Musings from the basement...

Busting 5 Persistent Beer Myths

June 21, 2017 6 Comments

Beer = serious business. It would be an outrage to let misinformation float around beer circles, just an OUTRAGE, so rather than risk hordes of beer nerds taking to the streets or me having a small conniption or panic attack or something after hearing someone get something wrong about beer (see also), I’m going to debunk a few common beer myths that get passed around even in today’s Beer! Beer! Beer! world. Because the only thing better than sharing your love for something like beer, hopefully with some good friends, is getting a chance to play “I told you so” and know-it-all for faceless Internet people. (I might be exaggerating. Maybe.) Beer In A Hot Car Will Skunk This one goes back to just about…
Read more

Craft Beer

, ,

Crafting Authenticity, Why Dry Cider Is Making A Comeback In America

June 19, 2017 1 Comment

Contributed Post American cider has always been hit, and miss with the general public and Irish and English ciders have taken precedent. The traditions of cider brewing have long since been passed down from generation to generation in the island of Ireland. Irish ciders have been a prominent favorite with consumers because the brewing techniques have been able to create smooth, punchy and bittersweet alcoholic beverages without a cheap aftertaste. English ciders have been giving the Irish a run for their money as Somerset brewed ciders like Thatchers Gold is becoming widely acclaimed for making vintage ciders. However, the American market is not used to high volume percentages and likes something a little flatter; which is where dry cider comes into the fray. Although hard…
Read more

Craft Beer

, ,

Neil Cavuto does not understand Captain America, or America

June 3, 2017 5 Comments

It’s perhaps unsurprising when a Fox news host misunderstands something simply because it wears red, white, and blue. Last night, Fox News host Neil Cavuto and guests said Wonder Woman had been rendered unpatriotic because her costume in the new movie is red, gold and blue rather than red, white and blue, and that there was “very little reference to America at all” in the movie. Nevermind that Wonder Woman is an Amazonian, not an American — finally, a birth certificate controversy with real meat on its bones! But what struck me were their passing comments about Captain America, long one of my favorite Marvel heroes and a character launched into new levels of amazing thanks to both the work of Ed Brubaker and the…
Read more

Comics & Graphic Novels, Politics

, , ,

Someone shot up my friend’s workplace – and it should scare you as much as it scared him

June 1, 2017 18 Comments

On Sunday morning, someone took aim at the offices of the Lexington Herald-Leader, a major newspaper in Kentucky, and apparently shot the place up. Several windows were shattered and what appear to be bullet holes were found in other spots on the building, including in some windows on the press room. This was accompanied by a bomb threat at a newspaper processing plant down the road owned by another newspaper. It may have been a random act of violent vandalism, but I’m not so sure. A friend of mind works there. For obvious reasons I won’t name him. He’s shaken. He should be. He’s gotten threatening phone calls before — as a former small town journalist, I can say from experience that irrationally angry readers are…
Read more

Politics

, , , , , , , , , ,

SUNDAY SIPS: 5 Luscious Lagers from Pennsylvania

May 28, 2017 0 Comments

After a brief break — there was just too much other stuff going on that I had to do — Sunday Sips returns, slightly behind schedule but still focused on good brews you should try. This week, it’s lagers, an underrated style in the craft world. Specifically, lagers from the sort of okay state of Pennsylvania. Cheers! Neshaminy Creek Churchville Lager In a craft beer world obsessed with barrel aging and being hoppier than thou, the lowly lager doesn’t get much love. That’s too bad, because few classes of beer are as well suited to anytime, anywhere drinking. Other styles can be mood-dependant, but a lager always hits the spot. Thankfully, those who appreciate this more subtle style have some great options that are brewed locally. For…
Read more

Craft Beer

, , ,