Beer Blogging Friday, The Session #83 – Against the Grain

The first Friday of every month, a group of beer bloggers around the globe come together to write a post for The Sessions, also known as Beer Blogging Friday.

For the month of January, Rebecca, who writes The Bake and Brew, chose the topic, "How much is our taste or opinion of a craft beer affected by what friends and the craft beer community at large thinks? What beer do you love that no one else seems to get? Or what beer do you say “no thanks” to that everyone can’t get enough of?"  

I love this topic as it is something that seems to be a topic of discussion on a fairly regular basis.  For myself, it may not be so much a specific beer that I may not like that others favor as much as a specific style.  I feel I am still quite young in my craft beer journey, having only been introduced to craft beer in the past few years.  As with many craft beer drinkers, I found IPAs as my favorite style very quickly and still tend to favor the style.  While there are beers from styles I may not usually like, I will still try them.  

I have found there are beers that I do not like upon first sip, but when given a second chance, I have fallen in love with them.  One beer that comes to mind is Beachwood BBQ & Brewing System of a Stout.  When I first tasted this GABF bronze medal winning beer, which many of my friends were raving about, I wasn't a fan.  Of course, it happens to have upon first sip been one of my boyfriend's favorite beers.  When bottles of the beer were released, I made the trek to Long Beach to get bottles for my boyfriend, not thinking I would even drink any of them.  I decided to have another try of the beer and it is now among one of my favorites.  Not because anyone told me to try it again, nor because so many people loved it, but because I found to like the beer on my own.  

For myself, my tastes and opinions of any craft beer is not affected by my friends or what the craft beer community at large thinks.  I'm thankful that I have access to such a wide variety of beers and styles of beers on a regular basis.  It is definitely an exciting time in the craft beer community and industry.

New Year Kickoff

My view at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens

The first day of a new year has promise and hope, like an unopened bottle of beer. 

Yesterday, I ventured down to one of my favorite craft beer destinations, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens.  Whenever I go to Stone, I feel as if I'm very far away even though it's less than 100 miles from home.  The gardens are filled with out of the way areas to sit, relax, and enjoy the ambience complete with water falls. 

Cheers to the first beers of 2014!

My boyfriend and I ordered our favorite appetizer, beer pretzels, which never let us down. 

I had a 2006 Double Bastard Ale while my boyfriend had the Tiger Cub Saison, both made by Stone Brewing.  We had a delicious lunch, I had a side order of beer mac n cheese, with both broccoli and sausage.  My boyfriend had steak which was amazing!

Love the pretzels at Stone!

As our meal was winding down, we ordered one more beer, a CANlaboration from Oskar Blues and Sun King Brewing, the Deuce.  The can was unique and the beer was very tasty! 

The Deuce

An Epic Year

I've been lucky enough to attend some pretty epic events this year, drink some amazing beers, and see some of my favorite bands perform live.  Listed below are just a few of my favorite events, beers, and shows from 2013.

Favorite Events

1.  Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest
An event where it is hotter than Africa that is still amazing?  Fantastic beers from around the world, country, and state.  I'm excited that I already have secured my tickets for 2014's festival.

Tasting glasses waiting for new friends.

2.  Stone's 17th Anniversary
When an event that already has a reputation for being amazing improves itself, it's a pretty impressive feat.  Stone expanded their offerings this year, which means more people were happy with even more amazing beer.  Another event that was held on a warm summer day that I really loved.

Cheers to 17 years!

3.  Great American Beer Festival
I've been fortunate to now attend this event for two years.  Must say, although the event itself is well done, I enjoy visiting all of the nearby breweries even more!  This year, I went on a brewery tour bus with Bootlegger's Brewery, which was rad.  My favorite brewery that I visited, like last year, was New Belgium.  I may or may not have told more than one person how I won a bike from them this year.

Brewery tours are always fun.

Favorite beers

1.  Firestone Walker Brewing Company's PNC
I've had PNC on more than one occasion, and each time, I want more.

PNC at Toronado

2.  Modern Times Beer's Blazing World
A new brewery, rad tasting room, and phenomenal beers.  I'm looking forward to see what 2014 has in store for Modern Times!

Modern Times Lomaland Fermentorium

3.  Gigantic Brewing Company's IPA
I have to admit, since I am a fan of the Pixies, having a brewery named Gigantic already piqued my interest.  Their beers are among my new favorites of the year.

Gigantic Brewing Company's label artwork is fantastic!

Favorite shows
1.  The Sound City Players on Hollywood Boulevard for Jimmy Kimmel Live
Seeing the members of the Foo Fighters perform with some legendary musicians, such as Rick Springfield was amazing.  I still can't believe it.  Especially since it was free and a few days before my birthday!

David Eric Grohl and Rick Springfield

2.  Bad Religion at SOMA in San Diego
Never disappoints.

Bad Religion

3.  The Pixies at the El Rey in Hollywood
A band that I thought I would never see perform, since they broke up before I was introduced to their music.  I've been lucky to see them several times before this show, but never in such a small venue.  The El Rey is one of my favorite venues, and the Pixies did not let me down.

The Pixies!

I had such an amazing year going on so many epic adventures, I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for me!

Dana Point, New Year's Day 2013

Beer Blogging Friday, #81 Scary Beer Feminists!

The first Friday of every month, a group of beer bloggers around the globe come together to write a post for The Sessions, also known as Beer Blogging Friday.

For the month of November, Nichole Richard, who writes Tasting Nitch, chose the topic, "Women and Beer: Scary Beer Feminists or a Healthy Growing Demographic?"  

I find this topic interesting, because I have never really thought that women being involved in the craft beer world to be a novelty.  Perhaps because I grew up as a girl playing with both Barbies and Tonka trucks, it seems normal to me for men and women to share the same hobbies and interests.   

While I do realize that when I attend beer events, women are in the minority, I've never really questioned it.  I'm not sure if I would have discovered my love for craft beer if it hadn't been for my helpful boyfriend.  I had sampled craft beer prior to meeting him, but had no idea all of the options that were available and what an ever expanding market the craft beer industry is.

Throughout my craft beer adventures, I have been fortunate to make many amazing friends.  Not once have I felt that my opinions may not be taken seriously because I happen to be female.  I have friends who know much more about beer than I do, yet they always listen to what I have to say, which I appreciate.  

I hope that both women and men continue to realize how amazing craft beer is and give it a try.  Beer is for everyone, well, everyone who is of legal drinking age!