beer for cavities
By Colin Burch
For Weekly Surge
The dentist was drilling on two cavities in my mouth, and I was thinking about his attractive assistant, whose job it was to hold a suction tube in my gaping word hole. I realized that it was a rather intimate thing to be sharing the inside of my mouth with someone when I didn't even know her name. That's no way to start a relationship, and besides, most of the hygienists in the office know my wife, so I turned my thoughts to what type of beer would best follow that little bit of dental surgery I was experiencing.
Of course, with two new fillings, extra-chilled beer would be out of the question. Cold beers, and their resulting shocks, were motivating factors in getting my rear to the dentist - that, plus a chipped tooth.
Actually, all beer was out of the question after the fillings, because I was off to teach - with a numb mouth - an afternoon class at Coastal Carolina University, which is officially a non-party school these days (which could be a good thing, considering some of my students ought to have a legal drinking age of something like 36). However, if I had gone straight from that dental appointment to Greg Norman's Australian Grill in Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach on a recent Sunday evening, I would not have had anything to worry about. My first pint of Samuel Adams was not cold. It was just barely cool enough to drink. I rarely make a fuss about myself, but I thought about sending it back. In the end, the temperature was just low enough, and I was just thirsty enough.
Later, the server asked if I would like another beer, and I was thinking, "I should not spend the money, and I really only need one beer tonight." So naturally, I said, "Yes, that would be great." The second pint was much colder, which complimented the pork chops. My kids were out of town, so it was a special occasion for my wife and I to eat out. I spent $4.50 each for the pints. Never mind the grand total.
tastings in garden city beach
Jim Varcadipane recently purchased Atlantic Discount Spirits at 2901 U.S. 17 South in Garden City Beach, and he has some big distributors lined up for three days of tastings.
Varcadipane said each distributor should have approximately 12 different beers. Here's a look at the schedule.
• 3:30-6:30 p.m., today (Oct. 9): Yahnis Coastal-Myrtle Beach and Better Brands, Inc., both of Myrtle Beach, will provide the samples.
• 3:30-6:30 p.m., Friday (Oct. 10): The beverages of the afternoon will be provided by regional distributors Southern Wines and Spirits, Carolina Craft Distributing and Republic National Distributing Co., and Yahnis will be back.
• 3:30-6:30 p.m., Saturday (Oct. 11): Advintage Wines of North Charleston and Aleph Wines of Columbia have the wares, and Republic National will be back.
Call 357-6232 or visit www.atlanticdiscountspirits.com for more information.
zappa brew
I recently stopped by the new Lowes Foods stores in Grande Dunes, 970 Cipriana Drive, Myrtle Beach. Like the other Lowes stores in the area, this new one had a broad beer selection.
On this visit, I noticed the Frank Zappa-inspired Lumpy Gravy brew - named after a Zappa album - from Lagunitas Brewing Co. A 22-ounce bottle was priced at $4.99.
Contact Colin Burch - the Beerman - at beerpour@yahoo.com or visit his beer blog at http://maltyhops.blogspot.com