The Goat Rodeo

Japan !

2011-10-21T12:18:00.000-07:00

I don't really remember exactly how it came about, but I am pretty sure it was over a few beers. In Singapore everything seemed to happed over a few beers. My Friend Matt was always working on some scheme - this time he wanted to put on a beer festival. Not a completely unrealistic endeavour for him since he knew a fair bit about the business (after all he owned his own bar). And he needed a hand with this festival idea, so I said yes (because when you friend that owns a bar needs a hand - well, you should always say yes - undoubtedly somewhere along the line there will be free drinks to be had - or at least there should be).

This Festival would be the first BeerFest Asia ( http://www.beerfestasia.com/ ). Matt also wanted to put on a beer competition and, having done a few, I agree to help there as well. He got Charlie Guerrier to manage the competition and off we went. I helped them with the beer fest and competition for the next three years and in doing so got to know a bunch of great people, and this lead to an invitation to judge beers in New Zealand and then this year to Japan.

I had always wanted to visit Japan, but there had never been an opportunity. Sure, I had transited through the Narita airport and used their famous (and awesome) beer machine ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYxzHPYdwwI&NR=1&feature=fvwp & http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-axfcEwI5E&NR=1 ), but that doesn't really count as actually having visited Japan. So when Charlie called and said that Ryouji Oda was looking for beer judges and would I be iterested - I said "Yes. Oh, Hell yes !"

I had met several of the Japanese brewers at events over the years but I had not tasted many of their beers (most of their beers are not exported). The few that I had tried had been very good. Most had come from the Kiuchi Brewery, the makers of the Hitachino Nest beer and the delicious Nipponia ale ( http://www.kodawari.cc/ ) - the Kiuchi beers had all been very nice indeed. But one brewery does not represent the skill of the brewers for the whole country and so I did not know what to expect. I had read about the Japanese brewing scene over the years. I knew that their craft brewers (as New Zealand's) had gone through a similar initial boom and then bust as we had in the USA. Having worked in the nascent S.E. Asian craft beer market for the five years I presumed that it might be similar to that (albeit slightly more advanced due to its earlier start).

As is my way, upon arriving at a new locale I wandered about the neighborhood to get a feel for the lay of the land. Even on this early random reconnaissance I was surprised to find several interesting beer bars in area. This boded well for the rest of my stay. If there were several good (and unlisted) beer bars so close by, well there must be more (and hopefully even better one) further afield.
Right from the start I could see that judging beers in Japan was not going to be like judging beers in the USofA. For starters our hosts had our itineraries full - each evening we were being treated to a new (and exciting) beer venue. And each venue had some interesting foods to pair with the beer. And even thought the food might have been outside the range of what some of the judges found .... tasty - the beers we tried were very good.

The bent of the Japanese beers was less of extreme experimental (like one might find in the USA) and more on of the traditional European styles or (interestingly) focused on making a Japan-centric style of beer. A perfect example of this was the Nipponia beer made by Kuichi brewery. It uses Japan cultivated Sorachi Ace hops & locally grown Kaneko Golden Malt, and is aged (for a time I am told) in local Cedar wood. There were other examples of this variety of beer and it was nice to see Japanese brewers doing something unique to their region. (did I mention the beers tasted great too).

And then there was the food. Having spent five years in Singapore and S.E. Asia it is hard to make an impression on me when it comes to food, but the food we tried most definitely did that. There were (of course) some well done international dishes but what really impressed me was those dishes that were either traditional (I mean who doesn't love Octopus on a stick, cone sushi, fermented squid guts, or Wagu beef salad ? - http://www.flickr.com/photos/55592119@N00/6147211205/in/set-72157627546241305 ) or those dishes that were truly inventive combinations, ones that were a bend of Japanese and other cultural styles.

Also impressive was how much the bar staff and the owners were really interested in knowing and leaning more about beer and about what the Japanese beer scene was in comparison to where we were from.

(this blog post currently under construction - sorry for any inconvinience caused)

Points of interst
Ant N Bee:
http://metropolis.co.jp/dining/bar-reviews/ant-%E2%80%99n-bee/
Cataratas
http://www.cataratas-shibuya.com/
Club Popeye with 70 beers on tap (at least 4 cask):
http://www.40beersontap.com/ & http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/3131
Golden Gai (only for real bar lovers - all others stay away - please):
http://www.unmissabletokyo.com/golden-gai.html
Harvest Moon Brewery:
http://beerinjapan.com/bij/715/harvestmoon-brewery-tokyo-disney-resort/
Japan Beer Times (both paper & online veresions are interesting):
http://www.japanbeertimes.com/
Kiuchi Brewery and Sake Factory (great sake and fantastic Soba noodle house):
http://www.kodawari.cc/
Tip Top Cave (awesome hidden bar in Roppongi):
http://tiptop.deep-village.com/?page_id=51
Tower Beer Bar:
http://beerinjapan.com/bij/836/towers-standing-bar-tokyokyobashi/
http://www.towers-beer.com/

Pictured above: Brewer, Tatsu Aoki (owner of Popeye's) and Youichi Kiuchi (owner of Kiuchi Brewery)

brewer's Japan pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55592119@N00/sets/72157627546241305/

Connecting the Dots

2011-10-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

Everything that happens to you (both good and bad) leads you to where you are today.

I am a lucky man, no doubt about that one, and I know that. Considering my total lack of focus & direction as a young man, it could only have been luck that led to where I am today. I was lucky to have stumbled on a profession I love and a profession that I am able to do well in. Although given my interest in beer back in the day (almost anyone I knew at University would not be surprised to learn that I work in the beer business) maybe it was only natural that I ended up here.

But even once I landed in the beer business I was lucky. I was lucky to beg my way on at Redhook Brewery. Lucky to been taken under the wing of then Brewmaster Rick Buccanan, where he took the time to have me work at each job, in each department.

I was lucky to have had the son of a friend of my mother tell her about a brewing position at Pike Place brewery. I was lucky to have been accepted for that position. Lucky to have worked there for the esteemed beer guru Charles Finkel (and his lovely wife Roseann) who had many entrees and international beer connections. Had I worked at another brewery I would never have met so many beer illuminati. I would never have had evenings out with Michael Jackson (no the beer MJ), dinner at the home of Humphrey Smith (owner of Sam Smith's), beers in Aying seated between the Schniders (owners of Schnider Weiss Brewery) and Bavarian Prince Leopold, or a seat at a table for the opening night of Oktoberferfst in the Hacker Pschorr tent (with Wicked Pete & Garrett Oliver no less). Charles & Roseann were undoubtedly well connected. And Charles' relentless PR and savvy media sense got the little Pike Place brewery noticed (and with it, their head brewer - me). We (the brewers at the diminutive Pike Place brewery) used to joke that we got more PR per barrel than AB. It was through Charles that I got my first invitation to write about beer. It was during the years at the Pike Place Brewery that I made the vast majority of my connections in the industry.

Bill Owens, Dick Cantwell, Garrett Oliver, Terri Fahrendorf, Greg Noonan (all met during those years) - it was these folks (and maybe others) that mentioned my name to a headhunter who (in 2004) was looking for a brewer to open a new brewery in Singapore. Again. I was lucky to have connected with the head hunter and even luckier to have somehow convinced the project manager, Andrea Teo, that I was the person for that job. (and BTW, Andrea if you are reading this, which I doubt you are - you were an awesome person to work for). The five years I spent in Singapore were the most exciting 5 years I have had yet (although the 5 years I spent in University are a close second) and I was lucky to be working for such an industry leader in Asia (Asia Pacific Breweries). Once again the built in connections with the brewery I worked for opened doors that might have otherwise remained closed to me on my own. I got to work in Singapore, Vietnam, India and Indonesia. I was able to travel to every country in Asia (except Myanmar & Bangladesh) and I made many really great friends while I was in Asia.

It was one of these friends (Charles Guerrier) that called me a few months back and asked if I wanted to judge beer in Japan. I, of course, said yes (actually I said "Hell yes!"). And, it was of the Japanese Brewing scene and the Japanese brewers that I want to talk about today ...... but I somehow got caught up this digression and lost the plot in my preamble of connecting the dots. But here we are

Everything that happens to you leads to where you are today - or tomorrow. And so it will be tomorrow that I will post a blog on about Japan - and their wonderful beers, brewers and brewing scene. (or maybe later today)

Beer Week vs. Oktoberfest

2011-06-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, so, let’s be honest, if you are reading this blog you are either related to me (the most likely case) or you are a socially challenged beer enthusiast (a beer geek). If you fall into the latter category don’t feel bad, there is an ever growing number of us out there (as is evidenced by the incredible growth the craft beer segment is seeing right now). And being a Beer enthusiast you would (of course) want to spend your week’s vacation time in some exciting beer related activity (obviously).

The answer to what exciting beer event - well, it use to be obvious – there were not really that many choices. You had Oktoberfest or the Great British Beer Festival. Then later came the Great American Beer Festival, then the Oregon Brewer’s Festival, then ……

But in the last few years the equation has become much more complicated for us – enter the Beer Week. What (you may ask) is a Beer Week pray tell.
A Beer Week is a relatively new concept, it started in Philadelphia just a few years (only in 2008). And since its inception a short time ago, more than 50 other U.S. cities have emulated Philadelphia’s success and launched their own beer weeks. Today there is hardly a week goes by without a Beer Week happening in some city, somewhere in the USA.
The Beer Week is a semi-ill-defined grouping of beer events and activities that take place during a week inclusive of the weekend on either side. There is usually a central “opening event” that is “hosted” by the Beer Week organizers. This Gala event usually has all (most) of the participating breweries in attendance. These breweries are (by and large) breweries from around the sponsor city, but other breweries that sell beer I that market participate as well.

Then, throughout the week there are a myriad of other activities that are usually (but not limited to) events put on by individual retailers around the city. These events may include tap takeovers (where a pub takes off their regular line up to pour all the brands from one brewery), sit down beer dinners, guest chefs, beer & food pairings, BBQs, brewery promo nights, meet the brewer, beer style nights (like an all stout on draft), limited release beer launches, beer and music events, brewery schwag giveaways,– pretty much whatever one could dream up to entertain the patrons and promote beer.

To give you an idea this year we (Anderson Valley Brewing) participated in events in San Francisco, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Seattle, Chicago, DC and NYC. I (as Anderson Valley’s Brewer) did talks and beer dinner in each city. I also attended a few other brewer’s events. Some of these promotions are pretty outrageous; I went to a Firestone Walker beer dinner at Brouwer’s Café in Seattle that was over the top. It was hosted by David Walker (brewery owner). The food was prepared by celebrity beer chef Sean Paxton. There were 10 courses (including some of the most delicious things I have had in months) paired with different 12 beers (including special beers that even David Walker had not tasted in a long time) – The food was delectable, the beers great and the pairings awesome.

This year in Philadelphia there were over 900 of these kinds of events in and around the city during their 10 days of Beer Week. And really that speaks directly to my point.
Given the enormous range and number of choices (both in activities and in selection of beers) at a Beer Week, would you rather spend less (on flights, hotels and the events) and do more at a major cities’ beer week – or would you rather go to Oktoberfest ? I don’t mean to denigrate Oktoberfest (I have been four times, and I think ever beer geek should go once), and I love to travel around Germany as much as anyone - but Oktoberfest is just a single event (albeit one huge event), it is expensive ($$$), with only three styles of beers served, huge (HUGE) crowds, and only so-so food.

I am not saying don’t go to Oktoberfest - but I think that if you compare the offerings; the beers, the food, the activities, the patrons – I am saying there are other great choices out there in the beer world today. Check out the local Beer Week near you – I don’t think you will be disappointed

Almost all the Beer Weeks now have web sites with a good outline of their upcoming events. Check here for the web site listings:
http://www.craftbeer.com/pages/news-and-events/all-beer-weeks

In a Differnt Light

2011-02-15T15:09:00.001-08:00

I have been away for a while. I was overseas in Singapore setting up a breweries for the last 5 years (but if you are a regular reader - Hi Mom - then you already knew that). And after being away for a while I am, on my return, noticing things in our the industry that I had not expected to see.

I poured beer at the San Francisco Beer Week's Gala opening event last week. It was a fun time, with lots of great beers. I was struck by the shift in the demographic of the craft beer drinker. Unapologetically I will assert that thankfully gone are the days of craft beer events populated by 95% men - or to be more exact 95% middle aged overweight slightly balding geeky white men (and yes I am aware that I just pretty much described myself). After five years in Asia where the mix of men to women was about 60/40 and the racial mix diverse (to say the least) I had become accustom to .... well let us say - more engaging interactions at beer events. And so I was pleasantly surprised to see such a varied mix of people at the SF Beer Week Gala. Not only was he crowd about 40% women, people were (on average) younger than 5 years hence and not a small number of them were of extractions other than northern European. Now I realize that this was San Francisco and not the rural Northeast* so maybe this is not really a good representation of what's what out in the world but still- I have to say I was feeling good about what I was seeing.

Then, a few days later, I opened a beer magazine - and I quickly realized that maybe I had overestimated the changes that had taken place. This magazine is not representative of all beer magazines (not by any means), and I am not saying that there is not a place for almost everything in our world - but this particular mag seemed to have itself aimed squarely at a lot of those things that the beer industry has done so wrong for so long (think an ad with a women, bare legs spread wide, a carton of beer between them, and a tag line that reads "there's a party in my box" - I mean really this is as tricky as they could get for a full page ad ?). I won't bother to describe the articles, or the feebleminded cartoons. My point is not to rag on this particular rag.

My point is that we do not need to fall back on mindless worn out mega marketed beer clichés. We cannot take our ques from the Mega-brewery's marketeers (those very companies that helped create American beer's pedestrian reputation). We have to be move inventive than that.

If we (as brewers) want to invite and make more appealing our craft beer offerings to women and minorities then we are gonna have to make the industry more inviting to them.

We are going to have to make ourselves not just less unsavory (think "a party in my box") but a little more captivating. Craft beer has a tremendous amount of different experiences to offer people; great flavors, unique ingredients, colorful characters, camaraderie, great stories, wonderful food pairings, fantastic festivals & events (just to name a few). These are things that appeal to a broad spectrum of people, men and women alike - and from all walks of life.

Putting aside the fact that making your product more appealing to another 70 plus percent of the population would seem to make good business sense - wouldn't it be nice to have more diversity at our beers events and at our local watering holes?

We have an opportunity to bring into our fold segments of the population that have traditionally been ignored by the beer industry - and because of that they have shied away from beer. We have an opportunity to position craft beer in a way that it appeals to a much broader spectrum of folks.

It is an opportunity we should not pass up.

*This: http://www.statemaster.com/graph/peo_sex_rat-people-sex-ratio

*And This: http://www.statemaster.com/graph/peo_per_of_peo_who_are_whi_alo-people-percent-who-white-alone

Beer Mentality

2011-01-25T10:53:00.000-08:00

If I hurry I can post this by end of January (thus keeping my new New Year's resolution to blog at least once a month) - that is if I hurry. But I am not really one for rushing things. Maybe it is having grown up in Hawaii, or maybe it is living in NorCal for so long (or maybe not), but even when I lived in a city of five million I tried to take a more laid back view of things and to have a more relaxed approach.

I was reading a piece about rare beers the other day. You know the ones - those beers that people make only a small batch of - once a year, or maybe they only made two barrels of it - ever, or it’s the one that the monks only bottle on the third Thursday of each month, or possibly it was made with the fruit from a single tree, but that tree is gone because it got struck by lightning - "so, like we can never make that beer again.” You know - those beers.

Now I like a top of the line product as much as the next person, and I am all for experimental and one off beers, but if you only make eleven bottles or some such nonsense – what the point. It is a bit like dining on Ortolan* or tiger’s penis. Why would I want to spend money or stand in line to partake in something I would normally eschew at all costs ? Rarity does not equate to quality or even make something interesting.

And (yeah, I know you should never start a sentence with a conjunction, much less a whole paragraph) although I love Pliny the Younger (as well as Pliny the Elder), for the most part I have to concurred with this guys main point. Which is basically don't believe the hype**. Any beer you have to queue for more than 5 minutes for - it ain't worth it. It’s just another beer.

I know that it may be upsetting for some people to hear a brewer (someone who – literally – spends his days thinking of ways to make better beers) say that - but to be honest, for me it is less about the beer and more about the surroundings and the people I am with. And I think that is my point here. For me, drinking (and especially drinking beer) is very much about context. It is the main reason I rarely drink alone. I would rather have a PBR in some dive with my friends, than have a $1000.00 bottle of the world’s strongest beer (poured from the carcass of English road kill - really ?!?!) or a glass of '89 Haut-Brion - by myself. To my way of thinking it is the community that beer brings about that is special, the joy of shared experiences. It’s why I love a beer hall, a BBQ or a good bar.

These rare beers (and they may be great beers) – they are not about sharing, they are not about communal enjoyment – they are about what one person got a chance to have and other people did not, they are about exclusivity. These are not traits I hold in high esteem in the real world and they are not what I am looking for in my beer world. So of course I would prefer it be great beer that we were all drinking together – but if it’s not great beer – well, that is ok by me – as long as I am having beers with friends.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ortolan_Bunting

** Musical interlude (although I am more of an NWA kinda guy) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK2CBa2CmYE&

***like the strongest beer in the world would taste good anyway ?!? The last several times I had the “strongest beer in the world” (and it was not nearly as strong as the road kill beer) it tasted more like a maple syrup aged in oak than it did like a beer – yeeeh. If I want to have something that strong I usually have a shot of George Dickel or (on more expensive outings) of Pappy Van Winkle. If I have a beer, I want it to have some drinkability – with some carbonation and a bit of hops. sorry, I digress from the main.

Recipe for Disaster

2010-12-16T16:21:00.001-08:00

After doing the Brewingnetwork's radio show and having talked about Durian beer, a few people have asked for my Durian Beer recipe ....

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/BN-Army-Blog/Post-Session-12-12-10-Anderson-Valley-Brewing-Co

(you can jump to minute 49 if you would just like to hear about the Durian beer)

- so here it tis: (makes about 40 liters)

Buy one “fresh” Durian
wait 48 hours (for maximum odiferousness)
During this time the aroma may bother others - ignore their complaints*
open said Durian ,
separate Durian inside from sharp pointy semi-lethal Durian husk
save husk for novelty conversation piece or possible Halloween costume head piece
separate Durian flesh from seed
save flesh
Suck all flesh from seed or till flavor diminishes
Save seed for vain attempt at growing Durian tree indoors
Puree Durian flesh with a small amount of whiskey (preferably Mekong whiskey – product of Thailand),
Add pureed Durian Flesh to beer (adjust volume of beer for intensity desired)
Carbonate beer
Enjoy Durian beer
Smile a lot
repel most friends, family and neighbors with noxious aromas of Durian + Beer burps

http://singbrewer.blogspot.com/2007/06/uwuuuh-that-smell.html

* if they don't understand your love for the king of fruits - they will never really understand you - so clearly it would never have worked out anyway- it is better to lose them as friends now and save everyone involved the time and grief. After all you will still have your Durian (and the glow from that fire will surely light your world)

Connections

2010-12-14T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here are a few links for recent Anderson Valley Brewery things

http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/12/green-brewhaha-sustainability-anderson-valley-brewery/

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/BN-Army-Blog/Post-Session-12-12-10-Anderson-Valley-Brewing-Co

http://beer-runner.blogspot.com/2010/09/returning-to-source-at-anderson-valley.html

http://www.washingtonbeerblog.com/beer-cruising-northern-california-style/

http://draftmag.com/features/return-from-paradise/

http://www.belchingmonkey.com/content/interbrew/interbrew-anderson-valley-brewing-company/878/

Plus (special just for you)- a write up on our latest special beer in our "Bahl Hornin" beer series

Nettied Madge Black IPA*
OG (original gravity): 14.4 degrees Plato
TG (terminal gravity): 2.8 degrees Plato
ABV (alcohol by volume): 6.25%
IBU (Int. bitterness units): 50 IBUs
Color: 29 SRM (Black as sin)

Malts used: Pale, Carafa, Munich, Victory
Hops used: Simcoe, Amarillo, Chinook, Citra

Description:
Deep and dark as a starless night. This beer is dominated by a pronounced hop aroma of pine, and spruce, with subdued notes of fresh cut wood and special herbs. The flavor is characterized by a clean hop taste with a subtle dry roasted malt touch in the background.

Boontling version:

This steinber is nettied up with a heelch of bahl & bearky hops; a bit featherleggy and a little can-kicky too, it flavors may bow on your tastebuds, but it ain’t shaggish. Booker n come-on boy, with a missit of zeese and a glimmer of tigey tobes. Once you horn one you’ll boarch the taish out of it.

It’s the Huge Arker !

(*AKA: Cascadian Dark Ale)

The Goat Rodeo

2010-09-29T14:43:00.000-07:00

When the calendar rolled over from the last millennium (with an anticlimactic Y2K whimper) to the new millennium I decided that (since the world was indeed not ending) I would have to change my plan. I had been working for the last year on starting my own company. I had poured myself into the project, physically, emotionally and financially, but lacking any real sort of business acumen, my plans seemed to have drifted dangerously close to a precipitous edge. In early 2000 my efforts hit an icy patch, flipped over and went tumbling down the road until it abruptly came to rest (with a bang and an uncomfortable sounding hiss) in a swampy drainage ditch. After the wreck I was dazed, I lay there, frozen, incapable of movement, the interminable Northwest drizzle pattering softly on my face. I had no idea what I would do next.

An indeterminate amount of time passed during which I was mired in a befuddled state of sloth - I did not leave my house, nor did I shave, or bath, or even get out of my pajamas. Then, one day sitting in my dank, dark attic office, surfing eBay in my unlaundered night clothes, I had my epiphany. Like a bolt of lightning it struck me. Then, right there - I knew exactly what I had to do.

I had to get a job.

What I wanted to do was obvious, but where - now that was another question altogether. All I knew was that it had to be somewhere (anywhere) south of where I was. My girl friend was supportive (although I do believe that she would have supported anything that got me out of the house and bathing again). I had to start looking. And she offered to drive
.
I formed a plan. It was a good plan. It was a detailed plan.

I would head south. I set up several interview - down through Oregon and deep into California. Some were in urban areas, others in more pastoral settings. We would travel in style and at our leisure. We would make our way down the redwood fringed west coast of north America. We would explore. We would meet new people. We would see cities and hamlets of all kinds and sizes. We would feel the ebb and flow of each town we entered. We would immerse ourselves and drink in the culture of each local. In doing so we would rediscover ourselves, and by the end of our adventure we would know - with great certainty - where exactly we thought it best to make our new lives.

All things considered the trip went fairly well. (I won't dwell on the gritty details of spending 14 days on the road and 13 nights in 13 different cheap motels). Suffice it to say that the interviews went (for the most part) pretty well. By day 12 we already had several good possibilities and we still had one more interview to go. As we drove along towards our final destination we chatted happily about our options and our opportunities.

Our last stop was in a town called Boonville.

Boonville is the largest "town" in the secluded (and very agrarian) Anderson Valley*. In fact so secluded is this valley that the residents there have developed their own language. They call it Boontling. This created language is almost completely contextual, it is so intimately related to the valley and its residents that without living there for some length of time it would be impossible to follow a Boontling conversation, much less appreciate its nuances.

This unique bit of social knowledge, however interesting, did not weigh positive in the valley 's favor. But as we wound our way through the dense redwood forest I thought to myself; "well, this could be great – The girl friend has always wanted to live out in the country. I'm always the one who has been reticent to make that move. Maybe now is the time, maybe this will be the place"

As the redwoods gave way to the drier oak covered hills, the fog began to burn off and the sun poked up over the valley's edge. With happy thoughts in my head I was feeling a bit giddy with the anticipation. When we came to Boonville it looked folksy and quaint. The brewery sat on a magnificent 28 acres parcel at the edge of town, it copper brewhouse (not yet operational) shown gleaming in the windows. The girl friend dropped me at the front door and drove off to explore Boonville and its environs.

The interview was short (I having known the owner for several years) and it ended with beers in their park area. Without a doubt this brewery was a really good option, and in many ways superior to the other offerings. The position was good, the salary acceptable, the beers delicious and the surroundings beautiful. I was really warming to the idea of the move and I felt certain the girl friend would be loving the magnificent countryside here too. Presently her Forerunner drifted into the parking lot and I bade my host a happy farewell with assurances of calling him with confirmation early the following week.

Happily I got into the passenger’s seat and (a smile on my face) closed the door. But before even shifting into gear my partner turned to me and said (with some vigor) "We can never move here". I sat there for a moment stunned in a silence like the expanding universe. (My inner monologue in a continuous loopo of: "what, what did she say"). She then launched into an almost frantic aspiration of why we could never move to such a place; no book store, no coffee shop, no movie house, no real stores, no real restaurants, no mail delivery... the list went on.

But mostly I didn't hear the rest of it as I tried to make right in my mind how it was I had just (basically) accepted a job in the middle of nowhere (in no small part because I thought she wanted to move to the country) and now country living had been decidedly rejected by her. Have I yet mentioned that once (not so long ago) she had tried to convince me to move to eastern Washington to live (in the middle of nowhere) in a Yurt ? A Yurt ?! Really ?!?! I was feeling a bit light headed. Only moments ago things had been going so .... swimmingly, now seemingly inexplicably they were spinning wildly out of control. How had I arrived here? And how could I now extricate myself ? My only intelligent reoccurring thought was - well, I tricked her once into dating me - maybe I could trick her again - it could happen.

A month or so later I rented my house to some friends and I move to Boonville on my own. The idea was that I would find permanent residence and then she would, without too much delay, join me there. But some six months later, even after having purchased a house together, I remained sans mi amiga.

Concerned over our long term future I sought the advice of a fellow brewer & good friend. He had recently encountered a similar situation and I thought his insight potentially useful. His solution had been simple. He told his girlfriend that if she consented to move to his new job location - after a period of 6 months she would then have absolute decision making power over whether they stayed or move back. It had worked for him and so I made the same offer - After a six month trial period she would have absolute (blame free) power to decide what our next move would be and I would, without any guilt trip (or whimpering), honor her decision.

It worked. We set up house in the middle of a redwood forest and immediately (on my urging - partially in the hope that critters would help make life in the country just that much more appealing) we bought two goats (Nick & Nora), five ducks (Othello, Socrates, Indira, Lucky, and Flossie), and a lot of chickens (mostly they didn't get names). These along with her dogs and the cats made up our farmette.

Our two goats, in fairly quick succession, became three, then five, and then seven (quick someone call the vet). Over the next few years we carved a little niche for ourselves in the Anderson Valley. We put in big gardens, we grew our own veggies, we got involved in the community, we joined the Grange. We volunteered for events and we made new friends. Some of our goats were moved to start a new flock at the brewery, a few stayed at home with us.

Our goats (although hand raised and tame) never really took to the obligatory hoof trimmings and other such ruminant maintenance we needed to provide for their care. And somehow they always knew what our intentions were (be it peanut treats or hoof clipping – they knew the difference long before we ever got near them). On those days when a trim, or brushing (or worst of all a vet visit) was involved it always became a Marx Brother-esk goat chasing & tackling event; the goat rodeo. Even with two of us it could be a difficult job. Over the years we solicited the help of friends and neighbors - we managed to turn our goat rodeo into an “event”, even going so far as to serve meals & offer beers afterward.

After I did a stint in Asia I returned earlier this year to Anderson Valley. I went back to work at the brewery. The girl friend, well - she has now moved on to greener (or is it grayer ?) pastures, but the goats remain. Getting older now Nora has developed and limp and Nick, well, he's getting thick. Two of their sons, Noot & Ned, remain with me as well. The four of them, despite being ever hungry for Peanuts or other special treats, can still tell when it is time for another hoof clipping - and once again there I am chasing them around.

Life in Anderson Valley is not like life in any of the other places that I have ever lived. It’s a hidden little slib of northern California where sheep farmers and apple growers share a Grange with vintners and pot growers, where everyone knows the deputy by his first name (whether they actually know him or not). It's a place where one can still barter for goods and services, where a woman I know paid for her doctor visits with eggs and the occasional chicken. Where, if ever I need a hand, I can count on most of my friends showing up to help out. A place where my co-worker’s sister (who once was married to our former graphic designer – who quit working for us after he hooked up with the former owner’s wife) is married to our former packaging manager who owns MY ex’s old Forerunner (that we made our first trip to the valley in) that she gave to him in exchange for helping us fix one of our other vehicles. You get the idea - it a bit like those hoof trimming session. It is disorganized and some days it can be a confusing, but the people that live here love it – welcome to the goat rodeo.

*www.avbc.com/visit/history/

(pictured above Nick, Ned & Newt - Nora does not like cameras)

Denver

2007-11-30T17:58:00.000-08:00

I go to Denver pretty much every year for the Great American Beer Festival, so over the last 20 or so years I have found a few good (bad) places to hang out or hide. Here (again in no particular order) is my list.
The Falling Rock - 1919 Blake St. The best beer bar in Denver (and the entire Region). It has an unparalleled selection of draft and bottled beers, great bartenders (and owners), and the food is pretty good too. Pool tables (and quiet corners) downstairs. http://www.fallingrocktaphouse.com/
PS Lounge - 3416 E Colfax Ave. A comfortable "dive" with atmosphere and good bartenders.
Mozart's - 1417 Krameria. Good local dive. Friendly customers and nice staff and a cheap, cheap beer. Great neon out front.
El Chapultapec - 1962 Market St. Good dive bar during the week & day time, good live Jazz music on the weekends (but a very differnt crowd). A true Denver classic.
Lion's Lair - 2022 E Colfax Ave. Rockabilly/hotRod/biker bar, lots of tattoos, leather and Betty Page Grls. Good music sometimes, feisty bartenders and ok beer selection.
Sobo 151 - 151 S. Broadway. Czech owned/themed sports bar with the best/freshest imported beer selection in town and a few good local beer choices too. A nice place with a good atmosphere (and a few pool tables in back) - food looks good too. http://www.sobo151.net/
Satire Lounge - 1920 E Colfax Avenue. Good neighborhood bar, okay Mexican food, good crowd. (great Neon out front) http://www.petesrestaurants.com/satireLounge.html
Brown Barrel - 76 S Broadway. Beer dive. Friendly bartender, good crowd.
Bar Bar - Just off Broadway (near the Denver Hitting Club). This bar stand alone (both literally and Figuratively) as a beacon for those in need. Enter here and step back in time (or loose it completely). This bar has no name or discernable address, only a neon sign above the entrance announcing "BAR" - thus comes the moniker Bar Bar. Festooned with "stuff' donated over the years, and picture from years past. These kinds of bars are a fading kind. A great dive, pool table in back, good bartenders, interesting clientele, a good juke box and a MEAN bloody Mary. Bar Bar is my pick for the best dive (that's still open) in Denver.
My Brother's Bar - 2376 15th St. Out of the way (yet close to town). This is a great old school neighborhood bar with a relaxed comfortable feel, good food, a decent beer selection and a fine mixed drink. Lots of nooks and places to sit and hide from your worries
Wazee Supper Club - 1600 15th St. Not a dive but just comfortable. Good Pizza, nice beer selection, decent service. www.wazeesupperclub.com/
Squire Lounge - 1800 E. Colfax. neighborhood dive with cheap drinks. Sobriety not tolerated - shut up @#%*er and start drinkin ! - http://www.thesquirelounge.net/
Star Bar - 2137 Larimer St. Just a friendly dive with several nearby Mexican joints that have great food. Stop in for a beer before/after eating.

Austin

2007-04-25T19:42:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know it is almost pointless to have an Austin section since there are sooo many good places in this town that you almost can't miss - but here are a few of the really special ones.

The Continental Club - 1315 S. Congress Ave. Cool Road house style bar, okay beer selection, great music, fun times. If the MutherTruckers are playing you gotta check it out. www.continentalclub.com/Austin
Egos - Hard to find dive hidden away in the basement parking garage of a office building. But worth the search. Good live music (up close), good beers, pool table in back, Jello shot's just $1.00
Emos - 603 Red River - Three bars, two stages, lot of outdoor seating, an okay beer selection, & a most excellent crowd (there is a little of everything) - http://www.emosaustin.com/
Red Eye Fly - 715 Red River Rd. - great music venue and some good beer too.
www.recordhigh.net/redeyedfly
Jenny Longhorn - Road side Dive. A bit out of town, but you meet the nicest people there (at least we did), and how often do YOU get to give advice to the bar tender ?
Iron Works - Hmmm BBQ. Great little place with outdoor seating next to a quite little river. The food is good, the beer selection okay. http://www.ironworksbbq.com/

Mandatory side trip to Lockhart, Texas (home of most Excellent BBQ)
Smitty's - Whoa !! Extra juicy and bacon like (hmmmmm bacon). Lord, that's mighty mighty fine - check out the cooking pits. www.smittysmarket.com/
Kreuz - Just smoked meat (and Shiner Bock, a surprisingly good combination) - Their motto "no sauce, nuthin to hide" (pictured above). www.kreuzmarket.com/

Portland Oregon

2006-11-20T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Acropolis - 8325 SE McLoughlin Portland OR. They have 50 Beers on tap, good cheap eats (a really good steak), a salad bar, and three stages of full frontal nudity, and no cover before 5:00. Now that's entertainment.
Bar of the Gods - 4801 SE Hawthorne. Crazed hipster bar, great beers on draft (watch them set the bar top ablaze - literally) www.barofthegods.com
Matador - 1967 W Burnside. Good all around dive bar. There are several other interesting bar in the area (check um out)
Produce Row - 204 SE Oak St. One of Portland's original beer bars, Good selection of draft, great sandwiches, nice outdoor seating. An all around comfortable place.
Beulahland - 118NE 28th. Great comfortable funky bar. Good beer selection, decent food + we like the owners.
Horse Brass - 4534 SE Belmont. Excellent English pub with a great beer selection. Scotch egg me baby. The owner Don is a Northwest bar ledgend (see man on R. in Pic above). www.horsebrass.com
Hung Far Low - (up stairs). Chinese dive bar extraordinaire, stiff drinks and decent food. Open late night. Moved recently from historic Old Town to trashy 82nd Ave.
The Alibi Restaurant & Bar - 4024 Interstate Ave. - Tiki bar madness, great drinks
The Rialto - 529 SW 4th Ave. Good pool room/bar (with off track betting). Beer selection is pretty good (as almost anywhere in Portland), pool tables are well maintained, food is decent, stiff drinks and a cast of characters resides inside. I've been thrown out of there a couple of times (can't really remember what for) http://www.rialtopoolroom.com/

Budapest

2006-11-20T06:04:00.000-08:00

Szimpla Kert - One of the coolest bars in Europe. Hidden away on a side street in District VII on the Pest side of the river, it is well worth searching out (if you, like I, enjoy a good dive bar). www.szimpla.hu
For Pix check - http://flickr.com/photos/55592119@N00/page6/
Old Man's Pub - Akácfa u. 13. It is an old Jazz/Blues kind of place. Underground and with a lot of dark wood. It's a Cool place, with a decent beer selection, good music and good food.
Gálya Pub - Popular among young people. It is located in the center of Budapest. The whole bar is designed to look like the interior of a sunken Ship (how cool is that - sorry, I am sucker for a bar with a naval theme)

Seattle

2006-11-12T07:04:00.000-08:00

Many of the good bars in Seattle have been reconfigured into upscale places (think The Wagon Wheel, The Midget, The Classic, The Freamont Tavern or The Palms - sadly all gone now) but there are still a many good places to get a drink.

The Elysian Brewery (and Pub) - 1221 East Pike, Seattle, WA 206 860 1920. Great award winning beers, good food, interesting crown, good staff. + we love the owners
www.elysianbrewing.com
Nine Pound Hammer - 6009 Airport Way S, Seattle, WA, 206.762.3373. Cool, dark bar for the Alt. Crowd. Several other good bars in this area. NPH is my favorite. www.ninepoundhammer.com
The Lava Lounge - 2226 2nd Ave Seattle. The interior is like the inside of a sailing ship - lots of good tiki bar stuff, and strong drinks. www.mamas.com/lavalounge
The Alibi - on Post alley. Nice little bar with cool activities and a good beer selection (good Bloody Marys). www.seattlealibi.com/welcome.htm
The Buckaroo - 4201 Fremont. After the Fremont Tavern closed this was the biker bar of choice, but it has tamed over the years. Still, it has a decent beer selection and lots of character (s) + some good bike viewing on most nights.
Brouwer's - 400 N 35th st. Owned by two beer fanatics (and nice guys) - thus an excellent beer line up. I hear the food is good there too (but who want to eat with so many beers to choose from). www.brouwerscafe.com/
Stumbling Monk - 1635 E. Olive Wy. Homey and comfortable (all be it a bit beat up) Pub. Very nice selection of beers. Great place to hangout.
The Latona - 6423 Latona Ave N.E. Nice comfortable pub wih a really good beer selection.
The Comet - 922 E. Pike. One of just a few Dive bars left on the Seattle menu. When I think of Seattle bars in the late 80's Grunge days - this is it. Stiff drinks and decent beers on tap. An all around favorite.
Hattie's Hat - 5231 Ballard Ave NW. This is a Ballard institution (and a cool place). A classic kind of diner/bar. Stiff drinks, decent food. www.hattieshat.com

San Francisco

2006-11-12T05:53:00.000-08:00

The Toronado - 547 Haight, San Francisco.
Maybe the best beer bar on Earth, definitely one of the best. Fantastic beer selection, great crowd, comfortable place, semi-friendly bar staff, great Juke box Cool owner. Food next door on either side. Keep an eye out for their special Beer events.
www.toronado.com
The Lush Lounge - 1092 Post, San Francisco.
Someone told me it was a gay bar, I don't know if that's true but everybody seemed very happy. Great drinks, good beer selection and outstanding people watching (the flow of people on the street is better than any TV show esp. at night). www.thelushlounge.com
Benders -South Van Ness, San Francisco.
Good all around bar/Dive. Good music, friendly bar staff, stiff drinks, good beer selection, pretty good food, great place to see a band. www.bendersbar.com
The Zeitgeist - 199 Valencia St. SF. My favorite biker bar on this (or any other) planet. Really nice beer selection, best outdoor beer garden in the city, great BBQ, a good crowd (mix of pedal & motor bikers), a cool bar staff, and a mean stiff drink. www.zeitgeist.citysearch.com
Tonga Room - 950 Mason St. S.F. One of the best done Tiki bar anywhere (with indoor thuder storms and a floating island), well worth a visit. www.fairmont.com
Tommy's Mexican Restaurant - 5929 Geary Blvd. Nice family owned place. Good Mexican food, Fantastic Tequila Selection. The bar is small and packed (most are waiting for dinner). Julio (Tommy’s son) is the tequila Ambassador to the world, he knows everyone in the bizz (and on lucky nights you’ll find him mixing it up behind the bar). www.tommystequila.com
If it is too packed to get to Tommy's bar, get a reservation and check out Trad'r Sam - 6150 Geary Blvd - across the street on the corner (fun, old school Tiki bar– not many like it left)
The Saloon - 1235 Grant. SF's oldest bar, good beers, great Blues music, small bathrooms. Just a really great old Tavern style. Opened by the great grandfather of Brock Adams - the owner of Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (Texas) www.sfblues.net/Saloon.html
Li Po - 916 Grant Avenue. It is a bit famous now, but it is also a great dive bar in SF's Chinatown. Weird entrance into a dark realm. Local Asian men can often be found playing loud dice games at the bar. Check out the basemant if it is open (occasional live music). There is also a good dive across the street on the corner.

Singapore

2006-11-12T05:46:00.000-08:00

Smokey's: - 73 Joo Chiat Place. Really good western BBQ (real smoked ribs - a must try), three (or sometimes more) tasty Archipelago beers on draft, and a good location just off Joo Chiat. A very nice addition to an area that already have a lot of great food. They also have a new place called "The Pit" in Holland Village (across from the pet shop) http://www.smokeysbbq.com.sg/
Queen and Mangosteen:
Vivocity 1 Habourfront Walk - #01-106/107, Tel : 6376 9380 Fax : 6376 9384 - very nice food, friendly service, great beers, super view (did I mention they have all the Archipelago beer on draft) - http://www.queenandmangosteen.com/
The Divine Society - 600 North Bridge Rd , At the complete other end of the spectum from the Mitre (see below). Yeah, the service is sub-optimal but the bar itself is stunning. Three stories of pure opulence. And then there's the Wine Angles - you have to see this place to believe it. A must see !
JJ Atlante - 40 Duxton Rd. Cold Tiger beer and the best damn blues and R&B you'll hear in Singapore (House band Heritage gives it their all 6 nights a week).
Brussels Sprouts - 80 Mohamed Sultan Rd. 01-12 (65-68874344), Great bottled beer selection (mostly Belgian), draft beer selection is okay, food is well done and tastey, service is good, and the view is just nice. The Mussles + endless pom frits is the best food deal there (the mussles are really good !) www.brusselssprouts.com.sg/
Brauhaus - 101 Thomson Road #B1-13/14, Opened in 1989 these folks have been bring interesting beers to Singapore longer than anyone else. They have the biggest selection of imported beers in town, the food is good and the locations is relaxing and comfortable. The owner & operator (Micheal Chuah) is dedicated to beer and not only has a great selection but also cooks some of the menu items with beer.
Timbre - Armenian Street (near the tunnel and opposite SMU). Great outdoor venue with music and a good crowd (pizza looks good too). Trees grow in and around the bar adding to the already cool and comfortable atmosphere. http://www.timbre.com.sg/
Archipelago Brewery - 79 Circular Rd. Hand crafted beers of distiction in a comfortable and relaxed open air bar with a lot of dark wood. Housed in a historic building in the middle of downtown Singapore. The finger food there is decent but for real makan check a few of the other places in that same little area (Thai Smile or ??) http://www.archipelagobrewery.com/
Prince of Wales - Corner of Madras & Dunlop, in historic Little India. One of the best pubs in Singapore. Offered as an Australian style bar, they have a good beer selection, nice out door beer garden, live music on weekends, a friendly dog and a backpacker hotel upstair. And prices are still reasonable - Check out their Sunday Session - http://www.pow.com.sg/
Hide Out - 31 B Circular Rd. Singapore. Good beers, and comfortable groovey place to mellow out with friends. http://www.hideout.com.sg/
Lot, Stock & Barrel - 29 Seah St. Singapore. Nice comfortable pub with a good beer selection and good service - and a really nice owner.
Karu's Bannan Leaf Curry - 808 Upper Bukit Timah Road. Really good Indian food, old school charm (well sort of), friendly service and clientele. Tiger Beer only. Try the fish head curry (their tag is "I am the King of Fish Head"). This place will make you forget about the other places.
Red Dot Brewhouse - Block 24, Demsey Road. The newest Brewpub in town. They have good food, a really nice atmosphere, great outdoor area and most importantly - really good Beers. Try the Green Monster beer (if they have it on) or my personal favorite the Lime Wheat (really nicely done) + family owned and operated (by a super nice famly)
ColBar - 9A Whitchurch Rd. A great little slice of old Singapore. Good beer selection, cool outdor seating, tasty affordable food. Visit while it is still around.
Iguana Cafe - 30 Merchant Rd. Good Mexican food (the best you'll find in Singapore), an outstanding tequila selection (chosen with the help of tequila guru Julio Bermejo), nice outdoor dining, good beers from Brewerkz (just up the river) which is Singapore's oldest microbrewery and creators of many fine hand crafted beers (with an excellent happy hour). http://www.brewerkz.com/ and http://www.cafeiguana.com/
True Blue - 117 East Coast Road. Excellent Peranakan food in a very nice setting - The Ayam Buah Keluak is a must try. Their food is Halal (thus sparking some debate about authenticity as many Peranakan dishes use pork not chicken - but never mind). Prices are mid range and the atmosphere is upscale but not overly so. The place is small so you might want to calll ahead.
Blu Jazz - 11 Bali lane. Funky little place in an old shophouse in Kampong Glam near Arab st. They have decent food, an okay beer selection and good music sometimes. This is a great neighborhood to explore and Blu Jazz is a great little place for a change of pace or to sit and relax. (also Can check out the upstairs for some chill out with aircon)
Wagon Wheel - 22 Greenwood Ave. Great litle neighborhood Tavern/pub in a great neiborhood. Nice people, and Excellent Ox Tail Stew, they have Tiger Beer only (but they sell a lot so it's fresh and cold).
L'estaminet - 4 Greenwood ave. Funky Belgian bar/cafe in the same great little neiborhood (Greenwood). They have a good beer selection (both Belgian and non) and good food. (check out all the surrounding places)
Oosters - 25 Church st. Upscale Belgian Brasserie. Good selection of Belgian beers in a nice bar, with fairly good service - and right down town. www.oosters.com.sg/
The Pump Room - Clarke Quay. Upscale brew pub with dinning and dancing to live music. Good selection of their own beers (Scotch Ale is a favorite) and a nice selection of other local and imported brews. Mostly Australian food selection with fairly good service. - http://www.thepumproom.com/.
The Highlander - right next door to the Pump Room (Clarke Quay). A very nice (and rustic feel) Malt Whisky bar. They have several good beers on tap, the Atmosphere is chill and service is better than most.
The French Stall - 544 Serangoon Road. Really good food, resonable prices, Brewerkz beers, nice wine selection, nice casual open air dining. (not open Mondays).
Charlie's Corner - Blk 2 Changi Village #01-08. A nice outdoor location in the breeze, Charlie's is a great little open air pub in the east corner of the island. Excellent beer selection, good western food and friendly staff. Family owned (Charlie or his wife or daughter Joyce are almost always there). Closes around 10:30 - just in time to see the ladyboys taking over the car park.
Season Live Seafood - 59-E, Pulau Ubin. What could be nicer than to wile away the time sitting by the sea, listening to the waves, watching the boats slide by, drinking cold Tiger beer and sampling tasty local food. This is out door dining at its best. A great place to relax. Plus sometimes they have local island wild boar on the menu. The Bum boat ride over is just $2.00.
For more details check - http://singbrewer.blogspot.com/2005_11_01_archive.html

The Mitre Hotel - 145 Killiney Rd. Possibly the worst dive you'll ever be in (or the best). Not for the squeemish, but what a great load of character. No telling what's behind the bar (or Who), you'll drink whatever they have - and like it. Special treat rent a room & spend the night (if you dare - no you better not - no really don't). The Hotel is haunted and some people have seen ghosts there) Update - Sadly it is too late, Mati Liao - the property has been sold (for over $160 million) and the bar closed.

Side trip to Batam, Indonesia (only a 1 hour boat ride away) - I don't think they have street addresses in Batam and if they do no one knows them, so just ask for directions - people there are very nice.
Lucy's Oar House - In Nagoya. One of my favorite bars in Southeast Asia. A great semi-maritime themed bar, very laid back, super nice staff, decent cold beer selection, good music (not too loud), very nice food and a passable pool table + has outdoor seating as well. And if it is too slow ofr you, then you can always check out upstairs. Check http://www.nedbatam.com/
Wallaby's - (near Lucy's). Nice bar, decent pool table, great pizza (reckoned by my friend Bill to be the best in S.E. Asia)
A1 Pugasera- Food court heaven, Indonesian style. Out door dining, with friendly people, excellent food and great prices - and sometimes the Length Brewery beer is avaialble and tasting good. Try Seafood Hai San for great fish and serves.
Harmoni Hotel Wine Bar - Nice semi-up scale Bar in a nice hotel (but better you stay at the Goodway across the street). Chill out while the nice staff serves you a drink or sits and chats. Live jazz type music on weekends.

Welcome to The Pau Hana Time Lounge

2006-11-12T05:08:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to do this for about 20 years - to build a site of my favorite places (and of course most of them are bars). The project has been delayed mostly because I am lazy and would rather be out drinking in some dive.

The posts are by city, and they are all ongoing works in progress. The list is in no particular order. I update it and expand on it whenever I have time. For a place to make it on the list it has to have character and I have to have been there - and liked it. Those are the only criteria. Please feel free to leave comments and suggestions. I'll probably ignore them, but your welcome to leave them just the same.

Welcome to The Pau Hana Time Lounge - okole maluna !