I've been known as the Beer Nut since this column began in 2003.
But I'm nowhere nearly as nutty as some beer fans.
There's simply no way that one individual could possibly try all the beers in the United States, never mind the world. You would drive yourself crazy trying. They're just too many beers - many of them only made and sold in their local regions, for anyone to tick off every box.
Yet some avid beer enthusiasts give it the good old community college try. And although that's not my thing, I have nothing but respect for their attempts to try as many beers as possible. It's educational and probably a heck of a lot of fun.
Of course, some beers become a sort of Holy Grail for beer lovers. This trend is obviously further fueled these days by social media. A beer starts getting rated highly on BeerAdvocate or RateBeer or other sites, receiving overly enthusiastic reviews, and of course beer aficionados get their interest piqued.
In some cases this leads to a phenomena we've seen over the past six or seven years where people will line up at breweries for hours on end just to get a taste of these supposedly ambrosial liquids.
Two of the most well-known cases of this phenomenon have occurred here in New England with Hill Farmstead in Vermont and Tree House in Charlton. Now let me state upfront that I have enjoyed every beer I've had by both those breweries. They both make great brews. I gladly enjoy beers from either one whenever I get the chance.
But although I enjoy some beers more than others, I can't think of a beer but I would stand in line for an hour for -- never mind several hours. I never had a beer that was so much better than any other that I would spend that much time waiting for it. And trust me, I've had beers that I've really enjoyed immensely.
What might I wait for hours in line for these days? I don't know. Maybe tickets to see Kate Bush. Certainly if The Beatles were all still alive and I could get good tickets. Ditto if David Foster Wallace were still alive and giving a lecture.
But I can't compare any beer - no matter how great - to any of those experiences.
But let me be clear: I'm not knocking anyone who chooses to do this. I admire that sort of passion and enthusiasm. It's good for the craft beer world. It's just not my thing.
But although I'm not standing in line with you physically, I am standing in line with you in spirit.
And if you ever decide to pick up an extra four-pack or growler for me...