The Armchair Quarterback’s Take Of The Week The Armchair Quarterback’s Take Of The Week
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The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide To The Super Bowl

By Lyle Graversen

Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of a Vince Lombardi Trophy at the commissioner
Feb 1, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; General view of a Vince Lombardi Trophy at the commissioner /
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The Armchair Quarterback’s Odds And Ends Of The Week

stone-smoked-porter-vanilla-bean
stone-smoked-porter-vanilla-bean /

The Armchair QB Best Beer Of The 2013-2014 Season:

Stone Brewery’s Smoked Porter With Vanilla Bean

As opposed to doing a new beer review this week I thought I would celebrate Super Bowl week by selecting a beer that I tried for the first time this football season as my “champion” for the 2013-2014 season. That beer is Stone’s Smoked Porter With Vanilla Bean. Alas, it is a winter seasonal and I haven’t been able to find it again since Christmas, but I’ll be anxiously awaiting it’s return next year. So if you’re out picking up some refreshments for your Super Bowl party and you run across a bottle of this one, snatch it up. You won’t be sorry. If you missed my original review, here it is again:

I’ve reviewed several new beers that I had never tried before this season (along with a few of my old favorites), but this is the best new beer that I’ve tried this year. I have had Stone’s regular Smoked Porter before and found it very good, but not something that I crave more of. However, this winter seasonal version with vanilla bean is amazing. I found it to be one of the top five beers that I have ever had in my life. There is just something about the dark smokey flavor of the porter mixed with the sweet and creamy vanilla that just compliments itself perfectly. If the thought of a beer having a “smoked” flavor does not appeal to you, then this might not be for you, but if it does you need to rush out today and pick up a bottle (it comes in 22 oz. single bottles) before it disappears for the season. It opens with the smooth vanilla (and not an artificial vanilla, definitely authentic) and a hint of chocolate, follows with some roasted coffee malts, and finishes with a nice smokey flavor and enough hop bitterness to perfectly balance out the taste without overpowering it. I literally cannot think of one thing I would change about it. It’s one of the best balanced beers that I have ever tried, and that successful blending of flavors is what makes it so much better than the original. I have officially found a new favorite that I will seek out each and every winter from now on. Bravo Stone Brewing!!!

My Rating (1-10): 10

Rant Of The Week:

It’s time to do away with Super Bowl media day.

What a colossal waste of everyone’s time. Have you noticed that they’ve started doing REAL press conferences with the coaches and key players throughout the week now? Media day has become such a ridiculous spectacle that the real journalists either can’t get a question in or don’t even bother showing up anymore. If they are going to have regular press conferences throughout the week just cancel the stupid media day and save these players the agony of sitting there for an hour while a bunch of idiots that look like they just came from Comic Con ask them what their favorite color is.

No wonder Marshawn Lynch could only stand to be there for six minutes. Then the Pro Football Writers send out a press release like they’re SO offended that Lynch didn’t take the event seriously. REALLY?!?!? You mean there are still people on this planet that actually do take media day seriously? Who are these people and have they not been paying attention? Look, I get it, if every player is supposed to be there the whole time, then he should have been there like everybody else, but when the NFL let’s any “toolio” off the street get credentials for the thing who can blame the players for not wanting to be there.

The NFL needs to make a choice, either crack the whip and only allow serious football journalists to ask questions at media day or do away with the whole thing. The only people that care about the players/coaches answers to questions five days before the game are die hard football fans and they don’t want to hear all the stupid fluff questions anyway. So who is this for? Just to pacify the people that want to show up and make a spectacle? It makes no sense to me. I’d love to hear from anyone who likes and enjoys media day.

That should do it for this week. Enjoy your last week of football this season. I’ll be back next week with the official kickoff of the NFL offseason. In the meantime, find yourself a comfortable seat and enjoy what should be a great Super Bowl.

Thanks for reading.

Follow me on Twitter: @LyleGraversen

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