Beer in politics

It's been a month since I last posted, so I wanted to get one in here so that my archives tag the month as having a post instead of just omitting it altogether. Seems sad, to be needlessly padding my blog in its earliest days, kind of like putting a five-year-old on Ritalin, to avoid the responsibility of actually having to do some work. But, alas, there was a news story that appealed directly to my interests.

New York Times: What A White House Beer Says About Race And Politics

That link, at least at the time of this posting, connects to the story about Obama's solution to the allegedly-racist-white-cop-pulling-over-black-Harvard-professor turned presidential-scapegoat-incident-on-racism-in-police: he had everyone over for a beer. While we can debate endlessly whether or not this was a good solution—though I, for one, am a huge fan of colloquial politics—to a problem that was at least self-created, we can all agree there was one major loser here: beer.

The president reportedly asked his attendees, "Do you want a Bud, Red Stripe, or Blue Moon?" before the incident (presumable so the mugs would be properly chilled for best enjoyment). We know the president has a Bud Light, the vice president a Buckler (nearly non-alcoholic brewed by Heineken), the officer a Blue Moon, and reports vary on whether the Harvardite had a Red Stripe or Sam Adams Light.

Assuming he did have the Sam Adams Light, the professor is the only person there who went American. Presumably, the president chose Bud Light because it is, symbolically, the American beer. There's even a tale that, while on the campaign trail, someone in a stereotypically hickish, red state told Obama, "I'm going to vote for you if you drink Budweiser," shortly after the politician ordered one.

But far more important than going American, the professor may have been the only one there who went craft brewer, showing that the true losers are microbreweries and discerning beer drinkers in general. I presume that you can get any beer currently in existence if you're going to be drinking it at the White House in a publicized event with the president. I can just imagine a White House staff member cruising liquor stores looking for the Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA or Stone flying out a growler of the first-ever batch of Imperial Pilsner (yes, they just invented it, in 2009). And those are just my suggestions from the well-distributed microbrewers and beers that fit the summer afternoon.

As Dogfish Head proved within the last twenty years by inventing the Imperial India Pale Ale (or double IPA, or IIPA), a beer that essential turned brewing on its head, and Stone did with their just-developed Imperial Pilsner, American brewing has some merit. Merit far beyond slamming the same, simple, three brands of beer. A merit that deserves to be recognized and is, obviously, ignored by those in the upper echelons of power.

We will not be ignored, discerning beer drinkers. Let us raise this incident as just the most recent in a series of grievous crimes committed against brewing. We shall unite, probably drunk, under the flag of flavor as we battle this injustice from the barstool. The macros have awakened a dangerous beast with this flagrant display, for now our cause is a righteous rebellion.

Viva la bière locale!