What's Your Favorite Beer?
Greetings,
“What's your favorite beer?”
I can't count the times that I have been asked. "What is your favorite beer?" When, in conversation, I profess any knowledge of beer and brewing that question is inevitably put to me. My immediate answer to that question is, "Free beer." An answer that reveals just what a sense of humor the questioner has. And then, after pausing for effect, I ask the questioner. "What is your favorite beer?" That lets me off the hook. Ask anyone that question, and you will not only discover what their favorite beer is, but also when they first had that favorite beer and when they last had that favorite beer, and when they plan to have that favorite beer again. On the other hand, if the person gives me the name of one beer, the place where they enjoyed it, and why they remember it, it is usually the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
For the last 10 months. I have been researching a book on beer as part of a series of books on food eating, published by reaction books, London . The challenge is to fit the history, appreciation and the enjoyment of beer into 25,000 words. I could spend 25,000 words telling you about a beer that I had in a beer park in Munich Germany in 1988. I could spend 25,000 words telling you about how much I enjoyed the first can of Schlitz beer I ever drank. That is because in both instances, it was where, how and when that beer was consumed that was memorable, not the beer itself. The beer was only part of a very special event. And special events are what make life worth living. Please remember that I consider eating and drinking a special event. The memories of particular dinners, of particular places where I drank a beer, and of the people involved those events are all part of my collection of “favorite beers.”
I can appreciate all of the research that has gone into all of the books that have ever been written about beer. I can also appreciate all of the scientific research that has ever gone into beer. I study the marketing of beer was almost pure delight. All that I have learned, all that I have ever read about beer, pales when compared to a “favorite beer” event.
Over the next month or so, I hope that you have the opportunity to meet with some good friends over some good food with some good beer. When that happens enjoy it, because like a sunrise and the sunset it's an once-in-a-lifetime thing. Better yet, you'll have another "favorite beer" to add to your collection.
Cheers!
Peter LaFrance
( peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com )
