The art of aging gracefully
I have come to the conclusion that our group is officially old. This past weekend, we hosted an annual summer party at our place. A few things about this annual party.
- It is usually are our friends, Joel and Carrie’s place.
- We historically consume gross amounts of beer over the course of three days.
This year was different, as the party was different because it was hosted at Chez Belair, and while we did consume quite a few bottles of beer, it was nowhere near as legendary as prior fêtes… We have all grown a bit older, and wiser, and whereas as early as 8 years ago there would be drunken half naked Joel’s running around, now we have a bunch of screaming kids underfoot.
- Gone are the games of Beirut until 2AM.
- Gone are the parties that start on Thursday and go until early Sunday morning and burn through 3 1/2 kegs, 5 cubes of Genny Light, and untold pitchers of “Joel-garitas” (if you have never had one of Joel’s Margaritas, your liver will thank you… but damn, are they good…)
- Gone are the days when the last guests to arrive are the Chosen Ones who are sent back out to find a store still open and selling beer with a hastily assembled wad of random dollars and beer soaked quarters.
- Gone are the days of me deflating the air mattress and passing out in a drunken puddle just inside the tent
- Gone are the nights of me having rambling drunken conversations with our faithful brew-dog, Roscoe….
OK, I might still do those last two on occasion.
Now, we respectfully taste homebrewed offerings of guests and hosts. We describe aromas and flavors and head retention. We debate whether the beer we are tasting fits the style guidelines by which the homebrewer intends to name the beer.
- Now we (beer) geek out.
- Now we remember (most) of the night.
- Now we enjoy morning conversation the day after, rather than stumble around the kitchen looking for the last cup in the coffee pot and the last strip of greasy bacon.
For the record, we went through a “meager” 4 cases of homebrew and micro-brews this year.
- I had some very yummy offerings from our buddy Al in Binghamton (his ESB is pretty damned spot in all but aroma, which is a touch too “American”… call it an American Pale as is).
- My Two Hearted Ale Clone from the Binghamton Chronicles brewday was also quite tasty, though it ended up over-efficient, over-attenuated, and a touch over-hopped.
- Tony also brought some tasty offerings, and I think his Dubbel is coming into its own and will be fantastic in another month or two.
- I also had occasion to enjoy a St. Louis Gueze Fond Tradition from Castle Brewery van Honsebrouck, in Belgium….mmmm…funky Belgian beer…
A good time was had by all. I am still in awe, though, over the transformation our group has undergone within the last 5 or 6 years.
We have evolved.
We, I suppose, have grown and matured as individuals, and beer consumers and brewers, and also as friends and family….
And I wouldn’t change it for the world.
