Of hops and hardwoods

My wife and I occasionally drive up to Wisconsin for a variety of reasons. The Milwaukee Art Museum, which is phenomenal, the scenery, or just to get away from Chicago for a while. One of the must do’s on these tripsMore… is to pick up a few cases of a craft beer that’s unavailable south of the Wisconsin border. Neither of us is a really big beer drinker, but when we do indulge, it’s usually a microbrew of some sort, and this one is a particular favorite.

There seems to be as many of these small independent brands as there are wineries. And like wine, each one is a little different and some surprising flavors emerge. These brewers are as passionate about their craft as any wine maker, and it shows in their product. Sampling locally produced beer can be as rewarding as trying an indigenous menu item you can’t find anywhere else.

What’s the connection to handcrafted custom furniture? Both are created by craftsmen/women who work to bring you the best product they can, with no shortcuts or compromise in materials or workmanship. You can grab a can of a nationally known brew made in a facility the size of Rhode Island and it might quench your thirst for a little while, or you can linger over the subtle rich flavor of a well designed, well executed lager or ale, knowing, at least subconsciously, that you’re getting the best of the maker’s art. It’s the same with handcrafted custom furniture.

Oh, and don’t drink and drive a tablesaw.

-- Alan Carter, www.alancarterstudio.com