Why Tom Laird is amazing

He sent me this poem

poem-(unknown):

For every wound, a balm.
For every sorrow, cheer.
For every storm, calm.
For every thirst, a beer.

Raindance Porter

Squashed Fly Ginger Porter

The first beer after the return.

Pictures

Portland Rules, Seattle Drools... I mean rains


http://picasaweb.google.com/yourfriendtyler/PortlandTwoSeattleOne?authkey=Gv1sRgCNzInM3moO6R3gE&feat=directlink

Yesterday was amazing

I don't want to leave you out of the loop, but I got to WORK at a small (10 barrel) brewery for about 4 hours yesterday.

I don't have time right now to tell you the whole story. I will edit this post later, but I wanted you to know.
I am in Seattle. I like Portland better so far.

LATER... the whole story.

On Saturday, I met Ike Manchester at the Widmer brewery bar. I was excited to talk to a brewer again, but I was in a rush to go on their tour. He gave me his card and said, "If you're coming back through Portland, give me a call and come by the pilot brewery." Well, I emailed him immediately and set up a time to come by and visit.
Tuesday morning, I swung by the R&D brewery to see what their process was like. Ike had emailed me to say that his regular helper was out sick and that they may have use of me. When I showed up, Ike had been given Dan to help, but he also found ways to put me to work. They work on a 10 barrel system which is the size of a small micro-brewery. They are brewing at this size because they are only the Research and Development part of Widmer - a very large brewery otherwise. I was put to work stirring the wort in the mash tun, running heavy lifting errands, pouring anti-foaming salts into the boil, cleaning out the mash tun, etc. It was hot, wet and hard work, but I loved every minute of it. Ike was a perfect director. He knew what he was doing and was able to integrate me into their process fluidly.
Near the end of my time there, one of the Widmer brothers actually showed up to see what was going on! I met Rob Widmer and we were able to talk about homebrewing and my trip.
I would have loved to stay all day to see the brew through to the finish, but I had to make sure that I was going to get to Seattle.

It was a unique experience because I learned that the processes that happen in a brewery of any size need to be taught and cannot be extrapolated from the stuff that I do as a homebrewer. There were chemicals, tools and other functional parts of the process that I had no idea about. Investing time and money into a microbrewery without functional, practical knowledge of how these things work on the larger scale would be foolish. This is good to find out because it means that I must get a job at a brewery to learn before I think about starting my own.

Now, in Seattle, I am getting homesick. Because of this I am having trouble being optimistic and open to whatever comes my way. I got to see Pike's Place Market, but it is raining outside. Boo, Seattle.

Pictures from

Eugene, Bend, Newport, and Portland... I think that is all

http://picasaweb.google.com/yourfriendtyler/EugeneBendPortland?authkey=Gv1sRgCMn63c7Ah6y0DA&feat=directlink

I love my friends

Yesterday afternoon on the way to Portland, my phone died. I didn't know because it was in my pocket and Portland traffic was a beast. When I got to Phil's apartment, I plugged it in and got a avalanche of texts. They were all from Lawrence friends and they were all in riddles.
Here is the complete texts in order.
From Katie Kritikos: dear tyler hipster usa holds a treasure for u. call this man. (phone number that I haven't seen before). he wil only tel u if u insist on calling him raddle dozar.
From Hannah Nusz: Tyler its time. i wanted to wait until you were older to tell u this but i think ur ready. please cal this number (strange number, but different). it will explain everything.
From Katie Kritikos: (2 of 2) whose number is (...). Call him to retrieve your tuffet & curds & whey. Over and out. Katie K
From Paul Kaldahl: Hey, i've heard Big things about your package. People are talking.
From Nicole Schmidt: You need to call (the number). RIGHT NOW! And turn around...
From Nick Frisby: Remember to cut the blue wire first.
Graham also sent a text, but sent it today. He didn't know that I had already solved the mystery, but for his sake: A package has arrived in the land of port; Call the man whose name is a type of nail but not so large. (number).

So, understandably, I was confused. I think that I would have called these people back if I had gotten these texts slowly, over time. As a mass, though, I knew something was up and the only rational response was to follow it through. I was given two phone numbers to call and I dialed the one that was sent to me by Hannah. Her text was the most intriguing. The phone was answered by a lady, "Hello." 
    "Hey," I replied, "I received a call from this number earlier..." an obvious lie. "This is Tyler Harnett."
    "Yes, Mr. Harnett. Where are you?" This seemed like a reasonable question because the lady's phone number was from DC.
    "I am in Portland." I was confused but playing along.
    "When did you get to Portland?"
    "This afternoon. I am staying with my friend Phil." At this point, I butted in, "With whom am I speaking?"
    "I am a super secret agent. I have something to deliver to you. Is there a place that I could meet you?" At this point, I was completely thrown off. I thought that my friends had found some sort of phone prank to play on me, but a delivery?!? My interest was piqued. I am staying with Phil, but my first thought was that I didn't want to involve his apartment.
    "I am heading to the Bridgeport Brewpub. You could stop by there sometime in the next hour."
    "In the next hour, sure. What are you wearing so that I can recognize you?" asked Super secret agent lady.
    "uh, I have a brown Kansas hoodie, dark jeans, and I have a beard, and glasses."
    "Thank you, Mr. Harnett, I will see you soon."

Phil and I continued walking to the Brewery as I told him about the strange phone call. Immediately, I realized that it could be a very socially embarrassing situation and I should have told her to come to Phil's. We sat down upstairs and my first thought was how hot it was and how I wanted to take off my hoodie, but I couldn't because of the super secret agent. Phil and I had a nice conversation, but I had my eye on every person who came up the stairs and looked around. There were a number of good looking girls and I got excited. I thought, maybe this is a blind date or something like it. There were a few people with things in their hands; "the Package," confused me. Finally, I was engrossed in conversation when a couple of people came upstairs that I recognized almost immediately.
Ben and Mirela Watson were Bridgeway folks (a church in Oklahoma City that Ichthus has a relationship with) who visited Lawrence once on their eventual way to Portland. I was surprised and happy to see them again. I was planning on getting in touch with them anyway to go to their House Church. They brought with them 'the package.'
It was a mailed bag full of Lawrence goodies for me from my friends and church. Hannah, Katie K, Alex K, Nikki, Jeff, Graham and Nicole all wrote me notes about how wonderful I am and how much they miss me. They also got me a long sleeve Freestate Brewery t-shirt to make up for my stolen clothes.
I felt fully loved by my community. It was an adventure and a great night.