An Update on the Angry Beer Customer from a Previous Post

Most of the update is actually in the comments section of that post, but here is the icing: since the original post, I found out definitively from Coors that this beer has not been brewed since 2001. Yes, that's right, Angry Beer Customer was completely lying. He did not buy it at our NYC locations, he did not have it on draught anywhere IN THE WORLD since 2001, because COORS BOUGHT THE LABEL AND DISCONTINUED IT. The last cans were sold sometime in 2002, when the supply was depleted from beer warehouses in this country. They felt it would compete too much with the other "Irish" label they own: Killian's. The Caffrey's label was part of a multi-label buyout of/from another global beer importer/distributor/brewing group. It's a mean thing to do, but it happens. This is why you should stop supporting the global beer system and buy local...until the local guys get so big they attract the global beer companies and get bought out. Then it's time to find another local to attach yourself to, and repeat. Or you know, pick up some rudimentary chemistry skills and brew your own fecking beer.

There's talk that supposedly you can still find it in Canada, but I am not driving up there to find out because there is far too much tasty beer closer to home.

For Real

I have been WHAT?*sigh*ing so much lately, I haven't had any desire to post why. Well, after my neighbors went out of their way to help me out this week, the suction broke. I now return you to your regularly scheduled programming:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080721/ap_on_re_us/fire_standoff_5

Firefighter killed in St. Louis-area standoff

By CHERYL WITTENAUER, Associated Press Writer 51 minutes ago

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - A gunman shot at firefighters responding to a report of a burning pickup truck early Monday, killing one, then opened fire on other emergency workers, wounding two.

The incident began at 5:40 a.m. with a report of a pickup truck fire in Maplewood, a suburban town just southwest of St. Louis. When firefighters arrived, someone began firing shots.

St. Mary's Hospital spokesman Eric Clark said a firefighter/paramedic from Maplewood was killed. The city identified him as 22-year-old Ryan Hummert. Officials said he was shot to death as he got off the fire truck.

Hummert, the son of former Maplewood Mayor Andy Hummert, began his career in August 2007 after graduating from paramedic training. He graduated from the St. Louis County Fire Academy in March.

"He had been with the fire department for only 10 months but knew it was his calling," Fire Chief Terry Merrell said at a brief news conference as he fought back tears. "It's impossible to say in words the emotion and pain we are feeling right now."

A Maplewood police officer also was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to the right shoulder. Clark said his injury was not considered life-threatening.

The third injured emergency worker was taken to another hospital. There was no immediate word on his condition.

Besides the burning truck, a house across the street was on fire. The suspect was believed to be inside the house. Dozens of police officers from Maplewood and nearby communities surrounded the brick bungalow, pointing their rifles at the home as smoke poured from it.

Around 10:30 a.m., the fire suddenly intensified and loud popping sounds could be heard, neighbor Lamira Martin told KSDK-TV.

"Oh my God, the windows are blowing out," Martin told the TV station.

Sanyoz Rai, who works at a 7-Eleven store nearby, said he heard three or four shots at around 5:45 a.m., then saw a police officer go to the ground holding his shoulder. Rai said he then saw a firefighter on the ground behind the truck. He said the firefighter remained there for an hour before authorities could get close enough to remove him.

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Utterly insane.

Since I've Got Beer on My Mind Tonight

I would like to address all of the beer geeks out there that pooh-pooh green and clear glass bottles. "Light destroys beer!"

OK, campers, huddle in close. I'm going to tell you a secret.

Beer comes packed in windowless cardboard boxes. And those boxes come in windowless box vans and trailer trucks. And they are stored in climate and light-controlled warehouses. The first time those bottles are exposed to light is when the cases are cracked open and the bottles are put on display in the store. How long do the lights stay on? How much time does it take your store to turn over (sell) their beer? These are the real questions you need to ask. Don't buy beer from a shop that displays it in direct sunlight. Yes, I've seen that. If you do, don't buy it, don't support their stupidity. Don't buy beer from shops that have dusty bottles. Dust is quaint in a wine cellar, but it has no place in a retail environment.

So the next time someone turns their nose up at a green glass or clear glass beer that you may be enjoying, just nod and smile.

God Invented Beer to Keep the Irish from Taking Over the World

Finding your favorite beer after moving out of state, or finding a new favorite after a fabulous vacation to a different city or country or continent can be difficult. The reasons are many, but they all boil down to volume and demand. If only one person wants the beer, but they can buy at least a pallet's worth at a time, that person has as much of a chance of getting the beer they want as 240 people who would buy one 6 pack per week. That is, if the distributor has a truck with space on it going by that brewery already. And if the label has been approved by your state's alcoholic beverage commission (takes time and money) and if the beer meets all of the other criteria your state may have (like alcohol content limits, for example.) And if the beer is even being imported to the contiguous 48 states. It surprises people that many beers in the world aren't trucked/shipped long distances. "Why??" they ask. "It's SO GREAT," they say. Well here's why: beer is 98% water. Water weighs 8lbs per gallon. Glass is also heavy. Beer doesn't like to get too hot. Glass is fragile. All of this contributes to expensive shipping. Who pays for that shipping? The customer. How much are you willing to pay for a 6 pack of your favorite beer? Because it sure won't be as cheap as it was where you were the first time you had it. "Oh, I don't care, I'll pay whatever the price, it's THAT GOOD." *sigh* If you say so.

A man came into my store a week ago and asked for Caffrey's Irish Ale. He had just moved to the area from New York City, and was able to buy it at our sister stores there. He left his request with one of my minions on Friday. On Sunday, he came in again to see if it was in stock. Uh, yeah, no. We don't get deliveries on weekends. He came in on Tuesday and talked to my beer minion. Beer Minion had just arrived to work, and so hadn't had the chance to look over the special requests yet...which infuriated the customer. WTF? The guy proceeded to yell at Beer Minion. "I bought it at your store in New York! Why won't you get it for me here?" Holy crap, dude. It isn't that easy. Secondly, nobody said anything about not getting it for you if it can be gotten. But he was so angry at this point, convinced Beer Minion was lying simply to deny him his beer, that he was done listening. He then called Beer Minion a prick and demanded to see the store manager. Lovely. Store Manager got barked at for a few minutes, gave the man a $25 gift certificate for his trouble and promised him that we would find out exactly what the supply issue was.

And then the bastard called our regional office to complain that Beer Minion had called HIM a prick. LOLOL, holy shit! This is not how you get what you want. *sigh* Why is this man lying? Is it going to make his beer get here sooner or at all? No. What it will do is burn a pretty big fucking bridge made of beer. You do not make Beer Minion your enemy if you love beer. DUH.

Sometimes it Doesn't Pay to Be Good

It's been a quiet week on the western front (work.) We did have one man become terribly indignant when one of my best minions asked if he needed help with the wine department.

"I most certainly do not. I have an excellent understanding of wine. I simply need to know if you carry a certain label."







OK, Slappy, let me get this right this time...what you're saying is: "I need help with the wine department."

*shakes head*