The Goat, The Cork and The Gecko

As with any journey, travelers tend to collect memorabilia. Sometimes it can be postcards, but often it trinkets. Things of interest you find along the way.

For the WLWTOB, our team has started to collect the trinkets. Of course, as the first to the halfway point, I have collected the first three designated trinkets.

I have a small white goat from my Celebrator Dopplebock, a cork from the Lindeman's Pomme and a ceramic stopper from the Le Meule with a gecko on the top. All three were received on different occasions and bring back great memories of sitting around, enjoying good beer and having a laugh.

However, of all three trinkets, I dig the gecko the best. I have to say the Celebrator Dopplebock was by far the best beer of the three. The Lindeman's pomme is apple infused and bit more on the cidery side for me. The Le Meule had some spice in it - maybe clove - that gives it an odd flavor.

It is kind of interesting how beers have so much personality - just like people - just like my teammates. Maybe I will have to mull that over. Is someone the celebrator? Is someone the pomme?

The Beer is Colder in the Other Fridge

I thought when I reached the halfway point, there would be a sense of liberation. It would be better to be drinking the second half instead of the first haf.

At first, there was glory. There was the halfway prize - a Winking Lizard blanket. It was very cool and had carrying handles.

Now, I am feeling the pressure. I went to have a few beers with Annie Lyn, and I started to get worried. I have two big drinking males on my heels. I was planning on relaxing. I was thinking that once I got past the halfway point, it would get easier.

It is getting harder. I made some rookie mistakes. There are a lot of wheat and flavored beers left - not really my favorite style. There are a lot of big beers (high abv) left. I need to regroup. I need to adjust the setting on the fridge and cool things off.

I need a beer!!

Holy Buckeye, Batman!

Do you remember watching Batman and Robin when you were a kid? Batman, Robin or one of their associates would get themselves into a completely ridiculous situation. You would be sitting in front of the TV thinking, they will never get themselves out!

Magically, in the last 5 to 10 minutes of the show, all the right maneuvers would magically fall into place, and - Kapow - they would win the day.

I think Ohio State's basketball must have taken a page from the Batman and Robin playbook last night. Like the past few games, Ohio State lets a huge gap open between their opponents, and then they manage to come back in the final minutes to edge out a point to win.

So maybe you are asking, what do the Buckeyes have to do with the WLWTOB? First, we had our team meeting during the game last night. Beside the Buckeyes unreal victory, I received my halfway blanket. The first member of the team to get there - with a gap of about 10 beers.

It's half time, I am 10 points ahead. I am WORRIED.

Not only are my teammates Buckeye fans, they drink like the Buckeyes. They won't have a beer for a week, then - kapow - 8 in one night or 4 in one sitting. I can't rest on my laurels, they are gunning for me.

Just like OSU, I managed to be victorious and get to the halfway point of the tour(ney), but just like the NCAA tournament, the real action is coming.

Bring it on, baby! I am running out of the locker room after half time, sprinting to the middle of the court, bringing my fists to my sides and screaming "Yeah" til my face is more red the OSU uniforms. Bring it on!

Then there were 2, and then 4

Two quick house keeping news items. I am down to my last two beers before the midway point. The team meeting is tonight at the Winking Lizard and I am going to drink the weakest and the strongest beer (probably a Belgian - yikes) left on my list. After that, I might need to drink some alternative light beers so there will not be a repeat of the Friday incident.

In some really great news, I went to WL last night with my brother. His co-workers were having a goodbye happy hour for him. The boy team member was there with another work associate who was signing up for the tour as I walked in. I immediately initiated him into the team and now there are four members. (Although our new member claims he is going to finish first - we shall see.)

We are not quite sure of his role on the team, but we are leaning toward events procurement. We don't want to rush to judgement or pigeon-hole his capabilities, so we will be watching to see over the next few weeks to see how things will brew.

Maintaining the Team Spirit

While at a team meeting - with only girl members - we started chatting about how close I was coming to my halfway point. As the logistics person, it was on my mind that I might potentially get to 50 during a meeting when everyone on the immediate team was not in attendance.

We made an executive decision, which we later ran by our boy team member, that the two major milestones of halfway and final beer can ONLY be done with all team members present.

This decision was to help maintain the team spirit as we are venturing to participate with different groups of friends. The Tour is not meant to be restrictive, but encourage the consumption and enjoyment of our favorite malt beverage.

The team will be getting together on Thursday to celebrate my 50. When will the next midway celebration be?

Where Beer, the Team and Art Meet

As I was looking through some online drawings, I came across two very interesting comics.

The first one reminded me of Anie Lyn - our team analyatics representative. She was appointed to this position because her social style is Analytical, Analytical.

What does that mean in real world terms?

Here is the scenario - you ask Anie Lyn a questions. She says, 'Let me ask you a question about that question.

Here is the analytical comic that eloquently demonstrates Anie Lyn's team participation.

The second comic reminded me more of the other team mate - The Quality Expert. This cartoon might be a little overboard, but I could see him bartering for his work to get done and beer being the coinage of choice.

Maybe it is because he is our overall quality ranking expert, but we seem to have to taste every beer to help him out.

The next official team outing with all members will be next week, by which time I should be reaching the half way marker (50 beers) by the time we meet.

St. Patrick's Deployment Meeting

Well, the holiday drinking season (starting on Halloween and running through St. Patricks) has O'fficially concluded. It felt a little weird that our third team member was not even in the country.

We managed to coral some other WLWTOB supporters for a meeting on Friday. It was quite mellow, and I have a few theories about why.

1. No one from the team was saying he was going to 'crush' us
2. We skillfully avoided the Belgian beers
3. I was embarrassed that I am a mere 7 beers away from the halfway point
4. The session ran a brief 2.5 hours

I have an odd feeling about the team. I think I will be the first to make it to the halfway point, but then I am going to watch the other team members start getting fierce.

The biggest danger is that I am clipping through the ales - leaving the big Beligian beers and the fruity wheats. I think I need to re-evaluate the ales only tactic. I don't want to be choking down fruity beers and watch my team mates motor past me . . . or do I?

The St. Paddy's Team Event

The WLWTOB Team has been on a bit of a hiatus this week. We had a meeting on Monday, although we were down a member, and there hasn't been much activity this week.

Today, we are brigging out the green and getting the community involved. Our boy is still not in town, but I think we will manage to struggle on without him.

Since I am half Irish, today's world tour meeting has me in a bit of a quandry. I want to keep working toward my goal of 100, but there is only one Irish beer our world tour list.

Maybe it doesn't seem odd to you, but No Guinness, No Smithwicks, No Harp. The Winking Lizard sells the dark stuff - why isn't it on the tour?

I guess we will have to soldier on an enjoy some other beers today. Luckily it is only the eve of St. Paddy's!

Drunk as a Monk

In Belgium, Trappist Monks have a long tradition of brewing beer. Not just any beer - some of the best beers in the world.

As part of our World Tour, there is a mini tour of the Belgian Beers. Specifically, Achel, Chimay, Koningshoeven, Orval, Rochefort and Westmalle. What do you get for finising the mini tour (that only costs $1)? You get a lovely glass.

Well, the real answer to that question - drunk. The amount of alcohol is these beers is dangerous. (psst, abv = alcohol by volume)

• Achel - 8 abv
• Chimay - 9 abv
• Koningshoeven Quadrupel - 10 abv (the strongest on the tour)
• Orval - 6.2 abv
• Rochefort - 9.2 abv
• Westmalle Tripel - 9.2 abv

Big deal you say, consider that Miller Lite about 4.2 abv and you generally drink it in 12 oz bottles.

In my valiant attempt to make my way around this mini tour, I managed to have two beers at the end of the evening. Well, I didn't have a prayer against these heavy hitters.

Yes, I said prayer. No wonder the monks don't speak at the monastary or speak in tougues. I was able to replicate that experience. Have no fear, I didn't drive home.

Me, I have never seen a skunk drunk, but I have a sneaking suspicion, there have been a couple of monks in Belgium in that condition.

The World Tour of Beer

I have recently began a world tour at the Winking Lizard. However, this is no ordinary world tour.

I am seeking to understand the different cultures of the world by drinking their beers. I have 50 weeks to drink 100 beers.

At first glance, 100 beers seems like an excessive amount. However, if you break down the total over a period of 50 weeks, it is a meager two beers a week.

As with any extended venture, like the time I trained for a half marathon, success is much more attainable and fun with a team.

The team started off as a team of two members - me and the girl who sits over my cube wall. We have managed to add one more - very enthusiastic - member. So now, we are two girls and a boy.

In additional to the team, we felt there was a need for a support staff. Lance Armstrong didn't win the tour without the support vehicle. We are establishing a long list of supporters. Even managed to convert a non-beer drinker in the past few meetings.

This blog is going to talk about the exploits and cultural experience of doing a world tour of beer.

Cheers!