Take Pride in Your Beer
Posted by hubman38 on September 12, 2009
My fellow Hot Dad Tent Camper wrote a post extolling the virtues of Samuel Adams Boston Lager and inspired this post.
Anyone who knows me knows that I enjoy relaxing with a good beer. And I’m a beer snob, too. None of that American pilsner crap for me! Wachusett Nut Brown Ale. Pete’s Wicked Ale.
The astute reader might recognize the title of this post as a marketing slogan of The Boston Beer Co, maker of Samuel Adams Boston Lager. 15 years ago, I had a chance meeting with Jim Koch, the founder of Samuel Adams, and this is that story.
At the time I was a graduate student, working as a fitness instructor and personal trainer at an athletic club, which was right across the street from a local FM rock radio station. Numerous station employees were members of the athletic club and I knew some of them pretty well, including the sports guy from the morning show.
Each year, the station runs a food drive called “Lend a helping can” the week of Thanksgiving. From that Monday-Wednesday the entire morning show team lives in an RV in the parking lot of a local supermarket and collects donations which they then distribute to food pantries, homeless shelters, etc. The Boston Beer Co got involved by donating the use of one of their 48 ft. truck trailers to collect all of the donations in.
One morning that week [I think it was 1994, could have been 1995] I decided to stop by, donate a few cans and say hi to my friend the morning sports guy. Little did I know that I was stopping by at the same time that Jim Koch was making a live promotional appearance!
I park my car and walk up to where the RV and remote broadcast truck are parked and see my friend and some of the other morning show guys chatting with another man. Who has a beer in his hand, at 7:30 in the morning! My friend breaks away from the group and comes over to say hi to me. I ask who the early morning drinker is and he says “Oh, you don’t recognize him? That’s Jim Koch!”
Jim’s a friendly guy, saying hi to people dropping off canned goods and making small talk. My friend introduces me to him and we spend a few minutes chatting. I wish I could remember what we talked about or relay some funny anecdote about the meeting, but my memory is failing me!
All I know is I got to meet the man behind my favorite beer, and he was a genuinely nice guy.
================================================================================
Busy weekend ahead of us! Among other things Veronica and I have a first date with a couple on Saturday night. She bought some new lingerie for the occasion and I can’t wait to see it on her. Maybe I’ll even take a picture of her in it and at least put it on Twitter. It pays to be a follower sometimes 
Have a great weekend!
mnwhr5 said
I just got back from a beer tasting earlier, i’m a belgian ale guy myself.
Emmy said
You and I share similar love of beer – and kinds even! Can’t wait to drink with you again.
Thanks for sharing your story!
And, thanks in advance for sharing scenes from your date tomorrow.
ZenMom said
Have I ever mentioned that my husband is a homebrewer and self-professed beer snob?
Grace said
Yay! Have a great time this weekend! That is a great story too!
13messages said
I’m drinking Mr. Koch’s Boston Lager right this minute. His beer and your blog, two nice rewards at the end of a long workday.
John said
There are so many good beers to try just focusing on those made here in the U.S. to try. I am trying to decide how much of the new Samuel Adams glass is just marketing. The Boston in the beer’s Boston connection is limited by the knowledge that large amounts of Samuel Adams is now brewed in the old Rolling Rock Brewery in Latrobe (along with Iron City and IC Light).
You will also appreciate the many ways in which the great state of Pennsylvania makes this more difficult that many states with the combo of case only distributors and six pack stores.
My personal favorite brewery would have to be the Dogfish Head Brewery out of Delaware–they do a number of great beers and even some hard liquor, but I have yet to try any of those.
hubman38 said
Mnwhr- I’m pretty fond of Belgian Ales too! Though I haven’t been to a beer tasting in quite a while- might have to do something about that one of these days…
Emmy- It’ll be nice to drink with you again! Perhaps tomorrow we’ll have some fun tales to report about our date tonight
Zenmom- no, you have not! I already like you, now I have a good reason to like your hubby!
Grace- you have a good time this weekend too, you naughty lady
13messages- very kind of you to say!
John- I knew that Sam Adams is brewed under contract by another, larger, beer maker, just didn’t know which one. And as a former PA resident, I know all about that states stupid liquor laws. I’ve had Dogfish Head beer before, it’s quite good!
M said
I’m thinking I definitely need to hit up my peeps at Maker’s Mark!!
Q said
It does pay to be a follower