A Working Wife and Her Passion for Beer!

So I’m one of the working wives of this crazy blog group and what I really LOVE to talk and write about is beer.  I’m extremely passionate about it and some people might think that my passion is unhealthy but, it’s not… trust me! 

Almost five years ago, my husband and I embarked on a scary adventure together.  We purchased a bar and restaurant here in Pittsburgh and three weeks later we got married.  The timing really didn’t work in our favor but it was what it was and it was a wild year.  The bar was turn-key which meant that we got married and just started working and because I had no experience in the service industry, I was the decorator trying to get the place to look how he wanted.  I also had a full-time job (what I like to refer to as my “ big girl job”) as a marketing coordinator which required me to travel a lot and I was taking care of everything at home.  Once the decorating gig was done…I was kind of done.  I wasn’t a bartender or waitress nor could I just sit down there every night till the wee hours of the morning because I had to get up and work.  This was his dream and I started to resent him because he was never home.  He started resenting me because I wasn’t interested in the bar.  After two years of non-stop fighting, I really thought that my marriage was over.  I was sad and hurt because I loved this man.  Then it hit us…we had to help each other.  I needed to be more involved in the business and he needed to help out more at home.  Most importantly, we had to make time for each other.

So what does this all have to do with me loving beer?  Well, one of the first things my husband and I started to do together was review the beers that were coming in and out of the bar.  We have 16 taps and about 170 bottles.  We started to work together to determine what beers should stay and go and what seasonal beers we should get.  He started to teach me a lot about beer and what the difference is between a craft beer and a microbrew.  Then I learned how to be a server and realized that my knowledge of beer wasn’t enough and I needed to learn more and quickly.  Why?  Customers would ask me questions like “What’s similar to a Blue Moon?” or “What’s your favorite beer?”  I couldn’t answer those questions and I thought it was sad that I didn’t even know what my favorite beer was.  So I started trying them and in that process, I started a beer blog for our bar.  I’m not only learning how to answer customer questions, but I’m learning about malts, hops and if I think the beer is balanced or not.  I can detect hints of citrus or nutmeg and it’s all very exciting.  I find myself talking to customers all the time about beer and after just a short year of doing this, I’ve kind of become the beer expert at the bar. 

I’m now involved in all facets of our business.  I’m part-time at my “big girl job” and my marriage is better than ever.   So, when it’s my turn to blog, don’t be surprised if I’m rambling on and on about beer.  I just love it and I dare you to go out and try what I’m talking about!  And for all those married couples out there…communicate, communicate, communicate!

PS:  My favorite beer of all time…Tröegs Mad Elf Ale.  My favorite beer right now…Southern Tier Pumpking (especially delicious when warm).

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