Beer Meditation
Dec 25, 2009 Events, Good People, Home Free Tour 2009
Hats off to Ben and for looking for a new opportunity, taking action to develop his dream and inviting me into the conversation at his home in Detroit last week.
Ben and a prototype
It’s becoming somewhat regular to get contacted by people to reaching out, calling or emailing in their efforts to start a new brewery, do research and other women and beer related projects. Looking for real information to bolster their cause.
Great! It’s flattering and interesting to be tapped as a resource. Every one has a story and each one is the same and unique simultaneously.
The ongoing efforts by WEB to compile qualitative psycho graphic data continues to make more and more solid information available for members of the beer community. The information supports, redefines, and enlightens – which is exactly the goal in supporting the greater beer community.
It’s precisely why Women Enjoying Beer was created and marches forward in the name of beer.
Tags: Ben Julian, Detroit, Rolling Stoneware
Smallest and Biggest
Dec 23, 2009 Beer, Beer & Food, Good People, Home Free Tour 2009
Sean Lawson & I in his tidy and tasty Vermont Brewery
A big thank you to Sean Lawson of Lawson’s Finest for a very fun and tasty visit while in Vermont. He graciously took the time on a gorgeous snowy Saturday to give us a tour of his brewery – “Vermont’s Smallest” – on our trip.
He’d reached out a while back when I announced the trip so we had a connection planned.
Alas! Mother nature decided to snow and storm – which is great unless you’re needing to get safely to a destination on relatively rural roads.
We were able to connect a day later – whew! And what tasty fun it was. Sean plied us with a few of his beers and then generously gave us a few parting gifts to extend the experience. We enjoyed both of them recently with hosts who also like beer and 
particularly trying new beers.
The Big Hapi IBA – India Black Ale was first. Grapefruity, terrific floral aroma, gorgeous color and nice head. Full flavored and delicious.
Next came the Farmhouse Rye – Belgian style, 11% ABV, very nice. Would pair very nicely with a grilled pear and havarti or gouda cheese sandwich.
As with all the brewers we’ve had the pleasure of visiting with on this trip, Sean shares the passion. Well made beer comes in many forms from many people.
And I for one am thankful for them all.
Cheers!
Tags: Lawson's Finest, Vermont
Nitty Gritty
Dec 18, 2009 Beer & Food, Home Free Tour 2009
Thanks to the folks at Gritty’s for the hospitality this week.
The proverbial port in a winter storm, it was.
Traveling the better part of a day in the blender of Mother Nature’s winter workshop made us thirsty and hungry. So good thing we landed at Gritty’s. The ample sampler and sweet potato fries with maple sour cream provided for new flavors and tastes on a blustery day.
Cheers!
Tags: Gritty McDuff's
A Few Constants
Dec 15, 2009 Good People, Home Free Tour 2009, Something To Think About
This trip has been thoroughly thought provoking on so many levels and in so many ways. We still have a few weeks to go and surely more enlightenment is just ahead.
To those of you in the community in any way, you may nod your head. For those of you newer to it, here are a few thoughts to consider as you continue your journey with beer.
- Beer people are passionate about beer. Period.
- Beer folks have favorites whether it’s the one in front of them or a particular beer they worship and crave.
- Beer people are engaged in their communities. The economic support to communities breweries and beer oriented vendors and supplies provide is a solid family friendly investment in our society.
- They’ll do what they can to help another beer person out. Testimony to that are all the places we’ve stayed along the way with beer people opening their homes to others they have not even met yet (us).
- They speak up when a voice needs to be heard. The courage and fortitude displayed by beer people, quiet or obvious, is admirable.
- They’re fun to drink beer with.
- They’re eager to share and educate others about beer. It’s a self fulfilling prophecy that’s delicious.
The list goes on and on so for today, this’ll be the short version.
When you engage in the beer community, you discover a whole world of terrific people, opportunity, and great tasting liquid – they are all life enhancing and I fully intend to charge on.
Brick House And Great People
Dec 7, 2009 Beer, Beer & Food, Events, Good People, Home Free Tour 2009
Cheers at the Brickskeller!!
Here’s a glass lift to all who came out to the Brickskeller this past Wednesday night for some beers and respite from rainy DC weather. It was warm and beery inside.
Jonathon – it’s in big part your doing – thanks! Can’t wait to collaborate more.
Greg, Lindy, Charlie, Christian, Martin, Tammy, Bruce, Larry, Erin, and Rachel and Bill. What a fun group of beer enthusiasts.
One thing that continues to be remarkable in a very fun way is how diverse beer drinkers are, how open to trying ‘new’ beers most of them are (great to be around beer geeks, not beer snobs), and the lively conversation that invariably accompanies the quaffing.
p.s. here’s the 10 Questions again Martin – for any woman to answer…
Tags: brickskeller, Washington DC
Shar/on
Dec 2, 2009 Good People, Home Free Tour 2009
Here’s to just one of the many hosts on our trip that we met when we pulled the van up to her home.
Host Sharon in Georgia - cheers friend!
She had been online one day, found WEB, and proceeded to reach out and offer her home as a place to stay on the tour. A fun email conversation ensured and voila! She welcomed us into her home – sight unseen – with open arms (literally).
And you know what? It was as if we’d all known each other for a while. Beer brings people together in a variety of ways.
She told us her friends were shocked that she’d invite total strangers into her home. *gasp!*
Like Sharon said though, for all we knew she could be the axe murderer (not the other way around). Good point.
So heartfelt thanks to Sharon, Claire, Mark & Leslie, Rebecca, Julie, and all the rest who have opened their doors to us. It’s indicative of the quality of people that are involved with beer.
Once we land our door is wide open for all of you – even if we have yet to meet.
Tags: leap of faith, new friends, trip hosts
My Favorite Jamaican
Dec 1, 2009 Beer, Good People, Home Free Tour 2009
Julia, Larry and Horace at Terrapin
Thanks to Horace and the Terrapin crew for letting us come by last week. As one of the many breweries we have visited so far on this trip, it was an extra special stop.
I’ve known Horace for several years so it was an added treat to spend time with a familiar friend along the way.
We all had some good conversation, good beers (Trappeze anyone!? Aaron understands service), tasty cheese, a good night sleep, and an interesting tour.
And having spent zero time in Georgia before, we were really enjoying the landscape.
Thanks Horace – be ready for another visit sooner than later.
Houston & Ronnie
Nov 18, 2009 Celebration Worthy, Events, Good People, Home Free Tour 2009
Ronnie & I
Ronnie Crocker’s a beer lover.
He’s also an editor at the Houston Chronicle, a blogger and a really good man. We met at this years GABF at the media luncheon and have kept the conversation going.
We were in Houston this past week ala our trip and he was terrific in setting up a fun beer gathering at the Flying Saucer, as well as giving us a tour of his fine paper. We even got to meet his boss (who we’re fans of) and some others who apparently could not make one event and who wanted to meet when we came though (very cool Anita and Nikki!).
He’s indicative of people who are intelligently engaged in beer. Smart, fun, responsible, thoughtful, forward thinking.
Cathy telling me her 10 Answers in Houston
Already looking forward to the next time as Houston clearly has a lot of beer enthusiasts - many of who I did not get to meet this one time (Donna, Iris, TallyK, etc.).
Thanks also to Jake the FS’s GM. Will take you up on your offer sooner than later, Jake.
Cheers to Houston!
Tags: Houston event
Houston Event – Today!
Nov 12, 2009 Beer & Food, Education & Training, Events, Home Free Tour 2009
Hope you can consider joining us today at the Flying Saucer in Houston for an impromptu and fun beer discussion.
Thanks Ronnie – see you all (or rather y’all) soon!
Tags: Flying Saucer, Houston event
Breweries, Breweries Everywhere…
Nov 9, 2009 Beer, Beer & Food, Good People, Home Free Tour 2009
Four Peaks, Tempe AZ
…And lots of spots to drink (beer).
That seems to be an easy mantra on this trip. Here’s a shot of the fine staff working at Four Peaks Brewing in Tempe Arizona. A big thanks to Andy and Ted who gave us a full tour and tasty beers as well as delicious lunch while we were in town.
Typical.
Breweries = engaged = share information (+) = fun people to support and talk with.
Support your local brewery. The paybacks within your community will be well worth it, whether you drink beer or not.
Tags: breweries everywhere, Four Peaks
