How it all began...

How did my love for beer begin? It all started at about the age of five, when I tried my first sip of the working man's juice. My father, who worked hard to provide for his family, would always drink a can of a cold one after a hard day's work. I would always ask what beer tasted like, but was unable to try for myself. My dad occasionally would indulge me in letting me think I was doing something when I really wasn't. For instance, on numerous occasions he would let me "drive" the family car by sitting on his lap, and with my hands on the wheel, I would pretend to drive. I really thought I was driving! Really! In that same vein, he would let me take a sip of beer. Now before you start to think that Child Protective Services should have been called on him, let me assure the reader that I was not a five year old getting drunk and smoking cigarettes like those smoking and drinking monkeys or little kids.

My little taste buds didn't know whether I liked it or hated it, but I was certainly intrigued. On a hot summer day, those little sips of OV splits sure satisfied something in me! Side note: For those of you not familiar with OV, it stands for Old Vienna, a Canadian Lager. To this day I still have that catchy tune from the '70s in my head:

Just say "OV"
Add an "L"
Add an "E"
And you've got LOVE
LOVE OV
Love that Old Vienna Lager
Old Vienna Lager beer
There's a reason
It's so pleasin'
It's GREAT Canadian beer...!

I'm not even sure if OV still exists, but those splits sure were cute, and maybe the inspiration for Coronitas. I wonder... But I digress. That little girl loved those little moments with her father; the beer was secondary. However, it was how it all began! Thank you Papi!