Patio Season, I mean Spring, is here

You know its spring has come to Canada when the first warm day arrives. People peel off their winter layers, ditch their toques – some even don shorts, just to make a point. And they all head for the patios, where they drink beer merrily until the sun sets. 

Of course, it's not summer so as the sun sets people migrate to tables remaining in the sun. until there are no sun kissed table left on the patio. Then everyone peels on their warmer layers or head for central heating in the bar or at home.

Germans are not unlike Canadians in this regard. Sure, we have our differences: a loopy doopy language barrier, Immanuel Kant, and really dark children's tales. But when it comes to drinking beer out of doors, we share some common ground.

Granted, it's a bit different. Many pubs in the Dorf have high tables, so you have to stand to enjoy your outdoor beer. This is good if you want to avoid those I-just-stood-up-to-pee-then-fall-back-into-my-chair moments. This is a bad thing if you're like me and like to lean when you drink.

The standing likely has a purpose. When I arrived to the Dorf in November, Canada's patio season was long over. That was when you sat inside the cozy pub with your frosty pint and cursed the grey sky and the coming snows. In the Dorf, those hearty Germans were drinking outdoors, standing mind you, so there's no frost-bitten toes. 

But there are people who prefer to wait for fairer days to sip their outdoor beers. And the wait, with us Canadians in the cozy beer halls, cursing their grey skies.

Now, as my social media fills with patio shots and outdoor beer pitcher pictures, I am reminded that there are two seasons in Canada: winter and patio season. It's no different in Germany. The Germans come running out to the parks and patios for outdoor drinks and snacks and drinks. The crazy ones who lingered outside all winter, puffing their smokes and shivering over their cold beers, also join us, if they survived. 

We all linger in the sun, drinks in hand. Some of us shuffle chair to chair to follow the setting sun while others remain on their feet, working on their tan until the end. 

That's probably how its meant to be. Beer, whiskey, wine, whatever, all tastes better in the outdoors. No one sits in a basement and uploads photos of their beers. Well, no one on my social feeds, anyway.

Germans will perch at their high tables in the sun after work. Canadians will stretch out on their patios. We all do it differently, but we all have the right idea.