The Great American Stella Shortage. I had some dreams, they were clouds in my Becks Bier.

I met someone on Wednesday who runs a micro brewery and I asked him the most important issue on my mind at the moment - "where did the Stella go?". It's my favourite beer here in America, and it seems to have disappeared from most bars. San Jose's meagre population of bars slowly have added Stella to their beer taps, to the extent that, from memory, I think all of them had Stella. But last week, it had all gone! They guy I met who is from the industry told me that the Belgian brewery that makes Stella got taken over. In the confusion of the takeover, they messed up up their demand forecast, so didn't make enough, hence the tragic shortage of Stella in America.

I did try some draft Becks instead tonight, and must try that again. I remember back in 1985 being told that Becks was the best bier. I also used to drink it a lot in the early '90's, which was also the early days of the Pooheads - hence the lyric about the Becks from our early classic "You're so Vain".

The San Jose Dive Bar managed to have about one more person tonight compared to last week. But they were playing some kind of weird Led Zeppelin mega mix tonight. I'd forgotten how much I liked them. I don't think any of they can write lyrics and John Bonham, to me, always sounded like he was playing a different song to the rest, but I just love John Paul Jones's bass playing. He must be one of the most listenable bass players ever. Their early stuff is so exciting. The late 60's early '70's "all or nothing" stereo mix sounded really strange though tonight in the very separated bar speakers.


I have absolutely no clue what "Beer Pong"is though. Another strange American sport I suppose. I should be told......