Brewmance

I am sure you all remember Matt from earlier guest posts... well I got him to write another guest post for me, because I am completely lost with this move.

So, enjoy!

I recently went up to Milwaukee for a little vacation. In between gorging on gigantic portions of ludicrously heavy German food, getting scolded at the Art Museum, and experiencing rush hour in downtown Milwaukee (all four cars), we took a tour of Lakefront Brewery.

As we walked up, a young couple asked us to take their photo in front of the brewery, to which the young woman laughed, “This is going in our engagement album.” “It’s so romantic,” the young man said. “Can you make sure you get the sign in the photo, too?” Man, I love these two! They turned and walked inside with us. I don’t remember seeing them after that.

On to the beer. For $7 you get a tour of the brewery, smart-ass, snarky comments and at times faux sexual innuendos/beer brewing terms from the tour guide, four 6 oz. samples of beer, and a commemorative Lakefront Brewery pint glass. I wonder where that couple went? Anyways, we start the tour, and there’s only 5 of us (the smallest group of the day). 

The previous tour had about 14 people. We were brought into a room where the Brewery Navigation Specialist (here’s his photo…it’s blurry to simulate that you’ve been drinking) explained the history of Lakefront Brewery, how beer is made, facts about beer, what’s in it, and several other things I completely forgot because I kept wondering where the hell those two went? There was nowhere else for them to go! Anyways, then he brought us out into the brewing area with the following warning, “Just because we’re in a brewery does not mean that any liquid on the floor is beer.” Noted.

He then explained the entire beer making process, showed us some hops, barley, where they keep their supplies, the vats they use to make their beer, how long it takes, how many barrels they make per year, and lots of other things which I can’t recall. Where the hell did those two go? Seriously? I’m getting concerned. Anyways, we play a quick game of “Stump the Tour Guide” for an extra beer sample, and we fail. Maybe they went into the bottling area? But how could they get down there? Anyways, he explains more about the beer shipping process using brewing terms that once again, are euphemisms for bedroom-related activities (I think the same person who came up with “ballcock” for the toilet then went into beer brewing). I would love to recall all the knowledge I gained, but I can’t. Did they leave right away? We walked back upstairs to the main bar area to finish off the rest of our beer samples.

We tried the Wisconsonsite Summer Weiss (our favorite…it wasn’t overpoweringly spicy, it had just the right amount of spice), Fixed Gear, Pumpkin Lager (awesome tasting, but I can’t imagine downing a six-pack), and another one which I can’t recall. Helpful, aren’t I? We also received an extra serving of the pumpkin lager because they were going to toss the rest of the pitcher out in back in the garbage. Dammit, where are they? Did they go out back?

So if you find yourself in Milwaukee and want to have a good time and learn about all the stuff I easily forgot about, Lakefront Brewery is great! The Fixed Gear and Wisconsonite Summer Weiss are fantastic! While you’re there, maybe you can check up on where those two ran off to. Seriously. I don’t know.

http://www.lakefrontbrewery.com

Not a beer related post...

I apologize for taking a moment to talk about something that is of not-beer-related importance.

Last night, my daughter who is now three and fully under the influence of the Disney Princesses said something that made me so proud. She told me that she doesn't want to be a princess, she wants to be a doctor. She has always liked to pretend she is a doctor, and we always encourage her with whatever she is doing. I have been hearing for the past few months, how much she wants to be a princess when she grows up. I have tried to explain the marriage pool for becoming a princess is pretty slim, and she should set her sights on something a little more realistic.

Of course she is three, and her career aspirations are going to change as she grows up. I am just so happy that she has decided that "princess" might not be the best career goal... of course it will probably change when we get home tonight.

I think that we might have to make some beer tonight to show her science in action! What better way to secure her interest in science than explaining to her the fermentation process?

Any of you beer parents out there have any ideas?

On another note, we are moving the next two weeks, so I will hopefully have some beer stuff for you soon. as I need to move my beer fridge and it's contents to the new place, I am really afraid my beer might break.

Any suggestions on how to pack my beer?