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.  



Charlotte, NC - NoDa Brewing Company

NoDa Brewing Company

Anytime I get together with my friend Debby, it's reason to celebrate. We go way back - all the way to post-college days when we were roommates in Boston.  We had some good times then, and after I moved out of the area, we've managed to meet up somewhere new every year or two, to continue our adventures. Our friendship is filled with memorable experiences, and this weekend in Charlotte, NC was no exception.

Although very knowledgeable about wine, Debby is just dabbling in the world of craft beer. Her daughter, Annie,who lives in Charlotte, is well immersed in the beer world, and so upon her enthusiastic recommendation, the three of us ventured out to one of the newest breweries in Charlotte.





NoDa Brewing Company is located in the North Davidson (NoDa) neighborhood, a once industrial area that has been rejuvenated, and is now an artsy locale inspired by SoHo in New York City. It's not quite there yet, but it's definitely one of Charlotte's hippest areas. The microbrewery's has a large open tap room, designed with an industrial feel. It is filled with solid wood tables and a long bar that extends the width of the building. Behind the bar are picture windows exposing the huge stainless steel beer vats. The tap room is open to visitors for a few hours most evenings. Tours are available during the hours the tap room is open. The Friday night we were there it was filled with happy folks enjoying a cold one (or two or three) to celebrate the end of the work week. It has clearly become a favorite with craft beer enthusiasts in Charlotte. After tasting the beer, we could understand why.

The colors of the beer are gorgeous.  Are you thirsty?

What did we have: We decided to buy two flights of four beers each. Since they were featuring five beers on tap that night, we had the opportunity to taste them all. The colors of all the beer are gorgeous. From rich reds to deep browns, they looked so inviting even before we took the first sip.  Upon tasting the beer I was immediately reminded of the Oregon microbreweries I've visited. Their brews have a strong hop finish, characteristic of the northwest. My personal favorite was Ramble on Red, a balanced red ale with a subtle hop. Debby enjoyed that one as well. Annie, a real hop enthusiast, favored the NoDaRyeZ'd, a double rye India Pale Ale. I also thought the CoCo LoCo was noteworthy. It had an unusual chocolate coconut porter, almost black in color and more bitter than sweet. There is no food served at NoDa, however, outside is a food truck serving an assortment of Pan Asian tacos that can be purchased and eaten inside. We saw many folks enjoying an unusual teriyaki or curry taco. Seemed to pair well with the beer.

Good friends. Good beer. Good times.

What was fun: When overflowing with locals enjoying a few pints after work, this lively tap room was filled with energy. Drinking good beer, in the company of good friends, surrounded by a crowd of happy folks, is always fun. It's exciting to discover a new microbrewery that has only been open a few months and is already producing high quality and interesting beer. As new microbreweries and brew pubs seem to be popping in every town and city in the country, producing consistently high quality and unique brews are going to be determining factors as to who succeeds. Being housed in a desirable location and offering a comfortable and inviting place to enjoy the beer will also be factors. NoDa seems to be scoring high in all these areas and I only expect they will see more success as they continue to experiment.

Danielsville, GA - Boutier Winery

Boutier Winery tasting room on a gorgeous winter day.

The great thing about living in Athens, GA is that there are a number of unique venues in the area to explore.  When work and budget constraints do not allow for travel, I have plenty of places in my back yard to check out.  And that's just what we did one Saturday this winter.  We took a little wine tasting trip to Boutier Winery, small boutique vineyard just 20 miles from Athens.  To call it a vineyard, is a little premature, but the proprietors do have plans to grow grapes in the future. At present all their grapes and other fruit are provided by other growers. The wine is made on premise and some is quite good. 

A wine barrel candle holder handcrafted by Victor Boutier.

When traveling from Athens or Atlanta, you drive down several pleasant country roads to get to Boutier.  Located on a top of of hill, the small attractive building that houses the tasting room and event facilities, is surrounded by unique sculpture, gardens and a wine barrel fountain.  Upon entering you find yourself in a beautifully decorated and warmly inviting tasting room. In addition to wine tasting, there are unique wine related gifts available for purchase.  I particularly liked the wine barrel candle holders hand crafted by the proprietor. 

Victor Boutier and his kitchy fruit wines.

What did we have: Our friend and petsitter, Emily, bought us gift certificates for wine tasting.  Otherwise the cost would have been $10 each.  Of course that is waived with the purchase of wine.  We received personal service from owners Victor and Mary Ann Boutier. We sampled all the traditional grape wine choices available at that time, and a few of their other fruit wine specialties. Victor, the winemaker, makes small batches and bottles maximum of 1500.  He sells his wine at the winery and it is offered at several restaurants in Atlanta.  Their red wines include Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Elegance Vin Rouge and Hot Flash - a combo of Petit Syrah, Malbac and Syrah.  We only tasted two of the white wines, a Reisling and Chardonnay. We really liked the crisp dry Reisling. Their specialty is their fruit wine.  With names like Diva 'Licious and The Skinny Bitch and The Cranky Bastard, you know they're not taking themselves too seriously, but I actually enjoyed both the peach and blueberry wine.  It wasn't as sweet as you might think and it would couple beautifully with dark chocolate.



The warm and inviting tasting room at Boutier.

What was fun: Just discovering this unique little winery close to home was a treat.  We really enjoyed the personal attention we received from the proprietors.  The wine was fine and we even bought a couple of bottles to take home with us. I love the entrepreneurial spirit of the proprietors and local flavor that inspired this winery in the back hills of Georgia.

Beer Wine Chocolate Fitness Plan

Okay, I refuse to call it a diet, but the goal is to lose the extra holiday pounds and tighten everything up in time for our March cruise and the celebration of a big birthday. So let's just call it a readjustment plan. I need to readjust down about 8 pounds to be at my triathlon weight, back when I was in my peak condition. It's actually pretty easy and it works. I do some version of it every year. Life is way too short to go without beer, wine or chocolate, so they're all included.  

1. Ramp up my exercise. I already run, walk and work-out at the gym. To ramp it up I need to increase all these activities to burn off at least 100 more calories a day. Just run or walk a mile more and that should do it.  I also work in a three story building, so I make sure I run up and down the stairs at least 5 times a day. Great for the legs!

2. Record everything I eat. I use the My Fitness Pal app on my iPhone. There is also a android version. It's free, easy to use, and calculates calories and the nutritional components of food. It helps you set up the appropriate number of daily calories you can eat and still lose weight. For me it's about 1500 calories. I need to be religious about this step. Nothing passes these lips without being recorded.

3. Stick to a Mediterranean diet rich in fish, seafood, poultry, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. I also include two portions of Greek yogurt every day. It's filling, satisfying and studies have shown that including low fat dairy in your diet helps reduce belly fat!

4. Every day include one glass of beer or wine, and a small portion of chocolate.  I choose Lindt because it's my favorite, but any fine quality dark chocolate will do. Two squares (about 100 calories) are just enough to be satisfying. I pair the chocolate with either a glass of craft beer or favorite wine, and focus only on the experience of enjoying my end of the evening treat. I include these treat calories in my daily allowance of 1500.

And that's all there is to it. Let me know if you try some version of this. I'll check back on March 1 and let you know how I did.
Cheers and Happy New Year.

Some of my favorites.