Musings Over a Barrel
Ramblings on shooting sports, craft beer, whiskey, cigars and other simple pleasures.
"You're welcome to step away if you like."
#triggerwarning
Sunday, April 10, 2022
Maker's Mark and Fratello Bottle Kill
Thursday, April 7, 2022
At Long Last, Shooting Again
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
St. Brigid of Ireland
"I'd Like A Great Lake Of Beer For The King Of Kings. I Would Like To Be Watching Heaven's Family Drinking It Through All Eternity."Our family has long had an affection for this great Saint. It was during our trip to Ireland a few years ago that I came to realize just how popular she is in that country, second only to St. Patrick it seems. Her legendary association with miracles involving beer often overshadows her deeds of charity and compassion.
Sunday, January 2, 2022
A Long Smoke and a Fire
For Christmas, Colleen gave me one of those iron kindling splitting stands. A couple days after Christmas, I headed out to my wood pile to try it out. In no time I had reduced a bunch of logs to smaller pieces. Placing the log in the stand and letting the weight of a sledgehammer fall on it sure beats swinging an axe.
Now that I had all this wood ready to go, it seemed a good time to have a fire. Besides the nice weather, it was still early in the afternoon so there was plenty of time for a longer smoke. I'd been eying the 7 ⅝" x 49 Tatuaje The Frank Redux 1 sticks in my humidor I had not had the time to smoke. I enjoyed one at the lounge at couple months ago so knew it was an 2 + hour smoke. Now was the time.
Saturday, January 1, 2022
A New Year
Another year has come and gone. It was pretty much like the one before it. Standby for another one.
I do see some changes coming though. Not much longer will the "pandemic" be the basis for political overreach and profit. The "America is racist and something-phobic" agenda is being exposed. The clouds are gradually being removed from the eyes of even the CNN and MSNBC watchers. Maybe there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
At least the days are getting longer.
Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Christmases Cold and Warm
It's an old joke that if you don't like the weather in Virginia, wait a few minutes and it will change. It's also true that the weather on a any calendar day can be wildly different from year to year. This is especially true in the winter. (In the summer, you can just expect it to be hot. Period.) White Christmases are rare here, but last year, we were treated to one of those uncommon events.
Over Christmas 2020 we experienced snow and very cold weather. That didn't stop me from enjoying the Rocky Patel A.L.R. Second Edition shown below. The full experience is recounted in this post.
On this most recent Christmas afternoon I chose the new Undercrown 10 Lonsdsale with which to celebrate the day. The Undercrown Maduro is a favorite, and the new Undercrown 10 is a special release to mark the 10th anniversary of the cigar. The Starr Hill Snow Blind Dopplebock is a perennial favorite.
The difference in smoking experiences between the two years was remarkable when it comes to the weather. However, the pleasure of a good cigar is universal no matter the temperature.
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
When Are They Open?
I get that not everyone is adept at online marketing and social media. But clearly telling customers when you are open should be pretty simple. And a priority. While researching a local brewery to visit during my vacation, I came across this confusing mess.
First, I checked the brewery website for their hours.
Mon - Tues: Closed
Wed - Thurs: 3pm - 9pm
Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight
Sunday: Noon - 11pm
Maybe I'll visit on Wednesday or Thursday, I thought.
Next I looked at their Facebook page and saw a slightly different schedule.
Mon - Tues: Closed
Wed: 3pm - 9pm
Thursday: Closed
Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight
Sunday: Noon - 11pm
However, Wednesday still looks good.
Then I started scrolling through the brewery's posts, and saw a post labeled "Winter Hours."
Mon - Tues: 3pm - 8pm
Wed - Thurs: Closed
Fri - Sat: Noon - Midnight
Sunday: Noon - 10pm
So, Wednesday is out? Monday or Tuesday? Which listing is current, and correct?
Maybe I had better call them.
Saturday, December 25, 2021
Christmas, Not Cancelled
When the angels went away from them to heaven,the shepherds said to one another,“Let us go, then, to Bethlehemto see this thing that has taken place,which the Lord has made known to us.”So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,and the infant lying in the manger.When they saw this,they made known the messagethat had been told them about this child.All who heard it were amazedby what had been told them by the shepherds.And Mary kept all these things,reflecting on them in her heart.Then the shepherds returned,glorifying and praising Godfor all they had heard and seen,just as it had been told to them.-- Luke 2: 15-20
Birthplace of Jesus, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
Photo by Colleen, August 2010