Hey, I'm not defensive - I'm a mean old man. If I offend you, just tell me to go f___ myself. That usually works.

While you were typing, I added this paragraph at the bottom to my post above. It explains a lot of why the brewpub and microbrewery businesses are so difficult. Not impossible, just very difficult.

And you're right. I was really involved in the first micro/brewpub boom in CA in the late 80's - and the outfits with the snazziest names, the prettiest logos, and the worst beer went broke first. A few outfits actually survived and are still operating today.

"OK, the country has 1700 breweries now, just like a hundred years ago. At the start of the 20th century, though, all those little breweries had a big market share in their own local regions and they were all selling a fair amount of beer. Now, 4 or 5 giant corporations have 90% of the national beer market, and the other 1695 brewers are competing for the other 10%. Quite a difference."