I shouldn't be breathing this heavily. Breathing this heavily is usually preceded by a strenuous workout. Perhaps running a few miles or power cleaning heavy weights. I did not do any of those things. I'm breathing this heavily because I just ate, a lot. Yes, it is Easter Sunday. That's always a nice built-in excuse to gorge on challah bread, lamb, assorted chocolates, and many beers. That being said, for the past 3 or 4 weeks I've been eating like it's Easter everyday. I'm snacking hard, eating late, drinking HEAVY stouts, and generally being a fat person. During this eating binge, I cracked open one of the more sought after IPAs in all the land.

Dogfish Head 75 IPA

Prior to acquiring a few bottles of 75 minute, I was able to buy a growler of it via a maple syrup cask. And after comparing the two, I'd have to go with the cask. There is just something about IPAs that benefits greatly from the cask. I won't speculate, but whatever it is, it adds to the taste.

I cracked open the bottle by myself. I hate drinking alone. Well, I don't HATE it. But drinking, like sex, is better when done with a partner. Adding to that analogy, you could say I was masturdrinking.

The initial pour yielded a two finger white head, at least. And it stuck around for a while. Which is always annoying. I always get impatient and dive right into the head. Mustache, immediately. A Belgian Dip if you will.

If you aren't familiar with 75 Minute, it's literally a blend of 60 Minute and 90 Minute. The only difference is that it's brewed with maple syrup. Which is nice. Anyway, think of the better parts of 60 and 90. Thinking of them? No? Then why are you reading? Ugh, let ME tell you the better parts of those beers.

60: a true IPA. Ironically, it's less hoppy than 90 and it yields a nice grapefruit-type flavor.*

90: for 9% ABV, you can't taste a lick of it. And like I said just now, for a 90 minute hop addition, thanks to more malt, it really cuts the hop bitterness and results in a nice sweet IPA.*

*my weak palate opinion

75 is both literally and taste-wise, a perfect blend. It's in my opinion, Dogfish Head's best IPA and perhaps their best beer in general. 60 is hoppy and bitter. 90 is little too sweet and not a true IPA. And 120 is a novelty beer that yields a big, boozy, malty mess in your mouth. 75, if bottled in 4 packs, could outsell Torpedo in the IPA department.

But that's just me.

I'm turning this blog into a beer review site. This blog has gone through multiple makeovers over the years, but this one I'm sticking with.

Yes, my true passion in life is sports. However, beer is making a fervent case for the top stop. I'm such a man, alright I? Ladies?

Anyway, that all being said, you'll be seeing post after post of me analyzing the taste, smell, and look of a various array of beers. Stouts, porters, IPAs, pale ales, barleywines, and even weak-tasting lagers.

I'll probably even start tonight with a review. I understand it is a Monday, mom. But I'm a grown man and I'm allowed to make grown man decisions. (Typed while in parents' basement)

Stay tuned.

Unsure if you can see that little circle towards the center of that graphic. But if you look close enough, you'll see that it shows Seton Hall having received 1 vote towards the national rankings. That's right. Seton F'in Hall! My alma mater. My Mater! Can you believe it? 1 vote! We made it, ma! Top of the world!

9-1 thus far. Granted there have been no quality wins (Wake Forest, kind of), but a good start is a good start. I'll take it. Next stop, Final Four!

Love this song. Could listen to it forever.

This. Song. Will. Never. Get. Old.

Raise you're hand if you are shocked in the slightest.

Those of you with your hands up, LIAR! How can you be shocked? We're not out of the steroid era. We'll never be as a matter of fact. You do realize that the scientists who manufacture these drugs will ALWAYS be at least one step ahead of the testers. The testers can't anticipate fast enough what drugs will improve performance and they won't be able to generate viable tests for them as quick. It really is a no win situation.

That's it for now. Wow, that was a terrible post. But hey, you get what you pay for.

I'm fairly certain that I have posted this before, but it needs to be posted again. One of my all time favorite songs. Sweet Thing by Van Morrison. He performed this live at the Hollywood Bowl a few years back. I really enjoy it. Listen. Enjoy it too.

Whatever the topic, I do NO research. I essentially read headlines and extrapolate what I deem to be the truth. Then I give my opinion on said truth.

So there you go. Remember that. You can hold me accountable for what I write, but keep in mind that I could be making something up. Or I could give statistics that I think are accurate.

That all being said, how about this whole Chris Paul thing, huh? Crazy right? I mean, the NBA and the players association spent six months or so trying to figure out a way to make the league more competitive. To stop these players from essentially deciding where they would like to play while under contract (See: LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony). But looky here, after the NBA and the NBAPA made nice, what was the first piece of news we got from the world of the NBA?

Chris Paul demands a trade to the Knicks.

Funny, huh? Looks like nothing got solved. Hey, I'm not complaining. If the Knicks are able to stockpile All-NBA talent, I won't lose a wink of sleep. Well, I'll probably lose a lot of sleep because I'll be too amped for the season. Which I am. If the Knicks can somehow land Paul prior to the beginning of the season, it would be unbelievable. Unbelievable because they basically have nothing to give the Hornets. Fields? Billups expiring contract? A first round pick 25 years from now? Not necessarily the greatest package if you're New Orleans.

But, Paul can hold them hostage by demanding a trade to New York now. New Orleans can try to trade him to another team with a more appealing package, but Paul can essentially veto the trade by not agreeing to extend his contract. Bottomline: Why would a team trade a lot for Paul when he'll only be there for one year?

So we all know what this means right? He'll be a Knick. Whether it's now, 2 months from now, or a year from now. I guarantee it. (Not a guarantee)

I never really enjoyed writing in school. I found it very boring and time-consuming. Maybe it was because the teacher TOLD you what to write about. There were rarely any instances where you got to write what you wanted. But every so often we would free write. And that's when I thrived. I consider myself a funny and interesting person (don't we all). So I thought that if I wrote my funny and interesting thoughts down on paper, I could be prolific at it. I could write like that all day.

Writing means many things to me. But above all else, it makes me feel normal. When I can formulate my thoughts down on paper (or computer screen), I'm able to understand completely what exactly I am thinking. It's very therapeutic.

I live with anxiety and currently I am going through a tough couple of weeks. My mind has been racing non-stop every waking moment. If you have ever had anxiety, it's absolutely terrifying. You feel lost, confused, scared, out-of-it, unable to form coherent thoughts, feel unlike yourself and at times, crazy.

There is nothing worse.

Over the years, I have learned to deal with these bouts of anxiety. Whether it be by listening to a book-on-tape, calming music, talking to my parents and sister, or exercising. I've tired those things recently, but they really haven't worked as well as they used to. So I'm trying something new.

Writing.

It's helped me feel normal in the past, why shouldn't it now? The moment I need it most.

So what you'll be seeing over the next few weeks and months is A LOT of writing from me. I have a feeling that this episode of anxiety will last a lot longer than the others and I will use writing to help me cope. And as always, the topics I write about will range from sports, life, music, movies, technology, friends, family, and most importantly nonsense.

Thank God for writing.