Author: Wetbrain

What Is Irish Cream?

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What Is Irish Cream?

“Harold, you have been drinking Irish Cream with your morning coffee every day for months.” Dr. Wetbrain declared.

Harold defended himself with, “What?! Only 5 cups a day. Plus, it has sugar and cream. Perfect for coffee.”

The Dr. added, “Let us not forget the Irish whiskey. Funny thing about the Irish Cream Liqueur. It was Not created by the Irish!”

Believe it or not Irish Cream is not originally from Ireland.

Bailey’s Irish Cream Liqueur was created in 1971, in England by Tom Jago, a British marketing executive.

Irish Cream is a protected geographical product so that is why Bailey’s Irish Cream is now made in Dublin, Ireland.

What is Irish Cream?

Most Irish Cream liqueur brands consist of 16 to 20% alcohol, Bailey’s has 17%.

Most Irish Creams are made with a lot of sugar, cream and a splash or two of Irish whiskey. Some brands add a pinch of chocolate and a drop of vanilla.

Developed in 1978 Carolans Irish Cream is made in Kentucky, US, by the master distiller Coner O’Driscoll originally from Dublin, Ireland. In 2016 Carolans ranked 3rd in the cream liqueur category in the US market. Name was taken from a famous 17th century harpist Turlough O’Carolan. Harpist in those days is like an electric guitarist these days.

Carolans Irish Cream is made with honey instead of sugar. Besides the naturally harvested honey it is also made with farm fresh cream from Ireland and of course Irish Whiskey.

Even though Irish Cream is protected as a geographical product where it must be produced in Ireland, another U.S. distillery is making it.

Blarney’s Country Irish Cream is made by Minhas Distillery in Wisconsin, U.S. Blarney’s Country Irish Cream is made with fresh cream, Irish Whiskey, sweet chocolate and sweet caramel. My favorite Irish Cream. Wetbrain smirks.

Want to make your own Irish Cream?!

One day I was at a friend’s place, and she put into a glass with ice a good-looking creamy liqueur. It was a great drink. She kindly gave me her recipe.

Ingredients:

1 tsp. -Unsweetened Cocoa powder or chocolate syrup

1 tbsp. -Sugar

1 tsp. -Non artificial vanilla extract

1 tbsp. -Instant coffee or espresso powder

1 14oz. can -Sweetened condensed milk (no evaporated milk)

1 cup -Heavy cream

1 cup -The best part, Irish Whiskey. Can use white rum or bourbon and a little more then 1 cup whiskey, if needed.

Throw all the ingredients into a blender. Blend till smooth. Pour into a large bottle, juice jug, canning jars or glasses with ice cubes and drink it now. You can keep this liqueur in the fridge for later.

With this rich creamy sweet liqueur, you can use it for baking, cocktail drinks, coffee mix, ice cream or just into a glass of ice.

“So, Harold,” Dr. Wetbrain concluded. “I think you drink way too much morning coffee.”

Difference Between Beer Bottles and Cans.

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Difference Between Beer Bottles or Cans.

 

Harold was sitting at the kitchen table with 2 beers, one bottle and one can of the same brand. What are you doing Harold? Double fisting?

Harold replied, “No tasting to see if there is a difference between bottles and cans. They seem to be the same.”

Let us scientifically investigate into this. Dr. Wetbrain declared.

Bottles or cans, which beer container is better? This is quite the debate. Both have their pros and cons.

First to note is that different beers have a different metabolic profile which reacts differently in bottles or cans.

Other things to consider on which is better is the storage time in a warehouse, transportation time and at what temperature. There is a due date. Think of beer like milk. Drink Grandma’s 50-year-old lost bottle of beer would not taste good and flat. Even with transport and storage we must look at Total Packaged Oxygen. I was thinking about this because I have had a half full bottle of beer from the night before, gave the bottle a good shake with my thumb over the top. Always good to drink after.

Note: Bumps at the bottom of beer bottles are not how many times that bottle was disinfected and reused. These are mold codes to let the manufactor to produce the very same bottle.

Sunlight and oxygen can upset the brewing process. Glass bottles in sunlight can make certain beers skunk tasting. The green tinted bottles help that problem, a little. Cans will not absorb any UV rays at all.

Cans did have a bad reputation of the beer tasting tin like. But these days tin cans have a protective liner on the inside. No tin taste, oxygen and sunlight.

Useful Notes:

If you had a cold beer and somehow got it warm, then cooled it again, this would not change the quality and taste of the beer. Whether bottles or cans.

The density of glass on beer bottles vs tin cans keeps beer cold longer.

Stubby holder or cozy which is a glove around your beer makes the insulation of beer stay colder longer.

Bottles of beer are heavier to carry to a party then same number of cans.

Harold thought about this and said, well I will just guzzle both bottle and can. No difference I noticed. Don’t want them to go bad, like milk.

Impaired Driving On Toy Barbie Jeep.

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Impaired Driving On Toy Barbie Jeep.

Harold burst in through the front door in a frantic panic, and yelled out “I almost got an impaired charge!”

Dr. Wetbrain had to ask, “Were you put in jail? What happened?

Harold answered, “Nothing. Blew into the breathalyzer. The cops said I’m good and let me go. It was a very scary moment.”

Of course Wetbrain had to give Harold a lecture and a funny story.

Harold you know that driving impaired has bad results in so many ways.

Picture this, driving impaired after hours of heavy drinking is a very disastrous thing to do. So is digesting 3 hits of acid, but that’s another story. You could smash into another car. Impaired! Then there are people hurt or dying, then jail. Let us not forget the financial aspect of an impaired. The cost of a lawyer, impounded car, a blow box to start your car when you get it back, higher insurance and you can’t get to work. Hopefully you don’t get sued.

Now for the funny impaired story. 

Here is a rare ludicrous case of someone getting an impaired. You be the judge.

On September 5, 2025 in Prince George, British Columbia, Kasper Lincoln drove down a street on a pink toy Barbie Jeep which only travels at top speed of 5 km/3 mph. Battery powered. How did Lincoln even fit into this little toy?

The Canadian law states that if you are impaired and driving a vehicle that is not powered by a human you will get a impaired charge. In fact a friend of mine would drive his horse and carriage to town. A 10 mile trip one way. After a few hours of heavy drinking, he would leave the Hotel on his horse-drawn ride back to his ranch. Sam would even nap on the way home. The horse knew the way. No impaired. Riding a bicycle travels at 20 km/13 mph, way faster then the toy jeep. Still not safe while drunk.

Apparently Kasper had a craving for a Slurpee and was to lazy to walk to 7-11. So now he and his fat ass are drunk and swerving side to side down a street on a toy pink Barbie Jeep. Police see this and pull him over. To be a fly listening in that cop car. You know the cops were giggling as they walked up to this Barbie car.

“Do you know why we pulled you over Sir? You were not wearing a seat belt.” One police officer stated still giggling.

Kasper Lincoln got a 90 day driving prohibition which he is going to fight in court. Even though his license is already suspended. The Barbie jeep has been impounded.

Moral of the story… just stagger to the 7-11 or liquor store. Average walking speed is 3 mph/5 km. Same speed as a pink Barbie Jeep. Save yourself from mental and financial trauma.

 

 

Dr. Wetbrain Almost Drowned.

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Dr. Wetbrain Almost Drowned.

Harold wanted me to tell you about my near drowning story. Dr. Wetbrain who almost drowned stated.

Let’s just begin. So, there I am out in the boonies of Northwest Ontario, Canada. And… decided to purchase a huge canoe. Huge! You could probably put a sail on it. Never paddled a canoe but let’s give this ship a try.

So, one sunny day by myself I was floating around in this river sipping on a large bottle of whiskey. Suddenly all these curious beavers swam up to me. We drank whiskey and played peek-a-boo for hours. Slapping our tails and having a great time. Eventually the river current swept me away from my cute playful friends.

This strange river has all sorts of current conditions from rapids to creepy still water lanes where paddling does not even help.

At a certain quiet part of the river, I had to have a pee! There is a reason they say do not stand in a canoe. Unstable and drunk into the river I went. Even sober have you ever tried to get into a floating canoe. A very tippy situation.

Quickly swam to the canoe before I couldn’t. All I was able to do was hang on to this big ass boat. Still pissed off that I lost all the booze.

The other shoreline where I had to be looked so far away. So, hanging on to this safety line I paddled with my legs towards the opposite shoreline. Any propulsion to move forward stalled due to that part of this weird river current. Paddled for a long time then looking at my surroundings I realized that I never moved… at all. If I could just get this big ass canoe named ‘Hope’ into moving current, I would have it made. Not happening!

Drunk as I was, the safety thought of the canoe was always there. Should I abandon big ass Hope and swim to the shoreline. I am a good swimmer.

After a good rest I shoved Hope away. Oh, great now you move! Dr. Wetbrain yelled.

Knowing the distance, I swam slowly to save energy. It took awhile to get out of the stalled part of the river. Eventually I was on my way. Now I’m in the heavy current getting pulled down stream and having to swim a little harder.

By the time I was nearing the wanted shoreline by 100 feet or so, I was extremely exhausted. Will I make it?! Now I’m swimming a very slow breaststroke. Barely keeping my head above the surface. Determined not to die I struggled on. Finally, 2 yards away from the shore and the water was still too deep to walk out of the river. Damn!

The tired swim continued. The last few yards felt like it took forever. When I was crawling on to solid land I yelled, “I MADE IT!” Thought I was going to meet my maker a few times.

I’m out of that nasty river. Unfortunately I have to climb a high steep bank to climb to the main land and golf coarse road which went to town and my warm dry apartment. Thank you the pick-up truck with drunk people in the box that picked me up and took me home.

Moral of the story – Don’t get drunk with beavers.

Different Unique Wines.

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Different Unique Wines.

 

One day at the kitchen table Dr. Wetbrain and Harold were sampling a bottle of home-made wine that the Doctor made.

“That was the best wine I have ever tried!”, Harold wide-eyed said.

“Birch Sap Wine and I held back on the sugar. Mind you tapping Birch trees is like tapping Maple trees for sap there is a little bit of a chore involved. Especially in the cold winter months of February and March.” Dr. Wetbrain declared.

Ingredients of the Birch Sap Wine is –

4.5 liters of birch tree sap

250 ml of white grape concentrate

1.25 kg. of sugar

2 tbs. of citric acid

Pack of wine yeast

Directions to make this great Birch Sap Wine.

In a very large pot bring birch sap, grape concentrate and sugar to a boil. Remove pot from the heat, add citric acid, stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool then apply the pack of wine yeast.

Cover the cooled pot loosely with a cheese cloth or towel. Don’t touch it for 10 days.

Siphon into a large wine fermentation jar. I think they are all large! Allow to ferment for 3 months. Drink and be merry with the greatest wine ever.

 

Homemade Elderberry Wine

   Elderberries are way too bitter to eat raw, also will make you sick from their toxins. Diarrhea and vomiting, neat things like this. But Elderberries make awesome wine.

The first time I made Elderberry wine was in the 80’s with my buddy Dennis and his 70-year-old dad who was our wine making mentor. We made a 10-gallon batch!

Driving up a logging road and around one of corners we came across bushy tree all by itself. Filled with ripe Elderberries. Dennis and I filled any container like empty beer cases that we could find. We took all these berries to his dad’s basement and made wine.

Unfortunately, we put a tad more sugar then requested. OK a lot more. Never mind the 6-month fermentation period. We were sampling at 3 months, and a 20-ounce glass would get you pissed drunk. Yeah, too much sugar, but great tasting. Like drinking juice.

   Dandelion Wine

This homemade wine is pretty good. You must harvest the Dandelion flowers at full spring bloom. Only 2 quarts of flowers for 1 gallon of wine. Best part is the fermentation duration is only 1 week.

Homemade wine can be made from any natural product such as fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, rhubarb, flowers, watermelons and tomatoes. All are a hit and miss. Sometimes a wine experiment turns out great, and sometimes not so much. Trial and error.

   Few other unique homemade wines.

Jalapeno wine – Never tried, might be hot.

Honeysuckle wine – The flower pods do hold a lot of juice.

Tomato wine

Chocolate wine – Too sweet.

Mushroom wine

Crab wine – What?! Must be a Newfoundland thing.

“Let’s try my safe cranberry wine Harold”, Dr. Wetbrain asked.

What Happened To The Beer Balls?

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What Happened to The Beer Balls?

One winter day Dr. Wetbrain walked into the living room where Harold was sitting back watching TV.

“Your balls are showing.” The doctor mentioned. Harold quickly checked himself out.

Wetbrain laughed. “No, your Beer Balls that you buried a few months ago are now showing with the spring melt. Those Beer Balls were certainly a blast from the past. How many of these old balls do you have left Harold?”

This great blast from the past became mostly famous at college parties during the 1980’s and 90’s. Awe the good old days.

How did this Beer Ball start. In 1976 the first Beer Ball was produced by Matt Brewery in Utica, New York, US by the president J. Kemper Matt Sr., filled with Matt’s Premium Lager. These Beer Balls held over 5 gallons, which is equal to 55 beers.

Beer Balls became more popular by other breweries jumping on the band wagon. Beer companies like Coors, Guinness, Anheuser-Busch (Budweiser) develop their own Beer Balls in the future years.

Easy to use. Fill a cooler or box with ice, put the beer ball into the ice, insert the tap handle and pour. The tap handle was sold separately and noted as reusable, but users found out that they were good for 3 uses at the most.

Coors, Anheuser-Busch and Guinness Breweries also developed their own Beer Balls. Coors coined their beer balls as the Party Ball. Here is a 1989 TV commercial for Coors Party Ball.

The sad Beer Ball ending. The last of the cherished Beer Ball era came to an end in 2011 with last 2 companies that produced the beer ball, Coors and Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch).

Doing the research on the fall of the Beer Ball I came across too many excuses that range from environmental to financial. The last 2 excuses make sense from some of the other excuses I read about. Trends do run out. That poor Pet Rock.

Ending.  Harold finally replied to Dr. Wetbrain on how many Beer Balls he has left from the past.

Harold’s reply, “Only 8 or 9 left.”

Money hungry Dr. Wetbrain thought.” You should sell the last one at an auction.” Harold just sideway nodded… NO.

The Famous Sourtoe Cocktail.

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The Famous Sourtoe Cocktail. 

One day on vacation Dr. Wetbrain and Harold ended up in Dawson City, Yukon. They found what they were looking for. The Downtown Hotel with the famous Sourtoe Cocktail. An older looking building with lots of charm. Painted red with white trim. Also, on one side of this bar there is a Jack London Grill and Grace’s Gift Shop on the other side.

The Dr. and Harold parked the truck and went in.

“You and I are going to have the Sourtoe Cocktail, Harold.” Dr. Wetbrain insisted.

Scared Harold replied, “Okay??”

Sitting in this Yukon bar having a beer the Doctor told the story of the famous Sourtoe Cocktail.

The history of the Sourtoe goes back to the 1920s when a rum-runner Louie Linken froze his big toe during a blizzard in the Yukon. To prevent gangrene Louie’s brother amputated his big toe and put it into a jar of alcohol. This toe somehow ended up at the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City.

Be A Sourtoe Club Member.

So now to become an honorary certified member of the Sourtoe Club which has been around since 1973 and has over 100,000 members from around the world. You have to drink a shot of whatever whiskey you wish. Normally Yukon Jack. With a preserved human toe in the shot.

#1 – Order a shot and pledge the Sourtoe oath.

#2 – Watch the human toe get dropped into your shot.

#3 – Drink your shot fast or slow as long as the human toe touches your lips. You are good to go to be certified.

You are now the proud owner of the Downtown Hotel Sourtoe Cocktail Club signed certificate.

Harold gagged a little when the toe touched his lips.

Fun Facts – 25 people have donated dehydrated to the Downtown Hotel in Dawson City, Yukon. These donators are trying to toe the line.

The World Of Beer Bikes.

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One quiet afternoon Harold and Dr. Wetbrain were sitting back on the porch, sipping on a beer.

Interrupting the quietness Dr. Wetbrain began. “Picture this Harold. A nice European warm sunny day, sitting at an open bar which is slowly moving through an ancient cobblestoned street. Meeting, drinking and cheering the people you are sitting with and the smiling people on the street. Once in awhile this moving bar would stop at a historic pub for a pint or two. Drunk when dropped off at your hotel.”

“Snap out of it!”, Harold yelled.

“What!” The doctor retaliated. “This dream is possible. Have you heard of Beer Bikes which are all around the world. Except in Muslim countries. Yes there is such a thing as party bikes. Famed tourist countries such as Netherlands, US, Canada, Belgium, Germany, France, Australia has one somewhere, Italy, Holland and Japan all have Beer Bikes. These slow traveling bars are great for birthday parties, company outings, bachelorette parties or just friends on the town.

Beer Bikes – Beer Bikes are a smart marketing ploy to promote a bar and get supplemental income. The Beer Bike is basically an over sized rickshaw. Instead of a 2 seat bench behind a peddle bike you have a fair size trailer. A bar in the middle and 8 to 17 stools around the bar that has beer taps to refresh your mug. The pilot in the front is the sober driver who just steers and brakes. It’s the drunk patrons who are peddling to give power to this beer bike. The tour that each bike usually provides is a stop at a popular pub or brewery. Unfortunately in 2017 in Amsterdam the Party Bike was banned due to traffic jams and lots of noisy vehicle honking. This tour attraction in 1997 was invented by the fine folks of Het Fietscafe BV in the Netherlands.

Few examples of Beer Bike Tours in the world with their links….

US – Pedal Pub.com – This company is located in 14 states like California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Missouri and more. Plus Canada. What! No Quebec.

Belgium – Beer Bike Tours – Reservation of minimum 8 party participants. Lets party!

Canada – Calgary Beer Bike – Craft beer tours.

Germany – Berlin Beer Bike – Up to 16 people. With the privilege of an English speaking sober driver – big barrel of beer in the front – 2 pints free – and a roof.

Japan – The Ichiroku Onomichi is a 16 passenger bike that does a historic beer tour of Onomichi, Japan. Saki is the most popular drink on this Beer Bike.

Australia – Cheekies Bike – This Beer Bike caters up to 12 partiers. The Cheekies Bike will tour you from Cullen Bay to Esplanade and Mitchell Street. Check out map.

Still on the porch Dr. Wetbrain was checking out Harold who was deep in thought. “Still thinking about my Beer Bike dream, aren’t you Harold?”

 

 

Alcohol Prohibition Penalties.

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Alcohol Prohibition Penalties.

Harold listening to a podcast on his earbuds spoke up loudly like he is deaf. “Wetbrain! People are getting whipped for having a drink of whiskey. W.T.F.”.

Through the history of alcohol there were alcohol prohibitions in certain countries. These days mostly prohibition is in Muslim territories with severe penalties.

There is a small town in Alberta, Canada. Raymond, Alberta with a population of 4000 has a type of alcohol prohibition where you can not possess or purchase alcohol or be fined.

Then there is the famous United States Alcohol Prohibition from 1920 to 1933 where there will be NO manufacture, sales and transportation of any alcohol products. First offence had a penalty fine up to $1000.oo and up to 6 months jail. 2nd offence we are looking at $5000.oo fine and up to 1 year imprisonment. $1000.oo in 1927 is now worth $23000.oo. WOW!

Most of the alcohol prohibition places still these days have the punishment for drinking alcohol in public are flogging, fines, imprisonment or death. Below are countries I will never visit!

   Countries these days with alcohol prohibition and the penalties.

Pakistan – In 1979 Muslim citizens caught drinking alcohol would get painful 80 whips or 2 years in prison. For having a shot of whiskey! What is wrong with these people!

Sudan

Saudi Arabia – God forbid if you sold alcohol to a Saudi national. You would be looking at 3 to 9 months in jail. Flogging would be involved.

Somalia

Libya – No whipping here but there is some jail or a fine.

Iran – July 8, 2020, a man was executed for drinking alcohol. W.T.F.

Kuwait – Do not get caught drinking alcohol here. A fine is $1700us to 3.4 million. Jail is 6 months to 5 years. Plus, deportation or a death sentence! When is the next plane?

Bangladesh

Afghanistan – Only 60 lashes here or imprisonment. Just a little better than Pakistan. W.T.F.

 

Dr. Wetbrain thought about these ridiculous punishments. The whole world is going nuts with the wars and international fighting that are going on now. The wrong people are getting the lashes.

Cheers!  

Social Media Made Guinness Beer Scarce.

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Social Media Made Guinness Beer Scarce!

Did social media have a play in the scarcity of Guinness Beer?

Right now, there is a shortage of that fine tasting Guinness Beer. This beer devastation is not from climate change with droughts and floods effecting the barley harvest. Or lack of fresh water. No, the desolate depletion of Guinness Beer was brought on by a marketing campaign which lasted for a few years in the UK, along with a social media hype. The main group devoted were women and Gen Zs. Guinness Beer is getting sold out. “No drops of stout left in my stein me laddies!”

 

Guinness Beer produced by Diageo for 265 years, limited the purchase on how much British pubs can get. Usually half of their regular orders. One pub owner noted that we must have Guinness for the Six Nation Rugby Championship which kicks off January 31, 2025! These nasty limits only apply to pubs in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.

Also, the Irish security stock of Guinness Beer was commandeered for the UK shortage. North America will also suffer from the lack of Guinness in the pubs due to Diageo putting a large shipment on standby. Diageo spokesperson thanked customers for their patience due to the demand at unprecedented levels and working hard to increase the volume.

Arthur Guinness on December 31, 1759, signed a 9000-year lease on the St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland. The Guinness Beer was born. Is Guinness still paying 5 cents a month??

This brewery is now owned by Diageo a multinational alcohol beverage maker based in London, England. Out of their over 200 brand names include Smirnoff, Baileys, Captain Morgan and Gordon’s Gin.

Very sad for the Guinness Beer shortage especially for the Six Nation Rugby Championship. Life is life but marketing and social media does not always help.

Update: 35200 pints of Guinness Beer were just stolen due to the shortage.