The Great American Beerfest: #TBT4THT

Here we go, a Throwback Thursday for The Harrington Times.
Since re-entering the blog world, I've discovered some true #tbt moments, some drafts which are simply titles, yet speak to the stories I wish would have been recorded. As I work on getting those out of the mines, I figure I ought to work on some more recent memories, moments from the past, but not quite so long ago. I figured, since most of my undone posts are beer related and the stories I most "recently" kept at the forefront of our blog space were beer-related, I might as well take a relatively small step back in time and re-experience the Great American Beer Fest (GABF, if you will).

GABF, is as Mike explains, the World Series of Beer. It is the beer event of beer events, if you have even the smallest love of craft beer, your sudsy-fermented-beverage-loving tastebuds want you to take them there. The challenge, however, is getting your hands on a set of tickets to this highly prized event. Fortunately, for Mike and I, we entered our proprietorship of The Burlington Place well aware that relationship building would be an essential ingredient to our happiness and success. Not only did we seek to build relationships with patrons, but additionally with our distributors, sales-reps and delivery folks. One such relationship, with our Budwieser distributors (who also distribute plenty of fine craft beer) has been 100% rewarding...especially when they have a handful of GABF tickets available and know that the TBP couple would love them and take full advantage of all the perks. Therefore, four tickets in hand, Mike and I made our way to Denver, meeting up with Dave and Julianne en route and began a weekend of sipping as many 1 oz. beer pours as possible in a 5 hour period.
Some key experiences and insights from our time at GABF:

• Veterans of GABF come adorned with pretzel necklaces, smart
• You should go in with a strategy...or develop one quickly. Mike went for the try-any-sour-ale-available strategy whereas Melissa went for the if-it-was-aged-in-a-barrel-it-should-be-rolling-down-my-gullet strategy
• Brewers are a very clever bunch considering we drank beers named: Morning Wood, Beavers Milk, Hopspresso, Sodbuster, Good Juju, Helluva Caucasion Stout, Melt My Brain, Sunday Morning Stout and Biere Joi (among plenty of others)
• If you have a cousin in the beer industry - you might just run into her while attending GABF
• Alas, if you've been emailing somebody in the craft beer/brewing industy, you might just run into him while attending GABF (and since few people can promote craft beer so well in a small, Wyoming town, you just might be a bit memorable)
• You CANNOT taste nearly as many beers in a five hour time span as you think you can, however, 1 oz. pours can help you on your way to buzz-dom

The evening of GABF festivities was filled with meandering and sipping, comparing and hoping that you would not end the evening with a last call of something less than fitting of your personal style. (Note to futue attendees: beware of the drunks who grab a pitcher off a breweries table, claiming it's their pilsner yet having no true idea what it is...it could possibly be all the backwash and watered down beer that gets poured into...you've got it, random pitchers). Fortunately, if your last call is a bit off color, you happen to be in downtown Denver with plenty of great dining and snacking options. For us, that fine dining option centered on the desire for wings and a lack of desire for researching our full options, so we ended up at Chili's for an assortment of appetizers, a watermelon margarita and a recap of the best beer moments. (One conclusion: Short's Brewery was one of our all around favorites - crazy flavor combos - gin and tonic beer, key lime pie, strawberry shortcake, bloody Mary, etc. and super AWESOME tap handles!)

So, having had an eventful evening running around America's greatest beer fest, the Sunday after is best served by heading any where that has a Bloody Mary bar and allows for some good eats, fresh air and golf, obviously. Therefore, head to a Top Golf. As our good friend Dave explained, Top Golf is like bowling meets mini-golf. In essence this means, you have your own "lanes" or bay complete with clubs, golf platform and wait staff service directly to your table. It also means you don't actually have to know much about golf to have a good time (similar to mini-golf). Ultimately, you're guaranteed to have a good time sitting, lounging, chatting and boozing it up with friends (and family if you're double lucky! - Thanks Mark and Calley for coming all the way out to see us!)

With beer from the previous night finishing it's marathon through our livers and bloody Mary's to satisfy our typical Sunday morning craving we headed back toward Ft. Collins to depart from our GABF company (only after a typical, epic-proportion, liquor store stop - because, why stop at 1 oz beer pours when you can take a few cases of specialty brews that aren't available in your own market?) A few long hours on the road lead us through Douglas where we stopped for wings and pizza (since we're obviously experts in determining quality of such things) and then continued back to reality...serving our own fine pizza along a killer selection of craft beer!

Cheers friends!

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Bubble 2-3-cut: Bartending School

 

When deciding to purchase a business that has a strong bartending component, Mike and Melissa recognized a whole in their knowledge set. While they knew plenty about good food and were well-versed in craft beer, they were lacking in cocktail knowledge. Sure, they'd gone out for a few cocktails and had enjoyed plenty of perfect, beachy-type cocktails on previous travels to Hawaii and Vietnam, but actually knowing what to do to make a cocktail and stock a bar was well beyond their normal set of knowledge.

Fortunately, a Living Social deal popped up offering a weeklong course in bartending, hosted by Fort Collins Bartending Academy. Since the couple was living in Laramie at the time and it was late enough in the spring not to feel too threatened by weather, the duo signed up and began a week of after work travels to learn the art and skills of bartending.

The course ended up being a private endeavor for Mike and Melissa, as their timing and that of the instrutors didn't align with other students. This suited the situation perfectly, as the instructor, Gina, had tons of valuable bar/restaurant business experience and was able to offer M&M additional insight into what their future lives would hold. So, while learning how to count the perfect shot for all the classic cocktail combinations and essential differences between each type of liquor; the couple also learned how to choose glassware, the importance of inventory and a few tips on managing employees.

The class revolved around practicing speed pours, memorizing basic cocktail combinations, learning to pour accurately every time, understanding the concept of well - call - premium - super premium, and all the little tips and insights unique to the trade. Highlights included visiting Dancing Pines distillery (where Melissa whole-heartedly fell in love with a Chai liqueur and the DP Gin), being in Ft. Collins and having the opportunity to meet up with good friends in the area, being in Ft. Collins and having the opportunity to meet baby girl Cooley right after she was born (!) and touring New Belgium Brewery (we've posted about that already).

Now, a few years into owning their bar business, the couple is extremely grateful for the lessons they received during this weeklong course and have used that backbone of information to keep themselves and their business standing strong and serving up fun, well-poured cocktails...that is, when a patron doesn't have a beer-lovers pallet (since that's still the drink of choice at The Burlington Place and in the private stocks of Mike and Melissa).

 

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Dreaming about Burlington: The Harrington's Next Big Thing

It all started mid-November. With a phone call:
A proclamation. A bar for sale. In the Big Horn Basin. Fair price. Just thought you'd like to know.

Google and Mike's own knowledge of the basin soon revealed that Burlington was a town of 300 people, primarily LDS (Latter-Day Saints/Mormon). But owning a bar. Could be worth it.

Mike and Melissa mulled it over, without too much direction. However things progressed and continue to do so, and here is the timeline of important events:

Mid-November 2012: The fateful call from Tom Harrington making the couple aware of the possibility.

Thanksgiving 2012: Offhanded remark to Harland and Brenda that the couple was considering, to some degree this new opportunity but really had no idea. Followed by enthusiasm and support from the Allen's claiming the success of others who had taken on similar opportunities and suggesting pizza as the food to be lovingly prepared and served. 

December 2nd, 2012: A trip to Burlington, Wyoming to enter and view the Burlington Bar, to begin thinking through the true potential and desire. To view Burlington as a potential home, a place to settle and a place to pursue a dream.

December 2012: Research and dreaming. Thinking and talking. Discovering and learning.

December 27th, 2012: The preparation of a proposal to purchase the Burlington Bar in 90 days, after receiving financing.

December 28th, 2012: Offer accepted.

January 2013: Planning and developing. Working on a business plan. Acquiring LLC (limited liability corporation) status. Mastering pizza, dreaming up recipes and names. Requesting help from friends and their expertise of graphic design.

Early February 2013: Polish the business plan, begin conversations with loan officer, health inspector, town of Burlington employees, etc.

Eve of February 19, 2013: Submit business plan to loan representative, wait with fingers-crossed.

Month of March 2013: Waiting. Praying. Pizza-making. Home-brewing. Emails with loan officers, parents, insurance agents, realtors, etc.

Spring Break 2013: Inventory products left at the bar, show it off to friends and family, create bank accounts, choose paint colors, start opening up about future plans.

March 22, 2013: Close on the bar. Keys and business in hand.

Brew Tour: Bozeman Brewing of Bozeman, Montana

In order to break up the drive from Missoula, MT to Worland, WY, the Harrington duo decided to stop for dinner and a drink in Bozeman -- drinks first, of course.

Since the couple had already stopped at 406 Brewing on the way to Missoula, the logical choice was to stop at Bozeman Brewing on the way back down. It was also obvious that the couple should call up their dear friend, Becca Skinner and catch-up on her wild and beautiful life.

Much to the Harringtons pleasure, considering the positive experiences they'd had around the state, Bozeman Brewing was as incredible as desired. With something along the the Java-Coffee Porter or Stout lines, Melissa felt like she was entering that blissful place between a caffeine buzz and drink buzz. Meanwhile, Mike sipped on a CDA - Black IPA and the duo spent some time being inspired by Ms. Skinner and sharing their own plans for a wild and crazy future.

As the couple pulled across the state-lines they knew that they had just enjoyed some of the country's best brews and were fully inspired for their home-brewing (and other brewing) adventures!

Brew Tour: DraughtWorks of Missoula, Montana

After a long day of driving, highlighted only by a stop at 406 Brewing in Bozeman, and encouraged by the promise of meeting up with dear Missoula-visiting friends, the Harringtons arrived in Missoula with multiple recommendations for where to grab a pint. Wanting to introduce their Missoula-visiting-friends (who happen to be from South Korea) to fine, American craft-beer (and to conduct their own 'personal' research) the couple stopped for an "after-work" brew at Draught Works Brewery.

Starting off with a Sampler, the Harringtons worked hard to convince their Korean friends that the beer was indeed better than anything in Korea and that they did, in fact taste different from one another (have no fear, within the next hour the Koreans were convinced of the joys to be had in a fine glass of brew).

Having finished the sampler, the crew each made their choice and ordered a pint, Melissa and friend Hyunhee went with a solid stout: Gwin Oatmeal Stout where as the brews picked by the men folk didn't make it onto the list of what was enjoyed and therefore isn't impossible to recall what specifically was enjoyed. Regardless, the main thing to note is that the beer was enjoyed. And that's the most important thing.

Brew Tour: 406 Brewing of Bozeman, Montana

Taking a mid-winter vacation in order to head up to Missoula, Montana in order to see the Harrington's good friends Hyunhee and Hakcheol, fresh in from South Korea, the Harrington duo made a good, strong effort to map out some Montana breweries for the trip. Montana is home to over 30 micro-breweries and has the second-highest number of breweries per capita making it a beer-lovers dream come true.

Since their hours of travel were not always conducive to operating hours, the Harringtons couldn't hit up every brewery but with additional Montana-bound trips in the near future, there was no fear that the couple would miss some top destinations.

Making their way to Missoula, relatively early on January 30th, the couple was entering Bozeman, MT around noon and were thrilled to discover that one of the local breweries, 406 Brewing, would be opening their doors at exactly that hour. The couple enjoyed the bar and the bar tender nearly to themselves the entire time they were enjoying their sampler followed by pints. They received a short tour of the operation and left with a recommendation to enjoy some delicious Bar-B-Q from 3-Bar which was just down the road.

The beer was delicious (and potent, especially for the Mrs. who ended up feeling a bit embarrassed by her lack of stamina, grace and ability to drink at noon) although the exact names escape our memories - Melissa of course enjoyed something dark and either stout-like or porter-like while the man sipped on a CDA (Cascadian dark ale a.k.a. Black IPA). The atmosphere of 406 Brewing, which is housed in an old pea factory was spacious, light and absolutely charming in all those home-town-western-state kinds of ways. There are plans to implement a kitchen which will feature fine local ingredients and if they pull food off as well as they do beer, it's sure to be a fantastic dining and drinking experience.

And finally, a quality which the Harringtons loved: 406 allows you to buy your friends a beer...even if your friend isn't with you at the time. Simply give the bartender five extra bucks, tell them your friend's name, they'll write a note on a whiteboard showcasing who has beer, who bought it and how much they get to spend on the said beer. The Harrington duo was thankful to have a friend in Bozeman just to participate in this fun and generous gift-giving concept!

Sour Ales: If you Haven't, You Oughta!

With all the brewery tours that the Harringtons have been enjoying, they've been discovering some new flavors and beer concepts, some of which are simply mind-blowing. One such discovery, which to be honest, the brewing man knew existed, is that of Sour Ales or a Lambic. The couple had their first sip of such a brew at Black Bottle Brewery in Fort Collins. Blown away by the fruity, tangy flavor of this brew variety, the couple was quick to pick up a bottle the next time they stopped off at a liquor store and were once again blown away by the deliciousness of this particular type of brew.

So, dear readers, if you haven't tried a sour ale, you oughta!

Brewery Tour: Black Bottle Brewery of Fort Collins, Colorado

And, the brew tour America continues! While the Harringtons do have some mighty fine things to say about Black Bottle Brewery, this post is just as much about reuniting with dearly beloved friends, truth be told, that's the most important part of this post.  However, since the couple enjoyed the first two reunions while sipping pure deliciousness at Black Bottle Brewery, it may as well become part of what will hopefully become a small series: The Brew Tour series, obviously.

With the main purpose of travel being reunions with friends, the Harringtons quickly loaded the car on a Monday evening full of joy and anticipation at finally being reunited with their dear, bearded and flannel-ed friend, Mark. With a heart of gold and more than a single talent, Mark spends his days in Kansas City, Missouri serving the local community, making random wines, learning to play the banjo, etc. He's a friend that Mike has known since junior high school and who was convinced to live in Laramie for a time after having slept on the Harrington's laundry room floor. In every way, time with Mark is something many yearn for and enjoy when they get it, the Harringtons were no exception.

The trio opted to meet up at one of Fort Collin's new breweries, Black Bottle Brewery, and were overwhelmed, if not completely enamored by the list and variety of beers on tap. From their in-house brewed specials to beers which span the country and the best brewing regions of the world, Black Bottle Brewery put more than a few drinkable brews in front of the Harringtons, Mark and eventually, Dave.

Being the lover of all beers dark and glorious, Melissa was head-over-heels in love with a Chocolate Milk Stout and something dark which had been aged in a Whiskey or Bourbon Barrel (however, we're not sure any of these remain at Black Bottle as their beer list is constantly changing and evolving...or the Harringtons have a horrible memory, either is possible). Black Bottle Brewery also offered the couple their first Sour Ale and Barley Wine experiences, both of which were beyond enjoyable. The only disappointments experienced at Black Bottle Brewing were: a) having to say good-bye to Dave before heading on to the next adventure and b) the portion of the food items...delicious food items (beer cheese soup, pastry-wrapped Brie with jam), just smaller than what any felt was reasonable in terms of price - but no big deal, the main purpose was reuniting and drinking fine beer!

After this enjoyable outing, the Harringtons and Mark made their way to Luscious Nectar, a juice bar/tapas bar/vodka infusions bar, where they enjoyed wrapping their arms around the ever-lovely, welcoming, and extremely fashionable Liz. Mike, Mark and Liz played a little small-town catch-up and soon the crew was simply enjoying reuniting, catching up, trying bacon-wrapped this and hummus dip that with a shared taste of pipe-tobacco vodka.

Before long, it was obvious that Tuesday would be quickly approaching and work would be begging our presence. Reluctantly, the Harringtons enjoyed another round of hugs and made their way up north, back to Laramie and back to working-man reality. Although, come Tuesday morning, they'd have the fond memories of reunions which are only possible this side of the globe to carry them through and remind them of all that life has already given them and promises to continue offering.

Brewery Tour: Clear Creek Brewing of Buffalo Wyoming

It should go without saying that the Harringtons loved food and traveling in South Korea. Yet, as we recently stated here at THT, the couple is thrilled to be back in a land where going out to dinner sometimes includes incredible BBQ and Bread Pudding. Additionally, the amount of joy the couple has experienced in being able to track down fine craft beers...that joy is also quite immense.

Following their holiday celebrations in Worland, the couple hit the road and made their way through Ten Sleep Canyon en route to Deadwood, South Dakota where the next leg of their holiday celebrations would take place. However, having a desire to re-enter the world of craft brews and perhaps gain some insight to the business potential of such an operation, the couple was eager to get through the canyon and stop off at Wyoming's newest brewery, opened in September of 2012, Clear Creek Brewing Company in Buffalo, Wyoming.

The Great Beer Explosion

Most afternoons at the Harrington abode are fairly run-of-the-mill, nothing too exciting. Generally, afternoons involve reading, cooking, baking, watching TV shows or soccer games and taking Lady Annyeong for a walk.

But some afternoons get a bit exciting.

Take for example the after noon we came home to a carboy of Porter that has managed to ooze out the top through the airlock and is making a bit of mess on the sweatshirt the carboy wears to stay warm, but seems otherwise manageable.

However, within minutes, after a certain man decides to release some pressure to clean out the airlock and get things back in order, you soon realize that beer has sprayed everything from the ceiling to your bedroom door to your man's face and beer is still spilling out the sides of that ornery glass carboy. You think quick, grab a large pot, hold it under the carboy and restrain your laughter while the man is assessing the mess created and how ridiculous brewing beer outside of Korea has become.

Soon enough, the man makes his way to the mirror and lets out a soft chuckle realizing how humorous the whole situation is and how unfortunate his face appears when splattered with beer goop. Relieved you let out a fountain of laughter and together you get to work mopping and wiping and cleaning and re-fermenting, thankful that the beer goop actually does come off of the ceiling tiles, so long as you don't scrub too hard.

From Beer to Soda's and Wine

Three weeks of traveling around the states did nothing to slow-down the man Harrington's desire to make things, particularly beverages. Within hours of returning to 519 Galma apartment in Daejeon Mike Harrington was making root beer, cream soda, ginger ale and a large batch of Peach Wine.

Soda is a quick and relatively painless process and has already given the Harrington's and friends the opportunity to enjoy a few 'cold ones' after starting the fall semester. Wine however is not such a quick process and if patience wins out, it probably won't be until December when the Harrington's are taking their first sweet (or vinegary) sip of Home-made Redneck Peach Wine. So, for those of you who may be visiting the couple in Christmas (*cough, cough* Harrington clan) get ready to sip on some home-made wine!

100 and Some Bottles of Beer on the Wall (and on the floor)

The Brewing Operations continue and are in full swing at '519' Galma! Mike Harrington took a trip to a local recycling center, hoping to grab 30 bottles for his next bottling session and came home with a hundred and some odd bottles! He's worked out a deal for trading home made brews for the bottles...however, the recycling center folks really liked the beer and wanted more, stating they would pay for it. Turns out, they meant they would pay for the beer by offering more bottles - the Harrington's should have guessed as much!

For now, 519 Galma is filled to the brink with bottles filled with an 'award-winning' Belgium (no joke!), a Nut Brown Ale, a Wheat, a recently bottled Pilsner and an IPA in the brew tank. Go Big or Go Home, that's what the Man Harrington always says ^_^

Should you find yourself in the city of Daejeon and craving a 'better-than-Cass/Hite/Max' beer take yourself on over to Beer for Babies a Facebook Page and start placing some orders! (all proceeds to benefit the adoption of friends of the Harrington's living in the good ole US of A).

Something's a Brewing in Wookyeong-bil

A Jack-of-all-Trades, Mike Harrington has taken on the challenge and great joys of brewing his own beers at '519' Wookyeong-bil. A few pints of Cass and Hite into his stay in Korea quickly revealed that a good beer was going to be hard to find, no Easy Street Wheat in these parts of the world. So it was, with great motivation and high expectations that the man of the house set out to brew his own beers. A couple months in and Mike Harrington has successfully completed 4 brews from concentrates which he purchased from http://www.beerschool.co.kr/

A bookshelf of beer bottles later and this is only the beginning. The Harrington Times will keep readers up to date on the latest brews and hopefully get the insight and input from the brew master himself. Until then, know and trust that the Harrington's have the joy and pleasure of drinking quality brews regardless of what's on tap at the local beer house.

Fine Dining (and drinking) in Daejeon: Weizenhaus

On Monday, April 4th the Harrington's met up with a few friends to check out a rumored brewery. Since their arrival, the Harrington's had heard mixed reviews regarding the Weizenhaus and had come to believe it was no longer in operation as a micro-brewery. Fortunately, on April 4th, the Harrington's were proven wrong and they stepped into the basement establishment where they were amazed by the size of the restaurant and were eager to sit down, order a brew and enjoy some grub and drink.

For brews, the Weizenhaus offers what appears to be a stout (amazingly chocolatey and rich), a lighter ale or heff (refreshing and crisp) and a pale-golden brew(vinegary and the #3 pick of the Harrington's and crew). In addition, drinkers can choose to dine on french fries, wings or a delectable steak dinner.

Brews were fairly priced at 3,000 - 5,000 Won for 300cc-500cc respectively. Each of the diners chose the small steak dinner for just under 10,000W but could have managed a larger chunk of meat for 15,000W. Overall, the Weizenhaus is a win for a night out or a change up from the good ole Cass, Hite and Max which are the norm for the Korean drinking experience.

Getting There: (hopefully) Closest to Galma Station and Government Complex Station. From Government Complex Station go out exit three, walk strait and cross the street. After crossing turn right, walk 2 blocks (cross two streets) and turn left at the CGV. Walk strait for two blocks (cross one street) and look for the Weizenhaus sign on the South (left) side of the street.

From Galma Station go out exit 4, walk strait and cross the street. Turn left, and walk two blocks (cross one street) and turn right. Walk one block and cross the street. The Weizzenhaus sign is on the South (right) side of the street just after crossing. Enjoy.