You know when you were growing up, there was always this one house in your neighborhood where all the kids hung out and the parents were simply “cool”. They had an uncanny ability to make each person feel so at-home. You could relax there and have a good time… Well, word on the street is that’s the vibe you’re going to get at McKee’s Pub and Grill. Everyone I talk to tells me they frequent McKee’s for the same three reasons; it’s unpretentious, they feel at home; the food is really good.

Aesthetically , McKee’s could be anybody’s hometown Irish Pub. The place is dimly lit, with beer lights and various liquor signs glowing. Four leaf clovers ,of course, prominently appear everywhere. There are pool tables, dartboards and even weekly trivia game signs handwritten and posted looking for participants. The bartender when I was there had that natural pretty girl next door look, and greeted me with a subtle smile. I order a Guinness and she asks if I want a slow pour? I immediately reply yes, and within minutes receive my beer with an impression of a clover on the head. The guy next to me at the bar greets me as wel,l with a nod and a smile. I easily settle in. Around me people were involved in conversations or some just doing their own thing, but I couldn’t tune out the greetings shouted across the bar and all of the shared laughter, almost as if everyone in there knew each other. Amidst all of the background goings on, I finally spot the boss. It was no easy chore. I visually combed the joint, when first walking in, without noticing anyone who might appear as the owner.

She was sitting at the bar, in a sweatshirt and jeans, blending in like everyone else. That’s her thing. She wants to be one of the crowd, and truly is. Vicky is one of the locals and has been working for this establishment since it used to be a place called Kanuk’s, over 18 yrs ago! She took possession of the bar in 2008. Even though her and her husband, Ranj, are not related to the others working there, Vicki says “The success of McKee’s comes from running this place as a family, Ranj at the door, Randy in the Kitchen, Rita at the bar and everyone one else working here is part of our team”.

Vicki lets out a laugh when telling the story of a flustered customer at the bar. She’s looking straight into my eyes as she speaks, you get the sense that she is a strong woman ” So this guy is telling me, Yeah ,I know the owner, and when I see him I ‘m gonna tell him about you! Vicky’s reply, “Really? When you find the owner, you tell’em I’m lookin’ for him too!”

When given a compliment , Vicky is modest and replies,” I just treat this place like it has my name on it. In McKees, everyone is equal, whether you’re a millionaire or homeless.” Outside of the food people have come to love here (like the tasty and hot quick soup and sandwich for those of you on a work schedule) McKee’s is known for cooking a feast for all on the holidays. That would be seven turkeys and over one hundred pounds of mashed potatoes! It is shared with whomever walks through their doors, even when the economy was at its worst.

Although almost anything goes at McKee’s, Vicky has this unspoken code of conduct that folks seem to understand. She knows when to draw the line and is nobody’s fool. If you cross the line, even as a customer ,you’re out for thirty days. People understand and appreciate a set of boundaries. How else would a lady run two pubs! That’s right, Vicki has another McKee’s in South Dakota, her home state, just 17 miles outside of Sturgis! I am beginning to realize that I am in the presence of a true matriarch. Vicky’s got her doors open to all, making McKee’s a home away from home.

Come Celebrate St . Pattys Day With Us!

Looking to sink your teeth into some Saint Patty’s Day splendor? Where else would you rather be than your hometown McKee’s Pub! McKee’s is more than ready for March 17th, where they will have extended their premises to seat over one hundred additional patrons outside for their busiest day of the year! Can’t you just smell the home made steaming hot corned beef and cabbage cooking as you sip your favorite green beer! This year, they are prepared to almost double the three hundred and forty pounds of corned beef and cabbage they sold last year! Don’t be Foolish, be Irish and come to McKee’s.

Well sports fans, the big day has come and gone. Did anyone see it coming? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Super Bowl 46 was played between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants on February 5th. It was a rematch of a prior Super Bowl and not that exciting of a game, to be honest. Eli Manning played pretty good football. Brady lost it, or did Welker drop the pass? Could Brady pull of the 4th quarter win? The answer is no. The Giants won, and nobody was excited because we were all out shotgunning beers or something else more exciting than watching this game. I asked a Tom Brady fan for his take on the game, and this is part of our conversation:

Me: So we have the back story for Super Bowl 46. Brady’s redemption. Not talking about Eli because he’s always in the shadow. How was the feeling of the game before the 4th quarter?

Oz: It’s like if u got your ass kicked on the playground one day and 3 years later you see that kid again and scrap, it’s even more personal because he whooped your ass the first time when everybody said he couldn’t.

Me: So the game was boring, and the commercials sucked. Good thing we had beer. The 4th quarter is what we were all waiting for. Could Brady run his offense and pull out that last second, miracle drive to win the Super Bowl and be everybody’s hero??

Oz: I felt confident in the 4th quarter and knew it was going down. They interviewed Brady before the game and they asked him would he rather be up with one minute and have Eli with the ball OR be DOWN with a minute to go with him having the ball. He immediately said, “I want the ball.” I think he even knew it was coming down to that.

Me: So you think the Pats as a team were the cause for “Bradying” rather than the man himself?

Oz: Ultimately from just a fan of the game, the entire team should be Bradying after that loss. I mean Brady played well. Did he have the best game of his career? No. But he played well enough to give his team a shot. I think at one point he completed like 13 passes in a row without his main threat. The game wasn’t all that great. No spectacular plays that will live in infamy besides Welker’s drop come to mind. It was just another excuse to eat finger foods and consume lots of beer while wearing your favorite player’s jersey. Not to mention, the obligatory halftime football show. You all go out feeling like you’re making moves like Gronkowski but end up pulling your quad. Smooth… Next time, we’ll discuss the NFL draft coming up which means football season isn’t as far off as it sounds.

SOUL EXISTENCE
Lake Havasu City Metal

We Sat down with Jeremy Arnold and Luke Portugul of Soul Existence to ask them a few questions. We are going to try and put as much of the interview on here as possible but the whole thing really just turned into a great conversation.

How long have you guys been together?

The band started out on December 22nd 2002. We are about to go on our 9th year together! Jeremy and Luke have actually been playing together since they were kids. Back in high school we started a band called The Armpit Queens. It lasted for about 4 years and pretty much coincided of getting together every Saturday and just parting and jamming.

Who are your biggest influences?

Jeremy: American Head Charge! They really changed the way I view music. Luke: Tool is my favorite but I am also influenced by artist such as Nirvana and Ministry.

Is it gay to like Coldplay?

NO! Parachutes would definitely be in our top 10 favorite album list.

How was recording your own CD?

The whole thing took almost a year and half to do not counting the constant studying of other musicians recording videos to get a feel for things like mic placement, room ambiance and vocal effects. Walking in to the well-lit bar room, one doesn’t really expect the lights to dim to the tune of an epic E minor chord rattling the coils on the underside of Bill Pippin’s snare drum. These guys were ready to rock and the gathering crowd could smell the raw talent and perfection emanating off the band members.

Another epic chord is struck and this is just the sound check. This is the second time Soul Existence is playing with their new guitar player, Darrel Dolge, in tow alongside Jeremy Arnold. Everyone knew what was next had been under the hood for a month or so, the crowd knew the execution Jam’s (Jeremy’s) shredding rhythms accompanied by the accuracy and power of Bill’s drumming was destined to be a flawless performance; and it was. Luke Portugal delivered yet again, some of the most heart pounding Bass walks and melodies you really gotta’ love that there is no one band member that dominates the stage presence, they all have it, and their humble demeanor shows that these are the guys that come together like the Voltron of the local Metal scene and beyond. Soul Existence is the desert force to be reckoned with, and when you toss the new album into the stereo, you can’t help but to drive fast and look for the nearest dirt trail to burn through.

Front man and singer, Aaron Peltier, also delivered. His vocal styling ranges without falsetto and always with a face punch of serious talent that has been honed for exactly the job he does on stage with the rest of the guys. From the local dives to the stages spotlighting this red-hot sound, the chemistry is there. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed; that this band gets to take it on road to absolute stardom, so that they can continue on with writing the honed out shreds that metal fans of all ages can come and enjoy.

“Those With Nothing Have Nothing To Lose” Was released Feb. 25 2012 and is available for only $7 on the bands website
www.soulexistence.com

AZ Music

Part 2 By: Rawley R. Macias

Last month, we discussed how simple brewing excellent beer at home can be. We discussed the basic ingredients; grains, hops, water, and yeast and also the three main brewing phases: the brew day, the fermentation period, and the bottling day. Before you can start brewing your first batch, you need to gather some equipment. Some of the equipment listed is not required but makes the brewing process easier and less time consuming.

Equipment needed to brew your own beer:

• 5 gallon Pot or Kettle – To boil the wort in.
• 5 gallon Glass or Plastic Carboy – To ferment the beer in.
• Carboy Brush – To clean the carboy.
• Airlock with Stopper – Used on the carboy
• Plastic Funnel – To fill the carboy.
• 5 Gallon bucket with Spigot – To bottle the beer.
• Hydrometer – To measure the gravity of the wort.
• Graduated Cylinder – To use with the hydrometer.
• Thermometer – To measure the temperature
• Star San Liquid Sanitizer – To sanitize everything
• Large Plastic Spoon – To stir the wort.
• Reusable Mesh Bag – To steep the specialty grains.
• Plastic Siphon Starter – To start a siphon easier
• 5 feet of 3/8″ ID Vinyl Tubing – To transfer the beer
• 3/8″ Plastic Bottle Filler – To fill bottles on bottling day.
• Bottler Caper – Duh, pretty obvious.
• Pack of Bottler Caps – 50 piece pack needed per batch.

Do not be alarmed. This list of equipment may be overwhelming but there are several online suppliers that make entering the hobby of homebrewing easy, by offering kits that contain most or all of the items listed above. One such supplier is Morebeer.com who offers kits ranging from $69 to $479. So, spend the next few weeks gathering your supplies. Next month, we will go over picking your ingredients to suit your beer tastes.

Barley Brothers

A lot has been going on at College Street Brewhouse and Pub. We participated in the 2nd Annual AZ Beer Week, attending many statewide festivals and beer tastings. Along with AZ Beer Week we have picked up World Class Beverage as a distributor and our beer will be available throughout the state. Our bottling line will be coming online very soon. Also, the first weekend in March we will be in Tempe, AZ, participating in the Great Arizona Beer Festival. In our continual effort to be as eco friendly as possible, we have become a zero food waste restaurant, with all the food scraps going to feed local pigs. That’s what’s going on at College Street Brewhouse and Pub, so come on out for live music and to try the “Brass Monkey, that funky monkey” one our handsome Brewers favorites.- Brewer; Colby Hansen

Mudshark

The ever changing beer line-up at Mudsharks, that’s what brewing craft beers is all about. Don’t get me wrong, our standards are the base for an awesome beer selection, but change is good, and do we have some winners – on tap and in the works. First off, the Morning Buzz Coffee Stout;, rich and wonderful with that coffee punch! Then there is the Vanilla Crumble Porter, a Porter with hints of caramel and vanilla that mellow the roast note. Maybe it must have been the installation of our solar array, and our efforts to “go green”, that inspired Scott to unveil the “Psychedelic Series” that debuted with the very popular “HavaBlue” a Blueberry Vanilla Hefeweizen. Next up will be the “Wild Watermelon” and “Just Peachy” Hefeweizens to round out this Series. Come on in and give ‘em a try, let us know what you think. Thanks to everyone for coming out and celebrating Arizona Beer Week with us last month at various venues around town. – Brewmaster; Chuck Croix

Barley Brothers

Barley Brothers offers a wide variety of beer and food. Not surprising, our beers pair well with our food. Our servers are often asked, “What beer do you suggest to go with the Michelangelo?” Generally speaking, it is safe to pair lighter flavored beers; such as our JennaGrace Hefeweizen, with delicate fish or chicken. However complimenting our succulent ribs will require a bigger, bolder beer, such as our GABF Award Winning Kickstart Stout or our full body seasonal Porter. Beer is never out of place, pairing well with our desserts. Our Triple Berry and seasonal beers typically pair well with baked goods. When it comes to beer pairings, sometimes everything you know is wrong, as a contrasting beer is preferred to a complimentary pairing. Try our Red Pepper Shrimp with our Blond Ale. One pairing no one will disagree with is Pizza and Beer. My personal favorite is the Veggie Pizza with Basil Pesto, paired with Big Horn IPA. – Brewer; Nicholas Macal

Editors Pick:

Send in your favorite Havasu meals via Facebook or email editor@itswhatsnow.com

#1 Irish Car Bomb
This bombshell of a drink can be enjoyed at any time during your night. Start it off or end the night with it. MAKE IT: Pour half a glass of Guinness, drop a half shot of Baileys and half shot of Jameson Whiskey into the glass and SLAM IT DOWN.

#2 Irish Coffee Bomb
A twist on the Irish Car Bomb. Substitute Kahlua for Baileys and you get a nice smooth coffee after taste.

#3 Jameson On The Rocks
This bombshell of a drink can be enjoyed at any time during your night. Start it off with this drink or end the night with it.

#4 Guiness
Porter or Stout is synonymous with the guiness family name. Guiness is the quintessential “IRISH BEER” coming to you straight out of Dublin. It has been called an aquired taste and sometime takes a few to truly enjoy.

#5 Irish Coffee
Yes this is a coffe drink! If you are not the average heavy drinker then this is a great drink for you! You take a good shot of Irish whiskey mixed with some steaming coffee for a real taste sensation.

Life Beyond Patron 2

Well here we go! Last month we talked about “Life After Patron”, the reason for these reviews and introductions to the different types of Tequila, how they are classified and the aging process (you can go to our website, pull up the February issue and catch up if you like). This month we start reviewing different Tequilas that we think are worth taking the time to sip.

The CASA NOBLE tri-fecta.
From the lowlands of La Cofradia. This is one distillery that got all three (Silver, Repo and Anejo) right. I won’t even get into their single barrel reposado and anejo let alone their 5 year anejo (if you can find them) other than to say that they are awesome. We will just cover the basic three. On a side note: In July 2011, Casa Noble Tequila announced that music icon Carlos Santana has joined the Board and is now one of the owners of the brand. This new organizational change will allow Santana to be involved in the continued development of Casa Noble Tequila.

BLANCO – Casa Noble Crystal
They say that if you can make a good blanco (un-aged, right out of the still) that producing the aged tequilas are easy. Well, Casa Noble did it for me with their “Crystal”. Let it sit in the glass for a few minutes and you will be met with a complex and unique nose that is sweet with clove, ginger, and ginseng and an overall deep musky agave note. There is nothing boring about this blanco. Aroma, taste, and finish come alive in this true agave spirit. First taste is peppery, citrus, young and green. The mouth feel is smooth and silky with immediate legs on the glass. A mellow agave taste heavy and oily on the tongue. Sweet creamy flavor midway that quickly fades into a fair amount of bitterness in the aftertaste with heat developing on the end. Casa Noble Crystal from beginning to end is definitely a most unique experience. If you don’t want to sip it, this is also a good blanco to make a tasty margarita, with simple good ingredients only!

REPOSADO – Casa Noble Crystal
I am a fan of a good reposado and feel it can be the best representation of a fine sipping spirit if you have a good balance between the wood from the aging and the raw spicy flavor of agave plant. Casa Noble has done wonderful job of providing that balance. This tequila is matured in French white oak barrels for three hundred sixty four days, the longest possible time for it to still be classified as a reposada. That’s why you will find this reposado to be more woody than most but still retain more agave flavor than a lot of anejos. Smooth, sensuous and full bodied. It is the perfect marriage of the agave plant and the oak flavor from the barrel aging. The nose is mostly that of cooked agave with nuances of caramel and a light smokiness. The first sip reveals an up front agave flavor profile, with a touch of vanilla and a light dose of smoke. This is a nicely balanced with very little alcohol burn. A few more sips bring out lot’s of agave flavor with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. The mouth feel is creamy and silky at the same time. The finish was fairly long, mostly agave, with a hint of spice and a whiff of smokiness. This is a very drinkable reposado, and my favorite!

ANEJO
This is a superb anejo. If you like Partida’s anejo you’ll love this – it’s got the nice buttery, vanilla, agave sweetness but with a much smoother delivery and less alcohol presence. Bright and luscious golden copper color with long thick legs. I love the nose on this – nice agave presence with a delicate blend of vanilla butter and apple. The aroma carries through to the first taste, which to me was just the right combination of almost rich butter, vanilla, but sweet with the agave, and just a little smoky wood flavor. Body is deep and full, offering more of the dark herbaceous agave The body was indeed thick and warm, but not syrupy and offers more of the dark herbaceous agave. Outstanding!

JOSE CUERVO RESERVA DE LA FAMALIA
Last issue’s discussion about getting your introduction and sometimes finish to tequila drinking Jose Cuervo got me thinking about tequilas I find myself enjoying, because of it’s wide spread availability. If an establishment has at least a slight hint of wanting a tequila assortment, they most likely will carry at least one higher end anejo. That spot will often be occupied by Jose Cuervo Reservo de La Famalia. I don’t really associate it with my younger day experience with the well known label, but they do put out a good Anejo This is the Cuervo family’s finest Tequila as The story goes that for over 10 generations it was a family secret only shared with the closest of friends. In 1995, the family decided to share this blend of its special Tequila. Aged in oak barrels for an average of 3 years and then blended with Tequila from reserves aged over 30 years this anejo is vibrant, with a full mellow flavor, combining floral, agave, vanilla and Cognac-like flavors. This anejo lacks the strong agave flavor most tequila snobs desire, but to a whiskey drinker it has the drink-ability of a fine 18 year old scotch.

The tequila is golden brown in color and has intense earth, caramel, and floral aromas. Once you get past the intensity of the nose, you can smell moderate notes of vanilla and spice. On the tip of this tongue the tequila is mellow and soft, while feeling oily in the mouth. While the tequila is sweet, it is actually has low amount of bitterness. The flavor has intense floral and chemical attributes which are followed by moderate fruit, agave, and earth. The tequila also has mild vanilla and caramel. The tequilas finish is a medium – to long duration of flavor followed by a slightly numbing and tingly alcohol feeling. Overall a nice treat.