The Evolution of Mindful Drinking

When I started this blog in December, I had little idea where it would take me. I was doing daily reviews on Instagram, trying to write something here every day, beer related or not, and attempting to regain my life. My depression and anxiety had reached fever pitch and I was grabbing at anything I could to help pull me out of that morass. I wasn't fully conscious of what I was doing, I only knew my life could be better and I wanted good beer to be part of that.

What has happened in the last five months has astounded this cynical old man.

It has been with a concentrated effort that I banished macro lagers from my life. Acquiring and trying new craft beers has become such a joy in my life that it is the anticipation of getting new beer that I look forward to more so than the consumption. I love the first sip of my brew every day, regardless of style, and it often takes me a little longer to choose a beer because of what I have come to think of as the Polkaroo Doctrine of Mindful Drinking (PDMD). It's a bit of a joke for me to label what I do as such, but inside my little acronym happy life is a real truth for anyone who wants to slow down and enjoy beer without giving in to over-consumption and alcohol abuse.

It started with trying to chronicle what flavours and textures I was getting from each new beer and keep track of what I was drinking. It has evolved into a way for me to express myself on a larger platform, bring my life into focus and meet new friends. It usually takes from 10 minutes to an hour to choose what I will be drinking on any given night. Without the release of downing 10 or 12 beers a night, I needed a way to slow down and this is the first step. Once I pick my beer, I need to figure out my picture. Since my main review platform is Instagram, the visual is as important as the words that accompany it. Before I pour a beer, I usually read up on it, the brewery that makes it or something that jumps out at me about it. It has lead me down some interesting paths, from history to microbiology. It also helps me to understand what I'm tasting, as my palate wasn't the most impressive when I started. I will try any style of beer and do my level best to find something to appreciate about it.

I always write my review as I make my way through the beer. Sometimes it can change as it warms up, so take your time. Part of becoming more present is simply sitting and exploring what makes each beer a unique experience. Most nights I have time for only 2 beers and without a fridge full of empty flavour macro lagers, I don't seek the darkness anymore. The light of good craft beer has found me and I am a better person because of it. Finding something to write about along with the beer is the best way for me to keep myself present and not slide back to the ways of the past.

I know not everyone wants to put so much effort into describing and capturing their beer. What works for me isn't necessarily the best plan for all beer drinkers. But elements of what I do can be applied to any situation and help you gain control of your experience. I do believe that an app like Untappd or Beer Advocate is essential to the process and would encourage you to get one of them. I personally like Untappd because of its easy to use interface, but whatever you use, make it count. Rating your beer and making some short comments on what you're tasting will be beneficial to helping you slow down and enjoy every beer. Mindless cramming of macro beers brings nothing but emptiness and we deserve better. I always try to pair my beer with what I am doing and you should consider what you are after before you pop the top or crack the can. Look, smell and sip is a good way to begin. I think you can see that gulping a well crafted beer is pointless if you are truly trying to experience life in a more mindful way, so sipping and tasting is the way to go. Subtle changes in the beer often appear as it warms up and this can be how you make your way to being more present with your beer.

It seems so simple to me now, but it has taken almost three years for me to reach a point that I feel comfortable in my own skin again. The abuse of beer was part of the downfall that I experienced when I almost lost everything. I used it to escape from the walls crashing down around me and that only made things worse. I have been baptized in the fires of macro lager hell and come out the other side preaching the gospel of what great craft beer can do. Without it, I am not sure I would be here today to write this. I'm not being facetious. It exists in my mind the path I could have taken and it is lonely, cold and dark. So while PDMD (Copyright pending, haha) is funny, it also means so much to who I am becoming. There is no way I would be going out, meeting up with new beer friends or planning new adventures without it. So it is with happiness and gratitude to those who make such wonderful beer that I encourage you to support your local small breweries. Go visit them, try new beers and open yourself up to the possibilities of where  your imagination can take you. Be present, mindful and aware of everything in your life and use beer to enhance it, not hide from it.

Raise your glass and your standards, one beer at a time!

Cheers!



Living out Loud

When I look back over the last few months I am struck by the rapidity of how the community of craft beer drinkers has both expanded and become closer through the simple act of sharing our pictures of what we're drinking on Instagram. I started doing it to keep track of what I was consuming and slowly it has morphed into my go to spot to see new beers, hang out (virtually) with new friends and make plans for future trips.

What's weird is how much I was separated from most forms of social media only a year ago. I had deleted my Facebook, didn't use Twitter and posted sporadically on Instagram. My only real outlet was Untappd and that was strictly to count beers and get badges. So what changed and made me into the Internet marauding Polkaroo I am today? Why as I approach my mid 40's do I feel the need to write blogs, beer reviews and other stories about my life? Is there a reason I make videos and talk about personal stuff while drinking a new beer? It's not an easy thing to expose all you are to a world that's increasingly fractured, hard and inward looking. But I couldn't live in darkness anymore and if I wanted to change, I needed to be loud about it.

I didn't sit down and map out a plan of how I would become the Drunk Polkaroo. It has been an organic journey that takes weird and wonderful turns that even I couldn't possibly have predicted. I have seen the very darkest parts of my soul take root and almost drag me down to the bottom of the well and sometimes I felt I deserved it. That kind of bleak outlook was an everyday part of my life for so many years and I don't think I can adequately explain what my depression and anxiety feels like to anyone because it feels so personal and sad. But when I started to see the light with the help of great beer, something just clicked.

I understand that some people think this is a joke, or that I am screwing around, but I assure you I am not. I legitimately have used Craft Beer to change my life and how I want to live it. By slowing down and trying to think about what I am drinking I have created a way of life that forces me to consider everything I do. It isn't about getting drunk anymore, it has become a gateway to a world I didn't know existed. While I do have at least one a night, it is in that moment that I explore my past, present and future. The beer has become the focal point only in that I savour every minute and allow the flavours to inspire my words. I am not the only one that this has happened to. I am joined in my quest by many people even if they don't realise it. Our love of well made, balanced brews has become a common thread that binds us together and it is when we meet online or in real life that we discover good people drink good beer.

I choose to Live out Loud and shun the darkness. I know my story is long and my past is littered mistakes, but I am compelled to confront them in order to make the future brighter. My life may be half over, but I truly believe the best part is yet to come. I refuse to quietly go away and hide from the dark things that chased me for so many years. We all have personal demons, I am no longer afraid of mine. Confronting my fears gives me power over them and that alone makes every day beautiful.
So what is the purpose and goal of all my digital and real life galavanting? I don't think I will ever truly know. There is a purpose in every word I write now and for someone who once had a promising future he threw away, that is a good start. I am constantly writing, whether it sees the light of day or not. Often times it is only to clear space in my head for the bright things I wish to do in the future and to address some doubt or sadness that creeps into my thoughts as I amble about. I am glad you come with me as I explore Craft Beer and the Polkaroo's own mind. I came so close to shutting myself off from the world not so long ago that I know what it feels like to be alone. I won't let that happen again. I can see the stars in my future are shining down on amazing beer from all over the world and it is in the quest for the next great brew that I can shout my love of life to the universe.
Raise your glass and your standards!
Cheers!



Ramblings of a Polkaroo

Polkaroo across the Internet with this beautiful shot!

It has been a real treat the last couple of weeks since Polkapolooza. Between all the new beer, friends and brewery visits, I've been pretty busy. Getting the chance to sit down and write a post here is hard for two reasons. One is that I spend an increasing amount of time either writing reviews on Instagram, making videos on my YouTube Channel or hanging out with friends drinking and sharing great beer. The other reason is that I am also trying to get my thoughts about my entire life's journey from childhood till now put into coherent form. Part of what makes the Drunk Polkaroo tick is acknowledging the past and using my experiences and mistakes to plan a brighter future. It's not always pretty and I struggle with some of the darker times. There are pieces of my life that even I had forgotten about or repressed because they are such a sad and bleak time. But it is in utilizing those very intense encounters with the very worst of my life that I tread the path I do now. So while I started this blog not really knowing where I was going and with such a gusto of writing every day, I did not come all this way to abandon any part of my story. I may not write daily or weekly here, but you can always find some part of my life through my other outlets.

The biggest part of what has driven this whole thing is great beer. Taking the time to write and talk about it really has made a difference to what I drink and more importantly, how I drink. My very best Beer Friend is BigCanuck75 (check out his Instagram, all sorts of awesome) and we were also partners in cramming macro lagers until we couldn't stand back not so long ago. Last night we got together and neither of us had to work in the morning. That used to mean a 24 or two and we would be feeling it for the next few days with blurred vision and pounding headaches. But we had a couple of beers each, talked about all manner of things and enjoyed the hell out the evening. Respecting the beer and fun are not incompatible anymore and it was so nice to wake up this morning to enjoy breakfast with Mrs. Polkaroo and no hangover.

So fear not my friends, just because I don't post here everyday doesn't mean you can't read about my adventures. Please join us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or YouTube to get all sorts of fun beer related content. I am working on putting it all together on one website with some other cool stuff that people have suggested they'd like to see. Luckily I have awesome family like my cousin Matt, who purchased the Drunkpolkaroo.com website for me and set up all the links that take you to my various mediums. I am blessed most of the time with being surrounded by supportive real life and online friends. I hope your ready because there are some really wicked fun coming up soon and maybe you can come along and join the Drunk Polkaroo in his adventure!
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the still early in the planning Tabernac! The Qubec City Craft Beer Throwdownaolooza that is happening in August. It has come from meeting people on Instagram and sharing our love of great beer, We all kept saying that it would be cool to actually have a beer together, so we took the leap, found the most central place for us to meet and agreed it was high time we get together. It is going to be pretty amazing and I hope we can add more beer friends to the guest list. Details coming very soon, join us on our Facebook group to keep up to date with the latest ideas.
Until we meet again my friends!
Raise your glass and your standards one beer at a time!
Cheers!