Stella Artois Chalice Bzz Agent Campaign

I had the opportunity to try out the Stella Artois Chalice Bzz Agent Campaign. I received the glass (chalice) in the mail shortly after being signed up for the campaign. It arrived packaged well in bubble wrap and had no flaws on the glass.

The glass seemed attractive for a beer glass and I found it was quite comfortable to hold in my hand. I found my self placing my thumb in the star area at the bottom as it seemed comfortable. (The star looks pretty nice too).  The glass has a attractive gold rim around the top and the thickness of the glass is sturdy and well designed. Since using it twice, I have only put it in the dishwasher once on top rack, and without the excessively hot sanitize cycle for fear of the gold or lettering rubbing off. So I think perhaps hand wash might be the best option for those who intend to use this regularly.

The Stella Artois beer comes in a green bottle. The beer is intended to be poured in a certain way and has a 9 step process. "Together with the 9-Step Belgian Pouring Ritual, the iconic Stella Artois Chalice allows your beer to flow, breathe and develop a pristine head."

Now I am not a beer expert at all. I usually drink wine, so I am not sure if all beer brands poured like this will achieve a better beer experience or if this brand is much better in that regard. I tried following the process to the best of my ability, but was not as successful as I had hoped. I must say it was quite a "fancy" set of steps for at home beer drinking, and I wonder if if this was ordered in a bar, how many bar tenders would look at me crazy if I ask them for a Stella Artois in a chalice, and "Please would you make sure to follow the 9 step ritual?" I think I would be laughed out of the bar or given some serious strange looks, lol!

I was quite confused those why the company chose to use a green bottle for the beer, as I have heard it causes the beer to absorb light and can produce an after taste or an undesirable taste from the beer. The green bottle is nice looking. The taste of the beer was decent, again, I am not a seasoned beer drinker and have not tried a lot of brands, so I am not sure if it is necessarily a higher quality of beer. I mainly have kept to the simple and easy to find Samuel Adams beers.

This is the first time I have had beer in a chalice, it definitely looks and feels fancy, but then again, in my opinion, beer is not a fancy drink and I feel wine is more of a fancy drink. I had my "fancy" beer with an "un-fancy" but delicious crispy fried jumbo shrimp and hush puppies.

I think unless someone is an avid beer drinker or avid Stella Artois drinker, I do not think many people will carry a glass chalice with them to their next meal at a restaurant or to a party. Any party I have ever been to that has beer, everyone is just drinking out of a bottle.

I think most people will use their chalice at home (MAYBE). Most of the people I know that drink beer regularly are not going to take the time to do a 9 step pouring ritual (unless they are trying to be silly with their friends). Most people in the mood for a beer will probably drink it straight from the bottle or in a regular beer mug.

I was grateful to bzz agent for sending me this chalice to test out. I will probably use it for wine, as I am not much of a beer drinker.

 

Pine Cone Mug and Green Mountain Coffee Wellness Collection: Review

I had the opportunity to try the new Green Mountain Coffee Wellness Collection in k cups. 

I am an avid coffee drinker, and I drink A LOT of coffee, daily. 

Due to a crazy work schedule, I also have unhealthy sleep patterns and so I am generally 

groggy and irritable at times. (I need a boost in mood, focus and concentration!) 

The Focus blend has L-Theanine which has been thought to help with mental clarity, focus, 

boost mood, and improve cognition. It has been linked to reducing stress and also anxiety. 

The flavor is more mild than I had expected since it listed these as a medium roast coffee. 

My wife likes more flavored coffees (which these are plain, unflavored coffees) so she passed 

these by. I didn't taste any difference in the coffee due to the additives to the coffee. There 

did not seem to been an after taste (due to the vitamins) in the antioxidant blend or focus 

blend. Vitamins C and E were added to the antioxidant blend. Vitamin C is an useful nutrient 

and helps us fight colds. 


I would be happy to purchase these coffee blends in the future and would love for Green 

Mountain to have these same additive types but with hazelnut or french vanilla flavor as we

normally purchase flavored coffees. I enjoy this brand and look forward to testing out more 

coffee. 

Here I am standing in front of the wonderful invention: my Keurig brewer, waiting in 

anticipation of a freshly brewed cup of coffee. Notice my favorite pine cone pottery mug, a 

gift from my beautiful wife.

Dapper Dad and His Dapper Golden Toes

I was super happy to receive an invite to try out the Gold Toe Campaign. I immediately opened the bzz kit when my items arrived and was super impressed with the appearance of the socks (colors/styles included in my kit) and the supreme quality. Even before putting a pair of the socks on my feet, I could clearly see that these were made for comfort and the quality of these meant they would last a long time. I have always been an avid consumer of the Gold Toe brand and when my wife and I were dating in our early years of college, I was one of the very few men in my twenties that wore this brand. While other guys my age wore the white, bulky, sport socks with worn out sneakers, I wore Goldtoe socks (usually in an Argyle print) and "boat" shoes (you know, the kind that has the laces weaved through the sides of the leather). I even wore these shoes and socks in high school. Even then, in my youth, I knew these were supreme quality and classy. Back then, my girlfriend (now who is my wife)would lovingly tease me for my argyle socks and GoldToe brands. But when my wife's silly and cheaply made socks would easily wear out on the soles of the feet or get holes at the toe, she would sneak a pair of my Gold Toe Socks (despite the fact they were men's size 10-13 and she wore women's 9-11.) A few times I would then lovingly tease her when I saw a vivid argyle patterned pair of MY Argyle Gold Toe socks were peaking underneath her jean pant cuff. She then confessed they were the most "smoothest, softest, and quality" socks she had tried. Some background on the Gold Toe brand: Their socks are made with only the top quality yarns, they are each carefully reinforced at the heel and toe for longer, more comfortable wear. They are machine washable and dryable. This not a new brand, they have been around awhile and know what they are doing in terms of how to make a top quality, well designed, comfortable, and fashionable sock. They began 75 years ago under the name, Great American Knitting Mills. Great American introduced a sock with a gold reinforcing yarn sewn in the toe. This not only looks classy, but it performs well. During 2002 the Company changed its name to Gold Toe Brands, Inc. These socks are not just for business men or your grandpa! These are classy, nice looking socks that can be worn with anything. I sometimes wear the simple black socks with gold toe, and sometimes I wear the colorful Argyle patterns. I wear these with khakis, dress pants, and jeans. My wife likes these socks too, and I still find she takes a pair every now and then. Gold Toe also makes more products, not just socks! They make undershirts, tshirts, and boxers! I also received some nice boxers in my bzz kit and they were equally nice. These items can be purchased at many retailers online and locally. I have seen these at Kohls and Macys. I give these products my Gold Seal of Approval!