A lot has happened in my life over the past few months. And with life changes, my time to visit breweries and sample lots of craft beer has been diminished, but that doesn’t mean that I’m giving up my hobby, or my writing of this blog. A lot of people who appreciate craft beer have a very busy lives, and we don’t get as much of a chance to be a part of the culture as some people. With responsibility, weekends become filled and there is less time to do beer festivals, so we have to be selective about the ones we pick. This also means as I have less time to drink craft beer, I want to drink the best beer I have available to me. There is a lot of good craft beer out there, and when I get to drink some of it, it’s generally enjoyable. So I relish my opportunities to drink beer, and savor every moment. And as long as I’m enjoying my experiences, I have no qualms!
I think as I have attended and worked plenty of beer festivals, I have a pretty good idea what to expect when I go to one. And with everything in my life, I can’t go and be irresponsible, because more often than not, I have other things to do that day. I love being a part of the beer culture, but now I am trying to look primarily for beer I have not had, or ones that are special and rare. And when I work at a festival, it’s usually on the front end, so I do I love a little beer as I get to visit with my friends who work in the industry, and generally slow down once the festival has started. I have to be responsible and drive home safely, so I am always careful when I go to festivals. No one wants these things to end badly, and I can assure you that even with drinking less, I am still having a blast!
There is a lot of great beer out there, and I have spent a lot of time writing about it. We have more breweries than ever producing excellent beer, and with limited time, I have become selective. I have a beer collection that I need help with because it has gotten big with my travels. And some of my favorite beers are made in other parts of the country, and I’m often gifted those beers whenever people travel. I know for a fact a lot of us have a lot of beer in our collection, and limited time to drink it. This is all the more reason to pick quality beer, and drink it whenever you get a chance!
I’ve already written about beer sharing, and since good quality beer was meant to be drank with friends, we should always share good beer. But I’ve moved to a different part of the city of Indianapolis, and my schedule doesn’t allow this to happen very often. I’m sure you understand, and amid the holidays, it’s not always easy to connect with friends. So make quality count this holiday season, and drink good beer. Our time is short, so enjoy the moments!
I only get a chance to drink a handful of beers on a weekly basis, and that’s probably normal for most people who aren’t heavily into craft beer. I’m getting older, and I no longer want to drink every day, so when I have a chance to drink something good, I want to open up a beer and chances are it comes in a bomber, or crawler. This is when I often call my friends, and see who is available to enjoy it with me. Fellowship is one of my favorite aspects of craft beer, and I’ve come to enjoy it as much as the actual consumption of what we’re drinking. Good beer goes with good friends, and that’s some thing we should never forget.
So please enjoy craft beer over the holidays, and I implore you to always be safe as you drink. I don’t have to remind anybody that stronger beers are drank during the winter, so we need to always be aware of what we drink. My tolerance is not what it used to be, so I’m not trying to drink anyone under the table, and with good craft beer, there’s no reason to do this. We all had our fun when we were younger, and now we sip on quality beer. If you have more time than me, then I’m very excited for you, and I hope that you get to enjoy visiting all the breweries I just don’t have the time to get to. If we plan to meet, up I will be there and will have fun, but that’s about all I have time for any more!
As I finish this article, I am still excited about a beer dinner at I attended at A Taproom this evening. I will be writing in a later blog about this experience but I have always been impressed with the pairing of craft beer with excellent food. Garrett Oliver’s At the Brewmaster’s Table is one of my favorite books on the subject, and during the holidays I usually try to find something to incorporate from his book. Beer dinners encapsulate this experience, and I have enjoyed them ever since I first got to attend one featuring beer from Upland with fine food at the now defunct Pik’s Tavern in Castleton. Pairing beer with food is an excellent art, and so is cooking with it. And that is exactly why the Perennial Dinner at A Taproom was so amazing!
I will never stop loving craft beer. Good beer is more readily available then it ever has been across my lifetime, and I applaud everyone making a quality product. Great beer is one of the finer aspects of life, and I like having the opportunity to drink it. We have our moments to relax, and if you’re anything like me, a good beer is one of the perfect things to relax with. So let’s try to have a little bit of fun, and enjoy all the good beer we have stockpiled, and remember that it’s always quality over quantity!
So Much Beer So Little Time 