21st Amendment, Public House, and the Giants

What a Saturday. We went to 21st Amendment to watch Game 6 of the NLCS, and to grab some grub and good beer. It was a treat to have a few pints of Hop Crisis again (2010 GABF Imperial IPA Silver Medal winner), and the food was excellent too. When the game began, by some magical power, the 21A transformed into AT&T park, and the fans began chanting “Let’s Go Giiii-ants!” Chants and moans were exchanged in sequence, matching the up and down rhythm of the game. There was a palatable taste of purpose building in the room. The fans were there to will the Giants into winning. The good folks working at 21A were there for the game as well–and appeared just as devoted. For those who are not from the area, the 21A is only a couple blocks from the ballpark, and it is one of a handful of venues fans flock to before and after games. By the 5th inning, it was getting crowded, and people were waiting for our table, so we finished our beers, including a guest tap Firestone Walker Velvet Merkin (amazing), and headed over to the Public House located inside AT&T park.

After jumping puddles and bracing the wind and rain, we arrived at Public House only to be greeted by a large bouncer who nicely informed us that they were at capacity. We huddled under the awning, peering inside at more televisions than can be found at Best Buy, but then to our surprise, a quick meeting between the bouncer and some sort of management figure prompted regulations to be thrown to the wayside, and everyone waiting outside was allowed in. I ordered a Green Flash West Coast IPA from one of the many bars inside, but they apparently were tapped out. I fell back to The Bruery’s Mischief (first time I’ve ever had it), and man it was a mellow fruity and hoppy Belgian-like Golden Ale that was truely a work of art. The next hour was spent giving high fives and watching the tense game. During the 9th inning I finisehd off my Firestone Walker DBA, and banged on the wall to the crowd’s chant “Let’s Go Giants!” The place was shaking. As you probably know by now, the Giants won, and the Public House errupted into a cacophony of celebration.

This is the part of the story I wanted to get to. As that last strike was called, everyone became a member of a community. Strangers turned to their neighbors and embraced, smiles as big as their muscles could make, and each patron of the bar shared in a moment in time–a “where were you when” experience. Nothing mattered except for the fact that the Giants were going to the World Series, and because we all cheered, and banged, and shouted, and gritted, and winced, and supported our team, together we were going there as well. Some people say that sports are a waste of time, and there a better things to do with your life, and tax dollars. To me, last Saturday was one of the few times in recent history that I felt connected to humanity, part of a greater whole, and it was beer and sports that made it possible. It is an experience that I have searched out through life, and I’ll take it however I can find it. “Let’s Go Giants!”