Perfect quote for the day

"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world."

- Kaiser Wilhelm

Additional proof I married the perfect woman.

Great idea.....

For the first time in 17 years I get to take off work on my birthday, because I can.  I don't have to worry about month end or working until 7:00 or 8:00 in the evening.  Yes, you could say I'm going to actually enjoy the day.

With that in mind, I thought I'd share an article today as well.  Enjoy!



Northwest Canning, LLC is a mobile beverage canning operation that serves local craft breweries. Most breweries are unable to can their beer because it requires a large initial investment in inventory and machinery. Thanks to Northwest Canning, micro-brewers now have access to the materials and equipment to make canning their beer possible.


Craft breweries are turning to canning because it is more cost effective and eco-friendly than bottling, which allows them to conquer new markets and increase their profit margin.


Northwest Canning was started by Justin Brandt and Arne Hakanson, both graduates of Linfield College and members of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, where their friendship solidified. Having earned experience in the business world from running successful financial advising practices, Brandt and Hakanson’s goal is to provide excellent and reliable customer service. Brandt runs the day-to-day operations and services micro-breweries in both Oregon and Washington.


“We are the first to do this in the Pacific Northwest,” Hakanson, a Tacoma local said, “no one else in the area is providing a mobile canning service. By canning with us, craft breweries will reach untapped markets.”


“Cans are far superior to bottles” explained Brandt, a Portland resident. “Because cans are not affected by UV light and contain less dissolved oxygen, canning results in a higher-quality, longer-lasting brew.”


Northwest Canning recently completed its first canning run with Tacoma’s Wingman Brewers, canning their Ace IPA and P-51 Porter. Check out the video at http://www.facebook.com/northwestcanning.


Breweries interested in hiring Northwest Canning can contact them at northwestcanning@gmail.com or check them out at northwestcanning.com.

Thought for the day

We all fall short daily of being the individual that we were designed to be.  The attempt to perfect ourselves, to arrive, is a trek with no coordinates for the mapping of an end.  Giving ones all is the only thing that can be expected and in return the sole satisfaction within.  As rare the act of meeting the intentions of another is the man who stays the coarse.  Live full, listen often and surround yourself with a rare few that will face the battle with you.

- Aaron Fulcher

At times, inspiration comes in a small moment, a conversation or setting.  Maybe it's the Hemingway I've been reading of late.  I hope you enjoy this read as I enjoyed penning it.

Cheers 

Great craft beer?

What makes a truly great craft beer?  While a majority of the experience can depend on the beer of choice, setting, company and presentation are the three main factors I would investigate to ensure a peak experience.

Consider this;

Setting - You probably wouldn't sit down to open a rare, limited release bottle of bourbon barrel-aged stout on a sweltering afternoon on the patio, with a plate of fish tacos, in a large group of people.  A bottle such as this would be best served with a close friend, a cigar or a chocolate souffle and an overstuffed leather chair.

Company - Consider the palate of those you share a craft beer with.  I recommend avoiding the attempt to enjoy something of extreme quality with a couple of Milwaukee's Best swigging sidekicks.  If you were fortunate to get a bottle of Deschutes latest collaboration, Collage, it would be best served in a snifter at room temperature rather than ice cold, shotgun-style with a bunch of college buddies.

Presentation - Just as in serving a fine bottle of wine or an aged cheese, presentation is everything.  A carefully selected crafted beer should be no different.  Use the appropriate glassware and if serving with food, do a little research on the best types of food with which to pair.  Great Divide is a great example of a brewery who places these items on the label of each bottle and knowing so will make the experience that much greater.

With that in mind, it's time to venture out of your comfort zone.  Make a trip to a specialty beer shop and treat yourself to a new experience in the craft beer world.

Cheers

Salmon River Brewery

Like anything truly great in the central Idaho, mountain town of McCall, whether mountain biking, skiing, camping or fishing, you have to go just off piste.  Salmon River Brewery, SRB to the locals, is no different.  Matt Ganz, a former smokejumper and Hot Shot and Matt Hurlbutt, a former contractor by trade, often referred to as the 2 Matt's decided that the tourist town of roughly 3,000 year round residents had room for a second brewery.

So, why beer?  In sitting down with Ganz, I discovered that beer quite possibly courses through his veins and as he so eloquently stated, "I'm just tapping into my heritage, pun intended."  Ganz family owned and operated a number of breweries across the Northwest.  His great, great, great grandfather founded Alma Brewing in 1855 which saw a successful 50 year run up to prohibition.  His family also founded Seattle Brewing and Malting which birthed a signature Pale Ale we know today as Rainier.  The popularity of Rainier Beer grew exponentially,  launching them to become the 6th largest brewery in the world by 1904.

In what may be a little bit different question, how did beer save your life? I asked.

"Beer gave me something that I can absolutely, full heartedly be passionate about and that's a lot to say.  A lot of people in the jump community fear leaving for the lack of something better.  It can also be quite an elixir."  He smiled.  "Why do people drink beer?  To relax, enjoy a conversation with a friend.  I just don't like to see it abused."

Every brewer initially gets their inspiration from another brewery, being from the Pacific Northwest, Ganz named the expected Deschutes and RedHook.  To dig a little deeper, however,  Ganz cited Terminal Gravity for their location and business plan, Amnesia Brewing of Portland for their pub model, Full Sail Brewing of Hood River for the Willy Wonka Factor and Dogfish Head, well, because they have just done about everything a small brewery could ever hope to do and then some.  Ganz also wanted to specifically give a special, high five and pat on the back to Sockeye as a local brewery for the flash of hands on experience and shadowing in their facility.

What's next?  Look to see SRB expand the number of draft accounts in the valley, specifically in the Boise area.  With a new delivery truck, new kegs and new tap handles on the way they are definitely moving into the next phases of their business plan.  You can expect some light bottling of some 22's releasing some of their staples to places like the Boise Co-op and local craft beer specialty stores.

For now, make the 2 hour drive north from Boise to the little mountain town on the lake, that is, the whole package deal.  Find your way to the Liquid District and you'll undoubtedly catch one of the 2 Matt's, probably with the door up, brewing that next great batch of true Idaho craft beer.

Cheers

Inside the public house

Saturday night performance by Reilly Coyote

Full courtyard on a Saturday evening

Plenty of parking

Keep Sailing......

"It may be that the gulfs will wash us down;
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And though we are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are—
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will;
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."


- Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ulysses


I’ve been thinking about that poem a lot lately. And I think what it says is that, while it’s tempting to play it safe, the more we’re willing to risk, the more alive we are. In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took. 


- Frasier Crane aka Kelsey Grammer


I suppose that I'll pilfer a poem and a quote as they are both meaningful in my life and this new adventure.  It's easy to second guess oneself as you set sail and voyage to new shores.  The land you once new, the land that was comfortable, the friends you surrounded yourself with, begin to grown faint.  At times you will find yourself in rough waters, the waves threatening your very existence.


One has to rely on the resolve within oneself, that deep desire for change.  It's only after spending a few days in open water that you can hope to see a new shore.  The water has been anything but calm or easy, however, the daily mending of sails and testing of gear has aided in the creation of a much stronger person.  Relying on ones team, ones family, is the only way to navigate safely.  When we arrive at shore it will make dry, stable land that much more rewarding.


Cheers

Grab the family and enjoy!

While Ponderosa State Park isn't quite as off piste as I generally would choose to pursue, it proved to be a perfect route for my family.  While cycling can be quite a workout from the novice to the most technical of rider, a trail-a-bike on mountain trails with your child aboard adds an interesting degree of additional balance and difficulty.

If you haven't ridden the trails in Ponderosa State Park, I would encourage you to grab the family and go.  The trails around the park are of varying width which include some paved sections, all of which meander through some of McCall's most beautiful lakeside setting.

A half hour or so of throwing rocks in the lake generally prove, however, to be the highlight of the day for my kids.  Although, being on the backside of Payette Lake on a secluded bay made for a beautiful setting for all of us to enjoy.

Just a short ride across town and we finished with a pint of liquid refreshment at Salmon River Brewery where the kids enjoyed some company and most importantly the sand.  Here's to good weather, good company and good beer!

Cheers

Life Lesson No. 21

"Dost thou love life?  Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."

- Benjamin Franklin

While time is inherently our most valuable commodity, it is the easiest thing for us to waste.  With all honesty, my dramatic change of schedule and sometimes lack thereof has made it easy to lose control of my time.

Schedule, routine and purpose while sometimes mundane, do ensure that we have some sort of outline for life.  We can't, however, become so focused on schedule that we do not allow ourselves to live our lives and experience some of life's most precious, unplanned gifts.

Search for balance and life will be full.  The sun is shining, the patio is calling and I have a cold beer and a turkey burger calling my name.

Cheers

If at first.......

You've heard the old saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again."  I was raised never to quit.  The word just isn't in my vocabulary.  I worked for the same company for 17 years, I saw myself through to the completion of my Eagle Scout, I attempt to surround myself with positive, everyday, no matter what is going on around me.  I just keep going.

I suppose sometimes it's to a fault but I truly want to instill that quality in my children.  We will not quit.   Granted, it's still in small doses and they are still kids but each day I see in that fight in them more and more to keep trying.

My son has decided to make slacklining a past time sport, while my daughter has chosen ice skating, both of which have tested my resolve as they are not the easiest sports I've attempted.  Watching them is a continual reminder to myself to keep going.  They are watching, everything.

I will continue to peck away at the keyboard, each and every day.  This has been one of my most difficult tasks.  The day to day, searching for what seem to be the smallest of life's lessons.

Cheers

It's not easy to balance on a flexible 2" strap

Surveying the ice

Life Lesson No. 38

Teaching children that the best things in life are worth waiting for is an arduous task.  For an adult learning the same lesson can be nearly impossible.

Just south of McCall and about 45 minutes by dirt road we found ourselves deep in the trees with no signs of civilization.  It was the type of drive that made my wife nervous, with a firm grip on the dash.  After we circled around on an old logging road to the point of beginning, her confidence level was even higher.

If 6 years of Boy Scouts taught me anything, it was to "Be Prepared."  My small daypack consisted of a compass, fire starter, solar blankets, wind breakers, cord, a Gerber multi-tool, solar powered flashlight, bone saw, first aid kit, two canteens, the camera, lunch and a few snacks.  So, after a short search of the topographical map, we were headed back up the hill.

The hike, ideally rocky and fully uphill began and just shy of an hour and a half later my family stood in awe of the view.  The first words out of my 4 and 6 year olds mouths were, "Dad, that was so worth it to hike all that way."

Lessons in life don't have to be as difficult as we make them.  Anything in life that is worth accomplishing is going to take hard work.  It makes the reward that much greater.

Cheers

Time

Cycling to Ponderosa State Park yesterday I was again made very aware of how perceptive a 4 and 6 year old can be.  "Dad, if you still worked at your old job we could probably buy one of these cabins right by the lake," my son said.  "But if he still worked at his old job we wouldn't see him much," chimed in my four year old daughter.  "Yeah, I like spending time with dad," said my son.

Children crave time and I can't share that enough.  They'll always accept toys, gifts etc., just as most of us would as well.  In reality, however, a majority of the purchases we make, for our children or ourselves for that matter, are done to fill a void.  The solution we most often come up with is if we don't have a connection we can fill it with things, most of which end up becoming meaningless and dropped in the next yard sale.

So, the day was spent biking around town, playing at the park and going to the beach.  The crowds will be here soon enough for the weekend so the exploration began.  The evening ended at Crusty's Pizza where the owner hired a 4 and 6 year old to make their own pizza in the kitchen.

Living life as it comes and thankful already for this 3 week delay in the move.

Cheers

That's Life

Stuck again!  I've determined that I've written about most of the major topics that have been weighing on my mind.  Now what?  That search must begin for the little things.  The day in, day out items that can often be so small that they go unnoticed.

A comment from my son or daughter, a conversation with a friend, a new reaction to a situation or the pages of a book.  In any event, my quest will continue.  I choose not to allow myself to become so distracted that I cannot find meaning in each and every day.

With that being said, we are now looking at a  3 week delay in our move.  I am reminded that everything in life happens for a reason.  I've determined that it's a perfect opportunity to really spend time focusing on what is important.  Looking forward to quality time with family, friends and time at the cabin.

Life is a book of adventure best served page by page, so as to enjoy every chapter.  Have you slowed down lately to read your story.

Cheers

"Beer is good, more is better"

Gary Fish started Deschutes Brewery in downtown Bend in 1988.  The brewery was named after the nearby Deschutes River and built with the community in mind, creating the public house and local feel. Deschutes Brewery produced just 310 barrels in his first year.  By 2014, however, with a number of renovations and additions, Deschutes is slated to produce in excess of 500,000 barrels.

Black Butte Porter was and still is considered the flagship beer produced at Deschutes, which actually surprised me, as I would have guessed it to be Mirror Pond.  Black Butte Porter, is the number one craft porter in distribution, while it is only distributed in 18 states.  Additionally, Deschutes Brewery is now ranked no. 5 in craft beer sales in the United States.

With statistics like this, I probably don't need to convince you to try one of their liquid concoctions, chances are, you've already had one or two of their award winning brews.  Maybe it should be of no surprise that, despite their size, they still maintain that small, craft brewery feel.  They still brew test batches and a majority of the beer poured at the public house in the 12 barrel system located downtown.

Craft Beer in Central Oregon is definitely alive and well and a majority of the thanks is due Gary Fish and Deschutes Brewery.

Cheers

50 barrel home of beers such as "The Abyss"

Shipped in one piece from Germany, these barrels run deep below the floor

A maze of fermenting vessels

On the road again....

Today was to be moving day.  Everyone was scheduled on both ends, the truck was booked and we were headed out.  There was, however, a different plan.  One thing that I've learned over the course of the last 6 months is flexibility.  Things rarely happen to plan and the way we react to it is what makes it manageable.

So, the next few days will be filled with travel.  Heading to Oregon to attempt to finalize anything that needs be.  Everything happens for a reason and another reminder that we truly do not have control.

So today is again, short, quick and to the point.  Time to hit the road, McCall to Boise to Bend.  The road goes on forever............

Cheers

Life Lessons

As I sit back and reflect on the happenings of the last six months, I can't help but be a little bit amazed.  At times, it's alot to take in.  I've been labeled as an "early mid-life crisis, visionary, quitter, free-thinker and burn-out."  The best part is, I know exactly why I made the decisions I did and outside of my wife and two beautiful children, it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.  That realization, in itself, is the most freeing.

To take the road less traveled has been an experience beyond anything I could truly put into words.  It has been a wild ride.  As we prepare to leave this beautiful valley, where I have lived my entire life, I am confident that I am aptly prepared for the next stage of the race.

Stepping into the unknown, I have a wife and children who love and support me and most importantly, who now know me.  I have a connection to those closest to me, a choice that I have made and one that can never be replaced.  I have a newfound understanding of what is important, what has meaning and who is there in the darkest hours.

If I may impart anything in the first stages of this journey, it is this, "live life to the fullest, live simply and live everyday as if there is no tomorrow."  I hope you will continue this journey with us as we relocate to Bend, Oregon.  Let the adventure begin!

Cheers

Ale Trail

The Central Oregon Trail Alliance has teamed up with the Bend Brewing Company for a new summer ale.

The Funner Trail Summer Ale is the BBC’s newest beer, and it is named after one of COTA’s newest trails; the Funner Trail.

Sunday's proceeds from the Summer Ale beer sales went directly to the nonprofit.

COTA builds new trails throughout Central Oregon, and maintains them with the help of trail adoptees.

Funner Trail adoptee Todd Wells said he could not be happier that the local brewery wanted to help out, and never thought he would name a trail that would later have a beer named after it.

“The beer is fantastic. My favorite beers are pale ales and IPAs, and they blended it with a nice hoppy pale ale,” said Wells. “The fact that I like it makes it that much better.”

If you would like to learn more about COTA you can visit their 13th annual spring fling trail work event next Saturday, June 9th at the Mt. Bachelor Park and Ride. There you can enjoy a free breakfast by REI and help clean and build trails. There will also be an after-party with a BBQ, and Deschutes Brewery beer.

Courtesy of KVTZ, Bend, OR

Surrender

It's a cool 54 degrees as I sit in quiet on the deck at the cabin.  The weekend traffic has subsided, the hustle and bustle and the noise has given way to absolute quiet.

I can hear a light wind blowing gently through the aspens.  A cricket chirping in the distance.  A fox and her pups, scarce during the disturbance of the weekend, are now playing in the front yard under the soothing glow of the two strings of crudely hung patio lights.  The setting is perfect.

To go hunt for a cricket, I wouldn't find one, let alone hear it.  To attempt to harness the wind and send it through a thicket of trees to hear the leaves dance, the task is impossible and if I took off across the field to find the fox, she'd never lead me within 50 feet of her den.

Once again, proof that we ultimately have no control.  A gift, such as this evening, perfect in so many ways, is only so as a result of surrender.

Cheers

I bid you adieu

Yes, the times of post have been a bit erratic as of late.  To be candid, we're moving and life has become chaotic.  Needless to say it's a chore to rid yourself of nearly 2/3 of your belongings, between gifts to friends and family, yard sales and donations, a long period of time in your home and it can become a catch all for a number of things you don't need.

As I get down to the last few items strewn about the house, I can't help but become a bit (okay, alot) nostalgic.  It's a little difficult to look at empty bedrooms that once held my children's cribs and then beds.  Little Abby's striped wall, now the only visual draw in the room.  Opening Brendan's closet to find a kindergarten, Santa Claus, sack puppet, crudely put together with construction paper and glue.

Eight years ago to the day, I sat on the patio by the firepit, having just closed on this very lot to build a house that I designed.  I'd spent almost the year prior, drawing and re-drawing what I envisioned for our family, kids, entertaining and holiday functions.

Tonight, I sit by the firepit, alone on the patio, for the last time at the house I created and realize that a move is from house to house, it's who is inside that makes it a home.

Cheers