Randomn3ss

Scott Kerkmans has landed the position as the Chief Beer Officer at The Four Points by Sheraton hotels chain. Yes, it’s the world’s first known CBO.

Before you get too excited and start searching for CBO positions, take note: Kerkmans doesn’t earn a salary. Could be a problem, but he does get 50,000 Starwood points, the Sheraton’s preferred guest program, and expense-paid trips to breweries. And perhaps the best part: Beer will be delivered to his door every three months.

Kerkmans got a job in the industry as soon as he could legally drink, and he was a brewer at an award-winning brewery. At twenty-eight years of age, he beat out nearly 8,000 candidates.

He does his beer tasting in the morning, as that’s when the taste buds are supposedly most sensitive. He also gets to host beer tasting dinners and travel the country.

Sounds like a job a true beer lover could love.

A recent trip to Philadelphia to visit a friend who I have not seen in a few years brought bake memories that I had nearly forgotten about. For a four year span in my early 20’s I traveled to New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. several times a week to attend electronic music events, also known as raves. Not working a real job, I was able to go to more of these than the average Joe and ended up working in the industry as a photographer. Being that I don’t live in any of these cities, traveling to them started to increase my awareness about the different nuances each place possessed.

Philadelphia smells like warm pee nearly year round, maybe thats why it has the nickname of Filth-a-delphia. Drive on 76 under the bridge by the South Street exit though and you will be engulfed in the smell of donuts and pastries from the nearby Tastykake bakery. I had nearly forgotten these smells and being introduced to them again brings back a rush of memories. It’s funny how our senses can instantly recall memories that have been nearly forgotten by a simple smell, all to welcome me back to the city of brotherly shove.