burr street brew blog

My first 5 minutes of fame...kinda but not really

2009-10-24T17:52:00.004-04:00

Check it out. The Hartford Courant was in the brewery yesterday to take pictures and run a story about the brewery. From what I hear, my hand is pictured and my name is mentioned in the paper article. The on-line version has a few more pictures.

What The Hell?

2009-10-18T12:13:00.011-04:00

Sometimes i wonder what this world has come to. take a look and support the little guy.

The text below is from the Rock Art Website:

An attack has been launched on Matt and Renee of Rock Art brewery
SEptember 14 , 2009 an energy drink issues a cease and desist order on :
THE VERMONSTER
the energy drink Claims that consumers will likely be confused with the two products.
I have Input from 5 Trademark lawyers In various states saying: No infringement issue. Clearly a "nuisance lawsuit".
You will lose because they have the financial resources that can wear you down till you can not afford to fund the fight, Then THey win by default. Rock Art Brewery has the beer trademark to
The vermonster
in the state of vermont.
the american pledge of allegiance does not say
"and justice for all who have the deepest pockets"
I have offered to meet the energy drink halfway and give up my rights to my Vermont trademarked VERmonster in energy drinks
read my official response letter here
This is quickly cruising the web, twitter and facebook please show your support for our small brewery.
learn how stores have pulled the energy drink and the parent company's products,
a natural drinks company, in support of our efforts.

contact Rock Art Brewery rockart@pwshift.com

How sweet it is

2009-10-08T18:29:00.005-04:00

www.myartprints.co.uk

When was my last post? I think it was Sunday. I also think I said something about my heart telling me that I want to be a brewer. Well, what a week it's been! There has been an interesting turn of events. Let's see, well, Tuesday I was contacted by Paul Philippon, the owner of The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery in Farmville, NC. I had sent my resume to Paul months ago applying for a brewing position that opened. As it turned out, Paul hired someone else for the position. I obviously kissed that opportunity goodbye. Ok, now fast forward to this past Tuesday. I went to the office to check my voicemail and I had a message from Paul. I called him back later that night and had a nice talk. Paul offered me a trip to North Carolina to interview for the position of brewer at Duck-Rabbit. What were my initial thoughts? Amazement, shock and oops, I pooped my pants. Before giving Paul an answer I went home and discussed the opportunity with the family. Newt, our cat, didn't have much to offer but he seemed excited for the opportunity. Joy was totally on board, but first I had to discuss with Curt, the president of Thomas Hooker Brewing Company who saw something in me, took me in and gave me the chance of a lifetime, at least in my eyes. I explained to Curt what was going on and before I knew it I was the new BREWER at Thomas Hooker Brewing Company and searching for classes at Siebel in Chicago, Munich, Montreal or wherever the hell I can get in. Ya, no big deal. Ummmm, ya it is! This is why I quit my insurance job in May, to pursue my dreams. Only 5 months later I'm a Brewer, heading off to a world class brewing institution. Motivation is a powerful tool but fate and luck are just as important. Life is short and I encourage you to push fear aside and follow your dreams. It is so worth it!

I'm on my way. Soon you'll be drinking my beers. Actually, tomorrow is my first batch, Oktoberfest. I hope you like it!

Livin' the Dream

2009-10-03T22:32:00.006-04:00

Brad, Sonny, Me, Joy and Lala at a recent beer festival

After nearly three months without a single blog post I thought I would have lost my followers. As it turns out, I've gained a few and received several emails asking how things are going since I jumped head first into the craft beer industry. Thank you to all of you who have supported me and are curious as to how things are going. I'll do my best to post periodic updates going forward.

So, what the hell has been going on in my craft beer life since I last posted? It's now been about 5 months since I started volunteering at the brewery and about three months since I became Thomas Hooker Brewing Company's 4th full-time employee. I was initially hired to to do whatever was thrown at me. After two short months I'm wearing many hats. I'm not exactly sure what my job title is but I'll try to name a few. Let's see, Assistant Brewer, Production Manager, Order Manager, Tour Guide, and resident beer geek. With all these duties you can imagine that my days are long. On average I'm working 50-60 hours not including weekend events. I'm usually pretty tired at the end of the day but I still love going to work each day and I don't see that ending any time soon. In this short period of time my passion for craft beer has only grown. In fact, I think I'm in love! My wife probably thinks I've lost my mind. All I talk about is craft beer then I spend my nights reading MBAA's Practical Handbook for the Specialty Brewer.

So, what's my average day? I usually drag my ass out of bed around 6:45 to get to the brewery between 7:30 and 8:00. I spend the first hour or so responding to distributor emails and letting them know if we have the supply to fill their growing orders. Next on the agenda is packaging orders and putting my part-time staff to work on the keg cleaner, etc. The rest of the day is spent running around like crazy bottling, filling kegs, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, managing inventory, cleaning, helping the brewer with various duties such as digging mash, filtering, cleaning, fining, hop additions and dry hopping. Now that I write my duties out it doesn't sound like a lot but it keeps me busy for 10-12 hours per day. After the work day is over we often rent the brewery out for various functions that require staff. A few time per week I stay late to help out. In addition, the brewery opens up to the public two Friday's per month for a big happy hour with a turnout of 200 thirsty patrons, which is always a good time. Brew festivals have been frequent this fall along with beer dinners and private party's. I guess the novelty hasn't worn off yet because I still enjoy it all.

Where do I want to go from here? Dunno. I'm still trying to figure that out but I feel in my gut that I will one day make a hell of a brewer. The owner or the company tells me that's not where the money is and I understand that. I've been where the money is and I left it behind to be happy.

What have I learned? I don't even know where to start. I have gained so much industry knowledge and I feel that I haven't even scratched the surface. I'm so hungry to learn every ounce of information out there. I know that's impossible but I'm sure gonna try. Industry knowledge is very important but my greatest lessons learned are about life. Doesn't that sound like a deep thought by Jack Handy? Hey, it's the truth. I've learned that happiness is more important than dollars. I've learned that taking risks pays off. I've learned that there is such a thing as a job that doesn't feel like a job. I've learned that I have the best wife in the world for supporting me and allowing me to pursue my dreams. Most importantly, I've learned what it means to be happy. I'll raise my pint to that! Oh, one more thing, I've learned that I don't like drinking beer at 6:45 a.m while the taste of Crest toothpaste is still in my mouth. Guess it could be worse;)

Day 68 - Not as cool as 69

2009-07-15T18:07:00.009-04:00

It has now been 68 days since I quit my job in the insurance world to pursue a dream of working in the craft beer industry. Pursuing my dream has been frustrating, gratifying and humbling all at the same time. There have been times where I wanted to give up on my dream and times where I thought I made the biggest mistake of my life. After making a life changing decision I think those thoughts are natural. In fact, I have given up.

So, 68 days later, where have I been?

May 8, 2009: Last day working for "the man"

May 20, 2009: First day volunteering at Thomas Hooker Brewing Company

May 28, 2009: First industry interview - Otter Creek - Epic Fail..arghhh

June 11, 2009: Thomas Hooker Brewing Company offers to pay me money, well, sort of. At least I'm working off my utility bill.

July 15, 2009: Offer of employment from Thomas Hooker Brewing Company.

What did that last line say? Yes, beer people, mission accomplished!!! I have given up on the job search because there is no reason to keep looking. I'm the newest full-time employee of Thomas Hooker Brewing Company in Bloomfield, CT. Congratulations to me for taking a chance, pursuing a dream and making it happen. I now firmly believe that when someone makes a decision, shows passion and works hard the world aligns to make dreams come true. Risk is a beautiful thing!

So, what will I be doing? I'm still discussing my role with the owner but based on what we've discussed, it will be a hybrid role that gets me brewery experience on the business and operations side, which is cool since my MBA won't be a useless piece of paper. At the same time, I'll be helping out on the production floor while learning how to brew with the head brewer. Talk about the best of both worlds! Wait, that's not all, folks. I'll also be helping out with sales and working events, which I am extremely excited for. After all, the craft beer culture is what truly got me to take the leap of faith. Who knows, maybe we'll be able to share a craft beer and chat at your local Beer Fest in the near future.

What a load off my shoulders! My marriage is still in tact, we didn't touch our savings and I don't have to go back to a cubicle living the "Office Space" life. For those of you who don't work in an office, that movie is spot on and I want nothing to do with it. Adios, Initech.

Life is good today!

Week ? - I Lost Track

2009-07-09T17:55:00.008-04:00

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”

- Lao Tzu

Hello, everybody. Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been working my ass off at the brewery over the past few weeks. Watering those dreams so to speak. As I said back in week one, my gut tells me persistence will pay off. I can't say that it's paid off in full as I'm not gainfully employed in the craft beer industry but all of these small steps will land me in a good spot when it's all said and done. It's been nearly two months but I feel good!

Today was a big day. I woke up early and was feeling a little lazy. To be honest, I really wasn't in the mood to go the brewery. For all of you looking to enter the craft beer industry, take my word for it. Not matter how cool the job there are still days that you don't want to go to work. Regardless, it's a good thing I did! I was one of three people at the brewery today and the Brewmaster, Jay unexpectedly took me under his wing and we brewed an IPA together. What an experience! I learned more in one day than I have in a year and a half of home brewing. Sounds like a good day doesn't it, beer people? Well, that's not it. Jay said he saw something in me from day one and he's going to have a chat with the owner to see if I can help out brewing more often. How can I explain my excitement? Let me try...I think my head is gonna blow off my fuckin' shoulders!!! It's likely that I won't get paid on brew days but who cares. In my opinion, I'm getting invaluable experience and this is way cheaper than paying several thousand dollars to go to UC Davis or Siebel. Beyond that I have two more pieces of information to share:

1) Brendan, who keeps Hooker running with his mechanical and operational knowledge has a contact, Steve who used to brew for Allagash and Harpoon. Brendan offered to send my information to Steve to see if he knows of any potential opportunities.

2) I sent several blind resumes and cover letters to brewery's around the country last week. As I suspected, most did not respond. Most, I said. Palmetto Brewing Company in Charleston, South Carolina responded and my information has been passed to the Brewmaster. Small chance but at least it's a chance.

Dare I say I'm on my way? Let's hope.

I hope to have more brewing news next time I post. Jay plans to talk to the owner of Hooker Friday so I hope to have some good news when I work Monday. Wish me luck!

"Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death."

-James F. Byrnes

Dear Craft Beer,

2009-06-30T07:57:00.004-04:00

WARNING: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK! THIS BLOG POST IS EXTREMELY DISTURBING. I MIGHT HAVE LOST MY MIND SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.

We have now been together for several years and I think it's about time I tell you how I really feel. It hit me after 7 weeks that you might not understand my passion, commitment and loyalty. After all, men get a bad wrap when it comes to relationships. Really, I'm different than all those other guys.

Our relationship started in 2000 when Sam Adams took Clemson, South Carolina by storm. After taking my first sip of flavorful beer I knew we would be together for a long time. College can be difficult for young men. I don't think anyone is meant to be in a relationship during this time. My commitment might have swayed during those years but my heart was always with you. Your white trash cousin, yellow fizzy beer seduced me and I gave in more than I should have. I know this is hard to read but my relationship with yellow fizzy beer was strictly physical. Look, I was young and easily influenced. I was lonely and she was a cheap date. Her cans were round and convenient and her body was thin and crisp. I soon learned that I was messing with the devil as each morning greeted me with what felt like a punch to the face. It was time to change my ways.

It's now been 9 years since your no good cousin left my life and I dedicate my time and energy to spending each day with you, but I still feel like you are distant. I relentlessly send my qualifications to your creators with no response. I thought craft beer culture was welcoming and understanding. Remember how difficult it was in the 80's when you were trying to get the ball rolling? All you needed was a chance and you got it. Now look where you are; taking the world by storm. I know you don't owe me anything and it takes nothing but hard work and dedication to succeed. Let me tell you something, hard work and dedication is what I am all about.

Until a few months ago, I spent a lot of time with UnitedHealth Group. I knew from the start that we weren't meant to be together. Our conversation was dry, boring and regulated. Her friends were fat, pretentious and lacked ethics. This is not me and I set out to find you. Within days I was tracking you down and you were only 10 miles away. I started volunteering at Thomas Hooker Brewing Company and it has been a wonderful experience. I am now getting paid but my money goes to my landlord, who also happens to own the brewery. It's like an unhealthy relationship. Thomas Hooker uses me for my services and I use them to get some experience. Don't get the wrong impression. I don't date men. Thomas Hooker has become a close friend but it's not my path to marital bliss.

So, big deal. I quit my job in a recession and turned my life upside down. Well, craft beer, I did this all for you. To show you my passion and dedication I gave up my car and ride my bike everywhere, including the brewery. Cable television has gone out the window and I spend countless hours in front of the computer searching for an opportunity. I know we are meant to be together as my nights are sleepless looking forward to the day we unite. My days are spent reading about you, studying you, spending my last dollars on you, drinking you, talking about you and making lesser versions of you. I respect you whether you are short and round or tall and skinny, when you are sweet or bitter, light or heavy. It used to be what's on the outside that counted but I now know it's what's on the inside that matters.

I hope this letter has answered some questions about my commitment to you. I'm sure you still have questions around my qualifications and skills and that is fine. I feel it's best to talk about things and we should do that. Give me a call and you won't be disappointed. Please, craft beer, give me a chance. It will be the best decision you ever made.

Truly yours,

Burr Street Brew Blog (BsBB)

Email: burrstreetbrewblog@gmail.com

Twitter: burrstbrewblog

American Craft Beer Festival

2009-06-25T12:45:00.015-04:00

Last weekend, Beer Advocate brought craft beer enthusiasts together under one roof to celebrate American craft beer at the second annual American Craft Beer Festival in Boston. For those of you who attended, I hope you had as much fun as we did. For those of you who missed the event, I hope you do everything in your power to attend next year. Rumor has it, Beer Advocate is already talking expansion. I don't think they'll have an option as 9,600 tickets were scanned over three sessions. With numbers like this I think New England can say that we have our own little version of the GABF!

Here are a few thoughts that I took away from the ACBF.

1) Don't go to a beer festival with a group of 14 people. For some reason it sounded like a great idea but it was a logistical nightmare. Our session had 3,800 people. We all arrived at different times and rarely had the group together. Think that is bad, try getting 14 people to agree on a post beer fest meal. I wish I had a video camera for that debacle.

2) I wish there were more brewery representatives at the festival. For a festival of this size I was really hoping to see more industry names like Sam Calagione and Greg Koch. On the other hand, the festival was packed and it's not the place to strike up a riveting conversation. Not a big deal. I can't say that there weren't any big names as I did see Richard Norgrove and Shaun O'Sullivan was rumored to be in attendance. Here is a picture I tried to take of Richard Norgrove. Sorry for the poor quality but the Bear Republic table was packed!

3) What an amazing selection of American craft beer to sample. I'm glad we had 3.5 hours because we needed every last second to finish our ambitious list. For a full list of breweries who attended, click here. Here is a list of my top 5 beers, in no particular order, but let me say one thing, I love me a Belgium IPA!

a) Allagash, Hugh Malone, Belgium IPA

b) Otter Creek, Russian Imperial Stout

c) Odell Brewing Company, India Pale Ale

d) Smuttynose, Gravitation

e) Weyerbacher, Zotten

Notables: Sam Adams India Pale Ale and Dunkelweizen. I hope both of these go into production because they were great beers! My third beer of the night was Speakeasy IPA. Pleasantly surprised! How did I miss that when I was in San Fran? Finally, Mayflower Brewing Company has hit the nail on the head with all of their offerings.

4) Up and coming brewery - Pretty Things Beer and Ale project. Three letters: W-O-W! Do you want artisanal beer? Find a bottle of Pretty Things! Pretty Things was at the top of my list when we arrived and they did not disappoint. Pretty Things currently rents brew space where brewer, Dann Pauquette works his magic. I have a feeling Dann and Martha will be looking for their own space soon as they have a truly unique product that beer geeks everywhere will go crazy for. Dann, Martha, when will you be available in CT? Good luck, Pretty Things!

It was great to see so many craft beer enthusiasts under one roof. Generally speaking, breweries were friendly, guests behaved, volunteers were helpful, bathrooms were plentiful and lines moved fast. It is exciting to see the craft beer scene growing in New England!

Here are a few more pictures from the event:

This is the view from the back of the room 15 minutes in.

Last call at 9:30. 3,800 people hitting the streets of Boston in search of a much needed meal...and beer

Taking craft beer by storm! Who the hell took this picture? Too drunk to zoom?

Week 6 - Each week brings a little progress

2009-06-19T14:36:00.020-04:00

It's Friday afternoon and I'm sitting here all by myself. Well, my cat is around here somewhere but he has little to offer the world. It's funny how I still can't wait for Friday even though I'm out of work. Guess there is just something special about Friday. To me, Friday is craft beer day. I usually don't drink during the week so I desperately look forward to Friday. The funny thing is, now that I have time off, my first beer comes earlier and earlier. Guess it's one of the benefits to having excess spare time. It's now 2:41 p.m. and this is my companion.

The job search is slow but I'm not going into great detail this week. I'll note a few areas of progress. I'm now "the man" on the labeler at the brewery. Obviously, going forward, Thomas Hooker won't be able to operate without my newly developed skills. Ok, so I fucked it up a time or two but nothing major. We have been pumping out the pallets like nobody's business. The work has been fun and I look forward to each day. I was talking to the Master Brewer on Wednesday and he invited me to come in on a brew day to help brew. I'll be lining that up soon. In the meantime, I'll be working on these - 1.5 cases of Blonde and 1.5 cases of IPA. The Blonde might be donated to someone who needs to be weaned off macro's.

I put these labels on - no big deal!

On another note, Facebook is a funny place. My cousin, who I have not spoken to in years sent me a message last night. He has a "beer geek" friend who writes a beer column for the Waterbury Republican. My cousin is going to put us in touch. I don't know what will come of this but it's a lead and I'll take it. Maybe he'll be intrigued by my crazy ass decision and write about me and my pursuit of a dream. I'll let you know if anything comes from the conversation.

Now, let me get to the pictures I've promised. I took pictures of the brewery on my cell phone this week and sent them to my Verizon account. I have been trying to save them/send them so I can post them on my blog but I can't. My only options are to view them through my account or order prints. Tell me, who the hell orders prints anymore? I can't believe that I can't even send myself MY pictures from MY account. Anyway, I documented my journey to the brewery the other day. This might not sound like much but it is. Actually, I call it dedication. When I quit my job I sacrificed my car among other things. I ride my bicycle everywhere! To some this might sound like hell but I enjoy it. Other than beer, running and biking are major hobbies i.e. no drinking during the week. Here are a few pics of my ride to work. In the meantime, I'll see if I can get brewery pics off Verizon's site.

My bike and messenger bag with the essentials

Boots, Buck knife, hat, extra shirt and a sandwich. Ready to go!

View of downtown Hartford from Prospect Avenue.

The rich neighborhood. Overkill?

Ok, so I'm the ass hole riding his bike down a busy 2 lane road. Look, it's for a good cause!

I've arrived in Bloomfield, 10 miles and 35 minutes later.

Front entrance of the brewery.

Back home after a 9 hour bottling run. Left the boots at work to get the goods home!

It's now 4:00. Blogger sucks for moving images around. We are off to Beer Advocate's American Craft Beer Festival this weekend. We'll be the group of 14 with huge smiles on our faces hanging out by the Hair of the Dog Brewing Company table. Don't worry, we won't block you. Hope to see you there.

Week 5 - Ups and Downs

2009-06-11T11:05:00.005-04:00

It's now been 5 weeks since I left my job in the insurance industry. I've said on this blog time and time again that the job search won't be easy. It's even harder to get myself to believe it while staying patient. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a go getter and don't like to wait for anything. Maybe by the end of this process patience will one of my strongest traits.

The past 5 weeks have been a complex mind game. One week I'm going full speed into the craft beer industry and the next week I'm wondering if I've lost my mind. I keep wondering if I'm being selfish for pursuing a dream job. After all, I'm happy in every aspect of my life other than work. Is it selfish to believe that I deserve happiness even at work? How many people are actually happy with what they do for a living? Look, we only live once so why be miserable at work when so many hours are spent there? I'm not going back on my word to find a job in the craft beer industry but these are some of the thoughts that have been running through my head. Then there are the finances. I think a lot of my second guessing comes from the things I have given up and now miss. No matter how you look at it, going from a MBA paying job to zero dollars is hard. I keep telling myself that happiness is more important than money. After all, that is why I made this decision in the first place. I believe that decent money will follow but I'll have to be patient. Arghhh - that word again!

Speaking of money, I have made some financial progress in the past few days. Thomas Hooker Brewing Company has offered to pay me for my services at the brewery. I'll be doing many of the activities that I've been doing while volunteering but now I'll actually get money for it. Thankfully, one of these activities includes drinking beer. I think this is a great step toward finding an industry job as I can now say that I work for a brewery. Technically, you can even say that I have found a job in the craft beer industry since I'm getting paid for my services (not as a Hooker). I don't think it will be a 40 hour a week thing and we are currently discussing a schedule. It's a great opportunity but to be honest, it's kind of bittersweet since the owner is also my landlord. Regardless, it puts a few bucks in my pocket while I continue my job search.

So, things are progressing. I'm now getting paid by a brewery while gaining valuable experience. My search continues to find a job in the craft beer industry despite the limited number of job postings. I'll be at Beer Advocate's American Craft Beer Festival in Boston on June 20 where I plan to network as much as possible. If I can get a few contact names I'll happy. Pictures are coming, I promise!

Week 4 - One down and more to come

2009-06-04T10:45:00.008-04:00

Image from Google Images

The past few weeks have been interesting to say the least. Let me start with my volunteer work. I have been going over to Hooker at least once a week to help out around the brewery. A few people asked for pictures but I failed. Sorry, beer people. I forgot my camera yesterday but it's probably a good thing as I had to ride home in a constant rain. In my short time I have already determined which jobs to avoid. I'm not getting paid so I try to push keg washing and filling to the interns. After all, they're just there to make a buck and don't really care what they are doing as long as they get a free case at the end of the week. As for my work, I enjoy the bottling line and filling the kegs although, nothing beats standing around talking shop with the master brewer while taking in the hop aroma that permeates the air on brew day. Overall, working at Hooker is like witnessing a large home brew operation. Sometimes I think it's amazing that small packaging breweries can make in the industry. There are so many limitations that a small brewery has to face. Maybe the staff limitation will work to my benefit at the end of the summer. The interns have to go back to school and Hooker will need someone to man the bottling operation if they plan to bottle everything in house. Not my dream job but a step in the right direction.

Now for real job information. I had my first industry interview last week at a craft brewery in Vermont. The interview was for a Sales Rep position working Connecticut and Western Mass. In my opinion, there is no better way to spread the word of craft beer than selling craft beer itself. The interview went very well. I went to Vermont planning to only meet with the Sales and Marketing Director and ended up meeting with 8 people over four hours including the master brewer, CFO and the CEO. I was feeling pretty confident after the interview as the CEO sent me an email telling me he was impressed by my "know how" and passion for craft beer. As it turns out, the job came down to me and another candidate who had extensive experience working with Connecticut distributors. He/she got the job. I was obviously disappointed but I respect their decision. I chalk it up as a learning experience. Now I know what to look for and expect in future interviews. I'll be in good shape next time the phone rings!

Overall, I'm happy with where things stand. I'm getting great industry experience working at a brewery and I've already had one industry interview. I've learned so much over the past 4 weeks and I'm positive that I made the right career choice.

Other than pictures, let me know if there is anything you want to know about the brewery or any of my experiences. I'm heading back to Hooker next week and I'll take a few pictures of the operation.

My hands are cut, bruised and bloody. Loving it!

2009-05-22T12:03:00.007-04:00

Ok, beer people. My volunteer work is in full swing. I'm nearly 15 hours deep over two days. If 15 hours of volunteer work in two days doesn't say dedication I don't know what does. As I suspected, work at the brewery is tuff but I have loved every second of it. So far I have done some grunt work like making 6 and 12 packs and cleaned kegs. I've also been covered in beer while filling kegs and logs. Bottling operations did not go so smooth. Thursday was Hooker's second bottling run and it was a little shaky...and wet. I manned the labeler and once we got the kinks worked out we were running about 24 bottles per minute. Not bad for the second run but capacity is double that. It's been a great experience so far and I've learned a lot!

My nails are bloody and my finger tips bruised but I'm going back for more next week. I need a few days in between to work on the craft beer job search. I'm feeling confident as a few positions have opened up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a call back. Wish me luck. I'll give you more detailed updates on my volunteer work soon.

Most importantly, what's on tap for this weekend? Mayflower IPA! Made a special trip to MA the other day. I also picked a bottle of Magic Hat's summer seasonal, Wacko. Should be interesting as it falls into the fruit / vegetable beer category. Cheers!

Week Two - The Search Continues

2009-05-19T16:53:00.010-04:00

I just need a foot in the door. Sunday, the door opened just a crack. Thanks to all of you who pushed me to contact Thomas Hooker. I heard back from the owner and all signs point to GO! My first day of volunteer work is 05/20/09. They just brought all bottling operations in house and they're looking for someone to man the line. I can't get him to tell me what time to show up but I'll be there bright and early, eager to lean all that I can.

As for the actual job search, I knew it wouldn't be easy but I'm up for the challenge. As I mentioned in my last post, there aren't a lot of craft beer jobs in Connecticut. Actually, there are not a lot of craft beer jobs period. What the hell did I do? I need the old job back! Just joking. Its only been a week and a half and I remain extremely positive despite my Harpoon rejection. As I suspected, they're looking for more sales experience. Doesn't drive, determination and passion count for anything anymore? I think it does but I just need to get in front of the right people. As for other leads, one of my favorite breweries in MA is looking to fill a Sales Rep position. Positives - experience not required and they're willing to train. Negatives - the sales territory is Boston and that would be a horrid commute from Hartford no matter how you look at it. What the hell, no harm in sending a resume. I'll worry about the negatives when I need to. As for other leads, I don't have any but I'm looking to create a few. Today, while sitting in the sun people watching and drinking a cold ice tea (ahhhh), I created a list of breweries and brew pubs who I'll be contacting regardless of their hiring status. I've always been told persistence pays off. I'll let you know if that holds true in this case.

By the way, if you haven't watched the "I Am A Craft Brewer" video yet, do it now. This video shows everything that is right about craft beer. Watch, listen and think about what they are saying. In my opinion, the American Dream still exists. Raise your glass to craft beer. Cheers!

I Am A Craft Brewer Video

2009-05-15T11:14:00.003-04:00

This video was presented by Greg Koch of Stone Brewing at this year's annual Craft Brewers Conference in Boston, MA. In my opinion, this is what's it's all about. This is why I took the risk that I did. You can hear the passion in their voice and see it in their eyes. I want to be a part of this culture! Take a minute, or three and watch the video. It will give you an appreciation for the craft beer industry and all that they stand for. It's also cool to see the face behind the beer. I hope you enjoy this video as much as I do!

I Am A Craft Brewer from I Am A Craft Brewer on Vimeo.

It all begins here - May 11, 2009

2009-05-11T13:51:00.008-04:00

Here it is. The big day. Time to get things started. This is my first official day of unemployment. As I like to put it, the fist day to the rest of my life. There has to be a job out there that will cure my career blues. Hopefully that job is in the craft beer industry. I've been checking industry job postings for several weeks and my options are limited. Connecticut isn't exactly overflowing with craft beer breweries, retailers, etc. so I might have to get creative. My first job might not be my dream job but I need to get my foot in the door to explore my options and network with industry professionals.

So, on day one where does my job search stand? I've sent one cover letter and resume to Harpoon for a sales position in western Connecticut. Two weeks and one follow up later, still no response. I know HR departments work slow but I'm thinking that this one will not work out, after all, my resume wreaks of insurance. As I work on fixing up my resume I think I might have another option and I would like to get your opinion. My landlord is the owner and President of Thomas Hooker Brewing Company in Bloomfield, CT. Unfortunately, for me, he doesn't have any job opportunities but I'm thinking of asking him if he has any volunteer opportunities. In my opinion, anything that I can put on the resume will be beneficial, even if it's cleaning the mash tun or sweeping the floor. The problem is, I'm a little hesitant to ask. Is it strange to ask my landlord for work when I send him rent money each month? Will he be more concerned with where his rent money is coming from? I'm turning to you, beer people. The email is locked and loaded and I just need to pull the trigger. Is this a lead worth pursuing?

One last thing. It's funny how things work in this world. My wife recently finished culinary school and has been seeking employment for a few months with little success. A few short days after giving my two weeks notice she got a call for an interview. She starts next Monday. I already feel better about taking this risk.

What's on Tap - May

2009-05-07T10:23:00.028-04:00

Berkshire Brewing Company, South Deerfield, MA

Connecticut:

May 12: Tuesday Night Tasting/Sierra Nevada Artisinal Ale Experience at Eli Cannon's Tap Room.

May 16: 15th Annual Connecticut Craft Brewers Beer Festival at Jessie Camille's Restaurant.

May 18: Beer Dinner with Craft Brewer's Alliance - RedHook, Kona, & Widmer at Eli Cannon's Tap Room.

May 20: City Steam Spring Beer Dinner at City Steam Brewery Cafe.

May 22: Springfest at the Beach at Ocean Beach Park in New London, CT.

Maine:

May 14: Brewer's Table Dinner at Sebago Brewing Company.

May 16: Annual Pier Beer Fest at The Pier, Old Orchard Beach.

May 20: Beer Dinner with Rob Tod at Cooks Lobster House.

Massachusetts:

May 7: Lager Education Night at Buzzards Bay Brewery.

May 8: Cambridge Brewing Co.'s 20th Anniversary Party! - Day One at Cambridge Brewing Company.

May 9: Cambridge Brewing Co.'s 20th Anniversary Party! - Day Two at Cambridge Brewing Company.

May 9: Cape Cod Beer Open House Celebration at Cape Cod Beer.

May 9: Pioneer Beer Five Year Anniversary Party at the Brewery in Fiskdale

May 17: Spring Beer Classic at Julio's Liquors.

May 21: Tigris Beverage Big Beer Tasting at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

New Hampshire:

May 7: The way things work - Beer at Currier Museum of Art.

New York:

May 8: The People's Real Ale Festival at Clark's Ale House.

May 8: Drink for Charity at Rattle 'N' Hum.

May 14: Sly Fox vs. Southampton Competition at the Barcade in Brooklyn.

May 16: Captain Lawrence 3rd Anniversary Party at Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.

May 19: Stone Brewery Takes the taps at Rattle 'N' Hum.

May 18: Beertopia-Summer Beer Tasting Event at The Villiage Pourhouse Upper West.

Rhode Island:

May 14: Left Hand Brewing Tasting at Pitcher's Pub.

May 31: Hitachino Beer Dinner at Julians.

Vermont:

May 12: Sierra Nevada Night at American Flatbread Hearth.

May 16: Magic Hat Brewery's Grand Reopening at Magic Hat Brewing Company.

May 27: American Flatbread - 5 Year Anniversary at American Flatbread Hearth.

Other:

May 30: SAVOR: an American Craft Beer & Food Event

The pursuit of happiness…and beer

2009-05-05T13:11:00.010-04:00

Somewhere...something went terribly wrong

For the past 8 years I have lived in a state of illusion thinking that higher education and corporate success is the key to a blissful life. To some, that might be the case. To me, following the predictable path hasn’t gotten me any closer to happiness. The golden handcuffs impaired my ability to take risks and it has adversely impacted my personal and professional life. I think it’s time for change!

Change came in a big way last week. Get ready, brace yourself, here it comes…I quit my big bad insurance job. Some might call it impulsive, risky or simply stupid. I call it a calculated risk that will put my life back on track. I’m sure you have many questions. Yes, my wife supports my decision. No, we don’t have outside financial support. Yes, we have savings. No, we don’t have debt, kids or a mortgage. In our opinion, we have a short window of opportunity before we have these things and we’re going to make the most of this time.

So, what's my plan? Simply stated, happiness! I have an amazing wife, a great family and great friends. There is one piece of the puzzle missing and I’m setting sail to find it. My immediate goal is to pursue a job in the craft beer industry and I have already started the search. I plan to use BsBB as a diary to document my pursuit of a job in the craft beer industry. I hope you find my posts interesting and motivational to pursue your dreams and passions. As for long term goals, you’ll have to stay tuned. I need a little time to get them off the ground.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with my decision, especially in these tough economic times. I’m ok with that but I still want to hear your thoughts and opinions. And, of course, if you have any job leads in the craft beer industry, please let me know. Prost!

“Oh, yesterday's over for sure

So I can't look back for too long

There's just too much to see waiting in front of me

and I know that I just can't go wrong”

Creative? Yes. Appetizing? Not Exactly.

2009-05-01T15:43:00.011-04:00

It seems like every brewery is concocting some sort of coffee beer these days. I've sampled a few and even brewed a coffee infused IPA with moderate success. I'm not much of a coffee drinker but I like where this movement is going...or do I? Mikkeller recently came out with their Beer Geek Brunch (Weasel) and I think it scares me a little.

What's so scary about this imperial oatmeal stout that has been rated by Beer Advocate as one of the best beers in the world? Well, it's brewed with animal droppings. Kopi Luwak, or shit coffee is one of the most expensive coffee's in the world, which is produced from coffee berries that have been consumed and passed through the digestive track of the Asian palm civet. Apparently the civet can't digest the inner bean and enzymes in the civet's belly break down the proteins to give the coffee its bitter taste. After the civet passes the beans they are collected, washed and roasted. Take a look, this is what you'll be drinking. Yum!

If you're interested in giving this extreme beer a try you'll have to move fast. Beer Geek Brunch is available in limited edition.

I wish vacation was my job

2009-04-26T19:56:00.007-04:00

Vacation has come and gone. As always, the worst part of vacation is coming home. Especially when home is cold and wet. In any event, South Carolina had a decent beer selection, which caught me by surprise. Unfortunately, beer wasn't the sole purpose of this trip but as always, it played a big part. If you ever find yourself in Charleston, South Carolina be sure to check out the Charleston Beer Exchange. It is a small craft beer store packed to the brim with alcoholic goodness. The selection is good, prices are competitive and they will sell you freshly poured growlers directly from the taps in the back of the store. If you can't make it to the craft beer store, grocery stores have a decent selection of craft brews. If you happen to be looking for a good bar/restaurant be sure to check out Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island. They have a great little place with a great beer selection. I highly recommend Poe's and would go out of the way to get there again. Who wouldn't for a fresh crab cake on top of a tasty burger? Yum!

Oh, and how could I forget. I brought by bottle of Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalishi D.I.P.A. and I wasn't impressed. At 168 IBU's it was tough to swallow. In my opinion, the extreme bitterness is a little too intense. It poured nicely and left an impressive head but the hop aroma and taste had me sipping my pint like a 6 year old kid who just took a taste of his dad's Bud Light. If you're curious, pick it up and give it a shot. If anything, it's an experience.

Vacation Time!!

2009-04-10T09:52:00.008-04:00

I know, I was just on vacation three weeks ago. My wife and I are heading to a wedding in Charleston, South Carolina and hitting the road bright and early Saturday morning. With that being said, I won't be doing much blogging over the next week or so. I know this is heart breaking news but I have something even worse to tell you. I don't think South Carolina will be much of a craft beer state so don't anticipate any great beer pictures or beer stories. Hopefully I'm dead wrong! If you know something that I don't, please email me as soon as possible!

Anyway, there is a small family owned brewery in Charleston named Coast Brewing Company and I was looking at their blog earlier. I found this post that supports why I think SC is lacking in craft beer. Coast and other small breweries are fighting an up hill battle with wholesales. We've heard these stories before but this is down right terrible and needs to stop! I hope the brewery and other SC beer people are successful in their fight for better beer.

Hoppin' Frog Mean Manalishi Double I.P.A.

2009-04-06T21:31:00.009-04:00

Ok, beer people, Beer Advocate failed me so I turn to you. Maybe Scott and co. from The Brew Club can help me out on this one. I picked up the pictured bottle up from Table & Vine in West Springfield, MA on Saturday. I've never heard of Hoppin' Frog Brewery (Akron, OH) but the label caught my eye. No, I don't have a thing for frogs. That would be weird. So, why do I single this beer out? 168 IBUs!!! I also have a few questions. 1) Have you sampled this beer? 2) What does 168 IBUs taste like? Can the palate even taste 168 IBUs? Will I squint my eyes and pucker my lips at the bitterness? I think I'm going to let this one sit for a while but might head back to Table & Vine to buy a second bottle to try in the near future, but before I do, am I wasting my money?

Specifications: 8.2% alc./vol., 84 OG, 26 FG, 168 IBUs. No bottled on date.

Brewery Description:
"Explore the extremes of hops, and experience all of their bitterness, flavor and aroma with this Double I.P.A. An extreme, super-assertive and satisfying amount of American hop character is balanced with a toasty, caramelized, intense malt presence."

What's on Tap - April

2009-04-06T19:29:00.018-04:00

The Ginger Man

Connecticut:

April 14 - Tuesday Night Tasting with Dogfish Head - Eli Cannon's Tap Room.

April 16 - Beer Wars Movie - Beer Advocate Gathering at Showcase Cinemas At Buckland Hills.

April 18 - Willimantic Brewing Co. 100th Anniversary Party at Willibrew.

April 19 - Red Fox Breweriana Show at Brü Room at Bar.

April 26 - Willimantic Brewing Company’s Spring Beer Dinner at Willibrew.

April 30 - Thursday Night Promo with Smuttynose at Eli Cannon's Tap Room.

Maine:

April 8 - Brewer's Beer Dinner at The Inn On Peaks Island.

April 18 - Central Maine Brewfest at Augusta Civic Center.

Massachusetts:

April 9 - Stone Brewing Tasting at Baur Wine and Spirits.

April 11 - Unluckily-Lucky Sweet 13th Anniversary at Watch City Brewing Company.

April 14 - Brooklyn Brewing Beer Dinner at Cambridge Common.

April 16 - Beer Wars Movie - BeerAdvocate Gathering at TBA.

April 17 and 18 - Beer Summit 10th Anniversary Festival at The Castle at Park Plaza Hotel.

April 20 - Pretty Things Beer Dinner & Social at Vee Vee.

April 21 - 24 - Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America

April 24 - Short's & Beer Advocate's Throw Down at the Roadhouse.

April 30 - Samuel Adams Boston Brewery Open House at Jamaica Plain

New Hampshire:

April 9: Dogfish Head Beer Tasting at 24 Carrots.

April 25 - New England’s First Mead Competition.

New York:

April 7 - USA V Belgium, who is the best fest! at Rattle 'N' Hum.

April 10 - 1st Gate Cask Ale Festival at The Gate.

April 11 - World's Largest Toast (to Cask Ale): New York City at The Gate.

April 16 - Clipper City Night at Barcade.

April 24 - Beerology: Science on Tap! at Buffalo Museum of Science.

April 25 and 26 - TAP New York Beer Festival at Hunter Mountain.

Rhode Island:

April 8 - Wet Willy Scotch Ale Tapping Party at Julians.

April 25 - Meg Mash & Brew at Basement BrewHaus.

April 26 - Victory Beer Dinner at Julians.

Vermont:

April 14 - Beer DOLCI Dinner at 51 Main at the Bridge.

April 17 - Free Pint Glass Friday at Winooski Beverage Warehouse.

April 17 - Otter Creek & Wolavers at Two Brothers Tavern.

Other Cool Events Coming Soon:

May 30 - Savor - an American craft beer and food experience.

June 19 and 20 - Beer Advocate American Craft Beer Fest. Volunteers Needed!!

July 31 - Belgium comes to Cooperstown 2009, Ommegang Brewery. VIP tickets sold out in 2 minutes (Holy Shit!). Act fast for Saturday tickets.

A Test of Time and Patience

2009-04-03T11:31:00.009-04:00

As a follow up to The Great Debate post I have decided to give readers some educational information that will help when purchasing and storing craft beer. We all know that winos have fancy wine refrigerators in their kitchens and expensive wine cellars in their basements, but did you know that craft beer can be stored just as wine? Most beer can be stored for a relatively long period of time but there are certainly styles that taste better with age. So, what is the benefit of aging beer? Simply put, as beer ages it tastes better and becomes more complex. Open up your wallet, buy two bottles, drink one upon purchase and let the other bottle hibernate for a year or more, open, drink and compare.

This guy is my hero!!

So, what does it take to build your own little beer cellar? Honestly, it doesn’t take much. Here are a few suggestions:

o Store your beer upright. You don’t want cork issues to affect your napping beer. Storing your beer upright will also keep the yeast on the bottom of the bottle where it belongs. Upright storage will also decrease the amount of beer that is exposed to harmful light.

o Store your beer in a cool area away from direct light. Beer and light aren’t friends.

o Generally speaking, keep the temperature around 50 – 55 degrees and your beer will sleep with a smile on its face. Usually a closet or basement will suffice.

o Don’t store beer in your kitchen fridge for the long haul. The trusty fridge can dry out your cork. You don’t want a dry cork do you?

What styles of beer are meant to store? I don’t know that there is a specific answer to that question. Add it to the list of great debates. As a general rule, most beer can sit 3-6 months in ideal conditions. Some beers can store for a year and some can store for 20+ years, although do most brewers really know what their beer tastes like after a long storage period? Probably not. Anyway, here are some styles that will store for a year or more:

o Tripels
o Quads
o Barley wines
o Dark / Browns
o IPAs
o Double IPAs
o Stouts

This is not an all inclusive list. Be patient, store your beer and see how it tastes in a year or more. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Update: 4/06/2009:

Here is a recent NY Times article on the same topic.

The Great Debate

2009-04-01T20:27:00.017-04:00

There are many great debates going on among beer nerds. I find most of these debates interesting but don't consider myself a beer nerd. Let's just say that I'm enthusiastic about beer. So, what are these great debates that I find so interesting? Bottles or cans? "Extreme" beers or "session" beers? Packaged on date or no packaged on date? Personally, I think cans are great, extreme beer has a place in brewing and consumers have a right to more information when spending $15 on a 750 ml. bottle of craft beer.

Tonight, the local beer store called my name where I studied aisles of beer trying to determine which breweries will take ownership of my Obama tax break money. I laid my eyes on several selections from Great Divide Brewing Company and thought back to the "Three Threads" question in Beer Advocate Magazine this month about a national "packaged on" date standard. Here is what Brian Dunn, founder of Great Divide Brewing Company said:

"...Ever since we opened in 1994, we've used some sort of dating on our labels. Our current method is to clearly print the bottling date on each label with a high-speed ink jet printer. We spent quite a bit of money on that printer because I think that beer drinkers need to know when the beer was bottled..."

I am not here to pick on Great Divide. I like their beer and they even got some of my money tonight. With that being said, I have a few issues to get off my chest.

As Brian pointed out, bottled on dates are important. Great Divide's bottles had two methods of notification, label hash marks and computer generated font. The bottle with the "hash" method was bottled in 2007 and the computer printed bottle was hardly legible. It was either bottled in 2005 or 2008. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I don't want to spend my money on "bad" beer and more importantly, I don't want to judge a brewery on a beer that has been sitting on the shelf for too long. So, I ask you, beer people, is this bottled on date debate just a big marketing tool? Are we really getting fresh beer or are we being fooled? How do we know which Great Divide beers are made to store and which beers are made with a shelf life of 3 months?

San Francisco Beer Week

2009-03-23T17:23:00.041-04:00

I wish I could tell you my absence from blogging was the result of a month long vacation but that would be a lie, although there is some truth to that excuse. My wife and I finally left for our long awaited and well deserved vacation to San Francisco to emerge ourselves in the city's thriving food and beer culture. What a week! Since this is a beer blog and we didn't do any formal food/beer pairings, I'll fill you in on the beertails but if you're looking for restaurant recommendations, here are a few of our favorites.

1) Mission Street Food - Good place to dine with locals and try something different. Guest chef's change the menu every week.

2) Pagolac (Vietnamese) - 7 courses of beef - 'nuff said! Located in the sketchy but up and coming Tenderloin neighborhood.

3) Dotties (American) - Amazing breakfast, amazing butterscotch muffin and amazingly long wait but well worth it. Get there before 9:00.

4) Ferry Plaza Farmers Market - Huge selection of fresh local produce and baked goods. Arrive with an empty stomach!

OK, beer people, back to the brew. Over the course of 7 days we visited many beer joints and drank many styles of beer. Here is a list of my favorite places from best to worst and what we sampled. I'm not a
huge fan of formal beer reviews so I'll also order my favorite brews at each establishment from best to worst with a few thoughts.

1) Toronado Pub: Best bartender to ever pour a pint. What you see is what you get. Great prices and great selection. Belly up to the bar and you won't want to leave. Take a pass on the mead in the crock pot behind the bar.
Pliny the Elder Double IPA (Draught) - Beer Advocate's rating lives up to the hype! Huge floral and citrus taste.

Saison Dupont (Draught) - Refreshing and crisp. True to the style. Perfect for a hot summer day. May be better buying in a bottle from the store. A pint costs a small fortune.

Sierra Nevada Chico IPA (Cask) - Taste of citrus and hops. Heavy hop aroma like many Sierra Nevada offerings.

Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA (Draught) - Malty flavor and heavy hop aroma. Worthy of topping any IPA list.

2) City Beer Store: Amazingly great concept. Every city needs a City Beer Store! Look out West Hartford!

Oro de Calabaza - Sour Bier de Garde (Draught) - Love the sour apple taste. Very refreshing. One of my favorite Bier de Garde's.

Telegraph Robust Ale - Belgium IPA (Draught) - Full bodied and well balanced beer. Very complex nose.

3) Anchor Brewing Tour: Anchor makes great beer and they provided the best brewery tour that I have ever been on. The brewery has a very rich history and Fritz remains true to tradition. We sampled six beers including Old Foghorn, Anchor Porter, Liberty Ale, Anchor Bock, Anchor Steam and Anchor Summer. All great beers, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Old Foghorn was my favorite and makes a perfect springtime beer.

4) 21st Amendment Brewery: Great atmosphere and all around good beer. They have even made the move to cans, which is more and more common these days. With all the benefits of canning, can you blame them? Great food menu for a brew pub but a little pricey. 2 meals, 3 beers = $60. Whatev, its vacation!

Back in Black Dark IPA (Draught) - WOW! I love this beer. My first dark IPA and I wish I could get more if it.

Double Trouble Imperial IPA (Draught) - Super bitter and high octane. Put an instant smile on my face after the three mile walk from the wharf.

Brew Free or Die IPA (can poured into a pint glass) - Bitter beer at 75 IBUs. Very hoppy aroma and piny.

5) Magnolia Pub and Brewery: Laid back hippie vibe as Magnolia's resides in the Haight neighborhood. Didn't get to sample too much as we pedalled our way up endless hills to refresh ourselves and still had to battle cars, trolly cars, buses and other bikers on the way home on two wheels. Be sure to visit on Tuesday to take advantage of $3.00 beers.

Kalifornia Kolsch: I love Kolsch beer but this was not one of my favorites. Not as refreshing as I hoped after a 30 mile bike ride. Maybe it was the 8 ounce serving in a tall shot glass. Can I really complain though - it was $2.00

Spud Boy IPA: My wife enjoyed this extreme IPA. No tasting notes but judging by how fast her glass emptied, it must have been tasty.

6) The Monk's Kettle: This bar by far had the most impressive selection of beers out of the places we visited. Pretty expensive and a tad snooty. Once again, I like beer people and want more of them but not the ones who try to make beer a pretentious beverage. Don't be so serious!

Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye (22 ounce bottle poured to pint glass) - OK, but didn't knock me off my feet. 18% rye, which I did not enjoy.

Alaskan Brewing Company - Alaskan Barely wine (Draught) - I know this is a decent beer but I don't think that I was in the mood for the style. I found it to be extremely sweet and undrinkable. I'll have to try it again when the time is right.

New Belgium Brewing Company - New Belgium Abby Grand Cru (Draught) - Average at best. Again, a little too sweet for me. I will need to compare to other offerings in this category as it gets great ratings.

7) Rogue Ales Public House - Visited on a Wednesday night, completely dead and our waiter was barely breathing. I like what Rogue has to offer but I don't know if I would go back there again. Definitely not the highlight of the trip.

St. Rogue Dry Hop Red (Draught) - This was my first hopped red and I loved it! I was not expecting the bitter flavor and hop aroma in this style. I hope I can find it back east.

Rogue Mocha Porter (Draught) - Malty with a hint of bitterness at 54 IBUs. One of my wife's favorite beers on the trip.

Chipotle Ale (Draught) - I wanted to try something different and this met my criteria. Spicy and enjoyable. I think the chipotle would be better served in a chocolate stout. Hmmm, I think I have a recipe to brew!

And a few more pics for your viewing pleasure: