Popcorn and Beer

The picture on the left is one of the last taken of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton. He is considered the best and most famous moonshiner that ever lived. I know that he had little or anything to do with craft beer but I sort of like the picture.......He was arrested and face multiple years in Federal Penitentiary so he committed suicide in 2009 instead of doing the time.

Every parent of multiple children is eventually asked “Mommy (or Daddy) which one of us do you love the most?” The standard answer is “Well I love you all the same.” In my case I would look to see which of my children was not present and I would say “ Well since you asked, I love Kimberly (or Sarah or Kristina or Jennifer)the most.”

I am now entering my fourth year as a blogger. I have posted several times regarding my top ten or favorite beers. My former employer, The Power Load, provided me the opportunity to obtain many beers that were not available where I currently live. Although it may appear otherwise, I really did not abuse my privileges while employed with them. Yes I transported some beer in the cargo area of the trucks I drove from time to time, but I did not drive out of the way to find some obscure brewery, beer store or brew pub. I never drove a company vehicle after drinking even one beer, I always had someone else to drive. As I have stated in previous blogs, I would constantly purchase a lot of different beers while on the road. Upon learning of where our jobs would be, I would begin researching what beers would be available and determined the proximity of local brew pubs and breweries. Although I certainly drank several of them while “on the road”, the vast majority of them were brought back home with me in which I distributed many of them to my local friends and associates. My brother in law's (boss) father also worked for us. He was such a jovial and congenial soul but I tend to believe he may have relayed that he had seen me hoisting and packing multiple six packs to my motel rooms from time to time. I supposed it could be assumed I sat in my room and swilled all of them down and would arrive to work the next day still intoxicated. That is not true of course, but people can and will believe what they want to believe. With the Power Load that was generally the rule of thumb.

I would be willing to submit that regardless of where you live, you would not have access to every beer being brewed. I used to believe that a beer bar would only be better if it had more tap heads. I now believe too many could be confusing.

In my travels I attempted to visit as many micro breweries and brew pubs that I could. Most of my fellow employees were not as exited or enamored with my hobby/vocation so my opportunities were limited. They were perfectly happy to set in their rooms and smoke weed or drink Miller Lite/Silver Bullets or Bud Light.

I still visited nearly a hundred different places over a nearly five year period.

So, since I am renewing my efforts here at The Brew Chronicles, I hereby submit my top breweries/brew pubs.

Now let me first say that just as my children, there is not such a thing as my favorite. Each is good in it’s on way. But this list expresses my preferences.

Top Three (in no particular order)

Magic Hat – South Burlington , Vermont

This brewery is located in South Burlington Vermont. Their flagship beer is Number 9 but they make a ton of other beers. I like Circus Boy, (heffy) and Roxy Roller. Number 9 is now available here in Temple but the others are usually only found in a 12 pack mixer. They make a beer using beets Wacko and to be honest, I am not real fond of it. It actually tastes pretty good but the thought of drinking beets does not set well with me

I visited this brewery/brew pub on the way home from a job in New Hampshire back in 2006. I had two totally useless co workers with me. Although neither of them was aware of it, both were actually already fired. We left Laconia, NH on the way back home. We arvived in South Burlington just before midnight and I went inside and had one beer while they sat in the truck outside, A Roxy Roller (which they no longer brew) and then I got back in the truck and let one of the other guys drive.It is my desire to return and spend more time. This brewery is what I would think all brewers want to do. They exhibit the true joy of brewing and their offerings are always fantastic. I tend to believe that the brewers smoke a lot of weed as they concoct the new beers.

Odell – Fort Collins, Colorado

Colorado has a lot of really good breweries. The largest single brewery in the world is located in Colorado (Coors ,located in Golden) Denver has several breweries as well as Boulder. Fort Collins has four craft breweries, a brew pub downtown and a large Anheuser Busch plant out on I-25. Fort Collins is home to New Belgium Brewery brewers of Fat Tire. It is the home of Colorado State University. It is a beer town.

But my favorite is a smaller brewery down the street from New Belgium. If I truly have to choose my favorite I am pretty sure this would be the one.

In early Spring of 2008 I was driving the company truck from Temple to Ogden, Utah. I had two passengers, neither were beer lovers. We left about 2:00AM with plans to spend the night in Fort Collins. The next day we would drive on into Ogden. I had done some research and I had mapped out a couple of places I wanted to stop along the way. The first one was in tiny Trinidad, Colorado. I had heard a lot of good things about a small brewery located there know as Trinidad Brewery. We arrived around 1:30 in the afternoon and when I finally pulled in front of the brewery I realized that they were closed. We continued up I 25. I would return to Trinidad Brewery a year later and this time they were open. I drank a Wee Lassie Scottish Ale and purchased a cool tee shirt. The brewery is now closed. I knew that the tasting room for Odell would close around 6:00 PM and I knew that the New Belgium tasting room was closed on Monday. It was pretty obvious that we barely make Fort Collins by 6:00 PM. I had been driving for over 12 hours straight as we entered Denver. I switched to the passenger seat and let one of the other fellows drive. I directed him to nearby Longmont, just off of the interstate and before long we were arriving at Left Hand Brewery. We were there about 20 minutes, long enough for me to drink a beer and purchase a pint glass and a high dollar tee shirt. From there we drove another 40 miles or so to our motel rooms in Fort Collins. It was about 15 minutes before Odell would be closing and I contemplated dropping the guys off and at least driving the two miles to the brewery. But they wanted fried chicken so they dropped me off instead and I checked into the motel. About an hour later they returned the keys to the truck and I decided to at least drive by Odell’s and New Belgium. Both were less than two miles from the motel and on the way to Coopersmith’s a place my sister in law recommend that I eat. As I drove the truck for the first time in over 4 hours or so, I noticed a grinding sound emendating from the brakes. I instantly knew something was wrong and as I pulled into the parking space at Coopersmith’s, I called my brother in law (and boss) to tell him the news. He was somewhere in Kansas and was also driving to Utah. He informed me that he would be passing through Fort Collins in about 2-3 hours. I told him I would see him then.

Tony showed up about 9:00 PM and checked the truck out and determined that my diagnosis was correct. He directed me to call “the office” the next morning and have them locate a repair shop I should go to. I told him I was perfectly capable of finding a place but he was insistent that I leave that task to the office staff.

I called my travel mates and told them that they could sleep in the next day.

Early the next morning I did as I was instructed and the office staff directed me to East Lincoln Auto Repair. To my surprise, the repair shop was across the street and within one hundred yards from Odell Brewing Company. (Keep in mind, I did not choose the repair shop). I sat and waited for a few hours as the shop worked on the brakes. Around 10 I walked over to Odell and I drank a beer (IPA) and purchased a cool tee shirt. I walked back over to the shop and I was informed that the truck would be ready around noon. My travel mates called and informed me that they needed to check out of their room by noon. I told the people at the shop so one of their employees drove me back over to the motel to retrieve my co workers. As we drove back I instructed the driver to drop me off at New Belgium Brewery were I drank six or seven small samples of their beer(all free), I bought a tee shirt and cap. My coworkers arrived with the truck shortly after noon and off we went.

I have never drank an Odell beer that wasn’t fantastic. Their flagship beer is called 90 Shillings. Their beers are NOT available here in Texas and each time I have family of friends traveling out West, I plead to have them bring me some back. I strongly recommend any and all of their beers. My very favorite beers of all time, Myrcenary Double IPA, is made by Odell Brewery. The people behind the bar were not that friendly and I much preferred the guy at New Belgium which is less than a 1/4 mile away.

Deschutes – Bend, Oregon

I discovered this brewery and their beers back in the summer of 2006 while I was working in the Los Angeles area.. Everything they make is so damn good. Their brewery is located along the Deschutes River in Bend. Oregon. I have yet to visit their brewery but I did have occasion to visit their Public House in the Pearl District of Portland. It had only been open a few weeks when I visited and I really was impressed. I ordered a 9 beer sampler and I was able to drink some of the breweries offering that you can find nowhere other than the tap house of the brewery. I tried a new offering called The Dissident. The food was very very good and I strongly advise a visit to the Public House on visits to the beer rich city of Portland, Oregon. The urinals are massive and worth a trip just to see them. This breweries flagship beers are Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Trust me you will never go wrong by purchasing any of their brews. This was the brewery product I looked for more than any other when I traveled out West (Until I discovered Odell in 2007). Now days you can find Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale pretty much all over these parts. Occasionally you can find Red Chair NWPA (Spring Seasonal). Twilight (Summer Seasonal), Hop Trip (Fall Seasonal) and Jubeale (Winter Seasonal) as well as Inverness IPA. If you are lucky to find one of those you need to jump all over them. One last thing. If you are a true"Hop Head", it is your duty to make a pilgrimage to Portland Oregon. With 35 microbreweries you are bound to find one you like.

There are other breweries that deserve to be mentioned:

Always Consistent and available all over now a days.

Sierra Nevada- Chico, California (I have been there) Their beer is just about found anywhere. My wife and I both like Summerfest and Celebration Ale is damn good too. Their heffy is about as good as it gets

New Belgium – Fort Collins, Colorado (I have been there, see above) Fat Tire is a good beer but I suggest Snow Day as well as Ranger IPA.

Boulevard – Kansas City, Mo. (I have been there) Their Bully Porter is as good as it gets and Double Wide IPA is probably the least hoppy IPA that you can find. All of their beers are good. I would suggest a 12 pack mixer as a starter.

Spotezel – Shiner, Texas (I have been there) I have been drinking Shiner Bock for years I particularly like their Celebration Winter Beer and 101. I do not like Ruby Red. Somethings should not be in beer such as grapefruit and ginger.

Big Sky – Missoula, Montana (I have been there) This is the brewer of Moose Drool Brown Ale but I suggest Trout Slayer Ale.

If you can find one buy it: Hard to find and probably not available in Texas

Goose Island – Chicago, Illinois (I have been to Tap House at O’Hara Airport). 312 is probably my favorite heffy ...well at least it is close with Circus Boy from Magic Hat and Kellerwies from Sierra Nevada. Check out Honker Ale if you can.

Bell’s Brewery - Kalamazoo, Michigan. If you ever see a beer made by this brewery....BUY IT! Hopslam Ale, Two Hearted Ale and Obsidian Stout are all very good. I particularly love their Octoberfest Beer.

Smuttynose - Portsmouth, New Hamshire. The dog's name is Olive, This is a hard one to find outside of New England. I recommend anything they brew. I know I say that a lot but the fact is anything they brew is worth your money and time.

Firestone Walker – Paso Robles, California (I have been there) We had a job in Paso Roble. (The job went to shit by the way) The city and the area around it is known for it wonderful Central Coast wines. This brewery is owned by one of the local wineries but their beer is outstanding. They make a couple of IPAs but the one you really need to try is Union Jack. If you ever find one you really need to jump all over it. Most of the beers from this brewery is the Pale Ale variety and or IPAs. In other words if you like hops you will love this brewery.

Alaskan - Juneau, Alaska. I have drank a lot of their beers when I visit out West. For some reason it is difficult for me to drink the first Amber but the rest really go down well. Their Christmas Ale tastes like a Christmas tree and is very good. I am really fond of their Summer Ale and White Ale.

Summit – Saint Paul, Minnesota (I have been there) This brewery is close to the Minneapolis St Paul Airport. Occasionally I find this beer on tap at the local pub. This is very good beer and once again I strongly suggest you try it.

Otter Creek -Middlebury, Vermont I discovered this beer on a trip to Maryland a few years ago. All I can say is if you see the label...buy it. I have seen this beer a Spec's in Austin, Texas

Others that I recommend.

Thirty Planet - Texas

512 - Texas

Abita - Louisiana

Stone - California

Left Hand - Colorado

Boulder - Colorado

Rogue - Oregon

North Coast - California

Anchor - California

St. Arnold's - Texas

Long Trail - Vermont

Fort Collins - Colorado

Santa Fe- New Mexico

Hales Ales - Washington

Cigar City -Florida

Uncle Billy's - Texas

Harpoon - Massachusetts

Bridgeport - Oregon

Shafly - Missouri

Flying Monkey - Kansas

I know I have listed a lot of breweries but I can honestly say that regardless of what you chose, you will be pleased.

Yes, I know you can take the safe approach but I recommend that when you travel that you should either look for an upscale grocery store or a nice liquor store and try out a few "different" beers, I am sure you will be very surprised.

Looking forward to next year and next beer....

The Third

Here We Go Again and Again and Again

I had pretty much put my blog "to rest" but this morning I woke up with a renewed vigor. I have been a funk for far too long. I look at many reasons for it but perhaps I have overlooked my lack of blogging as a culprit.

I realize that my blog is now in it's fourth year and I think that alone should be the impetuous for it's continuance. For that reason, I am picking up the keyboard again and I will be reviving The Chronicles. But for this posting, I have copied and pasted my Christmas/Festivus postings over the past three years. I made some insertions in each to update. The insertions are in bold italic......

Twenty three years ago today, The Mrs. The Third and I were living in at The Marymont in a small town northwest of Houston. She would allow her two children's "dad" exercise his "selective" visitation rights and take the two girls to his house for the Christmas holiday. He selected when he wanted to parade his children around his mother to show her how dutiful of a father he was. He also selected not to provide any financial support and he was selective in being involved and many aspects of our children's lives. Nowadays he tends to forget all of that baggage. I guess time, money and a fifth wife helps to fade some things.

It was a strange "Christmas". It would be the first that The Mrs The Third would spend without her children and the first she would spend with me. After the girls were gone we walked a few blocks to a small store and purchased a dried up skinny tree, a couple of strings of lights and two cheap and inexpensive ornaments. To this day, the red and blue "pitchers" find a place at the top of each of our subsequent trees...

This year finds the bride and I are alone together again. Our tree, given to us by our youngest daughter, has the two original ornaments at it's very top. There are several strings of lights and other ornaments collected over the years. There are multiple "baby's first Christmas" ornaments along with a cone from a giant Sequoia. There are pictures of our children attached to tree hangers and many handmade hangers brought home from school by our children. The tree is dried and beginning to smell. It will be out of the house on the 26th.

We purchased the 15 bean mix yesterday and will be soaking them tonight. The Soaking of the Beans. As much as my wife hates the mess I make, she does look forward to the bean soup.

Monday, December 22, 2008 (re-visited and edited)

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti

Well, once again I begin penning a new testament. As I have stated previously, my "blog" is a work in progress and since no one may ever actually read any of this or take it seriously, I must state this, my opus, is for no one other than yours truly. Perhaps one day in the distant future I may assemble my ramblings into one single volume and who knows....

The Christmas season has finally begun for me. My personal family history dictates that the season begins on December 13. That is my younger brother's birthday. Johnny hated his birthdays because in addition to his birthday gifts, he always received extra gifts which consisted of mostly ornaments and lights. John Lane is gone from this life but I must admit that when I see Christmas lights I always think of my departed brother.

2011--My second granddaughter Olivia Grace (chucknorris) was born on December 13, 2011 her "Great Uncle Dee's" birthday. She has made my brother's birthday now become hers. Since Johnny's passing, that day has always been bittersweet. Miss O G has given me a gift I never fathomed would be so special. I know that she is not my first grandchild (although she is Mama She She's first) but she is special because she is my "first's" " first". I look forward to next December 13 when I can give her Christmas lights and ornaments. Better yet I look forward to the December 13 in the future when she too will be pissed that Big Cat gave her Christmas light and ornaments. The Circle of Life music should be playing right now.

December 18th plays another significant part in my life. For some strange reason, I am drawn to this date. December 18 is actually the day I first met my wife. So I guess the day is still big. Several years back my Dad mailed to me a $ 1.49 bag of "15" bean soup. I received it on the 22nd of December and I recall that I ended up following it's directions and made a pot of bean soup on Christmas Eve. Now over 20 years later, I still do. The beans need to be soaked overnight so I do that on the 23rd and then mess up the kitchen on the next day. So the annual "soaking of the beans" has become my own Christmas tradition.http://www.nkhurst.com/products.aspI give this tradition to anyone who wants its. My wife hates cleaning the mess and my daughters do not like beans or soup. So I suppose the tradition will die with me.

I would think most persons at one time in their life, has some sort of traditional thing. A lot of tradition surrounds the Christmas holidays. As I grew up, Christmas eve always found my mother, father , brother and I visiting my my Aunt Pete (my Mother's sister) and Uncle "Jay".

2011: --My Aunt Pete, the last of my mother's siblings, died on June 24, 2011. The 31st anniversary of my mother and brother's deaths. Vivian was 92. I miss her like crazy. Somehow I hope to find or receive her pastries recipes.

Later the Christmas gathering was at my Uncle Claude and Aunt Mable's down in the "country". I guess the older you get the less certain traditions are in fact traditional. Then again people do die so you can no longer gather at their house. Or in Aunt Mable and Uncle Claude's house, it blew up. That's another story I suppose.I am not fond of fake trees (well except the aluminum one my Aunt Pete had in her picture window.), nor do I care much for the statement that "Christmas is becoming more and more commercialized. " Of course it is commercialized. That started back in the Third Century.

I am a convert to the Catholic faith. For many years I was a "religious education" teacher (actually "certified" by the Cardinal). I feel that I did at least an adequate job. I was the only teacher the kids had that would teach them religion as well as instructing them on the fine qualities of a good cigars and good beer. Now you may be offended or think less of me but somehow, I made it work. The facts speak for themselves. Two of my former students are currently in the Seminary studying to become Catholic Priests. Another is seriously contemplating the priesthood. Jeff, one of the two former students in Seminary will be ordained, (I believe) sometime this coming year. He has a "Cuban" I once gave him and he swears he is waiting to smoke it upon his ordination. (I hope to be there).

2011:-- Jeff was ordained in 2009 and is a priest in the Galveston-Houston Archdiocese. I was working at a job in Washington state when he was ordained and I was unable to attend his ordination. Although I have not spoken to him I did verify from his proud grandfather, Wilfred, that he indeed smoked the Cuban I had given to him on the day of his ordination. His grandmother asked me why I gave him such a filthy habit. I consider that comment a compliment.

My strange influence will somehow continue through this future Father and currently Deacon Jeff. Scary thought eh? it. Anita, Cody, Danielle, Matthew (Phatty), David and Adam are names of persons of whom I stood as Confirmation sponsor. Most Catholics are never asked by anyone to sponsor them for Confirmation. I do not claim to be real authority on any particular subject, but I do know certain things and I am not afraid to repeat such. First of all, the Bible (at least the Christian one) was written by Catholics. That is an undisputed fact. (Trust me I can prove it). Yes, it was edited by many including the Protest Ants. The actual date of Jesus' birthday is not contained anywhere within the bible. The sneaky fish eaters came up with a plan that ultimately stole the 25th of December form the Pagans. Now the Catholics do have a feast day (Holy day of obligation actually) called Annunciation (Luke, Chapter 1, verses 26-38). It is celebrated on March 25. So if you deduct nine months later you have December 25.

Lately there seems to be a significant amount of uproar from some hard core and possibly not so hard core Christians as if "their holy day" is being taken over. The truth is that the day was a Pagan holiday a long time before the Papist or the Jingle Bell Protestants decided to dilute it by placing such a significant event to it. Personally I feel the celebration of the day of Christ's birth is far less important that the actual life of God made Man (Emanuel) and the sacrifice that he made.

Enough of my Religious rant.

A lot of good beer is brewed in connection with the holidays and to me, that is a good thing, regardless if you are Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Heretic or Pagan.


With all of this aside, I set here staring at my computer screen and and contemplating the perfect Christmas or Solis Invicti wish. My mind is blank as I look forward to the next few days being spent with my two oldest daughters and one of my sons in law.

2011: The Jim and The Prodigy along with their new addition "chucknorris" will not be here this year. The new baby is not yet two weeks old. The Prodigal will be spending Christmas Day with her loving and adoring father. The Rock Star Mentality,The New Mexican and their son Hayseed are visiting family in the snowy mountains of New Mexico. We will be visiting The Big Ranch, Jan Brady and Little Cat on Christmas morning. I hear we will be dinning on a traditional "brisket" meal.

(I am looking forward to both their arrival and departure). I have many beer (s) for The Jim to sample. I have a case of a beer from the oldest brewery in America (as one of his gifts). I sure hope he does not read this...It would ruin his surprise.


Wednesday,December 23, 2009 (re-visited and edited)

Family Tradition...The Soaking of the Beans

Well today is the day that I once again re enact a family tradition. As I wrote in one of my earlier blogs (Dies Natalis Solis Invicti --December 22, 2008), a few minutes ago I poured a packet of "15 beans" beans into a pot and will soak them overnight. Thus the soaking of the beans. I know it sounds strange or hokey, but it really does mean something to me. Traditions are easy to establish, difficult to maintain, and nearly impossible to pass on. But I am trying.

Today has been a good day. We visited Austin. We had a great breakfast at Mimi's , made a beer run at Spec's, visited Austin Brew Supply, did some Christmas shopping, purchased a Honey Baked Ham and then took a trip to visit Uncle Billy's Brew and Que. I had looked on the internet and saw that they had one of my favorite beers on tap. Sadly they ran out two days ago. On my friend Matt's (who was visiting family in Western Pa.) recommendation, I tried the Hop Zombie IPA. It was pretty damn good. I did have my taste up for Hell in Keller though. Well at least I have a reason to return now.

Happy Christmas!!!!!! Kyleigh (Little Cat), Levi (Little Man),Hastin (Hayseed), Olivia (chucknorris), Sarah, Travis, Kimmie, Tommy, Kristina, Jennifer, Jim, and Ann......

Friday, December 24,2010 (re-visited and edited)

First, Second and Sixtieth

Last night The Mrs The Third and i visited our grandson in the hospital. Hayseed is really doing well and I look forward to the day when he can go home to his mom and dad and none of the tubes and sensor wires are attached to him. I have a feeling it will not be too long actually. We took a red and white stocking cap(saying Baby's First Christmas) with us. We placed it on his head and took several pictures of him.

2011: --My grandson, Hayseed went home back in January, He has made unbelievable strides this year. I never thought I would be such a softy but each time I hold that boy I feel as if I am hold something so special that it could only be a gift from God.

Today, I took my annual pilgrimage to Austin and Honey Baked Hams. On the way back I stopped at Spec's and picked up a sixer of Abita's Christmas Ale (it is remarkable), A sixer of Harpoon UFO (Blue) for the wife and to my surprise I found a six pack of Moose Drool. I also purchased a twelve pack of Pearl (in cans).

2011:-- Due to our economic status and the condition of our tires on our car, I did not travel to Honey Baked Ham in Austin and purchase the annual ham. I truly miss it but I look forward to next year.


Although it will be Hayseed's first, I realize that tomorrow will be my sixtieth Christmas. Each one of them special. I don't recall any of them before I was 4 or 5. My grandchildren who will be celebrating their first or second Christmases probably will not recall tomorrow at all.

We are having a meager holiday and very few if any gifts will be exchanged. But in many ways this is going to be my favorite Christmas of all.

I have the glorious honor to have three (four) beautiful grandchildren. They are my gifts. The very best kind.













Cheers (Christmas)


So, there you have it. My 2011 Christmas edition blog.

Anyway....... Only one thing come to mind and I shall leave on that note.....


Pax Omnem Per Terram


The Third


Post Script: I am back.


So, there you have it. My 2011 Christmas edition blog.

Home Again?

{This is one of my postings I have retrieved from my archive file. I wrote in on April 18, 2010}

They say you can never go home again. I suppose that is essentially so. As I look back I find it increasingly more difficult to determine where if anything is my home. It was a profound feeling for me to walk into the small classroom at Wallace Baptist Church where I once sat as a small child so many years ago. It seemed so large then. It was equally nostalgic to stroll the same paths under the live oaks at the "Old War Skul". Revisiting my home town of Shreveport a few days before my daughter's wedding was bittersweet and once again walking the Streets of Bakersfield was pretty strange yet cool too.

The Mrs. The Third and I lived in and around the small town of Tomball, Texas from June 1988 until September 2005. During that time I worked and lived in Southern California for 2 years. But 15 years of our lives were spent there. Three of our children started to school there. Two graduated from the local high school. It was what I called my home town.
Nearly five years have passed since we left and we have only visited 3 or 4 times since.

If you recall, I wrote a blog last year and I posted it on March 8. It is titled "The Rest of the Story" I suggest that you revisit that post. I wrote about a very proud moment of my life. The trip I am about to detail was to attend the Annual Gumbo Karoke at St. Anne Catholic Church. The guest of honor and principle celebrant at Mass was Daniel Cardinal DiNardo. Since the event/fundraiser was my brainchild, several people where looking forward to my attendance.

Around 5 AM the Mrs The Third left our home here in Hooterville and drove back to our old home town. As we got closer and closer we would marvel at all of the new growth and development. As we drove the same streets we had traversed so many time I realized that things seemed pretty run down. I was disappointed. Just as that small country church class room had looked different from what I had envisioned, The town seems to look weathered and some how sad. Buildings were boarded up and grass was growing high. Trash was on the sidewalks. As we drove down South Cherry Street we noted our dream home did not look as appealing as it once did. Around 8 AM we pulled into the parking lot of our former church. We drove to the rear of the old Parish Hall and began to see the usual familiar faces of our friends, Mark and Darrel and Louis. For a fleeting moment it was if I had never left and once again we were cooking something together. This time is was chicken and sausage gumbo. Yes there was noticeably more gray hair but it was still good to be back. I watched as another man was walked in the same shoes I had walked in over 8 years ago.I saw him assemble a small group of young boys and watched as they prepared for the night's festivities. The wife and I only stayed about an hour. We were getting in the the way of the cooking. We left and drove to downtown Houston and visited the oldest micro brewery in Texas, St. Arnold's. See, I still write about beer.
We each received four tokens each for a free sample of beer. We only used four total tokens and gave the remaining four tokens to a guy setting near to us. I chose him since he was wearing a LSU tee shirt. Geaux Tigers!! We left St. Arnold's and drove up Interstate 45 to nearby Conroe, Texas. Once again we marveled at the amount of change we saw. We arrived at Southern Star Brewery and once again received four free tokens for samples. We stayed there and drank a couple of beers each and then we proceeded back to Tomball to attend Mass and then the 8th Annual Fundraiser for the Archdiocesan Ministry for Persons with Disabilities.

It was good to visit with our dear friends but I realized that although St. Anne would always be a part of me and I would be a part of it as well, somehow I truly was no longer connected to it. I suppose you could consider that sad but I feel pretty void

We left early in order to be back home around midnight. I shook hands with my friend Deacon Garry and then spoke to Cardinal DiNardo and jokingly said "keep an eye on this guy" he laughed and and said "you bet I will"

Then we left. It has been around 4 or 5 months since then and as I write this, I realize that it truly is not home to me anymore.

But I realized one thing. Everyone needs a home. I hope I find one.

Down the Road Guys....


The Third

Billy Beer?

Note: This is another "draft" that I am cleaning out of my files. I originally wrote it back in November 2010

November, 2010
In 1977, a supplier of beer making equipment in Rochester, NY, solicited his congressman to legalize home brewing. The bill passed through the House and Senate without fanfare and was signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. Currently home brewing of beer is legal in 49 of the 50 states. Alabama has laws on the books that prohibit home brewing but they are rarely enforced.

Prohibition saw the closing of the country's earlier small breweries. When it was lifted, the beer industry was tightly regulated and dominated by swill-producing behemoths like Budweiser, Miller and Coors. When President Carter signed the new law to allow home brewing, he effectively deregulated the beer industry, which paved the way for the resurgence of microbreweries. American craft brewers proliferated following Carter's move, jumping from about 200 a decade later to more than 1,400 now.

Today more than 90 percent of small breweries are said to have roots in home brewing, proving how vital the bill was. So while Carter may have done little for the economy during the late '70s, he did wonders for the fruit, honey, and chocolate beers of today.

_________________________________________________
One hundred years prior to Jimmy Carter being elected, American brewer Adolphus Busch traveled to what is now The Czech Republic. He visited a small town named Žatec . The area around the small town was well known as the very best producer of Saaz hops. He had visited the area to negotiate the purchase of said hops. He eventually did acquire his source of Saaz hops from the Dreher family who owned a large tract of land known as Mecholupy (pronounced Mitch a lobe pea).
Adolphus Busch had earlier began to brew a "lager" using rice and several other grains and then filtering it through beechwood chips. In the period immediately after the American Civil War, beer was only moderately popular throughout the United States and then primarily only with recent immigrants from Germanic and or Slavic Countries. Beer was highly perishable and only had a "shelf life" of only a week or so. Because of this, most beer was produced, distributed, and consumed locally.

In 1896 Aldolphus Busch began producing a beer by the name of Michelob (in honor of his source of Saaz hops). It was called " a draught beer for connoisseurs". In 1961, Anheuser-Busch produced a version of Michelob which allowed legal shipment of the beer across state lines. Bottled beer began to be shipped soon after, and the brand was introduced in cans in 1966. Bottled Michelob was originally sold in a uniquely-shaped bottle named the teardrop bottle because it resembled a water droplet. The bottle designers wanted a unique bottle that would be recognizable in dimly lit pubs.

Michelob quickly became the "premium" beer of choice. It joined Budweiser as a flagship beer of Anheuser Busch.

Several months ago, I watched the CBS Evening News and I saw where President Jimmy Carter had delivered a former prisoner from North Korea. I voted for Jimmy Carter back in 1976. I truly admire him. Ok, I admit he was not that great of a president. His four year term as president will go down as pretty abysmal except he did change the law to allow people to brew beer in their homes thus spawning craft brewing in America and that ain't such a bad thing.

Below is a breakdown of beer sales in America:

AB-InBev (Brazil)-------- 51.9%

Molson Coors (Canada)----11.3%

SAB Miller (England)------18.7%

Imports*------------------14.3%

Craft Beer------------------3.8%

To put it all in prespective American's consume 171 billion servings of beer annually.

The number one selling beer in the world is Budweiser. The number two selling beer in the world is Budweiser Light. They are both brewed by AB-InBev.

Thanks Jimmy

The Third

Come on Man...I'd do it for you

NOTE: I mentioned that I would be reviewing some of my "drafts" and that I might be post a few of them in the future. This is one of them. It was originally written during the last week of 2010

December 2010
I have been posting to this blog for over two years now. In many ways it certainly is not what I thought it would be and on the other hand it is. I have tried to take a lighthearted look at many things and have muddled my way through never really thinking too much as to how it played out. In a strange way, I feel that it is becoming a quasi autobiographical introspect. From the very beginning I have attempted to avoid using actual names of people I write about. I have assigned nicknames to many of them. Most people who know me, can readily identify to whom I am writing.

With that said, let me state this as clear as I can. This is my blog and no one else contributes to it, I have never intentionally written anything that I felt would truly be harmful to anyone, living or dead. Yes, from time to time I express my opinion and I sprinkle in some wry sarcasm. What I write I do so with tongue in cheek. I would never lie on purpose. If someone believes anything I have written is a lie, I guess there is nothing I could write here that would undo that opinion. If one does not care to believe what I write that is his or her prerogative. Although I sometimes use a bit of hyperbole, everything I have written is truthful. Sometimes you have to read what is written "between the lines". If you feel offended, betrayed or insulted then read it over again. Perhaps you did not truly understand what I was trying to say. Or perhaps, your cerebral limitations or your predetermined beliefs, interfere with your ability to truly understand what I am attempting to say.

I have always strive to give each of my postings a positive and affirming spin. I would never want anything I write here to be construed as spiteful, malicious or vengeful. In a bizarre way I write my postings with a positive light.

I am one who is not with out sin. Although I do not live in a glass house therefore I still tend to not throw stones. Those who know me know I am talk way too much and that if you give me enough time I will eventually put my foot in my mouth. Although I usually try to keep a watchful eye on what other think, I also admit that other peoples "petty feeling" matter very little to me. I am confounded that they "simply do not get it."

I think most people consider me a "good guy". I feel that my good nature does not garner me the respect of others. I do not think that I distinguish myself enough, I feel I am perceived as one who sort of goes with the flow.

As I have written before, I played baseball for the Mighty Lakeshore Baptist Bees. One of the teams we would play twice a year was the team sponsored by one of the local Catholic churches, St. John's. At each of our contests, the announcers would state who was at bat as well as who was"on deck". As a small boy child, it was sort of special to hear your name announced. One of players on St. John's had the same last name as me. Of all of the teams that we played each year, St. John's actually had a person who I was actually related to. The two were not the same person. My mother's cousin had a son who played St. John's. After each game with the cheating bastards, mother would drag me over to introduce me to her cousin and her son Bucky my third cousin. It was on one of those occasions that Bucky introduced me to his friend and teammate Bill Sullivan. I think we were either nine or ten at the time.

Several years later while attending Louisiana State University, I was assigned a new roommate. His name was Steve. Steve was from the same home town as I was and had graduated from the local Catholic High School (Jesuit). Steve and I became fast friends. He knew many of the guys I used to play football against back in high school and yes he was friends with both the aforementioned Bucky and Bill. Bucky ended up joining the Army and died in Viet Nam. Bill began attending LSU and he and I hung out a lot. He was the second youngest out of 11 children. He did not have a car and I found myself driving him around. He would show up at my room and ask me to take him somewhere. Usually I would tell him I did not want to go or I did not have time or some other excuse. He would say " Ahhh Come On Man, I'd do it for you." Most of the time I relented. Back in Shreveport we actually had several people convinced we were actual brothers. We even won a trophy as the best Foos Ball team in town. It seemed that no matter where I went, I tended to cross paths with Bill. Eventually I began to see less and less of Bill . In 1974, the Plaintiff and I were married on August 17 at 4:00 PM in the afternoon. I learned the next day that my friend Bill Sullivan had been married at 7:00 PM later that night at the same church......St John's Catholic. On a Saturday in 1981 I along with my Aunt Mary Nell were have a winning day at the local race track. I was standing in line to redeem a winning ticket when someone directly behind me spoke into my ear. "Come on Man..I'd do it for you.". It was my friend Bill. He was drunk as a skunk and he proceeded to tell me how much money he had lost that day. We spoke for about five minutes and made plans to get together soon. I have not seen or heard from him since.

I do not recall Bill doing one single favor for me. But I truly believe it is because I never asked him to. I am confident that he would have. He taught me that if you are truly willing to do a favor for someone, you can truly ask them to do a favor for you.

Recently I submitted a posting concerning my son in law bringing some beer back to me. I wrote it to point out the various beers I was hoping that he would retrieve for me. (which he did by the way) I detailed how I took the steps that I could to make his "favor" for me to be as painless as possible. Upon his return to Hooterville he informed me that the whole process took less than ten minutes of his time; that he only drove a mile or so out of his way and the the sales rep even carried the seven six packs outside and placed them in his truck.

In the same posting I referred to an instance a year earlier wherein I had requested a former coworker to retrieve some beer from me. I mentioned that I felt that he "owed me". I pointed out that he was "too tired" to "hook me up" even though I believed it would have been very easy and convenient. I supposed it could be construed that I betrayed my "friend" as someone who was a loaf or someone who would not honor a debt and even steal money from me. I mentioned a vehicle I sold to him and I inadvertently misrepresented the actual selling price. The fact is that he did indeed pay for the vehicle (over the course of several months). I even provided him a written affidavit to attest that he had paid me in full. I actually never directly gave to him forty dollars. I had actually given the money to another employee with instructions to give the forty dollars to him along with directions to the local beer store. I never consulted with my friend and coworker concerning his willingness to acquire the beers for me. I suppose my history with the aforementioned Bill Sullivan led me to believe that my "friend" would "hook me up". I mean "I would do it for him". Finally I want to state that the person to whom I actually gave the forty dollars to informed me after the fact, that he, not the "proposed beer mule" had my money. It was he that never gave my money back to me.

The "mention" in my posting was never intended to impune my former coworker. It was written as filler and in passing. I have since edited the posting to insure that little or any reference is made to him.

I realize that very few people actually read my blogs. One of the few that do (I realize) is the person who I had hoped would bring the beers back to me back in 2009. He now feels as if I insulted him or as he states "I placed a shank in his back". he states that I use "my blog" to lie. I differ with him that I lied.
I sincerely hope that I have sufficiently addressed that matter. I do not intend to concern myself with it further.

e·lat·ed  [ih-ley-tid]jective

very happy or proud; jubilant; in high spirits: an elated winner of a contest.

Back when I was in my early teens we would occasionally visit a A&W Root Beer Stand. Near the store was a family named Webb. I would see the Webb kids on our visits to purchase root beer. As fate would have it, the oldest Webb boy and I became very good friends. In fact I will go as far as saying we were indeed best friends all through Junior High School, High School, College and even later. We each were in each other's "first" weddings. We were close. I loved him and I know he loved me. I would have cut of my own hand if I thought it would have hurt him. In 1976 The Prodigy was born. a few months earlier, as tradition dictates, a baby shower was held for The Plaintiff, The Third and our soon to be born child.
Each gift we received was needed. We were grateful for everything we received. Of all of the gifts we received only one of them was actually hand made. It was a hand stitched blanket given to us by my dear fried mentioned above. His wife had spent nearly two months making the blanket for our baby. When I first saw the blanket I actually cried. It was special that it was handmade but it was really special that my best friend and his wife gave it to us. A few days later I met with my friend and I told him that I truly loved the blanket. I expressed to him how special if was to both me and my wife. I told him I was elated.

Two months after The Prodigy was born, my friend came to my home and confronted both my wife and I. He informed me that I had stabbed him in his back. he expressed how disappointed he was with my reaction to the gift. He told me that I had a lot of nerve to tell him face to face that I was "elated" about the gift.......Now let me stop and explain something here. My friend Gary was not what you would conceive as being real intelligent. Somehow he was under the assumption that the word "elated" meant something other than what it actually did. On that night he essentially called me everything except a child of God. I have asked myself why. He left my home in a huff. Our friendship had ended. A few years later he and I visited each other and he admitted that he then realized what the word elated actually meant. But unfortunatley, the damage had been done. I suppose both of us had hoped that we could rekindle our friendship. Too much water had passed under that bridge. I miss Gary very much.

In late 1999 my father called me and informed me he would be coming to where I lived and he wanted me to put him the hospital to help him off of alcohol. He flew into town and I admitted him to the local hospital. A month later he died. Many of my friends came to comfort me. About a month later as Grand Knight of the local counsel I address my brother knights. I told them that although I no longer had a blood brother, that they were indeed my brothers. I expressed my gratitude to all of them. I told them that too many times we underestimated the power of a friend. The next night I learned that one of those friends had lost his twin brother in an automobile accident. He was devastated. I called to speak to him. I spoke to his wife and she informed me that all he could do was cry. To be honest, I began crying as well. A day or so later The Mrs The Third along with two other of our friends showed up at my friends departed brother's Rosary. It was over a hundred miles away from where we lived. To this day I do not recall being hugged harder than when my friend Darrell hugged me. I too had lost a brother to an auto accident. All we could do was sob as we held each other. A few weeks later he told me that all he could think about was what I had said that night as I addressed my brother knights. His belief that he had all of those brothers comforted him as he grieved his actual brothers passing.

Second Note: I tend to try to have a summary of each of my postings. I pulled this one out of my "draft files" and frankly I a not in a mood to summarize. I leave that up to you.

The Third, aka Los Gatos Grande

As So It Ends (Part Five of a Series of Five)

"I'm the kid who ran away with the circus. Now I'm watering elephants. But I sometimes lie awake in the sawdust dreaming I'm in a suit of light..... I'm the kid who always looked out the window failing tests in geography. But I've seen things far beyond just the schoolyard, distant shores of exotic lands.There's the spires of the Turkish Empire. Six months since we made landfall, riding low with the spice of India, through Gibraltar, we're rich men all. Time was talking I guess I just wasn't listening. No surprise, if you know me well.... I'm the kid who has this habit of dreaming, sometimes gets me in trouble too. But the truth is I could no more stop dreaming than I could make them all come true" - The Kid by Buddy Mondlock

I realize that my writing style can be pretty arduous. I also am aware that others may not see the same things or the things the same as I do. I admit that some of my writing can seem tedious boring and possibly lacking of substance. But all that being said, I still persist. From my first posting, I have tried to write directly from my inner soul and put it out there the best I can do. Mrs Hightower, my senior year Advanced English Class teacher always thought I could be a writer. I suppose she may have been wrong. Although I continue to try to discover my true intent for this blog, I accept that I may never do so.

I do not intend this blog to take a "blue tone" but sadly I find it headed that way. As I truly step back and take a look at my nearly 60 years of life, I find that my dreams have carried me about a far as they could. I do not regret them but rather I am sorry that was all they were as the lyrics cited above. I suppose I have always been a kid. Sadly I never truly grew up. I suppose I probably never will. For those whose are affected by that fact, I sincerely offer my apology.

This posting is two fold. It is the fifth installment of a series of five (as the title states) and it is my 96th and in all likelihood probably final posting of "Beerrun/The Brew Chronicles. As much as I fantasize, I still would have thought I would have had more than four or five readers after nearly three years. It would have been nice to have posted at least an even one hundred posts and I suppose I could have waited to mid December and say I had a blog for over three years. But Somehow I feel it is time to end it now. I have come to accept the fact that most people I know do not have the inclination or the intellect to read anything longer than a fifty word maximum, face book blurb. Frankly I have become weary and uninspired. I can appreciate as to why no one wants to waste much time reading my rantings, long as they may be.

My ideas and dreams have been just that. I have not acted upon them while other people have. I simply, as the above lyrics cited, "looked out the window" and only dreamed. As I look back at my life, I finally conclude that I indeed had the tools and opportunities to act on my dreams, instead I tended to take the path of least resistance. Now I am not saying that my life is over. I am saying that I can clearly see that my life has limits. I am old and wise enough to envision my life actually coming to an end. I can see a clear timeline and although I foresee "many years" remaining in my life, they are increasingly are appearing to me as being numbered. My parents, extended family and friends have all given me ample opportunities in my life. I have not necessarily squandered them, I just did not take full and complete advantage of them. I have never had an abundance of money, a fact I truly regret. But I know deep in my heart that in the long run, wisdom is far more valuable than money

I find that nowadays most of the people I know tends to treat me as a pariah. What I know, what I have and or my wisdom is not what they are seeking. I am patronized or simply ignored. I am pretty much kept on a need to know basis. I know that may sound harsh but I believe it to be true. All of my children are "grown" and independent. Although they may speak the words, I
do not believe they seek future parenting or advise from me. That task of mine has passed. I am constantly impressed as to how "much" they know yet at the same time I am amused as how "little" they know. Although I feel I have failed in so many ways in my life, I do not regret what I done as a parent. If I had it all over to do again, I believe I would not have changed many things.
This blog in many ways has been my opus to them. It was actually intended to speak to them about me, my life and my dreams. The true secret of this blog is that Beer and thingsbeer have only been an analogy and or allegory. I have diligently tried to place my wry wit and wisdom between the lines. I guess I have missed my mark. I wish my mother and father had written blogs I could have read. Then again that is what I wished and not particularly what my children want.

I suppose I could opine forever but at some point I need to find an end. So with that I submit the final installment of a Series of Five.

These past five postings (including this one) have a single focus and to be honest they are a microcosm of all of my previous postings. They attempt to illuminate my dreams as if they were reality.

So with that said, lets look back

Part One: Identifies applicable laws that are in existence. I admit I express some sarcasm within it, I attempt to simply state how the "landscape" plays out.

Part Two: This is pretty much a re-hash of many of my earlier postings regarding places I have been and beers I have tried. The point I was attempting to make was that I had visited a lot of places and seen a lot of different places. Most of them are very successful. Each was unique in it's own way. Should I create a place of my own, I would have many examples to follow.

Part Three: This posting was meant to point out that there was and is still a viable market for both micro breweries and brewpubs

Part Four: This posting is amalgamation of many. It was to recant what I have written about for nearly three years. I fine tuned it and tried to "put legs" on my dream. I attempted to illustrate how the idea although similar to literally hundreds (or more) of ideas, is indeed separate in it's scope. I attempted to once again show and or visualize my dream.

I think it was during my writing of Part Four that I realized that my blog had reached its zenith. I found myself writing the same things I had written prior. I had a deja vu moment.
I have several scribblings saved on my computer. These are blog postings that I never actually finished. I plan to re review them and if possible they may find their way on this blog. Then again this could be the last one.

So I guess that is about it. But one final story.......

As a senior in high school I was once again placed in an advanced English class. Mrs Hightower was one of those teachers that everyone feared yet respected. My grades in her class was pretty much as they were in all my other classes C s with a few B s. Mrs Hightower knew that I had potential but to be honest all I wanted to do was hear the bell ring for sixth period and go to either football or baseball practice. For one six week period we had a student teacher. Our project was to read various allegories and then write one. Mine was the story of Three Little Pigs. (with a twist). That was actually the name of it. One pig was all white (Yorkshire), the other was all black (Mulefoot) while the third one was spotted (Poland). It was 1968 and there were three persons running for President. Richard Nixon, Republican, Hubert Humphrey, Democrat and George Wallace, Independent. My allegory was written to describe the various political positions of each. I assigned a pig as each their characters. I carefully crafted the story while placing my own personal spin on it. I was very proud of my work. I turned the paper in and within a few days, I received the paper that was graded by the student teacher. I received an F. The first and only F I had ever received in high school. I was stunned. I asked the teacher and she informed me that it did not read as an allegory nor did the story make any sense whatsoever. She told me she thought it was pure nonsense therefore she gave me a failing grade. Well , I pretty much accepted it. A few weeks later my six week report card was given to me and I had a D in English. My mother went ballistic and ranted on how I needed to straighten up and try learning for a change. I told her about my paper and I even showed it to her. She instructed me to take the paper to Mrs Hightower and ask her opinion. I did and I received the paper back a few days later. The red F had been changed to an A. My teacher "got it". My report card was changed from a D to a B. Mrs Hightower submitted my paper to the school board literary committee and it was published in one of their publications. To this day, it is the only thing I have ever had published. I wonder if anyone else "got it".

So we're are at the end of my blog journey. Once again I ask myself if anyone "got it". But........ this time I also wonder if they ever will.


"But the truth is I could no more stop dreaming than I could make them all come true"


Amen


Tom

two Brewing Company and roots Public House (Part Four of a Series of Five)

I sat on the "Party Patio" with The Big Ranch (TBR). I was rambling on about something as he was pretending to be interested. He read and sent various text messages to his friends and or family or while he checked in on the latest face book posts on his I Phone 4 as I continued to blab. Although he currently works a job that provides for his family, it requires that he spend a substantial amount of time away from them. At times I actually think that he enjoys his time away. Most of the time I feel he really wants to get off of the road.

Beginning in 1958 until I was well into college, my father worked "on the road". Dad was home most weekends and we spent every summer with him. Even though I feel my father did a wonderful job in making up for his time gone, he and I still missed out on many things. As a grandfather to The Big Ranch's daughter, Little Cat, I want to facilitate my son in law to be more of a stay at home dad. In our chats, TBR , has confided with me that his goal is to obtain a college degree in history, education and kinesiology. He wants to be a high school history teacher and football coach. My mother was a teacher. I have the highest respect of teachers. I am honored that my daughter is married to a man who has his sights on such a noble vocation. During some of those chats TBR has modified his goals. He still wants to get off of the road and get his degree but he wants to open a local "fitness center". He has a "friend" who purchased a franchise from a national "fitness" chain and he want to emulate same. He proposes to open a center and after an appropriate amount of time and effort, and when it is up and running and making him a substantial sum of money, he wants to pursue his teaching and coaching career at a small rural school similar to the one he graduated. Personally I admire his goal. As a father figure, I want to support his dream yet I want to temper his dreams as well. He seems to be rather naive but that very well may be a good thing. Our banter back and forth could be construed as augmentative but it is not intended to be so. Me playing Devil's Advocate is not intended to shoot down his dreams but rather solidify them. I too have dreams and I am not too pleased to have them squashed as well. In our chats, he gave me one idea as to how the plan would work while I gave him multiple examples of how it would not. The other day he mentioned to me he should begin to start working out. I suggested that he join a local fitness center and his reply was that he could save money and do all he needs at home. I quickly pointed out that should he open a fitness center I hope that his potential customers did not take the same position that he was taking. "Damn, there you go shooting me down again" he laughed.

So back to the Party Patio (by the way TBR is who first named it). On one of the those occasions I countered his dream with one of my own.......

In early February 1989 I sat in front of the Vice President of Engineering of the company I had been an employee for nearly fifteen years. Two of his sons were drinking buddies of mine. As a "hard shelled Baptist Deacon, I am sure he was not too pleased with that. He had "come up" through the company with my father. Although Dad was not an Aggie Engineer, he did pretty well and up till his retirement he was at about the same level as the VP. I do not think my boss was happy with that either. My Dad always thought he was a simple minded hard headed German. For over a year, I had been a thorn in his side at weekly Monday morning status meetings. I tended to always debunk some of his ideas or I would provide information that prohibited some of his pet projects. At one meeting I even implied he was a fool because of a decision he made against my advise. He made a poor decision and it was costing the company nearly a half of a million dollars. I did not actually call him a fool. What I said was " Who ever made that decision after I specifically warned of the consequences is a fool". Once again, I do not think he was happy with that either.
Our company had been having what seemed to be quarterly employee lay offs or purges for a while. The latest one was upon us. I was not too surprised when when he said "Your job position has been eliminated". I am confident that I made his day.

A few months later I learned that The Mrs. The Third was "with child". I began looking for work and I found a few odd jobs here and there. Most were contract jobs wherein I would work for a few weeks at a time. I also "drew" unemployment benefits. I went to work with a friend who installed ceramic tile. I was his helper. He paid me cash and I did not have to claim it as taxes and it did not effect my unemployment payments. I learned a few things from that year or so. First of all nothing is forever and as long as you work for someone else that someone controls your destiny. Secondly I learned how to live on a lot less money than I was accustomed to. Finally I learned that hard work alone did not always mean more money. Oh yea, I learned I did not want to install ceramic tile for a living.

Eventually I took a job working in Southern California. My first pay check nearly equaled what I had earned installing tile for six months. Yes I had to be away from my family and yes it was emotionally difficult, but I realize it was something I had to do at the time.
While in Bakersfield, I began to accumulate new friends. It only took a few weeks before I was singled out above my fellow employees and I was promoted to supervisor over 22 other employees. I was the boss yet I still had bosses too. One of my of my subordinates was a poor little rich boy named Jim. Jim's parents were in their late forties when he was born. His older siblings were all all over twenty years his senior. His parents were very wealthy. When he was nine he was sent to a military San Marcos Texas and upon high school graduation he attended the University of Texas where he received a degree in Petroleum Land Management. Many of his childhood summers were spent on month long world tours. His apartment had framed photographs of hm and his mother standing in front of the Sidney Opera House and on the Great Wall of China. He had pictures of him in Peru and Ireland. He had a pictures of him standing in front of the Taj Mahall and the Leaning Tower of Pizza. He even had a picture of him and Pope John Paul II. It was just the two of them. It was not one of those "waiting in line" type pictures. He and his mother actually had a personal audience with The Holy Father. I was very impressed. To my knowledge Jim was not even Catholic.

From time to time, Jim and I would visit various restaurants and "clubs" in and around Bakersfield. We also visited places down in "L.A" Jim always knew the really cool places.
One night we drove to downtown Bakersfield.
I have posted here about many different bar, taverns, pubs, dives, lounges etc that I have visited. Each one them hold a special "something" in my memory. But if I needed to single out one single place that I would consider the most profound, it would have to be Guthrie's Alley Cat. I agree Bakersfield, California is not known for it's night life. It is not a tourist destination. But that bar was amazing. Each time I stepped inside it was magical. From that point till today, it is the standard of which I compare other bars, taverns and pubs.

My escapades in Southern California ended in February of 1992. The original crew of over sixty people had been dwindled down to only my boss and me. We were informed that our jobs would be ending on Feb 1. I was offered several other jobs. Each would require that I leave Bakersfield. Each job paid about the same. What I was looking for was longevity. Eventually it was down to two jobs. One was located in a small town in Oregon named Bend. Several of my former co workers and employees had already gone to work there. Many of them were calling me telling me that I should come on up. The job was scheduled to last about two years. The other job also had a few of my former employees and co workers working. The office where I would be working out of, was located less than ten miles from where I used to live back in Texas. That job also was supposed to last nearly two years. I learned that my father would be working for them as well. I still wanted to work in Oregon but The Mrs. The Third wanted to return back to Texas. So back to the Tomball area we went.

Upon arrival back in Texas, one of the first persons I met was a man by the name of Joseph. He was not a very friendly sort of guy but he tended to like me and I liked him as well. Through the years, Joseph and I never became close friends yet we always enjoyed each others company. He had a son named David attending the local Catholic School. I think David must have been nine or ten at the time
On many of my times at our Church or while I was doing something on the Church property, I would see David and I would make a special point of saying hi. He was a kid and most of the time he had very little to do with me.

As I have written in the past, I eventually became the adult sponsor of a male youth organization sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. When I accepted the position I informed my "brother Knights" that I would do so only one condition. I agreed to be the adult leader of the group. I acknowledged that I had no male children thus no son involved with the Squires. I demanded that each father (who was also a Knight) of each boy in the Squires must volunteer his time to help the group as well. I did not think that would happen. I was wrong.....Within days, I had Joe, Mark, Darrell, Gary, Robert, Chris, and Joseph (as mentioned above) all show up to the meetings of the group. Within weeks I witnessed these men not only "show up" but actually do something.

As a Catholic adult, I must admit that one of the highest compliment/honor one could ever have been bestowed, is for someone to ask me to be their confirmation sponsor. Some people take this lightly but it really is a big deal. Most people are never asked and only a fortunate few are asked twice or perhaps three times. I have been asked nine times and I sponsored Anita, Cody, Danielle, Matthew, Adam and David (as mentioned above).

David is now around 23 or 24 years old. For over five years David has continued to call me from time to time and we just talk. He really is a good friend. Sometimes he asks me advise and I pretty much give it to him regardless if I tell him what he want to hear or not. As a young man he too has many dreams. One is to own his own business. We have talked about my fantasy of owning a brewery and or brewpub. All we ever do is talk. We surely have not acted upon it.

In our conversations I have fine tuned some of my dreams. From those conversations I finally laid out a clear path of which I pointed out to TBR on the PP.

Stage One. Open a brewery in the State of Texas. Name it (two) Brewing Company
Only distrubute/sell product in bottles and kegs within the boundaries of the State of Texas.

Stage Two: Open a minimum of two pubs called "roots Public House". The locations could be anywhere withing the United States. Such locations must be carefully considered and selected.
This brewery (two) Brewing Company will produce beers and ales that will only be distributed in kegs, bombers. Each pub will have the ability to brew the same beers as 2 Brewing Company. Each pub not be real large or real small. I plan that it will be an eclectic bar that is a combination of many components of what I feel is the perfect bar. The sound system will be amazing and the 'background music" will be good. The bar will have a huge selection of craft beers as well as well stocked bar. The brew pubs will brew a few identical beers but each one of them will have the ability/option to brew brews that are only available at that specific location.
In addition to these "pubs" having all of the features already mentioned, they will each have a an actual kitchen and or grill and the foods served will be amazing. Who knows Guy and his Camaro may pay a visit to one of them.

Stage Three: Create a Reality Television Show detailing the day to day trials of operating a brewery and opening and operating multiple bars. This process should make root Public House a household name. It is great advertisement and it is completely free. Hell, we would MAKE money with it.

Stage Four: Once the pubs and the brewery have been opened and gain notoriety, the plan is to sell or divest of the two pubs and begin selling "franchises" for future roots Public Houses. Of course we would reap a small portion of the profits from each new venture. Who knows we might purchase a sports franchise with our profits. I hear the LA Dodgers might be up for sale.


Stage Five: Sell or divest ownership in the brewery and simply live on the profits of all of the pubs.

Finally we should follow The Third's Ten Commandments:

1. Think Big. Dreams never have limits.
2. Make a Decision, stick with it.
3. Be willing to listen to all advise but be able to heed good advise.
4. If you have a good idea, be assured others do too.
5. Be grateful not greedy.
6. If you build it. Other will copy it and try to run you out of business.
7. Negative thinking does not always mean negative doing.
8. Seek wisdom always.
9. Know when to say yes and no when to say no. Be able to admit fault or defeat
10. Loyalty should always be your biggest trait.


The Third, CEO ,
Big Cat Brewing Sciences, Inc.