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!

Day 77 - Snowsweet

This apple is smiling at me, sweet, Snowsweet!  I got this at Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Co.  Organic fruit is often not pretty.  They have physical flaws and might not grow as big as their non-organic counterparts.  This flaw made for a happy little apple until I bit it's face off!

 I liked the Snowsweet.  I had to buy a half peck of them which is aprox. 5.6 lbs.  It is a sweet apple with a good tart balance.  It is crisp, the flesh is snow white.  They are also bred to be slow to brown.  That's cool, kind of like the Opal which was my Day 21 review. https://mikegrunertblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/day-21-opal.html.  I did extensive testing on the Opal, finding that a slice after 3 hours had little browning!  I didn't have a chance to do this test with the Snowsweet.  

Snowsweet is a late season apple.  It is a cross between a Sharon and a Connell Red.

While I'm writing this, I'm listening to Power Windows by Rush.  It is an album that I kind of ignored back in the day.  Power Windows came out in 1985.  I just discovered Rush around 1986 and gravitated immediately to all the cool progressive stuff of the 70's and early 80's.  Grace Under Fire, Power Windows and Hold Your Fire was the dark period for me, wanting the rock!

Being such a huge fan, I'm embarrassed to say I think this is the 1st time I've listened to this album all the way through but I'm digging it at the moment.  I was more familiar with live versions of the Power Windows songs in that half the tracks were on Rush's 1989 album, A Show of Hands, which I bought and listened to in high school.  It even got played on the radio at the time.  I would say now that Power Windows is my favorite of these 3 albums.  They seem to have their "new" sound more figured out than on Grace Under Fire.  Though there is a lot of keyboard and some electronic drums, the guitar is more in yer face and on Hold Your Fire, they were about to transition their sound a bit again and some of it, I was just like, blah.  I have mad respect for these MOFO's!

So to recap, Snowsweet is good, just not as good as fucking Rush! Next time, I review CrimsonCrisp, an apple with a cult following.  Could it be evil?  Crunch on!

Day 76 - Wolf River

Wolf River, could this be the official apple of my punk/metal band The Night Howls?  Read on...

It was September 2018.  I hadn't seen any new apples in a while and I was getting restless and borderline depressed.  I was hitting the sauce pretty hard and I don't mean apple sauce! (apple sauce review coming soon, one of the top requests from internal voice no.5)  I'm talking whiskey people, though sometimes apple whiskey.  I went on the world wide web and did some googling.  I discovered not too far from me was an apple orchard that looked intriguing and was indeed, intriguing, Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Co. (see my Day 75 blog). https://mikegrunertblog.blogspot.com/2019/02/day-75-peck-bushel-organic-fruit-co.html

One of the apples I tried was the Wolf River.  It is a large, historic, antique variety originating from Wolf River, WI circa 1870.  The Wolf River is know as a good cooking apple with it's large size, ability to keep it's shape when exposed to extreme heat and does not require much extra sugar when cooking.

My experience was not that of a very good eating apple.  The skin was thick and somewhat bitter.  The white flesh looked nice but was a little mealy and lacked character.  

Even with it's cool title that compliments my band name, Wolf River cannot be the official apple of The Night Howls.  (though we really should have an official apple, hit me up with suggestions)  A good eating apple is essential to represent The Night Howls, one that is sweet and juicy, tart and floral, crisp and snappy.  It don't have to look pretty but must be so alluring that tasters cannot help but devour it to it's core in a ravenous rage with gnashing of teeth, screaming, convulsing and then topped off with a good belch!

Next time, I review Snowsweet, crunch on and rock!

Day 75 - Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Co.

On September 29th, I visited Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Co.  Located in Colgate, WI, just about 30 minutes from my place, I was all like what-what and cool man!  They are an all organic apple orchard started in 2010 by Joe and Jennifer Fahey who produce at least 25 varieties of apples throughout the season.  They are only open to the public August through October.  15 of the apple varieties they grew this year I had never even heard of so needless to say, I was apple curious for sure!  I will definitely go back next August as they only sell some of the apples for a limited time, see timeline below.  I only got to try 3 types of apples this year, the Wolf River, Snowsweet  and Crimsoncrisp, each of which will have a separate review.

Visitors can pick their own apples or buy them in the rustic, barn-like store along with other goodies.  We bought some apple cider and had some of the best apple cider donuts I have ever tried.

So there ya have it, Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Co. is a great find, check it out southeast Wisconsinite apple lovers!  Next time, I review one of my purchases there, the Wolf River.  Crunch on!

Day 74 - Hana Fuji Apple Sake

Today, I review Hana Fuji Apple Sake.  Sake is an alcoholic beverage made from rice where starch is converted into sugars that ferment into alcohol.  I only drink it occasionally, usually when eating sushi.  Hana Fuji Apple Sake is made by Takara Sake USA under the Hana line of flavored sakes.  Takara Sake USA was established in Berkeley, CA in 1983.  They also produce Mirin (cooking rice wine) and plum wine.  According to the website on the interweb, Takara Sake USA has taken pure snow melt from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and superior rice from the fertile Sacramento Valley. To this, they apply traditional sake-making craftsmanship and modern technology to produce a sake worthy of the Takara mark.  My advice to Takara USA, "Watch out where the huskies go and don't you use that yellow snow melt!"

Hana Fuji Apple Sake would be a good introduction for new sake drinkers.  It has a sweet/tart apple flavor that works well served ice cold.  The alcohol content is 9% which is low, sake ABV can range from 5% to 20%.  The sweetness and low alcohol covers up the taste of rice quite a bit so I think someone who didn't much like sake could still dig this and might not even know what type of spirit it is.  The liquid is almost completely clear, sake can be cloudy or completely white with the unfiltered variety.  The bottle label was inspired by the Japanese Kimono.

Next time, I will tell you about Peck & Bushel Organic Fruit Co, an all organic apple orchard with a shit ton of apple varieties I've never heard of, several of which I will be reviewing.  Crunch on, drink on, domo arigato!



 

Day 73 - Kar's Yogurt Apple Nut Mix and Ballast Point Red Velvet Golden Oatmeal Stout

Blood and apples, apples and blood!  Today, I review Kar's Yogurt Apple Nut Mix and Ballast Point Red Velvet Golden Oatmeal Stout with Beets and Chocolate.

The vending company we used to have at work would stock Kar's Yogurt Apple Nut Mix and it was delicious but then alas, we switched vending companies.  We don't have regular vending machines.  We have a balance on our account and scan a card.  An e-mail was sent out that we should try to use up what was on our account before the change so I bought 6 packs of Kar's because I thought that would be my last chance to eat them.  It turned out that the vending company that took over also sold Kar's Yogurt Apple Nut Mix.  Luckily, I dig 'em!

It’s a tasty combination of honey peanuts, Greek yogurt covered raisins, sesame sticks, tart apple pieces, butter toffee peanuts and almonds.  The dried apple pieces have a nice touch of cinnamon and tartness and a good chewy texture.

Next, Ballast Point Red Velvet Golden Oatmeal Stout with Beets and Chocolate.  This is an unusual beer.  Like the cake that inspired it, the deep red color comes from beets, which add a rich, earthy character that complements the chocolate flavor and aroma. The foamy head of the nitro pour adds a creamy smoothness to the mouthfeel. But this liquid dessert still finishes like a beer – not sweet, but just as satisfying.

It is 5.5% alcohol, 35 IBU, come in 12oz. bottles and is a limited release.  I bought a 4 pack a year ago at Total Wine (check that place out, the best liquor store I've ever been to!) for $9.99.  I drank 3 of them but waited a long time to finally drink the 4th.  This beer is no longer available and although not my favorite, it was certainly worth a try.  The bottle was also really cool, showing skeletons at a royal dinner party.  I just saw a shirt on ebay depicting the scene!  See below.

Next time, I review Hana Fuji Apple Sake.  Domo arigoto and crunch on!

Day 72 - Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Apple Cinnamon Soft Baked Bars and super-human drumming ability

Drummer extraordinaire Nick Nutter showed up at my house for band practice.  He had a bag of Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Apple Cinnamon Soft Baked Bars and offered them to me saying his mom had gotten him a case of them and he knew I was down for all things apples.  I said yes, thanks!  When he handed me the bag, he winked at me.  Was he trying to tell me something?  We had been talking recently about how to get better on our instruments.  Maybe he just had something in his eye or maybe I winked at him but the message was clear, these Apple Bars could be the key to superior drumming ability.  I wondered if he had been eating these things for years.

I started pondering and researching the dietary habits of successful drummers.  I found that a whopping 99.9% of drummers eat!  Of those, a large percentage eat breakfast or snacks.  Most certainly, some of this food is consumed in bar form, as it is quick and convenient for the Rock 'n Roll lifestyle.  Kellogg's is a huge international company and apple is a very popular flavor so it is obvious that many drummers most certainly, quite possibly, to some degree, on some level eat Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Apple Cinnamon Soft Baked Bars!

I decided to put this to the test.  I ate like five of them, gave it a little time to kick in.  I stretched out, took a deep breath and sat down behind the drums ready to throw down some phat John Bonham or Neil Peart beats.  Drum roll please...

I could not play I drum roll if there was a gun to my head or much of anything else!  My brilliant theory turned out to be somehow, wrong.  I guess I'll stick to guitar.

Anyway, Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Apple Cinnamon Soft Baked Bars are surprisingly good.  They were fresh.  The whole grain oat crust was kind of dry but the proportion of apple filling inside balanced it out.  The apple filling was just sweet enough with a little cinnamon.  Yeah, not bad.

Next time, I review two products, Kar's Yogurt Apple Nut Mix and Ballast Point Red Velvet Stout.  Crunch on!