Beer

It's about time that I finally came clean and admitted it. I don't really like beer that much.

I try, I try hard to like it - and with some success on occasions, but by enlarge it's just a bitter and syrupy drink, laden with sugar, and it dulls my mind.

I remember the first time I had beer. It was at a friends house when I was very young indeed, maybe seven or eight. I can;t remember where exactly it was, but I do remember the large brown barrel of home made beer and the little white tap at the bottom. My first beer was to be a home brew.

Looking back on it, the man had no business to be giving me even a small amount of the beer, as I very much doubt he had my parents' permission. Nevertheless, a very small glass was sent in my direction - my friend, whose Dad it was, seemed far more experienced in the art of beer drinking, but I was rather overwhelmed by the whole thing. The malty smell was great - I love it to this day, and I liked the fizziness. I was sure I was going to love beer - right up until I tasted it.

The bitterness was intense, coupled with the over-yeastiness of homebrew. I felt betrayed and disillusioned. The beer which had promised so much, turned out to be yet another of life's disappointments.

I am cheered now, in later life, to discover the odd beer which is quite pleasant. Beers like Stones are low in alcohol and very smooth to drink. I like that, but - like the Wurzels back in the eighties, I think I am a cider drinker. My current favourite is called Katy, by Thatcher's. Look for it, if you care.

I've never bothered much with what was trendy, and so I am quite content to enjoy some quality cider, and be delightfully out of fashion.