Horst, You Will Be Remembered

One of our most consistent and beloved customers from the time Berenbaum's Bakestand started in 2011 has passed, Horst Meyer.  Many will know Horst from the Farmer's Market, stalking the stalls early at opening in his fishing hat and windbreaker.  He was fond of our Mandelbrot and later, Ninth Street Bakery's Italian Biscotti, asking for them in his heavy German accent, "have you any bis-COTT today?"  Our deepest condolences to his family and many friends and colleagues.

Full obituary here: https://today.duke.edu/2016/08/duke-flags-lowered-physics-professor-j-horst-meyer-dies-0

action bronson, a man after my own heart

On Being a Boss in the 20's

"It was unfortunate, but did not matter too much, if the boss was a bastard, a skinflint, a cheat, a no-good, so sharp with his men that one might--God forgive us--doubt he was a Jew.  All that was to be expected of him, was of his very essence as a boss--for a boss, as my mother offhandedly defined the type in a sentence that lighted up for me our instinctive belief in the class struggle--a boss was a man who did nothing himself, sat by idly, enjoying himself, and got rich on the bitter toil of others.  It was far more important to us that the boss be successful, full of work to give out.  Let him be mean, let him be unspeakable, let him be hateful--he kept us alive."

From "A Walker in the City", Alfred Kazin

Babies, Dogs, or Workout Clothes: Taproom Culture 2016

The burgeoning NC beer scene is getting bigger, thanks to some new taprooms and breweries. The Summer round-up:

- Ponysaurus is the new hot shit. It's official.

- Some strong moves are being made in Raleigh. Lynnwood Brewing has put out a couple of good beers. Nickelpoint has a good IPA. Gizmo has been getting some good press. There are a bunch of undrinkable things mixed in, but who's complaining?

- Looking forward to Starpoint Brewing coming to Rockwood Plaza (near Thai Cafe). This could potentially be the best beer Durham has ever seen!

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't note the new taproom culture. The whole Fullsteam family drinking escapades circa 2011 has now morphed into a culture all its own.  I visited two taprooms in two cities last weekend, and we played a game of punch buggy where you threw a punch every time you saw a baby, a dog, or someone in workout clothes. Let it be known that bruises were suffered for the humor of this new taproom culture. In Belgium and California and beyond there exist breweries and taprooms, but I have yet to see anything quite like the Triangle with its hot mix of beer nerdery, capitalism on steroids, and child rearing. Now who wants to play an life-size game of Connect Four?!

Bonus link: Best article ever on bar culture: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1940/04/13/the-old-house-at-home

State of the Industry

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/07/opinion/sunday/dinner-disrupted.html

true that

Via: http://luckypeach.com/guides/official-dunkin-donuts-power-rankings