Kingfisher Lager

I recently began reading, or rather, attempting to read a collection of lectures prepared by Italo Calvino entitled, "Lezioni Americane: Sei Proposte per il Prossimo Millennio". I am attempting to read these lectures in the original Italian, and so I don't always understand all the points, but I can usually get the gist of it.  Anyhow, in the first of these lectures, the late Italian author spoke in praise of "Leggerezza"--Lightness.  Lightness as a desirable quality rather than as a defect.  Now, of course, Calvino, one of Italy's most accomplished authors of the 20th century, was speaking mostly with literature in mind.  But I think the same can be applied to so many things (hmm . . .here comes the usually random tangent and the attempt to tack back to some relevant course, you may well say of my discourse).

While summer officially arrives on June 21rst, the climate here in Richmond seems a bit anxious to jump into that season long before the solstice.  Temperatures soar, the days lengthen, the green of the leaves deepens, and the nighttime sounds of insects grow ever louder (their dominance of nocturnal auditory propagation only met by the incessant hum of cranky air conditioners.)  There is a viscosity and headiness to the air that makes me think of Conrad's, Heart of Darkness.  And so, let me provide a bit of chiaroscuro: light and shade, in this case, in the foils that one might call upon as the heat of our extended summer threatens to weigh one down towards leaden, sluggish doldrums. Let me suggest lighter fabrics: linen as opposed to flannel.  Lighter meals: pasta salad with fresh vegetables rather than Beef Wellington.  And, of course, lighter beverages.  More water, of course, but also zippy, unoaked white wines (or lighter reds) more often than thick, oak-infused Chardonnays and big bruiser tannic reds.  And lighter beers more often than, say, imperial stouts or barley wines (though I think your natural gravitation towards comfort should provide ample guidance).  

And, at last, here is where I present my current pick: Kingfisher lager. Brewed in Bangalore, India, and under license in the U.K., Kingfisher is a snappy but clean lager that has a pleasing tanginess and good carbonation. Unlike many lagers and lighter style brews which I have tried, it does not taste "skunky"  or unclean.  Instead, the initial tingling, moderately hoppy vivacious flavor delicately disappears like a wisp of smoke.   And how can one but love a beer which states on its label, "Most thrilling chilled." It sounds like one of those roller coaster rides in which one plunges full throttle into cool water--an image that sounds refreshing, does it not?

While this is a nice beer all on its own, consumed after a commute home on a sweltering evening (while reading a good book, Calvino or otherwise), it does provide a tasty foil to spicy food; Tex-Mex, Thai or Indian etc.

Summer is coming (or did it already arrive?).  Dig up your favorite Madras clothing, your best-loved gazpacho recipe, and while you're at it, give Kingfisher lager a go.