Attended a 50th birthday party for a friend this weekend. All he asked of the invitees was to bring one beer with them for the purposes of collecting 50 different beers for a picture he wanted to take. We could then take our respective beer home (which no one did). He now has an instant and somewhat righteous stash of beer. As for me, I scrawled a permanent mental note in my granite skull and will duly make the same request if I live to my 50th birthday. Anyway, on a previous occasion said friend mentioned that he had never tried Great Lakes. So, I brought three different samples for him. What turned out to be his quest for 50 wound up being about 100. Nice take for the night.
I dont really consider myself a beer snob by any means, but I was amused at the events that followed as soon as I stepped out to the deck to grab a beer. About five other guys were sitting there talking beer. It quickly became obvious that they were trying to sound knowledgeable, but really didnt know what they are talking about. I give you this example, Yeah, that Mississippi Mud Black and Tan is greeeeeaaaat imperial stout. Mmmmmmkay. Thats when another fellow said Lets try this one. He proceeds to open up a bottle of Founders Oatmeal Stout and pours it in to several small sampling glasses. We all grab one and sip. With the exception of me, and without missing a beat, I hear a collective groan like Spaulding drinking that leftover liquor with a cigarette butt in it (you Caddyshack fans know what Im talking about), witness the looks on their faces as if they just caught wind of grandpas fart, and one quips something to the effect of "this tastes like @#$%". To a person they dumped their samples on the lawn. The kicker is to cleanse their palates they each reach for their respective drinks: three Michelob Ultras, one Bud Light, and one Schlitz. You read that right, I said Schlitz. Me? I finished my sample walked over to the well stocked group of coolers, scoped out the impressive, but hardly touched (not surprisingly) craft beer selection, grabbed a fresh Founders Oatmeal Stout and poured it in my glass. It was then that, of all people, the fellow with the Schlitz asks you like that swill?. I deadpanned, Well, I really like Schlitz better, but I dont want to drink your best IPA. I just headed back inside to watch the football game and eat some food.
I dont really consider myself a beer snob by any means, but I was amused at the events that followed as soon as I stepped out to the deck to grab a beer. About five other guys were sitting there talking beer. It quickly became obvious that they were trying to sound knowledgeable, but really didnt know what they are talking about. I give you this example, Yeah, that Mississippi Mud Black and Tan is greeeeeaaaat imperial stout. Mmmmmmkay. Thats when another fellow said Lets try this one. He proceeds to open up a bottle of Founders Oatmeal Stout and pours it in to several small sampling glasses. We all grab one and sip. With the exception of me, and without missing a beat, I hear a collective groan like Spaulding drinking that leftover liquor with a cigarette butt in it (you Caddyshack fans know what Im talking about), witness the looks on their faces as if they just caught wind of grandpas fart, and one quips something to the effect of "this tastes like @#$%". To a person they dumped their samples on the lawn. The kicker is to cleanse their palates they each reach for their respective drinks: three Michelob Ultras, one Bud Light, and one Schlitz. You read that right, I said Schlitz. Me? I finished my sample walked over to the well stocked group of coolers, scoped out the impressive, but hardly touched (not surprisingly) craft beer selection, grabbed a fresh Founders Oatmeal Stout and poured it in my glass. It was then that, of all people, the fellow with the Schlitz asks you like that swill?. I deadpanned, Well, I really like Schlitz better, but I dont want to drink your best IPA. I just headed back inside to watch the football game and eat some food.