OT: George Will on beer

by EngineerScotty on Jul 10, 2008 8:56 AM PDT

Normally, when George Will writes on politics, I tend to hold my nose when I read it. While Will is a gifted wordsmith, his politics tend to run the gamut between "nazi" and "caveman", at least in my estimation.

However, when his brilliant pen is put towards cultural topics largely devoid of political content, he's an entertaining read. He's one of the better baseball writers out there (despite not having "sportswriter" as his daily job). And today, he penned a brilliant piece on the subject of beer.

It appeared on the editorial pages of this morning's Oregonian, but you can read it here (this one is on the Sacramento Bee's website; which was the first one to come up in google).

Brilliant stuff.

0 recs | Comment 13 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Mmmm...beer

(drooling, gargling noise)

My respect for George Will went up a bit after reading this – but it was amusing to see that he still managed to be overly cerebral / pedantic in his analysis. The good news for me is I guess I won’t get cholera.

by DonkeyShins on Jul 10, 2008 12:18 PM PDT 0 recs

I don't like his politics either

but the man can flat out write.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 10, 2008 12:40 PM PDT 0 recs

Nonessential?

Wow, I’m a bit amazed anyone could classify beer as a nonessential item. If you don’t drink it, sure, but if you do . . .

Although, I would agree on classifying pretty much anything from Anheuser-Busch as nonessential. (Except, are we counting Widmer? Because I do so enjoy my Snow Plow in the winter.)

You’re right, though, that was an excellent article, even though I’m on board with the serious dislike of Will’s politics.

And might I take this opportunity to perchance spur a relatedly off-topic conversation? Favorite place to get beer in Portland. I ask this not as the best place to knock back a beer or two or three while watching a Blazers game, but the best place to really get some good beer drinking on, with quality brews.

I’ll put out a couple. Perhaps my favorite place in Portland is the Moon and Sixpence, for a variety of reasons. The beer selection is good, yes, but I also love the darts, the atmosphere, the back patio, and the wonderful servers.

I have to give a shout out to Belmont Station, too. The atmosphere of their beer cafe leaves most everything to be desired, but the 12 taps of intriguing, often times hard-to-find beer and the 1000 bottles of everything else you can crack open right there makes it a certain kind of beer nirvana.

Once upon a time I appreciated Henry’s. I hate the atmosphere and I roll my eyes at most of the people there, but I always did love the happy hour food deals and-really the reason I ever went-the 100 taps. That’s pretty awesome. But when they jacked the price of the beer up to around $6, I was done, even with the awesome HH food deals. Beer may be essential, but that doesn’t mean I’m aiming to get gouged over it.

Finally, a big shout out to Green Dragon. That place is great. I love the people behind the counter, I love the number of great beers available there, I love all the hard-to-find options, and the food is pretty great too. Plus, darts and shuffleboard. I can’t wait until they start brewing their own stuff.

by Joel Caris on Jul 10, 2008 1:12 PM PDT 0 recs

Yeah I would think

that during tough economic times as we are going/going to be going through that alchohol sales would spike. Perhaps not say the nice Eyrie 2002 reserve Pinot Nior at $40/bottle, but PBR, Hamms, Milwaukees Best and Keystones sales have probably jumped a lot in the past few months.

by SpyderRyder on Jul 10, 2008 2:30 PM PDT 0 recs

George Will is an excellent writer, a brilliant political thinker, and he is a shill to no one. He was highly critical of corruption in the Nixon Administration as well as Bush’s Iraq policy, and he doesn’t engage in any of the petty and ridiculous sniping between liberals and conservatives that dominates TV and print media today.

I know it is great political sport to slap a “Nazi” label on a conservative nowadays, but if you actually took the time to read and understand what he writes, he’s about as far away from being a Nazi or a caveman as anyone in print journalism.

Oh, and he loves baseball, so that’s good enough for me.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Jul 10, 2008 4:19 PM PDT 0 recs

Baseball or conservatism

I can’t decide which is worse

by pualo on Jul 10, 2008 4:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Nice potshot. Pure class. Your candidate must be so proud.

MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)

by The Cactus Leaguer on Jul 10, 2008 9:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Well to tell the truth

I was actually just trying to make fun of baseball, not make a potshot.

by pualo on Jul 11, 2008 11:26 AM PDT up 0 recs

yeah I agree

The “Nazi” comment was definitely off base.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 10, 2008 4:43 PM PDT up 0 recs

Man, I wish that guy liked heroin too

Because I love beer, and there is one thing I love more than beer, and that is sweet, sweet, pure and luscious Blazer’s basketball. Oh, and black tar Claritin.

"Man I want to rec it again." - pualo talking about jscot's long comment

by tominhawaii on Jul 10, 2008 4:31 PM PDT 0 recs

BE Amazes

anew. Each day another surprise. Who’d guess Engineer Scotty would post an article by a conservative columnist advocating beer as health food. What next, Jorga admitting her bear is bleached and drinks Australian Blue Tongue lager?

"You Can't Catch a Boat to Bolivia"

by OBJuan72 on Jul 10, 2008 5:19 PM PDT 0 recs

I have a beloved tee shirt immortalizing the Ben Franklin quote from that article.

“Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jul 10, 2008 5:33 PM PDT 0 recs

All Politics Aside

Two of the great loves of my life are Beer And Basketball (not in any particular order).
The elixirs of my choice reside within the walls of any given McMenamin’s Pub/Brewery.

My favorites are Ruby, Purple Haze, and all of the darker brews such as Terminator and Chocolate Monkey Porter. I am often given to requesting that these ambrosias be mixed together in various proportions.

Due to the current state of drinking and driving laws, I often take these concoctions home in the large mason jars that they sell for precisely this purpose, so that I may enjoy the blessing of these beverages to the fullest extent in the safety of my own home.

Now if I could just track down the correct style keg tap for my kegerator…

LMA's reign as "LaMonster of the Low Post" has just begun!

by LaMarvelous on Jul 10, 2008 9:23 PM PDT 0 recs