Epinions Recent Reviews for beefchop

Like Dylan, I've Gone Electric

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:30:22 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - What 'Fer?I've long touted my 18 inch Old Smokey Charcoal Grill (OSCG) as the perfect combination grill and smoker for the outdoor charcoal enthusiast and BBQ purist. So why an electric smoker?Several reasons. In my review...

The Meat Mangler!

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:25:02 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Chew It UpWhen I set out to purchase a meat grinder I had visions of Peter Stormare's character sticking a booted foot in a wood chipper in the movie Fargo. For some reason, that ghastly image stuck with me as I sorted...

Dried and True

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 17:03:50 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Who Needs a Food Dehydrator?I purchased my Nesco with the sole intention of making beef and venison jerky. When pitching the idea to my wife, however, I also hinted that a food dehydrator would be an excellent way for us...

Cigars International: Mom & Pop Service, Superstore Selection & Pricing

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 17:52:33 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - My ExperienceI admit that I am certainly no aficionado. Much of what I know about the subject is academic, and supported by limited direct experience. Having a farming background has certainly aided me with the industry lingo--wading through...

Shaken, But Undeterred

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 02:56:28 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - I wish I could take credit for that catchy tag line, but alas the recognition must go to merchants of relaxed men’s fashion, Tommy Bahama, for the limited edition shirt they sold at the time the author was undergoing CIA training. The shirt features an...

The Good Shepherd: More Cloak Than Dagger

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 11:15:57 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - IntroductionI am not a casual movie goer. There are two factors that compel me to see a film in theaters: passion or price. Either the previews have awoken some insane lust to see the picture at the opening, or the $3 matinee in Baltimore...

El Paso's Royal Real

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:58:18 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - First ImpressionsWhether for a lack of rivals, or simply through her own merit, the Camino Real may very well be the nicest place to stay in El Paso. It certainly has character and historic charm, thanks in large part to the rare Tiffany...

Old Smokey Charcoal Grill: A Classic American Grill

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:27:46 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Charcoal vs. GasThankfully, both parties to this debate have begun to realize that charcoal and gas can co-exist in the same universe. Finally, an end to the Charcoal Gas War! Today, many Americans have one of each, reserving the charcoal...

An Apartment Away From Your Apartment

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:39:21 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Comfortably situated off of 400 South Street, the Chase Suite in Salt Lake City can best be described as economy lodging with extras—good for families or business travelers in the market for their own “mini-apartment.” In fact, my room reminded me a...

Politics As War, Entertainment

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 17:29:12 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - If you’re in the mood for a taste of the divisive absurdity that is American politics, then there are few riper subjects to study than the 1994 Senate race between Lyndon Johnson’s son-in-law, Chuck Robb, and Iran-Contra scandalmonger Oliver North. Set...

Out of Baltimore, Into Africa?

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 12:23:36 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - The StatisticSeventy-si
x
percent of African-American boys in Baltimore do not graduate high school. The StoryWhile that single piece of data may shock you, it is the candid interviews with a handful of pre-teen, at-risk...

Island Digs

Fri, 4 Aug 2006 15:57:26 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - A Few General NotesWhen it comes to lodging on the St. Croix island (one of three that comprise the U.S. Virgin Islands) you have to keep several things in mind. First, the island has a beer-drinking pig. Seriously. Second, the island itself...

Superman Returns: Routh Ascends with Superman's Return

Thu, 3 Aug 2006 20:55:53 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - I guess that lengthy remakes of the old classics is a reality I'm going to have to accept as a movie fan. At least Superman Returns makes that painful transition a little less ugly. Hats off to Roger Mussenden and Ann Robinson for...

Nacho Libre: Nacho, Hold the Cheese

Thu, 3 Aug 2006 18:01:39 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - There are some movies that are best served with generous amounts of alcohol and a crowd of your craziest friends. This is one of them.No one should go to a movie starring Jack Black and expect anything more than ninety minutes of fart humor and...

For the Discerning Palate

Sat, 10 Jun 2006 02:51:35 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Eric Warner, the author of German Wheat Beer, certainly knows his topic. A graduate of the well-regarded Weihenstephen brewing institute (affiliated with the Technical University of Munich), Warner is an experienced Brewmaster whose...

North Country Heads South

Thu, 18 May 2006 01:21:27 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - My Two Hour RuleI never expect a drama inspired by real events to screen like a documentary, nor do I have rigid expectations about a film’s length. I do insist, however, that film makers produce a coherent storyline that moves the audience...

Seasons Change

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 16:19:33 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - In my short tenure as a homebrewer, I've discovered that homebrew books fall somewhere on a spectrum defined by the following two poles: recipe books and technical manuals. The former gives you the ingredients you'd need to brew anything and everything...

Traditionalists Beware!

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 22:26:57 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - No Room At the Reinheitsgebot InnHomebrewers are of all different stripes. Hobbyists by nature, we are prone to experimentation and many of us dream of inventing our own award-winning brew with an impressive sounding title like "Fat Friar's...

The American Dream

Sat, 18 Mar 2006 20:12:30 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Gor Mkhitarian, Armenian singer-songwriter, is the freshest sound coming from the Caucasus, a region notorious for producing music primarily to herd sheep by. More recently, classically-trained Armenian musicians have found their work featured in...

Farberware is Fab

Thu, 13 Oct 2005 14:20:45 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Intro If you are like me, you are serious about your coffee the way Marylanders are serious about their crab cakes, or say Wisconsinites are about their cheese curds. Lucky for us rabid caffeine addicts, there is certainly no paucity when it...

Clouds in My SKYFi2

Mon, 3 Oct 2005 16:53:03 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Introduction There’s a saying that every cloud has a silver lining, and that’s exactly how I feel about my SKYFi2 XM Radio Receiver with car adapter kit. My wife and I bought the receiver for road trips and to say goodbye to...

No Red Flags for the Redhawk

Mon, 3 Oct 2005 16:01:18 GMT

rating: 4/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Our Use and Needs Defined My wife and I bought a used limited edition Redhawk in 2001, and the car only had about 30,000 miles on it. We've been driving it since and have been impressed with the fuel economy, reliability, handling and styling. We...

A Scare in the Air, But Only Fair

Mon, 3 Oct 2005 13:05:35 GMT

rating: 3/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - While most reviewers tend to focus on Jodie Foster’s performance, I’d like to begin by discussing one of Hollywood’s up and coming (some would argue he has already arrived) actors. Peter Sarsgaard is an impressive screen actor...

Karoake for Country Stars

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 18:13:05 GMT

rating: 1/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - Threadbare would be a more apt characterization. I’ll confess, I’m an overprotective Eagles fan with one simple rule that governs how I review covers. That is, if you are going to cover someone else’s song, you had either amp it up...

They Made Country Music What It Is Today

Thu, 29 Sep 2005 17:34:23 GMT

rating: 5/5 by: Epinions Author beefchop - I may as well just admit this, the Eagles are my all-time favorite band so it should surprise no one that I give this album 5 stars and lavish praise. What may surprise you to learn is, that while I think this album is a great attempt at compiling...