Courage, My Love

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The details: Threes Brewing Courage, My Love Hoppy Pale Lager, 5.1% ABV, served in a pint can

Oh dear readers, I have a confession to make. I almost ran out of beer to review. I know, I'm usually really good about keeping single cans around for just this purpose, and I was down to my last two.

The funny part about the first is that I bought it because it said "zero gravity." For those that don't know you measure the amount of alcohol in beer by determining the specific gravity before and after fermentation, and I thought to myself, "well a zero gravity beer must be interesting then, I'll want to write about it." It turns out that Zero Gravity is a brewer in Burlington, VT. Ha ha that joke's on me.

The only other single can I have in the house is yet another beer from Brooklyn's own Threes Brewing. I've written about them a few times, and I feel kinda bad about going to that same well again and again and again, but I gotta admit to everyone - I'm a sucker for beers for a cause, and I'll usually try at least one.

Yep, I'm that guy that'll drink whatever swill you've got if it's for a fundraiser to help someone out, or if you're donating profits to a good cause, or if you're trying to raise funds to buy a new piece of equipment or whatever. I'm not really picky about the beer and I'm very very rarely picky about the thing being fundraised for. In fact, I'm often very much behind them.

Last time I wrote about a Threes Brewing beer for a cause it was called People Power, and it was a fundraiser for the American Civil Liberties Union. This weeks beer, Courage, My Love, is actually also a fundraiser for the ACLU. Fancy that... I didn't remember the other one... am I getting old or have I written too much?

Last time I quoted the People Power site, and if you'll all indulge me, this time I'm going to list a few reasons why I think everyone should support the ACLU:

  1. We stand on principle. The ACLU stands up for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the rule of law — regardless of the repercussions.

  2. Every day, we act on the principle that no one – including the President – is above the law. In America, no one is above the law. The ACLU challenges abuses of power that undermine our democracy and holds those who break the law and violate the Constitution accountable.

  3. We've been defending freedom for nearly 100 years. Founded in 1920, the ACLU has been at the center of nearly every major civil liberties battle of the last 10 decades, and time after time, our work has played a defining role in protecting and advancing individual rights and the rule of law.

  4. We protect the personal freedoms you cherish. The ACLU protects every person's private decisions about what to believe and say, if and how to worship, who to love, and when and whether or not to have children.

  5. We take on politicians and government officials who ignore the Constitution and put liberty at risk. We don't answer to polls or the whims of the electorate. That's why ACLU legislative advocates and policy experts work tirelessly to change laws and government actions that violate the Constitution. We get out the facts, and when our freedoms are on the line, we mobilize grassroots support to protect our civil liberties.

  6. We've participated in more cases before the Supreme Court than any other private organization. From defending freedom of speech to protecting reproductive freedom to expanding equal protection under the law, the ACLU has been involved in one landmark Supreme Court case after another.

  7. We defend freedom every day all across America in every state. Through our ACLU affiliates in all 50 states, the ACLU is involved in thousands of cases every year helping people stand up for their rights in communities all across America.

  8. We believe in an America that is both safe and free. There are always those in powerful positions who wrongly insist that we must trade away our fundamental freedoms to secure our safety. No organization challenges that idea more effectively than the ACLU.

  9. The ACLU challenges intolerance and bigotry wherever we find it. We work to root out any and all attempts to deny people the equal protection under the law that the Constitution guarantees.

  10. We are a citizen-supported organization with card-carrying members from every corner of the United States. The ACLU's work is sustained by over 1.5 million active members and supporters who play a powerful role in defending freedom by taking action and providing financial support.

So how's the beer? It's really good, actually. It's a pale lager, so think something like Pilsner Urquell, Mama's Little Yella Pils by Oskar Blues, or even Champagne Velvet. Closer to home think of beers like Sixpoint's The Crisp and Brooklyn Pilsner. Now take any of those beers and add more hops. It's better - this a crisp lager that has a hint of fruity sweetness and just a kiss of the bitterness. It is what Schlitz wanted to be all those years ago; a clean drinking lager with just the kiss of hops to brighten it up.

A clean drinking beer to help have a clean conscience that you're helping an organization that's doing good work. I can get behind that.

The verdict: 4.25 out of 5 (on Untapp'd - follow me @slownumbers to see what I'm drinking)