My wife thinks I’m a little weird because I like to drink beer in the shower. It’s not like I head to the shower every time I crack open a beer—that would be weird bordering on compulsive. But every once in a while, after a bike ride or a long run, I like to spend an inordinate amount of time in the shower drinking a beer. If it’s winter, and I’m fresh off the slopes, it’s a hot shower. If it’s summer, it’s a cool shower.
She doesn’t understand why I can’t just wait until I’m done with the shower to open the beer. I tell her I’ll never understand someone who can’t fathom the joy of drinking a beer, a whole beer, while taking a shower. It’s luxurious. It’s decadent. It’s about as close as I’ll ever get to having a spa day. The only thing better than drinking a beer in the shower after a big ride, is drinking a beer in the middle of a cold river after a big ride. Or hot springs after a powder session.
I was at the beach recently and went for a long run in the sand and on the way back to the hotel I found this interesting looking English style IPA, which basically means the malt hits you heavy up front before the hops can sucker punch you on the backend. I believe that’s what beer critics call “balanced.” The beer is called FCA, which is short for F&*ck Corporate America. It’s what the two founders of Railhouse Brewery (Aberdeen, N.C.) decided to name their flagship beer after leaving their corporate gigs to start a brewery. Cue Mel Gibson screaming “freedom” in face paint.
It was like 90 degrees that day at the beach. I had sand all over me and a fresh IPA. Naturally, I hit the shower. The beer itself was a force to be reckoned with—7.5% ABV and 74 IBUs—that’s nearing Imperial IPA status, but the beer critics were right—this thing was balanced, all sweet upfront with a big, full mouthfeel. It’s about as far from a West Coast IPA you can find while still staying within the IPA style guidelines, and that’s okay with me. I love variety. So I had two of them there with the water washing away my run.
The shower was glorious too, but I’ll spare you those details.
