Day 12 - It's the end of the Necro as we know it (I feel fine).

12/20/12 - Day 12 of the 16 days of XMAS vacation.

Today I spent some time finishing up the bases of my Necro team, including some touch up of the Zombies and their bases, and also worked on the Mummies (who are still not done). Then I slopped on a bit of skin basecoat for the Bloodletters aka Beastmen. Now it is time for pizza and beer. Also... damn you Steam Holiday sale!!!

Took a lot of photos with my phone and this is the only one I liked.

Yup. Slopped on the white.

Day 13 - Time flies (or drags) when you're bandaged up.

12/19/12 - Day 13 of the 16 days of XMAS vacation.

Didn't manage to get as much done today as I would have liked, still feeling not so hot but got up and left the house to watch the Hobbit. Still processing all of that film but I think my initial response is "mneh, didn't like it". Damn that is one long film though! On to today's progress...

Painting these bandages took forever! Still a WIP.

Started basecoating my Khorne Chaos team. These are warriors.

Decided I didn't like my test model for the "Beastmen" so I did up a new one (left).

Detail of the back.

What do you think of the light color?

Day 14 - Glowing green with schemes.

12/18/12 - Day 14 of the 16 days of XMAS vacation.

Spent today feeling ill again, a bad omen for extended time off, but managed to paint for about 2 hours in between running errands and making food. More painting is required! Also managed to not buy new models for a Dark Elf team which I consider to be a victory. Here's what we got so far today...

Wizard/Coach/Igor just about done. Gotta finish the metals and base.

Werewolves just about done as well. Same with the metal and the base.

Wights! Looking good, you guessed it, the metal and the base.

Mummy hugs! Finished up the basecoat and this is their wash time (shiny).

That may be all I get done today! Also did some final highlights on the Flesh Golems and Ghouls. I hope to have this team pretty much wrapped up tomorrow with the exception of sealing and last shiny details. That will mean the completion of my Necromantic and Undead teams with the addition of the Zombies from my all Zombie Human team! Three teams in one! Bam!! After that it will be on to either my all Khorne Chaos team, my Orc team, or perhaps finishing up my Lizardmen team. Lots to do and already 2 days down!

Day 15 - Working on the Necromantic folk.

12/17/12 - Day 15 of the 16 days of XMAS vacation.

Today I spent most of the day ill and/or shopping at thrift stores for gifts. Got myself a new winter coat and some flannels. Came home and made some fried (baked) wontons and a mess of noodles. Feeling full and good now. Thought I should take a moment to outline my work area as I found it moments ago...

My work table as I left it yesterday.

While I haven't painted anything today (yet) I do have a few WIP photos of the models on the table at the moment. There are 2 Wights, 2 Werewolves, and 2 Mummies (which I didn't bother getting a photo of as it is just basecoat stuff and pretty boring). Here is where I begin today!

Wights #1 and #2, going for a Black and White scheme.

Wolf #1 and #2, going for a multicultural skin hue between them.

Necromancer for the team coach, wizard, Igor, what have you.

Not the most exciting start but hey... it's a start! Hoping to complete all of the unpainted Blood Bowl teams I have sitting around and maybe take a crack at some Necromunda and/or Warhammer models as well! Woah. Ambitious....

Days of sloth - 16 days of no work and all play!

Starting today I have no time commitments, no work scheduled, for the next 16 days. I intend on painting and building models, playing games, reading, and just generally relaxing to recharge my run down batteries. Perhaps finishing all the items on my to-do list for this year? I figured it would be a good time to catalog my work progress here, to keep me honest and motivated so I don't spend all my time off sleeping.... wish me luck!

Beer Review - Great Lakes Nosferatu.

New Brew Thursday! Two in a row! Still working through the back log, this time around we've got the Fall seasonal from Great Lakes Brewing... Nosferatu!

Didn't get a photo of this beer.... here's onw from 365beers.wordpress.com!

Great Lakes Brewing Company - Nosferatu Imperial Red Ale

Beer Type: American Strong Ale

Appearance: 12 oz. brown bottle with the trade mark Great Lakes Brewing label - black border with art and stylized fonts. Beer pours almost blood red into the glass with a medium ivory head. Appropriate given the theme.

Smell: Initial smell is sweet caramel and malt with a sour citrus note. A bit of hops bitterness comes through as well.

First Drink: Strong grapefruit citrus flavors quickly followed by sweet caramel. I'm getting a bit of hops but not as much as I had expected. 

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation, and easy drinking, although the finish seems a bit dry. I wanted a glass of water after the first bottle.

Last Drink: Getting more hops in the finish, and an interesting aged wood flavor? Not sure where that is coming from but it's a neat trick.  

Drinkability: This is 8% ABV but you wouldn't know it without reading the label. The overall brew hides the alcohol flavor well and holds up to repeat drinks. Enjoying this one.

Notes: Great Lakes Brewing Company may be one of the only things I like about Ohio. All of the beers I have had from this brewery have been good, and their seasonal ones are just as fine. This one reminds me of some of the Stone brews in a way.  

Verdict: 4.5 out of 5. Good flavor, unique finish, and a decent buzz. What more can you ask from a beer?

Links: Beer Advocate and Great Lakes Brewing Company.

Beer Review - Stone Belgo Anise Russian Imperial Stout.

It's New Brew Thursday! Starting today, and every week for as long as I can manage again, I will be posting a beer review for a beer I haven't had before. Still working through a back log of beers, here is one from last year that Stone produced.

 

Stone Brewing Company - Belgo Anise Russian Imperial Stout

Beer Type: Russian Imperial Stout

Appearance: 22 oz. brown bottle with a text-heavy printed stone design. Beer poured a dark (dark!) black-brown with a nice creamy beige head.

Smell: Plenty of dark coffee malt followed by some sweetness and then... anise?! I guess that shouldn't be a surprise due to the name of this brew.

First Drink: What you smell is what you get on taste up front. The anise cuts through quickly with a nice licorice flavor.

Mouthfeel: Big body with a bit of sticky alcohol and plenty of carbonation. Not what I was expecting.

Last Drink: More herbal flavors and sweet malt coming through now.

Drinkability: I don't know if this is a success or not? I really don't like black licorice, but the anise has a unique flavor here. It adds something that is different and not altogether unpleasant. Perhaps I will buy one to age for a while and see if the flavor becomes more complex. Or perhaps not...

Notes: I like to see Stone branching out but I hope they don't go too far out with flavored beers. This one is pretty memorable overall, and at 12% ABV you can be sure it will leave its mark.

Verdict: 3.75 out of 5. Interesting if nothing else.

Links: Beer Advocate and Stone Brewing Company.