A welcome: to Jared Himstedt of Balcones

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:37 am

Welcome to the co-founder of Balcones...

...Jared Himstedt, who along with Winston Edwards has registered here. I can't imagine why, lol. As per the "Craft" website:

"Chip Tate and Jared Himstedt, long-time friends and beer brewing partners, founded Balcones in 2009. Tate had been working in the software business while Himstedt managed the Dancing Bear Pub, a popular craft beer bar in Waco. They met several years earlier at a meeting of their local homebrewing club and immediately struck up a friendship."

http://craftedmagazine.com/balcones-dis ... istillery/

Himstedt remains the Production Manager, and apparently is doing quite well, winning yet another award after Tate's expulsion from the facility under a TRO issued by the Court. He has been encouraged to post, but along with Edwards (who did) is currently silient, as I suspect the mediations/negotiations are at a critical stage.

Stay tuned...

Dai · Post by **Dai** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 9:50 am

Welcome Jared, I hope you like controversy.

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:57 am

I disagree, lol...

Winston · Post by **Winston** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 12:36 pm

As you can imagine, Jared and I are not personally involved in the legal battles so not too much commentary we can add there. However, if you'd like to get to know us and the brand better, we welcome your queries. Unfortunately we can't offer a "tell all" explanation of the current issues as we are practically just as much in the dark as everyone else (which I prefer, this $%#@ is way over my head!).

da'rum · Post by **da'rum** » Fri Nov 07, 2014 3:58 pm

Winston, I personally am fine with you not commenting on the legal Schweinerei but I would be interested in your opinions on Jimbo's concerns about the degrading and presumed demise of the definition and standards of bourbon. What are your thoughts on what is bourbon, what is acceptable in production, finishing and ageing of the spirit? Do you find the artificial and somewhat insulting practice of marketing driven premiumisation of un premium product a serious problem?

Cheers

AmSas · Post by **AmSas** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:04 am

Sorry to take so long to chime in. Glad to glean some info and knowledge about Rum here. Been a beer drinker and homebrewer for a long time, which turned into a love for whisky. Not much into white spirits, but just about any brown spirit fascinates me these days.

Glad to be a part of the conversation.

Post by **Capn Jimbo** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 11:25 am

Welcome (at last) Jared...

I'm sure there will be great relief when this matter is settled one way or another, and of course we understand that neither you nor Winston are in a place to comment about specifics in re the dispute, assuming of course you like being employed, lol.

But I feel safe in asking you two questions:

1. Winston commented that you used the Project to identify and pick out a number of rums for a get together you were at. What rums did you pick and why?

2. There was a hearing scheduled for last week on November 7th, as you are no doubt aware. No specifics, but did this hearing take place? Or was it rescheduled, and if so until when?

AmSas · Post by **AmSas** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 12:49 pm

We make a Rum, which is definitely a Rum for whisky drinkers, but are not nearly as connected with RUm history and tradition as we are with whisky in all it's forms. So, we picked up a few things, nothing fancy, based on recommendations found here. I can't remember all of them but I know we grabbed
Appleton 12
Barbancourt 8
Goslings Black
Mount Gay XO
Matusalem

Mostly had a bunch of the Renegade stuff around before that, some Plantation, Mocambo, etc.

Can't really comment on the legal proceedings at the moment.