It’s 2010! Time for resolutions and for another episode of The Session. This months Session is hosted by Beer for Chicks and tackles the upcoming year with “New Beer Resolutions.”
The gals at Beer for Chicks essentially broke it down into a handful of questions, so I’ll just go ahead and answer them as they come:
So we want to know what was your best and worst of beer for 2009?
Best: Westvleteren 12. Never had it prior to 2009 and I actually had a chance to try it twice. Just an excellent beer.
Worst: I won’t name names, but it was an infected bottle of single hop IPA from a Danish brewery. I was really excited to try the beer and to find out it was infected came close to ruining the day.
What beer mistakes did you make?
This is a common one. I never remember anyone’s name. I’m bad with names in general. Add even as little as one pint and a noisy beer environment and I get much worse.
What are your beer regrets and embarrassing moments?
At Santa Rosa’s Battle of the Brews, I was covering the event and finished my work early, which allowed for me to enjoy the rest of what is known as a boozy event. A boozy event is one where the Alaskan table with an ice bin full of Smoked Porter and Barleywine moves slowly. As I helped pour at the Anderson Valley table, I was given generous helpings of barleywine and did not refuse. I regret accepting multiple pints of barleywine.
What are you hoping to change about your beer experience in 2010?
I hope to not chase so much beer in 2010. I know, this seems ridiculous so I should probably explain. With so many big, wild, limited beers out there, it can be maddening (and expensive) trying to track them all down. On top of that, it seems like I have tried some of the most interesting beers when I just go with the flow. I’m hoping this can help reduce the frantic nature of covering beer, allowing me to focus on the work aspect without cluttering it with play.
What beer resolutions do you have for 2010?
This was actually the second of the questions, but I feel it goes best last. I resolve to continue learning from my prior experiences. This includes continuing down the road to more responsible drinking.
I also resolve to get back into homebrewing. Kaleigh is over 2 and understands to not touch hot things, so I think the time is about right.
Finally, I resolve to keep loving beer. This one is easy but something all us beer geeks should keep in mind. I write about beer because I love beer. I don’t want to become a jaded beer geek who picks apart the flaws in perfectly wonderful craft beers.
So what are your thoughts out there? Share your stories in the comments section.
• What was your best and worst of beer for 2009?
So many candidates for best beer, so little time. Just about everything we had on a trip to San Francisco this summer would be candidates for the “best list.”
• What beer mistakes did you make?
Not having an open enough mind toward new styles of beer, Belgians in particular.
• What are your beer regrets and embarrassing moments?
Most embarrassing moment: when a bartender at a beer bar (which shall remain nameless) started teasing me about taking notes. He should have been paying more attention to the drunk two bar stools over who was about to pass out, face down, in his plate of nachos.
• What are you hoping to change about your beer experience in 2010?
Spending more time outdoors with my beer. God created beer gardens for a reason.
• What beer resolutions do you have for 2010?
Exploring new beer bars and taking in at least one major festival I’ve never been to before.