Lucius Lair Anyone?--OR I Love My Elected Officials

It Is Official.


We are a "go" with our Tap Room and brewery expansion plans...well, we are a "go" as in "Yes you can do that without adding sprinklers now bring us the drawings so we can officially peruse it at our leisure."

But if you are a good follower of My lowly blog-i-verse, you realize how crucial these baby steps are in the process.  And so we embark upon a new chapter, one filled with new drains, a grain room, more storage, bigger bathrooms (and the people said AMEN), and .... The officially as yet unnamed Wolverine Rental Hall.  




I am officially taking naming ideas now.

So far I have:
Lucious' Lair
Legends Hall
The Official We Love Brady Hoke Room (home of the Brady Hoke Fan Grrrls and Boyz Club)


Whattya got?


In the meantime, this week brings grey skies, boring weather (poor Michigan weathermen are gonna start making shit up if we don't get some Snowy Armageddon's or something similar soon), yet more illness in the Casa de Wench (don't ask) and the pursuit of interpersonal communication perfection that I seek, daily.


I know the Howell Beer Geek will be in the Tap Room Saturday but there are no football games on for a while although the soccer leagues are ramping up overseas so you KNOW that makes this a happy Wench.

If you see any or all of us scurrying around the place with worry on our brows and tape measure in our hands, my advice is to stay out of the way for the time being, sit down, relax, have a beer, and watch the magic (or....the chaos) unfold over the next few months!

Love
newly stressed
Wench

Michigan Weather. Superbowl. Free Beer--OR Randomness on Monday

Random #1:


Did YOU hear the thunder last night? I did.


The first thing that sprang into my head after registering what it was: "If it thunders in January, it will snow in May."


Try not to ponder that too closely fellow Michiganders.

Random #2:
so we have ourselves an East Coast Superbowl...again.

Cute, boy next door 

vs.

Dear Lord. I just had an....never mind...

WTF niners? I mean I will admit to being torn as I love me a Manning Bro BUT .... 

Anyway, onward with the commercially driven debauchery for Feb. 5! There's an EXCELLENT soccer game that day too btw: in the Barclay's Premier League....Chelsea v. Man U at 11 a.m.  A full DAY of hot men...erm, athletic fabulousness at a high level.


Random #3:


FREE BEER (and wine) ON AMERICAN AIRLINES FLIGHTS?  yeah, baby throwback city.  Those pilots and sexy stew better be ready for me.

Wheels down indeed....








I watched the movie Desk Set this weekend and was reminded that THOSE folks knew that an office "holiday party" was  "Christmas Party" complete with champagne at 10 a.m., wine in the water cooler and all sorts of serious naughty.

Wenchling Number Tres is quoted as saying:

"It's like those ladies were Wikkipedia or something!"

Random #4:
Kick Starter....hmmmm....well, I'll ponder it....

Finally Random #5:



My favorite is either: "That'll be $18" 
or
"I'm developing some barrel aged cocktails..."  
bahahahahaha


here's one for The Tap Room:  "No, we don't have Bud Lite. Next!"


have a great week peeps...
Wench

A Word on Contests--OR Yeah. We Won

 With a tip of my virtual hat to the fine competition from Frankenmuth Brewing allow me a fist pump and a Hell Yeah...

yeah, he's cute and stuff but....

Ahem.

It was a dark and chilly night in Westland, and after a long trip to Grand Rapids and back wherein Wench and the Slugger bonded with plenty of windshield time on either end of a very successful pre-meeting prior to re-entry into that market (I see you Shannon Gary), we entered the first round of Ashley's Beer Throwdown....

Wolverine Brewing Fans abounded from the get go...

We posed for some pix...

Drank a few pints....

Made some new friends...

Shot some video with Dave...

And, well, we won!!!

Woo Hoo!


So now we wait for the winner of next week's round between Michigan Brewing Co. (with whom We Have History as you know if you are a proper follower) and Victory.


Our 2nd round is March 7.


Do not worry, I won't let you forget about it.  Thinking of chartering a van actually...


Stay Warm!

Wenchie

What Makes Me Happy--OR Not

Things that make Wench Happy include but are not limited to:

...Fire in the fireplace on a snowy Sunday morning


...coffee already made when I rise from slumber


...Tim Tebow's team losing in the playoffs

...Tom Brady's team winning in the playoffs


...Sam Calagione getting approval to expand in Milton, DE (sheesh people seriously what else is there in Milton?)


...Mayors acting foolish over who has the best craft beer (duh)


...Yuengling

...Watching heartwarming movies like War Horse...and that one with Matt Damon and the rugby players 


...getting a grip regarding "beer" and "University affiliation" (double sheesh) 


...letting a year lapse between visits to Las Vegas and finding the craft beer options at casinos doubled (last year your only option was Fat Tire--this year I got drunk and lost money to my fair share of 60-Minute. And there are ton of Belgians available too)

...Sam getting pissy with the BA

...This coming week in which My beloved Wolverine Brewing shall square off in a friendly against Frankenmuth Brewing at Ashley's Westland. "Winner" has the most cumulative sales between 6 and midnight on Wednesday 1/18. I'll be there around 7 annoying the crap out of anyone ordering Frankenmuth...that is to say, supporting my team.  Brewer Karl will join me.
ASHLEY'S THROWDOWN!  We shall bring the revolution to the people....or at least have a fun time drinking.


or NOT:


More distribution monopolies...


Macro brewers (greed and hegemony)....


THIS AMAZING BULLSHIT (be prepared for anger--honey, can you not read? the words "pick your battles" spring to mind)


Sam not realizing when Silence Is Golden...


and


coming home from vacation...on a red eye flight. Ick.


I'll be up at the Tap Room for NFL playoffs today. I shall declare the hottest Quarterback the winner!
I love me some Manning bro so it's a close run thing on the one game...but the other? Joe Flacco by a country mile.


The Best Men Won yesterday without a doubt...

Alex Smith ponders his future as a Wench minion....

Yeah, he's a Michigan Man alright...

see ya!
Wenchie
DON'T FORGET!! SEE YOU WEDNESDAY AT ASHLEY'S WESTLAND FOR ZEE THROWDOWN!
7525 Wayne Rd.
Westland MI
Wench will be in the house.

Viva!--OR The Revolution Begins

BLOG POST SECONDARY WARNING:  What follows is a brief and introductory 'splaining of what the hell we are on about when we encourage you to Ask Us About the Revolution.  It is in no way meant as insult to those who wouldn't touch a "lager" with their neighbor's lips. We know it takes all kinds of beer drinkers and all kinds of beer. How lucky are WE that this nation, and our very own Great Beer State has so damn many to choose from? I'm merely positioning my company a little differently. It's my prerogative. When you get your own small business and make a profit in the first year, you can bitch to me then. Otherwise, Read on and enjoy!

The word "REVOLUTION" is a strong one. It invokes emotion, at times violence, "occupy" movements, and all sorts of stuff in between. By definition, a "revolution" is "change" be it by force, or hippy sit-ins that occurs over a relatively short period of time. 

Revolutions are part and parcel the human condition. Although we bitch and moan about not liking "change" I think we actually thrive on it. As if the same old same old:
Emperor
King/Queen/Prime Minister/President/Dear Leader
Taxation Structure
Social Structure
Way of Transporting Ourselves
Way to Think About Science
Wealth Distribution System
Religion
Lack of Birth Control Options
Working Conditions

Are never quite good enough, and by their nature (putting down of the many for the benefit of the few) invite, nay encourage might I even say demand Change.

Don't get me wrong all you literals out there (I see you).


I'm not in any way suggesting that a humble "LAGER REVOLUTION" is on par with gaining independence from a tyrant, or building giant railroad systems, or even allowing women to have control over their reproductive options. No.

I'm merely making the point that CHANGE is upon us. 


By anyone's measure, our great nation is experiencing a MAJOR Craft beer surge. Breweries are popping up on street corners and, one would think, rest areas on the highway (that is cheap real estate people, don't laugh). In Michigan alone we are at something like  90 PLUS  breweries total, with tons of news about brewing licenses bestowed and new places opening from the tip of the UP down to, well, Ann Arbor.

The Craft beer movement begun by the pioneers in California, Colorado, Delaware (where Our Dear Sam had to get a law passed to even OPEN Dog Fish Head--a brewery and a brewing rock star that by ANYONE's measuring stick is a ginormous success) took serious hold and the number of people who want a piece of that action is skyrocketing daily. The Prez himself has a home brewer in the White House Kitchen and during last year's Super Bowl insisted only regional brews be served at his party. 


Sweet.

Our little corner of the revolution on West Stadium in Ann Arbor proposes a new change. One we've been spouting since opening, but without a real message other than "come drink our lagers. You will love them."

...although it SHALL be Tweeted and Facebooked

That message has worked. We are on the cusp of some Big Time Expansion the details of which I shall reveal all in good time. 


Along with growth, expansion and new construction and code headaches we are fomenting our Lager Revolution.

Craft beer for many folks has been scary, unobtainable, unreachable, or, once they get their hot hands on the latest Imperial Triple Barrel Aged Old Ale Dry Hopped With Juniper Berry, Ginger Root and Anise 750 ml bottle the peer pressure is enormous to say "oh my God that is....um....yeah." Before they pour it down the drain and reach for a Macro Brewed Palate Cleanser.


Nay we say. Let us introduce you to CRAFT BEER that is accessible, and ease you up the ladder of our own, lager centric design.

Beers like Wolverine Premium, Wolverine Dark and the upcoming Wolverine Amber not only will represent a beautiful color spectrum for your glassware, but also highlight the cornerstones of our business. Of COURSE we have cool ass stuff like THE GULO GULO, our Imperial Pale Lager. And we are working on a really awesome Mexican Lager for the summer months. And the Baltic Porter? Divine and soon to be released. 


This is in no way meant to alienate, piss off or otherwise force wadded underwear or twisted knickers in the esteemed drawers of those of you who adore the HUGE, or HEAVY, or SOUR, or otherwise esoteric brews that are totally the rage right now. But the growing clamor in my Tap Room among folks who DO love those but who keep saying to me "I hardly ever go to a craft brewery and LOVE everything the board. Until I came here." 


I get that a whole lot.

So, this is your first heads up. More detailed info will emerge, we'll have some sweet swag to buy with the message and we are even doing a little redecorating of the Tap Room itself to remind ourselves What We Are All About.


The Lager Revolution.

Join It.
Love
Wench

Hail To The Victors!

There are Mug Club memberships waiting at the Wolverine Tap Room for all "of age" members of the coaching staff and team!

woo hoo!! What a YEAR!
Go Blue!
Sugar Bowl Champs!

Dear God Don't Crush Denard

He may be our only hope.