I Learned Something - Oktoberfest Beer

Question: What makes a beer an Oktoberfest beer?
Answer:  


For starters and Oktoberfest beer is also called a Märzen.  I would guess they are marketed here as Oktoberfest beers because it is more recognizable than Märzen.  Märzens came about way back in the day when they couldn't brew beer in the summer because it was too hot and there was no refrigeration.  They would brew these beers in March (März) with a higher alcohol content and more hops so they would last through the summer being stored in a cellar.  These beers would then be served at Oktoberfest, giving it the more common name.


For more reading, wikipedia to the rescue
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marzen

Happy Drinking!

I learned Something - Tubers

Question: Are tubers and roots the same thing?
Answer: Not exactly

According to Wikipedia (which is always right) there are stem tubers and root tubers.  It is a bit confusing that a root tuber is called a tuberous root meaning that it is a root, but has some qualities of a tuber.  The common phrasing of root vegetable could refer to either type of tuber so you have to be careful with what you call it. In addition, sweet potatoes and yams are frequently used interchangeably, however a sweet potato is a tuberous root and a yam is a tuber.  It is definitely clear as mud.

A little extra reading if you are interested...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuber
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root_vegetable

As an aside I will be having carrots with my lunch and they are a taproot which is a root, not a tuber.  If I were to be having potato for lunch then I would be having a tuber.

I learned Something - Red Tide

This will likely be the first of many posts in this series.  I subscribe to the belief that you need to constantly be learning to continue to grow as a person.  If there is something that I don't understand or know anything about I will usually read up on it until it makes sense, this is one of those times.

While in Laguna Beach, Steven and I noticed that there was a large area in the ocean that was red.  We didn't think anything of it until Herr V asked if we saw the red tide.  Growing up in Texas where it takes a day to get to the coast, I really don't know much about the ocean so I had no idea what he was referencing.  Of course, wikipedia to the rescue...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide

My assumption at the time was that the red we were seeing was some form of seaweed.  It turns out the redness was a form of algae.  The part I didn't understand is why people would still be swimming in the water with it there and frankly I still don't get it, but I have issues with strange things in the water touching me that I don't think the rest of the world has a problem with.  Swimming in murky water gives me the heebie jeebies.

I know this post may seem silly to those of you that grew up on the coast, but this is a pretty cool learning experience to see something first hand and then figure out what it is later.  The nerd in me thinks this is pretty awesome.