I also like trying new things, as well as collecting, and I have incorporated these two interests with my love of beer. Last summer I made a concentrated effort to try new beers and every time I did, I'd keep a bottle of the beer as a little memento. I think I've acquired a decent collection so far, and with the summer break here I will once again attempt to buy a new brew every time I go to the beer store.
Beer culture in Canada (and North American in general) is very strong. The Beer industry does a good job of advertising and selling their products as they tout beer - and alcohol in general - as being an essential part of any party, get together, or good time. While I do not always agree with what is portrayed in alcoholic advertisements or with how the beer culture operates in general, I am not going to argue the moral implications of alcohol-production companies who claim that drinking is necessary in order to have fun. The reason for my muteness on this topic is because I really think it's true, drinking indeed enhances your social experience and makes them better, I wouldn't be writing this blog entry if I didn't think that alcohol was a good thing. While I understand the dangers of alcohol - as with any substance, moderation is key - I am not going to let that inhibit me from enjoying it and treating all of you with this blog entry. God knows I've had my fair share of bad alcohol related experiences (we all have) but as we grow older and mature we learn how to moderate our consumption with what we can handle. Riding that proverbial "sweet spot" between "tipsy", "drunk", and "dangerously drunk" (quotes surround all these words as each term may mean something different to each individual reader) is an aspect of growing up and incorporating oneself into our society. The saying "please drink responsibly" is a necessary one despite the fact that we do not always adhere to it.
Below is the list of the brews that comprise my collection. It is not an exhaustive list, as I have tried many other beers, but it is just a collection of the bottles I had managed to keep. I am going to have to go back and retry some of the brews whose bottles I have failed to hold onto - in some cases I lament this process as there are some bad beers our there, but I'll do it for the good of the collection. All selections with a (*) indicate that this beer is one of my favourites from the bunch:
- Amstel Light*
- Brava Premium Lager*
- Bud Light Lime
- Budweiser*
- Cracked Canoe*
- Corona Extra*
- Corona Light
- Guinness Draught
- Krombacher
- Mill St. Original Organic
- Mill St. Tankhouse Ale
- Laker Ale*
- Molson Canadian
- Molson Canadian 67
- Samuel Adams Boston Lager
- Sleeman Clear
- Steam Whistle
- Stella Artois
- Wychwood Brewery Hobgoblin
While I would like to further my beer-experiences and try a wide variety of different brews, there are a couple specific types of beer that I would love to try. The first should be easy to get - I could go to the beer store and pick it up at this very moment if I wanted - and it's Dos Equis. Referring to the beer industry and advertising, Dos Equis is known for it's commercials as it features "the most interesting man in the world." I am not going to lie, it is these advertisements that make me want to give Dos Equis a shot. The second beer I'd love to try will prove to be a lot harder to get. It's called Hell or High Watermelon and it is brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery out of San Fransisco. It's a wheat beer that is fermented using fresh watermelon (need I say more?). I don't even think the Beer Store or the LCBO carry this brand, so I guess I'll have to wait until the next time I'm in the Bay Area before I can pick some up.
So there you have it! A little insight into my beer tastes and preferences. Maybe at the end of the summer I'll make a reply post to this topic updating you all with how my collection looks after four more months of trying new brews! I have included a picture of my current collection below for your viewing pleasure. Cheers!
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| Aren't they beautiful? |
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