The IBCFM team at home in the Upland Brewery.
This last weekend the IBCFM boys went to the Upland Brewing Company in Bloomington after meeting at a prearranged staging area. I was pleased to drive the Vert down to the staging area with nothing but air and sky caressing my prepared pate.
At the Brewery, our seventet tried and mutually agreed that Upland's seasonal brew, the Maibock was pretty tasty. Rich also sampled and was pleased with the Ard Ri seasonal offering. We passed on their cuisine, because we had dinner plans back at the staging area, but did take a tour of the brewery itself under the guidance of their guide Kevin.
We started in the grain room, saw the various individual steps of the process of making grain into something more special, and learned about their "green" water treatments for both heating and cooling the beer batches throughout their genesis. 70% of the energy comes from solar water heating panels on the roof of the facility. That is an impressive number so we were all duly and appropriately impressed. After the tour, the caravan returned to the staging area at an undisclosed super secret location. Meals were prepared, canines cavorted, games and conversations were addressed, and a general feeling of well being overcame the entire group. At 8PM I again saddled the white horse and drove the steed back to the World Headquarters, the air licking my had was redirected by a new Upland Brewery ball cap. Outside chilled air was no match for heat exchanged and radiated air from the V-6 heart of my steed.

Chuck Pace ©2009 
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Was is all a grand fantasy, did it really happen?
Or was this some crazy pipe dream?