Beer Season
I Don’t Drink Much
I don’t drink much. I don’t have anything against drinking in and of itself (unless you’re Frank Gallagher), but I generally don’t make time for it.
When I’m home, I’m either working or recovering. When I’m at a bar, I’m working in some capacity — and I enjoy being sober in that environment. It’s a matter of control, focus, and distinguishment. When I’m out to dinner, I’m usually so damn hungry I don’t want to tamper with my appetite. Alcohol doesn’t feel good when I’m hungry.
Plus, I drive a lot.
I’m not a light weight. I’ve put away many a bottle. But life is different now. And I don’t want it in my system when I have another 90+ minute commute. Especially on dark winter nights.
Not only that, but I enjoy sobriety. (I’d like a different word than sobriety, but I guess it suffices.) I enjoy not being inebriated.
I’m a big fan of cannabis, and I stopped using that a few years ago. I drank here and there since then — usually red wine. Merlot, pinot noir, and shiraz are my go-tos for flat wine. For sparkling wine, Prosecco is fantastic.
But I don’t do it much.
Starting Over
In 2022, I started over.
I went through a long dark process of putting down the baggage I carried, and I stepped forward into … a different life.
I did not give up on my dreams. But I did give up on behaviors that stopped serving me. Overusing cannabis was one of those behaviors.
Like alcohol, I have nothing against cannabis. I’m still a fan of it. And I still believe that it has many benefits.
But I don’t use it, not even a little bit, for the time being.
I believe that cutting these substances out of my life has put me ahead of my competition — in some cases, by years. And I include my former self as my #1 competitor.
One of the best things about writing — whether it’s nonfiction, poetry, drama, stand-up, or a novel — is that you can get as smashed as you want to while you turn out the pages.
That’s an option. It’s always an option.
Me? I liked to get high as shit and let the wildest turns of phrase zoom out of my fingertips.
It’s fun.
And now? I like to NOT get high as shit and still let the wildest turns of phrase zoom out of my fingertips.
My creative mechanism, and my work ethic, are not related to what I consume, outside of real food and real hydration.
That’s a beautiful thing.
I never associated my creativity with drinking or smoking. I’ve been creative far longer than I drank or smoked.
Now, I do believe that cannabis enhanced my work ethic. It allowed me to ignore all sorts of factors that would otherwise distract or discourage me from working long hours on different projects, whether those projects were as an employee or not. And ignoring those factors led to a debilitating lack of self-care, and ultimately the consequences hurt so damn bad that I lost interest in cannabis.
No one can harm you. Feel your own pain.
- John Lennon, “I Found Out”
All that to now say …
It’s Beer Season!
If beer ever had a season, this would be it.
For the first time in I don’t know how long … 9 months? … I had a beer the other night.
I picked up a couple six-packs for Thanksgiving the night before. And when I got home, I tried one.
And it.
Was.
Delicious.
Folks, ideally, this would be about a microbrewery. About something that doesn’t have mass appeal or a huge following.
But it’s not.
It’s about Sam Adams Winter Lager.
Winter Lager
Samuel Adams Winter Lager styles itself as “festive and smooth.” I would say it’s “festive and creamy.”
Is it smooth? Sure, but I also think that “smooth” is almost unhelpful when it comes to beers and wines and liquors.
The winter lager is creamy. The ginger and orange are fabulous with the malt.
One of my favorite go-to beers EVER is Hoegaarden. (The coriander makes the whole thing pop off.)
But with winter here, this is easily another go-to beer.
Why Am I Saying This?
Because it’s scrumptious.
And if you like scrumptious things, treat yo self.
And if you don’t like delicious things …
Do as you will.
Swivels in, Swivels out.
