I'm a contrarian (investor) and bet against conventional wisdom. I built old bicyles like Colnago and Masi during college years and like bikes. I enjoy photography/movies and took countless pictures. Passionate about brewing and the beer lifestyle, I believe in the finest quality, best ingredients, innovation, and staying faithful (semper fi). The beer biz puts me in public places and people (read: photo ops)...My friends make up of all ages, races, creed, religions, etc, I don't discriminate based on ageism and prefer not to be judged by those narrow standard. I'm a people person and light hearted. The beer industry is mostly '20 something college and young professionals, and folks who are "young at heart" so I am in this circle the most. // The theme of the first beer created, Con Rong Chau Tien, or Chau Tien for short, translates to "Descendants of Sierra Dragon and Angel." It's a 4000+ years Vietnamese legend and it's still revered to this day by Vietnamese all over the world. The legend is about the genesis of Vietnam, when a Dragon met an Angel (symbolic for the Emperor and the Queen) and later the Angel gave birth to 100 eggs. The offsprings became future rulers of the country when the Dragon brought 50 boys to the oceanside and the Angel brought the other 50 boys to the Sierra highlands to govern their country. // A true story: Once upon a time, I had a beer dream...an ascending Dragon was swirling around the Angel in the sky, blowing fires, turning white clouds into red and pink ones. The Angel then said to me, "Tuan, your destiny is to become a great brewer." It was such a compelling dream that I have been committing to beer for more than 23 years. This dream of Dragon and Angel reminded me of my roots, so I named my beer Con Rong Chau Tien. // No matter where the Vietnamese people are in the world; and regardless of their political or religious beliefs, one point of unity is that they're Con Rong Chau Tien.
I'd like to meet:
People who love people. // New and old friends are always welcome to drop a line and hang out. Easy going people who like to laugh out loud, live passionately, and love deliriously...and I'm waiting for an extraordinary gal to claim me as her "soul mate." The following are Con Rong Chau Tien theme song.
Music:
I'm creating a band called, "Beer Guy and the Bar Maids," think Robert Palmer style. I will be a lead singer; piano player, and ukelele stringer (I'm not the greatest musician, but make for good laughs). I like variety from rock, country, jazz, to classics and sing kareoke. My favorites are Frank Sinatra; Elvis Presley, and Willie Nelson. I sing to Alabama and other country favorites. People laugh when they see me in a cowboy hat and boots...sure, this beer guy is a red neck. I traveled and lived over 44 states and other countries.
Movies:
Favorites are Jack Nicholson's; Clint Eastwood's, Spielberg, Lucas, and Will Ferrell's movies. Too many to list...I want to produce my own movies trilogy someday, how about...American Beer Guy, the movie!
Television:
Whatever that's funny/entertaining (e.g. SNL, Jay Leno, the Man Show, Dave Letterman, and sports of course). Science fiction, history, and discovery channels too.
Books:
Beer books. Biographies. Fashion mags. I love to read. I'm writing a book about beer adventures. My first book is called, "The tale of two pale ales," about my Chau Tien Pale Ale and its history with the Sierra Nevada Brewery (AKA. Asian American Brewing Company). Con Rong Chau Tien translates to "Sierra Dragon and Angel." It was originally from Sierra Nevada through a joint venture with Chau Tien USA (1985-87). Chau Tien is now brewed by the brew crew (Brother David, Chilo Machino, Big John (BJ), Sir Neila, Doc Allen, and BeerGuy XXX) at Anderson Valley Brewery, Boonville, California. And I'm looking for more than $50 million to build a new and most exotic brewery (send in your donations, lol...) ;o) I will name you on my beer walls.
Heroes:
God. Yoda. And Darth Vader. Courageous people: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat -- Theodore Roosevelt. Perseverance people: No matter what is going on, never give up. Develop the heart, too much energy in your country is spent developing the mind instead of the heart. Develop the heart. Be compassionate not just to your friends, but to everyone. Be compassionate. Work for peace in your heart and in the world, work for peace. And I say it again, never give up, no matter what is happening, no matter what is going on around you, never give up. -- Dalai Lama.
