A Rye Smile

I just wanted to comment on a part of the strand. I am very late to this thread, but when a compliment is in order, I hope the phrase "better late than never" still holds true.

I just want to thank NABC, and especially Richard Atnip my beer rep for managing the "over carbonation" issue. We received a few cases of unfiltered Yakima. I was having problems with losing a huge portion of the beer when opening the bottles. Our servers and bartenders adapted and created a "fun" system, of opening the bottle over the glass with hopes of not losing all of the customers beer. We have a few avid Yakima drinkers, and not one of them had a problem with the foamy beer or our creative pouring system. I honestly thought that was just how the beer was meant to look (novice).

Then I opened a case with hardly any head on the beer. I immediately called Richard afraid we had a case of flat beer. Richard Atnip is not only an amazing beer rep, but he is a genuinely nice guy. Richard was on his day off and driving back from a trip when he got my message. He not only called me back immediately he stopped by the restaurant after a several hour drive. We quickly found out, there wasn't a problem with the beer, but we just finally received the beer in its correct form. NABC and Richard didn't stop there.

Richard came in a few days later and replaced all of the beers that had to be thrown out. He also took the time to sit down with our regular Yakima customer who happened to be there that night and sat and talked with him abou the Yakima changes and beer in general. Then before Richard left he bought the guy a Yakima.

People are very free to "review" and "critique" restaurant and businesses. That is what this forum is about, but I want to take every opportunity to send thanks to the businesses who continue to work hard and "do it right" day after day.

Thank you NABC, and Richard Atnip. You are very loved and appreciated at the Fireside Bar & Grill.

so what do you think of the taste of their beers, Roger?

Goose Island was the first American brewpub I ever visited, in 1992, at its original location in Chicago. The beers tasted good.

By the early 2000's, when AB acquired its stake and we could buy GI only by purchasing from the local AB house, we quit carrying them. I would drink one on occasion elsewhere, and it would taste good. I found that many other beers tasted good, too.

I haven't tasted GI beers since the 100% AB Inbev deal went down. I trust that they still taste good. At no juncture I can recall, before or after GI died, were GI's beers those I'd go out of my way to find. Now that GI has died, there are more worthy recipients of my discretionary craft beer spending, because ideas such as gradual spending shifts actually do matter to me. As often as I can manage it, it is my desire to see my money go to those businesses whose ethos better mirrors my own. When it comes to good tasting candidates, the field is littered with them, which is a very good thing, indeed, because it facilitates the art of the shift.

I hope this helps.

I just wanted to comment on a part of the strand. I am very late to this thread, but when a compliment is in order, I hope the phrase "better late than never" still holds true.

Lauren, thanks ... Richard doesn't frequent the forum, but I'll pass it on. We're happy to have him.

Goose Island ... trying to remember ... yeah, that's an AB-Inbev brand, isn't it? 100% owned by the Great Satan of the brewing world? Yep -- that's it.

NABC ? I think I'm just going to go quietly through life patronizing "more worthy recipients of my (significant) discretionary craft beer spending".

so what do you think of the taste of their beers, Roger?

Goose Island was the first American brewpub I ever visited, in 1992, at its original location in Chicago. The beers tasted good.

By the early 2000's, when AB acquired its stake and we could buy GI only by purchasing from the local AB house, we quit carrying them. I would drink one on occasion elsewhere, and it would taste good. I found that many other beers tasted good, too.

I haven't tasted GI beers since the 100% AB Inbev deal went down. I trust that they still taste good. At no juncture I can recall, before or after GI died, were GI's beers those I'd go out of my way to find. Now that GI has died, there are more worthy recipients of my discretionary craft beer spending, because ideas such as gradual spending shifts actually do matter to me. As often as I can manage it, it is my desire to see my money go to those businesses whose ethos better mirrors my own. When it comes to good tasting candidates, the field is littered with them, which is a very good thing, indeed, because it facilitates the art of the shift.

I hope this helps.

Indeed. I can respect everything you said above. I particularly agree with the part about many beers tasting good.

It is plainly naive to think that AB-Inbev will refrain from using GI brands to colonize shelf space that might otherwise go to genuine craft beers, of which GI no longer is.

If the colonists taste good, bring 'em on.

NABC ? I think I'm just going to go quietly through life patronizing "more worthy recipients of my (significant) discretionary craft beer spending".

Don't worry. I fully understand "live by the sword, die by the sword." For better or worse, it isn't within my nature to grin broadly and pronounce "everything's beautiful" when it is not ... and it takes all sorts to have this cozy world.

If the colonists taste good, bring 'em on.

Spoken as a true cannibal ... of shelf space, that is.

For better or worse, it isn't within my nature to grin broadly and pronounce "everything's beautiful" when it is not.

I don't think anyone has ever criticized you for that. I also don't think anybody has even expressed a huge problem with your messages or beliefs.

I think it's mostly your delivery(not that you should feel any obligation to change it), and the fact that you don't seem to acknowledge that "beautiful" is in the eye of the beholder.

But you are responding to a criticism that nobody ever voiced.


Roger: You are Satan

Guy: You are a jerk

Roger: Feel free to call me a jerk. I understand you are upset by my stand against injustice.


...

Although, it is always fun to get in our monthly debate on craft beer/morality.

Fortunately, I have no morals, so I will continue to enjoy Hoptimus and Elector when they are available on draft at restaurants near me.

I just wanted to comment on a part of the strand. I am very late to this thread, but when a compliment is in order, I hope the phrase "better late than never" still holds true.

Thank you NABC, and Richard Atnip. You are very loved and appreciated at the Fireside Bar & Grill.

Thank you for your patience and continued support. Fireside is one of our oldest/longest standing accounts.