Beer Forum

So, looking at my unread messages, it seems like I've been away for five years.

Half a decade.

Damn. So much has changed.

Took a break during a bad part in my life. Going through divorce. Drinking out of control. The brewery I was opening lost it's financial backing. Took a new job only to have the company fold six months later. Life didn't have much joy back then.

Today it's a new world. Happy with my life. Got a job as a distiller for a small start up. Loving my work. My son is now a teenager, and a damn fine one at that.

Found myself missing the BN Army. Listened to the Session for the first time in five years. Even found a new episode or two of Lunch Meet (Alas, I missed a chance to donate for getting that sweet, sweet meat back!). Remembered my log in for the forum and decided to stop back in.

So how has everyone else been doing these past five years? What were the best things? The worst?

Anyone still read this board?

Bob Roland

Welcome back Bob. Pretty much a ghost town now compared the the halcyon days of old...

I missed the good old days too, and am pretty bummed, but it's still a great place with great people. They all took me in like family and I feel perfectly comfortable asking or saying anything. So that hasn't changed, at least. Welcome back!

Welcome back Bob!

Good to hear things are going better for you nowadays. Sometimes you just have to keep believing that better times are on the way and they will soon come.

I live down in Fredonia and was curious if you had a chance to check out Big Ditch Brewing yet? They seem to make some of the better beers compared to all the other upstarts around here. At least IMO>

Cheers-
Brewinhard

It's pretty much dead here, the Session has peaked and now it's just meh... Justin appears of have given up and it's in an awful decline...

Yeah. I recall a time where trying to keep up with all the posts was like a full time job. So many great times hanging out with you degenerates.

Brewinhard, I sure have checked out Big Ditch. First time I heard of them, they showed up at a party we were throwing to celebrate a milestone in opening a brewery. Forgot what it was. Had an investor or we had found the property. Forgot which. They brought their beers over, and we shared a few and talked shop. They did an amazing job launching. Obviously much better than I did!

If you're ever in Buffalo, shoot me a message or something. I'll pour you a glass of Black Squirrel from the distillery I work at!

So where does the brewing community hang out now? Also, what happened to the energy level of the Session? Did a sense of community get lost when they moved from the Rat Pad to their brew pub?

gbob wrote:So where does the brewing community hang out now? Also, what happened to the energy level of the Session? Did a sense of community get lost when they moved from the Rat Pad to their brew pub?

I don't think it was from when they moved, since they have been in a couple studios since then. I have fallen off the grid too in the past couple years, not posting in the forum much and no where near caught up on the shows. For some reason, it just doesn't have the same value for me as it did, but that's probably something on my end. I still donate as a Sergeant though.

I've heard from a couple friends who listen that it seems like they want it to die.

I've been a lot more active on the AHA Forum these days, but even my participation has fallen a bit there.

Welcome back, gbob