Consider man’s best friend. We all know who that is. However, fermented drink can compete as man’s beloved companion as well. It has been with him from the very beginning. The Sumerian saga and earliest writing ever found, the Epic of Gilgamesh, reveals beer was already an integral part of man’s world as early as 2750 BCE.
Fast forward to the present. Times have not changed. Beer is still a valued friend. Bone Island Brewing at the Restaurant Store (1111 Eaton Street, Key West), invites you to reacquaint yourselves with this old friend by following our new column in Konk Life. Though we debut with some personal background and the evolution of our brewery, future columns will discuss beer styles, tasting suggestions and interesting history. Follow us and learn of “all things beer” while fostering that long-time friendship!
In 1994 I began brewing at home out of necessity. Having lived in Germany and accustomed to European styles, I was not finding those beer varieties locally. I studied the brewing sciences and soon began winning awards in competitions. I became a passionate advocate for craft beer in the Keys and joined with two (beer) business owners to successfully convince a craft beer distributor to service the Keys. Our mantra was, “If you come, they will build it.” Indeed, once craft beer became available in the Keys, great beer bars started to appear!
In 1996, I helped form the Conch Republic BUBBAs homebrew club (Brewers United Brewing Better Ales). Conch Republic Secretary General, Sir Peter Anderson, later appointed me as the realm’s (Beer) Ambassador to Ninkasi, the Sumerian goddess of beer. My Conch Republic diplomatic passport has since been recognized by two of the world’s greatest beer countries, Germany and Belgium!
After retiring from the USPS in 2009, I returned to my former profession in the electrical trade while concurrently studying for my professional brewing certifications. I passed my exams to become both a Certified Cicerone (beer sommelier) in San Diego and a Recognized Beer Judge in Concord, NH. In March, I was awarded the John G. Doble III Memorial Scholarship by the Florida Brewers Guild to attend the nation’s oldest brewing academy in Chicago, the Siebel Institute, and graduated from the World Brewing Academy’s Concise Course in Brewing Technology in November.
While working an electrical job at the Restaurant Store, owner Richard Tallmadge shared his thoughts on a brewpub format by expanding Cole’s Peace Deli. We teamed up and I refined the brewery plans I had already developed. Space was at a premium so we decided on a German system that was compact in form and innovative in function. Since the sole US supplier is located in Cape Coral, we purchased after considering the convenience and availability of future support.
I’m now working the brewery full time. Though our first beers are still fermenting, we brewed holiday ale in advance. It’s available now so stop by for a cup of cheer, meet an old friend and make some new ones!
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