The Session: Quarantine Edition — The Session, a.k.a. Beer Blogging Friday, had been an ongoing opportunity since March 2007, once a month allowed beer bloggers from around the world to get together and write from their own unique perspective on a single topic. The Session blog ended in December 2018.

So once more, the band got back together— some new players, some old favorites—to discuss our beer drinking new normal during this pandemic era of stay-at-home sequestration, work, play, and drinking. Alistair Reece at Fuggled suggested the reunion.

In these unprecedented times, what has become your new drinking normal? Are you drinking more? Less? Have you raided the cellar regularly? Is there a particular brewery whose beer is keeping you company while you are confined to barracks? Has there been a beer revelation in these times?

New Drinking Normal

New Beer

I have to say, while the news has been bad, some things have worked out for good in my beer world. With pubs, taprooms, and restaurants closed, excellent beer from otherwise unavailable breweries has made their way to our local beer shelves. Some of this has to do with a new distributor that is pursuing great breweries to handle. But simple supply and demand have worked in the beer drinkers favor. Fewer beer buddy contacts I have to say that I miss my beer-drinking buddies and handouts. There are some taprooms that I look forward to visiting to explore the latest and seasonals. A beer each evening Knowing that tomorrow will largely be the same as today—working from home—and that I don't have to shower (but probably will) or get dressed (same) up, I don't mind have a beer in the evening. Another routine of the new normal is being able to sleep in if I wish/can.

Hitting the Stash

I've been collecting beer for years now, slowly aging in my backroom. With the uncertainly of how the coronavirus will play out, I saw this as a good reason to open some of those bottles I've been setting aside for some nebulous date or occasion. I follow the guidelines that have been suggested in Patrick Dawson’s book Vintage Beer: A Taster's Guide to Brews That Improve Over Time. I have found that sometimes my expectations have been met or even surpassed, as the beer always changes with time, and sometimes for the better. And, sometimes not! For example, the 2011 Dogfish Head Burton Baton didn't hold up. While the Founder’s KBS 2017 was great and could have even gone a while longer. https://www.deepbeer.com/journal/2017/11/14/beer-cellaring-journal

Supporting the Locals

There has been much said about supporting our local breweries while they are not able to sell to pubs and restaurants or pour from their taprooms. I agree! More than once I've trekked to our local brewery and gathered a couple of crowlers. That also goes for what I pick up at the bottle shop. While I've always had a mind to choose a fine Maryland beer, it seems I am seeking them out even more so these days.

I had an interesting conversation with Bailey O’Leary from True Respite Brewing (Rockville MD) about the predicted demise of the craft brewing industry. She had read the results of an April survey from the Brewers Association (https://www.brewersassociation.org/insights/brewery-sales-dropping-sharply-many-set-to-close/) that predicted the closing of an alarming number of breweries. Now, as the result of craft beer advocates supporting their local breweries, she believes that prediction will not be realized.

“An article was published stating that 60% of craft breweries would close by July if tap rooms stayed closed. This was based on a survey that was sent out to all brewery members of the Brewers Association right as the pandemic was ramping up and taprooms were shutting down. It was a time of fear and uncertainty. Since then, craft breweries across the country have utilized direct-to-consumer home deliveries and curbside pickups to maintain revenues. Many breweries have felt the strong support of local, small businesses from our communities. The industry, overall, is much more optimistic now than we were at the time of the initial survey and it seems that 60% is a vast overestimate. The communities that we work hard to support have shown amazing support for their local breweries.“

Final Thoughts

This is not the new normal. This is a temporary moment in which we will adjust to according to our particular circumstances. Some of us may not be able to work, travel, or socialize like we would like. This too shall pass. So, stay safe, drink good beer, support your local breweries (and other businesses you cherish). Until we can clink a pint together again with our friends, cheers!