When I was in elementary school, I paddled into the ocean with a bunch of friends. We went further out than we probably should have, but the extra energy expended would surely be worth the reward of a longer, faster, better ride to shore on our boogie-boards. Or so I thought. Upon spying a great wave to get us back in, we positioned ourselves to catch it. From there, I proceeded to watch all of my friends zoom on in while I, positioned furthest to the left in the formation, somehow strangely stayed in the same place. The closer they got to shore, the more I found myself drifting further out to sea. No matter how hard I paddled and kicked, I was unable to make any progress. Pretty soon, I found myself completely exhausted and really scared. Had I known what a rip current was and how best to get out of one, I wouldn’t have had to go through that nor the embarrassment of a lifeguard-rescue, so I’m a big supporter of Rip Current Awareness Week (which, not coincidentally is this week).
Not surprisingly, the folks at Rip Current Brewing Company (1325 Grand Avenue, #100, San Marcos; 4101 30th Street, North Park) are as well. Not only do they back this educational period, but they use it as an opportunity to add a riff to the offerings at their pair of tasting rooms. From now through Sunday, customers can purchase a beer in a special take-home glass. All refills purchased and poured into said glassware will be $2 off throughout Rip Current Awareness Week. That discount also applies to patrons in possession of glassware from the first anniversary of Rip Current’s North Park tasting room. A total of 100 glasses are available at each tasting room.
Additionally, Rip Current—the reigning best Very Small Brewing Company in the country—will tap a number of specialty beers throughout the week, including some small-batch sour creations, Coffee No Hope For Rescue “double imperial” stout (18.2% alcohol-by-volume…wise to wait several hours before any ocean-swimming with this one) and the award-winning Black Lagoon Scottish strong ale siphoned from the barrel owners Paul Sangster and Guy Shobe deem the finest of Rip Current’s oak stock. Special-edition “sunrise” shirts will also be handed out to customers whose total order comes out to more than $50 while supplies last. I think $50 worth of beer is just about enough to help me forget that harrowing experience from my youth, and replace my thoughts about rip currents with far better memories.