Of Weeds and Stone

So I was watching Netflix last night. A night like most other nights. This week I'm watching season 5 Showtime's series, Weeds. It's a great show. Although not as "real" as the first few seasons were, I still enjoying it.

***Spolier Alert***

Episode 2 "Machetes Up Top",

Uncle Andy has fled with his nephew Shane, to Nancy's sisters house in Oakland. You see, Nancy figured "Oakland" would be a safer place for her son, Shane. Oakland people. How safe is Oakland? I've watched that video of the 67 year old Vietnam Vet Tom Slick beat the hell out of a guy on the bus to the point of "leaking."

Anyways, back to the story. In an attempt to convice Nancy's sister to look after Shane, Uncle Andy pulls out all the stops. He adorns his kick ass Stone Brewery T-shirt and proceeds to convice her to keep Shane in Oakland for a while. For his own protection.

Little did the average Weeds viewer realize the power of a Stone Brewing T-shirt. But I knew of that power. On occasion, I have used such power. I'm sure most of you figured out what happend next. That's right, Andy proceeds to seduce the girl from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Yes, Brad Hamilton's (Judge Reinhold) little sister, Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Not a bad triumph for Andy.

Episode 4 "Super Lucky Happy"

Even though it was a school night, I decided to watch a few more episodes. In episode 4, Uncle Andy, Shane, Nancy, and her sister Stacy Hamilton have fled again. This time she chose a new hideout, "Family Fun Bowlarama". I guess that was a safer place than Oakland.


As Nancy takes out her frustrations by blowing away bunnies and owls in the arcade, Andy runs out of tokens, gets tired of bowling, and starts to drink. In a time like this, what would be the perfect beer? If you can find it, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. If that's not available, a Stone Brewing IPA would be a great consolation prize. That's exactly what Andy does. He chills out with his bottle of Stone IPA while attempting to speak a little wisdom into Nancy. What's even more impressive about this situation is the huge Moosehead sign glowing on the wall behind them. Yep, Andy just moved a few notches up the cool chart.

Normally Andy is a bit of a loser. A loose cannon, always getting into trouble. However he somehow finds a way to "hook up" with woman after woman. I never really understood how a guy like Uncle Andy could pull that off. Same for George Costanza. How could a a guy like George get Marisa Tomeii? He must have had Stone or Dogfish head on tap in his apartment.

After 5 seasons of Weeds, I figured it out. Andy is a Stone man.

Never underestimate the power of Stone beer.

-Cheers!

I'm Back!

What's up? It's been a while, hasn't it. I had some stuff to do. I'm a very busy and important man. But I'm back despite all that other stuff. I'm sure you missed me, and I have missed you too.

So lets get you all caught up.

Previously, on Lost....I mean Good Burp. "Brandon gives up beer in an attempt to loose weight after he made a stupid bet with his friend Schlampe." (It sounds a lot more cool if you imagine it in that deep, ominous voice like the Lost dude. Or if it was Waylen Jennings telling you as I attempted to jump a creek in the General Lee).

Back to the story.

I gave up beer, for a short time. I went days without a beer and even started working out. That didn't last long. After some encouraging words of advice from my beer buddies, Michael and the Beer Buddah, I started up again.

At first it was just one. Guinness was my gateway beer. Hell, it's nearly diet beer. And that bit about the monks drinkings beer, and liquid bread, why wouldn't I keep drinking it? It's almost as if God himself wanted me to keep drinking beer.

Eventually, I graduated to the better and stronger beers. Before I knew it I was right back at it. But what about that $100? Through the grapevine (Mrs. Schlampe), I found out that Mr. Schlampe wasn't doing so well. In fact, he had gained a pound. At that time, I was down nearly 7 pounds, and doing awesome. But that bit of news did me in. I started to slack off. First the beer came knocking. Then i divorced the exercise bike. The poor thing just sat there, collecting dust. Before I knew it, I was back in line at BevMo every Friday night. Thank God they extended their hours. Coincidence, I think not!

(Swirling music, and a "Flash Forward"...Just like on Lost)

What if I kept hitting the gym, and kept buying and trying and enjoying the beers? What would happen? The Hulk is what happens! OK, not quite, more like Iron Man, with hopes of becoming Wolverine in the not so distant future.

For the past 2 months, I have been hitting the gym 2 or 3 times a week. I try to watch what I eat, but drink just about whatever I want. And it's working. I have managed to maintain my weight, but add nearly 2" in each arm and my chest. In addition, I've lost an inch in my waist. Who wouldn't be excited about that? I might not win that $100, but at least I'm not going to have to pay it out!

To celebrate this glorious day, I'm busting out a very special beer which I've been saving in my very crowded beer fridge. It's a Dogfish Head - Midas Touch. Yes I know, it's so good! Sam is amazing. I'm enjoying it very much. More than that cheap ass Dahrma Beer that Sawyer drinks in his little cabin on his weird, time traveling island. I don't care how thirsty I was, or what you offered me. I would refuse to give up beer here in the world we live, to go to freakin island. What the hell were Jack, Kate, Hurley, and Sayid thinking? They knew there wasn't good beer there, yet they all went back. Idiots!

Back in the real world, I'm moving forward with my plans. It seems that building websites and designing logos takes up much more time than writing blog posts. Luckily, I am really good at one of those tasks, so it's done. The other (websites) has taken much longer than I expected. I have logos, but why is it so difficult to create a website? Actually, it's not that hard. Acquiring the program to create such websites has been a struggle, and the time to sit and design exactly what I want has been very, very time consuming. But I'm working on it.

Everything else is still in the works. The brewery is in it's infancy. I have the domain, and most of the logo. The website still needs work, but I have a plan. I'm working on raising the capital to get it going. That street looks good. I'll know more in the coming months. So stay tuned for that.

I think we are all caught up. But there is a new episode tomorrow. Who knows what is going to happen? A beer review? Some pictures from Beerfest? More about my addition to Netflix? Who knows. But I'll tell you this, It sure feels good to be back!

-Cheers!

My empty promises

I feel that I cant keep up with myself. There is so much I want to do, and so much I want to say, but I can't seem to find the time to do it. Is this an excuse? Probably.

When I sit down to write out my next new amazing blog post, I want it to be right. That's the way I am with most things in my life. I don't half ass anything. Because I do that, it prevents me from doing a lot of things that I want to do. Example, writing a blog post every other day.

I have plenty to write about. My life has been quite hectic as of late, which has really lit a fire under my ass to change things. Therefore my usual time of writing a blog post has been used instead on research, and reading, and education, and figuring out how I'm going to do everything I am setting out to do.

I have a list of 40 beer to write about. I have 3 pages of notes about last weeks Great Arizona Beerfest to share. I have some rough templates of websites I would love to get feedback on before I go live. I even found a welder who has agreed to build my Brutus 10 brewing system for me. I just don't want to write about any of these things until I have completed at least one of them to my satisfaction.

But I'll throw these gems out there. I registered my brewery name last week. That's good news huh. I finished off the Firestone keg in my kegerator, so I need to replace it. BevMo extended their hours so I can pick up my beer even later now. I'm going to play in the Dogfish Head Bocce Ball tournament next month, as long as I can find another couple to play.

Things are changing. Things are definitely changing for the better. Sometimes life gets in the way of fun. But I'm working on that issue as well.

-Cheers.

Arizona Beer Festival, another great time

I spent yesterday at the Great Arizona Beer Festival. I couldn't think of a better way to spend a Saturday. Great people, great weather, and great beer. Another beerfest to remember.

I'm not sure how many samples I officially tried. However, I did take notes on 19 different ones. Some good, some bad, and some great! A few really stuck out and reminded me why I love beer. Not that I needed a reminder, but it helps.

There were a few new breweries pouring this year. That's what I really makes a beerfest outstanding for me. I go out of my way to try the breweries I might never tried before, or ever again. I don't stand in line for a Sierra Nevada, or a Widmer, or Heaven forbid, a Miller. I will stand in line for Odell's and New Belgium, and Stone, and of course, Dogfish Head. You can't go wrong with these guys because at worst, you get a great beer. But if you're lucky, you get to try a new beer or seasonal concoction which you may never try again. Just my two cents.

I'm compiling the data and will post reviews and pictures this week.

-Cheers!

Note: The battery in my camera died, so I didn't get as many shots as I wanted.

A two year plan

I'm starting the journey. Yesterday was the first day of my new venture. I'm moving forward with the brewery.

There is a lot going on so far. Most of it is preliminary work. Setting up the llc, designing the logo, building the website, building the brew system, and I'm sure another 30 things I have yet to think about. But for now, its enough to keep me busy.

I know its going to be a long process. I would love to get everything up and going tomorrow, but that's not going to happen. Instead I'm planning on a two year plan. With a lot of hard work, and a descent sized bank roll, I really think two years will be enough time to get the brewery opened and brewing beer.

The other day I wrote about the website. I wasn't being completely truhful when I said it was a place to expand Good Burp. In truth, it's the website for the brewery. I hope to have a site up and running by this weekend. That's my plan anyway. But I know that I'm such a perfectionist that when it comes time to go live, I'm going to want the site to be perfect. So cross your fingers.

As soon as its ready to go, ill let you all know where you can find it.