I was thinking about this today, and realized that there are several really good reasons that I love this blog. What got me thinking about it was Jim’s post today where he refers to the Damn Blog, and I can totally relate. Sometimes it is a bit of a grind. Then I began thinking what about this Blog do I love? And to my surprise I came up (relatively easily) with 5 reasons I love this blog.
1) Interaction with our Readers: When Jim and I started out we decided very early that we were going to be interactive. Every comment deserved a reply. Man was that a great idea! I love having our little discussions and the occasional Rank session where we talk about the fact that Jim has a Small Penis, and an even smaller car. It makes my day to see what you all have written, and a newbie is like fresh meat, I love them. I love the e-friendships I have made here, and I look forward to meeting many of you in the future.
2) Reconnecting with my Brother Jim: When I had the idea to develop this blog, the main reason was to have something that my brother and I could do together. When we are interacting around this blog, the miles melt away and I feel as strong a bond as if Jim lived next Door to me. We have gotten much closer since we started the blog and it is the absolute best thing that has happened since we began this journey together.
3) Free Samples: I’d be lying if I said I was indifferent about this benefit of having this blog. Nothing makes me happier or brings a smile across my face quicker than getting a free sample in the mail. This is for two reasons. First and foremost it is 99% of the time something I cannot get in my State controlled liquor store, and second, it gives me great fodder for this blog. Plus we all know that free stuff tastes better. 😉 In all seriousness, I have gotten access to some pretty amazing stuff and I get to have a taste, and tell you about it.
4) New Beers: Since we began this Blog I have tried literally hundreds of new beers. Crazy things that are made with ancient ingredients or made in odd places, or with really great inspired brewing that are just tasty treats. If it weren’t for this blog I NEVER would have been this adventurous and tried so many new and great things.
5) The Promise of Something Big: When we first started this blog we thought if we got wildly successful, we might get some free samples of stuff to drink and review. What we never expected was 6 months into this thing we would be in the running for our own TV show. Jim has well chronicled that entire experience here, so you all know that it didn’t happen. However we did get to have an all expense trip to Downingtown, PA and a two day tour of Victory Brewing. That was a great experience, and Jim and I are always on the look out for the next great experience this blog might afford us, who knows, maybe it will be something big.
So there you have it, 5 reasons I absolutely love this blog. Watch for my next post tomorrow, Five Reasons I Hate This Blog!
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Well said Don! You Bros. do nice work. Always a pleasure to join in the conversation (when I actually have something somewhat intelligent and relevant to say).
Cheers!
G-LO
You’re always welcome here G, even when you have nothing intelligent or relevant to say, like Jim.
Thanks Don! I think. 😀
#2 is great. I’m 28 and live in NYC, while my 30 year old sister lives in Seattle. While we do keep in touch fairly well, it’s definitely not as much as either of us would like. Ironically, the thing we have most in common (at least for an interesting blog) is our mutual love for craft beer and whiskey. Maybe we’ll start up BeerAndWhiskeyBroAndSis.com…
The more the merrier, I always say. It truly is a great way to get closer, I strongly recommend it.! 🙂
I’ll also say that as a PR guy (this is Brian from The Thomas Collective, by the way) you two are a delight to work with. Glad to hear you appreciate the samples, and we’re always happy to send you or Jim a bottle. But not everyone shows the genuine appreciation that you and your brother show myself and everyone at my agency.
I knew that was you Brian, and it is actually kind of impressive that you hit the blog every now and then just as a regular commenter, and I can say for a fact that Jim and I love that. But you surprise me when you say that not all blogs treat you well. Jim and I were raised to always treat people with respect and appreciation. so I guess, you’re welcome :).
My wife would say that it is sad that interaction with me is considered a plus. I am new and still haven’t seen you write about whisky. I would like to try every whisky made in the USA as well as beer. A few from Scotland would be OK too. So far my liver is holding up better than my wallet.
Check out some of the older posts. There are a lot of whiskey ones, but you are correct I am due for a few whiskey posts. oh the pressure! 😉
You got the small penis part wrong – that’s you! Google can prove it, too – you’ve made the first page when someone searches “don has a small penis.” Congrats!!
http://www.google.com/search?q=don+has+a+small+penis&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
well, my day has been made.
Well we need to rectify that by saying Jim has a small penis. Mom always said Jim has a small penis, your friends would come over to the house and ask if you could play, and she would say He can’t right now, Jim has a small penis. By the way Jim, have I told you that Jim has a small Penis?
Not gonna happen…
I noticed you didn’t deny its truth, however…
I love how Don incorporated Bears into this post. I often find myself more involved with your own blog than my own, thanks for that.
I thought of you as I placed that picture in there!
C ..} .
let’s see who gets that!
HaHa…I get it….no I don’t…
* hangs head in shame*
Cheers to the e-friendships my friend. Hope to see you on a bar stool near me soon. :^) Going to the Brewforia Stout dinner on the 3rd?
YES! I didn’t know about it, but now that I do…YES, YES, YES!
Well I too love your blog (its the only one to which I continually subscribe.) I find I look forward to your give and take. Never having had a brother (2 sisters), I get a vicarious kick out of the repartee. Also, as I get older, my circle of friends keeps shrinking (its apparently a typical phenomenon for old men), so its nice to be able to socialize, even if its only digital.
I keep on meaning to start a blog of my own but then I’d have to give something else up. Besides, there are already enough opinions (and a-holes) out on the Web, so the loss of yet another ain’t gonna hurt anyone.
Well Wayne, while Jim and I are closer than ever, I’d hardly think of us as models to be emulated or admired! You should do what I do and live vicariously through the Smothers Brothers, they are much funnier, and better looking! 😉
Gee, which one do you identify with Tommy, er…I mean Don?
BTW: I’ve always enjoyed the Smothers Brothers too but I’ve already heard all their jokes (I still have a number of their old routines stored on vinyl somewhere.)
You got that one right. I used to watch their variety show religiously when I was a kid. Made me laugh even at age 9!
I might have said it before, but its worth repeating. I end up getting a laugh or learning something from each post. Usually both. Keep it up!
Thanks Scott. Look for today’s post, 5 things I Hate about this blog! 😉
I’m glad you enjoy it, because I sure as hell enjoy coming here to read it. B&WB, along with G-Lo’s place, are completely responsible for re-igniting my love affair with beer.
Wow! Really? I may have to change my name to “The Enabler”! 🙂
I’m guessing that was a relatively short fuse we lit, i.e. it wasn’t a real hard sell. I could see where you might get a bit jaded about beer, living in St. Louis and having monolith beer as your city’s backdrop.
Ha… yeah, especially since I grew up in Wisconsin, around really good beer, and then moved to the land of Clydesdale Piss.
1 reason I love this blog is that it doesn’t feel exclusive. Thanks for recognizing that ladies drink, too. And that sometimes we even have interesting things to say about the subject. I’m glad you love the blog because that means you’ll keep posting for a long time to come. Thank goodness, because while I might know more than a bit about Bourbon, I admitedly know very little about much else : )
Glad you enjoy the place Keila. It is a labor of love, but a labor none the less.
Right on. Way to keep things in perspective.
Thanks Scott.