"It's springtime, and a young man's thoughts turn to BEER?" Seriously, the days are getting longer and the temperatures are getting hotter. There's nothing better than an ice cold cervesa on a hot day, preferably at a beach bar with warm tropical waters lapping at your feet in the sunshine.

      When I was younger, any excuse for a brew would do, and I was not especially particular about the brand. Later on, however, I tried every beer I could get my hands on, but never in a sophisticated way. I'm talking about the sixties, when taverns like the Wursthaus in Harvard Square boasted of 125 different labels. It became a point of honor to have tried them all, and I did. Ditto for many little Florida joints offering a certificate for trying every one they stocked. I tried them all, German, Czech, Belgian, Australian, African, British, Irish, and so on. There was even one memorable evening in a fancy restaurant in Pound Ridge, New York, when I attended a beer tasting (with one of the party a "designated driver"). The next morning was not so much fun, but as the days slid past, the hangover memories faded leaving behind a great tale to tell.

     I've got some favorite beers, both because of their taste, and even more so where they were enjoyed: Heineken in Amsterdam. Red Stripe in Jamaica. Anchor Steam in San Francisco. Dortmund Hansa in Germany.

     In recent years, I've been going back to an "old favorite" I "discovered" back in the seventies. Corona beer could be had for $3.75 a six pack in the Florida Keys back then. Now, the advertising firm of Cramer-Krasselt, located in Chicago, has done such a great job promoting Corona that it costs a bit more. In a pinch Cervesa Sol will do. Carta Blanca, Tecate, and Dos Equis are all good beers, but when "all is said and done", it's "Corona con sal y'limon, por favor" for me!