If you’re not a regular reader of my irregular posts you might not know that, for reasons I’m not entirely sure of anymore, I’m abstaining from beer for the entirety of 2012.
It is just beer I’m avoiding, not other drinks. Basically it’s an effort to discover new things and broaden my horizons, and shift a bit of belly in the process.
That last bit isn’t really working, but I’m blaming that on the pizzas.
The first bit is though, and the end of March was the end of month 3; I’m 25% there.
Since the end of January, which was my last update, I’ve developed a taste…no, more like a tolerance, for cider. It still smells like cat piss, but if you can get past that then Bulmers is ok. Magners pear cider is alright, it doesn’t really taste of anything, to be honest, and the new Cidré from Stella Artois is quite nice, if a little heavy.
The jewel in the February-through-March crown had to be Thistly Cross Gold, Oak Cask Cider. I bought a bottle on my first visit to Illegal Jack’s. It was surprisingly nice. Very woody and smoky, but quite thick and a little cloying after about half a bottle. Didn’t stop me polishing off 3 of them though.
That same night I was chatting to Alaster Phillips and Stewart Kirkpatrick about whisky, digital journalism and video games…and my twelve month abstainance from beer.
I explained how I saw out 2011 with an Innis & Gunn, haven’t touched a beer since, and I was open to suggestions as to which beer I’ll have to welcome in 2013. I’m still open to suggestions, folks.
Stewart suggested that as my first beer in a year it should be something Scottish, as it’ll be consumed on Hogmanay, and something a bit special to celebrate going whole year. Perhaps something from the lads at Brewdog. I liked that idea.
Then Alaster suggested that I should get Brewdog to I craft a whole new beer for me to see in the New Year. Now, I liked that idea even more.
So if you’re out there, @BrewdogJames…what d’ya say? Shall we talk?
