THE FATHER BLOG

If you are like me while walking around the beer store, sometimes you like the look of a can or see a new beer you want to try….but are hesitant to pull the trigger on the purchase because a 4 pack of craft beer can run you upwards of $20 or more easily. I always Google Search the beer and see what BeerAdvocate or Untapped has to say. The best part is most of those beers are drank by many people daily and reviews are readily available. It makes me wonder when I see the list of top beers…are they really the best….or just rare and that’s why they get ranked so high. Below is the list of BeerAdvocate’s top 25 beers as of today.

The highest rated beer I’ve had on this list is Heady Topper…which is more available now in NJ than it ever has been. I’ll also be visiting Alchemist brewing this summer so I can try their other selections (I’ve only ever had Focal Banger from them). It clearly is more available than others with so many ratings on this beer.

I’ll say this much…Heady Topper is a fantastic beer. Do I think it’s the 5th best beer out there? NO. It’s probably at the top for it’s style as an Imperial IPA, but I don’t think it comes close to any of the Tree House NE IPAs on this list…and I’ve had all of them. But I guess it’s a matter of taste really. And you really can’t compare Heady Topper to Pliny the Elder (which I’ve had…still haven’t tried Pliny the Younger) even though they are both listed as Imperial IPAs. Pliny the Elder is the best West Coast style IPA I’ve ever had…Heady Topper is East Coast.

Bottom line is this: I would love to run through all these beers if I could ever get a hold of them.

My question to all of you: how many of these have you had? What are your thoughts on them and do they deserve their high ranking? Cheers!

Happy Monday to all….I hope everyone had a great weekend. Just a quick update: Deke is doing very well and hasn’t seemed bothered since last Monday’s pit bull attack. His bites are scabbing over and he hasn’t even bothered with them other than the occasional lick. We have resumed our daily walks and he seems back to his friendly, loveable, goofy self.

And now for today’s off topic-topic…PASSWORDS

For us older folks who remember a simpler time when everything wasn’t online or when only minimal information was and you didn’t have to worry about hackers all the time….

That time has passed. Long gone. Imagine if these computer hackers used their brains for something productive and legal? Keep imagining….

So I bet most of us at one point a long time ago used: password123. Easy to remember and probably left it that way for years. Now we have to deal with the annoyance of creating passwords that have upper case, lower case, a number (non sequential), special characters, a noise, a color, a fictional animal…..and then change that password every 12 minutes!

OK…maybe I’m exaggerating a bit but you get the idea. Truth is…it’s for the best. Everything we do now is online and we probably need to take more care with creating solid passwords. Case and point….I woke up this morning to emails telling me my Microsoft Account was trying to be accessed several times in the middle of the night. A quick search showed me just how often my account was unsuccessfully accessed….and from Russia. I guess they aren’t lying when they tell us about Russian hackers.

Did they gain access….NO. Did I change some passwords that I think were not overly strong….YES.

Don’t take a chance…protect your privacy friends!

Yesterday was the official opening day of Major League Baseball. This is another one of my favorite days of the year. For someone like myself who grew up playing baseball and then continued playing into and through most of my 20s, there is nothing like it. Maybe it’s more now because it brings back memories of all the years my Dad would drive my brother and I around town looking for an empty field after he was done work to throw us batting practice. Or the thoughts of always seeing my Dad at the games….usually coaching me in my youth or watching all my High School games.

Mikey had another High School game yesterday (windy and 50 degrees here in NJ) and my Mom and Dad still showed up dressed in their winter coats and hats to watch their grandson play. Baseball has always been something that has bonded my family. We played it together, we watch it together, and we can all talk about it.

Here is a link to John Fogerty’s song “Centerfield” which always makes me happy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVTXn9Y3dM0

What sports have had the greatest impact on you and your family? Please share….then get out there this weekend and play if you can!

Here is a picture from one of Mikey’s 1st games. Pop-Pop was there for that one too!

Here’s another one from years ago…I was coaching and that’s Emily keeping the scorebook while I talk to Mikey.

And here’s one of Mikey getting a base hit in Cooperstown, NY….one of the best trips ever!