Helping out at GalaxyCon

Over at Rogue Blades I mention that I'll be helping out at a booth at GalaxyCon in Raleigh, NC, this weekend.

Beer of the Week: Sierra Nevada Stout

Beer score: 7.2

Company: Sierra Nevada

ABV: 5.8
IBU: 50

Like many a good stout, this one pours a dark brown almost black and has a smooth, foamy tan head to it. The smell reminds one of coffee and perhaps a little chocolate.

To the taste, this one has a lot of heavy maple and molasses textures. It's strong, but not as heavy as many stouts. Still, it's also very bitter.

If you're a stout drinker, this should be for you. However, this isn't for beginners.

More on Deadlands at Black Gate

My Black Gate article this week takes a look at some of the books for the Deadlands tabletop rpg, mainly books dealing with firearms of the Old West period.

Rituals of the warrior

This week over at the Rogue Blades site I talk about the importance of warrior rituals.

Books read in 2021: No. 26 -- The Emperor's Soul

by Brandon Sanderson

Started: July 21
Finished: July 22

Notes: I've been reading older fantasy of late, so I thought I'd switch things up and read some more modern material. Plus, the girlfriend suggested this novella.

Mini review: That was a damn fine read. The world building is excellent. A magic system based upon forgery of souls ... it's not something I had considered. And while the writing here was easy to read, it was not simplistic, also fast paced. I enjoyed it. I'll have to check out more of Sanderson's work.

Books read in 2021: No. 25 -- Nomads of Gor

by John Norman

Started: June 27

Finished: July 20

Notes: I've never read any of the Gor novels though I've run across them for decades, so I thought now was the time to give one a try. This is the fourth book in the series, originally published back in 1969.

Mini review: Okaaaay. By modern standards, this one is not very politically correct, whether for good or bad depending on one's viewpoint. Issues of slavery and treatment of women are rampant throughout much of this novel, though to be fair the writing doesn't go into detail. For that matter, the writing here wasn't bad ... not great, but quite readable. And honestly, the world building was quite superb. Would I read another Gor novel? Actually, yeah, I might.

Beer of the Week: Beamish Irish Stout

Beer score: 5.4

Company: Beamish

ABV: 4.1
IBU: 35

Like any decent stout, this one pours a dark black color with perhaps hints of red around the edges. In the scent there's plenty of maltiness and hints of burnt chocolate with maybe a touch of coffee.

The taste also has some of that chocolate and coffee flavoring to it. This is one of the smoothest stouts I've ever tried, and it's not all that strong. For that matter, it's actually pretty flat but has a nice stoutesque kick on the way down.

I wouldn't say this is the best stout I've ever tasted, but it is different and is far from being one of the worst stouts. It's worth a try.

Rolling into battle at Rogue Blades

Over at the Rogue Blades site, this week I ask, "What's your soundtrack if you're rolling into battle?" Metallica, Wagner, The Carpenters?

Beer of the Week: Natural Ice

Beer score: 2.3

Company: Anheuser-Busch

ABV: 5.9
IBU: NA

Ever wonder why the folks at Anheuser-Busch never put much taste into Natural Light? It's because the beer would taste like this one. And that's not good.

The flavor is over-top-cheap American, and it can be hard to swallow because of the taste and the carbonation.

At least it pours a nice, light golden color. But then the smell hits you. It smells like grass and metal. Really. Even when you drink it out of the bottle.

It's fairly cheap and can get you drunk, so I suppose it's not all bad.

Hellish Quart swordfighting video game

This week at Black Gate, I ask the question, "Is Hellish Quart the most realistic swordfighting video game ever?"

Allow others to call us heroes

This week over at the Rogue Blades site, I talk about how sometimes when someone compliments us by calling us a "hero," we should accept it.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: H.C. Berger Beers

H.C. Berger is another brewery that's no longer with us. Coming out of Fort Collins, Colorado, they put out some quality beers a couple of decades ago. They might be gone, but I still had a few of my notes about their beers that I'd tasted, so here you go.

H.C. Berger Chocolate Stout
Beer score: 7.3

Those of you with a sweet tooth shouldn't get their hopes up -- there wasn't any real chocolate in this beer. It was quite weak for a stout, more like a watery porter with some extra maple flavoring thrown in. Still, this wasn't a bad brew.

H.C. Berger Dopplebock Beer
Beer score: 4.6

An overly sweet beer that was heavy on the tongue. Reminded me somewhat of a stout, but that sweetness was just overpowering and nearly ruined what could have been an awesome beer.

H.C. Berger Dunkel
Beer score: 5.4

Had a strong sweetness and was pretty wet. Taste a lot like H.C. Berger's Rauchbier, their Doppelbock Beer, and their Kolsch Ale. Like the Doppelbock, too much sweetness for my liking.

H.C. Berger Indego Pale Ale
Beer score: 6.9

This was one of the stronger and more sour pale ales, with a touch of sweetness in the aftertaste. If you like Old World pale ales, this drink would have been for you. Quite wet and smooth, but stronger than many of the Americanized pale ales.

H.C. Berger Kolsch Ale
Beer score: 4.6

A slight sweetness with some beer-like bitterness. Tasted just like three or four other beers from H.C. Berger. Not awful, but nothing overly special.

H.C. Berger Rauchbier
Beer score: 6.1

Wet with a strong mixture of bitter and sweet. The sour turned sweet the more you drank, to the point of being annoying. Not a super great brew, one of several from H.C. Berger than nearly tasted the same.

H.C. Berger Red Banshee Ale
Beer score: 7.0

One of the stronger amber ales, and it was worth your time. Pretty powerful and wet. Quite smooth.

H.C. Berger Whistlepin What Ale
Beer score: 6.6

This one had a honey sweetness and a little fizz. Went down easy, and the sweetness wasn't annoying.

Weapons alone do not make a hero

My Rogue Blades article this week is titled, "Weapons Do Not Make the Hero." Let me know what you think.