often times the seemingly mundane can provide a great deal of insight

10.06.2011

more on beer



beer.

Can be such an amazing thing when it is crafted with quality ingredients from caring and experienced brewmasters and connoisseurs.  The flavors and sensations created by this amazing beverage are extremely difficult to successfully replicate in other areas of cuisine.  It is a drink to be deeply appreciative of and respected, and the process of creating this classy libation has been developed and refined over centuries of innovation to become a true art form that speaks in chorus to the senses.

At least, it was that...

...until prohibition put a sudden stop to what was an incredibly diverse and regionally defined network of small artisan brewers.  After prohibition was overturned and beer was again legalized, it became heavily monitored by federal regulations.  Initially this seemed a great idea, but a part of this regulation forced breweries to sell their product through a distributer, and that is still how beer gets from brewery to retailer to consumer.  Unfortunately this was seen as a money making opportunity which is why 95% of beer sold through distributers is a product of Anheuser Busch (budweiser) , Coors, and Miller.... leaving us flooded by beer sporting the artistic equivalent of an ape farting colored chalk into a napkin, and an extreme reduction in quality.

Advertising proved to strong in this case, and it has made a lasting impact on a decline in appreciation of beer and the responsibility that partners a healthy respect of a quality product.

Recently, however, there has been a overall decline in beer sales in the USA. Interestingly though, this has only impacted the big tyrants (Miller and Coors have since merged together in an attempt to combat Budweiser.. and Bud has been bought by Belgian company InBev) And in contrast to the decline there has been an increase of smaller artisan breweries... "microbreweries" such as dogfish head, New Belgium, Boston Brewing Co (Sam Adams), and several others... in addition to this is an increase of home-brewing by beer loving individuals longing for a return to quality products.  There has also been a rise in pubs that cater to interesting and quality beers... Muddy Pig and Happy Gnome of St. Paul are just two of my favorite examples.


I have frequently voiced my opinion about what i would call "good beer".

We are in a good place to return to a time of appreciation and artistry regarding this amazing craft... I urge you to begin doing some research.. fork out a few extra bucks for the quality beers, and help bring beer back to the respected and artistic foundations from which it has so tragically fallen.  Cheers.




9.22.2011

stinky cheese, ice cream, and big cities



I don't think it is unusual for us to think back on situations, locations, and experiences form our past and produce a kind of glorified alternative to reality in our mind.  This is usually met with some kind of disappointment when the idealistic reproduction comes face to face with the real thing...

example: Nelsons ice cream in Stillwater.  A place that amazes you when you are a kid, or when you go there for your very first time and see the outrageous amount of amazing ice cream they dish out for you and the wide variety of flavors you are permitted to select from.  After going there my first time I was mentally hooked and the reality grew to a legend in my mind... it is still a place that exists, and they still serve up the same outlandish scoops of quality ice cream.. but now there is a part of me that ponders why a human would ever want to eat as much ice cream as they give you.. and how someone manages to do that without coating the entirety of their body with milky sugar goo... I would probably get their most moderate size if I were to return there.. just because it makes more sense to me...

and then there are the times when the reality perfectly matches what you remember.

example: Sap Sago cheese.  What? you have never heard of it... not unusual.. all you need to know is that somehow in my childhood it became a common treat for my family to enjoy. The stuff stinks like skunk dander and has a mild green tint to it... it is a hard aged cheese that you eat it by finely shaving or grating it and placing a spoon full of it on a buttered cracker, or whatever else you want to be amazing.. often people will say that it makes their tongue or lips itch.. because it does.  I had not had this treat in over a decade and was just treated to some again recently.  It perfectly met my expectations of it in every way... many things have changed since then in my life but Sap Sago has remained consistent and amazing.

finally, we have those things that are even better than we remember...

example: About a year ago, my wife and I moved out of the city and live about 45 minutes away in the countryside... I often will think back to how great living in the city was, we are closer to friends, family, good beer and music, coffee shops, culture not involving wrangler jeans... and the list seems to continually grow.  Because a trip back to the city means an hour and a half of driving, we tend to limit ourselves for special occasions.  Recently, we had a reason to return, and it was glorious.. but somehow all the wonderful things I had in my mind about the city didn't meet the reality of it.  It was somehow even better than I remembered...

I don't know why the mind glorifies, maintains, or diminishes our memories.. but the trip to the city was a bittersweet surprise.

9.19.2011

seasons



One of the many beautiful aspects of living in Minnesota is that I get to experience an extremely clear difference in everything when the seasons change.  Each is distinct and we have just slipped into my personal favorite..

Autumn.

The crispness in the air, the way darker beer pipe tobacco seem to pique my attention, the changing of the trees from mundane greens to vibrant expressions of oranges and reds.. it is all quite lovely.  I guess I am wired in a similar fashion... a little variety tends to keep me feeling fresh and energized.  I also think that we have different "seasons" in our lives, and that as those seasons change they invite us to change with them.

I also think that how we react to a change of "seasons" is more important than the specificity of the "season" we are in...

So, if you have some dark beer, I invite you to raise your glass to being one who thrives in the midst of change and pursues growth in hardship rathe than retreat.  I think this Autumn will be a good one, either way it is the only Autumn I have this year, so I'm gonna give it all I got.

7.12.2011

grease brain fire



Active minds are tough to turn off.

I'd imagine that in extreme cases it is like trying to put out a grease triggered oven fire. It is interesting to me how complicated the mind is and how intricately weaved together it must be. Equally as interesting is how such a complicated masterpiece can be so easily entertained and satisfied. Granted, this is possibly declining due to the barrage of sensory stimulation that is sweeping into society, but maybe it is not declining... maybe it is getting worse.

It is funny how the active and creative minds of few can produce gadgets and trends that will subdue the masses into zom-like lethargy.

So, I raise my glass to those minds still active. And bid you continue to stimulate that potential for greatness as you strive to learn, grow, create, and understand. And to the rest of you... you probably will never read this entry unless someone tweetbooks it to your facepod.

(ps- picture was first to pop into google image search when typing in "grease brain fire" apparently it is some kid named "Nate", he might read this blog, but probably not... idiot)


6.30.2011

tanned leather and tire treads

It is interesting to me how I can often times take something for granted for such an extended period of time and it is not until a sudden change jars my perception that I am able to remember why I was once truly appreciative of said thing.

On a hot and humid Minnesota day, I miss my sandals.

These good ol' reliable friends have traveled with me for years through continents and time in terrain ranging from red Kenyan earth to Argentinian cobblestone. Just a couple of days earlier did they take one step closer to retirement. They might still be salvaged, but optimism will wane over time. The curious part of my recent loss is that it is on a day when they would be most highly valued that their memory is most haunting. This is, of course, a normal reaction and something that we all deal with..... and it happens with something as minimal as footwear as well as something as indescribable as the longing to be with a loved one that has passed.

Our days bring us surprises and our memories will be awakened by experiences yet to be encountered.

We are a complicated and beautiful design.


6.24.2011

peaches and dead kitties....



As the crimson scales haunt a vacant wine glass after the opulent nectar has vanished into memory, so have my many excuses for failing to upkeep this posting source run dry.

Excuses are interesting little peaches.

Parasitic in their very nature, an excuse will cling onto the very heart of an idea and suck from it all life and potential in a very subtle and obvious manner.

Obvious, because we can rarely deceive ourselves with excuses... we know we are making them and allowing them to run our actions, albeit in small incremental portions.

Subtle, because they become the water in our fish bowl... our movement, or lack there of, is determined by all these little aquatic peaches being absorbed into our psyche.

let's taste the bittersweet familiarity of some of these peaches

"this is the last time"

"if only... then...."

"someday"

"I would... but..."

"Could've"

There are many other samples as well, but some of the culprits listed above are certainly a small portion of the dilemma.

The dilemma:  Excuses curb creativity and movement.  Progress loses to fear, the proverbial kitten of hope is drowned in the proverbial and peachy waters of complacency. You lose, I lose, we lose.

Solution: Stop drowning kittens in peach juice...

 although, why not start tomorrow.. after all it's been a long day.