San Diego - Karl Strauss

The original Karl Strauss Brew Pub.

San Diego will always be special to me since it's where I met my husband. It was over a pint of John Courage at the old Princess of Whales Pub in downtown San Diego that we fell in love. It's been over twenty years since I've lived there, and a lot has changed. It's become a mecca for microbreweries, and a favorite of craft beer aficionados who love heavily hopped ales. Back in 1989, it all began with the Karl Strauss. On this short visit to San Diego we decided to go back to the original and see how their beer has stood up over time. I'd have to say, it still is great. I love the fact that they brew a wide range of beer styles, from German wheat to a nice balanced hoppy black rye IPA.

A flight of Karl Strauss craft beer, and a pint of wheat. 

What did we have:  Per usual, I ordered the featured flight of four beers. They included the Windansea Wheat, Pintail Pale Ale, Amber Lager and my favorite, the Blackball Belgian IPA. I enjoyed all four featured beers, but the Blackball was really special.  I love a beer with a high IBU (international bittering unit), that's balanced with malt to cut the bitterness.  The complexity makes it interesting, and so enjoyable.  My ever-predictable husband drank a pint of his summer fave, Windansea Wheat, which was reminiscent of our trip last year to Germany.  He followed it with one of his all times favorites. Red Trolley Ale, a Karl Strauss standby.  We wanted to eat light, so we shared a Seared Ahi Salad that was surprisingly tasty and quite the work of art.

The Ahi Salad is a work of art. 

What was fun:  There are now numerous Karl Strauss brew pubs around San Diego, but we went to the downtown original.  It was mid-afternoon and the Happy Hour crowd had yet to arrive. We had a great table on the outside patio and received excellent service. It's great to know that Karl Strauss is still a major player in the craft beer scene after all these years and I definitely recommend a stop there when visiting my former home town.

My "partner in fun" enjoys his beer. 

Asheville, NC - Asheville Tourists Baseball

The players make a few fans happy. 

Could there be any better celebration for the 4th of July than a minor league baseball game followed by a fireworks display? My husband, Bruce, and I didn't think so. We made plans in advance since we learned the hard way that McCormick Field, home of the Asheville Tourists, sells out early for this big game. We were hoping for some good baseball and some spectacular fireworks. We found both, and at least 20 selections of craft beer on tap to choose from. Why was I surprised? What else would you expect from BeerTown, USA?  We're used to going to Atlanta Braves games where Bud and Miller rule with not a craft beer in sight (although I'm told that somewhere there is a Sweetwater kiosk, but we've never found it).  When we walked into the entrance of McCormick Field we were greeted with a line of beer stands, each featuring different varieties of craft beer. Many of them local brews, and some selections from around the country. The biggest problem we faced was how do you choose?

So many craft beer choices!

What did we have:  This was one of the most difficult beer decisions I've faced in a while.  Even though I'm an enthusiastic beer consumer, I can't drink a lot in one setting. So I was limited to only two selections.  Bruce can drink a little more, but wouldn't you know, he found a favorite first time around and kept ordering the same. For the first round we both decided to go local and I chose a Highland Gaelic Ale, their very popular amber. Good choice!  Bruce picked the seasonal Highland Razor Wit, a Belgian Wheat. As I said, he loved it.  I sipped my amber for the first three innings and then went back down for selection #2. I wanted a souvenir cup (a little larger pour) and selected something I knew Bruce would like as well, so he could help me out. I decided to head west this time and chose the Breckenridge Agave Wheat. Oh yum, crisp and refreshing but with real depth for a wheat beer. Another great selection to sip through the rest of the game.

Take me out to the Ball Game, and buy me some craft beer. 

What was fun:  Oh my gosh, what could be more fun?  It was a beautiful night in Asheville, NC.  The ball game was entertaining, the local crowd was enthusiastic and extremely friendly, the fireworks did not disappoint, and the beer....simply amazing.  The food wasn't bad either.  I got a tasty veggie taco from a food cart that paired very well with my craft beer.  So, what are we doing next year for the 4th of July?  Perhaps the very same thing.  I have 18 more beer selections to check out.

Brevard, NC -Brevard Brewing Company

The store front entrance of  Brevard Brewing Company. 

When I told our friends Angie and Jonathan that we were heading to Asheville for the 4th of July, they suggested we stop on the way in Brevard, NC, and check out their new microbrewery. We took them up on it, and what a great recommendation!  Brevard is a quaint mountain town with one main street.  Brevard Brewing Company is located in one of the store fronts downtown.  To walk inside you can tell this establishment was only open in April and is still getting started.  The brewing takes place in the back room, a large bar and open area with limited seating makes up the tasting room.  Local art is the main decor that lines the walls.  The building may feel like it's still a work in progress and nothing out of the ordinary, but the beer is the real deal.  Their main problem is keeping up with demand.  After tasting all they had to offer, I can understand why.

Brevard Brewing serves five outstanding ales. 

What did we have:  This was a short stop and we still had almost an hour of driving left to get to Asheville, so we limited our drinking.  As the driver, I ordered the taster of five beers and only had a few sips of each.  It was enough to make me want more! Their specialties are German style ale. Just one short year ago we were drinking beer in Munich, so we felt qualified to judge if it truly was up to German standards.  I must say, it comes pretty darn close.  The flight consisted of Lager, Pilsner, Hefeweisen, IPA and Dunkel. When sipping the Dunkel I could imagine myself relaxing in a German Beer Garden. It burst with flavor.  The hef was also a highlight.  The biggest surprise was the IPA which has just the right hop finish to make it interesting.

Ahhh, the pretty beer!

Why is it fun:  It was a great treat to find such a high quality microbrewery in the small town of Brevard. At the time of our visit, around 5 pm, there was a nice gathering of locals who have clearly claimed this place their own.  Live music is featured on the weekends and I'm told that it's very lively.  The server informed us their beer is now served at all the restaurants in Brevard, and if they could meet demand, I'm sure they could easily expand into Asheville.  For right now, a stop in Brevard and a visit to the local microbrewery is well worth the trip. We'll be back, and next time we'll pick up a growler to bring home.

Hilton Head Island, SC - The Lodge

The front entrance of The Lodge in Hilton Head. 

If you're looking for miles of sandy beaches, a unique natural setting, and world famous golf courses, Hilton Head Island is a terrific vacation destination.  If you're looking for great craft beer, not so much.  Bud and Coors are everywhere, but for years it's been difficult to find a bar that offers a selection of draft craft beer.  The good news is that The Lodge, formally a martini and cigar bar, is now the island's choice for an interesting and varied selection of craft draft. You can skip the local brew pub, located right next door, but The Lodge is worth the visit. I got to sample four new beers, and that's always fun.

A one of a kind bar on Hilton Head Island. 

Most of the popular bars on Hilton Head are going for a bright, cheerful beach feel. Not The Lodge. Walk inside and you'd think you were in Montana or Alaska with the dark wood paneled walls adorned with mounted animal heads, and bar stools that are covered with faux animal skins. It's dark, and not at all what you'd expect for a beach community. The Lodge features 36 rotating taps with a rather eclectic selection of beer, including the ubiquitous Pabst and Yuengling to Harpoon Leviathan with a whopping 10% ABV.

A sampling of very tasty summer ales. 

What did we have:  We came for Happy Hour and decided to have a bite to eat along with the discounted drafts. Since they offered many selections that I hadn't tried, I decided on a sampler of summer ale style beers.  I asked our server to recommend selections that had some character with a nice hop finish.  My sampler included North Coast Blue Star American Pale Wheat Beer, Anderson Valley Summer Solstice Cream Ale, Foothills Hurricane Hefeweizen and Stone Cali-Belgique IPA. I did not dislike any of the selections, but found only the Stone Cali-Belgique to have the complex taste I was looking for.  I also enjoyed the cream ale, but due to it's sweetness, a small quantity sufficed. The menu offered usual pub grub fare with a large selection of burgers and barbecue.  I chose the caprese grilled cheese with mozzarella, basil chiffonade, tomato slices on Parmesan crusted sourdough with balsamic glaze dip.  It was very tasty.  My husband enjoyed his baby back ribs.

What was fun: Just the fact that you can find a venue on Hilton Head Island that serves craft beer is a treat. I hope that the locals, as well as visitors, will support this bar. Among the plethora of beach bars featuring overly-sweet Margaritas, Corona and Jimmy Buffett cover songs, it's great to have one establishment that actually serves GOOD beer.

Bend, OR - Brother Jon's Alehouse

The entrance of Brother Jon's Alehouse in downtown Bend. 

It's always a delight to return to Bend and find new craft beer venues in town.  Brother Jon's Alehouse is one that caught my eye as we drove into town. Our first stop was to Dechutes Pub to check out the new expansion. After a great meal and a few pints, we decided to head across the street to pay a visit to the Alehouse.  It was so jam packed we decided we'd come back at another time.  

The Alehouse features a full bar 14 rotating beers on tap.  

We returned the next day in mid-afternoon to avoid the lunch crowd. Although only in business for four months, it's clear this pub has already developed loyal patrons. It features 14 beers on tap, mostly from local and other northwest breweries, and IPA influenced.  They also include a German favorite, Weihenstephan Hefeweizen, and a Belgian red ale. They have a full bar and serve some fine Oregon wines.

Three of the great beers on tap.

Our friendly server recommended the local Boneyard RPM IPA, which is considered one of the best in the area. I had to agree. I also had a half pint of the Deschutes seasonal, Red Chair, which has IPA characteristics without the bitterness and, coincidentally was not available at Deschutes Pub when we visited the previous evening.  Our server told us it was the last keg in town. 

Perhaps the best bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwich ever.

The food at the Alehouse is a notch above usual pub fare.  According to our server, the owner's philosophy is to use the highest quality local ingredients and offer menu items at great value. They definitely succeeded.  We shared several dishes including the BLTA, a traditional BLT with avocado featuring the best bacon available in Oregon, a blackened wild Coho salmon and goat cheese fritter salad, and an Alehouse brat marinated in local IPA beer.   I get hungry just thinking about this meal.

We all had a great time at the family friendly Alehouse.

There are  lots of great places to drink beer in Bend, but I'm betting that the Alehouse has the winning formula to stick around for a long while. The great downtown location, excellent beer selection and memorable food will keep folks coming back.  I know I'm one of them.

Athens, GA - Terrapin Brewery

Terrapin offered a great selection the night we visited. 

It is hard to beat the energy and atmosphere of Athens, GA in the month of April. With the exception of autumn, when football fever is everywhere, the spring is this college town's most exciting season. Outdoor events abound, the weather is gorgeous and healthy University of Georgia students are out in force looking for a little fun before finals begin.  All were in play when we visited Terrapin Brewery last Saturday night to drink beer and enjoy the festivities.  Terrapin is celebrating their 10th year anniversary this month and is currently a regional microbrewery, producing craft beer and distributing only to a few southern states. The great news is due to their success, there are plans for expansion and broader distribution If you haven't had the chance to sample some Terrapin Beer, you're missing out.

More people tasting than touring

Why go:
The Terrapin microbrewery is located only a few miles from the UGA campus, and therefore, a popular destination for students and other members of the University community looking for some great beer and something fun to do. The brewery is open for tours and tasting on Wednesday - Saturday nights from 5:30 - 7:30. Georgia law prevents selling the beer at the brewery, but you can buy an imprinted beer glass for $10, and with that comes 8 tickets for "tasting."  Each taste is a healthy 4 ounce pour and you can easily sample all the beers they have available, and go back for seconds on the ones you like the best.  On the busy Saturday night when we visited, there were bars set up both inside the brewery and outside in the large gathering area where there are tables, a large lawn where people sit on folding chairs and blankets, and a stage for live music. The brewery was hosting a fundraiser and there were booths of food vendors from local eating establishments.  For $25 you could drink your beer, eat all you wanted of an eclectic assortment of delicious food, enjoy the music, and support a great local cause. Terrapin has made a huge impact on the Athens community over the past decade supporting many local philanthropic organizations and sponsoring numerous special events.

A generous 4 ounce pour.  Eight pours per visit. 

What did we have:
Unfortunately I was the driver that night, so I had to limit my beer consumption.  Truthfully, I have tried most of Terrapin's beers over the years, so I was familiar with their offerings.  I really like the Hop Karma, a brown IPA with just the right balance of malt and hops.  The Rye Pale Ale is very popular and I enjoyed that as well.  My favorite was the special release Anniversary Ale, a strong Belgian 10% blond with malt, spices and totally yummy. If it's hot and you're thirsty, the crisp, clean bold tasting Golden Ale, my husband's favorite, may be your beer of choice. For hop lovers, the Hopsecutioner, is a big hit, and Hopzilla, a side project with a whopping 110 IBUs is only for the real hop head. The great thing about Terrapin is that you just never know what they are going to come up with next. Whatever it is, I know it's going to be fun.


 

Great people and dog watching at Terrapin

What's fun:
Okay, so here is the deal.  If you love craft beer and haven't visited our quintessential college town (and why haven't you?)  I have a reason for you to put Athens, GA on your list of "must visit" locales. It is really hard to beat the fun you'll have on an April or October evening at Terrapin Brewery on a Saturday night.  With the laid back happy crowd, the live music, the superb people (and dog) watching, it feels like an American version of a German beer garden.  The beer is great, and with every year it keeps getting better. I absolutely expect to see this microbrewery listed on the Beer Advocate's top 50 list near future.

Caribbean Cruise - Spring Break 2012



The Celebrity Eclipse in all her glory.

Spring Break is a glorious thing when you work on a college campus. If you work during the break it's nice and quiet and you can catch up on all the things you've put aside during the semester.  If you're really smart, you'll take advantage of the break and head out somewhere fun to relax, recreate and rejuvenate.

That's just what my husband and I did this year.  We flew to Miami and boarded the Celebrity Eclipse for a week long cruise in the Caribbean.  Since I'm always in search of beer, wine and chocolate, that's exactly what I did on this cruise.

The beer:  Whenever I can, I always like to drink local.  Even though the Caribbean is not known for their great beer, I still totally enjoyed the experience, and found a local beer I actually enjoyed.

There were no craft beer options aboard the Eclipse.  This may change in the near future. With the growing popularity of craft beer, Celebrity piloted a specialty bar that features 64 beer choices on their newest ship, the Silhouette.  I was told by the beverage manager that it has been a great success and they are planning to incorporate the concept on other ships. When I write my review next year, it may be totally different.

In addition to the usual, Bud, Miller, Heineken, Corona, etc, our choices aboard the Eclipse included some very flavorful beer, including Leffe from Belgium, Boddingtons and Newcastle from England. We enjoyed what we had but when we went a shore on the islands we searched for local offerings.



A bottle of Carib tasted mighty fine. 

My favorite, and by far the most fun beer experience, took place on the island of St. Kitts.  We took a catamaran with about 30 other happy folks on a snorkeling trip. We began our trip with an hour sail along the coast of the beautiful island to a choice snorkeling cove. We spent an hour snorkeling in the turquoise waters where we were treated to a colorful display of the ocean's inhabitants.

After the snorkeling was completed,  the bar in the catamaran opened, offering rum punch with freshly grated nutmeg, and beer.  I cracked open a Carib, a beer brewed in Trinidad and Tobago. After a few hours in the sun and surf, it tasted amazing.  A clean, crisp, slightly sweet lager, went down just fine on that gorgeous afternoon.  We sailed to a private beach where we enjoyed a barbecue and a few more Caribs and an hour or two of fun on the beach.  I'd have to rate this one great beer experience that I won't forget anytime soon.



This group of red wines did not require refrigeration. 




















The Wine:  What's lacking in beer selection aboard the Celebrity Eclipse, you make up in the wine selection.  It is impressive by most standards, and we enjoyed a number of great wine selections aboard ship. You can purchase a wine package and try a new bottle of wine every night, or partake in one of the wine tastings they offer  for both beginners and more experienced enthusiasts.

The ship offers a unique wine experience in their Cellar Masters bar.  Wines are grouped and stored at the ideal temperature for the type of wine. A specially designed dispenser will let you pour the amount of wine you choose. You are charged a few dollars for a sample, a little more for a small glass, or as much as $15 - $20 for a full glass of the more expensive selections. This is a great way to find a new favorite without having to buy a whole bottle.



The wine steward prepares a flight of white wine for us.




















We sampled a flight of whites that were recommended by the wine steward. They included Elk Cove Pinot Gris from the Willamette Valley in Oregon, Paco & Lola Albarino  from the Rais Baixas region of Spain and 2009 Chardonnays from Cakebread Cellars and Far Niente, both from the Napa Valley in California. I enjoyed all the choices, particularly the Far Niente, and would consider buying a bottle stateside.

My favorite wine experience on board ship took place one night when they offered skygazing on the top deck. One unique feature on the Eclipse and other Celebrity ships is that they have a full lush lawn on the top deck on the ship.  Not just for show, you can actually walk, play games and lounge on the lawn at any time during the cruise.  It's very relaxing and a nice feature.

During the stargazing event, guests are invited to lie out on blankets provided by the ship's staff, order a glass of wine and enjoy a guided tour of the heavens provided by on of the ships navigators.  The ambiance was amazing and a glass of wine enhanced the experience as we identified constellations and planets while the ship smoothly sailed through the Caribbean Sea.



Afternoon tea

















The Chocolate:  Celebrity cruise line is known for it's fine food, and in one week's time you can sample more chocolate than you can even imagine.  All the chocolate pastries and ice cream are made on board during the cruise. Even the sugar free options are amazing.

Start the day with a chocolate croissant at breakfast. How about some chocolate bread pudding, or chocolate cheesecake for lunch?  Mid-afternoon enjoy a scoop of chocolate ice cream or gelato. For afternoon tea enjoy a plate of delicate pastries of your choice. Instead of tea you may order a specialty mocha coffee. Dessert at dinner may be chocolate mousse, triple chocolate layer cake or baked Alaska.

After dinner you can savor a chocolate martini,and when you return to your state room, you'll find a gourmet square of unusually blended chocolate such as dark chocolate infused with ginger, on your pillow. The next day, just start all over again with a new selection of treats. It's no wonder the average cruiser gains a few pounds during the week.


Baked Alaska with homemade chocolate ice cream.