A Rant for Emergents
HT to Brother Maynard ... 'twas his post on translations of the Bible which began my convoluted path.
I have to say at the outset I'm not particularly particular about which Bible translation anyone uses. Long ago I came to the conclusion that if indeed I do believe that God is capable of creating the entire universe, then it's just possible that S/He might not necessarily confine Herself to the pages of any one particular translation of a fifth generation copy of the transcription of the oral traditions of generations of stories written down in the non-native tongue. That God might just be capable of revealing Himself through more than one translation; indeed, She might use other books too. So I follow the suggestion of Thomas aKempis: “In things essential, unity; in doubtful, liberty; in all things, charity.”
I do, however, have a strong suggestion to make to the folks who are participating in the conversation known as the Emerging Church. Please, o please, extend your horizons past Guiness! Guiness is the Budwieser of stouts. It is a crass commercially over-produced beer that out-grew itself in the late '80s. There are so very many good, fine stouts out there and ales too. If it takes a chick to raise this issue, then raise it I will.
I think my favorite stout is Samuel Smith's Oatmeal Stout, although Young's Double Chocolate is too close a second to call. I have used Young's in my venison chili with fine results. They are both deep, rich and absorb light when you slowly pour them into a glass. They are best served luke warm (of course).
I have to say that my favorite beer category is India Pale Ales. I love them ... all of them. If you ever get to Vermont, or a gourmet beer establishment be sure to try Magic Hat's #9. It not only has that great citrus tang, but also has the zing of apricot for a fun surprise. Also from Vermont, Long Trail Brewery's unfiltered India Pale Ale is fabulous. It fills your mouth and sticks to your ribs. Dominion Brewery here in Virginia has a Pale Ale with a fine grapefruit bite.
Here's an ale that's almost a stout and has been a favorite of mine for more than 20 years -- Old Peculier. It's a British beer and wonderful to behold. It's rich and full and has a lot of texture. I discovered this ale during my misspent youth. A favorite haunt of LightHusband's and mine was The BrickSkeller off of Dupont Circle in DC. They serve several hundred different kinds of beers. On our first date, LightHusband (in a vain effort to impress me) ordered a bottle of beer from Scotland which had been numbered by hand with a ballpoint pen!
The larger point I'd like to make here is this. From my vantage point, it seems that a strong value being expressed by the emerging conversation goes something along the lines of "think globally, act locally." That is that while we see the larger issues and problems in the world, we see the solutions beginning with us and with our immediate communities. That we are able to influence and establish change there within our local circles. So, why, I have to wonder, are we not extending this argument to beer? Those engaging in the emerging conversation need to find their local microbrewery or pub and imbibe! Stop feeding the corporate, commercial machine. Raise a glass to your brother, the brewer and support him (or her)! For those of you across "the pond," find the CAMRA pubs and support them. And, for heaven's sake, expand your hoppy horizons. There's a great big beery world out there ... explore it!
8 Comments:
HA! I love those trick posts where they take a sharp detour from what you expected in the first couple paragraphs.
Jackie introduced me to some beer this weekend that I ACTUALLY LIKED. I still can't believe it. I thought I hated all things hoppy. Goes to show -- you just never can say never.
Glad you liked the post ... sooo ... which beer is it that you like? Don't keep us guessing! Tell us why you like it, too, please?
So, I would assume you would find this a fine idea:
The Upper Room Church
I found out soon after I graduated from a school that allowed no drinking whatsoever that I have a genetic disposition to loving all things alcohol, except tequila and rubbing.
I even found I liked Colt 45. So, clearly I haven't any standards. Though, I'm all about finding a nice pub where there's a healthy selection for those times of taste exploration. I've found the Belgian's make some fine selections, the names of which escape me.
Colt 45!! Well, even I have to admit to liking Genessee Cream Ale in my misspent youth. I believe the Belgians you're thinking of would be Chimay ... the champagne of beers as far as I'm concerned. They are brewed by Trappist monks in Belgium. I had some on tap once at a small upstairs establishment in Philly just before a U2 concert. It was fabulous.
The Upper Room Church looks, um, interesting. I have to wonder about which spirit is moving there ;-) ... or rather how the spirit moves??
Have you seen the beer commercial when this guy is running down the street and shouting "it's raining beer!"? very funny.
I like all the Magic Hat beers. We buy it all the time. Our youngest even has started collecting the beer bottle caps from them. (They have funny sayings inside.)
IPA is really nice; many good ones out there.
Ever try McEwen's Scottish ale, it's a tasty strong dark one.
I still like my Molsons every now and then and even get cheapo american "banquet beer" (read tastes like water) but feel compelled to "shotgun" them if drinking out of a can ...something I haven't done in years. haha
Don't actually drink that much beer anymore, but once in a while it sure hits the spot. (of course it's a rather LARGE spot and difficult to miss...)
Ahhh yes, McEwan's. Mighty fine. The Scot's know how to brew an ale!
Molson's (if you get it actually in Canada) is okay. Anything bought here in the States ... well ... not so much. Back when I was a student and dirt poor, I used to drink Weidemann's ... better known as Weidemann-weep. At a $1.75 a 6-pack and fairly good taste it was a good buy. Funny thing was, you could get it at the BrickSkeller for $1.65 a can.
I don't drink much beer anymore either ... but when I do, I want it to be good. I want it to count for something and taste really, really good.
I do like Chimay, but that's not the one I was thinking of. I had it after, well, an evening of beer tasting and names didn't quite make it into my permanent memory.
If you ever make it to the Pasadena area, I would suggest trying out my favorite little pub, and their wide selection of Belgian beers, one of which is my favorite, among others.
Whoa ... that is quite a pub. It tempts me to plan a trip to Pasadena just for the pub. They even had Old Peculier on the menu under bottles! Most impressive.
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