MaNiFeX.net

Happy 20th Birthday Linux!

Matthew — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:00:33 +0000

Next year will be a rager, I’m sure.

Just Goofus

Matthew — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:04:43 +0000

So… Tumblr is pretty rad. Chicks with Steve Buscemi Eyes and some choice other few Tumblr pages have convinced me to start one myself. Check out Just Goofus and follow me if you like it!

Getting back to the print press…

Matthew — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:24:28 +0000

So, It’s been a long while, but I’ve finally decided to start printing again. I was doing some research into Portland area print shops and community groups… I’m posting a list of them here so I don’t lose them, but maybe someone else will find them useful.

Print Shops in Portland:

Other Printing Resources:

Biking to Work

Matthew — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:19:06 +0000

As I was working on implementing a Google Map for my Portland, OR based posts, I came across my bike route to work I had loaded into Google Maps… It’s about 12 miles from N Portland to Lewis & Clark College. A great ride featuring views of all the mountains around us, the river, bridges, Mt. Hood views galore. So as a test post, I thought I would put up my bike map. Here we go:

View PDX – Matthew West’s Bike Commute in a larger map

I HAVE THE POWER

Matthew — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:36:52 +0000

My first attempt at a jungle song… It actually turned out quite like I intended, but listening to it years later, I definitely would have changed a few things… Hmm. Maybe a remix will be on it’s way? Enjoy!

I Have the Power

Tha Joint (Summer 2002 Mix)

Matthew — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 07:22:42 +0000

Tha Joint mix was created the summer after I graduated college. My brain was still fried with 4 years of hardcore studying, growing up, getting laid, and abusing substances. I had a part time job, a computer, and some time. These were the fifteen songs me and my then fiancée were listening to all that summer. If you burn this to CD, do so without gaps between songs. Enjoy!

Spontaneous Ink

Matthew — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 19:15:46 +0000

Last night, my wife and I were out and about on the town and she proposed we stop by her friend’s new tattoo shop in Portland to spec out her new tattoo. Lo and behold, there was a seat open, and I asked about walk-ins. I ended up getting the tattoo to the right in memory of my Aunt Eleanor, who passed recently. Jacob Neumann of Sovereign Tattoo did the work in about an hour and a half. He did an amazing job combining traditional Americana tattoo elements to help symbolize the life of my great aunt.

I’m stoked to have met a couple tattoo artists new to town. Hawk Chaite of 932 Tattoo (Bend, OR) recently opened Sovereign Tattoo on SE Division street. One of the many new Divsion/Clinton businesses popping up in the neighborhood. It made my night to meet some great guys and get a sick tattoo. That and finishing up the night at The Dancing Bare with my rad wife.

XXX Malt Liquor

Matthew — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 02:21:20 +0000

Style: Specialty Beer
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: August 22nd, 2010
Bottle Date: November 2nd, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/398939/specialty-beer-recipes/xxx-malt-liquor

My attempt at a very high alcohol content “light” beer. It turned out to be more like a barley wine, but I left it in secondary a long time. Inspired by my 30th birthday, I wanted a very alcoholic beer to help me into my 30 somethings.

Very similar to a barley wine. Strong malt tones, sweet, and very warm on the tongue. One 22oz gets you warm and toasty.

Dirty Man Old Ale

Matthew — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:18:56 +0000

Style: American Pale Ale
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: August 14th, 2010
Bottle Date: September 12th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/397612/old-ale-recipes/dirty-man-old-ale

Brewed for my 30th birthday, Dirty Man Old Ale is my first attempt at a higher alcohol content style. Old ales have always been a favorite, so I thought I would give it a shot. My wife preferred the name Dirty Old Man Ale, but since it’s an Old Ale, I thought I would give the saying a twist.

Sweet and balanced. Rich, strong, and complex earthy tones of both hops and malts. Long finish, leaving the tongue tingly warm from the high alcohol content.

Love Potion Pale Ale

Matthew — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:12:57 +0000

Style: American Pale Ale
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: July 11th, 2010
Bottle Date: July 27th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/397555/american-pale-ale-recipes/love-potion-pale-ale

Brewed during the end of raspberry season and during a time in my life where there was a _lot_ of love going around. My experiment with fresh fruit in the secondary imparted a lot of scent and a little tartness, it also made for over carbonated bottles. That being said, the result was great, nice taste, great pink color. If I brew again with raspberries, I’d drop them in at the last five minutes of the boil instead.

Crisp, tart, solid hop flavor with a nice clean finish, leaving a hint of raspberry flavor in the decay. Very tasty. I was afraid of the tart raspberry flavor conflicting with my hop choice, but it worked out really well.

Xtra Pale Ale

Matthew — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:05:51 +0000

Style: American India Pale Ale
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: April 23rd, 2010
Bottle Date: May 7th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/310829/american-ipa-recipes/xtra-pale-ale

The XPA is my response the Black IPA style that is very popular in the Portland microbreweries right now. It has lighter malts than a standard IPA yet still retains the same amount of hops. Crisp, light in the mouth, finishes very hoppy and fresh. Great for a hot summer day.

Brass Monkey Belgian

Matthew — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:56:44 +0000

Style: Saison
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: March 25th, 2010
Bottle Date: April 7th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/193255/saison-recipes/brass-monkey-belgian

My idea for the Brass Monkey Belgian originated from the Beastie Boys song “Brass Monkey.” The original Brass Monkey is made by drinking a 40oz. of your favorite malt liquor to the top of the label, then filling the bottle up with orange juice. Sweet, right?!?!?

The Brass Monkey Belgian was my entry into the Oregon Brewer’s Association’s “Portland Cheers for Belgian Beers” Competition on May 1st, 2010 at the Hopworks Urban Brewery in Portland, OR. It did well and was reviewed well. Both judges rated my ale a 35/50. Points mostly taken off for not following protocols. I know next time!

Lesson learned from the saison yeast, it gets flocculates like gangbusters. Next time, I’ll be keeping this one in the primary a bit longer. Still tastes great!

Mr. Binger’s Ale of Ginger

Matthew — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:17:57 +0000

Style:Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer
Volume:5 gallons
Brew Date: February 21st, 2010
Bottle Date: March 21st, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/193476/spice-herb-or-vegetable-beer-recipes/mr-bingers-ale-of-ginger

Mr. Binger’s is my first attempt at a Ginger Ale. I used a lot of ginger because I like a strong ginger flavor. Using brown and cane sugar gives the ale a cider like carbonation quality. Definitely a crowd pleaser. Enjoy!

Pipe Weed Pale Ale

Matthew — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 23:07:35 +0000

Style:American Pale Ale
Volume:5 gallons
Brew Date: February 7th, 2010
Bottle Date: February 25th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/193473/american-pale-ale-recipes/pipe-weed-pale-ale

Pipe Weed Pale Ale is my first attempt at brewing with marijuana. I got a bum bag and decided rather than smoke some subpar weed, I could just brew it into some beer.

Interesting flavor. Definitely a Pale Ale, but there is a earthy flavor and herbal quality added by the marijuana. The first time I drank this, it knocked me on my ass. It’s got a nice high alcohol content and goes down smooth. Almost like the Reflecting Pool Pale with the added flavors from the weed.

Reflecting Pool Pale Ale

Matthew — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:34:10 +0000

Style:American Pale Ale
Volume:5 gallons
Brew Date: January 24th, 2010
Bottle Date: February 11th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/193470/american-pale-ale-recipes/reflecting-pool-pale-ale

Reflecting Pool Pale Ale is my attempt at a clone of Mirror Pond Pale Ale by Deschutes Brewery. This recipe is dedicated to my brother-in-law Kirk Brohman. It’s his favorite brew.

Very close to the original. Tasty, well rounded malt flavors, and just enough hops to keep me interested. The finish is clean and floral. One of my best brews yet!

Czech Your Head Lager

Matthew — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:27:53 +0000

Style:Standard American Lager
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: January 17th, 2010
Bottle Date: February 2nd, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/169176/standard-american-lager-recipes/czech-your-head-lager

Based off of a Pilsner Urquell clone and real crowd pleaser. There’s definitely going to be a second incarnation of this! Bright, clean, fresh taste. Very clear with a tight white head. The colder served the better. Great with spicy, tomato based, and full flavored dishes.

North Portland Ale

Matthew — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 04:13:24 +0000

Style: American India Pale Ale
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: January 2nd, 2010
Bottle Date: January 14th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/158928/american-ipa-recipes/north-portland-ale

Based off of one of my favorite IPAs, Lagunitas, this is a well hopped and medium malt body. Not too alcoholic and can be used as a session IPA. Named after my neighborhood: North Portland, I like to call this my ‘NPA.’

Hoppy flavors, session-style alcohol content. Tasty. Being a beginning brewer, my fermentation must not have been as efficient as I had hoped, as the malt flavor was a bit too sweet. Hop taste is adequate and flavorful.

Premier Pale Ale

Matthew — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:50:38 +0000

Style: American Pale Ale
Volume: 5 gallons
Brew Date: December 26th, 2009
Bottle Date: January 10th, 2010
Recipe: http://hopville.com/recipe/158275/american-pale-ale-recipes/premier-pale-ale

My first homebrew and it turned out great! I’d like to thank Aaron and Joe at Homebrew Exchange. They helped me learn to brew and gave me the confidence and information to produce my first beer. Premier Pale Ale is based off of Aaron Fabbri’s ‘Adria Pale Ale.’ It’s a light pale ale that’s very well balanced. A great brew to keep in the mix.

MaNiFeX.net 5.1 Launched

Matthew — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:27:12 +0000

Hello again, all! 2010 has been a crazy year for me. Plenty of turmoil, data loss, and just general weird happenings. I’m in the process of fixing up MaNiFeX.net again. Still using WordPress, which I love as a dynamic website environment. Most of the pages here are stubs, so bear with me as I update the pages…