Oktoberfest - Late September

Oktoberfest commemorates the 1810 royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria to Princess Therese. Today, Oktoberfest has become the biggest public festival in the world, annually attracting some 6 million visitors who consume 1.5 million gallons of beer.

That's What I'm Talkin' About

St. David's Day - March 1

St. David, or Dewi Sant, is the patron saint of Wales. A sixth-century monk, David spread Christianity throughout western Britain. Though he only drank water, Welshmen the world over celebrate his feastday, March 1, by church-going, parading, and drinking beer. It is also customary to wear a leek on this occasion. Questors would be well-advised to cut their leek and leave it in the refrigerator overnight so as not to stink up the merrymaking. For more information on St. David's Day, ask anyone surnamed Thomas, Davis, Jones, Powell, Burton, or an unpronounceable combination of L's and W's.

St. Patrick's Day - March 17

The patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick drove the snakes out of the Emerald Isle, and banished all vestiges of sobriety from the rest of the Western World.

Patrick spread the Christian faith in the British Isles, and now spreads good cheer on March 17th...the day he died in 460 A.D.

On this very secular religious holiday, Irishmen of all ethnicities celebrate by consuming vast quantities of Guinness, Harp, and anything else in a glass or bottle. It is said that even NASCAR bars serve green beer on St. Patrick's Day.

April Fool's Day - April 1

April Fool's Day seems to have evolved from several cultures, and is probably entwined with the ancient celebrations of spring. It dates back at least to the 1500's in France, when people who refused to accept the Gregorian calendar were labeled fools.

In any event, the Questor views April 1 as a time to play harmless pranks on his buddies, such as emptying out their Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, refilling the bottles with Michelob Ultra, and recapping them. Or crazy-gluing their mugs to the table.

It is a time to kill off any winter warmers that are still seeking refuge in your refrigerator, break out the bocks, clean out the fermenters, and sweep away any indolent Irishmen that are still laying about from St. Patrick's Day.

Not long ago on April 1, a San Diego radio station announced that a beer truck had jack-knifed and couldn't be towed until the beer was drained from it's tank. Over 100 people showed up to help drain it. April Fool.

In Singapore, an ad campaign was launched for a new beer, called X.O.; so strong that it must be consumed lying down. Guests were invited to a hotel on April 1st to help drink and launch the product. Again...April Fool.

"It is better to be a fool than to be dead." - Robert Louis Stevenson

"However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him." - Nicholas Boileau-Despreaux

"Let us be thankful for the fools. But for them the rest of us could not succeed." - Mark Twain

"The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year." - Twain again.

Game Day

One thing that unites the fans of sports the world over, from football to football, from curling to hurling, is the pleasure of sharing a pint with a fellow fan. We of the Quest urge all fans to drink responsibly...but if that fails, don't get your picture taken.

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar." ...Drew Carey

Payday

It is the right of every workingman, when the whistle sounds on Friday, to head to the tavern and drown the troubles of the work week in his favorite liquid refreshment. This is sound fiscal advice. If he didn't spend his money on beer, he would probably just squander it.

Memorial Day - Fourth of July - Labor Day

These feasts are all particularly American and are treated pretty much the same, beer-wise. Sadly, too many of our fellow Americans are settling for macro-brewed Lite beers, and lighter-than-air low-carb beverages for warm weather consumption.

"People who drink light beer don't like the taste of beer; they just like to pee a lot."
... Capital Brewery, Middleton, WI

St. Arnoldus

St. Arnold - Patron Saint of Brewers

(aka St. Arnoldus, St. Arnoulph)
August 16 (or Aug. 18, or July 8)

Our research is shrouded in mystery. Is the patron saint of brewers the Austrian, St. Arnold, Bishop of Metz, who died in 540, or the Flemish Arnoldus of Soisson, a bishop who was born in 1040?

In any event, Arnold was a man of God who traveled widely, urging people to drink beer and not water; sound advice in the days of pox, vermin and plague. He was fond of blessing the brew kettles, and once ended a plague by dipping his crucifix in one.

While mourners were carrying Arnold's body to its final resting place, they stopped to quench their thirst, but found only one mug of beer left. Miraculously, all drank their fill, and the mug never emptied. If this doesn't qualify one for sainthood, what will?

St. Arnold is commemorated either in July or August. The Belgians seem to venerate St. Arnold the most, so you may wish seek out a real Belgian and ask him or her to shed some light on this conundrum.

Halloween - October 31

What the heck? It's our last chance to enjoy the Oktoberfest beers, there's a chill in the air, the high-octane winter warmers are just becoming available, and if you get inebriated on Halloween and do something stupid, at least you were wearing a mask!

St. Stephen's Day - December 26

St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr, having been stoned to death in 36 AD. Because of this, Questors are urged to celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen as the first beer holiday...especially those who are trying to decompress after the stress of Christmas.

In Ireland, St. Stephen is closely associated with the wren. As the legend goes, St. Stephen was hiding out from a mob, but was betrayed by the chirping of a wren, and thus came to be stoned.

On this day, small boys are encouraged to kill a wren, and parade the body from door to door, asking for money to bury the wee critter. Funds collected are used to throw a party for the village, at which they perform the "wren dance."

St. Stephen is the patron saint of bricklayers, and his name is invoked to cure headaches...this, and the fact that he was stoned, are ironies not to be lost on Questors.

On December 26, Canadians and others of English descent celebrate "Boxing Day." This is a time to wind down from Christmas and visit those relatives whom you were smart enough not to invite over on December 25th.

New Year's Eve

December 31

Need we say more?