No. It has nothing to do with race horses. Nor is it just a slang term for a beer slinging bartender, in this case.
It started years ago when my now teenaged daughter, Caroline, was in grade school in lovely Liberty, Missouri. Her school was having a fundraising auction. Most of the well employed/self employed parents donated nice respectable gifts such as car washes and accounting services. I checked my wallet- empty, and felt I needed to be creative to make my contribution.
I'd been pouring beer smorgasbords for my friends since I became legal in Milwaukee, Wisconsin many years ago. Then there was my 13 years of working at Miller Brewing HQ and some craft beer related employment in Ohio. So, unsurprisingly, the gift of beer came to mind.
I wrote up my auction offering- something like "Sample ten quality beers with your friends, served up with "industry insider" insights on beer styles, brewing history and the changing beer community".
My son, Dan, then almost legal, read it and laughed (which I have found teenagers enjoy doing in response to their parents).
"So, you are something like a disk jockey, but you serve up beers instead of music?", he queried.
Yes, eureka! I am the Beer Jockey! In fact that is what I believe I try to do even now. A good DJ does more than pour music out on his listeners. He selects each song carefully. Perhaps works out an aptly organized thematic set or show. Hopefully, he explains something about the music, the musicians, where they are from and more. The best DJs always throw something new to their audience.
At the core, a DJ allows you to experience the music more fully and causes you to think a bit. He shares his passion with you. Now don't laugh here- I believe that people should think about what they drink! Who makes it, where, what ingredients? What is their company about?
On my best days, that is what I aspire to do as "The BeerJockey".
Check out my Kansas City Hometown Beer Bus Bus tours or UMKC Communiversity classes and see if I can hold to that standard.
