Why Drink Coffee When the Coffee Shop Brews Beer?

Bully Bends in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota has the initial appearance of your everyday coffee shop.  You step inside what appears to be cramped quarters to place your order, but instead of slinking off to the side doing your best to stay out of the way of traffic, those still ordering, and those also waiting, the barista simply asks your name.  You find a seat in what turns out to be ample space around back and some magical being you've never seen before somehow comes directly to you delivering your coffee, soup, sandwich, pasty, pastry, burger, or beer.  This is where the place suddenly jumps ahead of the competition. 

For around back, almost hidden in between the kitchen and the john is a small bar, with 5 stools, 6 beers on draft, and 5 beers brewed on site in the basement by the owner and maker of soups.  Their personal brews are only available in bottle (16 or 22 oz) while on tap they have available not one cheap beer.  Allow me to list the wonders from left to right:  Boulevard Wheat Beer, Fat Tire, Crow Peak Pile O' Dirt Porter, Stella Artois, Newcastle, and Guinness.  I have yet to buy a pint.

Instead, I have been fixated on their incredibly tasty brews.  Currently I'm halfway through a dark, rich, and creamy Bully Pulpit Porter.  Next it will be on to the Trustbuster's Bitter Ale.  At this point I should pause and explain the theme.  The Bully Blends mascot is none other than President Theodore Roosevelt, Trustbuster, Rough Rider, Lion Hunter, Amazon Explorer, and simply and assuredly A Man Among Men.  A tougher US President has never been elected and sadly the days of physical toughness combined with intellectual prowess seem to have gone the way of the Dodo.  Love him or hate him, the 26th US President could still outride, outshoot, and outtalk the men of his day or the politicians of ours. 

Yesterday, I passed a blustery afternoon exploring the Rough Rider Irish Red Ale, Nut Brown Maple Ale, and Pumpkin Ale.  And if I must say, a more enjoyable afternoon could not have been spent.  The beers were delectable and the homemade chili with cornbread  I could eat every day from now til my death.  As with most of my drinking experiences I have nothing to say about the individual beers but I can assure you that if you find yourself passing through Rapid City, South Dakota, a wasteful moment would not be spent sliding up to the bar at Bully Blends, ordering yourself a foamy brew, and raising a glass in cheers to the Bull Moose himself.