Cold and refreshing.

     First pint night out in a while and I hit the Dancing Bear pub for the first time. To what do my wondering eyes appear, but the official beer of the Game of Thrones, Ommegang's Iron Throne.
     Pretty good I must say. To all of you out there in war game land, and to beer fans across the world, I lift my glass and proudly salute you with a hearty sláinte!

Arrrrr you done shooting?

     Not too terrible much on the gaming front currently. I've played 2 whole Warmachine/Hordes games since the new year started. Lost to pThagrosh in a 15 point game. Yes, I know eMorv is a bad choice when you can't run infantry with her, but I had to try her out. Happy Birthday to me. Did I mention she's on a goat? Traded in some older gaming books for credit at the store and walked out with her for ten percent of her retail price.
     Ran eKaya against a Bart/Galleon list at 35 points and squeaked out a win. Holy crap the Galleon gets in a ton of shots and the mercenary league warjack, those ghostly mariners, are serious business. Having shadow pack up is, most likely, the only thing that kept me alive. Enjoyed how the skinwalkers work with their shiny new Alpha UA and can't wait to run them with either of the Morvahnas. Also, I've come to realize I need a second warpwolf stalker. There are some tier lists out there that I just can't run stalker/Ghetorix in. Not to mention character restrictions on lists at most tournaments keeping him with only one caster.
     Got a shiny new board game from some very good friends. What is it? Well...

What? We lost a month?!

     Wow! January came and went, and what do I have to show for it? Tons of painted models? No. Any of the projects I wanted to start finalized into a completed state? No. Any Warmachine/Hordes league games from the recent journeyman league? Nope. A greater understand of the universe and our place in it? Not really. Picked up a few new boardgames that I may or may not have needed, but ultimately am really glad that I have? Yes, that I did. Realized I may have a kickstarter problem? Hi folks, my name is Ryan and I'm addicted to coolminiornot's kickstarters, amongst others...
     So what else have I been doing?

Things to come...

     2012 comes to a close tonight and in looking to the future, I'm already starting to make plans. For 2013 I want to make a return to wargaming in league, tournament and casual play. For the last few months I've been consent to make up excuses not to head down to the shop and partake in the hobby. In the coming year my hobby motto will be: Get in more games!
     I also hope to to hit the homebrewing hobby, hardcore. I shall dub 2013 the Year of Beer as I branch out from the 2 passable batches of Mead we've made so far to making dozens if not hundreds of batches of homebrew. Obviously, for legal reasons, when I say hundreds, I am referring to 1 gallon batches, and no more than 200 at that as ours is a household of 2 or more adults.
     I'd like to get some painting back in on the miniature hobby side of things. I've had some of these minis for over a decade and it's high time they get some color.
     I'm shedding my shelves of GW. I haven't played a GW mini game (or video game come to think of it) in over a year and a quarter now, and I have to say, I'm not missing it. That being said, ebay, here I come... The funds from which should help fund both my Privateer Press gaming as well as the homebrewing.
     Speaking of homebrew, my lovely wife supplied me with a year's membership to the American homebrew association, so I have tons of content to go through over there. So much to learn and do. Can't wait.
     And lastly, maybe an idea for the brew-pub/bakery combo: http://growlermag.com/spent-but-valuable-ideas-for-using-spent-grain/.
   Have a happy new year's eve folks and we'll catch you on the flipside.

Before we brew...

     Before we brew our own, we had to try out the Kegerator* and see how it works. Well of course the proper beer for operating our keg fridge here in Texas would be Shiner Bock. I did the math and we got 15 gallons of tasty tasty beverage for around six cents an ounce. That's great considering it sells in bottles for roughly eleven cents an ounce.
     So here we are, my brother, myself and Andrew looking like a pack of rejects from Swamp People or the catfish show standing proudly around and blocking site to, the kegerator. Got the tank filled, the keg installed and enjoyed a number of tasty, albeit foamy, beverages last night. Just need to figure out the proper pressure on it and we should be good. It's working fairly well and to be honest, I can't wait to get some Cornelius kegs and get our own brew in there.

*every time I hear that it still sounds like a dnd character name to me. Kegerator the Barbarian! Wielding his massive axe of Inebriation. He shall vanquish your thirst!