This week ...

Thing: My short-lived career at 99 Bottles

Term of employment: One month (seasonal)

Times I fucked up the register: Three

Customers I pissed off: None! (I think.)

Who I irritated the most: Craig Adamowski

Work BFF: Dennis Best

Types of beer at 99 Bottles: Over 1000

Shelves I dusted: 35

Bottles and Glassware I cleaned: 1,426

Cuts on hands from bottle caps: 12

That my pride is long gone becomes painfully apparent during situations like public pleas for employment, like last November when I updated my Facebook status asking for a part-time job.

Only one of my 408 "friends" responded to my Facebook plea: Tiffany Adamowski of 99 Bottles. Lucky her.

I jumped on the offer to temporarily work at her beer store, which she co-owns with husband Craig Adamowski, during the busy holiday season. Get this: I was going to get PAID to work with BEER ... which is mainly purchased by MEN. Oh. Hell. Yes.

What I quickly learned upon my arrival at 99 Bottles is that, without having any other valid reason for wanting it, men will go nuts for beers mentioned on television and radio shows. (Hello, Men's Room and Bitches Brew.) 

I learned that Mac & Jack's only comes in a keg, bacon beer does exist and canned beer is completely underrated. I was educated on European versus domestic hefeweizen, beers aged in bourbon barrels and how mead is made. Oh, and the "perfect pint" glass made by Samuel Adams? AWESOME. Go get one. Now.

My favorite thing to do at 99 Bottles was listen to Tiffany Adamowski talk beer.  That girl knows anything and everything there is to know about beer and how it's made: what it's made from, how it's brewed, where it came from and in what way you should drink the beer. Cold? Warm? Type of glass? Keg stand? She can answer those questions. I'd like to suggest attending 99 Bottles weekly Wednesday beer tasting with Tiffany from 4-8 pm.  Completely worth the $1.

Aside from the random girl who came in talking like a northwest version of yesterday's valley girl (learn to annunciate, please), working at 99 Bottles provided me with a plethora of beer knowledge, a handy holiday paycheck and a sweet discount on anything in the store. With all that good grub, who needs pride?

[99 Bottles, 35002 Pacific Hwy S, Federal Way, 253.838.2558]

PERSON, PLACE OR THING LINK HUB

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LINK: Sabrina T. Scale of Menchie's Frozen Yogurt in Federal Way

LINK: Puyallup Forza

LINK: Spartacus T. Ladle of Infinite Soups

LINK: Louie G's Pizzeria "Little Italy" Pizza Challenge

LINK: Aaron Tumale, dough-tosser at The Rock Wood Fired Pizza & Spirits