Jack Curtin’s LIQUID DIET

This is a big night around here, Phillies vs. Yankees, Game six of the World Series. It’s not the Ultimate Game* unless we lose; if we win, that game is tomorrow.

Still, such an occasion calls for beer. The right beer, once which can be either a celebration or a consolation.

I decided that Sly Fox Saison Brune, which got me through one of the previous games, might work, so off I went with Buddy the Beer Dog (currently on steroids for a skin problem which means all he wants to do is eat and run around like crazy, which adds to the raised level of excitement around here) to grab a growler at the Phoenixville pub.

Then I had business at Sly Fox Royersford so I stopped there too and, in the process, snagged me a very unusual canned beer from the cold box. It was all kosher; Ohst was watching and there were several more still there. That’s a story  for another day, however.

On the way home down Rt. 422, I starting thinking that I hadn’t been to the Craft Ale House in a while and I knew from the email barrage from Big Dan the Spammin’ Man (low level, not Ruch level) that they had Victory Helios on tap. I’d had bottles only and wanted to give the draught a shot, so, with Buddy’s permission (I had to promise we would go for a run, not walk, when we got home), I swung by.

Part-time bartender Jim Pletcher was in the house and joined me at the bar. No bottles of Helios available, though, so I sprang (is that a word) for a bottle of WildDevil, the brett version of HopDevil, which I’ve had only on draught and liked a whole buncha lotta, $13 rather than the $6 for Helios so I definitely hope it’s as good in the bottle.  It would be my game beer, either tonight or tomorrow, whichever way I felt and the baseball gods willing.

Except…

On my doorstep when I got home was a bottle of 2009 Stone Double Bastard Ale, fresh from the brewery.

So, a half hour before game time, I am in a quandary.

I confess to having opened the Saison Brune already and will be drinking about half that growler as I prepare and then consume another fine dinner, fresh-made hot sausage from my local butcher over basamatti rice with a spicy orange sauce in this instance.

After that…

WildDevil or Double Bastard? Tonight or the hoped-for tomorrw?

I’d ask you to vote but it’s too late.

So I’ll let you know.

* I’ve always love the response of (ugh) Dallas Cowboys’ running back Duane Thomas when asked how he felt after playing in Super Bowl VI (ain’t them Roman numerals pretentious as hell?):

“If this is the ultimate game, why do they play it again next year?”

Tags: Craft Beer, Personal //