Know Your Beer, Know Your Brewer

This fine photo was taken with cutting edge technology (in 2003)... my Motorola Razr.

Last week I was on the road for an internship's open house. I made good time getting to Chicago and decided to take a break from driving. I was sitting in an overpass oasis enjoying a coffee and when I gave Mr. Naughty Nutrition a call. I was feeling adventurous, and being close to the Illinois- Indiana border, thought I could swing by 3 Floyds Brewery. Mr. NN was able to give me directions to it because my not-so-smart phone was incapable of doing so. My phone was however able to take pictures and was the only piece of picture-taking technology I had to chronicle my journey with.

3 Floyds Brewery and Brewpub is located in a business park in Munster, Indiana; you would never guess that once you get inside. One wall inside serves as a movie screen that a Dr. Who movie was playing on when I arrived. The decor can best be described as a man cave of a metal head/beer connoisseur.

That blurry, brown mass in the front of my picture was hands down the most delicious grilled cheese I have ever had. When the bartender, Phil, asked me how my food was I told him, " They don't make grilled cheese like this in Wisconsin." This grilled cheese was made with cheddar cheese, arugula, sliced apples, and stone ground brown mustard on pumpernickel bread. Say what you will about them doctoring up a grilled cheese, but having the addition of greens and fruit made me feel healthier. In the background is the Imperial IPA Arctic Panzer Wolf. I know I should have paired my food with a beer a little nuttier, but I'm a hop-head at heart. I also knew I would have trouble finding that beer in Wisconsin.

With a plate full of food and beer that was intended to be sipped, I had the chance to converse with a few of the locals. The best story came from Phil. I asked him how his day was and he responded, "I'm just living the dream." He didn't say it in a cocky tone, but grateful. To many beer geeks, he was living the dream. He had been working at 3 Floyds at the brewpub for 2 years. Prior to that he had been a regular there. When the economy tanked in Munster, Phil lost his job. He was having problems finding a new job and the guys at 3 Floyds offered him a job bartending there. With no better prospects in sight, Phil signed on. Now not only does he sling beers, but he also helps in brewing the beer. Phil really is living the beer geek's dream.

There is a big movement to know where your food comes from. The same line of thought should apply to your beer as well. If you show them your support, they may return the favor.

Resolution to Real Solution

Nothing like one season of gorging ourselves on cookies and ham followed by washing it down with egg nog or champagne to get us in the mood for making a lifestyle change. If you are a Sconnie you probably didn't start you resolution until Monday (blame it on a big football weekend). Right now, your jeans are feeling a little tighter, your liver has been put through the ringer, and that treadmill you loathed in October is calling your name. A few days in on your New Years' Resolution and already you can envision how ripped you will be in June. You've been eating your veggies and going to the gym every day this week... all two days of it. Great start! You may be going strong now, but what happens in February? You may notice the crowds have thinned out at the gym or you may not see this because you're taking a break. How do you make this New Years' Resolution work for you and not end up another New Years Casualty?



New Years' Resolutions don't work for numerous reasons. Let's face it, New Years is a pretty arbitrary day. Do you really think in one day you have prepared yourself to really commit yourself changing your lifestyle? Sure, it seemed pretty plausible while you cursed life lying on the couch, but what about Friday night? Having a whole week back at work, going to the gym, eating right. You totally earned Friday's Happy Hour. But that might be the beginning of the end of your great week of work. By Monday, you may be back at the gym or may need a little recovery time. The next week you're down to going to the gym 3 days and by the end of the month you've lost your gym card. You begin to think I can't go if I don't have a card... Horse apples, you know the gym is more than capable of replacing your card. (Note: gym cards are cheaper than heart surgery.)

Don't get caught in the New Years Trap! Your habits (and waistlines) were not built in one day. First, accept the fact that it is going to take some time to achieve your goals. Going gung-ho with no specific plan can leave you feeling like a failure if you miss just one thing on your list of things to accomplish. Start small and make just one change. Be it eating a fun size candy rather than the regular size, having one less cigarette a day, or going for a walk twice a week. Write down your goal and say it out loud three times. Saying your goal out loud reinforces it more than merely thinking it. When you are about to do something that goes against what your plan is, say it out loud again. You can post your goal in places such as the refrigerator, television, or in your cigarette box. Try to keep it in areas where you are likely to be tempted to do something else. You can always take these small goals and make them bigger or add new goals. Think of your resolution as though you are playing with building blocks. It takes more than one block to build a house, plan on it take a lot of blocks to achieve your goal.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Ask a family member, significant other, best bud, or work friend to help you out. It's easier when you have someone else to lean on and help motivate you when you're not feeling it. Just make sure this isn't the friend who is likely to suggest a bloody mary bar rather than the juice bar. Explain to them why you need to make this change and why their support is essential.

Most importantly, do not abandon ship! If you screw up it's okay, you're only human. (Except for that guy in the gym training for the Iron Man, he may actually be part robot.) Your New Years Resolution does not have to be an all or nothing attitude. Accept the fact you slipped up, come up with a plan to avoid repeating the mistake, and move on. Do not admit defeat, you can do this!

I wish you all a Happy, Healthy 2011!!!