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HogieWan
03-01-2006, 09:47 AM
I went to my local decent beer bar Moday afternoon (got off early for Mardi Gras as I work a couple blocks from the parade route). I sat in my normal spot - right in front of the beer cooler so I can have a good view of what I may want to order next.

As my eyes scan the labels, I see two that are different. On closer inpection, I notice one bottle clearly says "New Glarus."

So immediately my eyes get big and I ask "Ya'll carry New Glarus now?"

The bartender, shocked, asked me how I'd heard of such a beer. Turns out to be a Spotted Cow. Next to it was a Leinenkugel Big Butt doppelbock. She explained that two guys from "up north somewhere" came through and gave them to her, and she could find anywhere to put them, so she stuck them in the cooler.

This girl doesn't like beer - I've tried. She then tells me that I can have them since she was just going to give them to a friend who drinks "weird beer" but since I knew what they were, she figured I'd appreciate them more (and give her a hefty tip - which I did). As I'm pouring the Spotted Cow, I obviously had a huge grin on my face because the bartender laughed at me for being so excited about a beer.

Just after finishing the Big Butt I grabbed a Flying Dog PA. Allie, the tender, is at the other end of the bar pointing me out to two men. These were the guys who brought the beer. They were more than happy that I got the beer since I had actually heard of it. Turns out one of them was a homebrewer. We talked for a few minutes (read: 45), but we all had somewhere else to be. However, before parting ways, they brought me another Spotted Cow and an Edel-Pils (which I'm very excited about).

I am continually amazed at the attitude of beer lovers. I wonder if beer just appeals to the generous and jovial among the population.
Seymour
03-01-2006, 10:26 AM
That is a cool story and has never happened to me. I'd love to have been a "fly on the wall" just to see the expression on your face. Probably would've been mine as well:D .
Vienna Lager
03-01-2006, 11:15 AM
Good to hear the Spotted Cow and Big Butt made it into the hands (mouth-stomach) of an aficionado.
hops99
03-01-2006, 11:59 AM
However, before parting ways, they brought me another Spotted Cow and an Edel-Pils (which I'm very excited about).

Back when New Glarus distributed to Illinois, and when I used to be in Chicago on business alot, I'd always walk down to the little market around the corner from the Hyatt on Wacker and buy a couple sixers of Spotted Cow for the hotel room. A very pleasant summertime (or anytime, really) beer.
ClockworkOrange
03-01-2006, 12:24 PM
you know the saying "right place, right time" couldn't be truer for you that day. Sometimes it's the little things that get us excited the most.
-Cheers
chazwicke
03-01-2006, 03:57 PM
I was given a special bottle of beer at the GBBF by a nice attendant at one of the booths because she was inpressed I had travelled to GB just for the beer fest. Later that evening, I was in a bar at my hotel and three guys came in. they too were in town and had been attending the GBBF. they were from south west England somewhere. After we talked for a while they pulled out a bottle of one of their local brews and presented it to me. Nice folks those English. You all are certainly correct about the comeraderie that exists among beer enthusiasts.

I just booked a quick trip to London 3/10- 3/15 :D
HogieWan
03-01-2006, 05:21 PM
Originally posted by chazwicke

I just booked a quick trip to London 3/10- 3/15 :D

by chance, you wouldn't have booked an extra ticket accidentally?
ClockworkOrange
03-01-2006, 05:52 PM
I just booked a quick trip to London 3/10- 3/15

I trust that you will make us proud.:)
steveh
03-01-2006, 06:42 PM
My friend received a kegerator for Christmas, his first barrell was a 1/2 of Capital Pils for the Superbowl. His second - a 1/4 of Spotted Cow. I was there for the tapping last week - very yeasty and the head was thick and strong, very natural. We're waiting to see if the unpasteurized, yeast-laden brew will change over the weeks, but it's great now.

You should have shared a small glass with the 'tender, she may have been swayed to beer with the SC!

S.
HogieWan
03-01-2006, 09:42 PM
Originally posted by steveh

You should have shared a small glass with the 'tender, she may have been swayed to beer with the SC!

S.

I did share
HogieWan
03-02-2006, 08:57 AM
. . . [continued - I had to go last night as I started to post]

I did share with the bartender as well as the young lady to my left who took interest in my beer talk. Each girl got ~ a 2oz sampler - I got an 8oz sampler (that's fair, right).

The girl to my left enjoyed both the Spotted Cow and the Big Butt, but the bartender liked neither. She said the SC tasted flat.
zoom6zoom
03-02-2006, 09:23 AM
Even if she didn't like it, she should be able to see the joy a good brew brings to her customers!
DecoJuicer
03-02-2006, 09:27 AM
Yeah, you share your beer with 2 girls, and I'm the good samaritan?
Derekt2
03-02-2006, 10:19 AM
Originally posted by DecoJuicer
Yeah, you share your beer with 2 girls, and I'm the good samaritan?

Share anything else with the 2 girls? We are talkin bout Nawlins, right.
Sladek
03-02-2006, 10:10 PM
Originally posted by HogieWan
I am continually amazed at the attitude of beer lovers. I wonder if beer just appeals to the generous and jovial among the population.
I think so! It seems that all of us are excited about beer. Whenever I meet someone who is into beer like we are, I brighten up and we end up chatting the night away. I've recently met a girl (23!) who had done homebrewing for several years, since age 18.

Originally posted by steveh
My friend received a kegerator for Christmas, his first barrell was a 1/2 of Capital Pils for the Superbowl. His second - a 1/4 of Spotted Cow. I was there for the tapping last week - very yeasty and the head was thick and strong, very natural. We're waiting to see if the unpasteurized, yeast-laden brew will change over the weeks, but it's great now.
Oh my God.......I'm freaking out......that bartender would think I'm from Mars!
steveh
03-02-2006, 10:52 PM
Originally posted by HogieWan
(that's fair, right) ...She said the SC tasted flat.

Flat, oy. And yeah, that's pretty fair in my book! BTW, don't get terribly excited about the Edel Pils, its OK at best.

And yeah, beer drinkers are the best!

S.
steveh
03-02-2006, 10:55 PM
Originally posted by Sladek
I've recently met a girl (23!) who had done homebrewing for several years, since age 18.

Wow - is she married? ;)

Oh my God.......I'm freaking out......that bartender would think I'm from Mars!

Easy - down boy. What are you gonna think when I tell you I can walk to this friend's house? ;-)

S.