I’ve mentioned before how my gym is a beer friendly place. On Friday afternoons, we play basketball for an hour or two and usually go our separate ways. Right next to the court is a grassy area with benches, horseshoe pits and a boccie court. What better place to have a BBQ on a hot day? So this Friday, we cut the basketball a little shot, and planned a nice meal, to be washed down by some cold beers, no doubt.
Before I could head to the gym, I had to stock up on supplies. Safeway’s butcher has gotten progressively better over the years, providing prepared meats for BBQs, so I grabbed a couple blue cheese burgers and a few Calabrese sausages. Buns, utensils, I had the necesities, so the only thing left was the beer.
When I got to the beer aisle, the handcart for the stocker was blocking the craft beer section. Warm beer at a BBQ? This could be a problem. Even worse, he was busy restocking the beers I was most interested in, Racer 5 and Boont Amber. I knew my decision would come down to these two but now that they were both warm I contemplated other lesser options.
The stocker must have noticed the worry on my face. “There’s a cold one in the back there” as he pointed at the Racer 5. I pushed the warm brews aside, touching the necks as I went, searching for the cold 6-pack. Finally, I found it. But while the box said Racer 5, the bottle was a Boont Amber. Someone, obviously a very wise someone, had gone ahead and split a boont and Racer 5 6 pack. It was a sign. I would be taking home 3 of each beers.
Beer in hand I made my way to the gym for the BBQ. When I got there, one of the guys was kind enough to grab 2 pitchers from the taps inside, one of Fosters (meh), and one of Ale Works Pale Ale (slightly less meh). We played a few sloppy games of basketball in near 100 degree heat then dined on a nice salmon, along with a couple burgers and sausages.
If I knew this is what took place at the gym, I would have started going a long time ago.
