A Book and a Beer no. 1
A Western by Kevin Barry meets a West Coast Pilsner from Wellington.
Hello, welcome back to Field Notes.
This week I’m trying something new by combining two things I love that go very well together, in moderation.
I enjoy reading and I enjoy drinking beer, but nursing a beer while reading — that’s as good as it gets.
Hence, A Book and a Beer has been born, where I’ll recommend a good read and a beer to go with it.
The book
The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry
Set in Butte, Montana in the early 1890s, The Heart in Winter is about an illicit love affair between Tom Rourke and Polly Gillespie, which sets off a chase across the Rocky Mountains.
Barry is Irish, and many of his previous novels and short stories have featured Irish characters and locations. This time the setting has moved to the US, but the Irish characters are still there chasing the riches of the Wild West.
The Western, with its rough characters, foul language, and dodgy behaviour, is a genre that suits Barry’s exuberance and indulgence.
This position is signaled by the book’s epigraph, a quote by Mary MacLane which reads: “I do not see any beauty in self-restraint.”
It’s probably the most heavily plotted of Barry’s novels so far. His earlier works include Beatlebone, a novel about John Lennon trying to find the island he bought off the coast of Ireland, and Night Boat to Tangier, a story of two Irish gangsters chopping it up at the port of Algeciras.
Those stories certainly have elements of plot, but The Heart in Winter is driven forward by its plot as the two lovers are chased across the American frontier, looking to escape their previous lives.
Barry’s humour and great dialogue also carry the book along, making it easy to tear through the pages. It’s a lot of fun.
The beer
West Coast Pils by Heyday Beer Co, 6.5%
What is a West Coast Pilsner? Well, good question. This one, from Cuba Street brewery Heyday, is crisp and clear — as you’d expect from a lager — but also has a bit of a punch from hops you’d more commonly see in pale ales.
When you hear Pilsner you might think of a beer like Heineken — bright, clear, strong malt character, and not very hoppy.
This is no Heineken.
The hops are in the driver’s seat here so it has some big fruity flavours — grapefruit it reckons on the tin, but my tasting skills are not yet sufficient to make such distinctions.
Heyday says it’s “perfect for those seeking a bold & refreshing take on a traditional style.” I concur.
Why they work together
At first, my thinking was a full-noise beer would be required to match the high style of Barry. However, that may be a little too much.
West Coast Pils has good complexity and flavour but is also smooth, which helps wash down all those big swings Barry makes in his writing. Also, sipping on a West Coast Pilsner while reading a novel set in the Wild West? It’s meant to be.
That’s all. Thanks for reading.
I like the new addition of a book and beer!