Commentist Beer Barrel: A Moment of Clarity

makeitsnowondem - May 2, 2017May 2, 2017

We haven't talked a lot about imported beers in the Beer Barrel. I know, off the top of my head, that I've written about Czechvar and Chimay Grande Reserve and Kulmbacher Eisbock and Fullers ESB, all of which are exceptionally delicious or have exceptionally interesting stories behind them or both. But for the most part,

Commentist Beer Barrel: From Russia With Care

makeitsnowondem - April 8, 2017

From the outside, looking in, this beer review might appear to be two weeks late. The reality is that this review is much, much later than that. That's because it's a review of a beer from Jester King Brewery, a farmhouse brewing outfit located in the countryside southwest of Austin, and

Commentist Beer Barrel: Drift Wood

Commentist Beer Barrel

makeitsnowondem - March 16, 2017March 16, 2017

Northwestern is in the tournament! This doesn't have anything to do with the beer I'm reviewing this week, but it's a real fact that I almost can't believe. For the last month and a half they seemed determined to piss away a great start and confirm again one of the funadamental laws of the

Commentist Beer Barrel: The Bell’s Tolls For Me

Commentist Beer Barrel

makeitsnowondem - March 4, 2017

Bell's Brewery, of Kalamazoo, Michigan (and lately also Comstock, Michigan) has long been one of the finest breweries in the country whose beer I couldn't get. Their expansion to Texas, which has been rumored to be just around the corner for years, was finally and officially slated for this month. I

Oscar Preview 2017: Ya Betta Act, Someboday (or, Open Thread)

makeitsnowondem - February 26, 2017February 26, 2017

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In the last day or two before the Academy awards, I like to try to expand my horizons and watch a few of the movies Oscar forgot, the ones that were too small or too weird or just for whatever reason overlooked. Last year, just before the show, I caught Tangerine,

Oscar Preview 2017: Arts and Crafts

DFOing Good

makeitsnowondem - February 26, 2017February 26, 2017

Up this morning, editing, writing, and the little things that make the actors look like they belong on the sets, and that make the sets look like places where the actors should be. FILM EDITING Arrival — I haven't seen a single movie this year that was better-paced than Arrival. Arrival is constantly bringing you information

Oscar Preview 2017: Best Pictures

makeitsnowondem - February 24, 2017February 24, 2017

I was planning on holding my favorite cluster of categories till Saturday, but it's been a long-ass week and you all deserve something fun to read about and dammit, I deserve something fun to write about. As cool as it is to get into the nuts and bolts of what's

Oscar Preview 2017: Lights and Sounds

makeitsnowondem - February 23, 2017February 23, 2017

Outside of football season, one of my favorite events to share with you fine folks has always been the Oscars. Back during the KSK days, the Oscar liveblog was an oasis in an offseason that, by three weeks in, had already gone on for far too long. I often had barely

Commentist Beer Barrel: Extra Special

Commentist Beer Barrel

makeitsnowondem - February 18, 2017

I can remember where and when I first had pretty much all of my favorite beers, but when it comes to one of my very earliest favorites, Fuller's ESB, I always draw a blank. I can't remember where, or when, or even whether I had it from a bottle or keg

Commentist Beer Barrel: Let’s Have A Lager!

Commentist Beer Barrel

makeitsnowondem - February 4, 2017February 4, 2017

Happy Super Bowl Saturday! My sympathies to the vast majority of you whose team won't be playing tomorrow, but the consolation match is, I think, a pretty exciting matchup with some real offensive firepower on both sides, and you don't get that every year. I, for one, tend to drink a