The recent $640M lottery payout got me dreaming. Keeping things a bit more limited, you were just given $10,000 to spend (in one month's time) only on beer, breweriana, revamping a cellar, new fridge/kegerator, brewing supplies/equipment, beer-related travel or a combination of the aforementioned for yourself and/or others. What do you buy? I'd spend a couple weeks in Belgium visiting old haunts, a few days in VT for all the goodness there (Alchemist, Lawson's, etc), and about 10 days in the Midwest (FFF, Bell's, Upland, New Glarus, Founders, GI, Surly, etc)...bringing back all I possibly could. If any money is left, I'd buy a small homebrew kit and begin to learn the craft.
First I'd upgrade my ancient beer fridge, replace it w/ a temp controlled, energy-efficient unit with 150-bottle capacity. I've already been down to Portland and San Diego in the past year, so I'd do a beer tour of Belgium, Germany and England with a layover in Philly on the way home. If anything was left over I'd throw a ridiculous beer party—and you're all invited!
You read my mind. I'd do the VT trip, the Midwest trip, and buy all sorts of stuff while there. I'd then buy a temperature controlled fridge to use as my cellar, since my basement stays 65 degrees somehow. If I had some left over, next would be a Cali trip or getting yet another fridge devoted to beer with a tap coming out of it (ie. fridge + kegerator). If I managed to get that cash when I have a house, probably put it towards a sick bar.
Too add to your hypothetical, if I won a couple hundred mil, I'd give John Kimmich a ton of cash to expand as much as he wants or do whatever he wants with his business in return for shipping me Heady on a regular basis. That's all I'd ever need...
If I had the time I'd spend all of it on a month trip to Belgium drinking their fine beer and eating their fine chocolate. Otherwise I'd invite some friends to a night at the bar on me, buy a dedicated cellaring freezer, and buy beer to fill my entire apartment (which is small unfortunately). If after that there were some money left I'd buy some glasses.
$10k only on beer related things? I'm off to Belgium, Germany and England to taste, visit and sample until it runs out.
My first stop would be Belgium, partially to drink myself senseless and partially to investigate family history. Then I'd blow whatever is left on superhuman drinking binges in Bavaria and Prague.
Belgium Sweden Amsterdam Germany England Bringing home a ton of beer. When I get home I would buy one of these and build a bar around i http://www.uscooler.com/?q=brew-cave Somehow I dont think 10K would last long with me. Cheers!
