I know it may not seem like it, but things are humming along. All this humming is one reason I have not updated in so long. Well, the 4 month old twins and other stuff on my plate plays a small part as well.

Any-who, Wayne and I have been working hard, planning out which styles to brew test batches of and we settled on a Strong Scotch Ale, Imperial Stout, Pre Prohibition Lager and a Double Nut Brown Ale. The reason behind picking these beers to start with is they take longer to ferment and/or lager/condition which gives a little more time to get the Brewer's Permit in place.

On that front I have been approved for my brewer's bond and I now just need the city to sign off on my paperwork. By the time everything gets wrapped up the beers should be ready for their super limited release. Look for them in crazy small quantities at the better beer bars around Florida around that time. Speaking of the beers I want to say thanks to David Doble of Tampa Bay Brewing for giving us the yeast to start our first batch. Thanks, David!

In future updates I'll let Wayne discuss the specifics of how he thinks the brewing days are going and what he expects for the beer because that is his area. I will say that we are just brewing small 10 gallon test batches right now and fermenting in freezer boxes so it's a pretty homebrew like atmosphere at the brewery right now and I kind of dig it.

We got a visit from Alan Sheppard of Premiere Stainless Systems and he is working up the cad layout for the brewery. Once we have this we'll start working with contractors for the floors, insulation, air-conditioning, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and the like. Things should start to move pretty fast here in the next 2-3 months and that quaint homebrew atmosphere will be replaced by a kick-butt modern brew house.

Ooohh we have also finalized our logo and I'll get a copy of that up soon. And by soon I do mean it might take a few months Wayne and I will be in San Diego for the Craft Brewer's Conference from the 16th to the 20th, so if we don't slip an update in before then, don't expect it till the end of April.

Again, thanks for keeping tabs on us and for all of you that offered to volunteer, whom I told to get back in touch with me later, now might be a good time to start getting back in touch, especially if you are willing to put in some manual labor to help us get the brewery ready for brewing.

Cheers,
Joey