Once, when traveling, I heard a couple speaking about the heat. They were from the southern US and, commenting on the heat, one said to the other "my Lawd, it's hawtah than haaahm." We were not quite sure whether than meant it was hotter than back home or hotter than a ham right out of the oven. Clarity on that point was not required. It was, regardless, hot.

It is hot today here. The humidex (temp x. dampness in C.) was around 44. All day I thought about that half bottle of Saison Dupont at the back of the fridge. But once I got home, after that was gone, it's all ice, juice, dry vermouth and maybe splashes of gin. Which sorta tells me there is a level of heat when beer might fail for me. Could that be true? There is a season when ice cold is in fact a flavour and when all I can handle are very thin cold drinks that clunky clink when you move them. The sort of drinks I imagine CAMWA giving out awards for. A Samuri Rice Ale might hit the spot. Maybe. Probably would go down like an imperial stout today. Or is that just me?

Images care of the 2010 Yuletide photo contest "beer and snow art" category.