Apr201201
Mario Rubio
0
Who’s Your Momma?
This Friday, RateBeer owner Joseph Tucker was on hand at the Russian River Brewing Company for the release of the latest batch of Beatification. Beer lovers lined up down the street to take home bottles of the sour barrel-aged beer. Even at $15 per 375 mL bottle, people were generally taking home their allotment of 6 bottles per person. While the steep price was an example of how much people truly want special edition beers, it also put on showcase the latest trend in craft beer: Baby Birding.
While few know where baby birding began, its rare to attend a beer tasting without seeing this odd practice. Tired of 12 oz bottles barely serving a dozen people, beer lovers began looking for ways to extend the tasting. While couples seem to be most open to the idea at first, baby birding between strangers is even catching on.
“At first I thought it was disgusting,” claims a man who sat next to us at the bar for the Beatification release. “Why would I let someone spit in my mouth?! But then a was a table and they had split a bottle of Dark Lord. I had never tried it and thought this could be my only chance. That’s when someone offered to mama bird their taste for me. The beer was great, and now I have a friendship that has a special bond.”
With the introduction of baby birding has come a slew of variations. Some will blend fresh and “BB’d” beer together for new flavor combinations. Others will experiment with 2nd and even 3rd generation tastes to see how the beer stands up.
Most common is the search for a celebrity baby bird. Tucker had to turn down a steady stream of requests to joint groups at their tables.
“I’m just here to enjoy my beer,” explains Tucker. “If you try to satisfy all the requests, you end up losing sight of the enjoyment of the beer. You think to yourself ‘Why don’t I just down a couple bottles and spit them back into pitchers.’ It would save time and hassle, but you lose the personal connection.”
While the anxious connoisseurs were turned down on this after noon, some were still excited about the possibilities that lay ahead.
One baby birding aficionado was hopeful for a good weekend. “I’ve been mama birded by master cicerones, numerous brewers and chefs and my goal this weekend is to get Beatification straight from the brewers mouth. Do you know if Vinnie is still in back?”
Happy April Fools Day.
Leave a Reply
Click here to cancel reply.