Monday, January 31, 2011
RIP Don Younger
To the pivotal incomparable Don Younger, your life was well lived. Half of us could only be so lucky to have blazed and tasted the trail you walked. Cheers!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
WOB Viera News
Florida Beer Co. Brew Party!
This Tuesday, February 1st, Florida Beer Co. will be back at WOB with their full line up of drafts. We will be featuring Swamp Ape IPA, Florida Lager, the Sunset series and the Hurricane series. Representation from the brewery will be here at 6 pm. We will also have give aways. Come by and support our local brewery!
The Big Game!
What are you doing for the biggest game of the year? Don't sit at home this year. Come by WOB for the pre-game party at 4 pm. We will have complimentary food starting at 4 pm provided by the Lakins that includes chicken wings and tator tot wraps. $1 off all drafts from 4-11 pm. Wear your logo of the team that scores and receive a free beer shot. Click here for flyer.
Bell's Brew Party!
We are having another brew party on Tuesday February 8th, featuring Bell's Brewery. We will be tapping old favorites plus rare and exclusive kegs. Need a hint?....... How about Hopslam and Kalamazoo Stout. Brew party starts at 6 pm. Make your plans now because you are going to be busy for the next two Tuesdays.
WOB U Update!
Attention all students and teachers/professors! We have changed our hours for the WOB U from 9 pm to all day. Stop by every Wednesday, show your WOB U card and receive half off all drafts ALL DAY! For those that do not have one and want one. Stop by today, show your school ID and start reaping the benefits of being a student or teacher. For more information click here.
Musician Audition Night!
Are there any local talent in Brevard? We are still looking! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested in to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
New Drafts
Live Music This Week
This Tuesday, February 1st, Florida Beer Co. will be back at WOB with their full line up of drafts. We will be featuring Swamp Ape IPA, Florida Lager, the Sunset series and the Hurricane series. Representation from the brewery will be here at 6 pm. We will also have give aways. Come by and support our local brewery!
The Big Game!
What are you doing for the biggest game of the year? Don't sit at home this year. Come by WOB for the pre-game party at 4 pm. We will have complimentary food starting at 4 pm provided by the Lakins that includes chicken wings and tator tot wraps. $1 off all drafts from 4-11 pm. Wear your logo of the team that scores and receive a free beer shot. Click here for flyer.
Bell's Brew Party!
We are having another brew party on Tuesday February 8th, featuring Bell's Brewery. We will be tapping old favorites plus rare and exclusive kegs. Need a hint?....... How about Hopslam and Kalamazoo Stout. Brew party starts at 6 pm. Make your plans now because you are going to be busy for the next two Tuesdays.
WOB U Update!
Attention all students and teachers/professors! We have changed our hours for the WOB U from 9 pm to all day. Stop by every Wednesday, show your WOB U card and receive half off all drafts ALL DAY! For those that do not have one and want one. Stop by today, show your school ID and start reaping the benefits of being a student or teacher. For more information click here.
Musician Audition Night!
Are there any local talent in Brevard? We are still looking! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested in to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
- Cigar City Warmer Winter Winter Warmer, 10% (Colorado)
- Dogfish Head World Wide Stout, 18% (Delaware)
- Left Hand Chainsaw, 9% (Colorado)
- Magners Pear, 4.5% (Ireland)
- Narragansett Porter, 7% (Rhode Island)
- North Coast Old Stock Ale Cellar Reserve 2009, 13.7% (California)
- Shiner Spring Ale Dortmunder, 5.5 (Texas)
- Rogue Double Mocha Porter, 8.2% (Oregon)
New Drafts
- Fat Cat Lager, 4% (Wisconsin)
- Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti, 9.5% (Colorado)
- Oskar Blues Gordon, 8.6% (Colorado)
- Shipyard Brewer's Brown, 5.4% (Maine)
Live Music This Week
- Thursday - C-Lane & Beav
- Friday - Adam Moreno
- Saturday - Adam Isgitt
Monday, January 24, 2011
BEERtrekkin ~ Minneapolis Day 02
Another day another shiver. Brrr! Dangnabbit, tis cold out! It’s supposedly a smidge warmer outside today than it was yesterday but sure doesn’t feel like it. As I hunkered down inside in the office working on…you guessed it…my BEERtrek, I contemplated my imminent arrival to sunny and hopefully warm Florida. According to my lovely it’s been on the cold side last couple days; you know in the 30s.
Laugh all you want but for us native Floridians who have sunshine running through our veins instead of blood, it’s C*O*L*D.
Our morning routine was the usual. I am happily all caught up on my beer reviews regarding my Livejournal account which means I can now strive for my ultimate goal: beer review posting trifecta. Each 5 new beer reviews will get posted on Livejournal, then on my Beer Ambassador blog, and then copy & pasted to RateBeer. Voila! The only thing I have left to do which I can only do on my laptop is get caught up on RateBeer, an altogether easy task to accomplish.
After a Miss Lily nap and a shower for cleanliness, we hit the road for first and foremost for The Happy Gnome. Now, as much as I would like to hit a gazillion places while here, that is rather hard to do when gallivanting around town with the munchkin. I don’t mind though. The Happy Gnome isn’t going anywhere anytime soon which means I’ll definitely get to enjoy repeat trips. Located in an old fire station, before entering the restaurant I noted signs outside advertising a Lagunitas Beer Dinner, Firkin Fest, and the arrival of a brewery new to Minnesota: Napa Smith Breweries. After snapping some pictures, I joined my sis, Josh, and the munchkin for a wonderfully lessez-faire lunch. Beer wise, I could have stayed there open to close, supping and savoring their plethora of tasty brews. I was hoping they would have a package license so I could buy a few bottles to take home but it wasn’t meant to be.
C’est la vie.
And don't even get me started on their whisky list. The sheer variety and selection along with what I thought to be reasonable dram prices…Ooh-lala.
Beer wise, I finally settled on the cask version of Lift Bridge Chestnut Hill (aka Nutsack) followed by a glass of divine Dominique from Goose Island. I’m glad I started with the cask for as delicious as she was, the Dominique blew my mind in all the wonderful beergundian ways I savor. I love sour. I love bourbon. I love barrel-aged beers. The above combination was liquid bliss, a perfect marriage of bourbon and sour. Fanfreakingtastic. Tastetastic. Beertastic. Sublime.
It is now my mission to find as many bottles as I possibly can of my divine Dominique.
As for food, I went for the Grilled Duck Burger, prepared with wild rice and mushroom duxelle, apple wood smoked bacon, herb goat cheese, cherry aioli. In a word: fantastic. I’m a duck whore (when it’s prepared properly) and I must say the burger was spot on. Add to that a deluxe herb goat cheese spread, crispy bacon, and Yum was the operative word. Jenn went for the Braised Lamb Pizza topped with roasted red peppers, marinated olives, red pepper flakes, pistachios, and house made tomato sauce all atop a crispy crust. Also in a word: Yum! Josh went for the Angus Cheeseburger topped with a 4 year aged cheddar cheese, braised short ribs, spicy garlic aioli and cooked medium. I prefer my burgers and red meat in general to be as bloody as possible. Not for everyone I guess though seeing as there wasn’t a single thing left on his plate, equally Yum! Their fries were nice crispy crunchy and topped with what I think was sea salt. Sea salt = crunchy crystals of salty goodness. If their regular menu is this good, I would love to savor one of their beer dinner offerings.
As hard as it was to leave The Happy Gnome, with my inner burgundian more than satisfied, we meandered our way back to the house.
But first!! A detour of epic proportions!!!
There is a lil brewery in the heart of Sr. Louis, Minnesota that also happens to distribute in Vero Beach, Florida. That brewery would be Summit Brewing. With a solid line of year-long brews and a growing arsenal of one-off releases from their Unchained Series means a long, profitable, and drinkable future I am more than happy to contribute to. May I have another, please and thank you.
With a sufficient collection of brewery pictures, I abandoned the frozen tundra for the warm sanctuary of the car. Bellies plumped and beervana still reverberating, I chilled at the house until sleep eventually overtook. In-between we watched the Steelers beat the Jets, then some Hawaii Five-O, and then some sleep. Sleep is good and before I knew it twas Monday morning and flying home. See y’all soon!
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Laugh all you want but for us native Floridians who have sunshine running through our veins instead of blood, it’s C*O*L*D.
Our morning routine was the usual. I am happily all caught up on my beer reviews regarding my Livejournal account which means I can now strive for my ultimate goal: beer review posting trifecta. Each 5 new beer reviews will get posted on Livejournal, then on my Beer Ambassador blog, and then copy & pasted to RateBeer. Voila! The only thing I have left to do which I can only do on my laptop is get caught up on RateBeer, an altogether easy task to accomplish.
After a Miss Lily nap and a shower for cleanliness, we hit the road for first and foremost for The Happy Gnome. Now, as much as I would like to hit a gazillion places while here, that is rather hard to do when gallivanting around town with the munchkin. I don’t mind though. The Happy Gnome isn’t going anywhere anytime soon which means I’ll definitely get to enjoy repeat trips. Located in an old fire station, before entering the restaurant I noted signs outside advertising a Lagunitas Beer Dinner, Firkin Fest, and the arrival of a brewery new to Minnesota: Napa Smith Breweries. After snapping some pictures, I joined my sis, Josh, and the munchkin for a wonderfully lessez-faire lunch. Beer wise, I could have stayed there open to close, supping and savoring their plethora of tasty brews. I was hoping they would have a package license so I could buy a few bottles to take home but it wasn’t meant to be.
C’est la vie.
And don't even get me started on their whisky list. The sheer variety and selection along with what I thought to be reasonable dram prices…Ooh-lala.
Beer wise, I finally settled on the cask version of Lift Bridge Chestnut Hill (aka Nutsack) followed by a glass of divine Dominique from Goose Island. I’m glad I started with the cask for as delicious as she was, the Dominique blew my mind in all the wonderful beergundian ways I savor. I love sour. I love bourbon. I love barrel-aged beers. The above combination was liquid bliss, a perfect marriage of bourbon and sour. Fanfreakingtastic. Tastetastic. Beertastic. Sublime.
It is now my mission to find as many bottles as I possibly can of my divine Dominique.
As for food, I went for the Grilled Duck Burger, prepared with wild rice and mushroom duxelle, apple wood smoked bacon, herb goat cheese, cherry aioli. In a word: fantastic. I’m a duck whore (when it’s prepared properly) and I must say the burger was spot on. Add to that a deluxe herb goat cheese spread, crispy bacon, and Yum was the operative word. Jenn went for the Braised Lamb Pizza topped with roasted red peppers, marinated olives, red pepper flakes, pistachios, and house made tomato sauce all atop a crispy crust. Also in a word: Yum! Josh went for the Angus Cheeseburger topped with a 4 year aged cheddar cheese, braised short ribs, spicy garlic aioli and cooked medium. I prefer my burgers and red meat in general to be as bloody as possible. Not for everyone I guess though seeing as there wasn’t a single thing left on his plate, equally Yum! Their fries were nice crispy crunchy and topped with what I think was sea salt. Sea salt = crunchy crystals of salty goodness. If their regular menu is this good, I would love to savor one of their beer dinner offerings.
As hard as it was to leave The Happy Gnome, with my inner burgundian more than satisfied, we meandered our way back to the house.
But first!! A detour of epic proportions!!!
There is a lil brewery in the heart of Sr. Louis, Minnesota that also happens to distribute in Vero Beach, Florida. That brewery would be Summit Brewing. With a solid line of year-long brews and a growing arsenal of one-off releases from their Unchained Series means a long, profitable, and drinkable future I am more than happy to contribute to. May I have another, please and thank you.
With a sufficient collection of brewery pictures, I abandoned the frozen tundra for the warm sanctuary of the car. Bellies plumped and beervana still reverberating, I chilled at the house until sleep eventually overtook. In-between we watched the Steelers beat the Jets, then some Hawaii Five-O, and then some sleep. Sleep is good and before I knew it twas Monday morning and flying home. See y’all soon!
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Sunday, January 23, 2011
New Beer Reviews
The latest and greatest:
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
BEERtrekkin ~ Minneapolis Day 01
When I first woke up yesterday morning there wasn’t a temperature outside which I wasn’t sure to take as a portend of doom or a unique fluke of nature perpetuated my man’s want to categorize everything. Not a bad thing (usually) but definitely a point of amusement more times than not.
Still no luck on uploading the pics yet, but I will as soon as I can. With two days worth of pics to upload and turn into a slideshow and beer review pics to upload, resize, and edit, it’ll be a busy online time for sure. The sis has a nice Mac in their office that isn’t an issue. The issue is the fact that their Internet is Comcast and the router won’t recognize my laptop when I hook it up via a proper cable. Weird, yes I know.
Watching The Today Show as I type and they are doing a bit on legal moonshine. Mm… moonshine. At one time, even the finest single-malts, blends, whiskies, bourbons, and so forth were “moonshine”, a spirited beverage of maybe not so legal distillation. I am quite pleased though to report that as of today, all the above have flourished which is sweet tasty news to my tastebuds. even better, moonshine in all her old-school traditional corn-fed glory can be quite tasty as proven by the new modern boon of traditionalism, heritage, and innovation.
We were going to go to QFanatic for lunch yesterday but ultimately ended up at going to Burger Jones which had also made an appearance on Outrageous Foods. While we didn’t go for the Meat Challenge we definitely enjoyed our burgers and our beers. I was a bit let down based solely on how the Food Network pimped it out, but that’s also the difference between TV Goggles and reality. Speaking of reality, our Beer Battered Cheese Curds and our Royal Mounted Bacon Poutine were most tastetastic. The cheese curds melted in the mouth and the Bacon Poutine was much lighter than any of us were expecting (considering the bacon, cheese, and gravy contained within) which is good because we still had our burgers to snarf. Beer wise I tasted and savored a Surly CynicAle and rounded it off with some Knob Creek, neat, water on the side. Mm… bourbon. I’ve been craving a dram of something good and Burger Jones took care of that for me. Seeing as burgers are what Jones does, I went for The Hangover (minus the hot sauce), Jenn got the The Chubby Cheddar, and Josh got the El Cubano. All were good and mine was cooked to almost medium rare perfection.
If I may be honest here for a moment because I believe in honesty…
The burger meat was good but it wasn’t BrewGrrs burger meat good. Decent flavor but not bursting with it or melting in the mouth like butter as the BrewGrrs burgers due when cooked to perfection. Of course, perfection is an illusion but can also be a well-mannered goal to strive for so long as one keeps the previous notion in the forefront. My bacon was great as bacon always is and of course as a t-shirt whore I snagged one for myself: "Burger Jones: If you've got the shakes we've got the burgers."
Bwahahahahahaha!!!
And just to clarify, if it had been BrewGrrs good, than I would have gladly said so. As a burgundian tis my privilege, my duty, and my pleasure. In the meantime, ideas and inspiration abounds for when I get back home to my Love and my work.
Thanks to a random coupon in the mail, we stopped at a local L’Occitane shop so I could apprehend some 25% Shea Body Cream for my oh-so-dry legs. My skin has always been sensitive, so I am glad to finally find the most heavenly cream to make my legs happy.
Too much information?
You’ll get over it.
Let’s see… what else…
Ah yes.
As a beer geek ambassador extraordinaire, of course there was more beer shopping to do. No Pairings yet and I have decided not to since we made a random stop into France 44 Wine & Spirits, a liquor store around the Burger Jones area. Overall, pretty snappy. I didn’t bother browsing the spirits because that could have been deadly for my checking account. Seriously. As for beer, the mix & match 12oz singles were a mixed bag. I ended up with 5 bottles that range from kind of scary to I think it’ll be good. But hey, that’s what tasting beer is all about. I also grabbed some 22oz bombers, a few 750mls, and two very special magnums. The magnums? You’ll just have to check the slideshow below to see if you get a sneak peek. I could have gotten so much more, but control is a good thing if not always easy. This coming week has some very special days I want to be ready for and ready I will be.
Today’s stopover is going to be The Happy Gnome in St. Paul, the twin to Minneapolis and thus the name Twin Cities. The goal is to get there in time for brunch so shall see what happens. Either way, there will be food and there will be brews, brunch or lunch. Maybe even some t-shirts…
And so as the coffee starts to work her magic, Au Revoir my friends.
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Still no luck on uploading the pics yet, but I will as soon as I can. With two days worth of pics to upload and turn into a slideshow and beer review pics to upload, resize, and edit, it’ll be a busy online time for sure. The sis has a nice Mac in their office that isn’t an issue. The issue is the fact that their Internet is Comcast and the router won’t recognize my laptop when I hook it up via a proper cable. Weird, yes I know.
Watching The Today Show as I type and they are doing a bit on legal moonshine. Mm… moonshine. At one time, even the finest single-malts, blends, whiskies, bourbons, and so forth were “moonshine”, a spirited beverage of maybe not so legal distillation. I am quite pleased though to report that as of today, all the above have flourished which is sweet tasty news to my tastebuds. even better, moonshine in all her old-school traditional corn-fed glory can be quite tasty as proven by the new modern boon of traditionalism, heritage, and innovation.
We were going to go to QFanatic for lunch yesterday but ultimately ended up at going to Burger Jones which had also made an appearance on Outrageous Foods. While we didn’t go for the Meat Challenge we definitely enjoyed our burgers and our beers. I was a bit let down based solely on how the Food Network pimped it out, but that’s also the difference between TV Goggles and reality. Speaking of reality, our Beer Battered Cheese Curds and our Royal Mounted Bacon Poutine were most tastetastic. The cheese curds melted in the mouth and the Bacon Poutine was much lighter than any of us were expecting (considering the bacon, cheese, and gravy contained within) which is good because we still had our burgers to snarf. Beer wise I tasted and savored a Surly CynicAle and rounded it off with some Knob Creek, neat, water on the side. Mm… bourbon. I’ve been craving a dram of something good and Burger Jones took care of that for me. Seeing as burgers are what Jones does, I went for The Hangover (minus the hot sauce), Jenn got the The Chubby Cheddar, and Josh got the El Cubano. All were good and mine was cooked to almost medium rare perfection.
If I may be honest here for a moment because I believe in honesty…
The burger meat was good but it wasn’t BrewGrrs burger meat good. Decent flavor but not bursting with it or melting in the mouth like butter as the BrewGrrs burgers due when cooked to perfection. Of course, perfection is an illusion but can also be a well-mannered goal to strive for so long as one keeps the previous notion in the forefront. My bacon was great as bacon always is and of course as a t-shirt whore I snagged one for myself: "Burger Jones: If you've got the shakes we've got the burgers."
Bwahahahahahaha!!!
And just to clarify, if it had been BrewGrrs good, than I would have gladly said so. As a burgundian tis my privilege, my duty, and my pleasure. In the meantime, ideas and inspiration abounds for when I get back home to my Love and my work.
Thanks to a random coupon in the mail, we stopped at a local L’Occitane shop so I could apprehend some 25% Shea Body Cream for my oh-so-dry legs. My skin has always been sensitive, so I am glad to finally find the most heavenly cream to make my legs happy.
Too much information?
You’ll get over it.
Let’s see… what else…
Ah yes.
As a beer geek ambassador extraordinaire, of course there was more beer shopping to do. No Pairings yet and I have decided not to since we made a random stop into France 44 Wine & Spirits, a liquor store around the Burger Jones area. Overall, pretty snappy. I didn’t bother browsing the spirits because that could have been deadly for my checking account. Seriously. As for beer, the mix & match 12oz singles were a mixed bag. I ended up with 5 bottles that range from kind of scary to I think it’ll be good. But hey, that’s what tasting beer is all about. I also grabbed some 22oz bombers, a few 750mls, and two very special magnums. The magnums? You’ll just have to check the slideshow below to see if you get a sneak peek. I could have gotten so much more, but control is a good thing if not always easy. This coming week has some very special days I want to be ready for and ready I will be.
Today’s stopover is going to be The Happy Gnome in St. Paul, the twin to Minneapolis and thus the name Twin Cities. The goal is to get there in time for brunch so shall see what happens. Either way, there will be food and there will be brews, brunch or lunch. Maybe even some t-shirts…
And so as the coffee starts to work her magic, Au Revoir my friends.
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
New Beer Reviews
The latest and greatest:
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
- Brooklyn Brewery Cuvee Noire
- Shipyard Blue Fin Stout
- Surly Brewing Hell
- 21st Amendment Back In Black
- Pangaea Beer Company Lilja's Hop Nest Monster
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
BEERtrekkin ~ Independence, MO to Minneapolis, MN
Made the final leg of our trip safe and sound and in the most snow out of the whole road trip. Nothing blizzardesque thankfully but it can still be nerve-wracking, especially when one has to worry as much if not more about the idiots in cars, trucks, and semis surrounding you. All’s well that ends well though and this morning I am snug as a bug inside while outside awaits the eventual adventure into WHITE.
I must say we got our trip started off quite well in Independence, Missouri with a stop into Happy Hour, a liquor store Jenn was savvy enough to locate via some kind of iPhone app (I don’t ask how - I just accept) and as soon as I stepped inside (after snapping a pic, of course) and wandered back to the beer section, bliss was found in the form of a beertastic 12oz singles selection. Even better, all were very reasonably priced. I did snag one 750ml bottle of tasty brew: the Boulevard Smokestack Series Long Strange Tripel. I could have gone even more beercrazy but I kept in mind 1) space in the car…aka lack thereof and 2) more beertopia shopping trips once in Minneapolis and so I left with a significant and perfectly proportioned stash.
I think it was a good thing that this was the last leg of the trip. Sitting in a car chair for hours on end is fun for no one, especially babies but all-in-all, Lily was a super trooper….minus the aliens and guns and co-ed shower rooms of course.
So, how did the last Residence Inn measure up against the other? The Internet was by far the best I mooched in all three nights, but the food and service was the least impressive. Nothing bad or horrendous but certainly nothing that would inspire me to frequent Residence Inns on a regular basis. Now, the Residence Inn in Paducah was another story. 6 Star service and hands down the best hotel provided dinner I have ever and may ever eat. Ever. What was it? Melt-in-your mouth brisket. That’s right, brisket so tender butter would melt in shame. Add to that crocked and seasoned corn, potatoes both stewed and baked, and a salad… yeah, twas that good.
To digress for a moment…
Ya know, in comparison to my first couple BEERtreks this trip, I would definitely say that the muse is back and the rust has worn off. This is good because I have at least one BEERflection to tackle this weekend before the Terrapin Dinner at Broken Barrel Tavern on Tuesday and the Field of Beers on Friday, both shared with my Lovely of course.
And now back to our regularly scheduled vacation programming…
I quipped about it on FaceBook briefly but let me delve a wee bit deeper into the phenomenon known as the Rest Area. Yes, you read me right: Rest Area. Apparently the concept of all-in-one does not include this road trip necessity whilst driving through Iowa. On multiple occasions we came across the promising blue sign of restroom relief but nay oh weary bladder-laden traveler. All is not necessarily well in your world of relief. If one should stumble across just a Rest Stop, then prepare to stretch those legs and use those muscles to dig yourself a hole. That's right, an outhouse without the house or the out. Apparently tis only for those who feel like stopping in freezing cold weather with snow all around and no desire to brave the frigid air while there is no sign of warm sanctuary. But wait! All is not lost! Should one travel farther, than the beacon of a Modern Rest Area will grace one's presence. As one creeps upon this hopeful utopia of heated covered sequestered rest and relief, don’t get your hopes up. Is there shelter? Yes. Is it heated (and in the summer cooled)? Yes. Is it bigger than your living room? Sure didn’t look like it. Blink once and you see it, blink twice and poof! It’s gone. Ay caramba.
Also of amusement were a few choice road signs and one gas station in particular named (I kid you not) Kum & Go. Obviously named by a member of the male species. As the sis and I were musing over this quaint choice of words, what should appear but an exit side for Manly Forest City. Wow… in sharing the gas station particulars with Mike and Paula, Mike quipped that it used to be spelled with a “C” and 'Oh How Times Have Changed'. Suffice to say, I love my friends.
As the night waned, my Love texted me about a couple shows she had watched on Food Network. DDD featured QFanatic in Minneapolis, a pretty outrageous (so it seems) BBQ joint with a multitude of sauces, the most popular of which is their Espresso Sauce. Color me hungrily intrigued so I do believe that will be a burgundian destination this weekend. Also on TV was Outrageous Food which featured Burger Jones, a burger joint also in (ta-dah!) Minneapolis. As I lounged on the couch under a warm chocolate hued fuzzy blanket, I got to watch the very DDD and Outrageous Foods my Love had texted me about. Suffice to say, she knows me very well. XOXO.
Some veggie bites in the tummy and a couple more Sweetwater 420, sleep crept in and the eyes slid shut. Last thing I remember was...
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
I must say we got our trip started off quite well in Independence, Missouri with a stop into Happy Hour, a liquor store Jenn was savvy enough to locate via some kind of iPhone app (I don’t ask how - I just accept) and as soon as I stepped inside (after snapping a pic, of course) and wandered back to the beer section, bliss was found in the form of a beertastic 12oz singles selection. Even better, all were very reasonably priced. I did snag one 750ml bottle of tasty brew: the Boulevard Smokestack Series Long Strange Tripel. I could have gone even more beercrazy but I kept in mind 1) space in the car…aka lack thereof and 2) more beertopia shopping trips once in Minneapolis and so I left with a significant and perfectly proportioned stash.
I think it was a good thing that this was the last leg of the trip. Sitting in a car chair for hours on end is fun for no one, especially babies but all-in-all, Lily was a super trooper….minus the aliens and guns and co-ed shower rooms of course.
So, how did the last Residence Inn measure up against the other? The Internet was by far the best I mooched in all three nights, but the food and service was the least impressive. Nothing bad or horrendous but certainly nothing that would inspire me to frequent Residence Inns on a regular basis. Now, the Residence Inn in Paducah was another story. 6 Star service and hands down the best hotel provided dinner I have ever and may ever eat. Ever. What was it? Melt-in-your mouth brisket. That’s right, brisket so tender butter would melt in shame. Add to that crocked and seasoned corn, potatoes both stewed and baked, and a salad… yeah, twas that good.
To digress for a moment…
Ya know, in comparison to my first couple BEERtreks this trip, I would definitely say that the muse is back and the rust has worn off. This is good because I have at least one BEERflection to tackle this weekend before the Terrapin Dinner at Broken Barrel Tavern on Tuesday and the Field of Beers on Friday, both shared with my Lovely of course.
And now back to our regularly scheduled vacation programming…
I quipped about it on FaceBook briefly but let me delve a wee bit deeper into the phenomenon known as the Rest Area. Yes, you read me right: Rest Area. Apparently the concept of all-in-one does not include this road trip necessity whilst driving through Iowa. On multiple occasions we came across the promising blue sign of restroom relief but nay oh weary bladder-laden traveler. All is not necessarily well in your world of relief. If one should stumble across just a Rest Stop, then prepare to stretch those legs and use those muscles to dig yourself a hole. That's right, an outhouse without the house or the out. Apparently tis only for those who feel like stopping in freezing cold weather with snow all around and no desire to brave the frigid air while there is no sign of warm sanctuary. But wait! All is not lost! Should one travel farther, than the beacon of a Modern Rest Area will grace one's presence. As one creeps upon this hopeful utopia of heated covered sequestered rest and relief, don’t get your hopes up. Is there shelter? Yes. Is it heated (and in the summer cooled)? Yes. Is it bigger than your living room? Sure didn’t look like it. Blink once and you see it, blink twice and poof! It’s gone. Ay caramba.
Also of amusement were a few choice road signs and one gas station in particular named (I kid you not) Kum & Go. Obviously named by a member of the male species. As the sis and I were musing over this quaint choice of words, what should appear but an exit side for Manly Forest City. Wow… in sharing the gas station particulars with Mike and Paula, Mike quipped that it used to be spelled with a “C” and 'Oh How Times Have Changed'. Suffice to say, I love my friends.
As the night waned, my Love texted me about a couple shows she had watched on Food Network. DDD featured QFanatic in Minneapolis, a pretty outrageous (so it seems) BBQ joint with a multitude of sauces, the most popular of which is their Espresso Sauce. Color me hungrily intrigued so I do believe that will be a burgundian destination this weekend. Also on TV was Outrageous Food which featured Burger Jones, a burger joint also in (ta-dah!) Minneapolis. As I lounged on the couch under a warm chocolate hued fuzzy blanket, I got to watch the very DDD and Outrageous Foods my Love had texted me about. Suffice to say, she knows me very well. XOXO.
Some veggie bites in the tummy and a couple more Sweetwater 420, sleep crept in and the eyes slid shut. Last thing I remember was...
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Friday, January 21, 2011
BEERtrekkin ~ Paducah, KY to Independence, MO
As I rise and shine to the immediate emergency of COFFEE as the pot starts to percolate and brew and the eyes start to crack free of their crusty shell, a sneak peek at the outside reveals white. Lots of white.
NEWS FLASH!!
It is currently -19* Celsius (OHMYGAWD!) in Minneapolis, my destination of choice for the weekend. Say it with me now:
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Brr!
Yesterday was a rather eventful uneventful drive. The morning started with a few hours’ drive through wet slushy snow where I gladly let the sis take control. It’s been years since I lived in Eugene, Oregon and even while I was there snow was not an issue. Eventually though, the sky cleared and it was a brilliant white as the sun shone upon us. In fact, the skies seemed to open up right in time for St. Louis. As I was passing through, this beer geek pondered the irony of driving by the Busch Stadium, a plethora of Budweiser billboards, and on our way out, the Spirit of St. Louis Airstrip. One can say all they want about the Busch family dynasty and Budweiser (goodness knows I have some choice words on a regular occasion thanks to my unique locale) but there is more than the bluff and bluster behind this American version of what amounts to a Royal Family, or at the very least, Gentility.
But I digress.
...right on into the fact that from the interstate St. Louis looked like a really cool old city to visit with much more downtown than both Jenn and I were expecting. Cool church steeples. Old grain silos. Amphitheaters. Museums. And so much more I am sure I was oblivious to or have forgotten by now.
On the outskirts of St. Louis (called Chesterfield) is where we stopped for some lunch, leg stretch, and Lily playtime. A Chic-Fil-A was handily handy and I have to say that it was the best Chic-Fil-A I have ever been in. Ever. In fact, the person-to-person service of a kind lady was some of the best service I have had in restaurants/food service establishments in my 33 years. Before we left, she gifted Lily with a little stuffed Chic-Fil-A moo-cow to snuggle and play with. Yay. On the way out I stopped in a beer bar with the hope that it was a brewpub and…hope crushed. Not a brewpub by any means and after scoping out the inside and the menu, not really much of anything. Meh.
I’d also like to comment on a trend I have found amusingly disturbing: strip clubs and adult stores.
The trend? The sheer number of them we have driven across.
Now, I realize this is Middle America which in and of itself isn’t derogatory or insulting, it’s just a geographical location. But the prevalence of towns in the middle of nowhere, literally, with the closest hustle and bustle an easy hour’s drive away, it does beg to question just what there is to do with the monstrous amount of personal free time.
I’m just saying…
Lily and Skyler have been major troopers with really only a couple fussy moments, yesterday late afternoon/early evening being one. A scary wake up called for a pull-over in a small un-named town where the Post Office we stopped at was smaller than my apartment. Literally. No, really. And in the short amount of time we spent there idling in the parking lot, a cute lil doggie with a curly tail and fluffy fur hung around the car antagonizing Skyler much to his barky amusement. Eventually we had to head on our way with Independence, Missouri on the near horizon.
Before I wrap up my BEERtrek for the day, I want to say Thank You and I Love You to my lady. You’re on my mind and in my heart 24-7 and I couldn’t be any luckier and loved for it. See you soon *kisses*
This is Kristyn Lier, the Beer Ambassador of The Free World signing off until next time (i.e. tomorrow morning). Beers!
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
NEWS FLASH!!
It is currently -19* Celsius (OHMYGAWD!) in Minneapolis, my destination of choice for the weekend. Say it with me now:
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!! Brr!
Yesterday was a rather eventful uneventful drive. The morning started with a few hours’ drive through wet slushy snow where I gladly let the sis take control. It’s been years since I lived in Eugene, Oregon and even while I was there snow was not an issue. Eventually though, the sky cleared and it was a brilliant white as the sun shone upon us. In fact, the skies seemed to open up right in time for St. Louis. As I was passing through, this beer geek pondered the irony of driving by the Busch Stadium, a plethora of Budweiser billboards, and on our way out, the Spirit of St. Louis Airstrip. One can say all they want about the Busch family dynasty and Budweiser (goodness knows I have some choice words on a regular occasion thanks to my unique locale) but there is more than the bluff and bluster behind this American version of what amounts to a Royal Family, or at the very least, Gentility.
But I digress.
...right on into the fact that from the interstate St. Louis looked like a really cool old city to visit with much more downtown than both Jenn and I were expecting. Cool church steeples. Old grain silos. Amphitheaters. Museums. And so much more I am sure I was oblivious to or have forgotten by now.
On the outskirts of St. Louis (called Chesterfield) is where we stopped for some lunch, leg stretch, and Lily playtime. A Chic-Fil-A was handily handy and I have to say that it was the best Chic-Fil-A I have ever been in. Ever. In fact, the person-to-person service of a kind lady was some of the best service I have had in restaurants/food service establishments in my 33 years. Before we left, she gifted Lily with a little stuffed Chic-Fil-A moo-cow to snuggle and play with. Yay. On the way out I stopped in a beer bar with the hope that it was a brewpub and…hope crushed. Not a brewpub by any means and after scoping out the inside and the menu, not really much of anything. Meh.
I’d also like to comment on a trend I have found amusingly disturbing: strip clubs and adult stores.
The trend? The sheer number of them we have driven across.
Now, I realize this is Middle America which in and of itself isn’t derogatory or insulting, it’s just a geographical location. But the prevalence of towns in the middle of nowhere, literally, with the closest hustle and bustle an easy hour’s drive away, it does beg to question just what there is to do with the monstrous amount of personal free time.
I’m just saying…
Lily and Skyler have been major troopers with really only a couple fussy moments, yesterday late afternoon/early evening being one. A scary wake up called for a pull-over in a small un-named town where the Post Office we stopped at was smaller than my apartment. Literally. No, really. And in the short amount of time we spent there idling in the parking lot, a cute lil doggie with a curly tail and fluffy fur hung around the car antagonizing Skyler much to his barky amusement. Eventually we had to head on our way with Independence, Missouri on the near horizon.
Before I wrap up my BEERtrek for the day, I want to say Thank You and I Love You to my lady. You’re on my mind and in my heart 24-7 and I couldn’t be any luckier and loved for it. See you soon *kisses*
This is Kristyn Lier, the Beer Ambassador of The Free World signing off until next time (i.e. tomorrow morning). Beers!
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
WOB Viera News
Left Hand Brewery Night!
This Tuesday, January 25th at 7 pm, is Left Hand Brewery Night. We will have an extensive line up of great beers. Some new and some favorites will on draft. The line up includes Sawtooth Nitro, Oak Aged Imperial Stout, Fade to Back Volume 2, Wake Up Dead, Haystack Wheat, Postar Pils and more. We will also feature bottles. For more information click here. See you Tuesday!
Florida Brew Party!
Florida Brewery is back with their full line up of drafts. We will be featuring Swamp Ape IPA, Florida Lager, the Sunset series and the Hurricane series. Representation from the brewery will be here at 7 pm. Come by and support our local brewery!
The Big Game!
Come watch football on Sunday February 6th, its time to party for the Big Game! $1 off all drafts from 4-11 pm. Wear your logo of the team that scores and receive a free beer shot. We will have complimentary food starting at 4 pm provided by the Lakins. Start your pregame party here! Click here for flyer.
Musician Audition Night!
We are still looking for great local talent to play at our establishment! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested in to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
New Drafts
Live Music This Week
This Tuesday, January 25th at 7 pm, is Left Hand Brewery Night. We will have an extensive line up of great beers. Some new and some favorites will on draft. The line up includes Sawtooth Nitro, Oak Aged Imperial Stout, Fade to Back Volume 2, Wake Up Dead, Haystack Wheat, Postar Pils and more. We will also feature bottles. For more information click here. See you Tuesday!
Florida Brew Party!
Florida Brewery is back with their full line up of drafts. We will be featuring Swamp Ape IPA, Florida Lager, the Sunset series and the Hurricane series. Representation from the brewery will be here at 7 pm. Come by and support our local brewery!
The Big Game!
Come watch football on Sunday February 6th, its time to party for the Big Game! $1 off all drafts from 4-11 pm. Wear your logo of the team that scores and receive a free beer shot. We will have complimentary food starting at 4 pm provided by the Lakins. Start your pregame party here! Click here for flyer.
Musician Audition Night!
We are still looking for great local talent to play at our establishment! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested in to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
- Baltika Zhiguljovskoje, 4% (Russia)
- Lagunitas The Hairy Eyeball, 8.8% (California)
- Left Hand Fade to Black Volume 2, 7.8% (Colorado)
New Drafts
- Avery Salvation, 9% (Colorado)
- Flying Dog Doggie Style Classic Pale Ale, 5.5% (Maryland)
- Harpoon 100 Barrel Series: #34 (Oaked Aged Dunkel), 5.7% (Massachusetts)
- Peak Organic Espresso Amber Ale, 6.8% (Maine)
- Rogue XS Old Crustacean, 11.5% (Oregon)
Live Music This Week
- Thursday - James Johnson
- Friday - Christian Wilson Duo
- Saturday - Dave Townsley
Cigar City Brew News
Hunahpu Day Hotel link
Here is a link for those who would like to book a room at our "host hotel" for the night of the Hunaphu Release Day celebration:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/T/TPAAHHF-CCB311-20110311/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
In other news, we will be hosting a number of local are home brew clubs during the celebration. If you have ever thought about brewing your own but just have been reluctant to take the plunge these are the guys to talk to! They will be on hand with samples of their own brews, and love to answer questions and hear what you think about their own handcrafted beers. We all started the same way, 5 gallons at a time we're sure you will enjoy all these clubs have to offer.
We have been getting together food options for the day and are happy to announce our first vendor; Taco Bus will be here serving up tacos and some of their other specialties. This definitely saves us a trip since we would want to head there sometime during the day anyways, somehow those tacos and our beers go hand in hand we just usually usually don't get to enjoy them together. We are still talking to a few other vendors and know you will like what we come up with as far as variety and pairing up with all the great beers that will be available!
As always there will be more info to come and we will keep you posted!
Asian Saison is now pouring in the tasting room this complex medium bodied, golden colored ale has the edition of toasted Nori (seaweed) and Chinese 5 spice for an interesting complexity and flavor profile not really like anything we've ever brewed! Thanks to Ben and Wayne for that one! It's limited so get it quick, who knows if we will revisit this one again anytime soon or not.
Cheers!
The CCB Crew
Here is a link for those who would like to book a room at our "host hotel" for the night of the Hunaphu Release Day celebration:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/T/TPAAHHF-CCB311-20110311/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
In other news, we will be hosting a number of local are home brew clubs during the celebration. If you have ever thought about brewing your own but just have been reluctant to take the plunge these are the guys to talk to! They will be on hand with samples of their own brews, and love to answer questions and hear what you think about their own handcrafted beers. We all started the same way, 5 gallons at a time we're sure you will enjoy all these clubs have to offer.
We have been getting together food options for the day and are happy to announce our first vendor; Taco Bus will be here serving up tacos and some of their other specialties. This definitely saves us a trip since we would want to head there sometime during the day anyways, somehow those tacos and our beers go hand in hand we just usually usually don't get to enjoy them together. We are still talking to a few other vendors and know you will like what we come up with as far as variety and pairing up with all the great beers that will be available!
As always there will be more info to come and we will keep you posted!
Asian Saison is now pouring in the tasting room this complex medium bodied, golden colored ale has the edition of toasted Nori (seaweed) and Chinese 5 spice for an interesting complexity and flavor profile not really like anything we've ever brewed! Thanks to Ben and Wayne for that one! It's limited so get it quick, who knows if we will revisit this one again anytime soon or not.
Cheers!
The CCB Crew
BEERtrekkin ~ Atlanta, GA to Paducah, KY
Well, made it safe and sound on the second leg of our trip yesterday to land at a Residence Inn Marriott in Paducah, Kentucky. Never did come across the town of Paint Lick but maybe next time. Instead, I awoke around 8 o’clock this morning to look out my window and see snow.
Snow snow snow and more snow.
It’s coming down quite nicely though nothing like a full on snow storm or blizzard which would surely crimp our plans. Phew! Of course, the first thing I did was send a picture message to my Lovely followed by a few camera pics and a post on FaceBook. Gotta stay connected, after all.
Our destination today is Independence, Missouri which is also going to be cold and snowy. In a way the whiteness is pretty…so long as one remembers that it only stays a nice pure snowy white for about a minute. Then it turns muddy mucky and downright yucky.
Our lunch stop was a McDonalds in Manchester, Tennessee where we stopped and munched on some awesome chicken salad from Chelsea’s in Vero Beach (sorry Ronald) and Lily ran around the gargantuan play room with some other kids. We munched, we ran, we chased, and we climbed stairs. It was pretty darn cool, yes indeed. I’d like to embellish the rest of our days drive but really it was rather laid back and relaxing which after such a long drive the day before twas a nice change.
I drove the second half again which has been working out quite nicely while in the mornings I have been catching up on my reading. I think I’ll save the couple BEERflections I haven’t had a chance to write about yet for when I’m at Jenn’s; that way I can print out my final proof before posting. I’ve finish Beer Is Proof That God Loves Us and have Dethroning the King to start next followed by Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern. After those I have in no particular order: Great Beers: 700 of the Best From Around the World, Amber Gold & Black: The History of Britain’s Great Beers, and the newest edition of Images of America: Indian River County. Bwahahahaha! Think I’ll have them all read by the time I return home? I’ll be taking bets later today…
Still have some 420 Pale Ale from Sweetwater which I have been instructed by Josh to save a couple bottles for him. I guess I can do that…
I’ve been making sure I take my Juice Plus veggies and fruits every morning for which I owe hugs n snuggles n kisses to my Lovely for making sure I am healthy, wealthy, and wise. I even remembered to hang up my wet bras last night so I’d have clean DRY bras to wear from here on out. Is that too much information? Meh. Whatever I say. We’re all adult human beings so our under-clothes should come as no surprise…unless you’re a hermit recluse extraordinaire.
I also figure by the time we get to Minneapolis I’ll have all my beer reviews caught up…except for on RateBeer but RB is an easy copy&paste so I think I’ll get that all caught so each subsequent beer review is a trilogy of beerotica. Mm…beerotica. *kisses for Lovely*
I do have one complaint about this particular Residence Inn Marriott: their craptastic internet connection. Between the wireless and the cable, I am sad to report that both suck. For a business stopover (especially long-term) how the heck am I supposed to conduct my business when I can’t do 95% of what I want and need to do online cause they don’t know how to set-up and proffer internet?! Sheesh! What century is this again? So if the slideshow for today isn’t up until tomorrow and/or later tonight, now you know why.
And so it goes. I’m clean and dressed as best as I can for the wintry white outside. Until next time, beer out!
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. pagiarism is not tolerated)
Snow snow snow and more snow.
It’s coming down quite nicely though nothing like a full on snow storm or blizzard which would surely crimp our plans. Phew! Of course, the first thing I did was send a picture message to my Lovely followed by a few camera pics and a post on FaceBook. Gotta stay connected, after all.
Our destination today is Independence, Missouri which is also going to be cold and snowy. In a way the whiteness is pretty…so long as one remembers that it only stays a nice pure snowy white for about a minute. Then it turns muddy mucky and downright yucky.
Our lunch stop was a McDonalds in Manchester, Tennessee where we stopped and munched on some awesome chicken salad from Chelsea’s in Vero Beach (sorry Ronald) and Lily ran around the gargantuan play room with some other kids. We munched, we ran, we chased, and we climbed stairs. It was pretty darn cool, yes indeed. I’d like to embellish the rest of our days drive but really it was rather laid back and relaxing which after such a long drive the day before twas a nice change.
I drove the second half again which has been working out quite nicely while in the mornings I have been catching up on my reading. I think I’ll save the couple BEERflections I haven’t had a chance to write about yet for when I’m at Jenn’s; that way I can print out my final proof before posting. I’ve finish Beer Is Proof That God Loves Us and have Dethroning the King to start next followed by Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern. After those I have in no particular order: Great Beers: 700 of the Best From Around the World, Amber Gold & Black: The History of Britain’s Great Beers, and the newest edition of Images of America: Indian River County. Bwahahahaha! Think I’ll have them all read by the time I return home? I’ll be taking bets later today…
Still have some 420 Pale Ale from Sweetwater which I have been instructed by Josh to save a couple bottles for him. I guess I can do that…
I’ve been making sure I take my Juice Plus veggies and fruits every morning for which I owe hugs n snuggles n kisses to my Lovely for making sure I am healthy, wealthy, and wise. I even remembered to hang up my wet bras last night so I’d have clean DRY bras to wear from here on out. Is that too much information? Meh. Whatever I say. We’re all adult human beings so our under-clothes should come as no surprise…unless you’re a hermit recluse extraordinaire.
I also figure by the time we get to Minneapolis I’ll have all my beer reviews caught up…except for on RateBeer but RB is an easy copy&paste so I think I’ll get that all caught so each subsequent beer review is a trilogy of beerotica. Mm…beerotica. *kisses for Lovely*
I do have one complaint about this particular Residence Inn Marriott: their craptastic internet connection. Between the wireless and the cable, I am sad to report that both suck. For a business stopover (especially long-term) how the heck am I supposed to conduct my business when I can’t do 95% of what I want and need to do online cause they don’t know how to set-up and proffer internet?! Sheesh! What century is this again? So if the slideshow for today isn’t up until tomorrow and/or later tonight, now you know why.
And so it goes. I’m clean and dressed as best as I can for the wintry white outside. Until next time, beer out!
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. pagiarism is not tolerated)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
New Beer Reviews
The latest and greatest:
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
- Lost Abbey Veritas 2008
- Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 2005
- Bells Winter White
- Southern Tier Old Man Winter Ale
- The Bruery 3 French Hens
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
BEERtrekkin ~ Vero Beach, FL to Atlanta, GA
As I rub the sleepies out of my eyes and tune into the Today Show, I can smell the coffee percolating and feel awakeness slowly spreading through my body. Of course, once I get a couple cups into me than I’ll be even more awake. Sis and the Munchkin are sleeping still, Skyler too. As for yesterday’s road trip from Vero Beach to Atlanta, I have little to report other than good show. Miss Lily and Skyler were super-troopers and though our departure from the house was later than planned (perfect worlds are over-rated) time made was still good. I drove the second half of the trip except for Atlanta – scary roads – while Jenn drove the first half. I’m not a good morning driver so the arrangement works great.
My Lovely took care of my baby, Mr. D, in the afternoon. She sent me a pic of Mr. Kitty with Hello Kitty sitting on my bed which didn't register at first and then...
Uh-Oh!
Kristyn forgot her Hello Kitty hat which meant a cold head. Cold heads are a no-no. Target to the rescue in Macon where we stretched legs and I grabbed a pink hat, some Hello Kitty bling, and yes, some beer. What beer? A twelve-pack of Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale. Ahhhh, the beer ambassador is officially Beertrekkin now. Room in the car is limited so the 12 pack will have to last me until Minneapolis, but that’s ok. In the meantime, where will Hello Kitty be today? Only time and some candid camera shots will tell.
Ooh! Coffee is done.
~sssssssip~
Ahhh. Much better.
Our destination today is Paducah, Kentucky where Kristyn may just do a wee smidge of beer shopping. Maybe. Not sure how well beer would do strapped to the roof of the car and I don’t think Skyler would appreciate being displaced from his snug-as-a-bug spot in the back seat. Last road trip with my sis and munchkin, I road in the back whereas this trip I get to ride in the front.
I miss my lovely tons, but I am also heartened to know that home awaits when my Beertrek is over. There is not a moment you are not on my mind, love, so to you {hugs} and *kisses*.
A few memorable moments stand out so far on our Beertrek. One in particular is a beautiful truth in advertising, something marketers the world over could learn from. After all, who can argue with multiple billboard signs that declare “STRIPPERS! NEED WE SAY MORE?”. Why no, I don’t think you do need to say more. Another point of amusement was a billboard I spotted heading into Atlanta which declared “NEED HAIR? 404-GET-HAIR”. Once more a winning strike for the oft neglected truth in advertisement.
MORNING FLASH!!!!
I am checking WeatherChannel.com for what to expect on this leg of our trip and I am amused to announce that yes, there is a town in Kentucky called ‘Paint Lick’. I’m not sure I want to know…and yet, I do. But getting back to the weather. Looks like it’s going to a balmy 39 degrees at its hottest and 30 at its lowest with a chance of light snow.
SNOW?!
Yes, Kristyn, you’re not in Florida anymore. Thankfully I have jeans, undershirts, long sleeve shirts, a hat, gloves, and a puffy winter jacket to keep me warm. Relatively. Maybe. Kinda. Sorta.
I have one more question for Georgia before bon voyage and soyonara: what’s the point of removing pay phones from your visitor center when you still leave the big blue pay-phone sign along with the big blue pay-phone boxes? I'm just saying...
And so as the coffee slowly works its way through my veins and the eyes grow a little less blurry, tis time to call it a day until tomorrow morning. Thank you and good day.
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
My Lovely took care of my baby, Mr. D, in the afternoon. She sent me a pic of Mr. Kitty with Hello Kitty sitting on my bed which didn't register at first and then...
Uh-Oh!
Kristyn forgot her Hello Kitty hat which meant a cold head. Cold heads are a no-no. Target to the rescue in Macon where we stretched legs and I grabbed a pink hat, some Hello Kitty bling, and yes, some beer. What beer? A twelve-pack of Sweetwater 420 Pale Ale. Ahhhh, the beer ambassador is officially Beertrekkin now. Room in the car is limited so the 12 pack will have to last me until Minneapolis, but that’s ok. In the meantime, where will Hello Kitty be today? Only time and some candid camera shots will tell.
Ooh! Coffee is done.
~sssssssip~
Ahhh. Much better.
Our destination today is Paducah, Kentucky where Kristyn may just do a wee smidge of beer shopping. Maybe. Not sure how well beer would do strapped to the roof of the car and I don’t think Skyler would appreciate being displaced from his snug-as-a-bug spot in the back seat. Last road trip with my sis and munchkin, I road in the back whereas this trip I get to ride in the front.
I miss my lovely tons, but I am also heartened to know that home awaits when my Beertrek is over. There is not a moment you are not on my mind, love, so to you {hugs} and *kisses*.
A few memorable moments stand out so far on our Beertrek. One in particular is a beautiful truth in advertising, something marketers the world over could learn from. After all, who can argue with multiple billboard signs that declare “STRIPPERS! NEED WE SAY MORE?”. Why no, I don’t think you do need to say more. Another point of amusement was a billboard I spotted heading into Atlanta which declared “NEED HAIR? 404-GET-HAIR”. Once more a winning strike for the oft neglected truth in advertisement.
MORNING FLASH!!!!
I am checking WeatherChannel.com for what to expect on this leg of our trip and I am amused to announce that yes, there is a town in Kentucky called ‘Paint Lick’. I’m not sure I want to know…and yet, I do. But getting back to the weather. Looks like it’s going to a balmy 39 degrees at its hottest and 30 at its lowest with a chance of light snow.
SNOW?!
Yes, Kristyn, you’re not in Florida anymore. Thankfully I have jeans, undershirts, long sleeve shirts, a hat, gloves, and a puffy winter jacket to keep me warm. Relatively. Maybe. Kinda. Sorta.
I have one more question for Georgia before bon voyage and soyonara: what’s the point of removing pay phones from your visitor center when you still leave the big blue pay-phone sign along with the big blue pay-phone boxes? I'm just saying...
And so as the coffee slowly works its way through my veins and the eyes grow a little less blurry, tis time to call it a day until tomorrow morning. Thank you and good day.
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Cigar City Brew News
Join us for the 2nd release of Hunahpu Imperial Stout!
Date: March 12th
Time: festivities start at noon and run until midnight
Place: Cigar City Brewing, of course!
With the popularity of this yearly release which also happens to be one of our very favorite products we decided to make it a day long party this year! Enjoy music from local artists, a diverse mix of food, and of course a lot of great beer thrown in the mix. The party will spill out into the parking lot, and we are getting plans underway to raise a festival tent and assemble multiple bars with a larger variety of beers than was available last year!
We will be updating the blog with tap lists and food vendors as we get everything more concrete and ready to go. Expect an eclectic array of tastes and flavors from near and far, we've already been collecting beers for this occasion and they're still coming.
Bottles of Hunahpu Mayan Chocolate Imperial Stout will go on sale at 6pm, wristbands will be handed out to the first 750 people who want to be assured their bottles beginning at noon. There will be roughly 3000 bottles for this year's release and the limit will be 4 bottles per person initially with surplus being sold at no limit after everyone who wants to purchase initially has been able to do so.
Music will include Have Gun WIll Travel, Worldwide Zoo, and more to be announced!
*Hotel Info*
Since we know there will be a lot of people coming from far away, we have set up a block of rooms at the Hilton very close by; about a 10 minute walk, 2 minute drive and there is a shuttle as well we may be able to take over at some point if they let us.
Here is the hotel info and address:
We should have a link by next week which we will post that will take you directly to the reservations page from our site/blog but if you would like to get your reservation in before then you can call the hotel and give them the booking code "CCB311".
More info to come as we progress, it's getting exciting for us as we prepare. We hope to see everyone here for it!
Cheers!
The CCB Crew
Date: March 12th
Time: festivities start at noon and run until midnight
Place: Cigar City Brewing, of course!
With the popularity of this yearly release which also happens to be one of our very favorite products we decided to make it a day long party this year! Enjoy music from local artists, a diverse mix of food, and of course a lot of great beer thrown in the mix. The party will spill out into the parking lot, and we are getting plans underway to raise a festival tent and assemble multiple bars with a larger variety of beers than was available last year!
We will be updating the blog with tap lists and food vendors as we get everything more concrete and ready to go. Expect an eclectic array of tastes and flavors from near and far, we've already been collecting beers for this occasion and they're still coming.
Bottles of Hunahpu Mayan Chocolate Imperial Stout will go on sale at 6pm, wristbands will be handed out to the first 750 people who want to be assured their bottles beginning at noon. There will be roughly 3000 bottles for this year's release and the limit will be 4 bottles per person initially with surplus being sold at no limit after everyone who wants to purchase initially has been able to do so.
Music will include Have Gun WIll Travel, Worldwide Zoo, and more to be announced!
*Hotel Info*
Since we know there will be a lot of people coming from far away, we have set up a block of rooms at the Hilton very close by; about a 10 minute walk, 2 minute drive and there is a shuttle as well we may be able to take over at some point if they let us.
Here is the hotel info and address:
Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore Hotel
2225 N. Lois Avenue
Tampa Fl. 33607
813-877-6688
Rate $94.00 per night plus tax
We should have a link by next week which we will post that will take you directly to the reservations page from our site/blog but if you would like to get your reservation in before then you can call the hotel and give them the booking code "CCB311".
More info to come as we progress, it's getting exciting for us as we prepare. We hope to see everyone here for it!
Cheers!
The CCB Crew
Thursday, January 13, 2011
WOB Viera News
Customer Appreciation
This Sunday, January 16, come watch the playoffs at WOB because it is Customer Appreciation Day! We are having a seafood boil and hush puppies provided by the Lakins. So grab a beer, some food and watch football at WOB. Click here for more information.
Left Hand Brewery Night!
On Tuesday, January 25th at 6pm. We will be featuring Left Hand Brewery from Colorado. We will have an extensive line up of great beers. Some new and some favorites will on draft. We have three beers that have never been on draft. Keep reading your newletters for the complete line up when we get closer to the date!
Thank you!
We want to give a special thank you to Sean, Matt and Kip from our local home brewers club for the successful Beer 101 class. Keep reading your newsletters because we are planning another class in March. We will be sharing the beer that was brewed last Saturday. Thanks again guys!
Musician Audition Night!
We are still looking for great local talent to play at our establishment! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested in to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
New Drafts
Live Music This Week
This Sunday, January 16, come watch the playoffs at WOB because it is Customer Appreciation Day! We are having a seafood boil and hush puppies provided by the Lakins. So grab a beer, some food and watch football at WOB. Click here for more information.
Left Hand Brewery Night!
On Tuesday, January 25th at 6pm. We will be featuring Left Hand Brewery from Colorado. We will have an extensive line up of great beers. Some new and some favorites will on draft. We have three beers that have never been on draft. Keep reading your newletters for the complete line up when we get closer to the date!
Thank you!
We want to give a special thank you to Sean, Matt and Kip from our local home brewers club for the successful Beer 101 class. Keep reading your newsletters because we are planning another class in March. We will be sharing the beer that was brewed last Saturday. Thanks again guys!
Musician Audition Night!
We are still looking for great local talent to play at our establishment! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested in to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
- Fort Collins Colorado Common Ground, 5.6% (Colorado)
- New England Wet Willy, 10.5% (Massachusetts)
- Smisje Kerst, 11% (Belgium)
New Drafts
- Anderson Valley Hop Ottin IPA, 7% (California)
- Orlando Brewing Organic Pale Ale, 6.3% (Florida)
- Smuttynose Robust Porter, 5.7% (new Hampshire)
Live Music This Week
- Thursday - Billy Chapman
- Friday - Lewis Rex
- Saturday - C-Lane & Beav
Sunday, January 09, 2011
New Beer Reviews
The latest and greatest:
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
- Cidrerie Michel Jodoin Cider de Glace Rose
- Alpine Beer Company Token Porter
- Twisted Pine Brewing Hoppy Man Imperial IPA
- Cricket Hill Brewing Cricket's Nocturne
- Swamp Head Hoe Hoe Hoe
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Saturday, January 08, 2011
New Beer Reviews
The latest and greatest:
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
- Grand Teton Coming Home Holiday Ale 2010
- Iron Fist Brewing Spice of Life
- Samuel Adams/Weihenstephan Infinium
- Narragansett Porter
- Nogne-O Islay Edition Winter Ale
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Friday, January 07, 2011
New Beer Reviews
The latest and greatest:
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
- Funky Buddha Maple Bacon Coffee Porter
- Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin
- B. Nektar Meadery Vanilla Cinnamon Mead
- Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf
- 3 Fonteinen Malvasia Rosso
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
WOB Viera News
Beer 101!
It is time to go to beer school! This Saturday, January 8th at 1 pm join us on the patio for an informative class on how to brew beer at home. Sean Gregg, president of the local home brewers club, will show you step by step instructions on how to become a brewmaster in your casa. Want to get started right away? Matt from Sunseed Co-op will be providing beer kits for purchase on Saturday. Don't miss this fun class, so get here on time.
Customer Appreciation!
Sunday, January 16 at 2 pm is Customer Appreciation Day! The Lakins are back and this time we are doing something special for the NFL Playoffs. We are having a seafood boil. So grab a beer, some food and watch football at WOB. Click here for more information.
Left Hand Brewery Night!
Save the date for Tuesday, January 25th. We will be featuring Left Hand Brewery from Colorado. We will have an extensive line up of great beers. Some new and some favorites will on draft. Keep reading your newletters for the complete line up when we get closer to the date!
Musician Audition Night!
We are looking for great local talent to play at our establishment! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
New Drafts
Live Music This Week
It is time to go to beer school! This Saturday, January 8th at 1 pm join us on the patio for an informative class on how to brew beer at home. Sean Gregg, president of the local home brewers club, will show you step by step instructions on how to become a brewmaster in your casa. Want to get started right away? Matt from Sunseed Co-op will be providing beer kits for purchase on Saturday. Don't miss this fun class, so get here on time.
Customer Appreciation!
Sunday, January 16 at 2 pm is Customer Appreciation Day! The Lakins are back and this time we are doing something special for the NFL Playoffs. We are having a seafood boil. So grab a beer, some food and watch football at WOB. Click here for more information.
Left Hand Brewery Night!
Save the date for Tuesday, January 25th. We will be featuring Left Hand Brewery from Colorado. We will have an extensive line up of great beers. Some new and some favorites will on draft. Keep reading your newletters for the complete line up when we get closer to the date!
Musician Audition Night!
We are looking for great local talent to play at our establishment! Starting every Wednesday in February, we will hold auditions for single, dual and trio acoustic bands. A member of the band must stop by WOB to fill out a form or they can send an email with the following information to viera@wobusa.com : Stage Name, Contact Person's Name, Contact Phone, Contact Email, Website URL or You Tube, Genre/Style and Bio Description. No Phone calls will be accepted. We will call the bands that we are interested to set an appointment for the 30-45 minute audition.
Party or Special Events!
Planning a party? WOB is the perfect party place to host your private event or company party. Contact WOB-Viera at viera@wobusa.com to reserve your date, number of guests and area you would like to be in the bar.
New Bottles
- Cigar City Cuban Espresso, 5.5% (Florida)
- Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu, 8% (Delaware)
- Lagunitas Cappaccino Stout, 9.2% (California)
New Drafts
- Weyerbacher Mike, 7.6% (Pennsylvania)
Live Music This Week
- Thursday - Eric Flint
- Friday - Pinch's G-Man
- Saturday - Iris
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Cigar City Brew News
Growler Grumbles and Gypsy Brews
So lately the growler fills have not been that interesting and we are sorry, during the holidays from Thanksgiving through the New Year we have experienced growth both in the tasting room and otherwise that was beyond our expectations. In order to keep us from running out of beer especially in the tasting room we just have not been able to offer too much for growler fills. To make up for this the brew crew has been working on some new treatments on our Batch 69 Double Cream Ale and Winter Warmer all of which will be available for growler fills! Some of these will be limited to 1 or 2 quarts per person, but at least you will be able to give that quart bottle a little variety because we know you both need it.
Starting this week we will have a Barrel Aged Batch 69, aged in a Palm Ridge Reserve barrel and a Snowbird Spiced Winter Warmer to go on tap most likely one today (Thursday) and one tomorrow. More will follow and we will try to keep you updated as we get the new releases on tap, but make sure you come and get them when we do as they will almost all be limited to just a keg or two.
Another very special treat occupying a tap right now at the tasting room is Gypsy an IPA brewed by Mikkel of Mikkeller on our pilot system here at the brewery. Approaching double IPA strength this hoppy monster of a beer should hold everyone over while they wait for our official collaboration beer. Gypsy will also be available in quart growlers with a limit of 2 so we can spread the love as much as possible. It won't last long so throw those growlers in your car and stop by soon.
Our beers are now hitting the shelves at local Publix stores, so be sure to look for them and grab a 4 or 6 pack while you are doing your grocery shopping. Selection from store to store will vary, but hopefully we can convince most of them that having a local beer on the shelves is definitely worth their efforts. Talk about one stop shopping!
Until next time,
Cheers!
Travis
So lately the growler fills have not been that interesting and we are sorry, during the holidays from Thanksgiving through the New Year we have experienced growth both in the tasting room and otherwise that was beyond our expectations. In order to keep us from running out of beer especially in the tasting room we just have not been able to offer too much for growler fills. To make up for this the brew crew has been working on some new treatments on our Batch 69 Double Cream Ale and Winter Warmer all of which will be available for growler fills! Some of these will be limited to 1 or 2 quarts per person, but at least you will be able to give that quart bottle a little variety because we know you both need it.
Starting this week we will have a Barrel Aged Batch 69, aged in a Palm Ridge Reserve barrel and a Snowbird Spiced Winter Warmer to go on tap most likely one today (Thursday) and one tomorrow. More will follow and we will try to keep you updated as we get the new releases on tap, but make sure you come and get them when we do as they will almost all be limited to just a keg or two.
Another very special treat occupying a tap right now at the tasting room is Gypsy an IPA brewed by Mikkel of Mikkeller on our pilot system here at the brewery. Approaching double IPA strength this hoppy monster of a beer should hold everyone over while they wait for our official collaboration beer. Gypsy will also be available in quart growlers with a limit of 2 so we can spread the love as much as possible. It won't last long so throw those growlers in your car and stop by soon.
Our beers are now hitting the shelves at local Publix stores, so be sure to look for them and grab a 4 or 6 pack while you are doing your grocery shopping. Selection from store to store will vary, but hopefully we can convince most of them that having a local beer on the shelves is definitely worth their efforts. Talk about one stop shopping!
Until next time,
Cheers!
Travis
BEERflections ~ Brewpostles II
Being a female beer geek I am often in situations where I am surrounded by beer, food, and testosterone which is ironic considering the centuries old tradition of woman’s place of power, prestige, profit, and status within the proud culture of brewing at home and within the pub. But enough history fibble-fabble. I am woman and I love beer. Ultimately, that is all that matters in our new world of beer revival and traditional appreciations. And so I found myself on the eve of December 10th in the apartment preparing my awesomely eclectic chili for a night of beery delights. That’s right – Brewpostles II was upon me and where there is beer, friends, food, and memories, there will be me, Beer Ambassador of the Free World.
I missed the first Brewpostles due to car troubles and though they still persisted, I was not going to miss this second coming. Considering the pointed looks of “be there or be there” and my attachment to life, preparations were locked and loaded. Chili warming, workout worked out, shower showered, I loaded my car for a gander down south to Mark Ball’s house. Yahoo maps notwithstanding, I arrived safe and sound.
The early beer geek gets the beer so Mark and I chilled by the pool with a couple pre-Brewpostles beers while waiting for the others. Joe was next, and it wasn’t long before I was a happy bubble of estrogen within a merry ocean of raucous beery hormones. But as I mentioned previously, it’s not about the X or the Y or the ABC – it’s about beer, glorious ‘God is good’ beer.
With a sufficient arctic chill in the air, Mark’s fire pit was readily available and readily used with blocks of wood, sticks, and pine cones too. Marc Boland made himself snug as a Floridian by the fire pit while I gathered round the table, tasting book, glass, and camera in hand. As the night slowly rode on into the early morning, food aplenty in the kitchen from all my Brewpostle buddies kept our bellies plump while a multitude of intriguing beers kept our thirst sated. Some were good, a few were great, and even fewer were blarf worthy. One in particular stands out in my nights of cold sweats and blood curdling screams – Viru. On the flipside, the Campeador Rurik from the mad brewers at Cigar City was my personal highlight. Coming in a close second was the Panil Bariquee, proof that France really can brew tasteful artisanal beers if they so choose to. And in a world all her own, the 100% Kriek from Cantillon. Ah, Lambic, how I love thee…
On a side note, the sausage bread was fanfreakingtastic. And on another side note, any brewer can brew tasteful artisanal beers if they so choose to…choosing to being the key focus.
But I digress.
Eventually tasting notes were absconded for tasty brews with a tasty a Montecristo Platinum Series thanks to my lovely and Disney Cruise Lines. It was the perfect nightcap to a warm evening of dear friends and tasty brews. As my fellow merry goers slowly trickled out into the cold night air, I wandered my way into the spare bedroom with water in hand and sweet dreams on the mind. With home being quite the drive away, the simply safe thing to do was to graciously accept my host’s hospitality. Mark had an early golf game to tend to the next morning so it was just me and the sleepies as the sun grumpily creeped over the horizon. Thankfully a dense dose of fog diminished his untimely glare. Add to that zero hangover worries, other than a lack of sleep it was a wonderfully refreshing conclusion to my Brewpostles II inauguration.
I’ve said it before and I still hold it to be true: good beer has bought irreplaceable goodness into my life. To my Brewpostle mates, it may be a bit late but thanks and Happy New Year. To another 365 days of tasty brews and treasured memories.
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
I missed the first Brewpostles due to car troubles and though they still persisted, I was not going to miss this second coming. Considering the pointed looks of “be there or be there” and my attachment to life, preparations were locked and loaded. Chili warming, workout worked out, shower showered, I loaded my car for a gander down south to Mark Ball’s house. Yahoo maps notwithstanding, I arrived safe and sound.
The early beer geek gets the beer so Mark and I chilled by the pool with a couple pre-Brewpostles beers while waiting for the others. Joe was next, and it wasn’t long before I was a happy bubble of estrogen within a merry ocean of raucous beery hormones. But as I mentioned previously, it’s not about the X or the Y or the ABC – it’s about beer, glorious ‘God is good’ beer.
With a sufficient arctic chill in the air, Mark’s fire pit was readily available and readily used with blocks of wood, sticks, and pine cones too. Marc Boland made himself snug as a Floridian by the fire pit while I gathered round the table, tasting book, glass, and camera in hand. As the night slowly rode on into the early morning, food aplenty in the kitchen from all my Brewpostle buddies kept our bellies plump while a multitude of intriguing beers kept our thirst sated. Some were good, a few were great, and even fewer were blarf worthy. One in particular stands out in my nights of cold sweats and blood curdling screams – Viru. On the flipside, the Campeador Rurik from the mad brewers at Cigar City was my personal highlight. Coming in a close second was the Panil Bariquee, proof that France really can brew tasteful artisanal beers if they so choose to. And in a world all her own, the 100% Kriek from Cantillon. Ah, Lambic, how I love thee…
On a side note, the sausage bread was fanfreakingtastic. And on another side note, any brewer can brew tasteful artisanal beers if they so choose to…choosing to being the key focus.
But I digress.
Eventually tasting notes were absconded for tasty brews with a tasty a Montecristo Platinum Series thanks to my lovely and Disney Cruise Lines. It was the perfect nightcap to a warm evening of dear friends and tasty brews. As my fellow merry goers slowly trickled out into the cold night air, I wandered my way into the spare bedroom with water in hand and sweet dreams on the mind. With home being quite the drive away, the simply safe thing to do was to graciously accept my host’s hospitality. Mark had an early golf game to tend to the next morning so it was just me and the sleepies as the sun grumpily creeped over the horizon. Thankfully a dense dose of fog diminished his untimely glare. Add to that zero hangover worries, other than a lack of sleep it was a wonderfully refreshing conclusion to my Brewpostles II inauguration.
I’ve said it before and I still hold it to be true: good beer has bought irreplaceable goodness into my life. To my Brewpostle mates, it may be a bit late but thanks and Happy New Year. To another 365 days of tasty brews and treasured memories.
(an original written work by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
Sunday, January 02, 2011
A Day of Arrogance with Stone Brewery @ Vine & Barley
**Tomorrow...tomorrow...I'll drink Stone tomorrow...it's only a day away...**
Saturday, January 01, 2011
New Beer Reviews
The latest and greatest:
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
- Wasatch The Devastator Doppelbock
- Cigar City Campeador Rurik btl # 78 of 204
- Thai Beverages Chang
- Warwick Valley Wine Co. Docs Draft Hard Apple Cider
- Royal Oak Brewery O'Rita Imperial Irish Amber Anniversary Ale
(original written works by Kristyn Lier. plagiarism is not tolerated)
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