Monday Rant: Blessed With Beer?

I'm a Catholic and certainly a terrible one at that. I've probably gone to mass voluntarily twice in the past calendar year. What brought me to church grounds this past weekend was the annual church festival. There I found myself drinking a beer on the very hillside in which I played games and completed activities when I was in preschool. For me, it was also ironic that I was drinking alcohol on church grounds as someone that's a very stubborn Catholic.

A lot of us craft beer folk wouldn't approve of the small selection that was at this festival. It consisted of Coors Light, George Killian's Irish Red and Blue Moon. It was quite hot on Saturday. So, I decided to pitch in and get a beer. After all I certainly wanted to consume a beer on church property! I decided that a Blue Moon was the  best choice (what an oxymoron) of the three, but the keg was kicked. Thus, I settle for the Irish Red.

While I was sitting on the hillside I naturally thought what would happen if there was a small craft selection available at the church festival. It seemed as if money was being made. One beer was already gone for the night. Then I looked around at the people that were attending this festival. Mostly middle-aged people that lived here in Munhall.

If it came to be one of these years, most of these people are so familiar with the concept of Blue Moon, etc being the new age of beer that they might not have any idea what the more exotic selections would be like. That means less sales. It's a sad thing to think about if you're among us that really enjoy the different brews. Like it or not, that's just reality.

Personally, I've accepted the fact that I might not ever see some of my favorite beers at a church festival. At least the one at my parish. I won't lose sleep over it. Maybe it's one of those "society is broken" kind of things? I can't blame many middle-aged people that see well-done commercials like this Blue Moon one and assume that it's some of the best beer around. Especially if they don't do much outside of their local municipalities.

 

Monday Rant: Skinny Tuesday

For us Catholics, the Lent season is here. It could be just me, but it seems as if it's abnormally early this year. Still, Fat Tuesday is tomorrow and I;m sure many out there will be indulging in their guilty pleasures of food and drink before having to give up whatever it is you choose to give up the on Ash Wednesday.

That's if you give up anything. I'm Catholic and a terrible one at that. I go as far as to only give up meat on Friday's. Although I do miss being able to grill a nice piece of beef on Friday evenings I certainly enjoy an amazing fried fish sandwich and a bowl of pierogi and onions.

To put it simply, the church fish fries are awesome. I just wish more served beer as well! I say more because I've noticed a few parrishes serving beer at church events. My local church is St. Therese of Lisieux and the last two years of its summer festival had tapped IC Light Mango. Certainly not my first choice, but it's always better than nothing and way better than being looked at as a big-time sinner because you partake in consuming ale.

I went off on plenty of people for participating in sober January. I'm sure there are people that give up alcohol for Lent. That's perfectly alright. what's not alright is the folk that feel the need to shoot their mouth off at people that participate in Lent.

Half some respect. I don't give up meat on Fridays to feel holy or anything. I do it to remind myself that I'm the one that's in control of what goes into my body. Food and drink aren't my master. Give up what ever you want to give up. Don't let some snob tell you otherwise because they think they're above practicing any form of religion. We have every right to partake in something if they exhibit their's to not partake.