Collections are not merely gluts of similar objects hoarded by an individual; they are glimpses of personalities and passions.  When put on display, the depth of passion and interest is magnified more, as the person desires visitor to their abode to know up front “who they are.”

I once met a guy who collected crosses and crucifixes.  As a pastor, the collection was obvious, and on display adorning the walls of his house, they looked impressive and tied the place together.  Trying to find a way to display my beer collection (which has dwindled dramatically in these uncertain economic times) has always been difficult.  Besides the fact that I had to make the display presentable to Mrs. THFBeer_nate, I myself wanted it to look classy.  So the beer collection always took up residence int he basement.

The home we recently moved into came with an older China cabinet.  I wanted to get rid of it.  I could care less about China an collectible figurines that might otherwise be showcased in such a piece of furniture, but my wife wanted it to stay.  In a moment of epiphanous rapture it occurred to me that filling the cabinet with beer and glassware might appease both my wife and myself.  As I began filling it, my wife agreed:  The China cabinet looked better as a beer cabinet, even though it is overshadows both the dining room and the living room.  When I discovered that the cabinet was fitted with display lighting, I nearly melted.

The beer cabinet seems to elevate beer to lofty levels of appreciation, even to the beer literate, and I beam with pride each time I walk by.  Some pics are posted.  Keep in mind I don’ consider this a “beer cellar,” per se; merely an opportunity to decorate my home with my passion and convey that passion to my visitors.

Do you display beer or beer paraphernalia in any obvious places in your home?  If you feel so inclined, share some background and pics and I’ll post them in a future post.

Note:  Click on the pics to look at them in finer detail.