Bibo ergo sum ... "I drink, therefore I am."

Bust of Julius Caesar

Blame Julius Caesar … that is IF you were suffering from hangover effects from New Year's Eve. Turns out that iconic Roman Emperor established January 1 as New Years Day since Julius's BFF was the Roman god of doors and gates, beginnings and endings, Janus – that two headed dude with one head facing forward and the other one backward. Caesar decided that January (the month named after Janus) would be appropriate to mark a new year – a new beginning – of sorts.

From that historic moment, Romans began making promises to Janus at the beginning of the new year. This religious tradition took hold and morphed into what we call “resolutions” - you know, those goals and promises we make ourselves which aggravate us between December 26 and December 31 – realizing we failed to meet our calendar-based expectations.

Janus

This is the first year I had to develop a list of resolutions for the Jax Brew Bitch since in January 2012, I had not really seriously devoted a lot of time to the blog – still getting' my feet wet with beer, so to speak. But your continued support throughout 2012 was so encouraging to me, I felt I must do something in 2013 to get more good beer into your hands while providing a means for you to save a few nickels. With the Clowns of Congress (both parties) deciding NOT to extend the Social Security Tax break of 2%, all of us receiving a paycheck now have 2% less disposable cash with which to visit the establishments within the Greater Jacksonville Brews & Chews scene.

My personal resolutions involve better time management and timely posts but that's the boring stuff.

The Jax Brew Bitch 2013 Resolutions are a bit more interesting …

1.     Set up another Bottle Sharing Group somewhere near Southside. This would be IN ADDITION to the ones currently being held at Green Room on Saturday afternoons and at Brewer's Pizza on Sundays.

2.     Set up a special Girl's Slumber Party at a local hotel offering manicures/pedicures and including a collection of craft beer and food.

3.     Arrange more Brew Cruises with Captain Brooks as we did a couple of times in 2012.

4.     Set up a Bottle Sharing Group in Pensacola at the Pensacola Bay Brewery.

5.     Schedule and establish Group Road Trips to various destinations

That's five – and I think a reasonable scope of things I can accomplish and still take care of the personal ones.

Let's all make 2013 a banner-year for craft beer in Jacksonville. Purveyors, please do all you can to provide craft beer as a beverage option for your customers (think locally to begin with!). Consumers, it's up to us to support ($) our local breweries, pubs, bars and restaurants – AND their staff.

Together, we can overcome the poor decisions of the imbeciles who govern us and have a thriving local craft beer scene. I'm already getting myself motivated and going this year – please stay tuned - and I look forward to seeing you  - out and about and having fun - during future Jax Brew Bitch Prowls.

Pisces natare oportet!

Ave, Caesar, bibiturus qui te salutant!