Confessions of a Teen-Age Beer Geek
Confessions of a Teen-Age Beer Geek
By Abram Goldman-Armstrong
When I was in junior high one of my prized possessions was a Rogue Ales book-bag. I grew up in Oregon in a household where beer was a beverage enjoyed several times a month. My parents were by no means regular drinkers, but on occasion they would bring home a six pack of MacTarnahan’s or Grant’s Celtic Ale.
At the age of twelve or thirteen Rogue Old Crustacean and Guinness were my two favorite beers. I’d never had a full pint of either beer, but simply appreciated the flavors of them so much from the sips I was allowed that they were my favorites.
I say this not to brag about what good taste I had as a child, but to point out the flaw in American culture which is the drinking age of 21.
Such a high limit is virtually unheard of anywhere else in the world, and brings with it a number of problems. Aside from the social problems of kids drinking in the woods, or alleyways, the 21 year drinking age stunts the beer culture of Oregon. Our youth guzzle down mass-produced swill at clandestine parties, without anyone more experienced to explain that rice and corn based industrial lager is not the end-all be-all of beer. In countries such as Germany and Belgium, where kids are allowed to drink beer from an early age, they grow up with an appreciation for the flavors of their local beers. In this country many young people do not gain an appreciation for the flavors of craft brews until well after that magical 21st birthday, when they can finally go to the pub. Lowering the drinking-age probably wouldn’t reduce the amount of crap that college kids drink, but it could allow them to mature as drinkers earlier. Instead of the drink-till-you puke atmosphere of the Frat-house and dorm room, students could drink alongside older generations in the pub. This would create a more civilized drinking culture, and inspire younger drinkers to try varied and local products.
When on a tour of the In-Bev brewery in Leuven, Belgium, (home of Stella Artois) a few years ago, I spotted another tour group ahead of us. It was a junior high class. These youngsters were learning an important national art of Belgium brewing. Here in Oregon too, our children would benefit from learning about the brewing and winemaking processes which are such an important part of our culture and economy. With a better understanding of brewing, and a lower drinking age, Oregon’s youth could help build a responsible, taste-conscious beer culture. How can you teach moderation to kids that can’t sit on the barstool with their parents? Just as the national experiment with Prohibition failed, so too the 21-plus drinking age is a failure. According to a Columbia University study 25% of all alcohol in America is consumed by people under age 20, and 75% of American high school students have had a drink. Why not lower the drinking age and teach them to drink responsibly
By Abram Goldman-Armstrong
When I was in junior high one of my prized possessions was a Rogue Ales book-bag. I grew up in Oregon in a household where beer was a beverage enjoyed several times a month. My parents were by no means regular drinkers, but on occasion they would bring home a six pack of MacTarnahan’s or Grant’s Celtic Ale.
At the age of twelve or thirteen Rogue Old Crustacean and Guinness were my two favorite beers. I’d never had a full pint of either beer, but simply appreciated the flavors of them so much from the sips I was allowed that they were my favorites.
I say this not to brag about what good taste I had as a child, but to point out the flaw in American culture which is the drinking age of 21.
Such a high limit is virtually unheard of anywhere else in the world, and brings with it a number of problems. Aside from the social problems of kids drinking in the woods, or alleyways, the 21 year drinking age stunts the beer culture of Oregon. Our youth guzzle down mass-produced swill at clandestine parties, without anyone more experienced to explain that rice and corn based industrial lager is not the end-all be-all of beer. In countries such as Germany and Belgium, where kids are allowed to drink beer from an early age, they grow up with an appreciation for the flavors of their local beers. In this country many young people do not gain an appreciation for the flavors of craft brews until well after that magical 21st birthday, when they can finally go to the pub. Lowering the drinking-age probably wouldn’t reduce the amount of crap that college kids drink, but it could allow them to mature as drinkers earlier. Instead of the drink-till-you puke atmosphere of the Frat-house and dorm room, students could drink alongside older generations in the pub. This would create a more civilized drinking culture, and inspire younger drinkers to try varied and local products.
When on a tour of the In-Bev brewery in Leuven, Belgium, (home of Stella Artois) a few years ago, I spotted another tour group ahead of us. It was a junior high class. These youngsters were learning an important national art of Belgium brewing. Here in Oregon too, our children would benefit from learning about the brewing and winemaking processes which are such an important part of our culture and economy. With a better understanding of brewing, and a lower drinking age, Oregon’s youth could help build a responsible, taste-conscious beer culture. How can you teach moderation to kids that can’t sit on the barstool with their parents? Just as the national experiment with Prohibition failed, so too the 21-plus drinking age is a failure. According to a Columbia University study 25% of all alcohol in America is consumed by people under age 20, and 75% of American high school students have had a drink. Why not lower the drinking age and teach them to drink responsibly
posted by PDXBeer at 7:58 AM
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