We are the 9%

I was in the Ballard Fred Meyer last night, looking over their micro-brew and import selection. I didn't want to drink much that night, just wanted to sample something new during dinner.

A fellow shopper stepped up beside me. "Looking for a Belgium ale?" he asked.

"Not particularly," I replied, a little shocked that a stranger was talking to me. "Just looking for something new, you know."

He pointed to a pint bottle. "Have you had this yet?"

"I think I have," I said, recalling the bottle as something someone brought to my birthday earlier this year.

We stood there in silence, then he said, "Have you had Doghead Fish* Ale?", and pointed down the aisle.

"Which one?"

"This one," and he picked up a four-pack of bottles and handed it to me.

"It's good, eh?"

"It'll knock you down," he said, and walked away.

I looked at one of the bottles, and saw that this particular beer was 9% alcohol. For context, your normal beers average between 5.2 and 6%. Figured that's why it was sold only in a four-pack and not your usual six-pack.

So I put it in my basket, along with my frozen dinner-in-a-bag and colored pencils, and went home to subsequently consume all four bottles.

So much for sampling.

*or "Dogfish Head Ale" - I can't be responsible for remembering such things.