These are the words, images, and beers that inspired the GBH Collective this week. Drinking alone just got better, because now you’re drinking with all of us.
READ.// “To have a well maintained lawn is a sign to others that you have the time and/or the money to support this attraction. It signifies that you care about belonging and want others to see that you are like them. A properly maintained lawn tells others you are a good neighbor.” It’s spring and some people are preparing to wage their annual battle against front-yard dandelions. I, meanwhile, am in the anti-lawn camp for environmental reasons (try native plants instead) as well as general indifference. But this article from Scientific American helped me understand why most Americans value lawns the way they do. It was helpful for me to learn that lawns have not always been such prime real estate. If we did without them for much of history, we can do so again.
LOOK.// Clyde Butcher’s photography, especially his photos of Florida’s landscapes, strike a balance I find profound. His shots of the Everglades, mangroves, Spanish moss, and driftwood convey the eerie, sun-bleached peculiarity of the coastal parts of the state. And yet they also have an elegance that doesn’t succumb to Florida’s backwater stereotypes. His photos capture wildness, in all senses of the word.
DRINK.// Smooj Piña Colada Hard Seltzer Smoothie
OK guys, I tried Smooj. Smooj is the “hard seltzer smoothie” that blends a hard seltzer base with copious amounts of fruit puree; it’s made by a company that’s an offshoot of HOMES Brewery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The piña colada flavor tastes exactly like the namesake cocktail, but most intriguing is its frothy, whipped texture, which is both airy and slightly viscous. This wouldn’t become part of my regular rotation, but as a fun novelty, sure. Smooj. Why not.
READ.// “I don’t mind that you pixelated Flanders’ crotch. I just mind that it was so big.” I am a sucker for an oral history, and I am a sucker for using a “Simpsons” reference any time it may, even remotely, make sense. Brian VanHooker’s oral history in MEL Magazine looks into the story of one of my favorite quotes (and asses) of all time, “Stupid Sexy Flanders.” Indeed. [Editor’s note: R.I.P., MEL Magazine, and our support to its talented writers, editors, and contributors.]
LOOK.// After a year of being isolated within four very familiar walls, I found Kevin Fletcher’s photography series, “Avenue of Roses,” to be a comforting reminder that the world is still as alien, haunting, and beautiful as ever.
DRINK.// Hopewell Brewing Co.’s Alpi Italian-Style Pilsner
Alpi absolutely rules. This bad boy packs a lot of spice and a lot of aroma. Crisp and overall re-fucking-freshing.
READ.// “It seemed to me that to understand the flavors of tea, wine and cheese would mean delving into the world of smells of oceans and animals and feet, to find out why they have the smells they do. This was a daunting prospect—but then increasingly exciting. In fact, why stop at smells that happen to be obviously echoed in foods? Why not savor things in the larger world the way we can savor food and drink, smelling them actively and curiously, learning about their volatiles and their backstories, and using that knowledge to experience them more fully?” Nose Dive, Harold McGee’s new compendium of aromas, is deeply detailed and peppered with evocative moments—like when McGee discusses how everyday smells like sulfur were shaped by the physics of outer space a kajillion years ago. He dives into the chemical structure of different odorants, and draws out connections that explain why seemingly unrelated things have similarities, like the terpenes that connect weed and beer. Why would a beer fan want to read this? Because if you want to taste you have to smell, and if you want to taste better it helps to understand what you are experiencing.
LOOK.// It is the mid-1800s and a pair of Royal Navy icebreakers are navigating the Arctic in search of the Northwest Passage. An unseen force is hunting them, but there are other threats that lie deeper within the ships and their crew. It’s a bit silly, really, but at the same time, BBC series “The Terror” is atmospheric and gripping, suffused with the hubris of empire. You can feel the men’s growing desperation as they are caught between their desire to leave behind their lives ashore—all failed romances, petty rivalries, and dark pasts—and escape the pitiless and inhospitable world that now holds them prisoner.
DRINK.// Lucky Saint
I really must stop harping on about Schönramer Pilsner, so instead I’m going to choose Lucky Saint. This 0.5% ABV Lager has become my go-to choice for those evenings (or work-from-home lunchtimes, even) when I fancy a beer but don’t want to feel sluggish afterwards. It hits all the right buttons in terms of flavor and body, has a nice crisp finish, and doesn’t leave me feeling like I’ve missed out on anything. That’s quite an achievement for a beer without any booze.
Curated by The GBH Collective
