21st Amendment has posted the roundup for Session #22: “What Does Repeal Mean to Me?”
If you are working on a term paper about beer blogging and want examples of the diversity of the beer blogosphere I’d suggest starting with December Session posts.
We’re only talking about a few dozen of the hundreds of beer blogs operating, but a pretty interesting tip of the iceberg.
Shawn and Nico have asked us to write about Prohibtion today in Session #22.
Specifically: “What does the repeal of Prohibition mean to you? How will you celebrate your right to drink beer?”
I’ll start with a bit of a confession. My great grandfather ran for local office in the 1890s on the Prohibition ticket. He was a berry farmer and lay preacher who also wrote about community news for two nearby newspapers. A.A. Applegate was no neo-convservative. In a time when graduating from high school wasn’t the norm he reared six children who went to college on state scholarships. Some became artists and musicians. He is one of my heroes.
He didn’t use his newspaper columns as a pulpit so I don’t have any information why he chose to run on the Prohibition ticket. But read any of many histories about taverns and pubs during the final decades of the 19th century and you can see these were not family friendly places. Sometimes they weren’t even people friendly.
In contrast you have what we’ve seen during the past 14 weeks in Europe. This includes teenagers drinking (wine as well as beer) in the company of their parents. This includes shopkeepers getting together right after work at a cafe in Switzerland, some drinking coffee, some wine and some beer. And tables reserved on a standing basis (“Stammtisch”) in Germany. And the way they keep a tab with marks on coasters in Franconia or the simple slips of paper in the Czech Republic. And regulars solving the problems of the world in the back room of a German pension, beers in hand before most of the guests had finished breakfast.
Connect the dots.
I’m sure you will read lots of great posts about why the repeal of Prohibition was important, but it’s a topic I don’t feel like taking more time to write about when I can enjoy drinking beer some place where there was never was Prohibition and I can’t imagine there ever will be. Yes, I understand that might be shortsighted.
Fact is I’m pre-posting this because Friday we’ll be in Munich, and I’ll be focused on how to get from our hotel to Neuhauser Strasse 27.
In a perfect world 21st Amendment Brewery would be hosting the 21st round of The Session rather than the 22nd. It didn’t break that way. Oh well, there’s still good news. The next gathering of beer bloggers falls on Dec. 5, and 21st Amendment is ready for action.
Quick class, what does that date mean to beer drinkers?
Sean and Nico, your hosts, write: “At the 21st Amendment Brewery, the repeal of Prohibition means we can celebrate the right to brew beer, the freedom to be innovative, and the obligation to have fun.
“What does the repeal of Prohibition mean to you? How will you celebrate your right to drink beer?”
As usual, all bloggers are welcome to participate. Just post on Dec. 5 and drop them a line.
Can I plead a dog lapped up my beer homework?
I just plain missed The Session #21 and the obviously provocative topic: Name you favorite beer.
I was prepared to pick that magic, but now I don’t have to because Friday came and went while I was tracking down still more Italian small-batch beers in Venice.
See what everybody was writing — sometimes picking a favorite, often times not — in Matt’s roundup.
Ray and Mel at the Bathtub Brewery have the roundup for The Session #20: Beer Memories. Lots of, no surprise, memories (old and new).
Meanwhile, Matt has laid down a challenge for The Session #21 on Nov. 7. He wants you to pick your favorite beer, and expects more than just a name. He wants a solid review.
Before you say I don’t have a favorite beer or how do I pick just one. I say BS everyone has a favorite. There will always be a beer that you would grab above all others, your go to beer per say. The one beer you will almost always choose over the others. When I get asked that question I almost always say I don’t have one but then when I came up with this topic I realized I did and I know you do too.
I’m not sure I do. Do you?
Remember, participating is easy. Create a post on Nov. 7 and send Matt a link.