Earlier this week I joined with some of my co-workers and a couple of guests at the Verizon Center for a Washington Capitals game. This event was arranged by my boss as a little bit of a reward for our hard work in 2006. To my surprise and delight, we got to watch the game from one of the luxury suites on the mezzanine level.

Now this is the way to see a hockey game. Comfy chairs, a private bathroom, a television in the room for those not facing the ice, catered snacks (nachos, burritos and three different kinds of chicken wings). Fifi did an excellent job taking care of us all night. There is also a bar to sit at as well as three rows of seats in front of the suite for those of us who actually are sports fans and wanted to watch the game.

Of course, professional sporting events immediately bring to mind long lines to pay outrageous prices for watered-down American megabrewed pilsners. (As if they weren’t watery enough.) Well, no worries about that here.

Shortly after I arrived, my phone rang. My wife was calling.
“Hello, love.”

“Hi. I just wanted to let you know it’s snowing up here at home. I don’t want you drinking.”

“Uh…okay.”

Well, so much for that. I checked the mini-fridge to see what my options would have been.

• Bud Light
• Coors Light
• Heineken
• Corona Extra

All in cans, too. Well, I guess that’s not much of a sacrifice.

I was intrigued by the Heineken though. We don’t hold it in very high regard around here, but I wondered if not having it in a green bottle would have saved it from being awful. But, still, given how much of an upgrade this was from the arena seats, I expected at least some Sam Adams or maybe something brewed in Baltimore. I can see why they wouldn’t want to have glass bottles available to hockey fans who may have a few too many during the course of the game, so I suppose their options are limited. Of course, the minor league baseball stadium just up the road from me serves beer from two local brewpubs. Oh, wait. Those megabrewers are probably paying to have their beers served at the Verizon Center. No local craft brewer is going to be able to compete with that kind of money.

So I availed myself of the bottled water and diet soda to enjoy with my hot wings and nachos piled up with chili and cheese. And I stuffed myself silly watching the Caps defeat the Flyers 6-2. And then the dessert cart came around and I had an amazing chocolate cheesecake.

But no beer. It seems almost unAmerican to attend a sporting event and not have any, but there you go.

I did have an Alka-Seltzer when I got home.

And there was no snow in sight.