Here are some words of wisdom to remember as the start of Seattle Beer Week is just a day away.
1 – It is a marathon, not a sprint. If you can’t handle it, don’t go all out in the first few days and put yourself out of commission for 48 hours (yes, some of us get 48 hour hangovers).
2 – There are events all over town. While it might be tempting to go to your usual haunts, this is a great opportunity to check out some other spots around town.
3 – Water is your friend. Seriously. Drink lots of it and you’ll feel better at the end of the week. The unfortunate side-effect is that you may seem to have the bladder of an eighty-year-old man.
4 – Don’t be afraid to talk to the brewers. Some of the men and women behind your favorite beers (from near and far) will be out at events this week. Don’t hesitate to talk them up a bit, but don’t be annoying or monopolize their time.
5 – This is supposed to be fun. Don’t “douche it up” too much, as my friend the Beer Retard might say. Just have a good time and enjoy the events and all the beer.
6 – You should really try and hit at least one food-related event. I realize some people don’t want to throw down the cash for full beer dinners, but there are some cheaper options as well. Lots of great food is yours for the taking this “week”.
7 – If you’re debating having that sixth glass of 10% ABV Imperial Stout at Back in Black, you probably don’t need it. Get some sleep and come back to play another day.
8 – Don’t waste your sobriety on bad beer. If you get one that has serious flaws, don’t be afraid to ask the bartender for something else instead. If it is a reputable place, they should replace it free of charge. But, if you just don’t like the beer but it isn’t “off”, you’ll have to just swallow the money you spent on it and pony up for something else.
9 – You probably shouldn’t be driving to many events this week. Sure, you say you’ll be fine…but will you? Take the bus or a cab, or take after the Urban Beer Hiker and walk your way all over town.
10 – There is always next year. Unless you have a clone, you won’t be able to hit all the events you’d probably like to. You’ll have to make choices. Remember what you miss and maybe something similar will be back next year.
#1 is going to be the most important one to follow if I hope to achieve my goal.
I could probably write a thirty page article expanding on #5. I expect to see a lot of people doucheing it up. In fact, I’m counting on it.
I submit that walking (or hiking!) is a also a viable alternative for getting around to events (#9). This is maybe the most walking friendly city in the world and even if you just held yourself to Ballard/Fremont/Phinney/Greenwood, you’d have a full and fun SBW.
ubh – you are absolutely correct. I’ve added walking to that line.
@UBH: “Most walking friendly city in the world?” I can think of a dozen cities in Europe that are much more so, and in the USA, Portland could give our fine hometown a pretty thorough beatdown in the walkability department, should it choose to do so. Your penance for this claim is to do a Bierbummel (yes, a beer hike) through the Alstadts in Düsseldorf and Cologne, and then you graduate to a Bierbummel through Bamberg. You will find that this penance, should you choose to endure it, is strangely similar to a pleasurable reward, however (un)deserved.
As to item #3, being merely 26 years away from becoming an eighty-year-old man (insha’Allah), I can attest that one doesn’t necessarily have to wait even that long, depending on the quality of one’s prostate meds. And that’s about all I’m gonna say about that. Cheers to all here at SBN and best wishes to our Seattle Beer Collective for another great SBW. Drink up, me hearties!
don’t assume a beer company is evil or is a poor quality beer because it actually sold a decent amount of beer
smaller is NOT always better
is douching it up something like wearing suits and acting like beer know it alls while driving around in a limo?
if so, i think i know what you’re talking about.
@DonS
FAIL
I’m going to douche it up all week – break out my fixed gear, pop the collar, talk about the beers I’m not drinking and hound Tomme all over town about flat angel’s share. I see that there are 10 different cartoons, so one for each day – perfect!!