For us, it’s beer.

Guinness Draught at Cool Beans. And moose antlers provided by wife.

Why is beer so important to us?

I spent today at work like I do many other days, repeatedly and dedicatedly trying to fix the same old problems caused by the same old  carelessness. In fact, I fix other peoples mistakes for a living; and I often hear those same people complain when I don’t fix those problems fast enough. I get the pleasure of working with some great individuals, and some that don’t live up to their potential. I have to memorize miles of regulations, and implement them around mazes of bureaucracy, from several organizations. I’m not complaining, I must like my job considering the time I have chosen to spend there, but I think we all can identify with the lesser points of our careers.

So today I find out, around the 3 o’clock hump, that my local pub is opening a bottle of Sam Adam’s Utopias in an hour. After putting out a couple of fires out at work, and a quick rush home to pick up the wife, we are en route to glory.

We run into the Oak Street Draft House, and throw $40 down on the bar. My wife states with a slight stutter…”u…toe…pee…uz…pleeeze”. The bartender seems excited about our choice, pulls the black bottle down from the shelf, and starts to pour two glasses. He comments on the likelihood of us killing the bottle. Jamie and I look at each other with relief that we made it, and with the satisfaction of being two of the last people to enjoy this rare elixir.

We then go out on the porch to meet up with B.D.S. member, BenE, who is already accompanied by a friend of his, and both are already enjoying the same brew. I smell the beer repeatedly for ten minutes. At $20 for two ounces, I am at full snobbery. I have a right, don’t judge.

Then I taste it. (Sade’s “Ordinary Love” crescendos in the background)

The Utopias. Not just a clever name.

It is brilliant. Just brilliant. The most complex and flavorful beer I have ever had. It’s delicious, both sweet and savory at the same time. I taste almond, dark cherries, apples, and caramel. I’ve never had anything like it.

After several sips, the conversation I had with a co-worker earlier in the week creeps back into my brain. It was the conversation when I exclaimed with enthusiasm that I was going to be able to try a beer that can cost up to $200 a bottle. They then asked, “Are you really going to pay that much?”, and “Why is beer such a big deal to you?”

I now think that I have a better answer than I did when I was asked those questions.

The most appropriate item to spend a fortune, or place importance, on is one that can make the world disappear, if only briefly. This item, for us, is beer.