Warming Up

The sun has been out now for a couple of days and it feels like Spring is here. I love this time of year. The warm weather and the sunshine make all suggestions that winter is over (even if it isn't!) and I begin thinking about wearing shorts for running instead of sweats.

I get to go to Oswald tonight for dinner! It has become a sort of ritual for my good friend's birthday, we make an annual trek to Oswalds for a night of culinary madness. Yesterday Chad and I were dowtown running errands and I happened to walk by the door so I peaked at the menu. The menu at Oswald is very 'Julia Child season inspired,' and I have only eaten there in the fall (annual anniversary spot) and spring (Amber's birthday - I guess that I am a creature of habit) but I can't wait for lemons, tender baby vegetables and the fresh seafood of spring. What a treat!

Last week Chad met with an investigator from the ABC at the brewery. Despite an initial case of serious nerves (getting the call in the morning with the announcement that the investigator would be at our brewery in a half hour - and having to dash out of the house in a moments notice) the meeting went well and it looks like everything is movely along as it should be. He had Chad draw the brewery layout and include the office spaces so that the entire suite is licensed, even the offices. That same day I had another scare from the ATF when I received an email stating that we needed to include the double sided Power of Attorney form. I hadn't included that form because we don't have an attorney acting on our behalf. Chad is signing all the forms himself. After speaking with Phyllis in the federal office, it doesn't look like we need that after all. I was surprised at the ease in which we could get ahold of the the federal official and their efficiency. She said that our application was complete and looked great and wished me a nice weekend. Whhhhewww!

We have settled up with the Graphic Designer - Page/Curtis - and have officially settled on our company logo!
SCMB%20final%20proof.pdf

The process was a bit like naming a baby! But we are happy with the proof and it was so interesting to see the process. They drew the logo by hand in layers on thin paper and scanned them into the computer superimposing the layers to create a final draft that is very dimensional. They keep the original artwork and drawings in their office, but they are neat to see. While we were in there we saw a historical painting of the old powderworks in Santa Cruz but it was a neat scene of the city from the mountains but many, many years ago. I guess, UCSC has a neat archive of old images. We are going to have to take a trip up there!

Chad and I met with 7Bridges on Sunday to hammer out the details of the lease agreement and get a closer look at the equipment. The meeting went really well and the points were easily agreed upon. It is hard to tell, but I think they are surprised at the progress we are making and the timeline we have been able to follow. More importantly, they are so excited! It really couldn't be a better fit for us. They gave us their wholesale price list and we talked about organic certification, dished the dirt on local breweries and dreamt of the brewing potential in Santa Cruz! Later that afternoon, Chad hit the Redwood Brewer Guild meeting at Mia's house and was met with more enthusiasm. He sampled home brewed pomegranite apple cider in two forms. One that was straight cider and one that had been frozed and the frozen water removed - leaving a much more condensed version. What a treat! They are ready to help - so we need to get a keg washing party planned ASAP!

After picking up our logo we walked over to Stokes Signs to work on our sign for the warehouse. They do great work there and after discussing various techniques for mounting the sign, we left to discuss our options with Mark Sanchez, the building owner. He loved the logo/sign and thought it was designed with the building aesthetic in mind.

These last two months until opening are going to be crazy, but we are just warming up! We have lots to do still - grab your second wind and go.