The Work & Whimsy of Mike Reis

What's the point of a new year's resolution? 365 days seems like an arbitrary deadline for a goal, especially when personal growth should be an ongoing process. So usually I shirk 'em.

This year is different, though. For quite some time, I've wanted to write a song. Why haven't I done it? I've lacked two things: guts and will power. Not afraid to admit it.

So yeah, I AM going to go ahead and embrace the ever-popular crutch known as the resolution to accomplish a personal bucket list item. I am going to write and perform (live!) a song before December 31st, 2011.

Where will I start? Not sure. Keep checking in with this blog for progress, and bug me in real life about it. This is a project about accountability through public declaration, because that seems to be the only way this is going to happen. There's no going back now. If I don't get this done, I have failed, and THE INTERNET was there to see it. Oh shit.

It's no secret that I've been a busy guy recently. I just celebrated my one-year anniversary at Lagunitas, I spent tens of hours studying for the Certified Cicerone Exam (which I passed!), and I'm still excitedly exploring San Francisco since my move here in April.
But this website isn't about my day-to-day, it's about my creative output. Recently that has taken the form of a variety of potent potables.
Along with my good buddy Alex, I have been working on a project we have dubbed the "Soma Beverage Lab."



Though we aren't selling the product of our labors, we are acting as a real business, complete with Twitter account, recipe documentation and custom labels. Thus far we've experimented with several different soda recipes and how to carbonate/bottle them, looked at the effects of wine aerators, and started making kombucha. Still to come? More sodas, beer, and whatever else tickles our fancies. Stay tuned.