Tuesday afternoon held special promise as we checked into the Brouwershaus
Inn at the brewery of St. Bernardus. And while a special tour of the St. Bernardus brewery was planned the next day, this afternoon 2 bikes and a map were waiting to help us wind our way through the Flanders' fields that hide away the smallest of the Trappist breweries, St. Sixtus, and their elusive Westvletern beers. We biked our way through a countryside dappled with brown cows and hop fields until we turned onto a lane that revealed in the distance a peaceful and rustic Monastery. And while you cannot visit the brewery which is on the abbey grounds, the monks have set up a small cafe next door where pilgrims can sample and purchase their amazing beers. A serene setting, a nice sampling of the Blonde and the infamous Westvleteren 12 made for a fantastical day and an unusually light ride back to the inn, where we would enjoy some St. Bernardus selections before retiring in serenity for the night. A glimpse into the making of one of my most favorite and inspiring beers awaited the next day.
Belgium, here we come!
With our tour course mapped out, we set flight today for the mystical land of beer with great anticipation of new discoveries and possibilities. We land at 8:30am Sunday morning in Brussels and immediately take the train to Brugge where we spend our first 2 nights. Sunday afternoon at 2:00 just south of Brugge one of my favorite Belgian breweries, De Dolle, conducts their only tour of the week. We hope to make it but from what we here of the wonder of Brugge, there is every chance we'll be seduced to miss it. Check in throughout the week for new posts and look for updates and photos on our facebook and twitter links above. Transcendo Mediocris!
News from the Craft Brewers Conference 2012
Just back from another inspiring CBC, this year's conference has the Three Taverns partners more confident than ever our approach and plans will introduce Atlanta to it's next successful brewery. And why not, 5 days in the California beer mecca of San Diego with over 30 thriving breweries would give visions of beerdom to any aspiring brewery owner. And seminar after seminar further affirmed and intensified the strength of our three years worth of meticulous research and
planning. So now back to pilot brewing sessions, scheduling new investor presentations, and doing follow up with with our ever growing pool of investor prospects. The state of the craft brewing industry has never been stronger with no signs of slowing down, and Three Taverns has never been more certain of the strength of our plan and our poise to execute with precision. Click on our facebook link above and check out our photos from CBC2012 including brewery tours at Stone Brewing and Port/Lost Abbey. Transcendo Mediocris friends!
Trademark Serial Number Assigned
After months of waiting and completion of all requirements, our use of the Three Taverns character mark has been officially accepted by the USTPO and a trademark serial number assigned. As new investment capital comes in and our fund raising efforts accelerate, we continue to make strides in tightening up key areas for entry into market. Securing a trademark is one of these and eliminates any unseen conflicts with our name in the months and years ahead. Expect our on-line store front to launch by the end of May complete with Three Taverns killer merchandise.
Esmeralda Dons New Garb
Be on the lookout for Esmeralda around town donning her new garb. She's only missing her Three Taverns private labeling, but not for much longer. We're anxious to have her loaded and in route to you with our New Monastic Series of American-style Belgian ales. With new investor presentations every week, that reality keeps getting closer. Meanwhile we're hard at work tweaking and planning our next brew session. Link to our facebook page for more views.
Belgium Pilgrimage Set
In Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, he writes, “When we put something in our mouth, and in that blink of an eye decide whether it tastes good or not, we are reacting not only to the evidence from our taste buds and salivary gland but also to the evidence of our eyes and memories and imaginations.” So it was in Brussels on a near fateful summer night in 1994 that I first fell in love with Belgian beers. Inaccessible in Georgia after my return, this love affair soon faded into memory and loss until years later on my first visit to the Brick Store Pub, a glass of La Trappe reawakened hidden passions. Soon after I journeyed to Portland for a friend’s wedding, one of my traveling companions from that night in Brussels, and discovered Portland beer culture and the wonder of home brewing. Returning from Portland with a passion to brew and a new home in Decatur, I spent the next 10 years discovering and practicing the timeless secrets of monastic brewing. And while my passion for beer is not limited to Belgian brewing, it is my deepest devotion and most difficult to master. It has now been over three years since my vision for a new Atlanta brewery first took shape, so with plans to launch our New Monastic Series of Belgian-inspired beers, it is time to make a return pilgrimage to the place that birthed this pursuit and discover what it truly means to brew like a monk. We leave June 2nd. Transcendo Mediocris.
Delivery Truck Officially Named
Not only will she be freshly painted by next Friday 4/6, but after much consideration and deliberation over many a glass of ale, we have officially settled on a name for our 1949 Ford Panel truck - Esmeralda. The inspiration for her name comes from our boldest and most meticulously crafted seasonal ale slated for introduction winter of 2013, our Belgian-style quadruple, Quasimodo. You may remember Esmeralda was the seductive gypsy dancer in Victor Hugo's Hunchback who took pity on Quasimodo and served him water when he was sentenced to the pillory for having tried to kidnap her. Of course here at Three Taverns, we've always questioned whether it was truly water she served him. Why her very name rings the sound of ale. So be on the lookout for our gypsy seductress soon finding her way around the streets of Decatur. Cheers!
Investment Milestone Reached!
This week Three Taverns moved closer to our goal of building Atlanta’s newest production brewery by officially securing 50% of our required investment capital. With growing enthusiasm and new investor commitments on the verge, we are optimistic our brewery plan will soon hit the trigger point. While we continue to meet and present to interested parties, our search for an in-town brewery location is now underway. We have viewed potential sites off and on over the last few months, but with this new investment milestone reached, our search is ready to get serious.
We have never been more confident than today that our brewery vision is a certainty and our distinct line up of craft beers will be an Atlanta addition by early 2013.
Please check in for regular updates on our progress.