Every Saturday, TCM condenses everything that was awesome on the Internet the past week into one place–a place we call The Saturday Dump Festival. You can find past Dump Festivals right here, buddy.
If you find something awesome on the internet, send it our way: editor@thecincinnatiman.com.
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Front pg. thumb:http://www.flickr.com/photos/nostri-imago/ / CC BY 2.0
Posted: July 25th, 2009 | Author: maoglone | Filed under: Saturday Dump Festival | Tags: The Least Uninteresting Things on the Internet This Week | No Comments »
Two days ago, The Phony Coney posted an entry that was very critical of your favorite political nutso whackhead and mine, The Dean of Cincinnati, otherwise known as Jason Haap. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, don’t bother, because it’s gone.
In short, it was awesome. Probably a bit rash, harsh, and biased, but awesome all the same. I’m sad that this post is gone, but more than that, I’d like to know why it disappeared.
So, what of it, Provost? Care to tell a story?
Posted: July 24th, 2009 | Author: maoglone | Filed under: News | Tags: Cincinnati, Jason Haap, The Dean of Cincinnati, The Phony Coney, The Provost of Cincinnati | No Comments »
As grumpy as I get about whimsical-ass names for beer, I gotta say that I’m just plain getting over that. It could be that or Founders’ Curmudgeon Old Ale doesn’t bother me that much as a name. Hard telling.
No matter. The experience that I have with Founders, as with most brewers, is limited. As most (some? Few?) of you know, I started checking out beers early this year, as a sort of learning experience. This past six months or so has taught me a thing or two. Literally. I’ve learned that I have a pretty unsophisticated palate, and I’ve begun to learn what I like. As with most things subjective, for me anyway, liking things is less about finding things that are wonderful than it is about eliminating things that blow goat nuts.
This, as a fact, makes finding something wonderful all the better. I should note here that I do just about zero pre-research on whatever particular beer I pick up; this means that like the semi-educated turd that I am, I’m essentially stumbling upon very popular beers and brewers, only to find out later that I’m learning about things everyone already knows. It’s like when you discovered Led Zeppelin in seventh grade only to find out that your dad has a first pressing of The Song Remains the Same tucked away in the attic.
That’s pretty much how I feel picking up Founders brews. I know enough to know more or less what I’ll probably like, but never having tried them, it’s a crapshoot.
Anyhow, I bought a 4 pack of Curmudgeon, pretty much because the guy on the label looked like an asshole. I sort of identified, I suppose. After leaving it to chill a day or so (probably a slight mistake, because I don’t think they need to be as cold as they got), I cracked one open. The first whiff is a bit overwhelming and complex. There’s a distinctly boozy, somewhat wine-ish nose to Curmudgeon, but along with that there’s a boldly fruity, pruny overtone to it.
First drink kind of punched me in the mouth a little bit. It’s a hair fuller, mouthfeel-wise, than I expected it to be. Might be considered syrupy by some folks, but I don’t mind it one bit–it keeps the taste on your tongue a bit longer that way.
As flavor goes, by the way, it’s invasive on a really pleasant level, and the alcohol is definitely present with each malty drink. This is in every way a sipping beer, in my opinion, which is a good thing–because it makes the experience last longer. It’s also a good thing because Curmudgeon is a surprisingly hefty 9.8% ABV. Funny. Smooth for such a strong brew.
Overall, Curmudgeon Old Ale is a complex beer with lots of fruit overtones (prunes, raisins, apricots) and a strong, strong taste that doesn’t leave the palate for quite some time. I’ve never had an old ale before, and if this is what one is supposed to taste like, color me pleased. Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale scores a “Flippin’ Great” on TCM’s “Crap to Superb” scale. I got mine at The Party Source; you should be able to find it just about anywhere, as Founders has a pretty broad distribution base.
Posted: July 24th, 2009 | Author: maoglone | Filed under: Tools for the Weekend | Tags: Beer Review, Founders Curmudgeon Old Ale | No Comments »
I’ve had Bluegrass Brewery’s Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout before, and liked it very much, so I felt like I pretty much knew what I was going to get with Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale: a slightly heavy beer with a pleasant and sometimes pervasive whiskey nose. That’s just about exactly what I got.
I love this beer.
Despite the apparent novelty of aging a beer in a bourbon barrel (it seems like more and more brewers are doing it–but I don’t know what the history of this is. Care to fill me in?), the qualities of KBBA are more complex than just the boozy swagger of whiskey dumped into your beer: this isn’t a willy-nilly boilermaker of a beverage. Here’s the way I can perhaps best put it. The whiskey scent that overpowers your first whiff tells you that Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale is serious. The first drink tells you that it’s wonderful.
Unlike the few other bourbon-aged beers I’ve had in the past, KBBA isn’t so much a “sipping” beer as it is one that you take full drinks of and enjoy accordingly. While the whiskey overtones sit atop the Ale’s flavor, there are really pleasant oaky and fruity undertones to the beer’s flavor as well. These make for a nice, complex drink that’s probably best suited for an aperitif or, if you’re feeling kinda adventurous, a dessert beer.
The one thing I wanted to do while drinking Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale was prop up the ol’ feet, lean back, and nap a little between swigs. The beer has a long finish that I found to be very nice–less sophisticated beer drinkers (like me) might say that it could be a bit too long.
Overall, I’d score KBBA an “Excellent” on TCM’s “Crap to Superb” scale. It’s an easy beer to drink, and it’s a fun take on the bourbon barrel aging process. On top of that, you’ll interest your friends at the next barbecue you bring it to. Lexington Brewing Company scores a hit here, as far as I’m concerned. You should be able to find KBBA in a few spots around NKY and Cincinnati.
Posted: July 24th, 2009 | Author: maoglone | Filed under: Tools for the Weekend | Tags: Beer Review, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale | 1 Comment »
Starting this the exact same way that almost every review thus far has, by introducing Brüno as another character from the comedic mind of social satirist Sasha Baren Cohen, seems uninspired. And to be blunt, if you’ve not just awoken from a 10-year coma, and you don’t know that, there are other websites to be reading that can help you more.
Now, this film is more than just 81 minutes of a gag gone wild. Much more. It is, and is likely intended to be, a bright light shined on our collective intolerance toward homosexuals, while at the same time raking in wads of cash for the mastermind.
Let me warn you: you will, at numerous junctions, be elated that they decided to not produce this in 3-D.
If at times you don’t feel a palpable fear for the physical welfare of your flamboyant “Austrian” tour guide, you are not paying attention. Cohen purposely places himself in situations that will almost certainly result in personal discomfort for the unwitting (and/or unwilling) participants. With that personal discomfort comes the serious possibility for retaliation.
Their discomfort, however, is a healthy dose of cognitive dissonance. And that is a necessary and good thing. Most will probably walk away with the same feelings held prior to entering the theater, but a few will walk out, ashamed at how we treat and vilify such a large group of individuals.
These people are the catalyst Cohen is hoping for. Perhaps he is just a comedian, but satire has always been a tool used by some to join the conversation. This could be another helping of his contribution to furthering debate about social issues.
Cohen brings awareness to what few could or should consider being justifiable attitudes within our culture, most remarkably how far certain parents are willing to pimp their child for an acting gig. This competes only with the penultimate scene, whereby a “Toughest Guy” kinda contest takes a wild turn, angering a mob of rednecks.
I am undoubtedly echoing numerous accolades for Cohen based on his pseudo-awareness campaign. Perhaps this is just what we need to further progress down the slippery road of equality.
Maybe he’s dragging us forward as a culture. Slowly, sure, and probably gagged, but forward all the same.
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Photo credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/dlytle/ / CC BY 2.0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spaceageboy/ / CC BY 2.0
Front page thumb:http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramdac/ / CC BY 2.0
Posted: July 24th, 2009 | Author: Wes Crout | Filed under: Reviews of Things | Tags: Bruno, movies, reviews, Sacha Baron Cohen | No Comments »
It’s something of a guilty pleasure, and I hope it doesn’t ruin what little (read: bordering nonexistent) credibility I have, but I admit it: I read The 
Cincinnati Beacon. I can’t say that I like it most of the time, and I can’t say that I agree with their political stances, but the “Saying things that piss people off” factor is just too much to pass up sometimes. It’s rare, though that I get caught up in it–but Justin Jeffre gets my goat every once in a while.
This article did it for me. It appeared in their “Spotlight” section on 7/23.
I went to a really nice party last night and caught up with Hip Hop Icon Russell Simmons. I asked him what he thought about Obama’s health care plan and the recent arrest of renowned Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates.
Why in the blue fuck would you ask Russell Simmons about Obama’s health care plan? Doesn’t the guy have shoes to sell or some shit? Also–where was this party? Who was it for? Why were you invited to something that Russell Simmons was invited to?
Jeffre goes on to tell us about things that he “Can’t help but” do, and none of them have anything to do with Cincinnati in any way. It’s pretty much just an article where Jeffre pats himself on the back because he’s had a fortunate life and has managed to meet some famous guy.
That said, don’t get me wrong: Russell Simmons does lots of good stuff for lots of people. But do we really care that Justin Jeffre got to talk to him? Save it for your personal blog, buddy.
Crap. The Beacon pissed me off. Which means it did its job. DAMN YOU, CINCINNATI BEACON!
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Photo credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpxinteractive/ / CC BY 2.0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimg944/ / CC BY 2.0
Posted: July 24th, 2009 | Author: maoglone | Filed under: News | Tags: Cincinnati Beacon, Justin Jeffre, Russell Simmons | 2 Comments »
Because you know you need it: a size comparison chart of movie monsters. Who knew King Kong was so small?
