I blame my wife mostly.

There were a million times and places when she could have put her foot down and ended my new hobby.  She never did, so I hold her somewhat responsible for some of my beer issues.

When I was a kid, maybe a teenager, I went to EPCOT down in Orlando for the first time.  At the time, it was relatively new and little like it is today.  There was the Future World and the World Showcase, just like today, but things were so pedestrian back then. 

I never cared for the future world, but I was always amazed by the World Showcase.  Back in the day, there were something like 8 countries represented, and early on, the food at each place was not a big draw.

The second time I went I was in my 20s and had a different appreciation for things.  I still didn't care for the Future World, but I was really fascinated by the World Showcase.  But even then, the food was mostly secondary.  At this point, every country had a couple restaurants to eat at, but again, the food was more an afterthought.

My third trip took place when I was around 30 and I hit pay dirt on this trip.  The concept of food had exploded and it became my favorite place.  Disney is full of places and floors that you don't normally see and for my third trip, some of these mystery places were on display because there were so many food places they couldn't all fit on the regular EPCOT grounds.

By my late 30s, Jennifer and I planned a trip to EPCOT.  Unfortunately, food had taken a back seat again and while the trip was enjoyable, there was something missing from EPCOT.  For a couple years I fought to figure out what had happened to all the food.  For one reason or another, Jennifer planned another trip about 5 years later and I bought a book that helped plan a trip to Disney without kids.  While reading about the events for October, I found out what had happened.  On my third trip, I was there during October, which is when EPCOT hosts an International Food and Wine Expo.

I don't do wine, but I can put a hurtin' on food.  So, we planned a trip for October, sans child.  Magic took place that week, and I've had issues since.

For those that have been to EPCOT, you know how the World Showcase is set up.  Around a lagoon, a variety of countries have areas, and for 11 months out of the year, each country has 2-3 food places that showcase the local cuisine, typically served by people from that country.  However, during the International Food and Wine Expo, they have additional countries with booths set up in the walkways around the lagoon.

Jennifer eats as much as I do, so it wasn't hard to convince her that October was the time to go.  On our first day at EPCOT, we got the obligatory visit to Future World out of the way, then headed to the World Showcase to embarrass ourselves with the cuisine. 

However, for this particular year (I think it was 2005), each place had local beers in addition to food.  So from about noon on, I had a cup of beer in one hand and a plate of God only knows what in the other.  As evening fell and Gloria Gaynor blew the roof off with "I Will Survive" (for the Expo, they have live entertainment each night, and OMG did Gloria singing her song have the place rocking), I arrived at the America place.  The lady selling food overheard me talking to Jennifer about beer and said, "If you like beer, you should try the Cherry Wheat from the next booth over."

It should be noted that Sam Adams had an entire booth set up for just beer.  Also, in that booth, Sam Adams makes a brew for the International Food and Wine Expo that's different every year.  But, since the lady recommended Cherry Wheat, that's what I got.

It should also be noted that at the time, I drank Budweiser exclusively.  Only at this Food and Wine Expo did I start drinking other stuff and that was only because the Budweiser was only served at one place.

So, I ordered my $2 cup of Cherry Wheat and took a sip.  I looked at Jennifer and said, "This is the best beer I've ever had."

Two more things of note before I continue.  I clearly remember using a couple F-bombs in that previous comment to describe the goodness of what I'd just poured down my throat. Also, it was late at night, I'd been drinking fairly continually for a good 7 or 8 hours, and by then, I'd have probably rated the water from the lagoon as a 4 out of 5 on BeerAdvocate.com.

Later that night, after we'd gotten back to the hotel and I'd stopped slurring words, I told Jennifer that I wanted to go back to EPCOT the next day and try the Cherry Wheat while I was sober.  As I mentioned before, Jennifer could have replied with, "Piss off, I want to go to Animal Kingdom;" but instead said, "Whatever Honey." 

So, I blame my wife mostly.  Because that next day we went back.  We skipped Future World and walked directly around the lagoon to the Sam Adams stand and I gave the lady my room key to be charged $2 for my cup of Cherry Wheat.  I took a big whiff.  I took a swig and let it roll over and around my tongue.  I swallowed and then took another swig.  I paused for a few seconds, looked at Jennifer, probably with tears in my eyes and said, "This is still the best *!%^&$ beer I've ever had!!!"

And with that, I had discovered a new, ridiculously expensive hobby that takes center stage over any future trips we've ever made (any time we plan a trip to anywhere, a month or so before we arrive, I've already contacted a local beer place and placed an order or found out where our first stop is to be made).  And like I said, I blame my wife mostly, because she's had ample opportunity to put an end to it.