Barwhiz Blog » Kristin

Beer Thirty – 6 Office Personality Types to Watch for

Kristin — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 14:06:40 +0000

Happy Hour is a cherished tradition in any work place.
Be it retail, construction or any variety of office job, employees love any opportunity to drink away the stress of the work day.

While work locations may differ, there are certain personality types common to any work place. If you are looking to organize a Happy Hour event at your job, look carefully at these work personalities and decide if you really want to put them on the invite list.

The Informant

This is the person in the know. Often a receptionist or the employee sitting closest to the break room, they hear everything happening in the company. Who’s getting fired? Did “so and so” really get that promotion? The informant is someone you want to pal up with.

Happy Hour Plus – Ply them with a bit of liquor if you want advanced notice to get your resume in order.

Happy Hour Downer – Not everything that happens at Happy Hour stays at Happy Hour. There are never guarantees they won’t share with the higher ups things said when tipsy employees start sharing how they really feel about their bosses.

The Butterfly

Everybody knows the Butterfly and generally likes the Butterfly. At work they float from desk to desk with hellos and smiles, but never stay too long. Generally happy people, many know the Butterfly, but few know much about the Butterfly. They just want everyone to get along and be happy.

Happy Hour Plus – They make sure everyone at Happy Hour feels included.

Happy Hour Downer – Easily distracted, they can abandon the group and start chatting up other groups (and potentially forget to pay before leaving with their new best friends)

The Stick

When it comes to work, they are all business no fun. Their eyes are set on what is best for the company and fraternizing with co-workers is a waste of productivity. If they actually go to a happy hour it will only be to get the Butterfly off their back about being such work-focused a Stick.

Happy Hour Plus – Might be good for buying a round of drinks in an attempt to prove they can relax.

Happy Hour Downer – It’s hard for the Stick to leave work at work. They might see this as an opportunity to keeps talking about their ideas of how to improve productivity or complain about overly lazy fellow employees.

The Librarian

It’s hard to read the Librarian. Generally, in the workplace, you don’t always know they are around. They will come in, do their job then go home. Don’t go to them for the latest gossip, they don’t have time for that. The Librarian isn’t unfriendly or unpleasant. Most times they choose to stay clear of work politics and drama.

Happy Hour Plus – In general, they prefer to keep work and work. Not being up on the latest gossip, you can fill them in on old news and feel like the true “in the know” person. Also, they will keep the happy hour focused on fun and off of work (a good antidote to The Stick)

Happy Hour Downer – Some Librarians really like to cut loose and let their hair down outside work, sometimes too much. This can make it difficult take their quiet work persona seriously.

The Clown

Every job has one. They are always quick with a joke, a prank or anything to keep the mood light. It’s hard to dislike the Clown, but they can get taxing when deadlines are looming. Bad news doesn’t exist in their world. They will find any way to look on the bright side or find the humor in any situation including layoffs.

Happy Hour Plus – If anyone can get Librarians out of their shell, it’s the Clown. The life of the party, they will make sure every one has a drink in hand at all times. You might even be able to persuade Clowns to buy rounds of shots for the group.

Happy Hour Downer – Clowns aren’t known for their restraint. They can go overboard with the drinking quickly and get really obnoxious. They are usually the first ones thrown out by bouncers.

The Grouch

Life sucks. Work sucks. Everything sucks. They are the biggest challenge for Clowns and Butterflies. No matter how good the news, Grouches will find something wrong with it. Basically, they are happiest when they are able to make their coworkers miserable.

Happy Hour Plus – Good luck getting them to show up to a Happy Hour

Happy Hour Downer – If they do show up, they’ll just keep complaining and bringing the mood down. Chances are, the Grouch will just get meaner as they get drunker. If they get any sense they can ruin a Happy Hour, they will make sure to show up to any they get wind of.

Brewery Tours of the United States

Kristin — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:26:48 +0000

The warm days of summer are perfect for many things. In particular, road trips and kicking back with an ice cold beer. Just hopping in the car and driving where your whims take you isn’t for everyone. Why not road trip with purpose?

There are many breweries across the United States and you can take a coast-to-coast trek visiting the places where your favorite drink is made. Here, we present to you a small selection of brewery tours that will take you across the USA. You are more than welcome to add your own stop in Kansas to visit the world’s largest ball of twine (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/8543) if you wish.

Sam Adams Brewery – Boston, MA

Add some American history to your brewery tour of America at this stop. Not only do you learn how Samuel Adams beer is made, you will also learn the history of their Founding Father/brewer namesake. Combine the with a Red Sox game for the ultimate Boston experience. While the tour is technically free, they do suggest a $2 donation that goes to local Boston charities.

http://www.samueladams.com/share-passion/tours.aspx

Anheuser-Busch – 5 US locations

Anheuser-Busch has turned brewery touring in to an art form (even if you can’t say the same for the taste of Budweiser). See the process behind making enormous quantities of beer and the steps they take to protect the environment while they do it. Several locations offer Beer School for those of legal drinking age who want to learn the art of beer appreciation. In addition their five different brewery tours, they offer tours of Warm Springs Ranch (home of the Clydesdale horses) and and Grants Farm (land once tended by President Ulysses S. Grant). Make sure to take in a Cardinals game if you stop in St. Louis.

http://www.budweisertours.com/z01/

Milwaukee, WI – Several Breweries

Not only the land of Cheese Heads, Milwaukee has many breweries to choose from. C’mon, their MLB team isn’t called the Brewers for nothing. The hipster in you will be happy to visit the birthplace of Pabst Blue Ribbon while your inner beer snob will rejoice in tasting beer from some of the smaller locally available brews. If you are interested in the local cheese, there are probably tours, but that is a topic best left for Cheez Whiz.

http://milwaukeebrewerytours.com/

Denver, CO – Many breweries to choose from

You can get your fix of brewery tours (and give your driving foot a rest) by settling down in Denver and visiting their numerous breweries. There are plenty of different breweries in the area that all offer free tours. The tours cover the range of brewing giants like Miller/Coors to up and coming crafts brewers like Left Hand Brewing. There are tours and tasting to suit every beer taste and yet more Major League Baseball with the Colorado Rockies.
Here are links to just a few:

http://www.breckbrew.com/about/tours

http://denver.about.com/od/attractions/tp/10-Free-Colorado-Brewery-Tours.htm

http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/attractions/detail?memid=23978&k=microbrew&wc=Attr

Rogue Brewery – Portland, OR and surrounding towns

Finish up your trip in the Pacific North West. Rogue Brewery offers tours of its Micro Hopyard in Independence, OR. The tour takes you through Rouge’s 42 acres of hop filled farmland. Their farm is surrounded by cherry and filbert trees as well as osprey nests. It’s a nature tour any beer lover will enjoy. After your tour you can enjoy a pint or two and some food at the Oregon Brewing Company.
Farm tours are only offered on weekend. Make sure to check ahead before making the trek out there. http://www.rogue.com/locations/locations.php

Abbey Beverage Company – The Monastery of Christ in the Desert, Northern New Mexico

For some beer is a religious experience. So why not visit a working monastery that has recently entered the world of craft brewing? The monastery is located 75 miles north of Sante Fe, so plan this as a day trip. Brewing happens on a small scale at this location with the monks focusing on seasonal beers brewed from their own hop yard. Yes, the monks do the brewing under the guidance of a master brewer. Abbey Beverage has a lager facility in Moriarty, NM, but visiting the monks at their home will make for a lovely get away from city life and give example of the famous quote: Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. Don’t expect free samples here, just a path to a simple, happy life.

http://christdesert.org/Abbey_Beverage_Company/index.html

Movie Mixology – Pairing the Greatest Movies with Great Drinks

Kristin — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 14:00:58 +0000

Think nothing is better than dinner and a movie? Try drinks and a movie.
To accomplish this, you can:

A) Go to one of those pricey luxury movie theaters with reclining chairs and a well stocked overpriced bar

B) Kick back in the comfort of your own home with some of the greatest movies ever made and drinks that pair with them perfectly.

These movies come from the AFI’s list of top movies of all time and we have hand picked the perfect drinks to enjoy while watching them.

1. Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane | Orson Welles | Joseph Cotten | Movie Trailer | Review

Plot: The story revolves around the death of newspaper publisher, Charles Kane and his mysterious last word “Rosebud…” The character of Kane was loosely based on real-life newspaper magnate, William Randolph Hearst (who was none to happy with the homage).
Drink Pairing: Sidecar – Dating back to the post World War I time period, The Side car is a relic of a bygone era, much like Charles Foster Kane. With a base of cognac mixed with orange liqueur and lemon juice, this drink is anything but a light weight. Enjoy sipping this slowly as you watch the life and legacy of this media mogul unfold.

2. The Godfather

The Godfather | Movie Trailer | Review

Plot: Spanning the years of 1945-1955, the movie tells the story of the Corleone crime family in New York and the rise of Michael Corleone (played by a pre-WTF Al Pacino)
Drink Pairing: Sangria – Given that “sangria” translates from Portuguese to English as “bleeding,” it shouldn’t then take a horse’s head to realize why this is the perfect drink for this movie. Just make sure you use a good Italian red table wine as a base for mixing in the fruit and brandy.

3. Casablanca

Plot: A cynical American expatriate living in Morocco must help his former flame and her rebel husband escape Casablanca to continue his fight against the Nazis.
Drink Pairing: Gin and tonic – “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world…” One sip of this and you’ll be feeling as manly as Rick or at least start talking like Humphrey Bogart. Add a twist of lime if you want to feel strong and a little feminine like the rebellious Ilsa.

4. Raging Bull

Plot: Inspired by the true story of boxer Jake LaMotta. Now overweight and a comedian, Jake flashes back to his life as a boxer and his abusive relationships with his family and wife. Robert De Niro won an Oscar for his harrowing and realistic portrayal of this ultimate anti-hero.
Drink Pairing: Red Bull and Vodka – Nothing like the feeling of inebriation mixed with extreme jitters to get in the headspace of Jake LaMotta. We don’t recommend drinking too many of these unless you feel like reenacting his downfall.

5. Singin’ in the Rain

Plot: Before The Artist, this musical comedy explored Hollywood’s transition from silent movies to “talkies.”
Drink Pairing: Adult Chocolate Milk on the rocks (or with a splash of Crème de Menthe). This movie is so fun and happy it will make you feel like a kid again. Why not appease your inner-child with a little grown up twist. If rain makes you want to curl up with a blanket, try mixing it with hot cocoa.

6. Gone with the Wind

Plot: One of the greatest love stories ever brought to the silver screen. It’s got epic scenery, epic romance, epic hardship and epic Don’t-Give-A-Damn-ness.
Drink Pairing: Guinness – A hearty beer like this (or another dark stout) should be enough to tide you over so you’ll never be hungry again. It can also be used to make a stew with Scarlette O’Hara’s lone carrot.

7. Lawrence of Arabia

Lawrence of Arabia | Movie Trailer | Review

Plot: The true story of T.E. Lawrence and his exploits in Arabia during WWI. Peter O’Toole is brilliant as Lawrence and Alec “Obi Wan Kenobi” Guinness impressively plays an Arab Prince (it’s amazing what a little make-up can do).
Drink Pairing: Water – Seriously, with all the sand in this movie you will want nothing more than to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Sunscreen is optional.

8. Schindler’s List

Plot: Yet another true story. War profiteer, Oskar Schindler becomes the savior of over one thousand Polish Jews during the Holocaust.
Drink Pairing: This movie is so emotional and gut wrenching, wait until the end of the movie, do a couple of shots of Sobieski, Belvedere or any other Polish vodka and call it a night.

9. Vertigo

Plot: Jimmy Stewart in all his Jimmy Stewart-ness plays a man with a crippling fear of heights. Hired an a private investigator, he gets tangled up in a murder mystery with so many twists, even you’ll get dizzy. An Alfred Hitchcock classic.
Drink Pairing: Long Island Iced Tea – This strong concoction has enough booze to have you feeling like Jimmy Stewart after a half glass. Too much and you may have to piece together the mystery of the previous night.

10. The Wizard of Oz

Plot: Dorothy, Toto, Munchkins, witches – do we really need to spell this one out for you?
Drink Pairing: Let’s have some real fun with this. Set the movie to play on mute, get a copy of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” and hit play on the album once you see the MGM logo show up on your TV screen. Have some absinthe handy and prepare for your mind to be blown.

Bar Whiz Buzz Kill – States with toughest DUI laws

Kristin — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 18:01:22 +0000

We hear it time and time again, “Don’t drink and drive.” Each year there are thousands of deaths and injuries attributed to drunk drivers. Yet in spite of this, many take their lives and the lives of others into their hands by getting behind the wheel after enjoying a drink or two, or more.
Bar Whiz trusts that our readers are smart enough to hand the keys to someone else. For those who still think it’s worth the risk (or have an extreme invincibility complex), here are a list of states where the punishment for a DUI is pretty severe.

1. Washington State
1. Legal limit: .08
2. Fines: Up to $5000
3. Jail time: Up to 1 year
4. Drivers License: Suspended for 90 days even if not convicted

2. Virginia
1. Legal limit: .08
2. Fines: Minimum $250
3. Jail time: None
4. Drivers License: Revoked for one year with or without conviction

3. Georgia
1. Legal limit: .08
2. Fines: $300-$1000
3. Jail time: 10 days – 1 year
4. Drivers License: Suspended for one year

4. Arizona
1. Legal limit: .08
2. Fines: $250 fine plus $1000 in assessment fees
3. Jail time: Minimum 10 days
4. Drivers License: Suspended for one year for refused breathalyzer test. Installation of ignition device (breathalyzer device that won’t start car if you’ve been drinking)

5. Alabama
1. Legal limit: .08
2. Fines: $600-$2100
3. Jail time: Up to one year
4. Drivers License: Suspended up to 90 days

6. Massachusetts
1. Legal limit: .08
2. Fines: $500-$5000
3. Jail time: Up to two and a half years
4. Drivers License: Suspended for one year

7. Texas
1. Legal limit: .08
2. Fines: Up to $2000
3. Jail time: 72 hours – 180 days
4. Drivers License: Suspended for one year plus fees of up to $2000/year for 3 years to keep it
These DUI penalties are all for first offenses. If they are that bad the first time around, just imagine how much worse they get for those who refuse to learn their lesson. And this is just one part of the punishment. Auto insurance companies have their own individual, and costly, punishments for those convicted of a DUI.

The moral of the story is simple: Instead of hoping that you don’t get caught, just get a taxi.