Dry Beer Time

I felt in my bones; first, that this world does not explain itself....  Fourth, that the proper form of thanks to it is some form of humility and restraint; we should thank God for beer and Burgundy by not drinking too much of them.  - GK Chesterton

There's a running joke here at work for "10 o'clock dry beer time".  Dry beer = pretzels.

Basic Pretzel ingredients (from Auntie Anne's website):
Makes 6 large pretzels

1 teaspoon instant yeast
1 tablespoon malt powder or brown sugar
2-3 cups all-purpose unbleached or bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup warm milk (approximately 110 degrees, which is 1 minute in my microwave)

Basic beer ingredients:
water
Barley (a grain malted to brew beer)
Hops
Yeast

There's enough of an overlap it works as a joke.  But truly I would buy a pretzel flavored with Guinness or Yuengling.  I'm kind of surprised no beer company has tried the snack food realm yet.  If any major beer company representative gets e-lost, finds this measly blog & markets it as a product.  GREAT!!  All I ask is 1 bag as a fee.

A quick search shows me there are some beer pretzel recipes and also makes me hungry.  Soon this may be tried at my house.
Beer Pretzel

MMmmm. Beer

Over the past 3 years I've developed a real fondness for beer. For the most part beer makes me think accomplishment. My usually consumption is 1 can after mowing the lawn or 1-2 after a day of frisbee or hardwork. A case lasts me about 1 month.

Probably one step beyond just accomplishment is the celebration of the accomplishment. I'm not very likely to receive grand adulation for my lawn mowing prowess; and my frisbee skills have plateaued where I am content to leave them be. (sshh, I'm too lazy to do the conditioning to push to the next level). Beer is my toast to something done at the end of the day. I celebrate by nursing this 12 oz can for 1/2 hr. The bubbles applauding in my ear.

For how much I truly like beer, I'm not a beer snob. I buy cases of cans because I'm cheap. I used to imbibe IC Light until it just recently moved from Pittsburgh to Wisconsin. I used to like Rolling Rock until a co-worker told me it tasted like corn; I had one shortly there after and he was right. Yuengling still holds a place in my heart. I lean towards the lagers. I like the taste of some stouts & such but feel bloated for a long time after.

I like the concept of the microbrews and local breweries. Besides supporting your local shops, it is also accomplishment wrapped up in a nice 12 or 16 oz package. GK Chesterton (get used to the name if you keep reading my blog) once said "you don't grow a beard on a whim". Good brewing is an investment of time, resources and labor. It is art. Honor the artist. I'm sure wine & cheese can fall under the same craft label, but c'mon it's beer.

My caveat of ppl getting silly or stupid on drink will also be summed up by GK Chesterton. "The free man owns himself. He can damage himself with either eating or drinking; he can ruin himself with gambling. If he does he is certainly a damn fool, and he might possibly be a damned soul; but if he may not, he is not a free man any more than a dog." Actions have consequences.

I can probably go much deeper but my Yuengling is about empty and I will keep this light so as to not get bloated or make any reader bloated.