Cleanse Weekend: Days 3-5

Believe it or not, the cleanse weekend was a piece of cake.  My body has gotten used to eating every two to three hours and almost, dare I say, is starting to crave the healthy stuff.  What seemed to challenge me this weekend was trying to get in all of the food I needed to eat, when I didn't really get moving until the late morning.  On Saturday, I found myself eating dinner at 10pm, just to be able to get all the food in before going to bed.  Crazy?  Totally.

Using the required food elements, I started to figure out what I could make that would combine what I needed to consume.  For my fat and fruit snack, I put peanut butter on my blueberries.  Sounds gross.  Looks worse.  But the taste was delicious.  Think a PB&J sandwich without the sandwich part.  My Advocare connection mentioned an egg white pancake with peanut butter, which is nothing pancake and everything egg white.  Flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, it actually almost resembled a crepe.  Of course, the regular grilled chicken breast, seared veggies, and brown rice made up my lunch.  But this time, I spiced everything.  Garlic herb, lemon pepper, and chili powder were all over my palate.  If only I could wash it all down with a nice hoppy IPA...

Cleanse: Day 2

Today will be remembered as the day I truly missed cheese.  Starting the day off with a quick 5k treadmill run, a guzzled fiber drink, and another chocolate MRS, I scurried out the door with my commuter mug full of green tea.  Weird thing was, I didn't seem to miss my morning pot of Joe.  It seemed like my day whizzed by as I was constantly eating my prescribed portions every few hours.  My chicken, green bean, and brown rice lunch would have been nicely enhanced with a few shreds of parmesan.  My afternoon strawberries and peanut butter would have been so much better with a stick of string cheese.  Even a short trip to the grocery store had me avoiding the cheese aisle, yet I had no problem gazing at the beer.  Was I really addicted to cheese more than coffee or beer?

While I stuck to my guns and stayed away from cheese, even when choking down my third portion of chicken for the day, I couldn't help but think how eight more days were going to be survived without my beloved dairy.  Luckily, I picked up some salt free spices to try out on tomorrow's journey.  Will it really only be Day 3?

Cleanse: Day 1

Beans and tomatoes w/ balsamic drizzle

Alarms for meals set.
Green tea and bottled water ready.
Measurements and weight recorded.
It was now time to get on with Day 1.
After chugging the morning fiber drink like a warm can of PBR, I started off the morning with a Chocolate MRS (meal replacement shake).  Knowing that those would be the most calories I would get all day, I cherished the richness.  Water and more water went down the hatch as a gallon each day is required.  Every few hours I had some premeasured fruits and vegetables, green tea, and more and more water.  A packet of Spark helped me get through the day without coffee.  As long as I had a warm mug of green tea, I didn't seem to miss the coffee.  Well, at least not yet.  Hardest part of the day was looking at that tasty block of cheese in the fridge and choosing green beans instead.  Tomorrow my morning starts off with a much needed workout.  Bring on Day 2.

The Cleansing of a Brewer

Every sixth months I find myself needing a kick in the keister to get my good habits back in line.  With a tumultuous start to my school year, I haven't been working on my beer fitness since summer.  Let me rephrase that.  I have been working on the beer part no problem, just not the fitness.  So what was this brewgirl to do?
Enter the Advocare 10 Day Herbal Cleanse.
Even though this was only part of the 24 Day Challenge, I knew that I only had time to start small.  With Winter Beer Fest season almost upon us, I couldn't commit to abstaining from beer for much longer than a week...for research purposes, of course.  The results that I hear from people completing the cleanse are amazing.  Besides that, getting rid of all the toxins and resetting my metabolism was beyond over due.  But at what cost?  I was having to say good bye to my favorite cajun tots and other pub food, my addiction to cheese, my need for coffee, and my beloved beer.  What was going to happen to me?  When I shared my plan with close friends, most just looked at me in bewilderment.  Me without coffee was enough to scare anybody away.  Needless to say, I went full throttle and dove right in.  After the supplements were ordered, the 10 days without a beer event scheduled, all that was left was to psych myself up.

The Night Before Binge
With my start date for the challenge to be November 13, I gorged on everything forbidden on the 12th.  Copious amounts of cheese, bread, and coffee made their way into my belly.  Not a scrap of leftover Halloween candy was spared.  I washed it all down with a beer of course.  In between the moments of feasting, I made my way to my favorite grocery store to get the goods for my 10 days.  Fresh fruits, veggies, free range chicken, unsalted and unroasted nuts, oatmeal, and brown rice filled my cart.  Of course, I tortured myself by going down the beer aisle.  Mentally making my list of beers to try after I completed the challenge, I quickly went through the checkout in order to get home and get cooking.  A fridge full of portioned out meals for the next three days prepared and the last drops of beer in my pint, I headed to sleep as Day 1 was just a few short hours away.

Top Pumpkin Picks

The Great Pumpkin Beer Festival, GPBF to those in the know, was this past weekend at the Elysian Brewing production facility.  Boasting 40 some beers over the course of three days, along with gourds upon gourds for the carving, this ninth annual event signified the kick off of harvest beer season.  Being my fourth beer event in that many days, I mustered up enough energy, and a few willing beerfriends, to spend the unseasonably warm afternoon together.  Here are my faves from the fest.

Alaskan Brewing: Pumpkin Porter
While I went for this one initially because it was so close to my coveted seat in the sun, I went back for a second sample because it was THAT good.  Smooth and rich, the smoky notes of the Porter melded well with the pumpkin spice.

Fremont Brewing: Pumpkin B-Bomb
Thanks to a certain someone that has gotten me into barrel aged beers, I was excited to see what Fremont did with their Abominable Winter Ale in a Heaven Hill barrel.  The result was a 9.5% ABV sipper that would pair well with stormy nights by a fire.

North Peak Brewing: Hooligan
It is obviously expected that a hophead, such as myself, might gravitate towards an IPA, even at an exclusively all pumpkin beer fest.  So, that is what I did.  Other imbibers didn't necessarily enjoy this one, as it didn't have that sweet savory taste other pumpkin beers had.  I, however, loved it.  Chocked full of hops from Michigan, this IPA was just what I needed.

Elysian Brewing: Punkuccino Coffee Pumpkin Ale
Arriving right when the fest opened at noon after a drive from Eastern Washington, this beer lover was needing some coffee.  Without hesitation, my first taste at GPBF was this coffee/pumpkin combo.  Pumpkin added all throughout the brewing process, along with my favorite Stumptown Coffee, made this one my favorite of the day.

Harmon Brewmaster's Dinner 2013

Given the close proximity of the Harmon Brewery to my humble abode, I rarely find myself there these days.  A well timed email invitation and a willing beerfriend to accompany, I made plans to visit my first Harmon Brewmaster's Dinner.  Five courses with five new-to-me beers promised to be an intriguing event.  Familiar faces and friendly conversation only sweetened the deal.

Course #1: St. Helens Anniversary IPA
While my "go to" Harmon beer has been their Pt. Defiance IPA, it isn't necessarily my favorite.  I tend to check out their seasonal and cask offerings.  I have to be honest, I was a bit leery to try this first sip.  Pleasantly surprised by this moderately malty yet adequately bitter IPA, I enjoyed sip after sip of the Citra and Simcoe notes in this hidden 7.5% ABV.  It was gone before I knew it, and little did I realize, that would become the theme of the night.

Course #2:  Oatmeal Pale Ale
An Autumn favorite I tend to lean towards when the days get shorter is an Oatmeal Stout.  The creaminess of the oatmeal paired with the roastiness of the grain is a winning combination.  This Oatmeal Pale threw me off a bit.  The same creaminess was there, yet the roastiness wasn't.  While that was expected, my taste buds wanted a crisp pale at the sight of this straw colored pint, not a smooth creamy one.  But don't worry, a plan was made to try this OPA once again in order to fully assess its palate worthiness.

Course #3:  North Cascades IPA

The impression that the St. Helens IPA left had me intrigued to see if those Harmon brewers could impress this hophead once again.  A Pro Am selection created by a home brewer, this IPA seemed a bit too malty for my taste.  You see, I like IPAs that just kind of slap me upside the head with a big old helping of lupulin.  The rest of the table enjoyed this beer while I eyed the upcoming promise of an Imperial Red.

Course #4:  Fall Ball Red
Wow.  Even a day later, I can't get this beer out of my head.  Like a first date gone absolutely right, I find myself wondering when I will see this Imperial Red again.  It is hard to focus.  I can't think straight.  I find myself checking taplists around town to see where I might run into it.  The depth and complexity was beyond compare.  A hint of cinnamon and harvest pumpkin amongst the perfectly malted red provided an incredible seasonally perfect ale.  Before I knew it, my glass was empty.  I scanned the table and helped myself to others.  Who would have thought that those components would make such a great brew?  I'm running out of adjectives.  Bottom line:  get some.

Course #5:  Pumpkin Spice Blonde
Seated at a table of Harmon dinner regulars, the buzz was about where the hop ice cream went.  Apparently in years past, the final course was a hop vanilla ice cream paired with a worthy beer.  This year, a sessionable Pumpkin Spice Blonde was paired with praline vanilla ice cream.  When the snifter of my final beer came out, I took a quick whiff and a sip and well, I wasn't that blown away.  After coming off of that Imperial Red high (did I mention I finished off others' samples too?), I was hoping for more.  Then, the ice cream came out.  Silence fell over our table as everyone took a bite of ice cream and followed it with a sip of this blonde.  Reactions were unanimous.  This pairing was the best of the night.  Creamy praline with delicate pumpkin was, without a doubt, perfect.  Again, I finished my beer before everyone else.  The ice cream was long gone too.  And let's not forget, I don't really like sweets.

Rediscovering an old standby can yield surprising results.  Harmon Brewery, you are once again on my radar.  Well done.

How I Survived CanFest 2013

CanFest.  This annual celebration of canned beer was the one and only reason a 24 hour trip to Reno happened the weekend before I had to go back to work.  Throw in a couple of local brewery visits and an exciting road trip home, it soon became the one summer adventure I can't stop talking about.

After a day of Reno breweries that you can read about here, it was off to the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino for CanFest 2013.  Walking through the casino, one quickly joined the flow of beer lovers that were heading to the festivities.  A couple close by mentioned how this was their go to beer fest each year, they hadn't missed one.  Once I stepped into the ballroom and heard the live band, excited beer drinkers, and the constant opening of cans, I knew immediately why.  Here is how I survived.

Survival tip #1:  Create a plan of attack.

Walking into a room full of breweries, most you haven't even heard of, creates a sense of urgency to get in their line right away.  But stop and think.  Do you want to check off breweries on the list that you have mapped out and prioritized?  Or, do you want to just walk around the perimeter of the room hitting up the ones that sound appealing?  I have approached beer fests in both fashions.  For this three hour stint, it was easier for me to just walk the perimeter and enjoy sips at my leisure.

Survival tip #2:  Feel free to dump.
With free reign to try anything and everything as many times as you wanted, one had to get over the feeling that dumping beer equated to alcohol abuse.  The fact is, your palate will be wrecked, your belly full, and your memory failed if you drank every single sample it its entirety.  Did you notice a fill line on that festival glass?  Nope.  You didn't.  Because there wasn't one. 

Survival tip #3:  Meet the staff.

Most of the breweries represented there brought either one of the brewers or some sales staff to chat up willing imbibers about their wears.  Walk on up, ask them questions, even ask for a pic or two.  If you can, quickly step behind the table without getting caught.  You won't find a nicer bunch of people than those that live and breathe beer.

Survival tip #4:  Check out the other "stuff."
A live band, silent disco, mini bike riding, dancing, and a dress up photo booth were just some of the many offerings that CanFest had besides, well, cans.  Sporting some disco music filled head phones and dancing around to your own beat, literally, was a fun intermission between beer lines.  Even better, dressing up in boas, tutus, and hats and posing for the photo booth.  All of this while toting a freshly filled sample glass, of course.

While you might not have been at CanFest with me, these survival tips are transferable.  With beer fest season in full swing, be sure to get the most out of your allotted session time.  Wait, why weren't you at CanFest?  Next year, no excuses.  Get on it.  Keep an eye out.  And, I'll see you next year in Reno!

Must See Breweries in Reno

While my recent trip to Reno, Nevada was primarily to attend CanFest 2013 (which you can read about here), I made sure, as I always do, to get in a couple of local brewery visits.  Below are the places you can't miss the next time you are in The Biggest Little City in the World.

The Brew Brothers at the Eldorado Casino

I know what you are thinking.  What kind of brewery would be legit if it was inside a casino, right?  I thought the same thing at first.  But once I stepped foot inside and escaped the constant dinging of the casino floor, I was pretty impressed.  I enjoyed the Saison, an emerging style favorite of mine, and their Rye beer.  If the beertender hadn't mentioned that it contained rye, I wouldn't have known.  This lager had a unique depth and complexity that I wasn't expecting.  Once the sample was gone, I promptly ordered a full size thirst quencher.  Insider tip: feel free to order as many pints as you want.  No need to guzzle them prior to leaving.  Just ask for a to go cup and walk around the casino enjoying your craft beer.

 

The Brewer's Cabinet

A short walk from downtown led me straight to The Brewer's Cabinet.  After perusing their taplist online, the thought of their IPA on Nitro is what kept me trekking through the desert heat.  When I got to the bar, I realized that they only had three of their own beers on tap, none of which were the Nitro IPA.  Initially disappointed, I quickly built a bridge and got over it when the first few sips of their current offerings met my palate.  Their Phantasm IPA and even their Hopy Monk, a Belgian pale, were superb.  The offering of guest handles was also top notch, ranging from the tasty Enjoy By 9-13-13 from Stone Brewing and the intriguing Citra Hop from The Brewing Lair.  Hours passed and we soon forgot about what other breweries we wanted to go to.  Insider tip: order the fork and knife appetizer of tater tots.  Unlike anything you've ever tried, they are generously smothered with crispy bacon, fried egg, ketchup, and cheese sauce.  It was plenty for a shared meal.  

Brewery Spotlight: Geaux Brewing

After successfully coordinating the schedules of a traveling beer blogger and a super busy brewer, I was finally able to spend a summer afternoon up at Geaux Brewing in Bellevue, WA.  Conveniently located near two Eastside highways, Geaux's facility is a half barrel brewhouse that focuses on small batch brews.  Formed by a group of home brewers, the mission of Geaux is to not only make high quality beer, but to also spread the love of home brewing to everyone.  As you know, I kinda like to brew too.  So, I was obviously intrigued with how the crew was going to make this happen.  Sitting down with my first sample of their Lakeshore Golden Lager, I chatted with Jeremy, Geaux's founder, about what this up and coming brewery was really all about. 

Jeremy's "real" job is right next door to the brewery.  After seeing how much he was spending on his employees each week for Beer Friday, he entertained the idea of actually making beer for the week end celebration.  Voila...Geaux Brewing was born.  Themed after a New Orleans street corner, Jeremy showcases his love of back home to the Pacific Northwest.  Each authentic piece of Louisiana that he has brought in to decorate has its own story.  From the salvaged shutters to the swamp wood bar, I couldn't stop looking around in amazement.  I mentioned that Jeremy and his crew wanted to help spread the love of home brewing, right?  Small group brewing classes are in the works so that regular Joes like you and me could come in and learn to brew.

Let's get back to the beer tasting.  While I was impressed with all of their beers, my favorite, by far, was their Ragin' Cajun Imperial IPA.  Apparently I wasn't alone in thinking that since they have a hard time keeping it on tap.  This IIPA was hoppy and malty without a trace of alcohol burn, even though it weighed in at a hefty 9% ABV.  Their Gulf Coast IPA, a sessionable ale, had ample hops and wasn't just a watered down version of this popular style.  The Poydras Porter was also quite quaffable, providing a roasty but light flavor.  Great beers along with an urban beer garden right out front surrounded by hop bines, it wasn't a matter of if I will come back, but rather a matter of when.

Angry Orchard: Juice for Grown Ups

It is often said that one should never go grocery shopping when hungry.  The same is true about one's thirst for beer.  When an early afternoon grocery shopping trip led me straight to the beer aisle, a case of Angry Orchard inevitably ended up in my cart, alongside necessities such as Eggos and Pizza Rolls.  The need to research all of Angry Orchard's offerings soon became the task for the day.
Crisp Apple:  This was the closest cider that tasted like apple juice.  Sweet.  Delicious.  Since you can find this on tap just about anywhere, I usually order it with my late breakfast/early weekend lunch.  Just like the pint, this bottle disappeared soon after opening.
Traditional Dry:  Closest to beer in smell, Traditional Dry had a distinctive taste.  At first I was a bit taken back, since I was expecting something a little more appley.  While this one wasn't my favorite, I could see my domestic beer loving dad enjoying it without even knowing that it was cider.
Elderflower:  Alright, confession time.  The mention of the Elderflower cider actually is what prompted me to get the variety pack.  Well, that and the fact that I didn't have any ciders at home.  With four stocked beer fridges I needed some cider representation, right?  This one had a floral sweetness, almost like a cross between tea and wine.  A neat gateway cider for wine lovers.
Apple Ginger:  My new favorite beer addition flavor is ginger.  I am loving Ginger IPAs, Ginger Pales, really Ginger anything.  This Apple Ginger cider was spot on.  As it came to room temperature, the ginger married well with the sweet apple.  It was difficult not to enjoy every single one of those bottles.
Special Note:  Check out the Angry Orchard Cocktail recipes.  Using their cider and mixing it with the likes of beer, juice, and even liquor, the possibilities for enjoying were endless.

The Final Days of Summer Beer Month 2013

Day 28:  Sixpoint Brewery Sampler

Refreshed from my final all nighter at BBC 13, I cracked open a trio of beers from Sixpoint Brewery.  Luckily these cans made it past TSA in my travels back home.  Some of my loot from my East Coast beerventure included their Righteous, Sweet Action, and Resin.  My favorite of the three, by far, was the Resin.  Any ale that boasts over 100 IBUs gets my attention.  Whether it was my thirst for hops or my overall love of this 9.1 percenter, I wished that this twelve ounce can lasted all night.

 

Day 29:  Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Ovila

One of the many beer styles that I came to appreciate at the Beer Bloggers' Conference was the Saison.  A style that originated in Belgium during the 19th century, it was one that, over the years, I haven't exposed myself to.  My recent trip opened my eyes to this Farmhouse style ale.  What I loved about Ovila was the combination of pepper and mandarin oranges.  The sweet funky finish was delightfully sippable.  As it warmed to room temperature, the complex palate just kept going and going.

Day 30:  Anthem Cider: Hops

What says summer more than a cider with hops?  Anthem prides itself in making "true cider", pressing whole apples, and using some of my favorite apple varieties: Honeycrisp and Fuji.  So when you put my favorite apple in a hard cider and then hop it up with one of my favorite hops, you get a winning combination.  Dry hopped with Cascades for about three weeks, this hophead might have just found a new breakfast favorite.

Day 31:  Yakima Craft Brewing: Heather

On the last day of my Summer Beer Month, I found myself in Yakima, WA.  Regardless of what needed to get done that day, beer was on the agenda.  After a quick pint at The Beer Shoppe, I headed over to Yakima Craft Brewing.  My eyes must have lit up when I saw that they had Heather on tap.  Ok, I know, I might be a bit partial.  This ale had a mild honey sweetness that just popped with the addition of Heather tips.  So much so, that it was decided at that very moment to make a Heather ale of my own.  Maybe even barrel age it. All Heathers get better with age, right?

SBM 27: BBC Day 2

After a morning full of presentations, it was time for our beer paired lunch sponsored by The National Beer Wholesalers Association.  From Gazpacho to Boston Cream Pie, our taste buds were tantalized with the unique tastes from coast to coast.  While I couldn't enjoy the Crab Cake with Fennel Salad, the chef made sure to create a Tofu version of the same flavor profile for me to enjoy, pictured here.  With beers from Rogue, Stillwater, Lagunitas, and Allagash, it was difficult not to fall in love with every pairing.  Our bellies full, we settled in for a few more talks prior to heading out for Live Beer Blogging.

Live Beer Blogging.  At first, I didn't quite understand what this was all going to be about.  When we got to the Burke Distributing/Massachusetts Beverage Alliance event, a dozen tables were spread out amongst the racks of beer.  Wifi hotspots, tasting glasses, and antsy brewers were everywhere.  This was going to be Beer Speed Dating.  While my experience with real speed dating was tiring and unimpressive, this version was highly entertaining.  Brewers came around with their creations, poured samples, chatted about their passion, and answered our rapid fire questions in five minute intervals.  While they were presenting, us bloggers were busy snapping pictures, taking notes, and Tweeting.  A live Twitter feed projected our thoughts on the front wall of the warehouse. Some notable tastes were the Backyahd IPA from Foolproof Brewing Company and the Catalyst DIPA from Backlash Beer Company.  Needless to say, this hophead was finally happy with these darn good East Coast IPAs.

Next stop, Harpoon Brewery.  How can you not love being greeted with trays upon trays of delicious local Boston beer?  Being New England's largest brewery, Harpoon did it right with a reception in their warehouse, which turned into a brewery tour, and ended with an amazing dinner in their Beer Hall.  I quickly became a huge fan of their Black IPA and Cider.  With flatbreads, a variety of salads, and free flowing beer, we were beyond satisfied.  Another event was still on the horizon:  the well talked about and often referenced Beer Social.

What are two girls to do when the beloved Beer Social is running a bit late?  Crash a haunted graveyard tour and seek out the Cheers sound stage bar, of course!  With my partner in crime, NW Beer Babe, we ventured off on foot downtown Boston.  We first came upon a haunted tour entering a small yet distinctive cemetery.  With memorials from the likes of Nathaniel Hawthorne and Benjamin Franklin, this Ghost and Gravestones tour was fascinating.  Afterwards, we headed to Cheers for some cold beers, great bartenders, and a mysteriously scored staff polo.  Then it was back to the hotel for the Beer Social, that was now in full swing, and an after party beer tasting that lasted right up until I needed to return my rental car to the airport.  What a way to close out a fantastic weekend!

SBM 26: BBC Day 1

After a much needed stop at a Starbucks in Portland, ME, I was back on the road.  This time, the oldest brewery in New Hampshire was on the agenda for lunch.  The Portsmouth Brewery opened its doors to all of us bloggers, letting us taste everything we wanted and serving us tasty morsels to boot.  My favorite pint was the Ginga Ninja, a ginger IPA with lots of flavor and just the right amount of ginger to compliment the hops.  Before leaving Portsmouth, I made sure to check out the Redhook Brewery facility.  Looking just like the one back home, I circled the parking lot and headed down to Boston.

On a good tip from local beer blogger Two Girls One Beer, I headed into the Belmont area to stock up on some canned beers from the Craft Beer Cellar.  Over the years, I have realized that stashing cans in my luggage, in lieu of bottles, decreased the likelihood that my cargo would turn everything I owned into beer soup.  I picked up a dozen or so cans of East Coast brews and then was off to fight some downtown Boston traffic.

With the tour bus full of all my Pre Conference friends stuck in traffic, I perused the trade show in the hotel lobby.  Lots of samples kept me entertained until 150 beer bloggers boarded three tour buses to head on out to the Boston Beer Company.  Greeted with a can of Boston Lager, we all gathered in the brewhouse to hear some words from Julia Herz of the Brewers Association and Jim Koch from the Boston Beer Company.  Small group barrel room tasting of the ever sought after Utopia, buffet style small plates made with Samuel Adams beer, and lots of great conversation made this evening a hit.  It was hard to believe that once we got on the bus there was yet another event to attend at Stoddards.

Pyrates, pints, and poets...oh my!  Arriving at Stoddard's Fine Food and Ale we were met with tasting glasses, eyepatches, and limericks to solve, courtesy of Heavy Seas.  When it didn't seem like we could taste yet another beer, we rallyed and enjoyed them all.  My standout favorite was Heavy Seas Peg Leg Imperial Stout aged in Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels.  I eagerly passed around my tasting glass for others to try, which left me with an empty glass.  Good thing unlimited tastes were the theme of the night.  A couple more brews down the hatch and then we all called it a night.

SBM 25: BBC13 Pre Conference

Picture this.  You've been up all night in an airport.  You've just driven through three New England States.  All you want is to check in to your hotel, take a shower, and nap for days.  But wait, you are at the Beer Bloggers' Conference.  There will be no rest.  There will be no nap.  Instead, you are whisked away on an 18 person tour bus to your first stop:  Allagash Brewing.  An impressive brewery tour, including an exclusive koelschip siting, ending with four unique samples (my favorite of these being the Curieux: a Bourbon Barrel aged Tripel) allowed for some much needed get to know you time among bloggers.

Rising Tide Brewing Company
With time for one more stop before our official BBC13 Pre Conference, we stopped in at Rising Tide.   Food truck, Cornhole boards, and a distillery next door made this locale all around perfect.  A local truffle maker was present with chocolate morsels to pair perfectly with the beer samples.  While I didn't indulge on those, I did sample RT's wears.  My favorite sip was Ismael, a malty rich Copper Ale weighing in at 4.9%.  While I could have spent the afternoon hanging out at this laid back brewery, it was time to head downtown Portland, ME to taste some much anticipated Cabot Creamery Cheeses and Geary's Beers.

Beer pairing dinner at Sebago Brewing Company.
Satisfied with the ample cheese and beer tasting over at Cabot's, along with the meeting of the rest of the Pre Conference bloggers, we all headed over in the light drizzle to Sebago Brewing Company.  Who would have thought that back home in Seattle, I was missing out on 90 degree temps.  Highlights of the beer dinner included the Brie, Apple, and Caramelized Onion flatbread, the blogger brewed Citra Saaz Down, and this Bonfire Rye Ale that had yet to be released.  Being on the Eastern Seaboard lent itself to many offerings including shellfish.  The staff at Sebago went above and beyond to make sure that I had a delicious alternative that didn't land me in the hospital.

SBM 24: Traveling to Beer Bloggers' Conference

Let's be honest here, folks.  When the Starbucks line at SeaTac airport wraps around half of the N Concourse, the last thing one wants at 7am in the morning is a beer.  Wait, on second thought, maybe it should have been the first thing I reached for.  Not knowing if I was going to get on the 9am flight or the 10:30pm one, I loaded up on the caffeine needed to camp out in a carpeted corner among bitter travelers.  Equipped with a five shot Americano, my fully charged GearPower, and plenty of backlogged blogging to accomplish, I settled in for the long haul.  Turns out, when you have plenty of patience, waiting at an airport all day isn't that bad.  With days upon days of drinking beer ahead of me, I knew that I could catch up on this day's lack of barley brew in no time.

www.starbucks.com

SBM Days 18-23

Engine House 9's Belgian White
https://www.facebook.com/EngineHouseNo9
There really is nothing like being a tourist in your own town.  While I used to frequent this iconic establishment during my college years, I haven't ventured there much lately.  Primed and ready for one heaping helping of an adventure bite, I made sure to try a taster of all the house beers E9 had to offer.  By far, my favorite was their Belgian White.  Crisp and refreshing, I could see taking advantage of their sunny patio and throwing a couple of these back before the end of summer.

Bellevue Brewing Company
bellevuebrewing.com
Way back in February, I visited BBC to check them out.  What I found were some tasty brews with an extensive food menu.  The BBQ Chicken Pizza I had was quite delish.  This time around, my visit was strictly about the beer.  Once again, an uncommon favorite arose from the bunch.  Their Belgian Witbier was the preferred taster for me...even over their IPA and Oatmeal Stouts, two of my noted favorites from February.

Elk Head Tap Room Ocean Shores, WA
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elk-Head-Tap-Room/173869659321115
Even though Elk Head's actual brewery in in Buckley, WA (within 30 short minutes of my daily happenings) I have yet to visit that location.  However, I always seem to find myself in Ocean Shores a few times each summer.  My first stop is ALWAYS Elk Head's tap room for their IPA and onion rings.  No, those aren't donuts.  Those are the most amazing freshly beer battered onion rings that you will ever have.  Paired with their American IPA, an ocean breeze, and great local conversation, this summer time treat can't be beat.

Triplehorn Brewing Company
www.triplehornbrewingco.com
It is customary that if you have much to write about in the beer world, you must do said writing at a brewery.  Ok, maybe it isn't customary, but it definitely should be necessary.  A Sunday afternoon full of summer sun with nothing to do but write and enjoy, I ventured up to Triplehorn to see how far they had come.  Last October, I swung through for a quick taste on my way to a Halloween party.  This time, I settled in for a full sampler and then chose a pint of their IPA...or was it two pints.  The more beerspiration the better, right?

Girls' Night In
I know, I know.  This picture has NOTHING to do with beer.  Hold on just a minute and let me explain.  When a dear friend of yours shows up at your door with Pizza Rolls, Oreos, and a couple bottles of sparkling wine, you concede to whatever the night turns into.  After finding a lonely bottle of Rhubarb Liqueur from It's Five Artisan Distillery (its5distillery.com) in my refrigerator, it was on.  Good movies, tasty snacks, and great conversation all mixed with this wine concoction made for a fun evening.  I didn't even miss my daily beer.  It's amazing what junk food can do!

Day at the Museum
www.museumofglass.org
Turns out, a night full of bubbly lends itself nicely to some lunch time cocktails the following day.  Luckily, on our way to the Museum of Glass, a cute little place called The Social (www.thesocialbarandgrill.com) was spotted.  Right along the pristine Thea Foss Waterway, their libations, along with some of fried munchies, were just what we needed prior to a tour of Dale Chihuly's pride and joy.  With an extensive menu, The Social might just become my go to happy hour locale within stumbling distance of my digs.  How was the MOG?  Awesome as always.  A must see when in the Puget Sound.

SBM Days 13-17

Wow, where has the month gone?  As I sit here at the airport, all sprawled out on the floor like a hipster hobo (complete with power cords), I finally find the time to catch up and share some of my summer beer adventures.

Narrows Brewing Company
narrowsbrewing.com
On their opening weekend, I had the pleasure of tasting Tacoma's newest brewery's beers.  Three in the lineup with fermenters full of more, I grew quite fond of their IPA.  At 8%, this hop bomb was everything right, especially when tooling around the pristine brewery with Joe, the head brewer.  A recent transplant to the Northwest, Joe led THE most informative brewery tour I have EVER been on.  And you all know that I have been on a number.  Great location and solid beers makes this a go to destination for South Sound beer lovers.

Golden Road's Point the Way IPA
goldenroad.la/
A summer sunset with an Los Angeles based craft beer in my hand was nothing short of delish.  While I have slightly swayed from my summer beer oath, I have found that this hophead likes IPAs any day of the year.  Especially IPAs that are rare to these parts.  At only 5.9%, this borderline session ale was nice and smooth with a generous amount of Cascade hop love.   Pour.  Drink.  Repeat.

Cans, Cans, and More Cans!
Broken Spoke in Tacoma, WA
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Broken-Spoke-Tacoma/346634752095475
If there is one thing I love more than beer, it is teaching.  When I can combine the two, I might as well be in heaven.  Introducing locals to all the great beer in our town never gets old.  Make that a canned beer enthusiast that has yet to discover all that is Broken Spoke, well it doesn't get any better than that.  With forty or fifty some canned beers available, this Tacoma custom bike shop/beer bar is anything but ordinary.  My advice?  Try a couple different ones each time you go.  Bring a friend and try theirs too.

Northwest Brewing/Three Skulls Blood Orange Wit
nwbrewingcompany.com
More often than not, I find myself spending workweek afternoons in the sunshine of this Pacific, WA brewery.  Now that they are producing Three Skulls Ales, I was anxious to try their Blood Orange Wit.  While not a huge Wit fan, the flavor profile of blood oranges always seems to catch my palate's attention.  This easy drinking summer refresher was easily enjoyed among friends.  I would love to try this on draft to see how this tasty bottle compares.

Green Flash Brewing's Citra Session
www.greenflashbrew.com
There are so many things that are SO right about this beer.  First off, it is from Green Flash.  My beerventure down to SD a few months back led me to being in serious beer love with that brewery.   Secondly, the Citra.  This hop creates an insatiable yearning for more.  Much like that famous Depeche Mode song, I just can't get enough.  The fact that I enjoyed it at my favorite bar while receiving a home brewng medal was only icing on the cake.

SBM: Day 12

Day 12:  Fremont Brewing's Organic Pale Session Ale
The official beer of Seattle Beer Week 2013, this easy drinking bright pale, weighing in at 4.5 % ABV, is a perfect summer choice.  Equipped with essential camp/hike/bike/travel/summer packaging, Fremont nailed this Pale using organic Cowiche Canyon Citra and Simcoe: two hops that are near and dear to my palate.  When I was in Yakima last month, I was able to attend Pecha Kucha: an I Heart Yakima event.  Learning about all the beauty and adventure that Cowiche Canyon has to offer, it was all I could really think about while drinking this can.  Next adventure I take east of the mountains will undoubtedly include a cooler full of this Fremont creation.

www.fremontbrewing.com                    www.iheartyakima.com     

SBM: Day 11

Day 11:  Georgetown Brewing's Manny's Pale Ale

This Northwest staple might not appear to some to be a summertime beer.  For me, this is an all the time beer.  Whether I am at a baseball game, playing pub trivia, or here, writing in the sunshine waiting out traffic, Manny's is a fine choice.  Hoppier than other pales on the market, Georgetown's signature English Ale yeast makes the barley and hops sing in harmony.  Yeah, I said sing.  Go get a pint of this already.

www.georgetownbeer.com



SBM: Day 10

Day 10:  Two Beers Brewing Trailhead ISA
A day full of meetings with fellow beer peeps made choosing the right summertime beer to write about a bit challenging.  But, not to worry, I was able to make it happen.  A visit to Two Beers reintroduced me to their Trailhead India Session Ale.  Available only on tap in the summer, but in cans all year long, I liked the aggressively hoppy yet relatively low ABV, just under 5%.   Another great summer beer for us hopheads.
Up and Coming:  Conversation buzz at The Woods was of the soon to be released cider from the Seattle Cider Company.  Look for 16oz cans of Dry and Semi Sweet varieties, made with Washington apples, to be available later this summer.

www.twobeersbrewery.com

Birthday Brewday and SBM Day 9

Day 9:  American Brewing's American Blonde

There are a few days a year when everything just seems to come together.  I would like to remember July 9, 2013 as one of those days.  After a longer than necessary commute up to Edmonds to hang with the American Brewing crew, I was met with excitement when I learned that I was for sure going to be competing in the Great American Beer Festival Pro Am.  See, not only do less than 100 home brewers in the nation get to do this, it took quite a few stars aligning.  Brewery registration opened that morning, and rumor has it that all 500 spots available were spoken for in less than two hours.  Here I thought the most challenging part was winning a medal to qualify!  So after a long, hot, exciting day of brewing with a fork lift (don't ask), this Blonde was what I needed.  Paired with one of Big Mike's famous beer soaked hot dogs from the grill, it quite possibly was the perfect end to a perfect day.

www.americanbrewing.com

Birthday Eve Celebration: SBM Day 8

Day 8:  Big Time Brewery's Sunbreak Blonde Ale
Any chance I get to spend some time with my 35s, I know that it is going to be good.  Throw in a "grumpy hour" in the U District with the promise of a hookah lounge in our future, and there you have it: the ultimate Birthday Eve celebration.  My first pint at Big Time was their Sunbreak Blonde Ale.  After a toasty drive up north in traffic, it was just what I needed.  At only 4.1% ABV, I didn't feel guilty when I had a few more.  A girl's gotta hydrate, right?
Another taste: Old Sol Wheatwine.  When news of my impending oldness caught our beertender's attention, he promptly poured four shots of Old Sol (no pun intended, I'm sure).  While one of my 35s shot it back immediately, I sipped mine.  At nearly 10%, I savored every last drop.

bigtimebrewery.com

SBM: Day 7

Day 7:  Black Raven Brewing Company's Sun Thief
When in the neighborhood of Redmond, WA, it is imperative to stop by Black Raven.  With ample seating both inside and out, it makes for a nice respite in between places to be.  Sunday afternoon, with an hour to spare, I went in for a cold Sun Thief Kristallweizen.  All the times I have been to Black Raven, I have never tried this ale.  Nice and crisp, this German style wheat beer was a thirst quencher.  Paired with great conversation and a warm breeze, I could see how this beer could appease the masses with its low ABV and touch of banana.

blackravenbrewing.com