Every ingredient is important when brewing a beer.  No brewer puts a recipe together without considering how each step will effect the process of brewing and of course the final outcome.  The number of variables possible for each style is incredible when you look at the number of options for yeasts, malts, water profiles and of course hops.

Charlie Cole, the head brewer for Blue Cat Brewing Company, brought me in 2 beers of the same style (hazy IPAs which are quickly becoming my favorite style) so we could compare the different hops being used in both.

Hops tend to pick up their flavor from where they are grown.  Makes sense, right?

Stardust Princess (5.4% ABV) is on tap at The Blue Cat in collaboration with Geneseo Brewing Company and uses hops grown in the American Pacific Northwest which has a very citrus/berry kind of flavor and also some from Australia which brings a tropical fruit flavor of pineapple and mango.

Hazed and Confused  (7.3% ABV) at Geneseo Brewing Company was brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops which brings a white grape flavor and a new experimental hops called HBC 630 which brings a peach/strawberry profile.  This beer is a little bit less "in your face" with the fruit but it's still fairly prominent, which is crazy because no fruit was actually used with either of these fruity beers.

Join Blue Cat Brewing Company in Rock Island this Sunday for the Big Game where they'll be offering you and all you can eat appetizer/pizza bar and your first beer for $15.

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What The Quad Cities Did For Fun in the 90's

Many times over the years, I'll be talking with friends about years gone by and I'll say "take me back".

Every generation goes through this, I assume. Looking back at a more simple time where responsibilities haven't set in and life seems fun. Opportunities are endless.

Let's go back to the 1990's to Wacky Waters, 50 Cent Beer night and revisit Mallards Mania!

Quad Cities Live Music Venues That Aren't Live Music Venues Anymore

Nostalgia Alert!.

We've compiled a quick list (by no means comprehensive) of venues in the Quad Cities that are no longer music venues but to us will ALWAYS hold a special place were we saw some great shows and made some incredible memories.

To many of us the live music scene wasn't just a concert here & there. It was an every weekend affair. And it didn't matter if it was a touring band or your buddy's band. We were going to be there with a beer in hand and scream along with guitars that were way too loud in a room that was improperly treated acoustically and make some bad decisions.

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