Small charity

Everyone has seen the down-and-out guys on the streetside with a paper cup or maybe a hat, hoping for a coin or two from passers-by.  Today I saw one get a unique contribution.  A well-dressed woman in her 40s walked by, talking with a companion, dragging away on a half-smoked cigarette. She saw the man on the sidewalk (let's call him Hal), and paused. She took a last pull on her fag and offered him the rest. Hal thanked her, stuck it in his mouth and she went on her way.

Giving takes all forms.

A French microbrew

I knew they had to exist somewhere, but it took a while to find one.

I happened upon the brand Le Cagole de Marseille in our local supermarché and decided to try it. The makers, two friends from Marseille in the south of France, (see www.lacagole.com if you are interested) claim that it is a blonde pilsner with a "decent character". So, I got out my beer-tasting jacket, a worn tweed with malt stains on the lapels, and set to work. Here's what I found:

Color:  golden, with an orangey roundness at the edges

Nose:  slightly herbal, but not necessarily of hops

Mouthfeel:  somewhat thin, but properly carbonated for the style

Taste:  the beer had a light, dry biscuity flavor which sort of reminded me of champagne. Nice subtle malt flavor that almost goes unnoticed. Indeed it is very well balanced, with a crisp hoppiness that neither cloys nor fatigues the palate. There was a little rumor of pineapple at the back end. At a mere 4.7% alcohol, I'd bet you could throw back alot of these on a hot day in Provence.  The flavor remained consistent as the beer warmed in the glass.

Most resembles:  a light German helles. Seemed a bit malty to support the brewer's comparison to Pils, but it's not much of a stretch.

Overall, a very good beer for its category (whichever of the two you choose).  But at 9.60 euros, or about $13.44 for a six-pack at current exchange rates, this won't become a standard in my house. Not a bad choice when you tire of the usual Heineken, Leffe, Affligen, or 1664 that dominates the store shelves here, however.

Ten things you will see in the U.S. but not in France

10.  TV ads for restaurants (very few TV ads of any kind, in fact; French TV is subsidized by the government)

9.  Gun stores

8. Men driving without shirts

7. Seedless grapes and watermelons, year round

6. All-you-can-eat buffets

5. Politicians criticized for extramarital affairs

4. American wines other than Gallo, and beers other than Budweiser

3. Size XXXL (see #6 and #10 above)

2. Pick-up trucks driven by someone other than a farmer

1. Minority politicians (of all the mayors and 555 deputies (congressmen) of continental France, none are black or Muslim)