Why the Midwest
One of the ways I support small businesses is by drinking beer. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it.
Whenever I travel somewhere new, I make a point of finding the best local brewery. If it’s especially good, when other people ask, I tell them about it. Because there's reward in supporting small business, but also reward when people bring home a finder's fee for you.
My dad, wise to this, always checks in with me before he travels anywhere. Recently, he and my mom planned a trip to Omaha to see an art exhibit, and naturally, he asked me where to go. I sent him straight to Lumen Beer Co., a fantastic small brewery our Operating Partner Ryan and I discovered during our team’s recent trip to the Berkshire Hathaway meeting. I especially recommended their IPAs, because their IPAs were great and my dad and I (and Ryan!) have a taste for hops.
When my dad arrived at Lumen and enthusiastically asked for IPAs to take home, explaining that he was in town from Missouri and that his son had recommended he seek this place out, the lady behind the bar sadly informed him that they were completely sold out of all but one. This was Paper Planes, which she said was good.
That's when a hero (because not all heroes wear capes) at the other end of the bar overheard this conversation and said, "Well, if you've come all this way, and you're supposed to bring beer back home, you need to bring back this one." And he handed my dad a four-pack of Green Mask, their very best IPA, because he had just claimed the last one. Despite my dad's protests, our hero wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Then, when my dad went to pay, he learned the hero had already covered the cost. Despite protesting again, the hero wouldn't take no for an answer.
Long story short, my dad returned to Columbia, Missouri, with a four-pack of Lumen’s finest, a great story, and an admiration for the fine beer-drinking people of Omaha. And he gave me two of those Green Masks because finder’s fees. This is why people live in the Midwest.
Have a great weekend.
– Tim
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