Go Off the Path OR Why I Read, "All About Beer"





Somewhere along the way I stumbled upon The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. While I started with the newsletter and blog, I purchased the book on something of a whim. The book is an account of Rubin's twelve month long adventure that she spent, "test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific research, and lessons from popular culture about how to be happier."

Perhaps once I finish the book, which will be soon, I will embark on my own version as there is a guide inside on how to start my own. How handy!

In the interim period though, I was struck by one of her endeavors in the month of May which fell under the category of, Be Serious About Play. Her four goals: Find more fun; take time to be silly; Go off the path; Start a Collection.

Here is an excerpt:

Diane Vreeland said, "The eye must travel." One of the things I admire most about my mother is her adventerousness - she's always eager to go new places and have new experiences; she's not intimidated by new situations; she's constantly developing new areas of mini-expertise just because she's interested in something. I wanted to be more like that, and my resolution to "Go off the Path" was meant to push me to encounter the unexpected thoughts, unfamiliar scenes, new people, and unconventional juxtapositions that are key sources of creative energy - and happiness. ...

Each Monday in the month of May, I bought three new magazines - ones that I would never have read otherwise. The first Monday, I wandered into a magazine shop near my gym that I'd walked by a thousand times, and I discovered a magazine gold mine. Racks lined the room from floor to ceiling and more piles fanned out across the floor. Three times, I walked up to an unfamiliar subject area, shut my eyes, and pulled a magazine at random. After making sure I hadn't accidentally picked up a porn magazine, I headed for the cash register...

I decided to start my magazine quest on a smaller scale (girl on a budget here, something about buying a house). I went to the magazine section of Barnes and Noble. Then I froze unsure how to pick a magazine at random, since I still found myself being gravitated to certain genres. Then a random person showed up, and picked up a beer related magazine. I took this as a sign that I could purchase a beer magazine since it would not be something I would normally read, and Danny could enjoy it too (bonus!). He bought the last copy of his publication, so I settled for All about Beer: Celebrating the World of Beer Culture.

Here is what I learned:

• I love beer labels/graphics. While you should probably not judge a beer (or a book) by it's label/cover, they sure are fun to look at!
• The publisher and editor, Daniel Bradford has an annual run through holiday beers at his house - Danny and I hope to host something like that come Christmas.
• Dayton, Ohio will soon be home to the Carillon Historical Park, which will house the first brewery in an American Museum. They will demonstrate the process using period tools and techniques. Yes, that will be on the agenda for the next visit to Dayton.
• Colorado did NOT make the list for the top ten beer-consuming states per year, by individuals and total volume. I am shocked, although there were some states that were not terribly surprising (North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana - probably not a whole lot else going on).
• A chemical engineering degree is the perfect background to get into brewing beer.
• There is a Master Brewers Association of the Americas AND an American Homebrewers Assocation.
• Cisco Brewers have seen tremendous sales with its jalapeno pineapple-flavored vodka. I am not sure that would be an improvement over the standard "rubbing alcohol" flavor, but hey, to each his own.
• No one is loyal to any one beer anymore.
• In the 30 Brewers under Thirty there were some women - love it!
• Also in this segment was a young man now living in Vail, Colorado working as the President/Brewmaster of Crazy Mountain Brewing Company who quit his finance job at the age of 22 to start brewing beer.
• I was way too far over my head in the "Buyer's Guide for Beer Lovers" section - so I just skimmed. Although I did like the ad for Rahr & Sons, Pecker Wrecker an Imperial Pilsner.
• There is a "Pints for Prostates" campaign that is "Reaching men through the universal language of beer. Cheers to the best mate. Cheer to bedmates. Cheers to your prostate!
• Danny and I could buy a turn key hop farm operation in New York for $145,000 or our best offer.
• I really liked the Beer Traveler section, which this time focused on going South for the Winter. Apparently Atlanta, Charlotte, and Knoxville are quite the bustling brewery areas. I am kind of glad Danny did not see all this before we went to Atlanta, although I would like to work some of this information into finagling a trip to Charlotte. Perhaps in March  since that is their beer week. Maybe skip Knoxville, since it is, "not the brightest star on the American beer map" (that made me laugh). Although one of the breweries offers a Double Chocolate Porter that is entirely satisfying without being too sweet or gooey. Now I may be able to get on board if it was too sweet and extra gooey.
• I learned a new term for Danny, "beercation." Yes, he has taken me on more than one of those).
• The last content page of the magazine is called, "It's my Round," which I equate to the "Point After" in my Sports Illustrated. Although in this magazine, readers can contribute their own stories. Now if only SI would open it up... Anyway, this particular article was written by Dennis Dunham who grew up in Ohio on 3:2 beer, but now lives in Duluth, Minnesota and travels A LOT for work (and in search of beer). His other current collection is baseball stadiums, "he has been to 19 major league stadiums (some now retired) and seven minor league parks." FINALLY, something I can get on board with; but back to the beer.
• Before every trip he searches, "for at least one new outlet to explore with porters and good food. And find them he has in 27 states and 80 cities, in towns with fewer than 2,000 people, and in places like Chicago, St. Louis, Houston, and Seattle."
• Danny note: he finds them on ratebeer.com and beer100.com and in The Brewing News (which I am pretty sure is the magazine that gentleman picked up) and All About Beer, or through Google and word of mouth.

I feel like I just wrote a book report, but I had a lot of fun reading something new. Who knows what the magazine will be next week, but Danny is going with me to The Tattered Cover tonight to help me pick something out.