TRON....

I love Tron.   the movie, TRON that is.   An ahead of its time science-fiction film staring a young 1982 Jeff Bridges - I even loved the current day remake/episode 2 of the series, but seriously?......

Out on Forest Ave lies a little hole in the wall bar called Forest Gardens.   I walked in at like 10pm on a Tuesday night to find the bartender asleep on his stool.   The bell startled him as well as did the fact as i was there just to play pinball.   Its a shame a six thousand dollar machine meant for professionals goes unused.   I literally had to wipe the dust off before i played.    

Unfortunately, this pinball machine is a downer.   Like, beat you over the head, write on your face with sharpie, steal all your money and take a picture to send to your loved ones.    I'd heard that the pin was "unforgiving," but I've come to find out that this machine was actually designed to limit the game-play time, thus increasing revenue.   Its made for pros, and i'm no pro.   I like to be able to explore a game, find its rythm and tricks, but this thing was so fast and consistantly draining that i never got a chance.   Five dollars of quarters and no progress to speak of - I'll pass.

In good news, I'm glad to say that I've spent some time on this rig.   As this machine was produced just a year ago (May 2011), it has many of the new advancements that Stern has to offer.   The spinning disc shot and upper-flipper light cycle shot are really cool as is the lighting on ramps and bumpers that replicate the effects from the big screen.   Also, the sound board on the machine really hits the movie right on the head.   Catch phrases from the film show up when you hit specific shots on the table - pretty cool.

I think Stern went a bit far with the complexities of the shots.   If you had this machine in your house and were able to really figure the order, it would be a blast, but in order to progress in the game-play one has to make shots in a specific order.   For me, it was just too much  Also, the outer rails are vicious as is the kickback off the disc spinner.   It would be alright too if there was a ball-save, but there isn't, so it isn't.   Ultimately, I won't go back....not for another year of playing is under my belt and need another dose of humility.

Indiana Jones!

In my constant search for excitement, i came across the fact that i have not visited Geno's Rock Club here in Portland.    Not only is this place a testament of the will of punk rock, it also has a pretty wicked pinball machine.    Geno's is known to be that spot, the one where men dawned in black smoke their cigarettes between sets, where cash is king and all others head for the door.    I've not seen that many military boots since telling the army recruiter to screw himself.    Guys are sixty, still living out their twenties in a spot like this; i can get down. 

Indiana Jones uses all four films to create a wildly multifaceted game-play that is fast and fun.   I dig this machine! though the price of .75cents is a bit steep for my preference, I was able to extend my two dollars to a total of five games (one replay and one match), making for a quality game-time.   I was really impressed with the different shots of the table - the element of temple of doom came through in a wild ball lock that was challenging but not impossible to get - the five ball lock for the last crusade was pretty ill too, but the game really comes together with the elements of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."   In order to lock the multiball, one has to shoot the skull target.   the target is attached to a strong magnet that throws the trajectory of the ball way off - way fun.   I kept hitting the target again and again - the cool pitch of the ball was exciting enough, but after hitting it eight times, the magnet stuck hard and the ball was stopped on a dime.   The play-screen went wild with sounds and lights and a depiction of the crystal aliens sweeping everyone away.....and then eight friggin balls came spitting out at me.   I've been playing a lot of pinball lately, but it was the single most exciting moment I've had thus far.    so ill.

the game is great.  awesome play features - great shots, cool elements and figures, easy game-play, relatively long game-play (with an additional center stopper) and the most dynamic sound-board i've heard on a game thus far.   each sound is bright and reminiscent of the movie - straight up thrilling.  

Geno's is great too - the tender was sweet and kind, the guys hanging out where hospitable enough and even cheered me on as I was playing - probably cause i was kicking ass.   plus, it smelled like stale beer and whiskey drinks and sweat.   mmmmmmmmm

Medieval MADNESS!!!

Wondering the streets of Portland past say, eight o'clock just inst on my agenda anymore.   I mean, who doesn't long for the days of wondering around looking for some trouble to get into, a place to crash.....someone who is 18 and will but us cigarettes!?!?   It just so happened that I found myself out and about at ten one night and asked a group of "frequent fliers" where i could find the closest available machine.    Pizza Villa!   

I got a good vibe right away.   The bartender was wearing a tacky Hawaiian tee-shirt with palm trees on it - no lounge music here, just Steel Pulse bumpin on the stereo.    though there were one too many TVs, i found the atmosphere to be welcoming and laid back - a classic workingman's establishment.  

The machine was getting plenty of play when i entered and had to wait a while to get my chance, but it was a worthwhile wait - Medieval Madness kicks ass.   

Say NO to drugs

Medieval Madness is a straightforward, well designed and fun game produced in 1997 by the Williams company.     It has many of the characteristically defining components of a late 90's machine - lots of lights, tons of shots (and opportunities for misses), good soundtrack and a well developed game-play that is challenging yet easy to follow.    

I was told immediately that the "point of the game" was to destroy as many castles as possible - a good tactic, but upon inspection on the internet it seems that all shots are needed to complete final game task.   Though castles ramp up the score (2mill the first time, 4mill the next and so on) I will approach play a bit differently next time.....

Though I was mislead, I still managed to put a hurt on the machine.   On a two dollar/five credit run, i played eight games (and had two beers!).   I found that the speed of the machine was a bit slower than those i am used to, but it made for a different experience and some long multi-balls.   

I'll be going back to play this game, that's for sure.   

Pinball Wizard Arcade

On my way to Burlington VT, i took a slight detour to Pelham NH.   Though it took me nearly an hour out of the "way," it was worth every token.   Yes, that's right, I spent three and a half hours playing pinball at the legendary:

I'll just come and say it: i don't know why anyone would need 91 pinball machines under one roof, (as well as 162 other video games) but it is, definitively, the shit.   and overwhelming.   As one walks into PWA, one is faced with the ridiculous quandary: where the hell do I start?   

Four more rows of this....

So i just jumped in.   For twenty bucks you get 100 tokens - each machine costs 2 or 3 tokens - that means a lot of pinball.   I figured that if i was to play each machine that interested me two or three times (as to feel out the complexities of each) that i'd be able to make a dent.  

The more i played, the more i realized that pinball is completely overstimulating.   The only dent i got was a dent in my brain.  

One completely frustrating fact of the matter: PWA turns the ball save off on nearly all machines.   Though this is good for "official scores" and making good on all the local allowances, it makes for a frustrating few hours.   I think I only pulled maybe three Replays over the course of my time.

I found that "BlackWater 100" from Bally was one of my favorite finds of the day.   The game starts by shooting three balls to the top of the course - as the green flag drops, the tree balls are released on to the top "track" which has a set of flippers.   If one's ball or balls falls through this set of flippers it drops down a level to another "track" where lies another set of flippers.   if one falls through this bottom set of flippers, it is the end of the race.....but you get to do it two more times!   Basically, I liked this machine because it was pure madness.  With balls in multiple locations all over the board, its basically impossible.

After playing for like an hour, i took a break and played NBA Jam.   Like three times.

I played this game like six times.  Completly addicting.   and stupid.  So stupid, I played it like six times.   This one is for you Christian.   We love you UC.    Bowl less, play more pinball.    

Check out TRON next to Spider-Man.   I should have played TRON!  Dammit, I got obsessed with TRON like a week after I passed by this machine.   DAMMIT!  Well, its a reason to go back.   I have like 25 tokens sitting in the center console of the car......

Belgian triple IPA brew process.

I've started this blog upon the request of my freinds and family whom drink my brews but don't know much about the process or really about what exactly they are drinking.   well, here it is - my attempt to shine light on what i'm up to.    to start off, i'll show what goes into the brew and later i'll do reviews and tastes of both my own and other's selections.  we'll start with Belgian Triple IPA!

Personally, this is my favorite kind of beer to make. Big, yet light- smooth, with a Belgian yeast overtone that pairs oh so sweetly with cascade, saaz and Amarillo hops. East meets west baby!

This is a look into my makeshift brew process.   Though i'm no pro and I don't have a lot of resources to put into purchasing equipment, i've been making some really great beers for the last year.  
 
 

The first step is to steep the grains for one hour. As mash temp was at around 153', I added water that was 160' and regulated with the burner.    The goal of this step is to extract the sugars in the grains by process of keeping them at a specific temperature for one hour.  

After the hour is up, i did my best to strain all liquid from the grains through a makeshift process of industrial stainer.    Once all available liquid is removed, I poured on another gallon of near boiling water to rinse the grains of sugars as well as stopping the conversion process.

 once all liquid is removed from the grains, i began my boil.   the boil is the hour in which the wort is boiled with hops and additional adjuncts (sugars, spices, stabilizers) to create the final product.   during this hour hops are added incrementally to provide the adequate bitters to hide the sweetness of our malt.   


also, as used just seven pounds of grains for the mash, additional sources of sugar are needed to achieve a higher alcohol content.   in this case i used approximately 5 pounds of light pilsner malt extract.  also, i used two pounds of clear rock candy sugar to bring out keep the body of the beer down as much as possible.   


during the hour boil, i usually take the time to create a boost for my beer's yeast pitch.......

.    one potential mishap that i've made with prior beers is to not throw enough yeast on a beer that is chock full of sugars to digest.   if there is not enough yeast pitched, the yeast can get overwhelmed and you end up with a sweet beer.   in order to avoid this issue, brewers many times make a high concentrated wort for the yeast to get going before pitching it into the actual beer.      i boiled a small amount of my wort with some additional malt extract and cooled to room to room temperate.     very carefully i sanitized a old growler and air lock for a fermentation vessel.   then, I added the yeast and left it in a warm spot for the night to do its magic.

for this brew i used the best.....white labs liquid yeast.   with many ales or stouts it is fine to use a nondescript yeast, but a belgian beers defining characteristics (in my opinion) is the yeast undertones.   in order to get the fruity, spicy flavors i went for the top shelf.

    Using a sanitized bucket and straining equipment, i carefully transfered the wort and mixed it with cold water to make 5.5 gallons.    My boil yielded 3.5 gallons, so the addition of 2 gallons of cold water brings the temp of the wort down considerably.   this is a potentially dangerous time in the life cycle as airborne yeast can survive (and thrive) at these temperatures.      Cover immediately!      Sanitize! 

My transfer bucket is handy in that its equipped with a valve.   I simply place the sanitized carboy under the bucket with a short length of tubing attached to reduce spill.   As the wort is still too warm to host yeast (temps over 90 will kill the yeast.....i learned the hard way.   twice) i let it sit overnight in my cold kitchen.   this is also handy because it gives my starter the time to do its thing.  

The next day when i added the yeast starter to the wort (on the right) i was sure to keep it warm for the first 24 hours.   In this stage of fermentation it is vital to keep the wort at 70 degrees or above to ensure strong growth.    

So basically, there it is.    A peep into my passion.    A look into my love.   This insight may or may not be helpful - in fact, i may be doing some things in a totally unreasonable way....but hey, its been working for me!