It was May, 1999 when Janet and I decided to move from San Francisco back to the East Coast. Why did we move? Well, it was complicated. At the time, I was working for MCI Worldcom, and having just suffered through the merger from hell, I decided that it was just time to move on. Also, San Francisco was starting to get a little claustrophobic. Well, ok, maybe not San Francisco in general, but our little 300 square foot studio was getting to be a little cramped for the two of us and our two cats.

And let’s face it, if you’ve ever lived in a studio for five years with your spouse and cats, no matter how much you love them, you start getting bitchy over every little incident.

So we decided that it was time to move on… not just from our jobs and apartment, but that it was time to leave Sodom by the Bay and look for greener (and less expensive) pastures. We left the last week of May, 1999.

In all honesty, Hartford was pretty good to us. We made a significant bump in our standard of living, we developed in our careers and in May 2000, we even took the plunge and bought a condo. But even though things were looking up, there was still something missing. It took a while, but in May 2002, we finally figured out what had been nagging at us for the past couple of years.

We realized that Hartford, Connecticut sucked.

Yep. It took us a while, but we realized that Hartford just really sucked ass. Major ass. Major rat-bastard just crawled out of the gutter and smells like Newark sort of ass. I mean, at 8pm on a Saturday, there was nowhere within walking distance to get a beer, or an affordable meal… unless you wanted to go to the “slightly better than bud, but not as good as a bottle of year old Anchor Steam” brewpub or have pizza for the upteen-thousandth time. I mean really, can this veteran barfly live somewhere that to have a decent beer on tap required a 20 minute drive? I knew you’d agree.

So we started thinking about what to do next. The obvious choice was our favorite city at the time, Montreal. Unfortunately, as a US resident, getting sponsored for jobs in Canada is almost impossible, so that was scratched. With no real ideas of where to go next, I was sent to San Jose for a business trip. That was May, 2002. Eight years since we arrived in San Francisco, Three years since we left, two years since we bought the condo. We should have known at that point that something would be happening… because every major ife change happened in May.

Hell, we even met each other thirteen Mays ago.

So, I had the business trip to San Jose, and Janet decided to meet me for the weekend in San Francisco. Long story short, it was that first night at the Toronado after seeing our friends and adopted family here for the first time in years, we decided to move back.

Tune in for the next installment – Everything Falls Into Place.

Ok. This is a test. I warned you that it was a test. Why don't you listen to me! Sheesh!

Beer List
The Glasser Bar and Grill
A private drinking establishment
Updated 12/16/00

Again, we issue the following challenge to any restauranteur, publican or bar owner in the New England area: if you have a superior (or even comparable) beer selection at your establishment – you may qualify to win a genuine "I Beat the Glasser Bar and Grill" plaque.

Plaque awards will be based on: variety of styles, variety of selections per style, overall beer selection and variety of available/appropriate glassware. Points will be added for knowledge of staff in regard to beer styles and proper serving/paring with food. Points will also be added for conscious choice of beer selection by bar owner/manager (owners will be asked why they selected certain beers over others). Bars with expired beers or unclean tap lines are immediately disqualified.

The gauntlet has been thrown. Anyone willing to accept the challenge?

 

Abbey/Trappist Style
Chimay Grande Reserve – Abbaye de Scourmont, Belgium
Burgundian – Abbey des Rocs, Belgium
Abbey – Guldenberg, Belgium
Winter – La Moineuse, Belgium
Ommegang ­ Brewery Ommegang, New York
Pater – Corsendonk, Belgium

Amber
Kwak – Kwak, Belgium
Old Yankee Ale – Cottrell, Connecticut
Prohibition Ale – Speakeasy, California
Ambree – Brunehaut, Belgium

Biere de Garde
Biere de Garde – Huyghe, Belgium

Bitter
Duck's Breath – McNeill, Vermont
Best Bitter – Gritty McDuff, Maine
ESB – Ipswich, Massachussets

Bock
Anniversary X – North Coast, California
950T – Bar Harbor Brewing, Maine
Triple Bock NV – Sam Adams, California
Triple Bock 1994 – Sam Adams, California

Christmas
Noel – Affligem, Belgium

Continental Ale
De Koninck – De Koninck, Belgium

Lager
Lager – Paulaner, Germany

Abbey/Abbey-Style Dubbel
Double – Allagash, Maine
Brown (Vint 5/96) – Kasteel, Belgium
Dubbel – Westmalle, Belgium

Dunkelweisen
Winter – Ipswich, Massachusetts

 

Easter/Paasbier
Bos Keun – De Dolle, Belgium

Flemish Red
Red – Rodenbach, Belgium
Alexander – Rodenbach, Belgium

Grand Cru
Artevelde – Huyghe, Belgium

Hefeweisen
Edel-Weisse – Schneider Weisse, Germany

Honey Ale
Doree – Boreale, Quebec,

Lambic
Chapeau Abricot – De Troch, Belgium (Apricot)
Cassis, Mort Subite ­ Belgium (Cassis)
Kriek – Belle Vue, Belgium (Cherry)
Kriek – Boon , Belgium (Cherry)
Kriek – Liefmans, Belgium (Cherry)
Kriek – Lindemans, Belgium (Cherry)
Chocolat – Huyghe, Belgium (Chocolate)
Cassis – Lindemans, Belgium (Currant)
Petrotale – Boon , Belgium (Faro)
Gueze – Boon , Belgium (Gueuze)
Geuze Mariage Parfait 95 – Boon, Belgium (Gueuze)
Goudenband – Liefmans, Belgium (Gueuze)
Gueuze – Mort Subite, Belgium (Gueuze)
Gluhkriek – Liefmans, Belgium (Mulled Cherry)
Peche – Lindemans, Belgium (Peach)
Rose de Gambrinus – Cantillion, Belgium (Raspberry)
Frambozen – Liefmans, Belgium (Raspberry)
Oudbeitje – Hannessens, Belgium (Strawberry)
Fraises, Huyghe ­ Belgium (Strawberry)

Mars
Biere de Mars – Brasserie Achouffe, Belgium

Marzen
Oktoberfest – Ayinger, Germany
Oktoberfest – Brooklyn, New York
Oktoberfest – Paulaner, Germany
Oktoberfest – Spaten, Germany

Mild Brown
Harbor Lighthouse Ale – Bar Harbor Brewing, Maine
Best Brown – Gritty McDuff, Maine

Pale Ale
Portland Lighthouse – Gritty McDuff, Maine
Pale Ale – Lagunitas, California
Red Seal – North Coast, California

Porter
Porter – Geary, Maine
Porter – Sierra Nevada, California
Robust Porter – Smuttynose, New Hampshire
Porter – Tremont, Massachussets

 

Pub Ale
Caffrey's, Ireland

Red Ale
Rousse – Le Cheval Blanc, Quebec

Rye
Why Wine Rye Wine – Clockwork, Connecticut

Saison
Cochonne – Brasserie Vapeur, Belgium
Biere de Miel – Dupont, Belgium
Bons Voeux – Dupont, Belgium
Saison Dupont – Dupont, Belgium
Noel – Fantome, Belgium

Scotch Ale
Bear – Traquair House, Scotland
Jacobite Ale – Traquair House, Scotland
Traquair House – Traquair House, Scotland

Small Beer
Small Beer – Anchor , California

Steam
Steam – Anchor , California

Stout
St Ambroise Stout – McAuslan, Canada

Strong/Biere Forte
Cuiviree – Boreale, Quebec
Delerium Tremens – Huyghe, Belgium
Ringworm – McNeill, Vermont
Duvel – Moortgat, Belgium
Troubador – Mousketiers, Belgium
Pranqster – North Coast, California
Vondel – Riva, Belgium
Golden – St. Sebastiaan, Belgium
Don de Dieux – Unibroue, Canada,
Barbar – Belgium

Abbey Tripel
Tripel – Allagash, Maine
Tripel – Duinen, Belgium
Tripel – Kasteel, Belgium
Tripel – Steenbrugge, Belgium

Unknown
970T – Bar Harbor Brewing, Maine

Witbeer
Blanc – Le Cheval Blanc, Quebec

Fun with the digital camera…

You asked for pictures? You got 'em.

The Linden (our building)

The view of One Linden Place from the corner of Linden and Main

The courtyard (pic 1) (pic 2) (pic 3)

The original ad for the Linden Building back from the turn of the century

The den, facing the window – check out the wainscoating in the lower right hand corner of the pic

The built-in unit in the den

The first fire of the season (living room fireplace)

The Neighborhood

The Travelers Tower – one of Hartford's major landmarks (pic 1) (pic 2)

The Wadsworth Athenaeum

Hartford City Hall

A view of downtown from Linden Street

More downtown architecture (pic 1) (pic 2)

Just so we could get a tab on what beers we actually have in the house at any given time, Janet and I decided to take on the undertaking of cataloging our beer reserves.

Oy.

Now I realize why hardly any bars ever match up with our expectations. I mean, if we have a selection like this AT HOME, shouldn't bars strive to have something better?

So, here is a challenge to anybody out there. If you know of a bar that you'd put head to head with this list in New England, let me know. If you succeed in finding a bar that has a bottle list better than what I have at home, you will be praised eternally. If you send me on a wild goose chase, prepare to be hunted down and forced to drink Zima.

Avery and Janet's Beer List as of 7/16/00

Quantity	Origination	Brewery	Name	Type	Classification	Size	Location
1	Belgium	Abbey des Rocs	Burgundian	Abbey	Belgian Abbey	750ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Guldenberg	Abbey	Abbey	Belgian Abbey	750ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Abbaye de Scourmont	Chimay Premiere	Abbey	Belgian Trappist	33cl	Fridge
1	Belgium	Abbaye de Scourmont	Chimay Grande Reserve	Abbey	Belgian Trappist	33cl	Fridge
1	New York	Ommegang	Ommegang	Abbey	Belgian-Style	12oz	Cabinet
1	New York	Ommegang	Ommegang	Abbey	Belgian-Style	750ml	Cabinet
1	New York	Ommegang	Ommegang	Abbey	Belgian-Style	12oz	Fridge
1	New York	Ommegang	Ommegang	Abbey	Belgian-Style	750ml	Fridge
1	Belgium	Kwak	Kwak	Ale	Belgian	33cl	Cabinet
1	Belgium	Huyghe	Biere de Garde	Biere de Garde	Belgian	750ml	Bar
1	New York	Ommegang	Rare Vos	Brabant Ale	Belgian-Style	12oz	Cabinet
4	Belgium	Corsendonk	Pater	Brown	Belgian	33cl	Cabinet
1	Belgium	Affligem	Noel	Christmas	Belgian	750ml	Bar
1	Germany	Paulaner	Lager	Continental Lager	German	16oz can	Fridge
2	Belgium	Kasteel	Brown	Dubbel	Belgian	750ml	Bar
2	Belgium	Westmalle	Dubbel	Dubbel	Belgian Trappist	33cl	Cabinet
1	Maine	Allagash	Dubbel	Dubbel	Belgian-Style	750ml	Bar
1	Belgium	De Dolle	Bos Keun	Easter Beer	Belgian	33cl	Cabinet
1	Belgium	Rodenbach	Alexander	Flemish Red w/ Cherry	Belgian	12oz	Fridge
4	Belgium	Rodenbach	Alexander	Flemish Red w/ Cherry	Flemish Red	33cl	Cabinet
1	Germany	Schneider Weisse	Edel-Weisse	Hefeweisen	German	500ml	Cabinet
2	Germany	Spaten	Franziskaner	Hefeweisen	German	12oz	Fridge
1	Germany	Tucher	Hefeweisen	Hefeweisen	German	500ml	Fridge
14	Maine	Geary	Summer Ale	Kolsch	Craft Brew	12oz	Cabinet
1	Maine	Geary	Summer Ale	Kolsch	Craft Brew	12oz	Fridge
1	Belgium	De Troch	Chapeau Abricot	Lambic (Apricot)	Lambic	375ml	Cabinet
1	Belgium	Boon	Kriek	Lambic (Cherry)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Liefmans	Kriek	Lambic (Cherry)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Lindemans	Kriek	Lambic (Cherry)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Lindemans	Cassis	Lambic (Currant)	Belgian	750ml	Bar
2	Belgium	Lindemans	Cassis	Lambic (Currant)	Lambic	375ml	Cabinet
2	Belgium	Boon	Petrotale	Lambic (Faro)	Lambic	375ml	Cabinet
1	Belgium	Boon	Gueze	Lambic (Gueuze)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Liefmans	Goudenband	Lambic (Gueuze)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
2	Belgium	Liefmans	Gluhkriek	Lambic (Mulled Cherry)	Belgian	750ml	Bar
2	Belgium	Lindemans	Peche	Lambic (Peach)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Lindemans	Peche	Lambic (Peach)	Belgian	375 ml	Fridge
1	Belgium	Liefmans	Frambozen	Lambic (Raspberry)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Cantillion	Rose de Gambrinus	Lambic (Raspberry)	Lambic	375ml	Cabinet
1	Belgium	Hannessens	Oudbeitje	Lambic (Strawberry)	Belgian	375ml	Bar
1	New York	Brooklyn	Brown	Mild Brown	Craft Brew	12oz	Fridge
1	Massachussets	Hyland Orchards	Pale Ale	Pale Ale	Craft Brew	12oz	Cabinet
1	California	North Coast	Red Seal	Pale Ale	Craft Brew	12oz	Cabinet
2	California	North Coast	Red Seal	Pale Ale	Craft Brew	12oz	Fridge
5	Massachussets	Ipswitch	Porter	Porter	Craft Brew	12oz	Fridge
1	Ireland	Caffrey's	Irish	Pub Ale	Irish	16oz can	Fridge
15	Connecticut	Clockwork	Why Wine Rye Wine	Rye	Homebrew	12oz	Cabinet
2	Connecticut	Clockwork	Why Wine Rye Wine	Rye	Homebrew	12oz	Fridge
1	Belgium	Dupont	Bons Voeux	Saison	Belgian	750ml	Bar
1	Scotland	Traquair House	Traquair House	Scotch Ale	Craft Brew	8oz	Cabinet
1	Scotland	Traquair House	Jacobite Ale	Scotch Ale	Craft Brew	8oz	Cabinet
1	Scotland	Traquair House	Bear	Scotch Ale	Craft Brew	16oz	Cabinet
1	California	Anchor	Small Beer	Small Beer	Craft Brew	500ml	Bar
4	California	Anchor	Steam	Steam	Craft Brew	12oz	Fridge
1	Canada	McAuslan	St Ambroise Stout	Stout	Craft Brew	12oz	Cabinet
1	Belgium	De Koninck	Cuvee De Koninck	Strong	Belgian	750ml	Bar
3	Belgium	Huyghe	Delerium Tremens	Strong	Belgian	33cl	Cabinet
1	Belgium	Moortgat	Duvel	Strong	Belgian	750ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Riva	Vondel	Strong	Belgian	750ml	Bar
1	Belgium	St. Sebastiaan	Golden	Strong	Belgian	500ml	Bar
1	California	North Coast	Pranqster	Strong	Craft Brew	12oz	Cabinet
1	California	North Coast	Pranqster	Strong	Craft Brew	12oz	Fridge
1	Belgium	Kasteel	Tripel	Tripel	Belgian	750ml	Bar
1	Belgium	Steenbrugge	Tripel	Tripel	Belgian Abbey	33cl	Cabinet
1	Maine	Allagash	Tripel	Tripel	Belgian-Style	750ml	Bar
1	California	Sam Adams	Triple Bock	Triple Bock	Craft Brew	8oz	Cabinet
4	California	Sam Adams	Triple Bock 1994	Triple Bock	Craft Brew	8oz	Cabinet
3	Maine	Allagash	White	Witbeer	Belgian-Style	12oz	Fridge

For all of you nosy sorts out there – here are the first shots of the new Condo della Glasser

The arts-and-crafts style fireplace and mantle in the
great room. The border and grill are most likely the original cast iron
pieces from the 1890s.

 

Our galley kitchen – complete with Jenn-Air convection oven and grill.

More pictures will be posted over the coming weeks – so stay tuned…