Do you remember mix tapes? Agonizing over the song selection, hoping to craft a perfect sonic progression to illustrate your mood, love or other drug. Whether it was made for that person who you wanted to pledge your undying youthful love to or a pal who you just needed to share the latest find from your favourite band, the mix tape was a way to communicate without having to say anything yourself. I miss those days but I still have oh so many of mine around here and once and a while, Mrs. Polkaroo and I will dance and laugh at the songs we used to love. My word I was a sappy guy when I was young. So many power ballads...
For even me, those days are long past and it was when I started to make gifts of beer and receive them myself that I was struck by how similar it made me feel. When I visit breweries in search of new beer, I often get a few extras for people I know. Mostly styles I know they like and sometimes stuff that I want them to try, perhaps for the first time. Crafting a mixtape took me to places in my mind that helped me express myself and I am now engaging in that same feeling when shipping beers out to long distance friends or opening the beer fridge in the Grotto to grab a pint or two for someone closer to home.
What this all means is the Gift of beer is far more than just a generous thing to do for someone, it is an expression of who you are and what you want to say to that person. Maybe it's not a three chord acoustic riff that says it, but this Bellwoods limited edition beer we're sharing means I care about you and want you to be happy. I don't think I am alone in this. We all like to make the people we cherish feel special and I like to do that with a Craft Beer.
I know I am an emotional guy when it comes to my beer, but when my Uncle Jerry wanted to stop in to try some craft beer, it made my heart sing. He's a Corona guy, so I picked beers for him to try that would showcase a bunch of flavours that wouldn't scare him away from trying some in the future. Descendant's El Buscador, Side Launch Dark Lager and Muskoka Summerweiss were just a few that I shared with him and my Dad on that warm Saturday evening. They both found something new they liked and when Uncle Jerry brought out his guitar, I knew I had done some good. It is in the gift of beer that we can express ourselves and help show our friends and family how we feel about them without saying a thing.
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Summer hasn't started and this is already a high point.
Thank you Jerry! |
The end game for me is, as always, to improve my relationships with people, release the darkness I carried for so long and enjoy a pint or two without losing my head. Sharing beer is all about bringing people together and creating memories that will last forever in your heart.
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Steve from Craft Beer and Bacon
saved mine with this #beersaint
moment at Bar Volo |
Going forward I will be tagging anyone who gives me this wonderful gift of beer, be it a pint at a bar, a beer from their fridge or some unexpected surprise in the mail or when we meet up with the hashtag #beersaint. I chose that because they really do bring something heavenly to my life with these lovely gifts. I encourage you to use #beersaint to celebrate your friends who do this as well and perhaps we can start a movement that will bring the joy of well made, delicious Craft beer to everyone we meet.
Cheers!
Raise you glass and your standards, one beer at a time!
Share the love,
#beersaint someone you think deserves thanks today!
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| Mrs. Polkaroo is my #beersaint every day |
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Keltic Devil sent me an East Coast
#beersaint package |
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| Paul the Beer Guy became a #beersaint with this beauty from Manantler |
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| The Big Canuck bought me a Pint for his #beersaint moment |
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| My #beersaint share with The Big Canuck |
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