For a person who appreciates good beer, New Year's Eve can be a complicated time. This is especially so if you are enjoying the holiday with a large number of good friends. You might be asking, "What could be complicated? Friends, alcohol and the next day off! What could be better?"
Well, I agree that friends, alcohol and a day off can contribute to a wonderful time, but for a beer lover, quality beer can be scarce at such gatherings. At this particular gathering several friends had decided that we would all bring some different wines to sample. They did. One friend decided to stretch the rules of spirited engagement and brought an Italian rocket fuel called Grappa. I brought two bottles. One bottle was Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, and the other was The Sixth Glass from Boulevard which had been given to me for my birthday earlier that afternoon.
Approximately 20 people were sampling all of the different beverages. I sampled some different Chardonnays, and a Reisling as well as making sure that I got at least one small taste of Prosecco. Finally, I tried the Sixth Glass bottle of ale. Many were interested in sampling it, and I remember it being excellent. My memory was of an ale that was thick and flavorful. I took it easy remembering that this ale carried quite a punch.
I tried to make sure that I did not have too much of anything, and I made sure that my wife drove home, and later that night I thought, "I will have to get another bottle of that wonderful Sixth Glass Ale."
Well, last night I did just that. I bought myself a bottle of the "The Sixth Glass," let it chill just a bit, and finally pulled the cork. I smelled the wonderful aroma from the bottle and thought, "I smell a lot more alcohol than I did the last time." I tasted it and I thought that it was much thicker than I remembered, and I thought that it was much sweeter than I remembered. In my mind this was not the wonderfully balanced beer that I had on New Year's Eve. What had happened? I sampled and contemplated and thought and figured. I was perplexed. How could a beer that I loved so much a week ago be so distasteful today?
A thought came to me. Part of the joy of the of the first bottle was that it was a gift. Another part of its beauty came from the comradery of the party. Another part was that Italian sparkling wine and Italian grappa rocket fuel had tainted my decision making ability. Regardless, I can always say that my first memory of The Sixth Glass was a fond one.
Well, I agree that friends, alcohol and a day off can contribute to a wonderful time, but for a beer lover, quality beer can be scarce at such gatherings. At this particular gathering several friends had decided that we would all bring some different wines to sample. They did. One friend decided to stretch the rules of spirited engagement and brought an Italian rocket fuel called Grappa. I brought two bottles. One bottle was Prosecco, an Italian sparkling wine, and the other was The Sixth Glass from Boulevard which had been given to me for my birthday earlier that afternoon.
Approximately 20 people were sampling all of the different beverages. I sampled some different Chardonnays, and a Reisling as well as making sure that I got at least one small taste of Prosecco. Finally, I tried the Sixth Glass bottle of ale. Many were interested in sampling it, and I remember it being excellent. My memory was of an ale that was thick and flavorful. I took it easy remembering that this ale carried quite a punch.
I tried to make sure that I did not have too much of anything, and I made sure that my wife drove home, and later that night I thought, "I will have to get another bottle of that wonderful Sixth Glass Ale."
Well, last night I did just that. I bought myself a bottle of the "The Sixth Glass," let it chill just a bit, and finally pulled the cork. I smelled the wonderful aroma from the bottle and thought, "I smell a lot more alcohol than I did the last time." I tasted it and I thought that it was much thicker than I remembered, and I thought that it was much sweeter than I remembered. In my mind this was not the wonderfully balanced beer that I had on New Year's Eve. What had happened? I sampled and contemplated and thought and figured. I was perplexed. How could a beer that I loved so much a week ago be so distasteful today?
A thought came to me. Part of the joy of the of the first bottle was that it was a gift. Another part of its beauty came from the comradery of the party. Another part was that Italian sparkling wine and Italian grappa rocket fuel had tainted my decision making ability. Regardless, I can always say that my first memory of The Sixth Glass was a fond one.
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