The Discriminating Wino

      Our clock must be running fast again -- I swore I wouldn't get to the liquor store early again this Sunday, but when I get there my friend inside informs me there are still three minutes till opening. So we stand with the door open and chat, about the nice October weather and his ten-minute bike ride to work, on this beautiful fall day.     Now I know I've fested Oktober to death; what with my original review of at least half-a-dozen brands, and then over the past two weeks partying with my friend for his birthday and draining two 5 liter mini kegs of Hoffbrau. But I've been wanting to enjoy Bitburger's charmingly inviting mix-pack, just 6 bottles of Festbier and 6 of their standard German Pilsner -- and they finally had them in the fridge so I grabbed a case.               Festbier 6.2% abv     More hoppy than malty, but not overly bitter; especially considering I just had coffee. Very...

       1st sip bubbling w/ fruitiness from the bottle (couldn't wait to liberate the cork) --                    got to have vino now,                    for the rain is falling --I then pour myself a glass to read Kerouac on the couch by the light of a beeswax candle and sudden flashes of lightnening. Did I say fruity? Yes on the tongue's tip; but dry as it washes over the palate, the sour earth of Italian countryside long before Aeneas paid a visit -- Bacchus may have brought his thyrsus and maenads from the East and ultimately set up a thriving vineyard colony on Greco-Phoenician ports of Gaul, but I think He always loved Toscana best.     Careful though, I'm not trying to get drunk, just inspired. It's still early. Whenever you wanna get tipsy you're facing some sweet or bitter liquid it's a chore to swallow, and now here I am too...