Start Up

Well, I already regret the last entry. Not all of it, just the part about, 'shrinking back to learn and observe...' I have worked hard for this company and most of the time it is a lot of fun. Something Chad and I are creating together. But nothing of value is ever easy... especially not starting a business. With a lot of hard work, more determination and the ability to focus, I know we will be able to do it!

One thing we have learned these past couple of days is that we have to scale way back. Chad and Nick haven't yet brewed any beer and that is truly what we are selling - hand crafted, organic beer - of quality. All of the other philosophical speculations about who is going to buy the beer, who we should market too, etc. need to be tabled until we actually have a product. Without beer, there is nothing to sell and without equipment, licenses, certifications, ingredients, technique and experience there is no beer. Before you can start running you have to learn to walk. That is where we are... crawling.

So, back on the course but with a simpler, more defined focus. Get this beer made! We still have investigators, public hearings, attorneys, label approvals, and tons of unpredictable roadblocks ahead of us. We don't need to make more for ourselves.

There was Whitehawk IPA with our roasted chicken and cornbread last night, but being sick with a cold, I opted for a glass of Ca'Del Solo, Big House Red. Being our close neighbors, I felt I should bring myself up to speed on Bonny Doon's product. Plus, the bottlers are some of the most handsome men I have ever seen. A movie crew should check them out.

Off to paint the floor and moisture seal the warehouse, talk with 7Bridges, the engineers for the building and PGE. With a pinch of luck, we may be able to move the equipment in next week and start plumbing all of the pieces together. Wouldn't that be something?