Late 2011, Early 2012

WOW! Has it really been two months since the last update? How time flies sometimes, huh? To say the last two months has been magical and spectacular would be a huge understatement.First, our family has grown quite tremendously in the past few months. Our little sister and her man welcomed their daughter into the world in late November, and she is an absolute angel sent from the heavens. Seeing our little sister so happy and watching her transition into a momma has been surreal, heartwarming, and completely overwhelming. She has the delicate touch and the firm grip that it takes to be a great mother, and it so exciting and inspiring to watch! Couple that with the most patient, understanding, and intelligent father and our little niece has quite the pair of parents to teach and guide her into the world. I am sure that her sweetness and love will repay them many, many times in the coming years!

Fast forward to one of the biggest blizzards to hit Denver in some time, Thursday, Feb 2nd, and another brilliant light shined down on us all. Chad and Carissa welcomed their first son into the world in the middle of the snow and wind and craziness (safe and warm in a hospital, just to clarify). Their son, my nephew, is nothing short of a phenom in his first week of life. He is so unbelievably ambitious and anxious to show the world that he has great things in store for it. To make the connection between his personality and that of his parents is way too easy and obvious. He truly is a reflection in all the best ways! And to see the transition that Carissa and Chad have made in literally hours is so ridiculously awesome! What amazing parents. 

The brewery you ask? What's going on with the brewery? Well, the plumbing is in and waiting for inspection. The entryway was torn down as we finally realized that our attempts to salvage it just weren't going to be enough. In hindsight, that room should have come down a long time ago. We salvaged all of the 2x4s from the room and will use them to frame in the bar and possibly some other cool projects that are in the works. Reduce, reuse, recycle! We have one of our old comrades back in our good graces, as Voss Family Farms has agreed to allow BSB to use his hops almost exclusively this year. We met Andrew years ago through a connection I made at the restaurant and we used his dried and also wet hops. The wet hops didn't work as well as I would have wanted back then, but it was only because I didn't know how to utilize them at the time. Anyway, after a short hiatus, his beautiful hops will again grace our kettle and dry hop bags! Look out! After firing our old architect and hiring a new one that we found through our friend Scott Witsoe at Wit's End Brewing, we were finally able to kick the city's ass in to shape and get them on board with our project. What a great ally and pusher we found in Ryan Holtmann of Design Studio Architects. In addition, we have been building the steam boiler that will fire our boil kettle; we have purchased garage doors for the front of the building that will change it's appearance dramatically; we are working on a new front door that will bring the whole project together; we have been filming with Free Mind Productions on their follow up film to Beer Culture; we have submitted our application to the TTB for their review; we have also submitted our Manufacturer's License application to the State for their review. TONS and TONS and TONS! I am out of breath just thinking about it! 

This is an exciting time for all of us. We have found such amazing beauty in so many ways. We fill accomplishment, amazement, and excitement like never before. We have laughed and we have definitely cried. We hope for more of the same as we continue to push to make our dream a reality. We hope your heart is warm and that the new year is bringing you all the best of things too! 

Cheers, Chad, Branden, and Carissa