seem that moderation would have been a logical avenue to pursue following this discovery, but alas, we are incurably human. We possess an innate and oftentimes fatal desire to have our cake and eat it too. In this case, the cake we baked was filled with that seemingly brilliant but oh so flawed invention, the 'sugar substitute.'"
PULL MY FINGER
By Laurie Gilchrist
[Excerpt] "We deny them, blame them on the dog, or ignore them in the hopes that they will pass undetected. In some circles (man gatherings) they are worthy of envy, even worship. In others (a first date, an important interview) they will leave us sweaty, exhausted, perhaps even a little nauseated with the effort of holding them at bay. They are sometimes awkwardly loud yet surprisingly odorless, at others deceptively silent and distressingly putrid (The SBD). Reliant upon whether one is the giver or receiver, they can be infinitely amusing or enormously infuriating. Depending on our upbringing (or despite it), social standing, or gender we can be either highly embarrassed by them or exceedingly proud of them. In either case, they are an unavoidable part of the human condition, the thing we all undeniably have in common. I’m talking, of course, about farts. Flatus. Gas. Wind. Luff. Death Breath. Bumburps. Air biscuits. Anal exaltations. Ass acoustics. Call them what you will, we all know that they are a derivative of the foods we eat, but how exactly do they occur? What foods specifically illicit them? And with attention to diet, can we avoid them, or more importantly, make them bigger, better, and more odiferous?"
DOGFISH HEAD: Punkin Ale (7.0% abv)
By Sir Lucky Day
[Tasting Note] "I found myself in a quandary with this beer. I love pretty much anything from Dogfish, but I don't have much of a taste for holiday-specific, spiced brews. However, any hesitations are quickly dispelled. The nose is alive with the smell of pumpkin pie and spice. What makes this a winner for me is that it's not a crappy beer masked with the cliché spices to make you think "pumpkin pie." This is a malty, brown sugary, sweet craft beer that is bolstered and balanced with just enough spice notes to conjure up the warm holiday feelings. Hop presence is understated, and the finish leaves a wonderful spicy bite on the tongue."
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
- Retail Wine Selections
- Ed Hardy Vodka
- The Cigar Bar's Cigar of the Month: Perdome Cigars
- Calendar of Events