It might be April Fools, but this beer is no joke. Tactical Nuclear Penguin is the strongest beer was the strongest beer in the world for a short period of time last year.

While it no longer holds that world record, it is by far the most tactical beverage around. And with an alcohol by volume of 32%, it still packs a pretty potent punch.

The brew comes wrapped in a brown paper bag with a cute lil’ penguin doodled on the side. The bottles and beer have a black licorice color emphasizing its powerful nature. It even contains a warning label that reads: “This is an extremely strong beer, it should be enjoyed in small servings and with an air of aristocratic nonchalance. In exactly the same manner that you would enjoy a fine whisky, a Frank Zappa album or a visit from a friendly yet anxious ghost.”

Brew Dog, an independent Scottish brewery, dreamed up the concoction by developing a completely unique process. This 18-month method includes storing the beer at a near-arctic temperature of -20 degrees for three weeks in the final stages. That’s what gives it its extra alcohol content.

Tactical Nuclear Penguin is extremely potent, and it is also extremely pricey. It costs $68 for an 11.2 ounce bottle including shipping and exchange rates. Obviously this is a drink that’s meant to be cherished — not sloshed into a beer bong.

Tactical Nuclear Penguin from BrewDog on Vimeo.

Watch two guys in their living room unveil a bottle of the first batch of Tactical Nuclear Penguin. They discuss whether or not it’s technically a beer and decide they really don’t give a hoot. At first taste, one exclaims: “You know, that’s super mellow! There’s some nice coffee and some malt tastes. There’s also a smoky tobacco taste.”

In this review, Tactical Nuclear Penguin is deemed a hybrid of a beer and a spirit with certain softness and a surprisingly light body.

Mark Dredge unwraps his bottle and notices the beer’s thick legs. He describes it as woody, oaky, smoky, yeasty, fruity and, above all, boozy. “It kind of clears your nose a little bit.”

Yesterday we extolled the virtues of lightweight pants in the springtime and allowed someone else to tell you all about them. Well, it’s our turn now.

Woolrich introduced its women’s line at the 2009 SHOT Show and hasn’t looked back. The pants incorporate many of the same features from the men’s version. Better yet, Woolrich attempted to give the pant a true woman’s fit, spending many years working on its specific features.

The pants manufacturer was kind enough to send us a faboosh pair of the Elite Lightweight Tactical Pant (MSRP $54.99). With 10-pockets total, it makes a handbag nearly obsolete. There’s a pocket for everything — an iPhone or BlackBerry, car keys, a wallet, knife, gun and magazines. Heck, you can probably even slide in a make-up compact and nail file if you really wanted.

Made in China, the pants are a 100% fade-resistant cotton. While we haven’t worn ‘em long enough to test its resistance to fading, we did drop some water on the pant to test its ability to repel water. Its DuPont treated Teflon Fabric Protector makes the pant nearly impermeable to water. Most of the H2O rolled right off, but of course, a few particles stuck around. Not too many, though.

Constructed with a 7-ounce ripstop, the pants are indeed much lighter when compared to the regular Elite Pant, which is an 8.5-ounce cotton canvas. Only available in khaki, the pants are a great addition to any spring and summer wardrobe.

Overall, the pant had a slim, flattering fit, and the material felt very cozy. Perhaps these could double as tactical sweatpants? The elastic waistband made moving around — especially running — much easier than a regular cargo. Our one complaint: The rise was just a tad too high for us. Maybe someone needs to consider a low-rise tactical pant?

UPDATE: According to our contact at Woolrich, the high-waist complaint is common on this pair, and they are in *very preliminary* talks of adding a second style of women pants. We’ll keep you posted when we hear more!

A special thanks to our tactical model, Erica!

• Find out what those experimental criminologists have been up to in the video above. (The Crime Map)
• Going to be in Baltimore on March 5? We hear the BIGGEST EMS/Fire blogger meet-up of all time is taking place. (Happy Medic)
• SouthLAnd premiers on TNT to rave reviews … at least from one LEO. And possibly from others. (Motorcop)
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• Everyday EMS Tips celebrates its 500th post. (Everyday EMS Tips)
• Scott from Spartan Cops takes a sabbatical. (Spartan Cops)
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• A lone goat takes Texas police on a wild ride. (Officer.com)
• Slam Dunks turns into a guest blogger for a day. (Slam Dunks)
• And now for a tiny diatribe about immigration and stereotyping. (The Duty Sgt)

• VIDEO: Dash cam footage from a deadly Kansas City shootout, aptly described by Johnny Law as “some scary sh**.” (The Johnny Law Chronicles)
• Law enforcement and LinkedIn: The most underused executive social network wants you. (Cops 2.0)
• Police Magazine cover story “Watch What You Post” looks at officers pushing the social networking envelope. (Police Magazine)
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Recently, we’ve seen a lot of different reviews of 5.11 Tactical Pants. While some have been not so favorable, this one comes from Survivalist31, a frequent reviewer of survival gear on YouTube and a definite tac pants fan. Specifically the pants he critiques are a cotton /polyester mix, which he calls a “great pair of pants.”

(Do note that midway through the review there is some background noise that may or may not be Survivalist31’s sister, which he mentions in the video comment section.)

Some of his observations include:

• Pockets at vertical incline with reinforced bottom liners for pocket knives.
• Back pockets have Velcro closures, though front pockets do not.
• Stretchy waistline comes in handy for any extra movements.
• Font features a magazine or cell phone pouch.
• Able to slide kneepads in the front to make kneeling more comfortable.

“They are a great pair of pants,” he says. “Go out and buy one, two, five, six pairs. I could wear them all summer because they are that comfortable.”

After Chicago-Sun Times scribe Andy Ihnatko crammed everything—an iPhone, an Amazon Kindle and four (yes, four!) digital cameras—in his pockets of his “Internet Pants,” he captured geeks’ attention everywhere.

Especially GeekDad, Wired’s blog for technophile fathers. They gave “Internet Pants,” a.k.a. 5.11 Tacticals, a rather positive review a few months ago.

Ken Denmead wrote:

…they are perfectly cut. They hang right, the break just so, and they feel awesome. They’re also tremendously durable and well-made, and… they’re geeky. Indeed, that’s the funny thing about these pants, and why they are becoming popular with the tech-set. They have pockets and rings and slots all over that are perfect for stashing… stuff. Gear. Tech. Gizmos.

Well, we couldn’t agree with you more, Ken.

Fechheimer has joined the fray with their take on tactical pants, which they have dubbed VERTX.  The premise behind the first pant in this line, the VTX1000, is a covert appearance without sacrificing any functionality. The idea is similar to Blackhawks TNT (tactical non-tactical) pant, which makes for easy blending in amongst civilians.

The design of this pant was led by Arc’Teryx, who are known for their functional outerwear, climbing gear, and packs. That’s means a lot of design expertise has been brought to this pant, and it shows with such niceties as hidden pockets, articulated knees, and a back pocket credential trap.

Retailers are selling the VERTX VTX1000 for less than $50, and the are available right now in Black, Desert Tan, Khaki, Navy, and OD Green.

VERTX Tactical Pants

Tru-Spec’s 24/7 pants are gaining in popularity with tactical operators around the globe.  Their cargo pockets are billed as being roomier, and have the added bonus of having internal magazine compartments baked in.  And at $36.99 retail, they come in a few bucks cheaper than the old 5.11 standby.

What we find striking is that this is the lowest priced pair of pants we’ve found that have the hidden slider waistband, which we strongly prefer over the standard “bunched” elastic look offered by 5.11 and Propper.  If you haven’t seen these pants in person, be sure to check them out at your local retailer.

Line Drawing of the 24-7 Mens Pant

Women's 5.11 Tactical Pants

Some women are not appreciating 5.11 Tactical’s latest effort to put them in a shiny new pair of tactical pants. The following review was recently posted on 5.11’s own retail site:

“I am going through EMT class and had to order this exact style pant. They are absolutely HORRIBLE! First, I had to order 2 sizes bigger than what I normally wear. Second, because I had to get a much bigger size, the inseam of the pants hang down much lower than it should, so they look unprofessional. Third, the waist of the pants go up past my belly button and we are expected to be able to tuck our shirts in. Please don’t order these pants, they are absolutely horrible and you will regret it. Spend your money on a different pair.”

-jeepgirl13 from New Orleans, LA

Fresh video breakdown of Blackhawk! Warrior Wear lightweight tactical pants just posted on YouTube. Review by George Bess from Blackhawk.