Trending
It was a universal power in a fictional universe and it introduced many of us to the dark side.
The mega cinema hit "Star Wars" brought many of us face to face with The Force -- both its light side and its dark side. In the movie's terminology, the light side of The Force was good and the dark side of The Force was bad.
Yes, in the movies, the light side was very good and the dark side was very bad -- there didn't seem to be any in between gray area. The light side drew strength from positive emotions while the dark side drew strength from negative emotions. Was there room for anything in between?
Is that how it is in your world? Either life is superlative or it sucks? With all due respect to "Star Wars," I think many of us have those days when life is stuck in the middle of life stuff. Those days when you wonder what the heck happened? Why am I not really upset or over the top happy?
My quick answer to those questions is this: It's life. What do you expect?
Isn't it nice to have periods of time when the car starts as expected, when the kids are quiet, when tension is history or when you can just draw a breath of relief between life's extreme moments?
Of course, we seek the middle ground in our lives and, do so at times, by being with special folks. Naturally we seek the light of any conversation or situation -- that's part of our positive energy. Maybe there is an alternative universe out there and we are subconsciously tapping into it?
These are interesting thoughts that could lead us to sitting down and having a brew to try to answer these complexities of life. So…
It's January in Minnesota and typically this is the coldest month of the year -- in case you were wondering! What kind of beer can make you feel warm and toasty with some chocolate thrown in to ease your chill? Here's your hint: let's be stout during the winter and, when you stay overnight in that hotel, maybe the porter will start your car for you.
In these cold winter months, a good stout or a toasty porter are the answers to comforting beers. There's nothing as appealing and delicious as a roasty/toasty dark beer so, "Star Wars," take that and learn from it!
Porters have been around since the 18th century and tradition states the beer gained its name from the many English street porters who loved the beer. These beers are usually well hopped and made with heavy brown malt and, if you're drinking a darker beer and it tastes toasty/roasty with some chocolate, you're sipping something that's been around for a long time -- a nice stout or a porter.
But, again, it's January in Minnesota and there are those of us who enjoy our lagers (the light side of beerdom), there are those of us who enjoy those nice coppery colored beers and there are those of us who enjoy our dark beers. Why? Again, the quick answer is: It's life. What do you expect? We aren't all the same -- thankfully -- nor do we all enjoy the same foods or beverages. There is the middle ground of life and beer and I like to think Brau Brothers has a solid middle beer in its Belgian Dubbel.
This dubbel has enough hops so you can receive a nice citrus taste from a sip of it but there's that nice taste of brown sugar that's so satisfying. But be forewarned, the brew comes in at over 9.7 percent alcohol level and it'll warm you in more than one way! It packs some heat but it's very delicious to sit and ponder the middle area of one's life.
Going to the dark side, I highly recommend Summit Brewing Company's Great Northern Porter. It's a porter that has darkness in it but there's a lot of lightness to it -- you can taste the soft toasty malt at the same time you get the nice hoppy taste to cleanse your palate. It's a delight to drink, made in Minnesota and it's a sterling example of a wonderful porter.
The Force would send me to the dark of the universe if I didn't mention my all time favorite stout -- Guinness Extra Stout. The Irish have been making this beer for over 220 years and when served at the proper temperature, it's a perfect brew. Yes, there are the hops to go with the brown malt but it's in the soft aroma and taste, that will place you directly in your middle zone. It should be served at a temperature in the middle 50s and when done so, it will wash away your dark negative emotions and leave you entirely in the light. The Irish know how to make a stout.
The "Star Wars" movies were a delight to watch with their cutting edge special effects and interesting stories. For many of us, we came face to face with our humanity and how dark emotions have to controlled by our light emotions. Like a good stout/porter that is well balanced between hops and malt, we must balance our lives everyday.
May The Force be with you!
Next week, it's new and it's good!
As always, eat and drink moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!
Cheers!