Experience before you go . . .
As we left Werk Force it occurred to us that the very next tour would be #76 and locked in the Hoppin' Brewery Tour archives forever. The number 76 is very special to Brad and I because it's the year we done graduated from high school. You got it, 1976 from James Madison Memorial High School in Madison Wisconsin. A shout out....."Go Spartans"! So as we climbed in the caddy there was a kinda "Blues Brothers" feel to the moment as if we were on a mission from God! But instead of getting the band back together it was the two of us motoring through to the next tour. I looked at Brad and I could see he was visibly moved, with moisture in his eyes he gave the approval nod because I believe if he would have tried to speak he wouldn't have been able too. I returned the approval nod with a stern look of resolve! The next words spoken were, "Siri, give us directions to Oswego Brewing Company".
After a u-turn on Main Street and one more pass with no brewery in sight, we decided to park the caddy. Alright we have 59 and then 65, but there's no 61? It's as if 61 Main Street in Oswego didn't exist. Will HBT #76 be entered into the archives today or not, there was a brief moment of uncertainty. But between 59 & 65 there was an alley that went down a slight hill and since we've been to a few breweries you follow your instincts. Up and to our right was a sign, "OBC"......Oswego Brewing Company, we've arrived! With smiles on our faces we complete the front sign selfie and go in the front door.
Tables to our right and bar front and center, which is where we head. It was a nice sized L-shaped bar that separated the fermenting tanks from the thirsty customers. It took us a minute to jockey around the swing-out bar chair design and once Brad & I got situated and being the big boys that we are, we felt we were sitting on each other's lap. But we got comfy and Caleb welcomed us to OBC. Handed the HBT card and mentioned to Caleb that this was our 76th tour.....wow! So just like a newborn they've been open for 5 months. By the time we figured out what we were drinking Caleb handed the baton to Stephanie, who's as sweet as can be, which we gave a card to as well and we put in a couple beers orders and I'm thinking it's now official....Bing, Bang, Boom the Hoppin' Brewery Tour strikes again for the 76th time right here in Oswego, Illinois.
We're digging the venue, tall ceilings, warm feel and a bunch of smiling beer lovers....what more could you ask for. To my right I start up a conversation with Keenan & Stephany. They're in a long distance relationship, she lives in Texas and he lives right here in the Chicago area. So after he sells his house they're thinking Colorado will be a great place to live and since he's an IT consultant and she's a nurse you can really set up shop anywhere you want with those two skills. For some reason Keenan and I started talking about old International Scouts. International Harvester built these off-road vehicles from 1961-1980 and they really were the precursor to the SUV. The earlier ones featured a fold down windshield, but most had the removable hardtop which exposed and hi-lighted the roll bar. Keenan currently has one garaged just waiting to be restored and I had a 1969 Scout that I bought with a personal check from a gas station in Minnesota when I was in college at the tail end of a rough hitchhiking weekend to Canada in the middle of the winter with a buddy. Had to get back to school, couldn't catch a good ride if our life depended on it, cold and hungry, saw the scout, went inside and wrote a check for $600, got a free tank of gas, threw our backpacks in the back seat and hit the road. I had that International Scout all the way through college and then the engine blew...life seemed easier back then! Keenan and Stephany get on with life together because it's way to short!!
During this whole time Brad and I've been sipping some beers. I went with a taste of Leder-Weizen - Hefeweizen (4.3%, 11 IBU) and Brad got a Herringbone - Red Ale (4.8%, 25 IBU). My new buddy Keenan had to order the Milkshaker - New England IPA (collaboration with Tangled Root) (7.3%) he actually took a way cool picture of it and it's included in write up. Beers were flowing and conversation was going. To Brad's left he was solving all the worlds problems with engaged couple Travis & Natalie.....6 months and counting. Marriage is a fabulous thing! Now just like a married couple, Brad hands me the caddy keys! Get a load of this, my Doc recently told me that I needed to cut way back on the alcohol and drink more water. So the 10 oz of total beer and the 40 oz of water sipping over the last 3 hours pegs me as the designated driver! We always have a plan on the Hoppin' Brewery Tour.....never drink and drive!!
It had been a long crazy day and when Brad and I hit the tour it's never boring and it's always different. Since there are around 9000 brewery nationwide and who knows about internationally, there are a lot of stops to make.
OBC has got a great start to a bright future in the brewery bidness! Keep your customers smiling, keep brewing tasty beers and always pay your bills!
Until next time and remember.........
Go get'cha one!!
