Graham Greene, Actually Wrong: Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Debris

Graham Green wrote The Destructors in 1954, and romanticized the idea of creation through destruction. The story is one of this co-founder's favorites, because I read it alone on the Chunnel between London and Paris, the fact that it signifies that beauty rests patiently in absence, and it's "fucking cool."

For some reason, I have been thinking about this story a lot during the brewing process - the justification behind spending hour after hour laboring over the complexity of my beer and having the end goal of it being that it's gone. Artists labor in studios over paintings that will hopefully hang on walls for ages, and here I am slaving over 220 degree heat for something that lives to vanish. No, I'm not saying that I'm an "artist", but I am saying that hard work and nuance goes into creating and designing anything you love. It just so happens that what I love is reaching absolute zero...or so I thought.

The picture you see here is the bottom of my primary fermentor, or as it's more technically called "a five-gallon air-tight bucket". The hops, oils, undissolved extracted and hot break sit at the bottom of the bucket after I transfer the beer into secondary stage fermentation. Behold my destruction, the debris of a job well done. But I am wrong about the vanishing of my efforts, about absolute zero.

When I was talking to members of what is being called "Risotto, Broth & Brew", Risotto calmly and rightly refused my idea of absolute zero, touting that it's the idea of transference - the idea that I while I destroy this brew, I am creating memories for those who drink it, and memories for myself. And he's right, like he most of the time is. So I'm a little behind our friends over at My Broth Blog (who also speaks fondly of memories), but they have what Graham Greene called the righteous "flakes of age" on me - and I'm better for it. These next two pictures are both Risotto and Broth, enjoying my Brew.

Onward.












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Location:N Seeley Ave,Chicago,United States

Three Reservoir Road Reserve

For the longest time, I have sworn that I would write a post about the concept and theory behind impermanence. I would write down ideas, draw links between my real life and those in books, and even start posts that were paragraphs in length. Suddenly the task became too big, and the longer I put the post off, the larger the ghosts in my draft box became.

That all changed when I got together on a weekend with the co-founder of the Consortium and began the process of creating (wait, this is a mouthful) "The Adventurous Gentlepersons Consortium presents Three Reservoir Road Premium Imperial Stout." The collaborative process of creating and designing this (technically Russian) Imperial Stout was therapeutic beyond measure. I was creating something out of nothing, pure enjoyment in my actions, and hidden deep within that creative process was the ability to stop time. When you are focused on a goal, consumed by it, it smothers you like a disease you welcome. You find yourself returning to it in your mind, and it.is.soothing.

During the months prior, I was obsessed by diagnosing and conquering impermanence. I have moved every year since I was 18. Every year like clockwork. From Martins Ferry, to Oxford, to Parkersburg, to Pittsburgh, to Chicago, to Wabash, I moved several times within those cities and then between them. I am a traveler by nature, and I would like to think a survivor.

It was the brewing process that enabled me to let go of all of that. It had odd way of structuring time and then taking it away. For example, you need to add hops at precisely the right time and in the right order to make a great beer. We would set the timer, committed to the addiction of time, and then retreat to talking, stopping time in its tracks. Rinse, repeat.

I had about nine pictures of the brewing process to add to this post, but I only think I need to include one. After all, things change.

Location:N Seeley Ave,Chicago,United States

My Misery is Your Glory!

A time must come in every man's life when he must make a choice between having a moustache and not having a moustache. Well folks my choice has been made (at least for now) and I no longer sport this glorious lip-warmer.

As everyone knows you don't buy a belt from a guy wearing suspenders and I wouldn't expect anyone to buy Adventurous Gentlepersons Premium Moustache Wax from a guy with no moustache. In light of this fact, ALL MOUSTACHE WAX IS NOW HALF-OFF!

Get 'em while supplies last and keep an eye out for new Adventurous Gentlepersons Premium Products in the future.

The Brúigher Beard and Moustache Club

The Adventurous Gentlepersons Consortium is proud to support the official Montana Chapter of Beard Team USA, the Brúigher Beard and Moustache Club as they head off to Bend, OR to attend the National Beard and Moustache Competition.

Check out their site and facebook page to show your support.

Good luck gentlemen!

30 Days to a Better Man - Day 15

Today's task was to make a meal.

Now let's get something straight: I cook plenty!

I don't know if this is just a dated stereotype, but most men I talk to cook regularly. Maybe it is the fact that men also watch Iron Chef and that show is AWESOME!

On this occasion I whipped up a nice soba noodle salad with mango, basil, mint, garlic, and some fried tofu.

Girlfriend's review: It was good, but the dressing (rice vinegar, sugar, salt) was a bit sweet and there was too much of it. Also, the mango wasn't quite ripe.

Fair enough. I'll try harder next time.