Beer and Conversation with Pigweed and Crowhill

Latest Episodes:

130: The Hound of the Baskervilles May 12, 2021

Show notes

P&C drink and review an IPA from Mully's Brewery in Southern Maryand, then -- with special guest Longinus -- review the classic horror / mystery novel featuring the world's most famous detective.

The boys review the story of the spectral hound (with spoilers) and evaluate Conan Doyle's writing style, as well as his well-known characters, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. What kind of a man was Sherlock Holmes? And what kind of a relationship did he have with Watson?

The Hound of the Baskervilles is a classic tale, full of mystery, romance, intrigue and horror, and a good introduction to these famous characters.

129: The hero quest pattern May 07, 2021

Show notes

The boys drink and review an imperial red ale, then -- with special guest Longinus -- discuss the hero quest pattern and how it applies to different stories.

They see the pattern in the stories of Moses, Krishna and Mithridates. (They wanted to add Jesus and Buddha, but there wasn't time.) Then they discuss the larger issue of patterns and archetypes.

What's the origin of this hero quest pattern, and why do so many compelling stories follow it? What does the hero quest say about each of our lives? Where are these archetypes from, and how do they play out in society?

128: Machiavelli Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

The boys drink and review Holy Roller, a hazy IPA, and talk about Machiavelli.

Do the ends justify the means? (And did Machiavelli mean that?)

The boys discuss Machiavelli's historical context, the work for which he is mostly known, and the meaning and application of the term "Machiavellian."

Machiavelli satirizes the classic view of virtues, espoused by Cicero. Those virtues might be nice, he says, but they won't keep you in power.

The Prince is contrary to both Roman and Christian values, and was almost scandalous in its time.

127: The beer episode Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

P&C drink a Maibock, then discuss their favorite topic: beer.

The boys talk about hop classifications and uses, and why hops came to dominate beer. They also discuss warm vs. cold beer, and why temperature matters.

And what about sour beers? What's up with that. And speaking of off flavors, what about those beer geeks who criticize Budweiser?

They end with a pair of beer challenges.

126: Crybaby America Apr 17, 2021

Show notes

P&C drink and review Joyous IPA from Troegs, then talk about tattletales and crybabies. P&C are sick of them, but it seems their ranks are swelling.

Instant gratification. The daily outrage. Helicopter parents. Participation trophies. And people get extremely upset over the most ridiculous things.

How have we come to this place? How did we become so coddled and spoiled?

The boys discuss possible causes from three angles: technology, culture, and the geopolitical situation. Plus the malaise of safety.

125: Witches Apr 10, 2021

Show notes

P&C drink and review "Unforgivable Curses" by Peabody Heights brewery, then discuss witches and witchcraft.

What's up with witches? Nowadays they're fun and sexy, but there was a time when people were scared to death of them, hunted them down and hanged them.

The boys discuss various pogroms against witches over the years, trying to sort out what's true and what's a misconception. They cover ...

+ Joan of Arc
+ The Malleus Maleficarum
+ The witch's mark
+ Salem
+ How many witches were actually killed?

... and much more.

124: Sue, boycott and punch back! Apr 10, 2021

Show notes

P&C drink and review a hop-infused cider, then discuss how lawsuits and boycotts might be the only hope of saving western civilization from the assault by woke, racist morons.

The boys don't like litigation or boycotts, but it seems those might be the only tools to fight critical race theory and the other woke idiocies that are ruining lives and destroying the culture.

Corporations are buying into these explicity racist, illegal, and immoral diversity struggle sessions to avoid lawsuits. We need to show them that lawsuits and boycotts can come from both sides, and the law is on our side.

And now we have Major League Baseball getting into politics. Rather than being the non-political escape that we all were able to enjoy together, sports organizations are injecting partisan politics into our free time.

As distasteful as it is, boycott the idiots until they get some sense and grow a pair.

123: Voting Laws Apr 09, 2021

Show notes

P&C review Pigweed's most recent pale ale, then discuss voting laws. Are the "one-time" accommodations to the pandemic going to change things permanently?

The last election was weird. Mail-in (late) ballots. Ballots mailed to everyone on the roles. Votes counted after election day.

Both sides recognize there's cause for some sort of clean-up, but we have different visions of what that should be. There's (so far) a federal approach, and a state (GA) approach.

P&C weigh in, discussing the role of the federal and the state governments, and how we balance keeping things local vs. national standards.

122: Does God exist? P&C review some of the more common arguments Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

P&C drink and review another Pastry Archy offering, Oatmeal Cream Pie: an imperial honey wheat ale. Then they review arguments for the existence of God, starting with Anselm's ontological argument.

They move on to several of Aquinas' arguments, which mostly revolve around the concept of an infinite regress.

Then there's "can you get something from nothing," and the idea of gradation. When we compare things, are we assuming an ultimate standard? What about morals, and miracles, and ....

They can't cover it all, but P&C review some of the more well-known arguments and add their commentary.

121: Korea Apr 02, 2021

Show notes

Captain Crunch made a surprise trip to town, bringing a very strange Korean rice beer, and regaling Pigweed and Crowhill with tales of her travels in Korea.

What's different over there? Shopping. Weather. Living arrangements. Technology. Having a wacko neighbor to the north. Snack foods. Driving. Trash.

Listen in and hear all about it.

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