Thursday, December 20, 2018

2018 Favorite Non-Music Things (Beer & TV)

15 FAVORITE BEERS OF 2018
The year I finally started getting more into sours, but unfortunately still leaned BBA and IPA on this list.

(15) Gene Flow (American Wild Ale, 4%) - Speciation Artisan Ales (Comstock Park, MI)
(14) Cherry Deux Rouges Batch 5 (Flanders Red Ale, 7%) - Yazoo Brewing Co. (Nashville, TN)
(13) Orderville (New England IPA, 7.2%) - Modern Times Beer (San Diego, CA)
(12) Bourbon Barrel Aged Coffee Stout (Imperial Stout, 10.5%) - Cultivate Coffee & Tap House (Ypsilanti, MI) & Drafting Table Brewing Co. (Wixom, MI)
(11) Wisconsin Belgian Red (Fruit Beer, 4%) - New Glarus Brewing Co. (New Glarus, WI)
(10) Bourbon Barrel Aged Trippel Weizenbock 2017 (Weizenbock, 17%) - The Livery (Benton Harbor, MI)
(9) Fou' Foune (Lambic, 5%) - Brasserie Cantillon (Anderlecht, Belgium)
(8) Biomimicry 2018 (American Wild Ale, 6.2%) - Speciation Artisan Ales (Comstock Park, MI)
(7) Deth's Tar (Imperial Oatmeal Stout, 14.8%) - Revolution Brewing Co. (Chicago, IL)
(6) Julius (New England IPA, 6.8%) - Tree House Brewing Co. (Charlton, MA)
(5) Kentuckley 2018 (American Imperial Stout, 14.5%) - Transient Artisan Ales (Bridgman, MI)
(4) Bourbon Barrel Aged Monsters' Park w/ Vanilla (American Imperial Stout, 13.7%) - Modern Times Beer (San Diego, CA)
(2-3) Serendipity / Raspberry Tart (Fruit Beer / American Wild Ale, 4% / 4%) - New Glarus Brewing Co. (New Glarus, WI)
(1) Double Dry Hopped M-43 (New England IPA, 6.8%) - Old Nation Brewing Co. (Williamston, MI)

15 FAVORITE TV SHOWS OF 2018
2018 had no Twin Peaks: The Return or The Young Pope, so it didn't quite live up to my hopes, television-wise. That being said, there were obviously still some gems.

Two shows I slept on that I am interested in checking out eventually: Lodge 49 and Maniac

One show I missed and regret it and desperately can't wait to watch: The Terror

(15) Baskets (Season 3) - FX
Season one has still been my favorite so far, but this beats out season two by a long shot. The characters just keep getting better and more ridiculous. Seriously overlooked show.

(14) The Haunting of Hill House - Netflix
The mix of quite scary with the intense family drama elements really worked for me, even if the finale was stupid and awful.

(13) American Vandal (Season 2) - Netflix
Not quite as funny as the first season, but a bit more dense and complex, which makes it about even. Plenty of great laughs.

(12) Legion (Season 2) - FX
I skipped season one when it originally aired and binged it before season two started, realizing that it would easily have been top five in 2017. The new season was a let down in comparison, as the visual and psychological trickery became kind of a gimmick. Still, there were enough good moments and performances that helped me to enjoy these 11 episodes for the most part, and I look forward to seeing where it goes next.

(11) Silicon Valley (Season 5) - HBO
Best and funniest season since the second one, maybe even the first. Pretty much ready for this show to be done, though.

(10) Love (Season 3) - Netflix
Each season got better and better and more and more real. Sometimes uncomfortably so, and Love is great for that.

(9) Better Call Saul (Season 4) - AMC
It almost just feels obligatory to include this. I am along for the ride, and generally have been very impressed with BCS's four seasons so far, but I think those who say it's surpassed Breaking Bad in quality are dead wrong. This lacks the huge stakes of BB at this point. My favorite moment in the whole season was a very tense and eerie moment at the end of the first episode's cold open that amounted to nothing (that we know of at this point in time). All of this to say, it is still a great show.

(8) GLOW (Season 2) - Netflix
Showed steady improvement from the already very good first season, and showcased one of my favorite episodes of television this year.

(7) Mosaic - HBO
Almost too slow and directionless, but if this didn't have the best acting and directing of any show in 2018...

(6) Ozark (Season 2) - Netflix
The stakes are being upped at a comical rate at this point, but I am a sucker for an anti-hero story that is this dark and with performances this good.

(5) Barry (Season 1) - HBO
Pleasantly surprised. The first half is a little too silly for me, then shit got dark and good, while still balancing said silliness. Chilling penultimate episode and season finale.

(4) The Americans (Season 6) - FX
Not the most subtle or well paced season of The Americans, but far and away the one I enjoyed the most. The series finale was almost on par with Breaking Bad's for me.

(3) Homecoming (Season 1) - Amazon Prime
Loved the podcast, and while it took some getting used to the new cast, I think this probably exceeded it. Shea Whigham is a national treasure.

(2) Atlanta (Season 2) - FX
I can't think of one thing to complain about one of the most enjoyable, artfully done shows in existence.

(1) Sharp Objects - HBO
Despite the slow pace and almost overwhelming darkness, the acting was phenomenal (particularly Patricia Clarkson who I loved to hate) and I was extremely engrossed in the mystery and mood. Also, in the running for best twist ending to a tv show ever.

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