My book club is seeking light, fluffy fiction. Rotary is seeking light, frothy fun. Such are the times we live in… It seems almost everyone is seeking escape from the heaviness of the news. So it is that the owner of the Beer Company here, Harold Dean James, will speak to Rotary Tuesday, April 11, on the topic To Beer, or Not to Beer… The presentation will be free and in English at Hotel Mision, Salida a Queretaro 1, at 12:30 p.m.
“Ok, truthfully, I am not a beer expert, per se; mostly, I just sell it,” said James. “However, my past experience is that in New York I built several bars and restaurants and always thought I should have built one for myself. So, I’ve sort have done that for myself here. I am definitely a beer lover — have been for many years — and have been to the beer-fanatic countries in Europe, mostly Belgium and Germany,” he continued.
“Personally, I am an ale drinker and have found the perfect ale in London: Fullers, ESB (extra strong bitters),” continued James. “At The Beer Company, we sell a good variety of ales (because of my prejudice), but mostly lagers or light beers. We also have a good supply of stouts, IPAs (India pale ales), porters and a few pilsners. We have a generous selection of beers from Germany, Belgium, England and the US,” he continued.
“Most of our beers are made here in Mexico — about 80 different types,” continued James. “The beer from other countries (seven) include 70 different types. My own experiences from beer tasting here and in New York — and from visiting the breweries here — have given me a decent knowledge about various ales, lagers and stouts, and I can usually find something everyone likes from heavy chocolate-flavored stout to light beers to apple ciders,” he concluded.
James was born and raised in the east bay of San Francisco. He graduated with a degree in theatre from San Francisco State University, performed as an actor in two professional productions there, and moved to New York City. After struggling for many years as an actor in New York, James became a producer, writer and director, which seemed to be more interesting, creative and — most importantly – gave him more control over what kind of theatre he wanted to do.
After having l0 plays produced in New York, and subsidizing his theatre habit working as a construction supervisor, James moved to San Miguel de Allende, where he re-entered the theatre world without the madness of New York and re-built The Beer Company, which he swears will be his last building project. He enjoys learning about beers, tasting new ones and meeting the many great new friends he has met there at The Beer Company; and he still writes almost every day. His next production will be his comedic play, Call Backs, which will be produced this summer at the San Miguel Playhouse.
Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders and take action to create lasting change. For more information, contact President Nate Fultz at
[email protected] and see RotarySMAMidday.org.
- What: Rotary Presentation
- Title: To Beer, or Not to Beer…
- Date, time: Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 12:30 p.m.
- Where: Hotel Mision
- Address: Salida a Queretaro 1
- Extra info: 415 112 3413
- Cost: Free
By Robin Loving
