A Drink With: Zach Lewison, Co-owner of The Irish Volunteer

Beijing has a terrifying number of Halloween parties, so it may be difficult to choose where you'll end up this weekend. But we know where Zach Lewison will be on November 1: The Irish Volunteer for Eat, Drink, and Be Scary. We had a drink and a chat with Zach in our November issue to find out the dumbest place he's been drinking and what happened after he stole his mom's liquor.

Who would you most like to go out drinking with?
This one is easy: my hero, my dad. We always have some beers, Coors Light – his favorite, not mine. We talk about how bad The Jacksonville Jaguars are and how next year will be The Cubs’ year. I have a feeling that one day I’ll have the same conversation with my son over a beer.

If you could only imbibe one drink for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I’m a beer guy – always have been and always will be. That said, I’ll go with Dogfish Head’s 90-minute IPA.

How old were you when you started drinking?
Seventeen. We would get our friend Jesse to buy us quarts of Olde English 800, or as white kids from the suburbs called it, 8-Ball. We would drink them outside of a punk club called the Milk Bar and see some really good shows.

Tell us about the first time you were drunk.
I’ll start this by saying, “Sorry, Mom.” I stole a bottle of pink Zinfandel from her, drank it in my room, and then smashed my head into the doorframe in the hallway.When she noticed that it was missing, I blamed it on mybrother, and he got in trouble for it. Haha, Christmas just got weird this year!

Where’s the dumbest place you’ve gone drinking?
We’ll save that for the special, “Zach Lewison: Man, Myth, Moron” issue of the Beijinger.

What kind of drink are you?
Is this the part where you want me to get all chef-y? Ok, I’m a long drink, something complex with layers of flavors that build up to make a smooth, easy drink but one that makes you think and crave for more. That sounds stupid … I’ll go with a mojito ‘cause we’re both from Florida.

What’s your idea of a good night out?
At a baseball game drinking beers in the bleachers with my wife, my son (he’s two so he can’t drink yet, but he’ll be the designated driver), and a few friends.

What are your secret watering holes?
That would be The Irish Volunteer in Lido.

For more intersting Beijingers and events, view our November issue online or on the stands now.