An interesting thing has taken place over the last few months. I have begun to lose my taste for wine. Normally I look forward to enjoying good wine on a Friday evening with Hubster, or as the perfect cap off to a long day at work...but not lately. I had a glass the other evening while knitting, and was shocked that it actually gave me a headache. Perhaps I'm getting older, or my tolerance has been slowly diminishing without my consent...either way, there it is. In place of my rather constant appreciation for good wine, I have begun to experience a heightening interest in beer, which resulted in a full-fledged Discovery this past Sunday at our local pub. It's quite a nice pub--clean and open, and you don't smell overwhelmingly of smoke upon leaving. It's also within walking distance of our house--always a plus. Perhaps due to the recent St. Patrick's Day celebrations, I have been wanting to try Guinness, and Hubster insisted that this occur on a nitrogen tap. Upon hearing that I had never tasted Guinness, our waitress brought us a flight post haste.
Um. Wow. I wasn't aware until now that I had been willfully ignorant to a whole genre of beverage pleasure. It was really an experience. It was a bit heavy for me, however, so I had a Blue Moon on draft, which was deliciously summery and light. Lastly I was able to try a Killian's on draft, and felt that I had met my match--the equivalent to a smokey, oaky cabernet sauvignon (my favorite). I don't know why I'm so excited about it, other than the novelty of finding something new to be passionate about. Plus the buzz is so very different from anything I've ever experienced. I do not drink liquor, and as a result am only really familiar with the intoxicating effects of wine. Beer is so much more pleasant. It's like the difference between listening to Dave Matthews' "What Would you Say" live, and anything from Paul Simon's album, Graceland. Just totally mellow. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable parts of the evening was listening to Hubster patiently educate me about the different types of beers and the brewing process. I must admit I was rudely skeptical at first, and stated as much: "So you're expecting me to believe that you, the Muslim-raised Pakistani, know anything about beer?" To which he replied, "Sweetie...I worked in a microbrewery for two years--remember?" Ah. Too right you did. Touché, my love. And Cheers, Snedd! :-)
