In light of multiple states declaring states of emergency, the NCAA cancelling the tournament, MLB delaying the start of the season, the NBA actually going ahead and cancelling the rest of the season, everyone’s 401K taking a mighty dump — all in the face of the fear contracting of Wuhan Herpes.  Why are people this afraid of something that reasonably compares to the flu?  I say we take an alternative look at this.

This is my review of Evil Twin Brewing Even More Jesus Imperial Stout.

Children are exposed to fear from an early age.  Fear is reasonably healthy, because with it one has a better chance of survival than one that cannot experience fear.  The amygdala after all evolved in the lower regions of the brain for a reason–because it is a useful evolutionary adaptation.  Of course the other side of this, is the amygdala is in the lower developed regions of the brain, and is thus subject to control by the frontal cortex.  In other words, we all have the ability to rationalize the circumstance we are in, and determine if the fear is truly justified.  Obviously if a lion is staring you down, the threat is real and the fear is justified.  If the same lion is asleep is this fear still justified?  Perhaps be concerned and try not to wake it as you see yourself out.  In these days of high speed internet, self driving cars, and tinder accounts we don’t really have to worry about being eaten so where do we learn how to cope with fear?

Fictitious villains.  I submit we cannot cope with fear because the villains we grew up with, as depicted in popular culture were nothing to be afraid of.

Let’s take a few steps back in time.  One of the villains Superman was famous for fighting were Nazis.  One might argue that was a different time, and the world was really at war, there really was a threat and yes, the Nazis actually were evil.  All of this is true.  This was even a time where Superman was not a nearly invincible demigod, back then he couldn’t even fly–only jump over buildings as a result of Earth’s lower

A progressive yet non-threatening introduction to a gay semi-nuclear family.

gravity coefficient when compared to Krypton.  Other Superheroes like Captain America, also fought Nazis.  Granted these happened to be a form of super Nazis but still Nazis nonetheless.

A generation later we see shows like Johnny Quest (starring Mike Pence) stopping elaborate schemes by villains that posed serious threats to all life on the planet.  These villains were Russians, Chinese, Middle Eastern types that perhaps played to many stereotypes that won’t fly today.  These were also convenient analogues to certain Cold War enemies that seemingly posed a real threat.

Fast forward to where I grew up, and the villains…they sucked.  Let’s go through a few examples:

Skeletor

Skeletor has a few things going for him, a bunch of evil henchmen, and a killer outfit.  What he lacks is any damn sense.  He is in relentless pursuit of the secrets of Castle Grayskull.  Anybody that ever watched He-Man has seen inside Castle Grayskull—there aren’t any secrets its just a castle.  There’s also the part where he has an entire universe to choose from, and he decides his arch-emenies are people that not only routinely beat him but are the self proclaimed “Master’s of the Universe”.

Cobra Commander

If knowing is half the battle, clearly this guy knows next to nothing. Its not even worth my digging up a photo of him.

Gargamel

Is he a priest or a wizard?  Was he really committed to killing a town of tiny blue people, and why?  One episode he wanted to turn them into gold, another he wanted to eat them. He even created Smurfette which in a way is almost doing the Smurfs a favor. His cat, Azrael, was the real brains behind the outfit.

Shredder

Awesome helmet, awesome skills, cool gauntlets.  His lieutenants, Rocksteady and Beebop are equally formidable.  Except he keeps losing to a group of adolescent mutant reptiles and he works for an alien brain that requires a robot to move around for him.  Likely because his army is also a bunch of adolescents but he never really seemed to have a goal aside from getting rid of the turtles.  Other than that, is he motivated beyond being a street crime lord?

None of these villains are worth a damn.  Is it any wonder nobody has any coping skills?  There’s no threat to existence.  There’s no lion about to eat them.  Nobody is realistically looking to annihilate anyone from the face of the Earth.  The face of evil we grew up with was sloppy, incompetent, and many times comical.  Is it any wonder nobody seems to be able to evaluate a threat rationally?  Here’s the kicker:  This is the villain kids today are growing up with:

Evil Twin makes an excellent Imperial Stout.  It has the usual overwhelming burnt coffee and chocolate malts we are accustomed to with one item to throw you off a bit.  There is a slight hint of anise (black licorice)  Which if you ever had an espresso with sambuca, it is not to that point but is a subtle reminder of it.  Overall, its a different take but nothing to be afraid of.  Evil Twin Brewing Even More Jesus Imperial Stout: 3.9/5