Mexican Beer Review: Pacifico Vs. Victoria

Although I enjoy all types of beers (ask Brent or Kenny if I can hang with Stone or Saint Arnold), my favorite beer is still Pacifico. My favorite beer producing Country is Mexico, and this is partially due to the fact that I've never had a beer that I didn't like while I was in Mexico! Also, my Mom's favorite beer was Pacifico, and we used to drink them all the time.

Recently Brent and I spotted the Mexican beer Victoria at THE H-E-B, and I was excited to welcome in this newcomer to my Mexican preferred world.

 

Upon the initial poor, it had a traditional yellowish color, and smelled like a beer that should be served in a ballena. It was very crisp, and it also had slightly sweet taste. This beer was a much welcomed addition to the Mexican beer family that I enjoy. While it won't be taking Pacifico's crown anytime soon, I would gladly crack one of these open after a long day of surfing in Mexico.

Baja Sur (Pre-Beard), and Pacifico Ballenas

Cheers to Mexican beer, and Live Happily Ever Now!

Update: I have been stoked to be finding Victoria Beer all over Austin (still looking for an Austin Brewery to carry it). I found Victoria Beer on draft at Bar 96, and I nearly fell off of my bar stool! It tastes really good, and what a great summertime draft beer to enjoy. They also now have Victoria beer (bottles) at Wahoo's Fish Taco, which is awesome because that is one of my all time favorite places to eat. I also am always torn at El Caribe between ordering Victoria vs. a Pacifico. My current selection process for choosing Pacifico or Victoria beer is that I usually order a Victoria draft (or bottle) when it is available, and stick with Pacifico the rest of the time. Bottom line is that Victoria beer is still hard to find, so I enjoy it when I can! Cheers to Victoria beer! Brewed since 1865, imported to Austin since 2010!

50 Book Club

In elementary school we used to have a contest called fifty book club. If enough kids read that many books (50), our class would win an ice cream party. I'm not sure if we won or not, but I do remember that "Choose Your Own Adventure" books would count, and that I would deliberately make choices in the book that I know would lead to an ill fate, in order to help win the contest.



Lately my adult fifty book club has consisted of several books that were pretty enjoyable. When I was in Sweden I read The The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy, Book 1)series, and it was pretty cool to be in Sweden while reading those books. Too bad the Author is dead (his family is fighting his girlfriend/co-writer for the profits), as I would have liked to continue reading the series.

I also read The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel and Kurt Vonnegut's "Man Without Country" when I returned to the USA. Kurt Vonnegut may be my favorite author, and to read his final book is almost like sitting down with him and having him tell you about life. If you have never read a book by Kurt, you are seriously missing out.

The last book of 2010 (I'm assuming) was "The Wave" by Susan Casey. This book had a really cool dichotomy look inside the lives of big wave surfers like Laird Hamilton and the scientists who study large waves. It was a not only scientific, but also reminded me why I love surfing so much.

Boo!

After 7 months of marriage I'm so happy to have my beautiful family for x-mas! Cheers to you boo!

Photo by Paul Schuster

Ana Berger taking our rock band glam shot in San Diego

Sadie our lovely pups. Giants fan too!

The Expendables - Santa Cruz, CA

I've been listening to these guys for over a decade and have seen countless shows in Santa Cruz, Isla Vista, San Diego, and now Texas. It's awesome to see them representing Santa Cruz. This video reminds me of home:

Expendables - New Music - More Music Videos

State Radio - Live in Austin, TX - With Video

State Radio is one of my favorite bands, and luckily I have seen them live quite frequently since I have lived here in Austin.

Chad at Austin Music Hall

One highlight was after the show with 311 we bumped into Chad and Lefty walking the streets of Austin, and it was pretty cool to meet the extended band!

Me and Leyla at Austin Music Hall

I have shared my love for this band with all of my friends, and one of my best friends Magnus in Sweden is also now a huge fan. So much so that his girlfriend Sofia and him even flew from Malmö Sweden to London to see them earlier this year.

Magnus and Sofia at ACL

Here is some video that I shot at the show at La Zona Rosa in downtown Austin (you can hear me singing during Calling All Crows).  It is a medley with "Mansin Humanity"-"Mr. Larkin"-"Calling All Crows", and my all time favorite "Indian Moon"(my wife's and I last dance). Cheers to State Radio!

Baja 2008 Revisited - Baja 2011 Through 2015 Up Next!

With the annual Baja trip taking a temporary hiatus during 2009 and 2010, the core Baja Crew is ready to embark on another mission! Instead of the annual trip, it will be biennial to accommodate our old age and growing families.

The core as we know it (been present for 80% or more of annual Baja trips) is Kenneth aka "Krazy Kenny", Magnus aka "Mankiepost, Swing, Swingnutz", Scott aka "Coffee and Numbers guy", Brendan aka "Knows a bunch of top secret shit guy", and myself aka "Mr. Matthew, Matty, Big Guy".

Kenny, Brendan, Me, Magnus, and Scott at my Wedding.

The mission will be Baja Sur, the time frame September, the emphasis on my all time favorite wave (thus far) Scorpion bay.

In 2011 we have talks of bringing boats, motorcycles, elaborate fishing gear, and of course lots of playboy magazines for the Federales.

Whether it's driving all night, getting stuck in hurricanes, rolling a vehicle, playing lose it, getting stung by a sting ray, dodging banditos, or getting crazy surf; one thing is for sure, we will most definitely have a good time. Here is 2008's video below, I say that we step up our game in 2011 with GoPro® HD Camerasfor the ultimate video.

Cheers to Baja!