I'm sure they've missed me at the Jelly Belly factory. Why else were all the staff smiling today? I was pleased to introduce Becs to one of NorCal's most important places, assuring her that if she missed anything I had the tour memorised. We got to try their new honey bean, as well as being shown around by a girl called Cricket (not after the sport - I did ask).
Then it was time to try something new! Quite a rarity for a seasoned tour guide such as myself. The Budweiser factory is a few short minutes from Jelly Belly but has always been shut when we've been past. Today there was no such problem.
The tour was not exactly in-depth. The factory is mostly empty space where they've removed old bottling equipment, and the whole process is so automated (1600 bottles a minute) that humans are a rarity. They are proud of their environmental record - over 99% of waste recycled, and five cans recycled for every four produced (how does that work?)
We were soon in the tasting room, and then came the sampling...American style. Two bottles of beer (or glasses of draft) each, unlimited pretzels, and 'special' samplings of their 8% blueberry beer. As this all happened at around 11am, things got messy quite quickly.
We found ourselves talking to some Californians, whose sons had flown to London that morning. When we left, an hour and five beers later, the mother hugged us and said how glad she was to have met nice English people as it made her feel much happier about her children being away. Always good to fly the flag.
And Budweiser? Well, the whole experience left me remembering why American beer is like making love in a canoe. The answer is far too rude to write on this blog.
Back into the belly.
Conforming to all health and safety guidelines in our natty hats.
Becs samples canned dog food (new this year, along with centipede).
Much tastier!
On to the Bud factory, where beer is made by robots.
The hat says 'Bud girl' rather than 'Bad girl', but after a few beers who can say which is more appropriate?
Lots of empties.
Imagine how big the bottle was!
If only I could figure out how to get it flowing...
Becs, pretzels, and our first free 'samples'.
How the world looked a little later on.
