Red Beer

The other day, my brother-in law and I engaged in a pretty good discussion about Scotch whisky.  I am a fan of single malts with an earthy taste.  I want to taste the Scottish countryside in each sip.   My brother-in-law prefers something a bit smoother.  He will sometimes pull a blended Scotch off the shelf.

 

Scotch is a big deal for both of us.  We don’t always agree on taste.  That said, we are not likely to draw firearms and start spraying lead when one of us purchases a bottle not preferred by the other party. 

Last week, a man from Hamilton, Montana was sentenced to twenty years in prison for shooting and injuring another man and for killing his dog.  Monte Leon Hanson, the man convicted of the shooting, shot his neighbor, Joe Lewis, in a dispute over a red beer.  Four hours prior to the shooting incident, while working as a bartender at a local establishment in Hamilton, Joe Lewis angered Monte Hanson when he used Clamato juice instead of tomato juice in making his red beer.

Hanson and Lewis lived in the same apartment building.  Lewis went home immediately following his shift.  He picked up his dog to carry it outside and found Monte Hanson there.  Hanson started shooting.  One bullet struck Lewis in the head.  A second struck Lewis in the ribs.  The dog died of a gunshot wound.

Monte Hanson claimed that drinking Clamato juice was against his religion.  Hanson practices Judaism.   According to the account I read in the Independent Record, Hanson reportedly told a cellmate he would “do it again” if given the opportunity.

--Mitchell Hegman