Beer-a-Day #172

Today is Father’s Day here in the States. As such, I am designating today’s beer as a toast to my own Dad.

It was my Dad who instilled in me an appreciation of all things beery. For him, a beer was a reward for a hard day’s work and a job well done. The guy schlepped to work in the wee hours of the morning every day for decades, worked 50+ hours a week, then still found time to be our electrician, auto mechanic, plumber, carpenter, lumberjack, and mason. All in addition to being Dad.

Now that I am a homeowner and have kids of my own, I have a much deeper appreciation of the man and all he did. As Mark Twain supposedly said, “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

My Father is retired now, and by all indications enjoying the heck out of puttering around his new house and doting on his grandchildren. Unfortunately, health considerations keep him from enjoying a beer except for rare occasions.

I wanted to find a Schaefer for today, since that was his go-to beer back in the day. But they’re nigh-impossible to get now, if they’re even still being brewed. The F. & M. Schaefer Brewing Company was subsumed by Stroh’s Brewing, which in turn was subsumed by Pabst Brewing. Last I heard, Schaefer was only available in thirty-pack cans. It’s too bad, really. They had one of the best jingles ever, too.

So, instead, I’ve picked up a light lager from the largest American brewer with its own brewing facilities. A Sam Adams Light. Because that’s what my Dad would pick out.

Call your Dad today and tell him how much you appreciate him. While if you don’t he’ll never mention it, and if you do, he’ll poo-poo it and say your Mother did all the child-raising, it’ll still tickle him no end.

Here’s to you, Dad!