This is the last part of Neil's beer list write up, in which he would share his thoughts and outlook for the new year....
As for my want list, I have to say I don't really have
one. I have always drank what is available rather than frantically seeking big
name beers. Occasionally I get drawn into it, but to be honest, I don't really
know how to go about getting these exciting beers (aside from paying lots of
money for them).
So, my want list is instead a list of beer-related things
that I want to do or trends I hope to follow.
#总结2013年的尝味，Neil并没有一张明年必定要或想要喝的清单，而是秉持一贯作风，喝当地现在有卖的，不疯狂追求盛名鼎鼎的瓶子。
Low alcohol
It is easy to be seduced by a high alcohol
content. There are some amazing beers that have a lot of alcohol in them. In my
rush to sample as many as possible of these beers I feel I have neglected lower
strength beers. This may be in part due to my preference of Belgian beers,
generally much stronger compared to the traditional beers from where I am from,
which have never really got me particularly excited.
However, in recent years I have started to enjoy drinking
beers that I can repeatedly drink all evening. This even extends to my recent
Belgian beer preferences.
The De La Senne brewery make amazingly tasty beers at lower
strengths. If I ever become a millionaire somehow, I want a permanent Zinnebir
tap in my house. A lot of the lambic beers are also around 5%, as are many
Japanese craft beers and this is becoming my new preference. I want to continue
drinking lots of beers like this. Although there is still definitely a place for higher strength beers in my schedule too.
#享受低酒精度啤酒。很多“厉害”的啤酒都是高酒精度的瓶子，包括很多NEIL喜欢的比利时瓶子。不过，近年NEIL开始找回可以慢慢喝整晚的低酒精度啤酒乐趣。比如比利时的酿酒大师DE LA SENNE就有蛮多低酒精的佳酿，包括自然酸酿法的LAMBIC有的只是5%酒精度，以及好多日本酿制的啤酒。在享受低度酒的时候，当然，高酒精度瓶子还是有位置的。
Give money to people who deserve it
This is a recent policy
of mine. Given that there is now a massive choice of places to drink in Tokyo
with a big range of prices too, it is too easy to settle for whoever can give
you good beer for the lowest price.
However, a recent bar opening with satisfyingly low prices
has caused me to consider who I am giving my money to. It is definitely a
personal thing, but the previous business venture of the owners of this new bar
made me feel uncomfortable about me giving them my money. This was compounded
by visiting a small bar in Shinjuku with a small selection compared to many
places around that just felt nice and was run by a really nice guy.
I will no longer chase cheap beers and large tap lists (well
not exclusively anyway…) and I will try to give my money to those who I feel
deserve it.
#让值得的人赚你的钱。这是NEIL近期的发现，算是比较私人的经验。因为在东京去过的一家价廉酒美酒吧主人之前的生意，让NEIL觉得应该让值得的人赚应得的酒钱，而不是只看哪一家给你最便宜的酒。
Enjoy things a second time
As I may have mentioned above,
one of the good things about Japan having a relatively small scene at the
moment is that I am starting to catch up with a lot of breweries' beers. I
can't help my beer ticker personality, but I do feel that I am approaching a
time where I can start enjoying beers that I know like more often, rather than
always trying new things.. I hope to find a happy balance in 2014.
I will still go for new beers, but hopefully not at the
expense of having things that I actually like and want to drink. I guess this
also touches on the point above about giving money to people who deserve it. I
will endeavour to do my best to support breweries and bars that I like as much
as I can. There will still be place for new places and new beers, but I hope to
focus on things that I already know I like.
#再享受已经喝过的。NEIL已经尝试过很多日本酿制的啤酒，是时候可以重复享受自己喜欢的瓶子/口味。虽然还是会追求新瓶子，NEIL希望可以在新一年找到新旧瓶子之间的平衡。
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