Chug-hug-hug-hug. My new-used VW Passat stalled out yet again as I tried desperately to get it going through the last stop sign on my drive home from work. Fortunately I had the closing shift, so there were few cars occupying the small-town suburban roads. I finally got the car started thanks to blind luck and prayer and arrived home without further incident. But I had to admit to myself that this was not working.
The BEPPO Method: Evaluating Brewery Visits
Partially inspired by Beppo the super monkey whose Kryptonian powers make him secretly the best at evaluating craft breweries, I’ve established the BEPPO method of brewery reviews. This is an easy and fun way to tell others about what worked and what did not in your recent brewery visit!
Beer, Entertainment, People, Place, and Other important things!
Beer – The most important part of a brewery visit is, of course, the beer! What are the options? Are they tasty? How are they served?
Entertainment – I would consider this to be the second-most important part of a brewery visit. What is there to do for fun (other than drinking delicious craft brews)? Are there tabletop games? Yard games? Is there music? Can you take a tour?
People – People are an important part of any visit! Are the staff friendly and welcoming? What is the vibe of the visiting crowd?
Place – Definitely not the most important, but can be a factor in ultimate visit success. Where is the brewery located? Is it easy to get to and are there other fun things around. What is the facility like?
Other – There are always fun unexpected standout items, and we can’t overlook those! Mostly, though: what is the food or snack situation at this brewery? (Beppo the monkey, who partially inspired this method due to his super powers, opposed to the use of F or S at the end of the clever acronym.)
Entertainment – I would consider this to be the second-most important part of a brewery visit. What is there to do for fun (other than drinking delicious craft brews)? Are there tabletop games? Yard games? Is there music? Can you take a tour?
People – People are an important part of any visit! Are the staff friendly and welcoming? What is the vibe of the visiting crowd?
Place – Definitely not the most important, but can be a factor in ultimate visit success. Where is the brewery located? Is it easy to get to and are there other fun things around. What is the facility like?
Other – There are always fun unexpected standout items, and we can’t overlook those! Mostly, though: what is the food or snack situation at this brewery? (Beppo the monkey, who partially inspired this method due to his super powers, opposed to the use of F or S at the end of the clever acronym.)
Podcasts: 2015
It wasn’t that I discovered the existence of podcasts in 2015 – I don’t live under a rock. I did, however, include a number of new podcasts into my weekly rotation, and established said weekly rotation the same way many people look forward to television shows. I’ve realized listening to podcasts is a much more interesting way of incorporating physical activity into my day (great company on walks!), as well as spicing up car commutes.
Here are the newfound and long-loved within that weekly rotation. Most should be pretty familiar to my fellow podcast listeners out there.
History Lives in Hamilton
I’ve always been a lover of history. My first solo foray into history was via the American Girl Doll books featuring Felicity, the plucky revolutionary war era red-head who rode horses and fought for what she believed in. Side note – I took horseback riding lessons for three years in middle school in part due to her inspiration – something young girls today will not be able to benefit from. This author sums up my feelings on the American Girl Doll changes well, and you can read more background on the subject here.
Scott’s Pizza Tours
Just a few weeks before the end of 2015, I squeezed in one of the deliciously fun nerdy things I’ve done, maybe ever. During a holiday weekend in NYC with the aforementioned pizza-loving-man of mine, we bought tickets to a pizza tour in Greenwich Village. I heard about Scott’s Pizza Tours on the first-ever episode of the “An Even Better You” podcast by Mental Floss (read about my semi-newfound 2015 podcast obsession here), and immediately knew that it was the activity for us.
