Wouldn’t the world be an amazing place if there were no surprises to experience? Would it be easier if there were no instability to counter? Would it be easier if people didn’t perpetually disappoint in a way that initiated the “I can’t believe this is happening” response?

Of course, and at times we wish for the consistence that comfortable continuity allows.  Yet this resultant complacency perpetuates lethargy and a diminished sense of progress. And were all interactions encompassed in a self manageable bubble we could act freely and interact with the world in exactly the way we please.

Sadly, this utopia style existence is unrealistic. And when one obeys common convention and socially acceptable rules and regulations these idealistic ideas become aberrant.  It can be witnessed in such apparently innocuous circumstance as navigation of a vehicle.

Routinely I have witnessed individuals place their vehicles in obviously inhospitable (according to vehicular regulations) places. I am specifically highlighting the parking of vehicles in fire lanes or next to a mall sidewalk despite the presence of parking spaces a mere fifteen feet away.   On a regular basis this type of behavior can be witnessed.   Is this sheer laziness?  Is the designated parking area a mere stones throw away too constricting? Are your principles being assaulted by being socially pressured into relegating your vehicle to a specific spot?  Or, do you truly feel that the reasonable social and governmentally mandated expectations have no bearing on your needlessly socially intrusive behavior?

This disappointment occurs so often in the world of craft beer as well. The degree of disappointment is scalable though. When the disappointment sets in upon the  perfectly ambulatory individual hauling 6 bags of groceries into his illegally parked car, one raises an eyebrow.   The behavior however, is tolerated. Laziness, or disrespect, is clearly ignored. Or, at least, laziness has become so normal as to be regarded as commonplace.

But when one spends lavishly on an untested beer and is subsequently and horribly disappointed, where is the outrage for such an event?   That lazy troglodyte scofflaw could not possibly have been controlled.  Though the behavior was an uncontrollable and simultaneously distasteful practice, it fails to impact our wallet.  Disastrously though, that hefty investment in a appealingly crafted bottle may demand such reproach.

I have had the unfortunately unpleasant experience of buying high and experiencing low on a craft beer.  Having had previously positive experience  via hanami and C.O.B. and even the Techno IPA, I felt the quality of this Alexander would be solid.  The initial investment of $20 seemed steep considering the reasonable quality/price ratio that I had previously experienced. However, led by the “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” motto, I took a chance.

Alexander – Free Will Brewing – Sometimes the expectation is so powerful and the let down so strong that you are momentarily taken aback. I though I would experience a mouth puckering sour cherry tartness and maybe a little Brett induced bread and grainy funk to the flavor.  Instead, I was left wondering, when will this beer would be sour?  And, when I would be left wondering when the stale diaper and watery plastic taste would wash from my mouth?  I had to force the plastic cherry cough drop taste down my throat to get to a moderately Budweiser finish.  The $20 this cost me equals the cost of the half-gallon of whiskey  i bought today which will last me infinitely longer than this brew, and will satisfy sip-by-sip, way longer as well. If swill is sold, than swill should be the barter for this poor attempt at a sour. Abundant disappointment. 1/10