90 going on 93!

What is made by hand, grown in the sun, natural as a bear making poo in the woods, box pressed and rated 90 by Cigar Aficionado magazine?

Why, it's a  FLOR DE LAS ANTILLAS ROBUSTO, of course!

The latest in the run of cigars that Thompson Cigar Company has been sending me for review, is easily the best yet.

Gone Fish'n

Sometimes you just have to bust the ‘ol hump during the week so you can sit on it all weekend.

I do not know what “Normal” people do with their time... Well, actually I guess I don’t know what I do with mine either!

Monday mornings I’ve got a pretty good idea of what needs to happen and when, but by Sunday afternoon, when there’s dishes in the sink, cows in the road, kids in the yard and bills on the counter, I have to sit back and wonder where the time went... And what did I do when I wasn’t doing what I should have been!

This is a pretty strange thing to think, but I need to be more careful about how I waste my time! That is to say that I need to be more intentional about it and stop letting it just slip away!

If I get to the end of a day and all I’ve done is sit on my rear end sipping beer on the beach, I call that a pretty successful day!

But if I get to the end of the day and all I’ve done is sit on my rear end sipping cocktails and watching reruns of Duck Dynasty.... Well... actually that isn’t so bad either.

But on the days when I get to the end of the day and have nothing to show for it except a sore thumb from flipping channels and a belly ache from chips and Mtn. Dew... That’s when I feel like I’ve totally wasted the day, and that makes me grumpy!

So, when it became clear that I wasn’t going to do anything useful with my day, I loaded the wife and kids into the pickup and made the 45 minute drive to one of our local fishing holes.

The options are pretty limited here in the middle of the desert, but we found a muddy little pond to pitch our lines into, and heck, the kids even caught fish!

I took along a Macanudo Robust cigar that has been nestled at the bottom of my big humidor for about 15 years. 

This provided me with a nice distraction from the fact that since it’s a day trip and have that 45 minute drive home, I didn’t bring any craft beer to sip on.

Either way, I got to hang out outside all day, Kahuna’s Chick got to catch some rays and the Menehune ran about and didn’t get into trouble!

That’s what I call Fun In The Sun!

Now that we’re safe at home.... Where’s my beer?

~Cheers

Carlos Torano TORO

What better way to enjoy a Memorial Day Weekend than with a few good cigars?

One stick that I had this weekend was a Carlos Torano, and I think you’d like it if you tried it.
Another smoke in the line of “House” cigars from Thompson Cigar Company, this Nicaraguan Toro checks in at 6 1/2 inches long and a ring gauge of 50.

Its maduro wrapper shines like a new penny and again, I am struck by the near perfect construction of the cigar.

Upon setting fire to its foot, I am quite pleased with the classic maduro flavor, but a little taken with how mild it is. I normally expect a cigar that is this dark to be very full bodied and pack a power punch of flavor.

Medium strong leather and earthyness make up for the lack of punch, and will perhaps make a nice segway for smokers who are new to the extra flavor and body of a maduro wrapper.

Somewhere along the mid point of this smoke, I was pleasantly surprised to find that there is a big pack of pepper and hard wood. This smoke really picked up in the second half.

This stick can be purchased from Thompson Cigars HERE for $75 a box (20) and I am certain that the rest of the line is going to be just as good.

Have a great week!

~Cheers!

Thank You

To the men and women who have served in the armed forces, THANK YOU!

To the men and women partying it up at the lake or in the back yard, Be Careful!

Have a great weekend everyone!

~Cheers

2013 Governor’s Cup

As you know, we here at BigKahunaBrew.com are big advocates of drinking local. That does not make us experts, but it certainly makes us enthusiasts. That is why we are so excited about the Colorado Wine Industry Development Board (CWIDB), an agency of the Colorado Department of Agriculture, hosting the 3rd annual Governor’s Cup Wine Competition on April 27-28 at Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Hotel and Hospitality Learning Center.
 

Over 220 wines from 32 local wineries were judged by a panel of restaurateurs, sommeliers, chefs, writers and other wine experts from around the country.

It is worth noting that I was NOT invited to the event! (Smart move by the organizers)

“The judges repeatedly raved about the increased quality in the wines they reviewed over previous years.  They showed tremendous excitement over all the Bordeaux red grapes produced in Colorado, including Merlot,” said Doug Caskey, executive director of the CWIDB.

The 2013 Governor’s Cup was awarded to Creekside Cellars’ 2010 Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc is a red grape variety that originates from both the Bordeaux region and the Loire Valley of France. Cabernet Franc is actually the genetic parent of the more famous Cabernet Sauvignon.

Colorado Newspaper celebrates with Beer!

The Coloradoan, a Fort Collins Newspaper in Northern Colorado turns 140 this year. What better way to cellebrate than with Odell's Beer?
The folks at Editor & Publisher agree!

Raise a Pint: The Coloradoan Celebrates 140th Birthday with Anniversary Brew

by: Nu Yang / Editor & Publisher
To celebrate its 140th anniversary on April 26, The Coloradoan in Fort Collins, Colo., partnered with local business Odell Brewing Co. to brew a special anniversary beer called Press Pale Ale.  
After some beer tasting at the brewery, the diverse palates of the newspaper’s staffers selected the white coffee pale ale as the paper’s ambassador. The grog was poured at an anniversary party May 2, and guests received logo pint glasses as a gift.   

Colorado Beer Relief?

What do you think about Colorado Brewers getting a pass on excise taxes? 
Is this a great way to encourage Colorado Craft Beer?
Is there any reason to think that the savings will be passed onto the consumer? Meh... that part isn't likely.  It's pennies per serving, but it's a lot of money for the breweries every year! 
Comment.... I dare You!

KUSA - Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) introduced a bill Wednesday that would reduce excise taxes for breweries, a measure he said is aimed at creating more brewery-based jobs.

"Colorado is one of the top beer-producing states in the country, and our innovative brewers have rightly earned Colorado as a reputation as the Napa Valley of beer," Udall said in a news release. "These aren't your dad's beers, and we shouldn't discourage brewers from growing their businesses with an outdated excise tax."