“So here’s a tribute toast with root beer in hand to you and the many mugs of suds along your happy trails.” – Charles Wysocki

I’ve been going to Sweetwater Tavern for the past few years, happily drinking myself silly, downing pint after pint of their uniquely delicious root beer. When I have a bad day, I go to Sweetwater, and the combination of ozzie rolls and root beer cheers me right up. When I’ve had a particularly good day, I go to Sweetwater and the mounds of sugar in the root beer serve to only make me happier. In other words, give me any situation, and I’ll somehow make it into an excuse to go to Sweetwater.

Why? Because I’m addicted. Back in March – purely by coincidence – I ended up eating five Sweetwater meals in a row, either in the restaurant or by chowing down on leftovers. Whenever a friend comes to visit me here in the Washington area, I take them out for root beer. Sweetwater is a fast growing tradition in my life, all thanks to root beer.

Today was no different. I woke up feeling a cold coming on – my throat seemed scratchy, my nose was getting a little stuffy. What was my first thought? Root beer! Later this afternoon I went to Sweetwater all by myself, planted myself at the bar, and ordered ozzies, root beer, roast chicken tortilla soup, and a ceasar salad. Half of that was just yummy filler, but the root beer and the soup would do the trick, I knew it. And sure enough, it worked – my throat feels great! No more cold symptoms.

While I was sitting at the bar, I noticed a man in a blue jumpsuit walking back and forth between the brewery to my right, and the kitchen to my left. I noticed he had the Sweetwater logo on his jumpsuit so I naturally assumed he was the brewer. I had heard of him before, a server had even asked him a question for me once, but I’d never seen him.

As he approached again, I turned around, smiled at him and said, “Excuse me, are you the brewer?” He said he was, he came over, we introduced ourselves, and I told him how much I loved the root beer. I even asked him if I could shake his hand. He told me all about how he makes it and how he’d never been told by a customer that they liked the root beer so much. It was great to meet him, and befitting my perfect little root beer world, he was very cheerful and friendly.

Soon enough he went back to his business of brewing and I went back to eating my salad. But a little while later, he came by again, smiled and said, “You know, I’m really tempted to get you back in the kitchen and have you make some root beer yourself – no one’s ever said they loved it so much! Would you like that?” I was ecstatic! Finally I could learn how to make root beer myself, from the master! He gave me his card, I thanked him and said I’d definitely email him.

Can you tell I’m just a little bit excited? Greg The Brewer was a great guy and I can’t wait to get back there into the kitchen of Sweetwater and start brewing some root beer of my own. It’s like Christmas, only tastier! It’s a dream come true. 🙂