Medical expenses benefit for Prof. Gesser, this weekend.

Even those readers who are only loosely associated with the Louisville beer and brewing community know Jeff "Professor" Gesser, who has tended bar at Bluegrass Brewing Company St. Matthews for many years, and as a sidelight, organizes amazing beer & bus trips to sporting events and festivals through Rick & Jeff Tours.

Jeff's business partner at Rick & Jeff Tours is Rick Southward, who sent this out today; here's the Facebook link, and I'll reprint the text, too.

My thoughts: Jeff's been a stalwart of the local craft beer scene pretty much from the beginning, and I'm sure you'll agree with me that eating some barbecue and drinking a few beers is a great way for those who've enjoyed his companionship over the years to give a little back. I'm not sure when I'll be able to make it over, but I hope to see many of you there at some point this weekend.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=205139442865756

A number of you know my friend and business partner, Jeff Gesser. Well, here is a little you may or may not know.

Thirteen months ago Jeff suffered a life threatening pulminary embolism. This event brought with it a number of life style changes, and a few lingering complications, to the tune of three additional surgeries.

The biggest, or smallest depending on perspective, change in my big buddy's life is that he is shrinking... before our eyes. At the last count I heard, he has lost 173 pounds.

BBC's benefit this weekend is a celebration of the changes Jeff has made. The money raised will help offset the hospital bills that have stacked up on him over the last year.

To do so, there will be bands and barbecue outside at the St. Matthews BBC. Friday barbecue will be Memphis style, with Texas style on Saturday and Owensboro style on Sunday. The bands are Dirty Church Revival on Friday, Red Shag Bula on Saturday and Slow Charleston on Sunday.

This sounds like as good a time as any for a round of "share your best Jeff Gesser story!".

I'll start with one that belongs to me, but less interesting than the one that follows. As a young waitress at the BBC, Jeff stole tables from me and I cried to management about it. I was told by management that I was a bad server because I didn't get there faster. They were right, and I rightly improved.

Better story: Jeff and my brother took waitor uniforms to the world series and snuck in. I request details of the occasion on the regular from my brother, and it's a pretty cool tale. "We were late for our shifts, we lost our I'd badges, etc..."

Gesser's great.

Great stories, thanks.

This sounds like as good a time as any for a round of "share your best Jeff Gesser story!".

I'll start with one that belongs to me, but less interesting than the one that follows. As a young waitress at the BBC, Jeff stole tables from me and I cried to management about it. I was told by management that I was a bad server because I didn't get there faster. They were right, and I rightly improved.

Better story: Jeff and my brother took waitor uniforms to the world series and snuck in. I request details of the occasion on the regular from my brother, and it's a pretty cool tale. "We were late for our shifts, we lost our I'd badges, etc..."

Gesser's great.

How many lighters has the Professor "borrowed"?