BEERflections ~ Oskar Blues Tasting @ Hurricanes VB

(late is the new on time)

Two Oskar Blues events in one week?! Life is truly good and yes, it really is all about the beer.

On September 1st, the almighty can descended once more upon the state of Florida, Vero Beach specifically, to slake the thirsts of beer drinkers plenty. At least, that’s what normally happens. Not sure why what who or how, but for the first time in all the beer tasting events at Hurricanes VB I have reveled in, there were very few of my peeps to revel with. Too bad so sad because the drafts flowed and partake of them I did most generously. Typically the tastings consist of a draft, maybe two, with the rest of the beers in bottle, or in the case of Oskar Blues, the most glorious can. Being the first craft cannery, Oskar Blues of Lyons, Colorado made canned beer beautiful again, not just in the snazzy new can design (no nasty tinny taste) but also in the beautifully delicious beers inside. A keg is kind of like a can, albeit slightly larger, and so myself and others savored in cantacular purpose Mama’s Little Yella Pils, Dales Pale Ale, Gordon, Old Chub Scottish Ale, and the piece-de-la-resistance, Gubna.

Yum, yum, yum, yum, and yum!

I’m not sure what was in the air, but we were all quite mischievously raucous that night, more so than usual. As families trickled in, we tuned the silliness down a smidge as to keep from accidentally upsetting the children and the parents. We are always the considerate professionals and while Hurricanes VB may serve beer, they are also a family-friendly destination and that's the way it will always be.

Tim was there of course, and I eventually ran into a few familiar faces in the vision of Patrick, Steve, Jessie, Roger, and Jeremy. Not as many of my posse far and wide but that just meant more beer for us and a welcome chance to convert the beerly deprived. After all, once the flavor bug bites and diversity calls, there is no going back to the bland flavorless faceless baseless macro brands. Regarding lagers and/or pilsners specifically, Mama’s Little Yella Pils proves they do and should have flavor, character, and class just as they did a few hundred years ago when the golden lager/pilsner was born to tasteful acclaim.

Digression aside, myself, Tim, Ron, Howard, Nicole, Al, Antonio, and a host of other Hurricane VB staff made merry for hours on end. There were even some lucky raffle ticket winners who went home with a pair of Ten Fidy Imperial Stout cans. Dark and delicious, this beer geek might have suffered beer envy if she didn’t already have a few cans of Ten Fidy in the fridge, patiently awaiting her thirsty attentions. As our evening wound up, down, and around, the clock struck ten and my chariot waited. Okay, Honda Civic, but it’s all in the imagination my friends and for all of you who were absent, imagine away because you lost out on a crankin' good time. Don’t believe me? Just watch the slideshow below.

Until next time, cheers!



(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)