I had half written a post about all things entailing "starting your own brewery" and all that broad subject encompasses. Then came Rob Fullmer's recent post on his blog "Beer PHXation" Read it and ponder a bit and then return...http://www.beerphxation.com/2013/05/the-session-75-business-of-brewing.htm
I know this: people like Rob have a cautious approach towards constant growth in an industry that most of us feel we have a place in. He has garnered respect from me as being one of the most observant individuals in the craft beer industry. I am also very relieved his blog got to me before I rambled on about our current situation. I had things like "The American Nightmare" and "All those homebrewers getting into this who build a brewer thing probably have no idea that this is an industry of sales and relationships, and your love for beer will , at times, offend people" in my post. Then, after reading his blog, I stepped back and reflected on all the progress that I have made. There are so many positives because we pushed for this crazy dream. I see the ceiling and floors we chose. I see the bars and lights that were installed with a vision for comfort. I see our team tirelessly working their butts off to see this take hold. All the stainless steel was procured from a vision in a garage over a raging 10 gallon boil. I see the logo I fell in love with while backpacking the heart of Arizona. What we have learned certainly wasn't free, isn't free, and never will be free. The mistakes we made will be made by numerous "dreamers" that will risk it all and not ever receive the advice they should have. All because they probably just didn't ask the right questions.
The growth of an industry always starts with trends. When investors feel more confident that the trends are more bullish and are established as a market, well, they pour their money in. Success stories start popping up and the dreamers start to see dancing pint glasses that "they made". Honestly, go for it. I could tell you what a torturous road is ahead, but you don't give a dam. Look your loved ones in the eyes and BE HONEST. You will lose more than you will win. If your business plan doesn't show a 95-99% risk to your own life and your investors money, re write it. You will lose many close friends. Your passion will lend to frustration. You will not be living a dream many many days. You will go broke. Give yourselves 2-3 years from the start of your fundraising effort, and please, OH please, learn to not lie to yourself. Then finally, remember that your idea is so played out. So boring. More craft beer is an amazing thing but everyone else has already done most of the things you have yourself wrapped around as "new" and "exciting". That's why this is so hard! Your selling something that has already been done! Learn to be good at that. Really focus on that.
Lets end with this positive note: The Arizona craft brewing scene is winning. Guys like Jon Lane from OHSObrewery in Phoenix is the kind of guy that is leading an amazing charge for a local craft beer scene without the bullcrap. Not one brewery we asked for help and/or advice turned their back to us. Arizona beer is not just trending, it's growing and getting better. We are all apart of the ride. Cheers.
Jonathan
Friday, May 3, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Updates and Rainbows
Finally an update!
Here is the deal, we have been slow to give updates because, honestly, we didn't know if we would make it this far or not. As in... an empty and lifeless building and selling our dogs for money. We risked it all signing the lease somewhat blindly in September. Ignorance truly is bliss, but we are driven to move forward! Paying rent for a building that's not open is a tough road to go, so we have been plugging away like mice chasing the smell of cheese in a maze. We can now at least see the cheese ( though it's under lock and key still)!
A year ago today we were filming the Kickstarter video in plans for the nano brewery in Queen Creek. When LA Fitness shut us out, we were dumbfounded. Especially because money was put into that place from our own pockets and no one in that company told us of the special clause LA fitness held. This is just part of the growth of our business knowledge and toughening of the skin'. It's like touching the oven and getting burnt. So instead of avoiding ovens all together we learned to cook! *Terrible analogies.com called and asked me to stop using their ideas, so I digress:*
You can piece together the major events in our history from this blog/Facebook, but from Oct-January we were misled, misjudged, misunderstood, misinformed, and misrepresented. We blame ourselves, and from it we learned a beautiful lesson. That lesson being: KEEP YOUR PAYING JOBS. Money will fall from your pockets like a hipster changes clothing styles. Too many people assumed we are living a dream, but we shiver at the thought of the possibility of what may have been, and shoot, at this point I shiver at what tomorrow will throw our way. Anyways, we have prevailed and construction is well underway. The contracting company, Heritage Construction Specialists, is plugging away to build our dream. Honestly, we are the new Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company moving forward and that's just it in a nutshell.
Being the first brewery in Gilbert's history (there was a discussion about this topic, so I will re-word, "we are the first approved microbrewery by the Gilbert Town Council in regards to brewing beer in it's town's limits") we had a few bumps in the road. Their was a bunch of learning on both sides, and that added to the unforeseen month delay. They have been a pleasure to work with, so not to worry all was discussed and approved. Soon, the county health inspection will be underway and the light at the end will continue to brighten!
On a good note: Patrick Ware (formally of San Tan Brewing fame) joined the team. First things first, San Tan is a company we really admire. Anthony, the owner, fought the good fight and I really respect the road he has taken and am in awe of his success. There was nothing but respect when Patrick made a career change from both sides, and I consider it a win for AZ craft beer. Why don't I brew it all? I want to build a brand that lasts further than my mind can see. With his knowledge, dedication, and skills, ok and his handsome beard, I believe we have a winning team. Not to say anyone who does it any other way can't build, I just think I am a wimp and would die weeks into the ordeal. Go to San Tan Brewing with serious admiration for a company who has fought and clawed their way through Lame Recession (I can't call it the "GREAT RECESSION" cause' it wasn't great) and have built an incredible brand.
Wrapping things up: I know this blog wasn't as much about this beer as it could have been. That will come soon enough. Now we continue to build, raise money, spend it, dance, cry, laugh, and soon, oh so soon, BREW BABY BREW. It's a go, it's real. Next we just have to keep the doors open. That's a whole different story!
Jonathan
Here is the deal, we have been slow to give updates because, honestly, we didn't know if we would make it this far or not. As in... an empty and lifeless building and selling our dogs for money. We risked it all signing the lease somewhat blindly in September. Ignorance truly is bliss, but we are driven to move forward! Paying rent for a building that's not open is a tough road to go, so we have been plugging away like mice chasing the smell of cheese in a maze. We can now at least see the cheese ( though it's under lock and key still)!
A year ago today we were filming the Kickstarter video in plans for the nano brewery in Queen Creek. When LA Fitness shut us out, we were dumbfounded. Especially because money was put into that place from our own pockets and no one in that company told us of the special clause LA fitness held. This is just part of the growth of our business knowledge and toughening of the skin'. It's like touching the oven and getting burnt. So instead of avoiding ovens all together we learned to cook! *Terrible analogies.com called and asked me to stop using their ideas, so I digress:*
You can piece together the major events in our history from this blog/Facebook, but from Oct-January we were misled, misjudged, misunderstood, misinformed, and misrepresented. We blame ourselves, and from it we learned a beautiful lesson. That lesson being: KEEP YOUR PAYING JOBS. Money will fall from your pockets like a hipster changes clothing styles. Too many people assumed we are living a dream, but we shiver at the thought of the possibility of what may have been, and shoot, at this point I shiver at what tomorrow will throw our way. Anyways, we have prevailed and construction is well underway. The contracting company, Heritage Construction Specialists, is plugging away to build our dream. Honestly, we are the new Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company moving forward and that's just it in a nutshell.
Being the first brewery in Gilbert's history (there was a discussion about this topic, so I will re-word, "we are the first approved microbrewery by the Gilbert Town Council in regards to brewing beer in it's town's limits") we had a few bumps in the road. Their was a bunch of learning on both sides, and that added to the unforeseen month delay. They have been a pleasure to work with, so not to worry all was discussed and approved. Soon, the county health inspection will be underway and the light at the end will continue to brighten!
On a good note: Patrick Ware (formally of San Tan Brewing fame) joined the team. First things first, San Tan is a company we really admire. Anthony, the owner, fought the good fight and I really respect the road he has taken and am in awe of his success. There was nothing but respect when Patrick made a career change from both sides, and I consider it a win for AZ craft beer. Why don't I brew it all? I want to build a brand that lasts further than my mind can see. With his knowledge, dedication, and skills, ok and his handsome beard, I believe we have a winning team. Not to say anyone who does it any other way can't build, I just think I am a wimp and would die weeks into the ordeal. Go to San Tan Brewing with serious admiration for a company who has fought and clawed their way through Lame Recession (I can't call it the "GREAT RECESSION" cause' it wasn't great) and have built an incredible brand.
Wrapping things up: I know this blog wasn't as much about this beer as it could have been. That will come soon enough. Now we continue to build, raise money, spend it, dance, cry, laugh, and soon, oh so soon, BREW BABY BREW. It's a go, it's real. Next we just have to keep the doors open. That's a whole different story!
Jonathan
Monday, December 10, 2012
A Wilderness rant
On this Sunday morning , I sit with the coolness of December on my ears and nose, watching my breath float away as I exhale. The creek's flow echoes off towering , warm sunlit cliffs that hold in the magic of this place. I am on day 2 of the annual Aravaipa Wilderness December fall colors trip that I think about on the hot days of summer as if it will never come. I count the days down already to next year's excursion. The calmness I feel here is where I developed my passion and direction of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., and it still lingers in the air. Back home in the basin of the sun, our little company had a trying, somewhat difficult week. Nothing out of the norm, merely the ebbs and flows of business that keeps entrepreneurs up thinking at 3 am. The ebbs seem to be great at times, but we will push through them. The great news is my window cleaning days are officially behind me. The scary news: I have no income! The leap of faith left a company I started 6.5 years ago as a 24 year old knocking on doors and providing a service based on ethics and trust. Wow, I look back with a blissful eye. Moving on from that business isn't the safe route by any means. I am being led by my own dangerous (at times) passion , which seems to dictate my life at all angles. Taming it has been a learning experience, but as I sit here, chilly, full of warm oatmeal, and grinning from ear to ear, I am realizing that in my third month of being 30 I am more tame than ever. I understand how to excite people and light the torch that we all carry. Admittedly, I didn't understand the details of this business as much as I should have. Sure, we planned for a difficult road to opening a brewing company, and did everything we could to get it all right. The truth: We lacked wisdom. Wisdom isn't free and it usually comes from the worst moments, dangerously teetering along the tightrope of bad decisions. Documents sitting in front of us , aren't simply words dancing. They are your business, holding legal authority over anything related to passionate motions that mean well. The details have bogged us down, and we learned some valuable lessons these past few months. Patience, patience, patience, hard freaking work, along with the smartest people I know as our business advisers will get us through this to opening day. I have drug some people through the mud of my dream, and I hope they all know that I will always be indebted to them for believing. Believing when there is no progress for weeks and wondering if money will ever be made...EVER. I don't, and never will, take this lightly, and it has consumed me more than I could have ever predicted.
A quick up date: The city of Gilbert's planning committee is reviewing our project as we speak. This meeting is to approve the construction project of AZWBC, hopefully in December. We have made it so freaking far, and just a few more hurdles to opening our doors.
I'll quit rambling and go wade in the creek again for morning photography session to clear my mind.
Jonathan
Thursday, July 19, 2012
An epic novel is born. Apologies to weary eyes.
Recently I was invited to Russian River Brewing Company from a brewer and good friend Travis. I finally found a moment to fly to the bay area and figured I had best visit some old friends and make some new ones. It's what I do. My lovely, gracious, and oh so gorgeous wife gave me a few thousand flyer points and off I flew. Off to live a "glorified vagrant" life for 5 days. When Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. is up and running, you'll probably notice some of the bay area influence. I have many family and friends here, and have frequented the area throughout the years gathering info, ideas, and sharing a few classy ales with some amazing people all over that area. No one is a stranger in SF it seems, and I want to capture that here in AZ. Anyways, after very little planning I landed in COLD SFO and the B.A.R.T. became my savior. A stop at toronado(hey spell check, quit changing it to tornado!) is always in order and a beer or two with the uh , friendly, uh, friendly like a sleeping alligator, bar tender and rented a truck up to Santa Rosa. Every time I go to Lagunitas I am dumbfounded by their growth. Lets be honest though, their pulled pork nachos deserve a spot in the pork and/or nacho Hall of Fames. This will be coming to a menu near you! Onward to Russian River Brewing, a quick trip up the road. The production facility is in an industrial park, and wreaks of spent grains and CO2 (more on the CO2 later). Upon entrance I see the infamous MoreBeer! 26 gallon brewing setup for their experimental brewing. Yeah, the same one Tim and I bought and the sole reason this ridiculous idea got started. That system looked at me and said, "You bought yours because of me, hows that working chump". So next, a brewery tour was in order. The "Vinnie Way" was all over this place. Rewind a bit. Vinnie Cilurzo (who was out of town on this occasion) is a brewing legend in the bay area and owns/operates Russian River Brewing Co. If a word has come out of his mouth or written from his hand, it has probably been heard or read by me. This trip was confirmation that, yes, he is insane in every good way. The lab, the 60 bbl brewhouse, the fermentors, and the barrels. Oh the barrels! We made it into the taps and tasted the products. A few unreleased beers, a few well known, and a few more touched me in the tongue and I touched back. Great beers, as always, and with the brewers who made em. I felt at home in the house that Pliny built. We went to the pub and checked the 15bbl brewhouse there. I ordered a vegan pizza and got beat up verbally by the Russian River brewing crew. Punks! The night will be remember as one of the greats.
Upon waking in an RV in the Russian River Parking lot at 6 a.m., I smelled something oh so sweet. Grains!!!!! I was late to mash in! Luckily, changing clothes wasn't part of the agenda, so I ran in to see Travis gripping coffee over the mash tun on the brew deck. It's the system that Sam Calagione sold Vinnie a few years back, its, well, interesting. Damnation was being mashed and it was sassy in my nose. Not that I needed to confirm this, but brewers work HARD. Sweat on a 45 degree morning is like a sunburn on a 110 degree day. Well... never mind, you get it. A few ruff spots hear and there, and the lauter got to its thing flowing ahead of the boil. I was the idiot who volunteered to mill grains for the next batch and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. As the morning flew by I picked Travis's brain to borderline annoyance. It was AWESOME. What an amazing brewer that man be. He be real smart. Vinnie doesnt let ANYTHING with the initials O2 get by him. CO2 is the only combatant to staling his beautiful beers and they sure use it. I am not complaining, nor is the air-gas delivery guy, because this beer speaks for itself. I caught the crazy bug even more and put some in my wallet. Crazy is good.
Getting back to SF for Breast Fest was a long traffic ridden drive. The bridge held its breath as I crossed and I was in the city. Breast Fest isn't a job for me to cover, but I met up with several faces I knew (Thanks Pitcher of Nectar for the tix). A nice lil brewer laden group headed over to La Trappe after the fest. Sours and Belgians were flowing and I got to chat with Rodger and Claudia Davis formally of Drake's and Tripple Rock Fame. They are starting Faction Brewing in the East Bay and we talked trials and tribulations. Good stuff to hear from a legend. A collaboration is in order with Faction next year sometime. Some Sierra Nevada boys and I shared a few and talked some shop. A few, or several, hours later the crowd finally slowed down and I slept on someones hotel room floor. With a Sheet and the window open. Sore throats suck!
The next couple of days were filled with places such as Monks Kettle, Zeitgiesit, Southern Pacific brewing, and several more. Berkeley was my last stop to visit the Drake's owned tap house, Jupiter, and my friend Jeff the brewmaster at Tripple Rock. Ideas and beers were tossed around and off I went across the bay. Another successful bay area recon trip (besides the 15 hr flight delay). AZWBC will be better for it.
OK back to earth, we found an architect that is weird enough even for me. We had another visit to the proposed location (721 N. Arizona in Gilbert) and I thought the meeting went very well. Thanks Eric at the Boulders for the referral. This means we have a contractor, an architect, a CPA, a lawyer, a building, and Gilbert City Council vote in order. Life is good! Lease negotiations are easy with good people. We are blessed to have an easy going group to deal with. I still say though, BEWARE homebrewers who want to go pro, these things can get mighty mighty risky! You will pay for these minor things in the long run. We will sign this lease as soon as we feel Gilbert officially approve's the plans.
Kickstarter swag is almost all here. We decided, since the opening is still several months away, to look for possible locations to hold a AZWBC swag party. This doesn't mean we are not going to send yours in the mail, it just means its much easier to hand it in person sans shipping. Plus, parties are always fun. Expect news on that soon.
Ok, back to planning, reading resumes, reading books and microscopes. This one was too long, so next time I will talk about the Northern AZ yeast I collected, new recipes, and one last AZWBC tasting before we open.
Jonathan
Upon waking in an RV in the Russian River Parking lot at 6 a.m., I smelled something oh so sweet. Grains!!!!! I was late to mash in! Luckily, changing clothes wasn't part of the agenda, so I ran in to see Travis gripping coffee over the mash tun on the brew deck. It's the system that Sam Calagione sold Vinnie a few years back, its, well, interesting. Damnation was being mashed and it was sassy in my nose. Not that I needed to confirm this, but brewers work HARD. Sweat on a 45 degree morning is like a sunburn on a 110 degree day. Well... never mind, you get it. A few ruff spots hear and there, and the lauter got to its thing flowing ahead of the boil. I was the idiot who volunteered to mill grains for the next batch and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. As the morning flew by I picked Travis's brain to borderline annoyance. It was AWESOME. What an amazing brewer that man be. He be real smart. Vinnie doesnt let ANYTHING with the initials O2 get by him. CO2 is the only combatant to staling his beautiful beers and they sure use it. I am not complaining, nor is the air-gas delivery guy, because this beer speaks for itself. I caught the crazy bug even more and put some in my wallet. Crazy is good.Getting back to SF for Breast Fest was a long traffic ridden drive. The bridge held its breath as I crossed and I was in the city. Breast Fest isn't a job for me to cover, but I met up with several faces I knew (Thanks Pitcher of Nectar for the tix). A nice lil brewer laden group headed over to La Trappe after the fest. Sours and Belgians were flowing and I got to chat with Rodger and Claudia Davis formally of Drake's and Tripple Rock Fame. They are starting Faction Brewing in the East Bay and we talked trials and tribulations. Good stuff to hear from a legend. A collaboration is in order with Faction next year sometime. Some Sierra Nevada boys and I shared a few and talked some shop. A few, or several, hours later the crowd finally slowed down and I slept on someones hotel room floor. With a Sheet and the window open. Sore throats suck!
The next couple of days were filled with places such as Monks Kettle, Zeitgiesit, Southern Pacific brewing, and several more. Berkeley was my last stop to visit the Drake's owned tap house, Jupiter, and my friend Jeff the brewmaster at Tripple Rock. Ideas and beers were tossed around and off I went across the bay. Another successful bay area recon trip (besides the 15 hr flight delay). AZWBC will be better for it.
 |
| Hi. |
 |
| Where is the Toronado? |
 |
 |
| Travis and I sharing |
 |
| Things need done. |
 |
| Aaron getting his Aaron on. |
 |
| We "bearded" |
 |
| Barrel Love |
 |
| The Vinnie Nail |
 |
| Sharing with the brewers |
 |
| The 15 bbl pub brewhouse |
 |
| Travis and his B-I-L getting groovy at the pub |
 |
| Bottling line |
 |
| Milling at the house that Pliny Built |
 |
| Eating at the pork store on Hiaght/Ashbury is A MUST eveytime. |
 |
| Breast Fest |
 |
| Tree Beers! |
 |
| Hmmm |
 |
| Zietgiest and the trees. We are getting trees at the pub. |
 |
| These lights will be in the pub. |
 |
| A lil gem that was Southern Pacific. |
 |
| Like Whoa |
 |
| Speaking the Gospel |
 |
| Heat and Sun |
OK back to earth, we found an architect that is weird enough even for me. We had another visit to the proposed location (721 N. Arizona in Gilbert) and I thought the meeting went very well. Thanks Eric at the Boulders for the referral. This means we have a contractor, an architect, a CPA, a lawyer, a building, and Gilbert City Council vote in order. Life is good! Lease negotiations are easy with good people. We are blessed to have an easy going group to deal with. I still say though, BEWARE homebrewers who want to go pro, these things can get mighty mighty risky! You will pay for these minor things in the long run. We will sign this lease as soon as we feel Gilbert officially approve's the plans.
Ok, back to planning, reading resumes, reading books and microscopes. This one was too long, so next time I will talk about the Northern AZ yeast I collected, new recipes, and one last AZWBC tasting before we open.
Jonathan
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Boom shackalaka
I sit here writing the final
touches on an extensive, ever changing, and, well, somewhat frustrating
business plan. I don't know how many people actually take pleasure
in writing these
things, but I do believe this massive textual massacre of a plan will
be a useful tool to clearly pave the future. As I write my dreams on paper on
this the 4th of July, I actually believe in a crazy notion: this dream is
going to become reality. I am struck with a certain prideful....let’s
call it a tickle. A prideful tickle? Never mind, let’s just say
I feel prideful. The pride felt is from
the ability to create this dream without any oppression of another man's idea.
The American philosopher Eric
Hoffer's quote, "There can be no real freedom without the
freedom to fail." says it more eloquently than I. So, with that sentiment, I wish you all a Happy Independence Day. Put that crap beer down, and go find a local hand crafted
beer that a crazy dreamer made.
Brewery news is slow this month; I even high-fived a snail out of impatience. We are on the docket in the
Gilbert's city council meeting for August the 3rd. I believe we
will not have any issues or bumps in the road. No picketing and rock
throwing needed, Gilbert is a progressive town these days. We will be
holding hands into the sunset and being taxed before we know it! The
lease is still only a promise at this point but negotiations are
going as expected. Next week we have set a goal to sign the lease and
begin construction within two weeks. July will leave some scars, lack of
sleep, weight loss, and good ol' excitement. That's the signs of
progress!
We are trying to nail down our staff needs. We are opening
the search for a full time head brewer. 1+ year minimum of commercial
brewing experience will be the main criteria of the job. This
job will entail day to day operations such as, cleaning, cleaning, and probably
some cleaning. Then we will get groovy from the mill to the serving tank
and all that greatness in between. I don't want to get to in
depth with the requirements, just send
resumes to JBuford@azwildernessbrewing.com. Only bearded men and women
who could grow one if requested need apply.
I believe in what are doing.
Jonathan
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Acetaminophen, coffee, and 115 degrees.
Another installment that is I, Jonathan Buford, reporting what's happening in the world of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
The build-out is looking feasible. That is, the estimates we have received won't break the budget. Yay. OK, YAY! The direction we take things will certainly take some work, but nothing seems out of the ordinary. * A side note: please remember to not open fridges of previously abandoned restaurants. A free tip that my stomach would prefer others not go through.* Anyways, when you are plugging away at a business plan and dreaming up a vision you might, how do I say this, be an idiot at times. The elephants and midgets may not be feasible, nor will the garden in the middle where you can "pick your own" sandwich toppings (so sad about that one, health code shmealth code). With some great advice, and lets be honest, other peoples money, the vision for the atmosphere inside starts to take shape. I love the outdoors, and I love it more in Arizona than any other state. So we want to bring a little of that to 721 N Arizona Ave. without it looking like Zsa Zsa Gabor and the southwest made a turquoise love child. After many o' travels and asking for wisdom from publicans, I have said vision for our place. Natural wood, rusted ribbed sheet metal, photography of AZ, a rock wall (not to be confused with a rock wall that you can actually climb), a trail system, and many other artistic touches of this state. The menu will take you from Belgium to Germany (Schnitzel!)to England, and back to the USA. That's where my brewing influences come from, so why not cook that way as well? The brew system itself must be engaging to the viewing audience. Why else are we throwing our souls into an abyss like this if we can't show patrons how we do it? Viewing bearded, sweaty, and smelly men throwing grains and hot water together will be perfect for a romantic lunch! My point is, expect something unique. Something different. I like people, I want to make beer for people who want to be made, err, uh, huh? I just want to enjoy myself and have everyone do the same. I certainly understand why some pub owners stay in the back, its mind numbing to try and make a buck in this business and then you have to explain "what an IBU is", or "whats floating in my beer?" after a 12 hour shift. Call me naive, but that excites me. It will be my personality inside a 4000sq ft building ( I think that's a positive?). Once the lease has been negotiated we then will start construction. Hopefully next time, we are talking about that.
Swag is slowly coming in. Kickstarter rewards aren't easy to decide on. These are part of a marketing plan and I would prefer they don't offend people. I hope we can have an opening gala to host a majority of you generous folks and then you can leave with some swag on that day. Of course I can send them by snail, but it sure would be amazing to have everyone start us off with a bang while flashing our gear. I want to have the party in 2012, that is the goal.
Finally, I hope to see you all at made in the shade. I will be the one with the wort in my backpack as I want to do an open ferment in the cool pines of AZ. Many of the deciduous and conifer trees secrete a sugar source perfect for our little yeasty boys to thrive in. I will simply take some unfermented wort, let it open all night while we celebrate.... it being Saturday. Then hopefully come home and analyze some healthy organisms!
Till next time.
Jonathan, husband of the wonderful Katie Buford.
The build-out is looking feasible. That is, the estimates we have received won't break the budget. Yay. OK, YAY! The direction we take things will certainly take some work, but nothing seems out of the ordinary. * A side note: please remember to not open fridges of previously abandoned restaurants. A free tip that my stomach would prefer others not go through.* Anyways, when you are plugging away at a business plan and dreaming up a vision you might, how do I say this, be an idiot at times. The elephants and midgets may not be feasible, nor will the garden in the middle where you can "pick your own" sandwich toppings (so sad about that one, health code shmealth code). With some great advice, and lets be honest, other peoples money, the vision for the atmosphere inside starts to take shape. I love the outdoors, and I love it more in Arizona than any other state. So we want to bring a little of that to 721 N Arizona Ave. without it looking like Zsa Zsa Gabor and the southwest made a turquoise love child. After many o' travels and asking for wisdom from publicans, I have said vision for our place. Natural wood, rusted ribbed sheet metal, photography of AZ, a rock wall (not to be confused with a rock wall that you can actually climb), a trail system, and many other artistic touches of this state. The menu will take you from Belgium to Germany (Schnitzel!)to England, and back to the USA. That's where my brewing influences come from, so why not cook that way as well? The brew system itself must be engaging to the viewing audience. Why else are we throwing our souls into an abyss like this if we can't show patrons how we do it? Viewing bearded, sweaty, and smelly men throwing grains and hot water together will be perfect for a romantic lunch! My point is, expect something unique. Something different. I like people, I want to make beer for people who want to be made, err, uh, huh? I just want to enjoy myself and have everyone do the same. I certainly understand why some pub owners stay in the back, its mind numbing to try and make a buck in this business and then you have to explain "what an IBU is", or "whats floating in my beer?" after a 12 hour shift. Call me naive, but that excites me. It will be my personality inside a 4000sq ft building ( I think that's a positive?). Once the lease has been negotiated we then will start construction. Hopefully next time, we are talking about that.
Finally, I hope to see you all at made in the shade. I will be the one with the wort in my backpack as I want to do an open ferment in the cool pines of AZ. Many of the deciduous and conifer trees secrete a sugar source perfect for our little yeasty boys to thrive in. I will simply take some unfermented wort, let it open all night while we celebrate.... it being Saturday. Then hopefully come home and analyze some healthy organisms!
Till next time.
Jonathan, husband of the wonderful Katie Buford.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Look! Over here! BEER NEWS!
Well, our state and city licence is now null and void as far as Queen Creek goes. We have turned in our new application tot he state for Gilbert and life moves on again. A lease should be locked up soon and we will now digress down the spiral that is making yeast and sugar dance. I will be venting, crying, giggling and enlightening all with the progress from here on out as it should get interesting (again).
I am typing with 13 hrs of driving from Paso Robles, California behind me. First off let it be known the the reason Firestone Walker Brewing Company is so successful is their complete and total love of the brewing community. I will always try and emulate the "Everyone is family policy" I receive from them. That followed by the best organization I've ever seen and , oh BTW, Mathew Brynildson is a fine brewer/human being. He enjoys people with passion as I do and we bounced that energy off of each other. They have been there for us during our Kickstarter campaign, all the advice on opening, and offering us some specs on our beer from their state of the art QC lab. Many other breweries out there have similar stories as I do. They deserve all the greatness they are experiencing. No brown nosing here, just some respect!
We will be hiring a head brewer in the coming months. I will let you know when we will be taking resumes for that and a few other positions. We are eyeing January 2013 to begin brewing with the restaurant opening this September/October. Excitement is upon us. I have been lining up several out of state collaborations, in state, and one from the moon. Our menu is going to be made for taste buds and bellies who need a new twist on pairing beer with gnosh. Starting next month, our test batches will be moving back towards the Belgian influence. A bier de mars, a coffee saison, and a basil/lime witt are on the docket. We will be waiting for our wine barrels to arrive to commence with experiments on other eclectic and eccentric beers after bouncing idea's between our friends at Nebraska Brewing Co and Russian River Brewing Co. on working with wine barrels. Lot to lean as these beers take time to perfect so lets brew baby brew.
In cool, and downright purdy Pine, Arizona moves are being made in the AZ beer scene. The ownership is the same but the name "rimside grill" has been laid to rest and "That Brewery" is the new vision. We stopped in after a exhausting backpack and were nourished with, well, beer. The brewer was said to be in Colorado purchasing some brewing equipment but we were able to check out the 5 bbl system. The menu is a good ol' pub menu and the burger I had was a beauty paired with a beer. San Tan was representing their too with the Hefe. They should be brewing and selling at the pub sometime soon. Northward bound is always a good thing!
http://www.thatbrewery.com/
http://www.thatbrewery.com/
-Jonathan
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