Gudger & Ferguson's: The Genesis of Gudger & Ferguson's

Gudger & Ferguson's began with a beer fridge. We were off on a summer from college and stocked it with beer of moderate quality (there, our biggest secret is out there). Having tastebuds, though, we quickly grew tired of sub-mediocrity and began raiding our local beer store and stocking what we believed to be superlative beers. The stocking of the fridge was a ritual to be performed with the most sensitive degree of concern. The fridge was quickly given the mantle it deserved and we constructed a large box-shaped bar around it. Shortly thereafter we hosted a party and served our agreed upon beers of all styles to our guests.

Carrying on this way was fun, but costly, so the installation of a tap was the clear next step. First we got a keg of Killian's (as we were still early in our beer journey) and enjoyed it along with a couple other friends over the inaugural week of the tap. We wanted something better. The Blackstone Brewery, in Nashville, TN produces some great brews and the brewers there were perfectly happy to sanitize and fill our 5-gallon Cornelius kegs for a modest price. This was a period of great enjoyment and we became recognizable to the gentlemen at Blackstone.

At this time, Ferguson left for a job in D. C. and we each began brewing separately. Of course, though, the Ampersand (a great man who is neither Gudger nor Ferguson) and I felt the need to travel to D. C. and build a second G&F's bar for Ferguson. In one day we constructed a sturdy bar with a working tap system on the front porch of Ferguson's D. C. abode. [sidenote: the Ampersand will be moving to Boston soon and as is proper the construction of G&F's #3 looms near]