Wilderness Euro Extravaganza!

Watch the Documentary! http://vimeo.com/108692162

Day 1: We landed in London, having little knowledge of the area. Patrick and I had been to London once before but only for 13 hours, so we had little experience. Day one, we decided to not contact anyone we knew and just wing it (tourists!). You know, to view the city as a newcomer. We did this mainly to find out what was good and bad with an unbiased opinion.  We learned a valuable lesson...As many good pubs as there are in London, there are double the piss poor pubs. Fosters on cask? The worst fish 'n' chips you'll ever have? Conglomerate owned? CHECK. However, when it's bad it's bad and when it's good it's incredible. Having been annoyed with a few old timer and touristy pubs, we made our way to The Euston Tap in the old Euston train station. This place is legit in every way. We were met by a lovely couple who greeted us as: "The Arizona Beards", which was awesome. We digressed into several pints from Buxton, Siren, Kernal, Brew By Numbers, Beavertown, and many more local breweries.  We wandered into Camden Town and enjoyed the night having pints and meeting new people.

Day 2: We headed to Logan Plant's brewery, Beavertown Brewery, where we were set to brew a collaboration red saison with sour cherries and currants, along with Mikkeller and TO ØL.

 Logan

may be the son of a rock legend, but to us he is a world class gent making world class beer.

Jen, Beavertown's head brewer, immediately greeted us with a smile and took us to discover a "Full English" breakfast.



My lord, their traditional breakfasts are massive and awesome! Back at the brewery, we got the full tour. Their new kit (brewery) is only 3 months old and they are still working out some minor tweaks. The beer was stellar, so things are fitting right into place for Beavertown. Midway through the morning, and a few pints later, we were presented with the Hop Bucket Challenge. I'll post the video of this idiocracy :). Just imagine all of us uncomfortably covered in hop sludge!

Eventually, we made our way to Logan's BBQ joint,  Dukes,  and had a freaking FEAST.

  Mikkel, as always, destroyed meat like it was his last meal. This is by far the best meal in London that we had. We loved everything about Dukes and will forever remember this meal!
We went late into the night, having great libations. Tore from TO Øl might still feel that one! This was easily one of the best days of the trip, and let me tell you that we are honored to call Beavertown Brewery our friends. Each and every one of those beautiful people makes that company amazing. Cheers guys, thanks for having us!

Day 3-4
As memory fades in and out, I reach to reminisce on these two foggy days. We visited pubs and breweries such as:Pressure Drop, 5 Points, and The Cock all in Hackney.

 Several times we got lost, only to bury our face in a cask ale to regain composure. 

 These couple of days is where we really got to see the north side of London and fell in love with cask ale. It's quite a unique city with massive amounts of beauty,

diversity, and culture. Our good friends Neil, Sarah, and Lucy from Team Brewdog reached out to us and became our drinking mates for those nights. They talked us into a last minute flight to Aberdeen, Scotland and of course we obliged! So, onto the Brewdog mother ship and the land of Whiskey!

Day 5-6: The Grey Land.

Low lying clouds, fog, monotone granite buildings, paired against dense, green rolling hills. It's a dreary, yet, charmed world. Aberdeen birthed Brewdog's flagship beer bar, and that's where we headed first. This is a unique city, with oil in dem hills, which took a normally sleepy town into a haven for oil crazed businessmen. It brought gobs of money to an otherwise lifeless town. As always, the Brewdog bar (this one being the original) was set up quite nicely, and we enjoyed a few pints.

We wandered the seaside town from there, stopping at various places. 6°( a Belgian beer bar)

and CASC (a wide variety of Scottish Whiskey and beer bar)

were both notably great as well.
A side note on Patrick and I traveling abroad, or in general for that matter: We won't ever be called timely, organized, or even prepared, but damn do we have more fun than most! A Last minute trip to an oil rich country with an influx of business people weekly would normally garner a hotel room booked in advance. Nope. On our landing approach to the Aberdeen Airport,  Patrick and I decided we would sleep in a park. And by golly, did we ever sleep in a park!

What a great, cold, and damp experience. Don't worry we were prepared with thermarest pads and airplane blankets. Upon waking, we headed to Ellon, where the Brewdog production facility is.

Jon, a brewer there, guided us on a tour of the endeavors brewery. It's grown quite a bit over the years and there was lots to see.

Honestly though, what an incredible company with amazing, kind, generous, funny, and fun loving people. They truly are the pride of Scotland. We met Martin, one of the two crazy brains behind the behemoth which is Brewdog. Trust me, this brewery is all passion, and their head brewer, Bowman, a good friend with the thickest Scottish accent around, is doing amazing things up there! A special thanks to Brewdog Neil, Lucy, and Sara for all your hospitality! We left, I'll admit it, exhausted, dazed, and confused!

  But we must push on....

Day 6-7
We had met Buxton Brewing's Colin, Jake, Dennis, and Jeff in Copenhagen at Mikkeller's CBC in May. You'll never guess it, but we really hit it off with these guys! Go figure! One night in particular, we rambled on of a bacon, maple, chipotle stout named Dragon "Tips" ( right ;) ). So, that was the brewing agenda. Upon arriving to the quant and charming town of Buxton England, Colin, the brewmaster, drove us through the stonewall lined country side. This is truly the old world! The rolling hills, the dense forest, the black birds, the greenery, the stonewall lined roads, the perfectly rolled hay bails...it was quintessentially perfect. We ended up at an old pub at the top of a mighty hill for a few cask ales.

Seriously, this was top 3 moments of the trip! We eventually made it to the butcher shop to buy the bacon for the collab beer. Upon arrival, the butcher exclaimed, "Bacon in Beer?! Now, that will be good!" We made it to their production facility and met up with possibly the funniest man in all of brewing, Jake. His handsome mustache and legendary wit will put a smile on any person's face!

We all went out and had dinner at the Buxton Pub where the food matched the greatness of the beer. Those boys at Buxton are making some of the best beer in all of Europe!

No cell phones or TV, just chatter and banter. We headed out for one of the funniest, laughter filled evening of our lives. After quite a few pints, Jake taught us a game wherein you start in a football stance and heave at each other while trying to hit each other's elbows. Imagine us in an awkward dance-like match,  slapping toward each other's elbows. We were kicked out of a few bars, like proper bearded men! Then onto Monk,

a beer and cocktail bar that kept us "busy" until the sun came up. That place is a real gem!

Brewday at Buxton started with Patrick laying mangled on the floor beside the bed and myself dazed and confused.

 We were quite knackered to say the least.
Jake was pounding on our hotel door yelling, "Are the Americans in there?" Seriously,  dude is a freaking riot! The brewday was so much delirious fun. We doused ourselves in cold liquor to turn our brains on.

 Colin is a madman on that brewstand, and he brewed like the great brewer he is. Jake and I went to retrieve his guitar, because, well of course we had to improvise a song dedicated to the collaboration!





Oh my, so many good times were had.

Colin, Jake, and Dennis are some of the best people out there. Our one big regret is we didn't spend more time in Buxton! (Travel in the U.K is slow moving and prevented us staying to long in one place)

We finished that night with a flight back to London

at a bar called Last Resort. A jam-packed basement bar with all 90's and early 2000's American rock. Everyone screams out the songs in pure teenage angst and emotion. It was a great way end to the U.K. We did not sleep and boarded a plane for Geneva!

Day 8-10
SWITZERLAND.  OH SWITZERLAND!

Webster's has it all wrong. The definition of beauty is certainly lying somewhere in the Swiss Mountains. Traveling from Geneva to Yverdon by train reminded us that A.)Traveling Europe can be very expensive,  B.) Remember to check the train schedule! C.) We don't know French or German! D.) Traveling in Europe will build quite a bit of cultural awareness.  We arrived at the Yverdon train station with zero knowledge of the area and little communication ability. We managed to contact Raphaël,  the owner of Trois Dames Brewing in St Croix, Switzerland,  who drove down the mountain to retrieve us. Now, Raphaël's nickname, "madman" was given to him by us due to his ever moving, ever changing nature. I promise, we mean that in the nicest way possible! He bounces passion and ideas all over the place like a room full of dodge balls and you're the fat kid. On our way up the mountain to St Croix,  Patrick and I had a few jaw dropping moments due to the spectacular scenery. The curvy accent had flowing streams and waterfalls running in every direction, right next to the road. The Alps were behind us and the Jura Mountains in front. Château style homes became more prevalent as we gained elevation.

We learned that Absinthe was historically a Swiss creation and Raphaël wished to share ideas on a brew with some of the absinthe herbs. We agreed upon a black saison with the absinthe plant and fennel.

He took us to an absinthe museum
and we learned quite a bit about this amazing, misunderstood (in American culture) beverage. A farmer brought down the herb so we could brew with it the next day. Now that's service! Wow it smelled amazing!







 We continued up a very steep single lane mountain road

to reach a local mountain chalet for dinner. On the way up, we dug into hillside for roots that are traditionally used in absinthe,

which really brought us into our Wilderness realm. Saying this place has breathtaking views is an enormous understatement!  Panning across the horizon, the views of the Jura mountains with somewhat dramatic, low lying storm clouds dropping into the green valley below, were simply breathtaking.  Cows lined the ridges, and they were all wearing little handmade bells that sounded like hundreds of wind  chimes ringing in unison.

 See this all come together is an experience I will never forget! It was a symphony of nature's wonder.

 As we walked into the quintessential Swiss Chalet for dinner (this, after we had charcuterie at another chalet) we sat at community picnic table style. You see, most places in Europe share space in restaurants.

People bring their dogs, conversations, and NEVER their cell phones! It's especially this way in the chalets. This particular establishment served one thing: Swiss Beignets. These are world famous and they have not changed the recipe for 70 years! What a treat! Oh my, we loved it. We then hiked to the ridge of a mountain and watched the sunset over the Swiss Alps. Truly unbelievable!

We awoke the next morning to yet another

chalet breakfast of another amazing indigenous cheese related breakfast (forgot the name). Topped with an egg, and served with local spring water, YES!

You see, there was never talk of low fat, gluten-free, sugar content, etc... They live off of the agricultural values of the land. The cows have an incredible history with the mountain towns (too much for me to share) and they are used mainly for their milk. Pigs

and chickens were all behind each chalet, and bread was always being made and meat was always hanging for curing. This was a true local culture experience.

We eventually headed to the brewery where we met, Mike, the head brewer at Trois Dames. What a great guy! Raphaël asked us to help taste all the beer in his barrels ,and, well, we obliged!

After indulging in barrel aged beers, we took an afternoon hike on the high peaks,

and it was the most gorgeous land we've ever seen. We even went spelunking
into black cave and watched the storms roll in.









 An incredible adventure! 

Lets fast forward to dinner because it was so memorable. Now imagine this: Driving with Raphaël and his lovely wife Sylvie up a narrow mountain road at sunset,  as a full moon rises over jagged peaks. Mountains dropping into green, rolling valleys surround your peripheral. It actually was quite a romantic moment for Patrick and I!

We pulled up to the small chalet, which was advertised as having the world's best fondue by Raphael and Sylvie.

 It was lit only by little burning oil lamps hanging over each table and they serve a beautiful white wine made from Swiss grapes. The room is small and dimly lit. No WiFi,  cell service, TV, and no bar. Just 6 cozy community tables. The fondue comes in a house made bread bowl and consists of Gruyere cheese made from the local cow's milk. It also used some spices grown hillside. It's lit underneath by hand to melt the cheese and you pick away at the bread bowl as a table. Oh. My. Lord. I am ruined forever. Fondue will forever be average at best! The tastiest cheese I've ever had.  Every meal ends with a digestive, which is basically distilled herbs.

We walked back to the car and roaming donkeys were blocking the way out! So we pet them and laughed as they stubbornly stood there. What a beautiful evening with the Mettlers. They are seriously great people!

Day 9-10

 We brewed the collab dark absinthe saison

and made deliveries with Raphaël.


 The madman brews a bit, packages, sales, cleans, books, and delivers in a small van. This was truly a great day seeing more of the country side.
OK, I am tired of typing, so let's end this! 

We headed back to Geneva for an evening and flew back home. I left out SO MUCH but I hope you all get the gist!
The great adventure has come to an end as all great adventures must!

Wildland Firefighters

Wildland Firefighters. The men and women who do this normally get into the field simply because of lack of direction.  There is always a need for firefighters and it serves as a summer job after high school/college for most.  Many of them move on to other careers after their first or second season and some even move on to structure firefighting.  The few who spend season after season are the guys I know. Like brewers, these guys work their guts out and there is no end in site.  They, well the ones I got to know, love to have a GOOD time and they love their families. I dunno, they are just my type of people. That's the best way to equate it.  Lets go back a bit: My cousin is a seasoned vet of the hotshot world.  He has traveled the country paying his dues, leaving a bit of himself on every fire.  Many Hot Shoters move to where the work is from season to season, and leave the crew they spent the recent summer with, as my cousin did. When I got the phone call that he was coming to Arizona to join the Granite Mountain Hotshots, I was elated.  Normally he was based in Nor Cal and I would receive pictures from rugged hillsides with a blazing plume looming in the background.  I always stopped and put myself in his shoes, imagining that my paycheck depended on me heading towards a 5 thousand foot smoke tower, simply to cut a line and attempt to quell the fire in 100 plus degree heat. My cousin, at the time of joining the GMH crew was lead chainsaw.  He literally carried up to 100 pound pack (with a saw) and cut the way for the crew.  (Sorry about your rush hour traffic debacle, but maybe you are not in the worst spot ever!)  These guys are the ultimate brothers and sisters, spending countless hours in their crew buggies traveling from fire to fire, exhausted.   I never got to fight fires with the Granite Mountain crew, but I would have.  I would have marched into a fire with them after the year I spent getting to know most of them.  We would get pretty rowdy in Prescott at the local watering holes, with nothing but pints of craft beer, stories, and smiles.  My cousin always gave me a heads up when they were coming home for a mandatory day off (after working 14 days strait it's a federal mandate to send em home for 2 days)  Yea, 100 hr weeks wearing the hot fire suits, carrying heavy weight, wearing out your boots in 100 degree temps warrants a 2 day off period. That's how I knew them, as skinny, overworked and starving for a good night on the town. Wow, I am so blessed to meet those idiots and have fun with them.  Garret, one of the GMH crew members, and I got particularly close. He worked as hard as anyone, and Wildland Firefighting fit him perfectly.  When I received a phone call the evening of June 30th 2012, It was my cousins broken voice.  He was trying to let me know something had happened.  My cousin was promoted three months before the fire and left the GMH crew for a new full time job in Wildland Firefighting. On June 30 his new crew was traveling to the Yarnell Hill Fire, which was still in its infancy.  He was so elated to get to see his old GMH crew members.  During the lengthy drive from Norther California, my cousin recived a call that  forever changed his life.  The call was from someone in charge on the fire at Yarnell Hill with tragic news. 19 down. My cousin soon called me, knowing many of them were friends of mine.  I said, "Is Garret ok?" "He is OK right?".  The rest is personal. The rest left a pit in many peoples hearts forever.

 Garret attempted to wear the same shirt everyday for a year.  That smelly bastard looked so good in that shirt! He made such a positive impression on everyone that he came in contact with. Upon arriving to the campsite we chose for my 30th birthday party, Garret had a gift waiting for me.  A goodwill picture of a stoic Navajo Indian with some humorous sayings written around it. I can't help to laugh while writing this. He and those 19 guys were incredible.

The main reason I am writing this post is to inform you why we are choosing the Wildland Firefighter Foundation as a charity that we will back for years to come.  Mostly, it because they protect the Wilderness we are so fortunate to enjoy.  Also, the care that they took for my family and friends affected by the Yarnell Fire. During a time of tragedy is a difficult task. Brendon, AKA doughnut, occasionally comes into the pub and reminiscences of his 19 compadres over a pint. When I heard that he took employment with the WFF, I knew we had to see what their needs were and how we can help.  This year, $1 of each Slide Fire Red will go to the WFF. Speaking with the folks at the WFF, they were so humbled and appreciative that we were making that donation.  I said, "wait till next years donation!"

Folks, this is what craft beer can do.  It brought many of those 19 together on time their off time, home from fire ravaged land. They will never get to see AZWBC, but their collective spirit lives on in these brewery walls.

Jonathan.  

2013 loves me, loves me not.

My mood is set to Bliss. My sleep patterns, 6-8 per night. Bags under my eyes...GONE. As many of you know, these things weren't always this way.  As I reflect on all things 2013, I don't know whether or not to A.)quiver in fear B.)jump as high as I can (2-5 inches at best) or C.) both. I'll tell you this much: we are open and that's the daily agenda around here.  No more cryin', no more stress to "get open".  January of last year we had big hopes of opening in the Spring. We had little worries and construction was finally underway. Kids at the playground on the first day of summer. Then, in a act of brilliant defiance, life went, well,  all life on us. Months past, money ran dry, mortgages went late (WAY LATE), and sleep was near impossible. It became quite a long and pretty intolerant year.  " We will open in _________, we promise" became our motto. I could keep doing this in this blog, but why? I can barely remember those times.  This year doesn't end anywhere NEAR failure. For this year, my friends, may just be the greatest year of my life.

It all starts with team and  close family/friends.  I still lay my head on a pillow every night next to my beautiful and amazing wife, Katie.  Trust me, that's number 1 in my life whether or not we opened. I still love her with all of my heart and apparently she feels the same. So that's a win! My parent's would be proud of me even if I started a pooper scooper company (Pick Your Poo?), so I've got that still. Score. We have assembled a staff that has come together as a motley crew of bad-assery and silliness that I am totally in love with.  We know the importance they bring, therefore they are an extension of us. I mean c'mon every Saturday has been dubbed "Cat-ur-day" with them all dawning cat shirts. So good! We got them all Cicerone Certified Beer Server Exam's for Christmas.  They are our first crew and need to be honored as that and eternally thanked.   Brewing beer for a living is not the dream. No, it's having all of the above.  That is what makes me feel all of the freaking pride in the world.  That's the good stuff.

Finally, the beer. Oh the beer. We have made 24 different styles and 30 batches in 4 months.  From local produce, to a documentary featuring locally grown white wheat. From Cabernet grapes in the desert to wild yeast in a date porter. From spices, to barrel aging. The fact that you all show up...BRAVO. We aren't starving artist exclaiming to the world that "No one understands".  The life-blood. And we've only just begun! We know we aren't universally accepted (just read some of our SCATHING reviews!) We also know that we will fall short at times.  But know this: WE CARE MORE THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE. To the "bad review writer" they may think this place is four walls and a register just pushing another product.  To us, it's our legacy. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for accepting us and giving us a chance. Much love!

Shameless Plug: Check out our youtube channel!:  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzMkqJ8mj3GOJhL2PfKyVlA?feature=watch   

Jonathan