A Quiet Evening at Brit's

December 16th 2008, my first blog. I figure this is as good a topic as any since Brit’s Pub was one of the first places that I really enjoyed beer drinking since moving to Minneapolis. Sure, there’s any number of places in town to find a happy hour and get a beer but Brit’s has that something extra special. I am English. Well, I am a lot English anyway. My Grandma was born and raised in Western England and moved to America with my Grandfather after WWII. I graduated college in 1998. College is where I really started to enjoy beer. I drank beer in high school because that is what everyone else drank (insert “if everybody jumped off a cliff” comment here) but I never really enjoyed it… at least not the taste. In college I rather enjoyed the taste and especially enjoyed the side effects. I moved to Minneapolis in 1999, but it was a trip to England in the summer of 2000 that I really started to appreciate beer. Sure, by 2000 the American craft beer scene had already taken off, but I hadn’t seen or heard about it. On that trip I saw beers in a whole new light… beers of a whole new color, new flavor (or should I say “colour and flavour”) and *gasp* new temperature! It’s no secret that real ales in England are served a little warmer than the colonials are used to, but it may be a secret that it’s actually enjoyed that way. It’s not the flat, warm, sitting out over night type that so many of us perceive. It’s slightly warmer at around 45-50 degrees. As I’ve learned more recently, warmer temperatures actually bring out more flavor in the beer. I imagine this had something to do with the “wow factor” I experienced on that fateful trip across the pond. Once I got back to the States, it was Brit’s Pub that I sought out more and more frequently to satisfy my longing for good English ale. The beer may be served at temperatures more conducive to the local crowd, but the atmosphere and fish and chips are just as good and the pints are proper Imperial style – 20oz.

Fast forward to 2008. I am a bit of a traditionalist. I often find myself choosing to do things I’ve enjoyed in the past rather than seek out something new. After almost 10 years of visiting Brit’s Pub, I think I now visit to reminisce about some of the other great times I’ve had there instead of going so that I can remember a trip to the homeland. Tonight I did just that. I found myself with a rare evening off and nothing but an empty house to return to. I am a big fan of Christmas beers but I am also a big fan of Christmas in general. I really enjoy downtown this time of year, and the cards seemed to be stacked in my favor. I had to work late so it was already dark out, the Christmas lights were lit, I had no where to be, it was lightly snowing and I was thirsty. I sauntered down to Brit’s and my luck continued. The Long Room was not reserved for a corporate holiday party and was open to the public. I ordered a Fuller’s ESB and settled into one of those deep leather chairs situated next to the fireplace. I took a deep breath, a long sip and watched the snow gently falling outside. I was happy. Don’t get me wrong, Brit’s isn’t always the greatest place in the world, but tonight it was perfect. There were no crowds. There were no suits and ties trying to look important, no groups of frat boys trying to impress a single maiden as her dejected friends watch. I was entertained by a small group in the corner playing musical cell phones – one would answer as another hung up. It seemed one of them was always on the phone. There’s just something about a Fuller’s ESB. That rich caramel maltiness, residual sweetness and subtle hop notes just soothe the throat and tease the mind. When the Fullers is gone, I order a Boddingtons Pub Ale. So many times have I heard beer snobs lambaste the nitro beers for its gimmicky appeal, but there would be none of that tonight. Just a smooth ale that drinks like a lager. Mmmmmm. At one point I caught Sportscenter on one of the few TV’s. It appeared to be an interview with Terrell Owens and for the first time in my life I’m glad there was no volume. As I finish I think about one more but decide against it. I was reminded of a quote from Martin Luther I had heard recently about drinking too much…
"It is possible to tolerate a little elevation, when a man takes a drink or two too much after working hard and when he is feeling low. This must be called a frolic. But to sit day and night, pouring it in and pouring it out again, is piggish...”
While I wasn’t nearing the piggish point I thought it best to hit the road and try and arrive home about the same time as my lovely wife. And thus concludes not only my first blog but also my perfect evening of solitude. A time to reflect, a time to imbibe and a time to enjoy the simple pleasures that is life. Brit’s pub, ahh the memories. Frolic on my friends…

Also, please visit http://www.lutherpublichouse.com/ for more fun with beer.