Rustic wood and an up-north vibe set the tone for you to belly up to the bar at Lupulin. Families joined to watch Sunday football and enjoy a pizza; I set my beer amongst a pile of board games by the fireplace.

In the spirit of the holiday season, I opted for some festive brews: a warming Chocolate Porter (5.8% ABV, 25 IBU) and a cheekily tart Imperial Raspberry Truffle (9% ABV, 50 IBU).

Paul, my beertender, offered me a slice of advice that probably only comes from a bartender: “Never take anything seriously.” I asked whether that makes his life happier. “Yeah, that and beer!”

Now that I’m over 60 pieces of advice deep into this blog, it’s important to receive a healthy dose of perspective and remember, I’m really just here drinking beer.