Letters to the Editor: Readers Response to Beer Fatigue (It Doesn't Exist) and "Never Forget." 

In Response to, "Never Forget." (11/30)

Ruth Herbert,

Never forget that gun violence is at a historical low in our country despite your fear mongering.

Never forget the Clackamas Town Center shooting ended when the assailant encountered an armed good citizen with a concealed carry permit.

Never forget that our government is not controlled by the NRA (National Rifle Association) but in fact by the healthcare, pharmaceutical and defense industry organizations.

Never forget that the British once ruled our country as a colony and most Americans don't care what they think.

Never forget that the legislation currently pending before Congress improving NICS is supported by both the NRA and the NSSF (National Shooting Sports Association).

Never forget that "assault rifles" are already heavily restricted fully automatic machine guns.

Never forget that all states concealed carry permits and federal law already prohibit the adjudicated mentally ill from possessing all guns.

Never forget that domestic violence offenders are never routinely issued concealed carry permits.

And most importantly—never forget that responsible gun owners will continue to speak up in the face of your bold faced lies and will always defend our Constitutional rights.

— "Permission To Speak Freely?" via bendsource.com

How can you forget, the established protocol is not working? How many mass murders need to occur? My idea of a truly free country, is one where I don't need a gun to protect myself.

— "rsglide" via bendsource.com

The Nov 2016 election and its fallout— A Poem

A friend insists that I should share some of my political poetry with your readers. I'll let my poem speak for itself:

"Trumped"

Let today [January 20, 2017] be tied up in crepe

As black as the ocean's floor

And let us always remember

It was crime led us through this door

Crime and vile immorality

Born of ruthless greed

That left a nation lying dead

And hundreds of millions in need

— Richard Richardson

In Response to, "Is Beer Fatigue a Thing?" (11/30)

Beer fatigue? Get serious! I started drinking craft beers in 1985 and am still discovering new tasty brews.

— Dennis Sargent, via bendsource.com

It's like ice cream. After being recited all 31 flavors you almost are tempted to ask for the vanilla of beers: Coors Lite.

— Caroline Tabor-Tschida, via facebook.com

As I read this 'piece' on beer fatigue, I feel the sting of tears in my eyes, first in sadness then disappointment. How could anyone get tired of beer anywhere especially in Central Oregon? It's a bitter pill (or beer?) to swallow.

Then I realized that the writer was a previous wine drinker (not that there's anything wrong with that), and that she thinks it's "cool" that craft beer is woven through our community. Wine is fine and beer is cool, but this person is really missing the point. Beer-love is not about the Cycle Pub (although a good time I am sure), getting your haircut, mountain biking or running a 5K.

It's loving your first taste of Miller Lite when you are six. It's drinking Old Milwaukee in college for $3.44 a 12 pack and buying Michelob for special occasions. It's remembering when imports like Beck, Heineken, and Lowenbrau were more flavor and more cool. It's traveling to Scotland and drinking those warm dark brews that kept you warm on dark and rainy days. It's that "first time" tasting the hops in a pale ale. It's leaving the beauty of Utah for the beer in Oregon. It's been a progressive journey, a trip; it's been an epic tale.

All beer drinkers have a similar story tell. Life is hard and our news is rarely good. For some of us, that beer is one of the few pure joys out there. Oh yes, there are other treasures like children, nature and fall apples but even those matters can become complicated.

So, if you feel a bit fatigued, burned out, or ready for the next trend, that's fine. Go find those ciders, distilleries, or kombuchas. There are plenty of us to carry on and sustain the microbrew and beer industry. But I have a request. PLEASE don't EVER write about beer fatigue again.

— Anne Gustin

Letter of the Week

Anne—Congrats on loving beer since way before the legal drinking age! After 21, it's surely your right in this free country of ours. When you come in for your gift card to Palate, be sure to ask for a tissue to wipe those tears. As we've found, they're good for dabbing at melted snowflakes too!

— Nicole Vulcan, Editor