I have watched enough TV to know about the magical moment when the dashingly handsome guy meets the plunky and cute office worker who everyone thinks is the average girl, one character suddenly has love at first site. Some where in the middle of this drama, the average girl suddenly becomes hot by letting her hair down and taking off her geeky thick glasses. Hello....she was already hot!
I don't believe in love at first site, that's the pragmatist in me, but how about beer love at first sample. Now, this is more my realm.
Looking over the taps selection at the local lounge, the usual fair from left to right and back across. Most places are limited to their distributors which is unfortunate but part of the business. Offerings include: Elysian (does the tap come with a pronunciation guide?), domestic taps (how do you type the vomit sound?), Deschutes taps which are becoming too ubiquitous for my tastes and, wait, whats this Mac & Jack's. Whats this? Mac & Jack's? Just the name invokes images of Brits with their bitters in London. The name alone gives it legitimacy. Its beer flirtation and its game on. Simple tap with no pretentious carving or highly gloss print. The African Amber shouts out at you, "drink me or don't. your call". I love the simplicity.
I pay for a half pitcher but the bar keep hooks it up with a full pitcher. Nice. I'll have to tip her. Yes, pun intended.
Pours gorgeously, the whole process of pouring this beer is sublime and an attention grabbing process. It pours like milk, little Belgian lacing or foaming over the top of the glass. Its cloudy and rich but not in the sense of a porter or stout, its an Amber after all, but its not clear, more akin to a hefeweisen, yet its not. Intriguing.
Music thumps on my phone, not feeling the current selection so I scroll through my albums, the anticipation of first taste rivals that of with a woman. Sorry ladies, your taking back seat for the time being. All ridicule will be accepted and deflected. Ah, got the track and my man Pas Micheal of the Fugees, fellow member Wyclef in tow.
First taste. Angels sing. OOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH....every man want heaven, no man want to die, sing it Clef!
I look at the glass. What are my thoughts, are there any? Nothing I have ever sampled compares, its like meeting a person for the first time, like seeing that geeky office girl for the first time, like asking a person twice "whats your name?" but its something easy like John. I do a double take, what is this again? Its the African Amber, the name has not changed. I take another swig then look at the tap again. What kind of beer is this? Its still an amber. Another swig and another glance.
Smooth with low carbonation is your initial reaction, subtle hops with a lemony note and a fine malt back. Its sessionable with a crisp mouthfeel with a warm fuzzy feeling as if you have known this beer for years. Have you ever met someone and it feels like a lifelong friendship? That is the feeling invoked by this brew, a familiar unfamiliarity.
Second pint in and Pras is throwing down the prose with no remorse. Clef doing his best Marley tribute and its hauntingly accurate.
The name, Mac & Jack's comes back to me. Simple and humble sounding, no weirdness or outlandish title. I raise my glass to the founders of this brew house. I am in love with your beer. Its the geeky office girl with her hair down and just like in movies where everyone seems to ignore the girl incognito, I am happy to observe patrons glance over my secret as they go for the flashy taps. More for me.
Grade: Fat Elvis
Mexican Food Pairing: Enchilladas with guacamole sauce, side of fried taquitos
Music: Pras Micheal, Angels Sing ft. Wyclef Jean
Brewer: Mac & Jack's
Pro Eval: Beer Advocate
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