Yesterday I posted about 5 things I love about this blog, and they were real and honest. But to be completely honest I began to think if there are 5 things I love, there must be five things I hate, lest there be an imbalance in the force. So I began to think about the other end of the spectrum. A place where I like to stay away from, but every once in a while you have to go negative. So here goes, five things I hate about this blog.
1) Pressure to Post: Nothing new here, if you have a blog, and I know many of you do, you feel it too. What Am I going to say today. Can I be witty or am I just too tired to be funny. Can I find something interesting to write about? With Jim sharing the burdon, it is a little easier, but there are times when it is a real grind and I have to come up with material. I know I’m not getting paid, so I could just stop posting for a while, but Jim and I are pretty devoted to what we have created here and want to keep it going on a regular basis, so we push through it and figure out something to post, most days.
2) Reviews: I don’t mind doing them,no, what I hate is not doing them. I feel like every time I drink a new beer or whiskey I should do a post about it. If I don’t there is a tinge of guilt like I have missed out on an opportunity or have somehow wasted the beer or whiskey. While I sometimes decide to not post, it can actually detract from my overall enjoyment of the beverage.
3) The Cost: Believe it or not this isn’t free! We pay for the space, some recording programs for podcasts, and most all of the beer and whiskey we consume. Any one thing isn’t that expensive, but put it all together and we have some pretty significant sunk costs. Not to mention trips to GABF and earlier this year to Coeur d’Alene for a new brewery tour. We always do what we can to minimize these costs by mixing blog actiuvities with work travel, etc, but there is no denying that there is a significant cost to doing this thing right.
4) Family Pressure: You wouldn’t think this would be a big deal, but Jim and I both have young kids at home still, and believe it or not our wives actually like our company, so sometimes those demands can conflict with blogging time in the evenings. Not to mention that we have stopped doing podcasts, and I’ve heard a lot about that from you all, wanting them. I feel like we are slacking. I don’t know how many times I heard my wife say “You spend more time on your blog than you do with me!” Not a true statement, but obviously it gets in the way at times. I’m just hopeful that the kids remember who I am on Father’s Day.
5) Jim’s Posts: Not that they are bad, but just the opposite, they are so damn good! He really sets the bar high, and let’s face it, I’m fat and can’t get my carcass over it most of the time! I think I’m a pretty good writer, but Jim is an excellent writer, hugely creative, and he is funny to boot. It becomes a pretty tall order to hold up my end of the deal here. Not to mention I am the whiskey writer, so I am constantly trying to balance content between beer and whiskey.
Jim’s posts routinely get higher readership than mine, and I’m perfectly fine with that, someone has to be better, but there are times when I think I’ve really put a lot into a post and it gets like no hits, then there are times when I know that Jim just phoned it in and he kills on traffic. Not gonna lie, it gets a little frustrating, but it makes me work that much harder. So I guess its all good.
So there you have it, five things that stick in my craw about this place. Like I said in the comments yesterday it is a labor of love, but a labor nonetheless. I’m just glad that people seem to find this interesting. If it wasn’t for all of you, I think I might have given up by now, but thankfully we have readers and that makes it worth any of these annoyances.
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
That’s about as brutally honest and vulnerable as it gets, dude, cheers to you. FWIW, I love your posts and though I haven’t commented in a long time (nor you two on my blog) it doesn’t mean your words aren’t appreciated. I empathize in every single way ‘cept for the brother thing. Burden is all on me, I feel the pressure from the hubster and I definitely find myself PURPOSELY drinking purely for the enjoyment, without feeling the need to dissect the beverage.
Hi Katie! I’ve beeen lurking at your site lately more than commenting. Some of your wine and food posts quickly get out of my wheelhouse, although I do enjoy your writing. I think every blogger that is serious about it, feels some of these same things. It can be a real love/hate relationship at times.
These are things we all hate about our blogs. I’m just lucky that I don’t have your readership or I would feel more pressure to post all the time or write better than Jim.
Your posts are wildly entertaining as you add a completely different perspective than Jim. I get tired of his metrosexual BS. Even when you and I don’t agree, I appreciate your opinion as a way to balance the scales.
Nice post, Papa Bear.
Thanks for the kind words Zac. I’m kind of like Dan Aykroyd on SNLs version of Point-Counterpoint. I’m a little gruff at times, but you keep me honest as well, and I appreciate that. I really didn’t want this to come off a whining, but more as some of the unexpected “pressures” of having a blog that I love. The yin and the yang I suppose.
I agree with all of these, but especially #5.
🙂
You hate Jim’s posts too, huh? 😉
Keep up the good work Bro… Some of us enjoy the whiskey posts more than the one’s about beer. Don’t get me wrong, I drink plenty of craft beer but whiskey is where it’s at. This is about the only non-sports blog I check out on a regular basis anymore… I hope you guys keep going for a long time.
No worries there Haas, as we intend to keep this thing going as long as we have readers. Glad you enjoy the whiskey posts, I like to do them, and have several waiting in the wings. Just have to get on them. Glad to hear we actually have some sports fans checking the place out. Jim and I are both football nuts. I’m really glad my Packers are crushing his Jets this year in the rankings!
Who is this “jim” that you speak of?
I see the pressure thing, my basket tends to be full most of the time and updating my blog has pretty much ceased to a minimum. It has gotten me to where I “know” you guys and some others…and that was my goal. To start a niche in the craft beer world. As far as podcasts goes…maybe some of your readers can submit some. By expanding some, it takes a little of the burden off yourself and lets other readers “get to know” some of the readers we’ve been bantering with about small genitalia, bears, and other random stuff.
Im still waiting for our Tour de’ Bourbon Country.
Yeah, I’m waiting for that tour too! I’m thinking we are 2 years out, but it will happen!
Sadly, two weeks ago during the Bourbon Chase…we didn’t have any leftover time to visit any of the distilleries I had yet to see (Four Roses and Wild Turkey). We are supposed to head that way this weekend for the Bourbon Trail, so hopefully I will wet my whistle.
Nice thing about living in the motherland! Enjoy.
A few comments…
Since the other guys have been much busier with their real jobs, I’ve been doing most of the blogging, and as you said, it takes time to pull together some quality material (at least I HOPE it’s quality material!). I’m trying to stick to a Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule. Thankfully, I REALLY enjoy doing it, so it’s not like it’s work.
I really like writing reviews for two reasons: #1 It slows down my drinking and forces me to really concentrate on what’s happening in the glass and the effect that it has on my nose and tastebuds, and #2 Since I’m new to this tasting notes business, it forces me to really work on the descriptive writing. They don’t get much traffic, but they’re fun to do.
I’m with you on the cost. But there is an upside… I am now MUCH more selective when I make a purchase, and I rarely buy anything in bulk (i.e. a six or twelve pack of any one beer). Though I’m paying more per serving, it’s allowed me to try a wider variety of beers and whiskeys. It’s all about the journey and I don’t really believe in a “go-to” anything. I have favorites, but something new will always get my attention
I’ve had an argument or two about the blog with the wife as well. As you know all too well, it’s very easy to get carried away and sucked in to this blogging “business”. Perhaps if we made actual money and handed it over, they’d give us less crap about it. Then again, that money would probably go towards more booze purchases.
That is all! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Yeah, G, those redheads can get fiery! I know, I’m married to one too! I’m selective on my purchases too, but prior to this blog I NEVER purchased any Beer or Whiskey, except during the holidays. So it is ALL new costs to the budget. I try to be pretty choosy, and not go too wild!
Interestingly enough, I was the same way with the beer and whiskey purchases. Always had them in the house, but generally didn’t buy that much. But then I had kids and started talking to my neighbors. That’s when the “trouble” started. 🙂
As far as the Redheads go, Mrs. G-LO is of mostly Irish and Italian heritage. Trouble with a capital T! Sleep with one eye open my friend. Or do what I do, sleep as little as possible. 😉
Irish and Italian, huh? So who was the cop, and who was the mobster? 😉 That is why I bought a king bed, she can’t reach me without me knowing she is coming!
Holy WTH is wrong with you? I can’t wait to to turn the Viking on to the B&WB Blog just so she can chime in here. Then again, maybe you’re safe. I’ll bet no amount of “you won’t believe what he said” texts will make her click on another beer or spirits blog.
My wife is Italian and Irish also, luckily she enjoys craft beer as much as I do!
My beer budget at home is the same as before I started the blog, but my on the road drinking costs have definitely gone up since I started writing; we feel almost obligated to visit a new brewery wherever we travel to, and I have to buy a logo pint glass for each place too.
Don,
I agree with the pressure not just to write a new post, but to make it good. There are times when I catch myself “calling it in,” and then take twice as long going back and trying to make it better.
I suppose with a Brewtrek blog, going to new places and seeing new breweries is all a part of it. Like when I went to Bend earlier this year. I found myself with a 3 hour break mid-day and felt compelled to fill the time up with a tour of the Deschutes Brewery. At the time I would have loved to take a nap having gotten up at 4 am that day to drive to my 11am meeting, but the blog compelled me to go to the brewery. However, once I did, I was glad I had gone and not wasted time napping.
Yeah, I am a huge football nut too. Bengals all the way!!!! (hey I’ve been in Cincy my whole life, they’re all I’ve got…haha).. I’ve got 2 fantasy teams and am in first place in both of them…6 and 0 in one of em… I like to see the Packers do well, Rogers is on one of my fantasy teams lol… Can’t stand the Jets though… It’d be cool next year you guys should see if enough fans of your blog are football fans to have a BeerandWhiskeyBro’s fantasy football league… Everyone would have to send the winner a six pack of local brew from they’re neck of the woods….just a thought.
Ohh Haas, I wouldn’t go there. I can see the steam coming out of Jim’s ears all the way in Idaho! My brother absolutely abhors Fantasy Football, and in some ways blames it for the downfall of the league in general. Jim is an absolute purist when it comes to his football and if I even mentioned a B&WB FF league, I think he would quit the blog just based on principle! That said I have nothing against Fantasy Football, and have played in leagues myself, although not for the last couple of years. I always lose! Always. Looks like you are doing ok with your Bengals this year. Carson’s shadow no longer lingers over the field, and Dalton seems to be the future perhaps you can be relevant again, as long as your guys stay out of jail!
Hey, Mike Brown got the Hamilton County Corrections facility to change the inmates unis to orange and black stripes so we’re all good on the jail front….haha…
I used to be the same way about FF but my friends talked me into trying it and I find it gets me interested in way more games than before… Instead of just the Bengals game and other AFC north games, it’s like I have a stake in alot of the other games as well now… I think it makes things more interesting and it turns out I’m good at it so winning is fun too….
This is excellent writing – honest, blunt and thoughtful. I for one read a ton of blogs and find them all mildly interesting. This one stands out as one that I find myself constantly checking up on. To be completely honest I actively try to search out the whiskeys and beers you both recommend (living in Michigan it’s not nearly as hard as Idaho), and really love the blog posts. Thanks for keeping things interesting for the readers.
Glad you like it Josh. We are nothing if not blunt. That what you get when a couple Idiots decide to write a blog. I’m glad you listen, and hopefully you have found some good beers and whiskeys from it. I know I have! 🙂
Hey Don, just a heads up Buddy. I’m usually a big bourbon guy and being close to Kentucky I can usually find some good stuff that’s not as mainstream but I’ve found myself drinking something completely different from my norm lately and thought I’d recommend it to you. Classic 12 from Canadian Club…. I know, I almost didn’t try it even though I trust the guy that told me I should.. I don’t normally care too much for Canadian whiskey, usually stick with good old bourbon…Regular CC isn’t special and the 10 year old reserve is too sweet but this 12 year old stuff is really good and it’s cheap…I can get a 5th at my local liquor store for like $18… trust me, it’s worth a try for the price and it’s 12 yr old whiskey. Beats the hell out of Crown and it’s way cheaper.
Thanks for the heads up Haas. I’ll look for it next time im at the State controlled Liquor Gulag!
You already know this by now but it’s often a big mistake to solicit complaints. Since I respect your craft beer and craft beer business knowledge, I’ll respect your wishes and fling a complaint your way……
I HATE the fact that your blog is so good. (j/k), Seriously, you guys (even the Don you speak of) do a great job. I rarely pass up one of your posts and even more rarely disagree with one. That said, what I hate is that I’ve neglected my blog so miserably partially because of the time I spend reading other people’s blogs – like yours. I have a lot of catching up to do and I’ll never get there if you guys keep pumping out great reads.
So you people stop it. Find another hobby to blog about. Something I have no interest in, like maybe 1940s headwear, Julia Roberts or dog people.
😉
@TheAlemonger
That’s a great idea for a blog: Julia Roberts as a dog person, wearing 1940’s headwear! That’s not too specific is it? 😉 Not sure I was soliciting complaints, just complaining. But whatever, I keep trying to pull the quality of the thing down, but you have to talk to Jim to get the quality to suffer! Doesn’t he know the pain he is causing? Lost productivity, people laughing out loud in their cubicles… utter mayhem!
Those are all really good points and I can relate to a lot of them. RE: Jim’s posts, I think you two do a great job balancing each other out. They’re different styles and B&WB wouldn’t be what it is without one or the other.
As a reader, I will cop to reading the whiskey articles less… but it’s only because I’m not much of a whiskey drinker. I will say that the whiskey that gets favorable reviews from you goes on my radar and I try to keep an eye out for it, which is a pretty big feat because… well… I’m not much of a whiskey drinker.
Also, aren’t you the older brother? Can’t you just give him a swirlie or something?
Yes John, I am the older one, but unfortunately he is a little far away to intimidate. Plus the guy is as charming in person as he is here, so he squirms out of a lot!
That’s ok John, you don’t have to like whiskey. If you don’t by now, it probably isn’t gonna happen for you. That’s ok. I’m never gonna be a fan of foreign cinema either, so it all balances out.
Not even nunsploitation?!?!
??? Don’t even know what that is. Sounds like a Roman Catholic Porno. Something like Girls Gone Wild meets Sister Act.
That’s keepin’ it real Don!
As fer the wife complaining, I get the same thing from mine in re the time I spend doing genealogy (she’d like me to charge for all the stuff I do, but that’d take all the fun out of it.) She’s the same way about my gardening activities, says she has to “lie in the dirt to get my attention.” I think its just another wifely duty–If I paid that much attention to her she’d snap at me to back off and let her read in peace.
As for the pressure of doing Blogs and reviews, I suggest you solicit some guest Blogs and reviews from some of your regulars. I’ll bet you’d get some takers.
We’ve done a little of that Wayne, there are a few guest posts on the site, but the bottom line is it is our blog, and we need to keep it going. It’s not so bad, just at time can be a little trying. But that isn’t a bad Idea, I guess I could put out some feelers.
It’s interesting how bloggers share the same perils. I’ve filled up two refrigerators with beers waiting to be reviewed. This beer is for that tasting this one is for another. Eventually I have no more room at all to buy anymore beer and new purchases are left sitting on my garage floor. Then when I just want to drink for fun I avoid certain beers because they are for the blog and I don’t feel like or not in any condition to review a beer. So the collection piles up and stuff gets out of season before you know it. I had to purge some IPAs the other day because it’s not really the season to review them anymore. Grrrrr the frustrations of beer blogging.
I thoroughly enjoy both you and Jim. This blog is a daily read for me and you guys tell it like it is. You don’t pull any punches and express your opinions no matter how not “politically correct” it may be. I enjoy that sort of brutal honesty. I also like your bourbon tournament which is the only one I’ve ever seen. I share in your frustrations about traffic on certain posts. It seems my more techical posts that require a lot of research aren’t as popular with the public. Don’t get frustrated Don keep up the good work!
Just thought I would share the good and the bad aspects of running this thing. I’m not even close to considering giving it up at this point, and I really do like to interact with the readers. You guys keep me going for sure. I too have beer in every fridge, and I’m running out of room in my Whiskey cabinet for my bottles. Might have to take over another shelf in the pantry. But that is a good problem to have in my estimation! 🙂
Another thing to love, though, is an excuse to post bear pictures. Definitely one of the main motivations of my blog.
Bears are Scary!
Don, you don’t have any friends in Zanesville, OH do you?
Not anymore 😦