OC Pink Boots Society Pink Boots Brew, 2018

This past Friday, Unite, a Belgium Tripel Pink Boots Brew created by the OC Pink Boots Society Chapter was released at Anaheim Brewery.  Brewed in collaboration with several OC Pink Boots Society members, the beer was brewed to celebrate International Women's Day.  A portion of the proceeds from the beer will go to the Pink Boots Society as well as a local non-profit the Orange County Family Justice Center Foundation.  

For this year's Pink Boots Brew beer, members were able to select any style of beer, and were encouraged to use a new custom Pink Boots Blend of hops created specifically for the Pink Boots Society by YCH Hops.  I think it is so rad that a special blend of hops was created specifically for the Pink Boots Society.  A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the special Pink Boots Blend of hops will be donated to the scholarship funds of the Pink Boots Society.  

For those unfamiliar with the Pink Boots Society, it is an organization for women who are either currently employed in the beer industry or who have had at least 15 years of experience prior to returning as well as women who are in the process of opening a brewery, brew pub, taproom, or other beer establishment along with women who are enrolled in a beer education program.  The Pink Boots Society helps women by having a professional association that offers both a means for collaboration as well as education.  The Pink Boots Society offers scholarships to help women brewers further their knowledge and expertise in the beer industry.

For this year's Pink Boots Brew, women from around the United States and world at over 230 (!!) breweries collaborated to brew a beer on or around March 8th, International Women's Day.  It's so amazing to see women brewing beer together as well as enjoying the final product of their work for the Pink Boots Brew.  

2014, A Year of Amazing Adventures

2014 was another year filled with amazing adventures, from attending concerts, visiting new breweries, beer events, and of course drinking delicious beers.  Listed below are just a few of my highlights from 2014!

Favorite Events

1.  Sabroso Craft Beer and Taco Festival
Drinking beer while watching luchadores in a picturesque setting, this event was so much fun!

2.  Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest  
Of course, once again, my favorite beer event of the year and one I always look forward to all year long!

Favorite Beers

1.  Ska Brewing's Mexican Logger
A great beer for a warm summer day, I love how light and refreshing this beer tastes!

2.  Firestone Walker's Oaktoberfest
A beer that until last year was only available on draft, so happy to be able to get it in bottles at my local grocery store!

Favorite Shows

1.  Pixies
A year when the Pixies tour is a good year indeed.  Seeing them at Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego was fantastic.  

2.  Weezer
Seeing one of my all-time favorite bands was so much fun, loved that they played both old favorites as well as their new album in it's entirety!

Additional Highlights

1.  Bottle Logic Brewing
Who would've imagined a brewery opening in February winning a medal at the Great American Beer Festival in October?  Pretty amazing if you ask me!  It's been exciting to see Bottle Logic Brewing's success in less than a year's time.  I can't wait to attend their first anniversary celebration!

2.  Bootlegger's Brewery
So excited that the first brewery that introduced me to craft beer won not only one, but two medals at the Great American Beer Festival!  

3.  A Visit to Club 33 and Le Salon Nouveau
Craft beer inside Disneyland?  Luckily, I was able to drink a local favorite, Bootlegger's Brewery's Rustic Rye thanks to a kind friend.

I had such a great 2014 and look forward to many more fun-filled adventures in 2015!

Fall Fun!!! 9/29-10/13

With a post-season baseball game, visits to Disneyland, and hanging out at some of my favorite breweries, these past two weeks have been filled with lots of fun!  

Live music at Disneyland always puts a smile on my face!

The sun always seems to shine more brightly above Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Matterhorn

Cheers to the last game at the Big A until next year!

Lunch at Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach is always a great way to kick off a Saturday!

Cheers to Bottle Logic Brewing's GABF Gold Medal beer, Lagerithm!

Disneyland Fire Department

Cheers to Bootlegger's Brewery and their two GABF medals!

The Halloween Tree at Disneyland

Beach City Brewery's Dat :Lupe Doe DIPA is fantastic!

Oswald the Lucky Rabbit!

Perfect way to end a weekend!

Slidebar's Menu Tasting, September 10th, 2014

Lovely evening for a menu preview

This past Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to preview the Slidebar's new menu which also featured craft beer paired with each item.  Usually, when I think of the Slidebar, I think of mixed drinks and loud music.  While there's nothing wrong with mixed drinks and loud music, I also enjoy eating food and drinking craft beer.  The Slidebar has recently employed a new award-winning chef, Oge Dalken, who has designed a menu which appeals to a broad range of tastes.  The new menu items feature locally grown, hormone-free, and responsibly grown ingredients from a variety of Orange County vendors.  Using local products reinforces the Slidebar's belief in supporting local music as well as food. 

Craft beers used for pairings, was great to see some local beers!

The menu preview night included selections from the appetizers, entrees, and dessert sections of the new menu.  Each item was paired with a craft beer, which further enhanced the flavors and experience.  As a self-professed "picky eater" I was happily surprised with the selections on the menu.  While I must admit, some of the selections made me nervous to try, I can say that I enjoyed all of them.  The Coulotte Steak made from a choice top sirloin cap, coated in coffee-coco rub, wrapped in bacon and topped with velvety beef demi, sundried bing cherries, stilton blue cheese and served on Dijon mashed potatoes was both mine and my boyfriend's favorite item from the evening.  We both thought that the flavor was well balanced and was prepared immaculately.  We were able to share with Chef Dalken how much we enjoyed the steak, and he told us it is one of his favorite dishes to make.

Side patio, which I never had noticed before!

From "picky eaters" like myself to "foodies" like my boyfriend, I think the new menu has something for everyone.  I'm very excited to see that another well-established venue in Orange County is taking the plunge into the world of craft beer as well as incorporating a menu which is enhanced with beer pairings.

Pizza Port Ponto Session IPA

Ahi sliders paired with Clown Shoes Tramp Stamp Belgian IPA

Coney Dog paired with Ninkasi Tricerahops DIPA

  

Mac N' Cheese paired with Chimay Trappist Ale

Chicken & Waffles paired with Bootlegger's Pumpkin Ale

Coulotte Steak paired with Golden Road Get Up Offa That Brown Ale

Banana Bread Beer Float with Wells Banana Bread Beer

Owner Jeremy Popoff talking with guests about the new menu

August Adventures, 8/11-8/18

This past week, I visited the Happiest Place on Earth, had some of my favorite beers at Disney California Adventure, and even helped make some pretzels that incorporated beer into the recipe!

Matterhorn peaking through the Mad Tea Party

Firestone Walker's Oaktoberfest, in bottles!

The jungle framing Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Firestone Walker DBA and Ballast Point Sculpin at Disney California Adventure

Is this room actually stretching?

Bootlegger's Brewery Knuckle Sandwich pretzels

A Visit to Club 33 and Le Salon Nouveau, Dreams Do Come True!

Stairway in Court of Angels that lead to the new entrance of Club 33

My favorite adventures are those that are unexpected, like my visit to Club 33 a few weeks ago. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Club 33, it is an exclusive restaurant located inside Disneyland.  To gain access to Club 33, you either have to be a member or know a member who is gracious enough to extend an invitation.  I have had the privilege of visiting Club 33 in the past and was beyond excited when I found out I would have the chance to visit once again.  I was even more excited because Club 33 recently underwent an extensive renovation which included the addition of Le Salon Nouveau.

Mosaic tile at entrance of Club 33

Vulture that used to be in the Trophy Room, it talked to me when I walked by! 

Upon entering the foyer of Club 33, you are able to enter Le Salon Nouveau by walking down a hallway which is lined from floor to ceiling with wine bottles.  The hallway continues with themed booths on either side which feature artwork that changes slowly and feature various scenes, such as a riverboat.

One of the themed booths in hallway leading to Le Salon Nouveau

Le Salon Nouveau has many beautiful features such as a stained glass ceiling light fixture which changes colors at various times as well as a piano that features the ability to play concerts from far away.  There are many different seating options throughout Le Salon Nouveau for both larger and small groups of friends.

Gorgeous piano, which has the ability to play music streamed from concerts in Le Salon Nouveau

Le Salon Nouveau features a bar with an extensive selection of both spirits, wine, and craft beer.  I was  very happy to see that there are many more craft beer selections now featured at Club 33, previously it was usually limited to only one or two options.  Le Salon Nouveau now has beers from: Bear Republic, Stone Brewing, Abita, Anchor Brewing, Iron Fist Brewing, The Bruery, Karl Strauss, Alesmith, and one of my local favorites, Bootlegger's Brewery.  One of the cocktails, the Hurricane, features Ballast Point Three Sheets Rum.

Bootlegger's Brewery, Rustic Rye IPA

Vieux Carre

One of my favorite parts of Club 33 are the beautiful paintings that are in the hallway which leads to the newly renovated Grand Salon.  The bright hallway made me feel like I was in France.  

Beautiful paintings in hallway

Le Grand Salon 

I was very happy to see that older elements from Club 33 were incorporated into the new design, such as the harpsichord which is now located in the foyer.

Foyer of Club 33 featuring harpsichord

I had such an amazing time visiting Club 33 and Le Salon Nouveau.  Unexpected adventures really are the best, and I'm so thankful I was able to go!

Tinkerbell in light fixture in Court of Angels