Lag time? What lag time?

There are so many updates... I started full time at The Perch on January 1st.  The pub opened on Valentines Day, the 14th of February.  This is also Arizona's "birthday" of becoming a state.  In addition, the first day of Arizona Beer week.  (kind-of)

So the pub is open.  It has been quite a wild ride and is just now starting to level out, if ANY restaurant can be considered to be less than insanity.

I did get pulled in to restaurant managing for a few weeks, and am now back to the brewery.

So here is the low-down.

I get asked about 50 times a day when we are going to start brewing.  Which annoys the ever-living crap out of me.  On the other hand, it is nice that there is so much interest and it warms my heart to think that I'll be making beer very soon, to the great delight of all these inquisitive folks.

Our Federal Brewers Permit process began November 22nd when I started the online application.  That was 120 days ago

It was submitted as complete on December 17th. That was 95 days ago.

It was moved to a Specialist out of Triage, on January 13th. That was 68 days ago.

In November, this page listed the processing time as 78 days.  It rose to 103, then 113, and is now down to 98 days.

Here is the problem- when does the count start?  When the application is submitted as complete?  Because that is when I gave it to them. They then got back to me a week later and asked for an additional document.  Which is sent immediately.  HOWEVER. That was the Friday before Christmas.  Which meant the triage specialist was out of the office until January 6th.  One would think that when she returned, she would have the document I overnighted to her.  Unfortunately, it takes a LONG time for the MAIL ROOM in the basement of the Federal Building in Cincinnatti, to get anything to her desk.  Like... 3 weeks, apparently.

Then came the Polar Vortex- the coldest winter storm in the history of the WORLD, apparently. When all the Federal offices closed for 3 days.

Pushing my acceptance back again.

January 13th, it was marked as accepted and moved along to a Specialist.

I immediately emailed the specialist and introduced myself, a courteous thing to do.

I heard nothing in return.

Then I called and left a voice mail, again simply introducing myself.  Fine, no need to return the call
I suppose.

Since then, I have received a single reply to the 10's of phone calls and emails I have sent-  when I informed the specialist that I had received my equipment.  The reply was "Thank you for the update. I will note it"

This shows that yes indeed, the emails ARE getting through.

However, I have not heard a single word since that day.

Indeed it will happen eventually.  I know that.  The frustration of yelling into an eternally deep well, and waiting for a reply, is quite weighty.

Regarding construction - Phil who built the system (Bru Gear) has been here working through kinks, along with my electrician.  They should be done on Monday.

My plumber started working on the Glycol system on Wednesday, but has not appeared since.  A resolution must be forthcoming soon.

The transfer lines will be installed late next week.

After that, it's inspection for Certificate of Occupancy and the Health Department (notoriously difficult) and we're ready to go.  Brewing in the first week of April?  I certainly hope so!

Honestly, I have been so completely consumed by the pub that I have done almost zero regarding brewing- not homebrewing, not reading, not listening to podcasts.  I feel out of touch completely.

Due to circumstances, I became the only manager of the restaurant for 10 days- which meant 20+ hour days for that stretch, and 17 hour days for the week prior and 2 weeks after, up until 2 days ago when our new General Manager arrived.

I get to go back to construction manager and future Head Brewer again!

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