Pony Beers Are For Little Horses, Right?

Okay, we're all family here. Let me just begin by telling tales on my sister. She used to think ponies were just little horses. She used to think that when she was, oh, I don't know, 35. Anyway, my title is for her.....

So, I recently had occasion to visit the beautiful city of Roanoke, Virginia, home to the world's largest neon star. (No need to fact check, as I was often reminded by BIL Dave, a proud host, and, not surprisingly, a native Roanokian.) The city was beautiful, the company charming and southern and always hospitable.

My host, Dave's Dad, Johnny B, provided me with my first opportunity to try a "pony beer." Now, I'm not one who hasn't had her fair share of beers - ask anyone in LaSalle's graduating class of too-long-ago. However, I have never really had a pony beer. It was the perfect amount of beer for me that night - quenched my beer-thirst, was a pleasant accompaniment to my dinner, but didn't get me looped, which was good as I was responsible for my children. Now the Chocovine wine that Johnny B gave me a shotglass full of, well, that's a different story for my other blog about alcohol......

Anyway, I enjoyed the pony beer experience. It was just like regular beer, but smaller. Just like a pony and a horse, right Sarah?

Ye Ol' Beer Bread

Oh, ye of little faith. I drink. I drink beer. Just not in the quantities that the rest of the inebriated family does. I'll have you know I was a champion beer-bonger at LaSalle. (It was the only sport I participated in in college.)

HOWEVER, I do want you to realize that I do have something to contribute to this blog. For example, in response to the photographic evidence of my drinking presented earlier in this blog I'll respond to you this.....I have no idea what I was drinking that day - but I think it would have been better if I'd had a Santa Claus sippy cup (see photo - they're on the table) to drink it out of.

So here's my blog for today....beer bread made with a wonderful, exotic beer that you may not of heard of....Bud Lite. This is an exceptional brew and really made this bread an exceptional part of our dinner. The recipe (for the bread) is classic and simple - a few dry ingredients literally held together by the beer, which froths and foams and provides the yeasty flavor that makes bread so fabulous. I've made this bread with several different beers over the years, and to be quite honest, it always tastes the same - that is to say, delicious. Or maybe that's just the Bud Lite talking - it's just always a fabulous addition to your meal.

One point to make - unlike wine, many people don't think beer gets better with age. To those ageists I say "oh yeah?" In case you can't see it clearly, the date on the bottom of that can is March 22, 2007. Oh yeah! So this is just another testimonial that you shouldn't always jump on that "maybe we shouldn't drink this it's too old" bandwagon. This beer was purchased by my, admittedly, cheap F-I-L who would never look at the bottom of his Bud Lite to see if it's good or not. My gain tonight....my gain.

So drink up or bake up some Bud Lite soon. No matter the year, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

(Note: I wrote this entire blog calling the beer Miller Lite until I added the photos. Maybe I'm not cut out for this after all!)

We're waiting on you, Jen!

What's the verdict on that beer that you are chugging?