Hoplark – Sparkling HopTea – The Calm One – made with Chamomile

This is a combo that makes a lot of sense as a tincture—most likely I’ve had tea hops and chamomile—intended for relaxation. Though… the last time I quaffed a cold, refreshing version of hops, chamomile, and carbonation—it was natural carbonation—brought about by fermentation. Yes… I’m talking about beer (even more relaxing) ha!  That would have been 1988 or so—we had regular beer production in the house I lived in (5-gallon crocks at a time). I had personally been making beer for a dozen years by then, off and on. (Ideas for titles for my memoir: “Under (Bever)age” or “Leave It To Beverage.”) I was into experimentation by that point (high alcohol, super stout, garlic, chamomile), and the chamomile beer was one of the more refreshing. It was called Chuck Berry Lager (the names didn’t always make the most sense). Might I have followed these pioneering ways to abdicating the throne of big beverage? (Something like that.) Probably not. Ever since God’s been replaced by Google, the voice speaking to Man tells him he’s necessarily late to the game—never first, and certainly not best—kind of sad—but at least those “divine” voices are quieted. It never ends well for true pioneers, anyway—madmen down the hall in hoarder hotels, or dead in the bottom of mineshafts. Oh, what’s it taste like? It is really good. I might not like it as much as some the other Hoplarks, but still, it’s right up there. I guess I like the bitterness and fragrance of hops! I guess there’s a good reason they put it in beer!

11.9.23