Annual reminder:

If Ben & Caleb are the guys, we're entering a 12ish year contention window. So I don't want them to go all-in this fall and hamstring 2027-2029. We'll need good players on rookie deals once Caleb gets paid. But I'd have a hard time saying no to this.

Yes, the NFL prevented the NFLPA from publishing the results of its report cards. However, the 26-page arbitration ruling includes fresh criticism from the 2025 report cards as to 11 specific teams and three owners.

Pulled pork sammy, slaw, & tots for supper with a pre-meal old fashioned. Happy Friday!

These wings have been marinating in pickled jalapeño brine since Friday night and joined some bacon-wrapped onion rings with a sweet BBQ rub on the smoker. Also, I drink my whiskey neat because FUCK ICE!!! Happy Sunday, friends.

I thought this game was a coin flip and didn't think either team who wins it is Super Bowl bound. Still, that win was cathartic. I don't care if we lose by 100 next week. Bears beat the Packers in the playoffs and have won 3 of the last 4 vs GB. #BTFD

Tough loss, but the angst I'm seeing is crazy. This is an imperfect team, we're a year ahead of schedule, & we would've been euphoric about a division title after starting 0-2. This has been a fun year. We're the 2 seed. Every NFC playoff game except Rams vs Panthers is a coin flip. LFG!

Tide rolled.

We haven't seen an Indiana squad turn back an Alabama offense this decisively since Antietam

Last one....Boulevard Rum Barrel-Aged Pecan Pie Imperial Brown Ale. 13.5% Really good dessert beer. Tastes as advertised.

Pipeworks Barrel Aged Jones Dog imperial stout with cacao nibs & vanilla beans. 14.1% Straight candy. Happy New Year!

Indeed Brewing Mixed Nuts Cream Ale. 5.5% This is one of the few beers I've ever dumped. If you forced me to drink this or an IPA, I'd pick the IPA. It tastes like someone poured a Keystone Light into a bowl of nuts, left it for a week, & then canned it. What I'm saying is, I didn't care for it. 😂😂

Great Lakes Cran Orange Wheat. 5.5% Really good & the balance of sweetness & tartness is on point.

903 Brewers Kilt Switch Wee Heavy Scotch Ale. 9.5% This is a very good scotch ale.

The Bruery 8 Maids A Milking Belgian-Style Imperial Milk Stout. 11.3% Really damn good! I can't recall having a Belgian-Style milk stout. I'll seek more out.

Central Waters El Ganador imperial stout aged in tequila barrels with coffee & cocoa nibs. 10.8% The coffee & chocolate are really coming through with just a hint of tequila. It's quite good. Game day. Seems likely that we'll be the 2 seed regardless of the outcome. I'll say 27 - 34, bad guys. 🐻⬇️

Half Acre Before Land Shook bourbon barrel aged imperial stout with vanilla, marshmallow, & sea salt. 15% The flavor is really good but it's a little syrupy.

Revolution Brewing Gravedigger Billy scotch ale aged in bourbon barrels. 13.5% Fantastic.

Bears Sky! In the playoffs but still TBD for which seed, so get your #ForecastFriday pick in below against the Niners on SNF! Feels like it should be a high scoring game, and 49ers are clicking in offense but I think Bears offense will put up points too, but not quite enough to win. SF 36, Bears 33

Transient Artisan Ales Only I Didn't Say Fudge imperial cream stout. 11% Really good beer & A+ name!

Firestone Walker & Revolution collaboration Revolution Of Ruby dry hopped American barleywine ale. 10% It's ok but a little hoppy for me.

Boulevard Cherries Jubilee Quad aged in apple brandy barrels. 12.9% Boulevard does it again! Really tasty and it's a unique combination.

That was a crazy game. So happy to be on the right end of it for once vs GB. I have a feeling we'll meet a 3rd time in the playoffs. Poured a fancy, celebratory beer & I'm not going to bed until I see the locker room victory speech. #BTFD

Roaring Table Observer & Observed bourbon barrel aged imperial stout. 13.5% Fantastic! It tastes like fudge but has no adjuncts. And my game prediction: 27 - 20, good guys. Hopefully it's more accurate than my prediction 2 weeks ago. :) #BTFD

Founders DKML imperial malt liquor aged in bourbon barrels. 14.2% It's unique....not bad, not great. Glad I got to try it.

Half Acre Orin bourbon & brandy barrels aged strong ale. 13.2% This is great & has the right amount sweetness.

Mikerphone Brewing I Want To Ride My Bicycle American Amber Ale. 5% Decent.

Old Irving Brewing Lifesblood dark lager. 6% Really good dark lager.

Pipeworks Pastrami On Rye. 7.7% This could've gone either way, but it's actually pretty good. The pastrami spices are subdued. Glad I got to try it!

Off Color Brewing Double Stuffed Dino S'mores stout. 12% Good but not great, which surprised me because Off Color is normally spectacular. And....it's game day. Bear down!

Boulevard Brewing Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout. 12.2% It tastes like boozy hot chocolate. Winner.

Boulevard Brewing Vanilla Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels. 13.5% It's decent but maybe a little heavy on the vanilla.

Boulevard Brewing Strawberry Sour Ale aged in wine casks. 8% This is exceptional. And I'm told this is part of a neopolitan series so the next 2 days will be the same base beer with chocolate & vanilla.

Barrel + Beam Bucolic Brett table beer with peach & cherry, aged in French oak. 4.3% First time I've had a Brett beer, which is fermented with wild yeast strain Brettanomyces. It's very similar to a sour & I can barely taste the fruit, so not exacly my jam, but I'm happy that I got to try it.

Cigar City Brewing Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale. 5.5% Really good. Tastes as advertised.

Brewdog Mugshot coffee cream ale. 5.2% Tasty!

More Brewing & 450 North Brewing Raspberry Velvet imperial stout with raspberries & cocoa nibs. 14% This is right in my wheelhouse! It's stellar. Also, it's game day. I think it's close to a coin flip. If our run game keeps rolling, we can play with anyone. Prediction: 27 - 24, good guys. #BTFD

Spiteful Brewing Jingle Balls winter ale brewed with nutmeg, ginger, & cinnamon. 6.7% A+ name & can art. C- beer. Way too heavy on the ginger for this guy.

Bonus beer that was intended for later but was accidentally punctured so I received it today: Off Color Brewing Beer for Dealing with Your Family. 12.0% I love Off Color. This is so good.

Day 9: Brooklyn Brewery Black Ops barrel aged imperial stout. 12.4% Stellar. Happy Friday!

Day 8: Modelo Noche Especial red/amber lager 5.7% This is a limited release that I wanted to try so Kara came through again. It's a perfectly cromulent beer.

This Friday is THE DAY: The Bootleg Football Single Barrel Select from Woodinville Whiskey will be available for presale this Friday, Dec. 5th, at Noon PT. The Woodinville website is the only place you can purchase a bottle of this very limited run (130 total bottles). Happy hunting!

It’s always a treat when Adam Jahns joins to drop some #Bears knowledge! So check out @billtzimmerman.bsky.social’s latest Bears Banter for Bill and Adam talking all things Chicago Bears!!! 🐻⬇️&🔊⬆️ right here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

Day 7: Off Color Brewing Beer for Hot Dogs kölsch. 4.5% Off Color is probably my favorite brewery right now & I love a good kölsch. Fantastic.

Day 6: Delta Beer Lab Porter. 5.2% I've had a few beers from Delta Lab that were great. This is middle of the road for me.

Day 5: Indeed Old Fashioned Style Cream Ale. 5.5% This is quite good. Could've been iffy trying to replicate those flavors but they nailed it. Served it in an awesome old fashioned Bears glass to boot.

Day 4: Chimay Premiere (Belgian Dubbel). 7% Straight candy from the Voncke motherland.

@berckes.bsky.social & @wiltfongjr.bsky.social always strive to keep it balanced, but when the #Bears go to Philly and beat up the #Eagles, then the show skews a bit more towards the positive. Plenty of trench talk on their latest Bear & Balanced! 🐻⬇️&🔊⬆️ here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...

Day 3: Founders KBS Iced Latte imperial golden ale with coffee, cocoa nibs, milk sugar, & vanilla aged in bourbon barrels. 11% I can't really taste the bourbon barrel but everything else comes through nicely. It's tasty & Founders rarely misses.