John Steinbeck wrote about a “beer milkshake” in Cannery Row and that’s the first place I recall ever even seeing mention of this beverage anomaly. Doc, the protagonist in the book, thinks about what it must be like to order a beer milkshake. He decides it best to order such a thing in a town where he isn’t known, and eventually when he does, he tells the waitress he has “bipalychaetersonectomy” and the beer milkshakes are on doctor’s orders. I don’t know what bipalychaetersonectomy is and a search of the web turns up nothing but a couple references to Steinbeck and his beer milkshake. (By the way, John looked like the sort of fellow who'd enjoy a good beer milkshake.)
From a literary standpoint, I suppose the beer milkshake episode from Cannery Row is something of a lesson in how we must behave one way among those we know versus how we feel we can behave when we are with strangers, or people we aren’t likely to ever see again. (Kind of like the way we act in heavy traffic on the freeway, I guess.)
Today there are no such strictures placed upon people – nobody “dresses up” to travel by airplane, tank tops and flip flops are acceptable attire in church and what you drink or eat in public is your business. If this isn’t the case, why are places like Yardhouse serving beer floats and milkshakes? Out in front of everybody for heaven’s sake! (Serving them with an outrageously extravagant price tag no doubt.)
As for me, I whipped up a beer float at home, safe and sedate in the knowledge that I alone would enjoy the pleasure, away from the prying eyes of friend and stranger alike. It was nice. I’m going to do it again, too!
Beer Rant’s Beer Float Recipe
One Can Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
Two scoops of vanilla ice cream
Place the ice cream in the glass first – chill the glass ahead of time if you like.
Slowly add the Young’s into the tilted glass.Pay close attention to the way the dark beer behaves as it swirls up and around the ice cream. It’s a feast for the eyes and a treat for the palate, but probably best enjoyed in moderation, as it’s a rich concoction!
