5 New Year’s resolutions to keep you drinking
Colin Joliat While many people use the dawn of a new year as springboard for self-improvement, you and I both know that they’re vaulting balls first directly into the horse. People’s goals are unrealistic, unreasonable, or simply not something they actually care about doing (who actually wants to drink less?). Instead, I’ve made a few resolutions that are both manageable and enjoyable.
Try New Beer
There were 83 beer styles, many of which contained subcategories, at the last Great American Beer Festival, and in 2010, there were 1,759 breweries in the US with another 855 in some stage of planning as of 11/20/11. There is really no excuse to still be drinking the same old beer every day. Having a favorite is one thing, but not experimenting at all is a disservice to yourself. I’ve been trying to sample beers in all styles from various breweries for the past year, but this year I’m making it a resolution, albeit an easy one. I will try 52 news beers from 52 different breweries over the next year.
I love cocktails and cocktail bars. It’s enjoyable seeing a pro create drinks that are far beyond what I even knew was possible. I had the pleasure of attending an event with The Black Grouse, which I will detail for you probably next week, and every cocktails mixed was amazing. Most of us aren’t professionals though. We don’t have access to liqueurs that only ship 200 bottles to the US. Instead, I plan to master 12 traditional cocktails (one per month). I don’t mean drinks like a vodka tonic; if you can’t make that you shouldn’t be allowed to drink. But there’s something to be said for being able to mix a Manhattan or pour the perfect Tom Collins.
While this will be easier for some than others, exploring your local brewery or micro-distillery is a good goal for anyone. You can view it as supporting your local economy, helping small businesses, or just drinking awesome alcohol. Just because they don’t have a name recognizable to many outside your state doesn’t mean it isn’t top notch. Many of the best breweries simply don’t have the capacity to ship outside the local market, so count yourself among the lucky ones who get to drink their products. I especially recommend checking out any local craft distillery. It’s a market that’s just now starting to build, much like craft breweries were 15 years ago. The prices will be higher, but take a tour and learn something while you’re there picking up a bottle. You won’t regret it!
If you truly want to learn about beer, there’s no better way than to brew it yourself. You’ll quickly discover what all the various terms surrounding beer mean, what function each ingredient actually has, and how beer goes from 90% water to 100% delicious. There is a place near me that offers classes, which I intend to take, but you can always just buy a home brewing kit and wing it yourself. There’s certainly nothing wrong with learning by trial and error. You never know, you might just have the next micro-brewery in your future! If nothing else, you’ll certainly develop a deeper appreciation for the professionals that create your favorite brews.
Speaking of professionals, let’s all make sure we appreciate our bartenders this year. I am polite, patient, and tip well, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t need to occasionally remind myself that bartenders work hard to make my night better. Having worked overnight before, I know how much an off-standard schedule can affect your life. Beyond that though, they suffer through people at their worst. Think of how obnoxious you were on your drunkest night ever. They deal with several of that guy every night. Show them a little appreciation, even if it’s just a genuine thank you. An extra tip for your local barkeep certainly wouldn’t hurt either.
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