The Red Salamander
I was contemplating if I should bottle my latest batch of mead when I get home tonight. I was thinking about what I need to accomplish the task and realized that I didn't have enough bottle corks. So... I call American Brewmaster, the only brew supply store in the area, to see if they have what I need. They are closed. Open weekends only. Great. I guess I'm not bottling tonight.Since then, the memories of visiting the Red Salamander have been floating through my head. Karl, the proprieter of the place, was always fun and helpful. The hours were great and he always had everything I needed. There was even a converted refridgerator there with tap handles coming out the side in which flowed the latest experiments and masterpieces alike. I recall one peculiar tasting beverage he dubbed "Uncle Fester" because it didn't turn out quite right. The Vinman and I just looked at each other and downed the rest of the sample. Compared to our first brews, it tasted fine to us.
I used to love the smell of the place when you first walked in the door. The store is an old space located in downtown Grand Ledge, MI. It has old hardwood floors and high ceilings, and I'm guessing the building was probably built in the late 1800's or early 1900's. There was this awesome aroma that filled your nostrills when you first entered, a mixture of crushed grains, sweet malts, fermenting beverages, and a slight hint of unburned tobacco from the Lars Tetens behind the cigar counter. Ahhh... I can still smell it now.
Then there were always the tasting events. Everyone in the group, be it wine or beer, would bring in a bottle or two of their latest brew. Karl provided these little 2 oz. sampling mugs and we passed the bottles around one at a time and sipped. We then would share with the group what we thought of the brew and gave any criticisms that seemed appropriate. It was a lot of fun. More than once, the Vinman and I would get caught up in discussion about... whatever... and the next bottle would come around for sampling. "Pace Car!" he would exclaim and we would both shoot whatever was left in our mugs.
I miss those times so much I have considered opening my own store here and attempting to recreate them. Alas, I eventually come to my senses and just fade into those memories. I still make my mead and share with friends but it just isn't quite the same as those days at the Salamander. Perhaps I'll be able to make it up to see Karl again someday and share some home brew.
CHEERS!! WASSAIL!! HAZAAA!!
posted by Bonzai @ 2:08 PM
1 Comments:
SOUTHSIIIIIDE!
God I miss those days. An experience I will never forget, hope to relive it with Tracy's reassurance some day soon. I miss Blueberry Wine!
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