Happy St. Patrick's Day

While we give a nod to Patricius himself, the once kidnapped and enslaved Roman Brit, who escaped from Ireland only to return years later to preach Christianity and drive the snakes of paganism from the Emerald Isle, let’s take a moment of respite to raise a glass to our fellow men and women and acknowledge we are all at sea on the same ship of humanity.

We are not usually open on a Tuesday, but well, would any bar in America really want to keep its doors closed on such a day of imbibement. And being such I was not overly surprised that my old (seldom-seen) friend Jams O’Dingus walked in the door and bellied up to the bar.

“Bout ye Tony?” he greeted.

“Oh, you know, this and that,” I replied.

As he studied the menu board, I offered, “I’m sure you’ll be wanting a stout today Jams. May I recommend Lil Modi?”

Lil Modi is the 6.8% version of our 8.4% Modi, a breakfast stout versus an imperial stout with almost as much roast and body. It was named by our brewer Charlie not after the prime minister of India but after the dog of farm resident Bill, a beautiful Burnese who passed last year. It is appropriate to sip this beverage at the bar, I explained, not just because it is St. Pat’s but because Bill, our resident woodworker, crafted the bar, sourced from our own trees, milled by multi-skilled Charlie.

“Aye, ‘tis a fine pint,” said Jams after a few lengthy sips. “Are ye busy, then?”

“Sure, at the weekends,” I said. “The beers can stand with any in the area, and my mead is being discovered. But I think the food sets us apart; Chefs Jess and Zack are knocking it out of the park with a full menu and weekend specials. And now that the clocks have jumped forward people are venturing out a bit more. And of course nature herself is just throwing off the blankets of snow and yawning awake.”

“Ah, ye have a way with words lad.”

Despite what was beginning to dawn as a day of mutual revelry, Jams’ always simmering outlook on world affairs was soon on the boil.

“’Tis a world gone mad, Tony. I swear the leaders have the taste of blood in their mouths.”

“Yes,” I said, “It’s grim in many places. What I don’t understand is how people keep going along with things. Are we so easily brainwashed these days?”

Jams looked thoughtful for a moment then replied,

“Brainwashing is a term that has bad connotations because it is used in the passive sense,

as in people are being brainwashed. But what if we turned it active make it so we are doing own brainwashing. Like our clothes need washing from time to time, or ok regularly, maybe it would be a good idea to wash our brains occasionally, or perhaps regularly. Think about all the crap that goes into our brains on a daily basis.”

“How do we do the laundry, Jams?”

“How? I like meditation. Or take a hike, get drunk, listen to music. They are many ways to empty the mind. You play disc golf for example. Although I’ll give you that some people are incapable of washing their brains because they have already been brainwashed. They no longer control their brains.”

We fell silent for a few moments lost in our second stout. I had noticed a gentleman join us at the bar wearing a cap proclaiming US Vet – Iraq, Afghanistan. Perhaps it was the beer prompting, but I couldn’t restrain myself.

“Excuse me, I really don’t want to intrude with politics, but I noticed your hat, and I hope you don’t mind if I ask you what you think about the war in Iran.”

His answer was not quite what I expected. “I’m very upset with it,” he said. “I served one tour in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. We killed a lot of ordinary people in Iraq, and we’re killing ordinary people like you and me in Iran. No one who hasn’t looked down the barrel of gun and thought about killing someone should be enabling this.”

Sobering. “I hear you, can I buy you a drink? Or better yet taste my mead. You too Jams, I have Hoptimead, infused with our own hops, Elderblack with elderberries and blackberries, and one made from tomatoes, goji berries and lemon basil. It’s called Wanna Pizza Mead?

Jams chuckled, “I don’t want a piece of you lad, but yes, I’ll certainly try your mead, and to you sir I tip my hat. Thank you for your service.”

@Fenceroadfarmbrewery