Richard Baker

Saw Rise of Skywalker today with the family. Significantly better than Last Jedi. A little macguffin-y IMO and things seemed to hang on "believe in yourself" and "friendship wins" platitudes for no good reason, but a decent Star Wars movie in the end.

Beer advent calendar Day 22: Schlossbrau Rheder Original Pils. Have to say, pilsners don't do as much for me as other styles unless it's hot and I'm thirsty. Moderately bitter, a little piney or herbal in flavor. Okay, but didn't rock my world.

Beer advent calendar Day 19: Loncium Vienna Style Lager. Hey, a new style! Coppery color, malty, bit of a spicy taste. Not bad! Would drink again.

Beer advent calendar Day 17: Schwarze Tinte Collab Stout, by Tolzer Muhlfeldbrau. A German stout, interesting! Turns out it's a lot like a schwarzbier, which is fine by me. Smooth, hint of dark fruit, quite light in body for a stout. My favorite so far.

Missed out on yesterday's beer; just not a good time to crack it open, so I'll come back to it later. Day 16: Hallertauer Hopfen-Cuvee, by Schlossbrauerei Herrngiersdorf. It's a German pilsner. Dry, crisp, and a bit metallic, but overall pleasant enough.

Beer advent calendar, Day 13: Ask for a dunkel, get a dunkel! Today is the Herrnbrau Jubilaums-Sud, a Munich dunkel lager. That happens to be one of my favorite styles, so awesome! A bit of roasty malt, caramel, and nut flavor, but not too sweet.

And the Day 12 beer advent calendar selection: Kirta Dunkels Weissbier, by Graminger. Ooh, haven't seen a dunkelweizen yet in this journey. Smooth, sessionable, a little sweet and malty. Two thumbs up. Hope more dunkels are in my future.

Beer advent calendar, Day 11 (yes, a day late): Grandl, from Ankerbrau Nordlingen. Another helles lager! I think I'm seeing a theme with the marzens and helles lagers. Crisp, refreshing, a touch of bitter. Reminds me of a good American macrobrew, just better.

Beer advent calendar Day Ten: Hosl Marzenbier. Another marzen! This one is darker and more coppery in color, with more bitterness than most marzens and a light herbal flavor. Didn't like it much at first sip, but it's growing on me.

Beer advent calendar Day Nine: Altbairisch Hell from Burgerliches Brauhaus. A perfectly drinkable helles lager, just a wee hint of bitterness. I've had others in this assortment impress me more, but it's solid. Nice.

Beer advent calendar, Day Eight: Ladenburger Weizenbock Hell. Hey, another new style! Never had a weizenbock before. It's a wheat bock, but it reminds me of a fruity abbey ale. Strong, and I definitely get a banana and nutmeg flavor. Interesting!

Beer advent calendar, Day Seven: Perlenzauber, which describes itself as a German pale ale. Couldn't really place the style by taste; reminded me of an easy-drinking English pale ale with a hint of citrus sour. And yes, this report is a day late.

"This man is very bendy." I laugh out loud every time I see that commercial. Never gets old.

Beer advent calendar, Day Six: Erlkonig Hell, by Landbrauerei Ludwig Erl. An excellent helles lager, light and crisp like a helles lager should be. I like 'em as a summer beer.

Beer advent calendar Day Five: Kress Bayrisch Zwickel. This one, I had no idea what to expect. Turns out a zwickel beer is an unfiltered sweet amber lager. Nice color, bit of caramel apple taste, quite nice. I learned something new.

Beer advent calendar, Day Four: Why, look! It's another marzen, two days in a row. This one is the Memminger Gold. Beautiful clear gold color, malty, mildly sweet. Just a fine, fine beer.

I have lost Whamageddon. Time of death: 1355 hours, Pacific time.

Beer advent calendar, Day Three: Schnaitl Brau 1842. This one is a marzen, which is awesome because I like marzens. A little cloudier than most others I've seen, very bready. My favorite so far.

Beer advent calendar Day Two: Hohenthanner Schlossbrauerei, Blau Weisse. A nice German wheat beer. Not as cloudy as many American wheat beers, very mild and enjoyable. What's up for Day Three?