When the context is a desert island

Having not been asked for two days what the heck Appellation Beer means I’m able to once again put off adding that explanation to About the Site.

SandBut I will write that one thing I want it to mean is that context makes a difference. Before you fire off another what the heck question, look at the contest Alan McLeod has invented at A Good Beer Blog. It illustrates the value of context.

Desert island beer lists. They’ve be around forever. A thread at Realbeer.com still lives after two years and is up to 10 pages. Fun to look at, but I’ve never been tempted. Really, and not just because even if you put a gun to my head I couldn’t list my five favorite beers.

But this contest has context.

Instead of just any old three bottles, put one of the beers a keg that never goes dry or sours and the other two in bottles, one of which you can access on Friday in reasonable volume and one you can access on Sunday in a contemplative amount. In my life, I expect to be stuck on that Island a good long time and, yet, expect to maintain regular work week and also my northern European vague religiosity.

Fun to think about (over a beer), so I’m going to come up with an entry. You should too.

One pre-beer thought for now. Saison.

7 thoughts on “When the context is a desert island”

  1. Given the rate that Lew is posting at I don’t think he has time for daydreaming.

    But if he does it surely is of you … oops, I meant your beer.

  2. Not a member of the Realbeer forum but my choices would be:

    Southampton Berliner Weisse

    Moonlight Death & Taxes

    Russian River Supplication

    Ask me again tomorrow.

    🙂

  3. Loren – good call on the Berliner Weisse for the session choice.

    Might turnaound my thinking for the 3 beers in Alan’s contest.

    You should enter.

  4. Well…we have to convince Phil to brew it again first I think. I haven’t *cough* had a bottle *cough* in over 2 *cough* years.

    No syrup though. Blech!

    And I have Alan’s suggested book already.

  5. Loren – That’s why I’d like to see you participate in the conversation/contest (I also bought the book last year, so it’s not the prize that interests me).

    Berliner Weisse is a session option not enough people mention.

    How do you feel about Nodding Head’s?

  6. I have not been to Nodding Head yet…but I’ve heard great things about their version. Maybe visit once the new Triumph – Philly opens.

    The one thing about this style I HATE are the versions that use lactic acid versus actual yeast/bacteria (even though I understand the ramifications of choice). Iron Hill’s (West Chester, PA) version I had last October was OK but not sour enough. The Tap’s (Haverhill, MA) version was WAY too acidic, using acid. I mean throat burning, caustic…not good.

    What I love about Phil’s is its uniqueness from the originals. Is he the only one using a true German Weizen turned lacto b. sour? Staggering complexities.

    I could drink that beer…forever. And just get lost in it.

    Cheers!

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