Proper Thing

How quickly a year passes - as the sun begins to break this afternoon and visions of Keith's birthdays of old move again to the foreground of memory. Such as the 207th - banned "for life" from the Split Crow for brazenly attempting (and coming within a hair of succeeding in) the theft of a large wooden sign. Or the 209th - wandering through the confines of St. Cross college's ancient bar (cheapest Guinness at Oxford!) with the t-shirt, only to run into a former PhD student from Dalhousie who had actually partied in the Domus a few years back. Then last year's 210 encounter and photos with the sketchy pseudo-Scottish spokesman, who (it subsequently turned out) is into child porn. Doubtful he'll be celebrating tonight.

But you should. Don the foam antlers proudly, or at least raise a glass to the man, the myth, the legend - he who brewed slowly, carefully, taking the time to get it right.

Before I became a follower of the red stag, I wondered about the slogan: "Those who like it, like it a lot." Doesn't that imply that people who don't like it must really hate it? Older and wiser, I now realize that Alexander Keith isn't bothered by those who don't get it. It's their loss, and why waste time convincing them otherwise. Proper thing. Along with the Guinness "Good things come to those who wait", it stands as one of the finer beer company pronouncements. Although in terms of simplicity, you cannot beat Jupiler. Les Hommes Savent Pourquoi. Men Know Why.

So happy 211th Alexander. Stories to follow.