Converting Jerry

We moved into a new home a few years back. My closest neighbor was Jerry. He is now in his upper 70's. I asked what his favorite past time was and he said yard work and drinking beer. Cool, I thought. I have a drinking partner.  Not too long after that, he invited me over for a beer.  Cool, I thought. This could be the start of something big. When I got there, he said, now, what can I get you, a Busch or a Natural Light?  Panic overtook me. How was I to handle this? My hands were shaking and my knees were weak. I can't seem to st.....wait, I digress. I took a deep breath and thought, well anything is better than a Natty Light. So I took the Busch.
I managed to get it down without incident. Then he asked if I wanted another. Got to go, I said.

A couple of weeks later, I invited him over to my place. I told him I was fresh out of Natty Light and Busch, but I had this Mow Master beer from Ellicottville Brewing Company he might like. He tried it and he said he liked it. Couple weeks later at his house, Natty Light or Busch? Couple weeks later at my house, Warsteiner, from Germany. And so it went, the rest of the summer. Each time he came to my house I got him to try a different beer. Pilseners at first but eventually working up to some stouts.

Well, this past Christmas he stopped by the house. I brought you a present, he said. There was a mixed six pack of Samuel Adams.  He said he thought I'd like them. He said he had been buying them, some Heineken and a few other kinds.  He said, I never knew beer... and then he hesitated. I finished his sentence by saying - was supposed to have flavor. We both laughed.

Looking forward to going over to Jerry's house this summer.