From beer to eternity.

I’ve proclaimed my love for beer over the years.  I readily admit that I’m a “beer snob” who only enjoys the offerings of smaller breweries and experimental concoctions.  I’ve also proclaimed my love for the fall beers over the years, particularly Oktoberfest styles and pumpkin ales.  Now that we’re deep into the autumn, I should be up to my elbows in this stuff!  But some things have changed, as things tend to do over the years, and I find myself not as eager to drink these fall offerings as I used to be.

This is not to say these beers aren’t delicious.  I highly recommend them to my fellow beer snobs.  But there have been a few factors that have dulled my enthusiasm from over-the-top ecstatic joy to a mellow happiness.

The year before my wife and I got married, we were at the height of our fall beer enthusiasm.  From late September to the middle of November, we sampled everything within reach that was labeled “Oktoberfest” or “pumpkin ale.”  We drank a lot, and we kept track of our progress by saving one bottle of everything we tried.  We talked about making this an annual tradition, but as the years rolled on we found ourselves less and less eager to drink to excess.  Once you climb to the peak of something, the only other direction to go is back down the slope.  So while we both still enjoy the autumn beers, it’s a casual indulgence instead of a necessity.

My wife’s pregnancy is another factor.  Obviously, she can’t drink.  I still can, but I don’t want to inadvertently “tease her” with a seasonal treat she’s not allowed to have.  So, in solidarity, I’ve cut back on the amount of beer in the house (which, as a result of our aforementioned peak of beer drinking, wasn’t much to begin with).  Now I only sample these fall beers on those occasions when we go out for lunch or dinner together.

And finally, “pumpkin craze” seems to have gotten out of hand this year.  If I hear the words “pumpkin spice latte” one more time I may scream.  Thus, my enthusiasm for pumpkin beverages is somewhat dulled.  Somewhat.  I’m not a coffee drinker.

Regardless of my excitement for these beers, I’ve always enjoyed them responsibly and encourage my fellow beer snobs to do the same.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a pumpkin pie to make.