Another Beer Skool in--and for--The Books
By Kurt Epps—The PubScout
Once again, the bar at TapTime OIB was at capacity. The “students,” including a fresh batch of “freshmen,” were on hand to sample the “warming Beers of Winter” as presented by owner Keith Berciunas.
Warming beers are noted for their higher alcohol content, and are usually enjoyed by sipping—not slamming. And given their higher ABV, they should be consumed in a place that won’t require you to drive home.
Quantity is also important. Enjoying a 6.5% brew requires considerably less caution than consuming a 13% (or higher) beer. You can have a few low ABV beers and still navigate your way home safely.
In front of your own hearth on a chilly night, however, those higher ABV beers only necessitate your navigation to your loo and your bed, preferably in that order.
And once again, for the ridiculously low price of $5.50, students got to sample and learn about five great beers, play some fun trivia for a $25 gift certificate—and even hear some Broadway singing, courtesy of the professor.
This semester’s beers were a 6.9% Winter Solstice from Anderson Valley, Bill’s Christmas Pants, an 8.4% Winter Warmer, Victory’s 9.5% Golden Monkey, a 11.2% BBA Quad from Boulevard, and Flying Machine’s Beautiful Nonsense, a 13% Double Stout.
Of course, beer being the wonderfully personal beverage it is, not everyone liked the same beers, despite being afforded the unique experience of being monks in a monastery hierarchy. But we conducted our usual analysis, and these were the results.
Bill’s Xmas Pants-134, Victory’s Golden Monkey-154, Flying Machine Beautiful Nonsense-174, Boulevard BBA Quad-179, and the big winner (although the top three were pretty close) Anderson Valley Winter Solstice with 198.
The revamped trivia competition worked very well, too, and congratulations were due to Neal and Sue (below), who managed to answer 7 of 11 questions correctly.
In all, it was another fun night at TapTime, and Keith and I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. The next Beer Skool is slated for sometime in January, so stay tuned to this blog for information. And if you want to get on my mailing list, shoot an email with your name to pubscout1996@gmail.com.
I’m still astounded by the fact that the official sport of Maryland is JOUSTING, but live and learn. Na Zdravi!
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