For want of a Hug

I didn't grow up a hugger - my generation and my culture didn't encourage it - but I always wanted to be one.

So once I semi-matured in my mid-40s I embraced the hugging lifestyle with wide-open arms.

I was strictly semi-pro: the secret art of the Bro-Hug, for example, took another decade to master. But I had the skills and desire for a long career in the game and I absolutely knew I loved hugging the people I cared about.

So when the Pandemic was declared and social distancing was put in place it was the no-hugging protocols that hurt the most.

I totally get it. I live with my parents, who are both in their late 80s, and my Mom has Alzheimer's. She is also totally immunocompromised, so I am justifiably paranoid about giving her the virus.

So I don't hug my own mother. 

Jake and I in 2014. We used to hug
back in those days. Honest

My family is back in Oshawa and parts east and I haven't seen, let alone hugged, my three older kids (or my grandchildren) since I moved here three weeks before the shutdown. While that sucks, they are all grown up and on their own and I know we can make up for lost hugging time when we are out of this.

The J-Man, though, is another story. I know, he turned 18 in March and is officially an adult, but he's still my little boy and I miss him a lot. But with my own immunocompromised Mom to consider, Jake's Mom and I have erred on the side of caution. And Christian-Ann works in a retirement home so she has to be super careful too.

I've only driven out to Bowmanville to visit Jake three times since the spring and I avoided any physical contact on the first two occasions.

When I visited last month, we ate fried chicken, watched soccer (and an Australian Rugby League game - he's got the total TV package) and when it was time to go I wrapped my arms around my son when I said goodbye.

I'm here to tell you it felt good. Damn good.

A week or so later I invited my pal Don to meet up at Stonehooker Brewery in Mississauga's Port Credit neighbourhood. I hadn't seen Donny since our Kingston Brewery Invasion back on February 22 and as I was already headed down to Great Lakes Brewery in south Etobicoke that day I figured I should give him a call. Stonehooker is about halfway between there and Don's palatial Falgerwood Estate home in Oakville, so I figured it would be a quick trip for him.

Daddy and David

As I knew his son was with him that week, I was especially looking forward to the visit because I knew he would bring David along.

If you know David, you'd know he's loved by everyone who meets him, and you'd also know another important fact about him: he's a hugger.

David is actually a world-class hugger, if there is such a thing, and if I thought I was having it tough in this new non-hugging world, I failed to consider the effect it would be having on him.

So after a couple of pints of fine ale and some lovely tacos on Stonehooker's front lawn 'patio' on a spectacularly beautiful early fall day, I got up to leave and Daddy asked David if he wanted to let me into his 'circle.'

And then we hugged. And it was wonderful.

I'd say you're next Mom, but it might be a while.

Hooked on Stonehooker Brewery

The only time I visited Stonehooker prior to the visit with the Redmond Boys was the Hamilton/Halton/Peel Brewery Invasion last fall.

I remember Brewmaster Adam Cherry being a very gracious host and the beer being very good.

I guess I forgot how very good Stonehooker beer can be.

Stonehooker Brewmaster Adam Cherry and
moi at last year's visit

I enjoyed a pint of Mae West Mango Milkshake IPA in the glorious sunshine and I am happy to report this sweet mango smoothie is my favourite in the style this year.  Maybe a tad too sweet to be best ever, but it had that milkshake consistency that I have found lacking in most Milkshake IPAs released in the past couple of years.

I also enjoyed a Tantrum NEIPA and I was so blown away by this beer I said 'delicious' twice in my RateBeer review.

I sampled a Tripel as well, a style I would not normally seek out as they're usually too malty for this hop head's delicate palate. But this was smooth and surprisingly light for a strong beer.

My take-home pack included a Broadreach NEIPA, a favourite from last year which is still juicy, hazy & super tasty; Jack the RIPA, a Rye IPA that was smooth, rich and well balanced; Lemondrop Float, a 3.9 per cent Lemon Milkshake Sour (what?) that was full of flavour; Chill Pils (grainy, spicy with a little citrus); and Gollywobbler, another 3.9 per cent super sessionable beer that packed plenty of hop character.

And, of course, a whole bunch of Tantrum.

Each and every one a winner.

Before I left Mississauga, and after my hug with David, I went to my car and gifted Don a can of Great Lakes Brewery's jacked up Imperial version of their Thrust! IPA. Seemed only fair as he had picked up the tab for my tacos and our patio beers.

And then I gave my old friend a big hug.