"Because I don't do standard beers, Wyatt. Every brewery and their damned cousin makes a coffee porter or a coffee stout. You heard what Ms. Mitchell said before she left. We can’t go with standard. We have to blow the socks off those judges. And a coffee blonde ale will do that."
"A coffee blonde." His voice is flat.
"Yes. Just trust me. When they’re done right, they’re amazing. A coffee blonde is light and refreshing, perfect for Florida's climate. And with the right coffee blend, it'll be sophisticated and surprising. It’s unexpected excellence that wins competitions, not the same old bullshit that every Joe Schmoe makes."
"Or maybe it'll taste like watered-down coffee with bubbles."
My hands go to my hips. "Excuse me?"
"I'm just saying, there's a reason most coffee beers are dark. The malt profile supports the coffee. With a blonde ale, you're fighting against the style instead of working with it."
"No, I'm elevating the style. There's a difference." I step closer, jabbing my finger at his chest. "I'm the expert brewer here, remember? You roast the coffee. I brew the beer. That’s the deal. And I'm telling you, a coffee blonde ale is what will win this competition."
"And I'm the expert on coffee," he counters, not backing down an inch. "Which is half of this equation. Maybe we should consider both options."
"We don't have time to consider both options. We need to commit to one direction and execute it perfectly." I inhale slowly, counting backward from five as that familiar frustrationbuilds. "This is my brewery, my reputation, and I'm not going to play it safe with some boring, predictable porter just because you did a little Google research last night."
His jaw flexes. "It wasn't Google research. I talked to three different brewers who specialize in coffee beers. They all said the same thing—dark beers are the safer bet."
"Safe doesn't win competitions. Memorable does."
"Memorable for the wrong reasons isn't going to help us either."
We're squared off like boxers in a ring, except there's no referee to pull us apart. I can smell his coffee, and underneath that, something that's just him. Clean soap and a woodsy spice.
"Hey, uh, guys?" Tommy's voice breaks through the tension. He's standing in the doorway, looking between us with wide eyes. Admiral is at his side, watching us with the patience of a dog who's seen this exact scenario play out a thousand times. "Maybe we should all take a breath?"
I step back, running my hands through my ponytail. "We're fine."
"Totally fine," Wyatt agrees, but his voice is tight.
"Right." Tommy doesn't look convinced. "Well, I'm just going to finish cleaning this tank and pretend I'm invisible." He saunters to the far corner.
Admiral, however, ambles over and plants himself directly between me and Wyatt like some kind of furry barrier.
I take a deep breath, trying to channel some of that professionalism I promised myself I'd maintain. "I understand your concerns. But I know my beer, Wyatt, and I know what works in this market. A coffee blonde ale is the right choice."
Wyatt holds my gaze, and I can almost see the moment the fight drains out of him, his eyes going soft before the rest of his face catches up. Finally he sighs, running a hand through his dark hair. "Fine. Coffee blonde ale it is."
My jaw goes slack. "Really?"
"You're the brewing expert. I'll defer to your judgment." He holds up a hand before I can start celebrating. "But I'm in charge of the coffee component. No arguments. I'll deliver the best possible blend to complement your base beer, and you don't question my choices there. Deal?"
It's a fair compromise. I nod. "Deal."
"Good." His posture relaxes. "So what's next?"
"I've set aside two kegs of Sandbar Ale for us to test with different coffee blends. You bring over samples of your best coffees, and I'll infuse small batches so we can test different combinations. They should be ready to taste in a few days."
"How small are we talking?"
"Growler-sized batches. Sixty-four ounces. Enough to get a real sense of the flavor profile."
He grunts, making another note in his notebook. "I can bring five different blends. Will that work?"
"Five is good. And we'll do a blind tasting."
His mouth quirks. "You don't trust me to be objective about my own coffee?"
