Boozing By Proxy

Brad Weber and I are drinking pals of a most unusual sort – that is to say, he drinks and I do not.

But more to the point, when we’re out at a bar—say, The Duke of Perth in Chicago—I will often suggest a new ale or distilled potable for Brad to try, and he’ll tell me his opinion. I then take the empty bottle home as a souvenir – especially if the label art is interesting.

Tonight for Brad’s 40^th birthday, I’ll be bringing him a bottle of Red-Tail Ale – an American product out of New York State.

I hope he likes it.

My own palette for beer is pretty unsophisticated – however, not so much that even I can’t tell that Point Lager is one step up from pasteurized deer urine.

"I say try the seventh bottle from the right."
"Why? What's so special about that one?"
"I like that picture of the Scottie dog on the label - just do it, rummy! I'm driving."
"One please..."