For decades, beer drinking in its many forms has been an iconic aspect of life on the American college campus. More often than not, this pastime involves a "party" atmosphere where participants consume large amounts of cheap beer in keg or can form, mainly to achieve intoxication.
At times, however, beer drinking activities revolve around more subdued goals in a relaxed atmosphere where individuals will tend to drink to savor the beer itself, rather than to reach a state of drunkenness.
While I of course do not encourage or condone binge drinking, I would like to state my purpose in writing this column within this context: beer drinkers at Bowdoin have different reasons for drinking and different goals while drinking depending on who they are, who they are friends with, and what circumstances they find themselves in.
Therefore, my aim in writing about beer for the Orient is to help you, the beer drinker, get the most out of your drinking experience regardless of your circumstances.
With that said, there is a lot more to writing about beer than simply picking out a few beers and rating them on a comparative basis. Everyone has different tastes and to objectify something that is inherently subjective is, as far as I'm concerned, relatively pointless. Although descriptions detailing the body, flavor, and history of a given beer can be interesting and helpful in determining whether or not said brew is worthy of purchase, I believe it necessary to take a great deal more into account in order to get the most out of your beer. Besides, if you read my predecessor Scott's column scrupulously, you're probably already an expert on the different types of beers out there: how they're made, what they taste like, and how they differ from one another. My personal tastes and preferences will inevitably come into play, but my aim is to stress the value of a given beer or style in certain situations, not across the board.
America is going through some difficult economic times, and college students aren't nearly loaded enough (well, maybe some here at Bowdoin are) to spend $9 on a six-pack or $16 on a 12-pack of some specialty microbrew week after week. If you're like me and you drink frequently (but not heavily, i.e. a beer or two every night), cost is a major factor in determining what this week's six or 12 of choice is going to be. If you're planning a party and you need to pick up a couple of 30-racks, which brand should you buy? Which store has the best deals? Is it worth spending a paltry $13 for a 30 of Milwaukee's Best (Hint: NO, NEVER.) If it's your 21st birthday, or you are a non-beer drinker, and you want your first sip of beer to be something you'll be able to remember and savor for the rest of your life, you'll find answers here.
With this column, I seek to not only change the way you drink beer, but also the way you think about beer. While I am by no means a snob (I hope!) it pains me when I witness friends and strangers alike drinking beer, ignorant to what they are drinking and why they are drinking it. If you can pick up even a tidbit of advice or information from me here or there, hopefully it'll allow you to save some money, select beers that you'll enjoy, and get the most out of every drop.
For most of you, this weekend will be your first back at Bowdoin in over a month. Hopefully some of Grandma's Christmas (oops, holiday) money survived the debauchery and excess of New Years and lingers in your wallets and purses, begging to be spent on some quality beer. I wholeheartedly suggest that, in celebrating your first evenings with your Bowdoin friends in quite some time, you more or less ignore everything I've said about spending wisely and splurge like a socialite. However don't let yourself fall prey to the standard "fancy" Maine beers that tend to turn up most often at Bowdoin, like Shipyard or Geary's. For the price you pay for a twelve of these overrated brands, much better options are out there. In addition, who says you're in the mood for that style of brew? Shipyard and Geary's produce ales that are heavy and flavorful, but this is your first weekend back! You definitely don't want to inhibit your drinking potential by feeling full after just a few heavy beers.
If your standard beer purchase falls under the standard Bud/Coors/Miller umbrella, why not try a more upscale lager? Some American microbreweries make a really tasty lager but the finest are imported: Grolsch and Pilsner Urquell are the cream of the (mass produced) crop from Europe, and the Japanese Sapporo is extremely reminiscent of your typical American light beer—minus the aftertaste that (admit it) we could all do without. However, if you insist on staying domestic, Flying Dog's Old Scratch Amber Lager may very well be the best microbrewed lager easily available at your Maine alcohol retailer. Hailing from the great state of Delaware, Flying Dog produces a number of quality beers, but the Old Scratch is your best bet for maximizing your drinking potential this weekend. It's a bit on the dark side for a lager (hence the "amber" color), but it won't fill you up as much as an ale would.
The Bowdoin Orient has a promotion in partnership with Bootleggers Beverage Warehouse in Topsham, Maine. This week only, Bowdoin students can receive 10 percent off Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell, Sapporo, and Flying Dog's Old Scratch Amber Lager upon presentation of a Bowdoin ID.