Another Like Us On Facebook Request

We have 131 people following the blog via email, but only a handful of folks who receive it in their Facebook feed. If you are on Facebook, please take a minute to LIKE the page, not a single blog post, but the Facebook page. Thank you for your support, it is appreciated!

Please “Like” Bangers and Mash on Facebook

We’ve had quite a bit of traffic lately, please take a second and give our Facebook page a like. We get quite a bit of traffic and several people with email subscriptions, but by liking our page on Facebook it should appear in your feed. It’s simple, just click the “Like” button on our page. Thanks so much for reading the blog!

Facebook – (Please “Like” The Page)

Most people must subscribe to the blog since we have 125 people receiving it on a daily basis. If you are reading this, swing over to Facebook and like our page there and you can receive the content in your feed.

Fourth Anniversary!

Today’s post is number 1,462 for Bangers and Mash and is the fourth anniversary for the blog.

The blog began February 12, 2012 and last year it averaged almost 50 views a day and we have 124 subscribers. As regular readers will attest you never know what topic I might choose on a particular day and I strive to always keep it interesting. I appreciate those who take the time to read my posts and especially those who comment adding useful information.

The plan is to continue daily posts as long as possible. So far we’ve not missed a day. If you are on Facebook, please take a minute and like the blog there. That will give you each daily post in your feed.

Thanks for the support and help us celebrate by lifting a glass of something interesting to toast our milestone.

Third Anniversary!

Today’s post is number 1,095 for Bangers and Mash and is the third anniversary for the blog.

The blog began February 12, 2012 and last year it averaged 50 views a day and we have 105 subscribers. As regular readers will attest you never know what topic I might choose on a particular day and I strive to always keep it interesting. I appreciate those who take the time to read my posts and especially those who comment adding useful information.

The plan is to continue daily posts as long as possible. So far we’ve not missed a day. If you are on Facebook, please take a minute and like the blog there. That will give you each daily post in your feed.

Thanks for the support and help us celebrate by lifting a glass of something interesting to toast our milestone.

Photo Updates – (Like Us On Facebook)

Recently it became clear the links to many of our photos are broken. It is a cumbersome process to go back through all the posts over the past three years to fix the issues. In some cases it may not be possible, but many of the photos are mine and I just need to revise each post. If you find a broken photo link, feel free to post a comment and I will get to it. I’ve gotten about half way through both 2014 and 2012 and will continue to work on it with the goal to have the photo links restored where possible in the next two months.

If you feel so inclined, please like our Facebook page. The button is at the bottom right of the cover photo which is the same photo as on the blog.

1,000 Posts – just the beginning!

So today marks my 1,000th blog post since I started this crazy idea. I’ve not missed a day…yet…and I hope to keep the trend alive for another 1,000 days at least. If you are so inclined, please like the blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the profile photo. Thanks for reading the blog and feel free to share posts you like with others. Here’s to the next 1,000!

Does This Smell Bad To You?

I was at a restaurant last night and overheard a server indicating to the bartender a particular beer did not seem fresh and what I observed was interesting. Before I tell the rest of that story I remember once a group of us were served a Pilsner Urquell which was so incredibly strong with rotten eggs (hydrogen-sulfide H2S) it was sickening and undrinkable. It nearly took an act of congress to get them to realize the beer was bad and take if off. Another time just after I gave a BJCP exam we went to a local taproom and the beer was off, we all agree, the manager basically ignored out statements. That might explain why I have not been back. Not too long ago I found and off pint and told the manage and sent notes to many on the brewing staff of that particular brewery. I never heard anything from the staff of the brewery, although that manager did indicate he would check it out the beer.

Back to last night. The bartender did not check the beer at all, they asked another patron who had it how it tasted to them and that person indicated it was fine. What I find flawed with that approach is the two beers were not poured at the same time and so something could have happened. It probably did not and the beer was probably fine, but the bartender should have tried the beer and decided if the beer was acceptable or not. I’m not sure what they teach in the Cicerone program, but I am pretty sure there must be some methodology for dealing with complaints of off-flavors and aromas in beer which is served. I know if it were my establishment I would immediately taste the beer and determine if corrective action needed to be taken. Since that didn’t happen last night I lost some faith in that establishment. I’ve never had a bad beer there, but should I happen to get one I’ll know somewhere in the back of my head they aren’t going to do anything about it and that is kinda sad.

Cancer – Let’s Beat It!

I’ll apologize in advance because my post today is off-topic. I just couldn’t find anything else I wanted to talk about so today our topic is Cancer. You know someone who has either suffered from or died from cancer. I lost my grandfather in the early 1970s to cancer and the really sad thing is today he may have survived. That was a little too young to know him well, but I am told he was a kind, honest, and gentle man who was well-respected. All I remember is him lying in a hospital bed in their home and how he smelled. It was an odd aroma which I still distinctly remember, but have a difficult time describing.

Last year I lost my grandmother to undiagnosed metastasized breast cancer. The cancer had grown to the surface of the skin before it was realized and due to her advanced age there was no treatment, only making her comfortable until she passed.

Yesterday an old friend died from brain cancer. While I had not seen him since college, we had stayed in touch. He leaves behind two young boys and his wife who was also a friend in college. He went much quicker than anyone thought, he stopped treatment weeks ago when chemo was not able to retard the growth of the tumor, had stroke-like symptoms on one side of his body last week, was still able to close and squeeze your hand earlier this week, was very weak on Tuesday, and died on Wednesday.

I’m just about fed up with cancer. Everyone who reads my blog has an interest in something whether it is fermentation related or firearms related. Those hobbies and interests cost money. So here is my challenge to those who have stayed with me this far today, take some amount you would have spent on a hobby and donate it to a cancer charity. If you were going to spend $50 on a bottle of something special, take that $50 and really make it special by giving it to charity. Instead of buying $40 worth of ammo, give that money to charity. Take the money you were going to spend at the local watering hole and donate it to the cause. If you’ve read this far you might as well take that final step.

The only charity I am aware of where you can be sure 100% of your donation goes for research is Stand Up To Cancer so I suggest you use that charity if you don’t have one you prefer. I wear a Stand Up To Cancer wristband every single day and will continue to do so until we beat cancer. Hopefully tomorrow I’ll be back on topic, but today I just couldn’t pull it off.

 

Please Like The Blog On Facebook!

I haven’t pleaded for some Facebook love in a while so it’s about time. This week I surpassed 800 blog posts and 32,000 views. It’s quite an accomplishment for a blog I never thought anyone would read. If you are following the blog, please like the Facebook page. That way the daily posts will appear in your news feed and you can decide if the topic is of interest or not. Thank you for your support!