United Nations of Beer

Thomas Hardy beer

by Jeff Evans
(IL, USA)

Thomas Hardy beer

I sit at the bar as I always do. It's a Sunday afternoon. The bar is The Map Room in Chicago. The occassion... nothing really, I just want to drink some great beer.

So I work my way through the usual suspects: whatever is on the beer engine, something from Three Floyds, perhaps, a Belgian I haven't tried before...

As I'm scrolling up and down the ridiculously comprehensive and competent beer menu, I notice they've got some Thomas Hardy beer.

Now, I'm a big fan of this ale. So I ask the barman for one and he heads towards the basement for the bottle. It was then that I notice the FREE FOOD. The only thing better than free food is free beer (which I'll save for another 50 stories), but since free food is available, you can bet I am going to take advantage of it.

The buffet includes sausages, chicken and BBQ. I load up a plate and go back to my spot at the bar.

The bartender returns with my Thomas Hardy's. 2003. Hot damn, I got lucky. He looks very concerned. Was I going to use my Thomas Hardy's to wash down a gutful of BBQ? He doesn't say anything, but I watch him, watching me. Poised. Ready to intervene. It's awesome.

It is then that I ask him for a big glass of water. He looks relieved. I take my time drinking my Thomas Hardy beer. It is great, as it always is. I wait long enough for the lingering flavor to fade from my grateful mouth.

And then I crush that BBQ.