Beer Breakfast 2012

He Who Dies With the Most Toys Wins

administrator — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:55:20 +0000

By David Repka

The saying, “He who dies with the most toys wins,” has been attributed to flamboyant billionaire Malcolm Forbes. In my formative years during the “Greed is Good” 1980s this saying was emblazoned on t-shirts, hats and coffee mugs. A poster sporting that saying showing off a garage full of Porsches, Ferraris and Lamborghinis graced my bedroom wall during my middle school years.

I’ve never seen anyone live this phrase more fully than a couple of toy collecting brothers from South Florida. The Milhous Brothers have been collecting “best in breed” musical instruments, juke boxes, timepieces, firearms and automobiles since the 1950s. As their collection grew they needed a place to store it so they built a 39,500 sf museum in Boca Raton, FL to store all their toys.

The relentless marching of the clock has pushed the brothers who are knocking the on the door of their 80s to succumb to the wishes of their tax planners and sell it all to clean up their estates. Watch this stunning video to learn more about this fabulous collection.

Top Ten American Breweries

administrator — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:26:23 +0000

Though most restaurants might not have cicerones (for us non-germans: sommeliers for beer) working the dining room floor quite yet, American craft breweries are creating an exciting collection of artisanal, local and limited edition brews that could elevate humble beer from a drink to swill to something to savor. Get out of the bar and behind the scenes with Forbes Travel Guide’s list of 10 top American microbreweries worth a visit—and a taste.

Dang, even such an august group like Forbes is getting into the act! Come meet us at Beer Breakfast 2012 on Sat., March 24th at The Mandarin Hide.

Drinking Vodka Makes You More Smarter!

administrator — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:22:46 +0000

A new study suggests that a couple of swigs of the clear spirit can make a man think quicker on his feet. Time to break out the Belvedere? Too much vodka will make anyone slur his sentences, but groundbreaking new research suggests that just the right amount could make a guy wittier with his words. Thanks, science? Here’s what you know should you choose to imbibe… for creativity’s sake, of course:
How much vodka are we talking?
Not a lot. Researchers tested 20 men using a “moderate” amount of vodka mixed with cranberry juice, cutting the volunteers off when their blood alcohol level reached 0.075 percent (or just below the legal limit in the United States). Read More Here…..

I told you Mom!! And I know we’ll be seeing you all at Beer Breakfast 2012 on Sat., March 24th….. this year we “go to eleven!!”

Is 10 o’clock in the morning too early to drink beer? Darius Rucker says “NO!”

administrator — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:01:21 +0000

As we count down to Beer Breakfast 2012 in Downtown St. Petersburg… Here’s a little inspiration from Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley…

Brothers in Beards….. Unite!!

administrator — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:11:04 +0000

Well, well, finally some common sense and sensibility in the land of Mickey!! That’s right, after nearly 60 years beards are allowed back in the land that Walt built.

So don’t be afraid to let it grow! Where’s Dopey, it’s time to party!!

Beer Breakfast 2012 is fast approaching on Sat., March 24th at the Mandarin Hide once again…. spread the word!!

Beer…. Maybe You Can Learn Something…. I Did!!

administrator — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:46:36 +0000

Mothers milk? Some might say that beer is just as important to us crazy humans…. learn a little something with a quick list of 10 intoxicating facts about…. beer.

And have a very…. Merry Christmas!!

Beer Breakfast Cigar City Brewing Excursion……

administrator — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:16:26 +0000

If the smell of fresh hops and barley in the air and the glare of cold stainless steel gets you excited, visiting Cigar City Brewing in Tampa might just make you think you’ve died and gone to Heaven!! Joined by an eager band of beer aficionado’s Wednesday night I was invited to the American Home Brewers Association’s official Rally held in the cozy confines of Cigar City’s 6,600 square foot production facility where towering stainless steel fermentors were hard at work turning water into BEER…. wonderful, delicious BEER.

Sampling from their own recent creations as well as a few local home brewers personal concoctions we enjoyed every last drop, meeting new friends and in the process increased our awareness and respect for beer and the folks who bring it to us in so many different ways.

One of the highlights of the night was meeting Charlie Papazian (pictured with me), the Godfather of home brewing. This guy is a nuclear engineer for goodness sakes! I told you guys (and my Mom!)….. BEER makes you smart!!

And to top it all off, I had the “golden ticket” (take that, Charlie!) and won a CCB embroidered jacket!! I highly recommend visiting Cigar City Brewing…. for the love of beer!

St. Petersburg the saddest of 100 cities? Do you see me crying on the beach?

administrator — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 03:00:20 +0000

Original Article by Robert Trigaux, St. Pete Times Business Columnist
In Print: Thursday, December 1, 2011
Blogger comment by David Repka

Feeling blue? Just be glad you don’t live in not-so-sunny St. Petersburg, Fla. — St. Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press

• • •

Let’s give a hearty Bronx cheer to Men’s Health magazine for its off-the-cuff ranking of 100 American cities. By tagging St. Petersburg as the “saddest” nationwide, the magazine just delivered a publicity black eye at a sensitive time for St. Pete and Tampa Bay. The Pioneer Press and other newspapers in the Midwest — our primo feeder region for snowbirds and retirees — did more than just cover the “news” of the survey. (“St. Petersburg is the saddest city in America — beating out even unemployment-plagued Detroit,” the St. Paul, Minn., newspaper reports.)

[BLOGGER COMMENT: I grew up in Buffalo, NY and have traveled to sad, depressing places like Detroit, Philadelphia and Cleveland. St. Petersburg / Clearwater is a magical place of blue skies and limitless opportunities. Saddest? No way... most of the people you will meet are as happy as a fox eating sauerkraut.]

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Beer Breakfast Salutes Our Veterans

administrator — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:29:10 +0000

We raise a pint to our beloved Veteran’s today and give thanks for their bravery, courage and strength without whom this great nation of ours would simply not be……..

Did you know that many decisions and plans formulated by our founding fathers were conducted at the local Inn’s and Pubs of the day? To that we as Beer Breakfast aficianado’s can be proud.

Take a moment to learn about the founding of the Marine Corps on a cold fall night in Philadelphia on Nov. 10, 1775.

A legacy is born……
During the American Revolution, many important political discussions took place in the inns and taverns of Philadelphia, including the founding of the Marine Corps. A committee of the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern to draft a resolution calling for two battalions of Marines able to fight for independence at sea and on shore.    The resolution was approved on November 10, 1775, officially forming the Continental Marines.    As the first order of business, Samuel Nicholas became Commandant of the newly formed Marines. Tun Tavern’s owner and popular patriot, Robert Mullan, became his first captain and recruiter. They began gathering support and were ready for action by early 1776. On Nov. 10th and today on Veteran’s Day we celebrate the brave spirit which compelled these men and thousands since to defend our country as United States Marines.

Beer Breakfast Oktoberfest Excursion

administrator — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:36:19 +0000

What an amazing first Beer Breakfast Excursion Neil and I had strolling Main Street in Lakewood Ranch, taste-testing many fine craft and specialty brews from all across this great planet of ours, several of which are local brewers who from meager beginnings cobbling together recipes in their garages (sound familiar Steve & Woz?) have now made it to the bottling & distribution stage.

Wonderful indeed and certainly worthy of a full fledged Beer Breakfast beer by beer review in an upcoming post. Or would that be a dedicated ‘BB Reviews’ section? Oh the possibilities!!

I gotta tell ya, this whole Beer Breakfast thing is beginning to take on a life of its’ own as Neil and I were approached by DOZENS of good folks who recognized us in our sweeter than sweet BB 2011 tee’s, or from past events. A few watering holes down south went so far as to request a Beer Breakfast at their establishment and we’re working on it. Quite humbling and appreciated…. we shall strive to bring our idea of Revelry~Fellowship~Sanctuary to a Beer Breakfast near you as soon as we can!!