Tradition
I’m a firm believer in tradition, particularly during the Holidays. For several years, I lived on the other side of the country, 2,000 miles away from my family. My Thanksgiving/Christmas tradition consisted of going for a long trail run in the morning, then eat a giant shrimp ring and drink martinis until the day faded to black.
Traditions are important. But it’s also important that they evolve. We started a new Thanksgiving tradition this week that involved a massive family kickball tournament, unofficially sponsored by Yazoo Hefeweizen. My kids are 5—the perfect age to start developing wicked kickball skills. Their tiny little legs can’t get the ball over the bushes for a homerun, but they have a true passion for the sport. And talking trash, which is an often overlooked aspect of kickball.
As for the beer—it was an out of left field choice at the beer store, but I’m convinced it was the perfect beer to get us through 12 hours of heavy eating and bloody kickball. Most people tend to opt for dark, malty beers during the Holidays (think imperial stouts, pumpkin porters and such), but you can only knock back one, maybe two of those rich beers before they start competing with the turkey and stuffing for space in your belly. And have you ever tried to steal third after downing an imperial bourbon stout?
The Yazoo Hefe, on the other hand, is light and effervescent. It’s 5% ABV, tangy and a little bit fruity. It’s a marathon beer. You can pitch a full game of kickball with a bottle of this in your hand and still roll strikes. Then you can take that beer inside and sip it throughout a gravy-laden feast without missing a step. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a true Holiday Beer.
Here’s to new traditions.
And to the breweries out there, our family kickball team is currently looking for a title sponsor.
