Day 80 - EverCrisp

EverCrisp is a sweet and juicy, yummy apple that holds a powerful, mighty and manly crunch!  That is more or less what the Midwest Apple Improvement Association website says.

Technical name, MAIA-1, EverCrisp debuted in 2016 and is a combination of a Honeycrisp and a Fuji.  It is a durable, late season variety that will stay good up to 4 months and in fact has an even better flavor after several weeks.  It is grown in 32 states and is quickly gaining a reputation as a top-notch piece of fruit.

I like the EverCrisp quite a bit but don't have much to say about it.  Give one a try, yo!

Hey Lucy, I'm home!  Next time, I review Lucy Rose.  Crunch on MOFO's!

Day 79 - SugarBee apple and The Brown Note beer

The SugarBee apple is the latest Honeycrisp cross to hit the market place. It is unknown what other apple is it crossed with. This new apple was created by the bees doing their thang of pollinating the apple blossoms.  They were developed in Minnesota in the 90's but are now grown in Washington state, a great state for apples!  The sticker on the apple is cute, there's a little bee on there, precious!  It is very similar to a Honeycrisp, a good snap to the bite, thin skin, crisp, juicy and very sweet.  The sweetness does seem more honey-like as opposed to sugar.  There are some floral notes.  I really enjoy this apple.  I found them at Woodman's.      

Now, a beer review with one of the most disgusting beer labels I have ever seen, depicting a dude who has shit himself!  This is The Brown Note from Against the Grain Brewery out of Louisville, KY.   It has a ABV of 5%, IBU 20.  According to their website:  The brown ale to end all brown ales. Enjoy it, because there is no longer any reason to drink another. You’ve reached the pinnacle. A healthy blend of traditional British malts give this popular style a semi-sweet, biscuity, slightly roasted flavor. Oats thicken the mouthfeel, and a handful of specialty malts add complex chocolate, toffee, and caramel notes. The hops are mostly traditional, earthy British hops, but we cocked it up a bit with some Cascade late in the boil just to show those snooty Brits that we don’t approve of that Constitutional Monarchy crap.   

Against the Grain also cautions this beer is so good, it will make you shit yourself!  I did not shat myself but this stuff is a good Winter/Fall brew.  It is rich and robust, has quite a bit of carbonation and just moderate head.  The mouth feel was kind of thin but I did taste notes of chocolate, toffee and caramel.  I bought a 4 pack of 16 oz cans at Total Wine & More for $10.99.  I don't always spend that much on beer but had to give it a try.  Shit, I would try it again!

Next time, I review the EverCrisp apple.  Crunch on and get yer shit-faced drank on!

Day 78 - CrimsonCrisp, an Apple Cult and is organic really better?

This is a CrimsonCrisp,  the 3rd apple variety I was able to try from Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Co before they closed for the season.  They describe it as a wonderful new apple with a firm sweet/tart complex flavor that has a cult following, not a cult-like following but a cult following.  I was hoping there might actually be some weird apple cult out there with robes and secret meeting places and a cool apple logo and a weekly sacrifice of some other kind of fruit.  I probably would have joined!  After extensive research the last 5 minutes, it appears these rumors are greatly exaggerated, I guess some people like this guy.  I thought it was ok.

CrimsonCrisp has roots in Golden Delicious, Red Rome and Jonathan apples.  They keep 4-6 months when properly stored and don't fall off the tree easily which makes for less waste or potential damage.  They are supposed to be a deep crimson color although the half peck I purchased were not.  I found them to be fairly crisp, more tart than sweet, medium in size. 

Keep in mind, these were organic apples.  I have discussed in past blogs that organic apples although healthier for the environment, the farmers and the consumer, they don't generally look and taste better and are more expensive.  Many studies using casual and expert tasters have shown that the quality of organics is based more on emotion and pre-conceived perception than the actual taste and appearance.  Organic has a shorter growing season and a smaller yield means more land is required for a good output.  Look man, in my experience non-organic is generally better.  I look forward to trying several kinds of organics from Peck & Bushel this coming season. 

There are reasons that genetic modification, chemicals and pesticides are used for non-organic apples. This makes for a more consistent, pleasant appearance, larger fruit, increased shelf life and better control of the flavor.  It has also helped to feed the masses with it's quantity and not everybody can afford organic fruit.

My conclusion here, CrimsonCrisp is a decent, middle of the road apple but if I had tried a non-organic version, from what I have read, I might have loved it!  I say, wash your fruit people and if you are eating an apple every day like I am, try to eat organic apples at least some of the time.

Next time, I review a SugarBee apple and The Brown Note beer, crunch on!