France and the French

I must confess up front that I like the French people.  They helped us fight a revolution against Britain.  They recognized us immediately as a nation.  They were the country that shaped Thomas Jefferson, who spent a considerable amount of time there.  They recognized our liberty with that gift that still stands - The Statue of Liberty - which stood in contrast to the Twin Towers that were clouded with debris and smoke from the terrorist attack. 

They have art and wine and beautiful cities and country side.  I have had the privilege of going to Paris and going to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa.  And, I have been privileged to see the Normandy Cemetery with the thousands of crosses and stars of David lined up in final formation.  Hit by Hitler's armies early in World War II, the French resistance was a tribute to bravery in the middle of a violent war. We don't always agree with the French, but they are an independent nation entitled to make independent decisions as they see fit.

So, Average Beer Guy decided he was going to sample some beer from France to put on these pages in dedication to them as a way of providing a tribute after the terrorist attack on the magazine.  There is plenty of French beer, but Lubbock is not necessarily a big importer of it.  I went to Crickets, with probably the largest selection of draft beer here in Lubbock, and the closest I could get was Belgium and Stella Artois.  Really, Belgium?  No thank you.

So, logically I chose Montana and Moose Drool Brown Ale because hey, it was there.  Moose Drool is a product of Big Sky Brewing Company.  Having rated brown ales before, my like of the beer has been stated, but Big Sky has made a good brown ale that was good and among many this craft brewery has developed.  Apparently, I have some opportunities to learn more with this brewery. This one is milder in terms of alcohol - 4.1% - than others, so it isn't necessarily a really strong beer, but it has good flavor. 

Crickets, for those of you not from Lubbock and of Buddy Holly history, was the name of his band (Buddy Holly and the Crickets), and the bar/restaurant is really a pretty good setting to enjoy a fine ale. They serve it at recommended temperatures - around 50 degrees or there about - so the flavor comes through and did not disappoint with Moose Drool

I like Crickets and I liked Moose Drool.  I am guessing the name means the beer is so good that even moose drool and not that this is what they gathered to make this beer. You never know.  What I'm beginning to learn is that marketing in the craft beer market is tied to name and beer.

As for the French, the irony of a magazine that is so harsh that even with a First Amendment in the US, we would have sued, countersued, and found a way to drive it out of business for not being PC.  In France, who doesn't have a first amendment, it has a dedicated following.  After the attack, even those who didn't read the magazine came out close to the scene of the crime, criminals still on the loose, and held up pens as a reminder that "the pen is mightier than the sword."  Ideas matter. They were also the people who said, after the attacks of 911, "Today, we are all Americans."  "Je Suis Charlie" is similar to that in meaning, "I am Charlie." 

As for now, I am Average Guy.