beer

As few of you noticed, I didn’t meet my Thursday night deadline for posting. I was in the midst of a bi-polar episode that threatened all of Wayne County to the point where even gang members were put on high alert and locked their doors. The Detroit Tigers were playing the hated Skankees of New Amsterdam. I could not focus on much more that Cabrera’s baby face and Delmon Young’s long ball. Not that there was much to write about last week anyways. To my five followers, I apologize.

Two Saturdays ago, Michigan humiliated and kicked the LOLophers 58-0 like Lewan kicking a three legged donkey destined for hell after being pushed through a meat grinder. The only surprise I had out of the game was that the lowly LOLophers couldn’t even manage a field goal. Props to the defense for getting the first shutout in a long time. Minnesota, the team who cannot beat the Dakota’s I-AA teams even though their roster out numbers both Dakota’s population combined, couldn’t even score if they were at a blind swinger’s party carrying Spanish Fly. The game was a not even a contest from the beginning to the end, especially when Michigan sent out their color guard team after halftime.

What was interesting was the dual play of Gardner and Denard. This idea was clamored for all of last year but perhaps Gardner wasn’t ready yet or Josh Groban’s greatest hits were playing too loud in the locker room for anyone to hear the idea. I have a distinct feeling that we will see this package expand in numbers played and the playbook expanded in different looks. I am sure Gorgeous Borges has something up his sleeve for the slime west and sludge south of Ann Arbor.

The past weekend’s B1G matchup brought an experienced QB and a higher quality team over all in Michigan’s first road game*. Dan Persa, who seems to me to be currently enrolled on the Van Wilder eligibility program, posed a threat to a defense for the most part untested by a quality QB. Yes, I know we played Carder, but Carder wouldn’t be able to hold Persa’s grandchildren’s pacemakers. Not only was Northwestern a better quality opponent than all but one of our past five games, but we were sitting on the record of 5-0 with a #12 ranking in the nation. #12?! The Notre Dame voters must have finally given up on overrating the fighting Holtzssffff and switched their attention on Michigan. We are definitely better than last year, but not yet at an almost top ten level in the nation. The ranking, along with the curse of Premature E-Jubilation that MGoBloggers has embarrassingly suffered from the past two years was heavy in most rational minds**. The fear and angst of being on the brink of bowl eligibility without ever accomplishing it until late in the season was almost too much for me. I once had this feeling of fear and angst before. The target:  the prom with a beautiful girl from my senior class. The outcome; scrambling to pick the best of the leftovers, reaching the dance with a less than preferred date, and getting blown…….out at the after party when the fruit punch and Oreos were gone. Everyone was tired from such a fuckin wild night. How we didn’t get arrested, I do not know. Luckily I have ceased my behaviors of illegal persuasion and currently am applying for priesthood. Whoa, went on a tangent. Back to the story. I once had a goat named Sally…..

Northwestern came out in command of offense and defense for almost the entire first half. I felt the curse of 5-0 lurking in the shadows like some angry pedo-bear ready to pounce on a young, unexpecting defense. As I sat in a Flint living room, at halftime I had to take drastic measures. I started munching on Zingerman’s Black Magic Brownies expecting the best medicinal buzz Michigan could provide in a tasty snack. Waiting for it to kick in, I chugged a bottle of Robitussin for my “head cold” and the last four beers of my Rascal White Ale for a runway easer for my magic brownies. I was ready to take on the sorrow and pain of Premature E-Jubilation like a champ.

After halftime I began to feel a little better. The perfect doom preparation concoction was working. I began hallucinating the Michigan defense literally ripping the head off Persa and Pat Fitzgerald getting a flag because his face color matched his purple jacket. He and Brian Kelly would make a wonderful profit on creating a coloring book for young children with anger management issues. At any rate, the Michigan offense also began to trip me out by actually moving the ball all the way into those colored zones on each end of the field. Somehow HOKE always eludes media by slipping out of the locker at halftime, installing magnets in those end zones, and then installing the matching magnets in his offense’s shoes, or for Denards case, his socks.

By the end of the game, Michigan post magnets shut out Northwestern 28-0. Add that to pre-magnets, and you get a final score of 42-24. As I came down from my E-Jubilation concoction, I realized three things.

1. We are bowl eligible. Is the curse finally broken?

2. If we are defensively talented enough and offensively diversified enough to beat the slime from the east, Michigan could make a legitimate run at the B1G title. The rest of the B1G seems to moving downwards. This means our last greatest challenge of the year as of right now may actually be the fighting Zookers.

3. There is nothing magic about the Zingerman’s brownies. I want my money back for false advertising. I also want to congratulate Robitussin for coming through in the clutch and picking up Zingerman’s slack.

Seems as if little brother experienced a three year growth spurt. Along with puberty comes wild mood swings, false confidence, violent behavior, trouble with the law, and lots of acne. Time to pop the zits.

*Road game to Michigan-Chicago campus at Ryan Field.

**Rational descriptor for MGoBloggers may be an overstatement.

Just secured some tickets for Saturday and now face the task of tailgating in enemy territory.  I was at Northwestern which was very much like tailgating in AA as we were surrounded by  tons of other U of M fans.  I know this will not be the case in EL.  This will be my first trip there .. so any advice from some experienced M fans that have been to Spartyland in the past ?  My age alone prefers being away from the "student" areas as I really don't want to have some 18 year old's msu vomit all over my car that is obviously owned by a Michigan fan.

Is there a "favorite" lot for U of M fans?  Thanks for the help ... and

Go Blue! 

As the season approaches, we start to see more and more "Where can I catch the game in (insert city here)" posts. This is meant as an informational posts to all new users out there who recently joined, as well as keeping (trying as I know this can be a lost cause sometimes) older members pleased.

For those that don't know an actual MGoBoard exists apart from the ticker on the right hand side, there is a very helpful Michigan bar locator thread. This thread can be found on the MGoBoard page or the mouseover on the tab above, that will help you find any bars that you might want to go to along with being able to ask for other locations. If you forget to look here and post on the board most people will be helpful, one or two will point you to the appropriate thread, and you will also get responses such as this everytime (similar to double posts).

Also, here is the link to the google maps page containing all (known) Michigan friendly bars.

I know this will be forgotten by next week, but maybe some people will remember. Also, these always got deleted really quickly last year with the response to just check the correct thread (from the Mods).

[Didn't want this to get lost among the 315+ comments in today's epic post on Ann Arbor Dining and Drinking.   If you have no interest in beer, nothing to see here.]

For those who read through today's guide, it included a number of different options for beer and people's opinions thereof.   Will be up for the Notre Dame game this year so here I'd like to query the MGoCommunity for a bit more specific information about where to find the best beers available in Ann Arbor.   Feel free to include specific varieties available on tap at different establishments. 

Of note I'm hoping to find some fairly robust beers, think double IPA / Imperial style.  One example, a local favorite of mine, is the Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA.  If you know of places to find beers like that or similar from other breweries like Stone Brewing Co. and Lagunitas let me know.  

I know Bell's makes something in this vein: Hopslam, but have never had the pleasure.   Any bars serving that in A2?  If not available in a bar, anyone know a beer/wine store that carries it?   (Hopefully anywhere but Beer Depot, that drive thru place.   Went there once as an undergrad and we had to leave unexpectedly as an employee threatened to get his gun.)

Thanks in advance for your help.

The WVU Board of Governors approved the sell of beer at Mountaineer sporting events by a 10-5 vote.

So what does AD Oliver Luck think?

Luck said he was "pleased" with the approval, which he believes will adress "coarseness" in the stands and "increase civility." The policy change will go into effect as WVU prohibits smoking in public areas of the stadium and ends its practice of allowing re-entry at Mountaineer Field during games. 

"I believe we have taken a step forward toward our goal of a safer, friendlier and more civil game day experience," Luck said in a prepared statement ... 

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/24156338/29765416