KEEPING YOUR HEAD

Some years ago when I was undertaking study through distance education, I did some subjects on organisational behaviour, which is a flash way of describing how people react to and respond to their work environment.

Part of the course was around workplace stress, and, much to my surprise, Christmas is a known generator of stress for everybody. On a scale of stressors, where losing a family member was 100 points, and getting sacked was say 80 points, Christmas was worth 20 points.

I suppose it does make sense – we are under pressure for the perfect presents, perfect food, perfect behaviour, and, since human beings are involved, this quest for perfection is rarely achieved.

Which brings me to Christmas beer. Hugh the Neighbour and I have spent the past 12 months encouraging everybody to get out and try new beers. Life is too short to drink ordinary beer, and three stubbies of an interesting, tasty and complex beer is far more enjoyable (and better for one’s health) than two-thirds of a carton of mass produced rubbish.

Christmas, however, is the one time of the year when we would encourage you to go a little mainstream. As any Queenslander who lived through the great beer strike of ’78 can attest, drinking beer that is wildly different from what you are used to can make people behave in strange and different ways. So it is probably best not to be too experimental at a time when families are already under stress.

Granny will not thank you if her one shandy of the year is made on a Feral Hop Hog IPA with an IBU of 48.

Those family issues that are usually swept under the carpet will have more chance of staying there if those assembled slake their thirsts with XXXX Gold rather than Little Creatures Bright Ale.

One day of the year on mid-strength beer will not be a huge imposition. Email myshout@newsregional media.com.au