The Session #23: The New Year

The topic for this month’s edition of The Session is the New Year, things that you will miss about 2008 and things you look forward to in 2009.  This month’s Beer Blogging Friday is hosted over on Beer and Firkins.

So let’s dive right in.  Things I’ll miss about 2008 – is a pretty short list.

Beer?  Nothing I can’t keep drinking in the new year!  I probably missed our on a few special editions, but there’s always something new and magnificent on the horizon.  There was that wicked keg of Oktoberfest.  Brewed in March – lagered all summer – and tapped right around the time of the ‘Fest.  Big malty flavor and just a little sweet, mmmm.  Wish I had some right now, and a giant pretzel with lots of salt too!

Speaking of the ‘Fest, I also had the opportunity to take a trip to the Charlotte Oktoberfest in 2008.  Our club was pouring at the home brew tent.  If you should ever find yourself with the chance to serve your own brew at a large festival like this one, don’t pass it up!

Like most people, I too regret some of the missed opportunities in 2008.  I was all set to attend NHC , but just didn’t get around to buying tickets in time.  My girlfriend and I have also been talking about going to Europe for awhile now.  Sadly, we didn’t make it in 2008.

Ok.  That was probably a pretty poor list.  There are likely also a bunch of shoulda – woulda – coulda’s about the brewing industry, it’s politics or it’s economics.  But I’m no oracle or economist, so I’ll have to leave that for them.  While I’m happy to learn my lessons and move on, I don’t prefer to lament the past.

Instead, I’ll take a cue from Mark Twain:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

So I look forward to creating new opportunities 2009. March is right around the corner – I can brew that Oktoberfest again – and I’ll make it even better this time.  September will be here before we know it, and so will the Charlotte Oktoberfest.  I’ve already bought tickets and made hotel reservations for NHC 2009 in Oakland – and if all goes to plan, we’ll be visiting Belgium this fall.

With any luck, we can expect at least 2 new local breweries open for business this year.   Fullsteam and Lonerider are both looking quite promising.  It’s encouraging that there are still brave souls out there.  Willing to stare down economic boogey-men and shrug off political nay-sayers to follow their dreams.  I hope that I can find the fortitude to do the same.

No, I don’t think I’ll be spending much time wishing for a repeat of 2008.  Only 2 days in, 2009 is shaping up to be pretty spectacular!

Tagged as: 23, beer, editorial, new year, The Session