This monkey business is getting out of hand.

Many years ago, when the Lost Colony Brewery and Café was still in Manteo, I got frustrated having to change empty kegs for full kegs while I was supposed to be cooking food. The wait staff would yell, “the blonde keg just kicked, and we are too busy to change it.” I always wondered why they thought the guy cooking all the food was not busy. One day in frustration I yelled out, “I wish I had a beer monkey.” ( I used several four letter N.Y. City sentence enhancers while describing said Beer Monkey) In my head I pictured a primate sitting in the walk-in cooler awaiting keg orders.

When we opened the brewery in Stumpy Point the crew adopted the Beer Monkey moniker.

Fast forward to yesterday when I was lucky enough to have joined the Stumpy Point Facebook page just in time to read this exchange.

Jessica Duffy, “Does anyone have Trudy’s number? Her monkey and dog are on my porch. I’m sure she is freaking out.”
Kaylee Cobb, “Trudy is right next door. I will go grab her.”
Jessica Lynn Worsham, “I would be so happy to have a monkey come visit my porch.”
Kaylee Cobb, “made Patty’s day. What three-year-old wouldn’t want to see a monkey at their door”?
Let me review this.
1. Jessica, with the monkey trying to open her door,(I’m guessing to let the dog in) is concerned Trudy will be freaking. I can confidently say if I were Jessica I would be freaking.
2. Kaylee is incredibly calm about monkey sighting and casually goes to get Trudy. Trudy would have been alerted to the location of the monkey by my screams.
3. Another Jessica, Jessica Lynn, is now hoping to have a monkey come visit.
4. Patty, the three-year-old is excited about the furry home invader with opposable thumbs.
These are just a few of the incredible women of Stumpy Point. Nothing phases them.
This is just a normal Tuesday here in Stumpy Point.
When we moved the brewery to this out of the way village I was told to “never come hungry or low on gas.” To that I now add “don’t forget bananas.” ... See MoreSee Less

Beer, Pizza, and questions what every Monday needs.
Damn it, I am the owner, I have the right to know what we are doing here.
Always the last to know, I was informed by Dirt this morning that TRIVIA IS MOVING BACK TO MONDAYS STARTING TODAY. IT WILL START AT 6PM FROM NOW ON EVERY MONDAY. Yes Burt, the questions start at 6pm. ... See MoreSee Less

I had every intention of getting a lot done this Sunday. First was to drop off beer at the Waterfront. Then I saw this perfect view from the deck while I was there and all thoughts of, lawn moving, mulching, bike riding, floor cleaning, laundry folding went away.

There is always tomorrow. ... See MoreSee Less

So, I caught more flak than usual on National Beer Day. Why? Because I did not know it was National Beer Day.
There were emails, texts, instant messages, and Facebook posts. All saying, “PAUL YOU FORGOT NATIONAL BEER DAY.” I am still getting them.
Really? I own a brewery. To paraphrase the old U.S. Army commercial “I drink more beer before 9 am than most people drink all day.” Now granted those beers are samples to see which beer gets canned or kegged but you get the point.
I do not need a “National Day” to appreciate beer. Just like I don’t need Saint Valentine to tell me to appreciate my wife. That happens every day.
There were some who did wish me a happy National Beer Day. (I call these folks enablers.) To these folks I say, Slainte Mhath!

But to all those who scolded me I ask did you have an empanada at the zoo on Monday, National Empanada and Zoo Day. Or perhaps you baked an almond cookie for a former prisoner of war on (I can’t believe they share the same day) Tuesday, National Chinese Almond Cookie and Prisoner of War Day. I am sure, like me, you dug up your Grand Funk Railroad eight track tape for Wednesday, National Eight Track Day. I am not sure what they will be celebrating on Friday, National Only Child Day. Is it the fact they got a lot more Christmas presents than the rest of us or that their parents only had sex once.
I think we have way too many “National Days.”
Stop by the Lost Colony Brewery in Nags Head and celebrate beer every day. We do. ... See MoreSee Less

Baseball and beer.
They have always gone together as for back as I can remember.
every team had a special beer.
The NY Metropolitans served Rheingold Beer at Shea stadium.
Ballentine was the beer served at the Philles' games.
Braves were in Milwaukee serving Blatz.

Every team had a stadium beer. What was your team’s beer? ... See MoreSee Less

There is always a lot going on at the Waterfront in Nags Head and not all of it is beer.
Kitty Hawk Watersports,
Benny's huge pizza slices
Cookie Shack OBX
Fresh Fit Cafe
Divine Massage.
You can even buy a house Outer Banks Realty Solutions .
Beer does go with all of them so we got you covered. ... See MoreSee Less

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“A mind is not a vessel to fill but a fire to be ignited.”

I was reading and came across this quote by Plutarch and instantly thought of our brewer Steven Beall.
Ever since he walked through the doors of the brewery his mind has been on fire. He had never brewed beer before. Steven was a carpenter turned fisherman working across the road for N-Seine Seafood.
During his free time, he would lend the brewery a hand while observing and listening to our brewer at that time, Corey Minton. Eventually, he asked for a job. THE FIRE WAS IGNITED.
He was reading constantly. Steven was all over the internet researching brewing. He ran through all the books in the brewery. Brewery supply salesmen were interrogated at length about their products and what they did for the beer. Brewers from other breweries got the same treatment. There is a line from the Antonio Banderas movie “the Thirteenth Warrior” that exemplifies Steven perfectly. When Banderas’s character is asked how he was able to learn all the ways of the new culture he was now a part of, he sneers, “I LISTENED”. And, yes, Steven sneers. A lot.
Well, now I listen. He is the genius of the brewery. Which should not surprise me. He has Einstien's hair.
Steven is the Master brewer. Which sounds so crisp and clean. It is not. Grain hops and yeast are just one part of this job. The other part takes up 91.7% of his time; pumps, hot water heaters, valves, mills, canning lines, augers, motors, bottling lines, vans, trucks, and even septic tanks.
The next time you are enjoying a Lost Colony ale please raise a pint to the Brewer, Steven Beall. There would be no bar for Dirt and Kim, beer for the fridge, or sanity at the brewery without him. (Maybe sanity is too strong a word. Let's say less just a little less insanity.)
Slainte, Paul ... See MoreSee Less