BeerGirl, MIA no longer

I know you've been thinking, "Why the heck haven't I seen any BeerGirl blogs for the past 9 months?" Or you've not noticed I was gone. Either way I made a person, we'll call her Bean, as she is a little bamBEANo. So you understand why I haven't been drinking much beer... fetal alcohol syndrome is frowned upon these days.

I got back on the horse now that Bean is confident with bottled meelks. Tonight I rehashed a yummy bottle from Coronado Brewery and followed it up with one of the greats, Bell's Two-Hearted Ale. I've never read the label to explain why there is a fish on it, but I couldn't care less. It's a perfectly balanced, deliciously hopped ale that goes great with everything I've eaten it with. It's the kind of beer that draws me away from trying something new. Why risk some crappy craft when I know Two-Hearted is gonna be wonderful?

Don't worry, I'll continue to risk the bad beers for you, readers! I will dare to drink the undrinkable to find the best beers for your boozing confidence. BeerGirl is back!

BeerGirl

While all you suckers were stuck in the snow last month, my husband (from here on I will refer to him as Jones) and I were busy drinking some cervezas on the beach. And wow the Mexican Riviera is really warm and sunny this time of year! Our cruise out of San Diego took us down to Mazatlan, home to the Pacifico Brewery, and because I did absolutely ZERO prep-work for this trip I had no idea it was there. (So it kinda counts as trail magic.)

Jones and I made the 10 block walk through the Mexican ghetto following the large tower we could see from the ship.

And TA-DA! the brewery tour (led by the two cutest girls in Mexico) is free! We got the basic, "how we brew beer" tour, which isn't really different from any other brewery tour. However, I did learn that Pacifico is the same company as Modelo Negro, Corona and Estrella, AND I learned that it was started by 4 German immigrants. The tour also takes you through their bottle washing, sanitizing and refilling plant, which was something new for me to see... and yes, it is just like Laverne and Shirley, but we couldn't find a glove to put on the conveyor.

We ended up at the top of the tower, sipping some free Pacificos while walking through a mini-museum and using the city's cleanest bathrooms. (I'm no

t joking here folks, when yo

u find a clean bathroom, even moderately clean, use them!)

As we moved down the Mexican coast the weather got hotter and the cervezas got cheaper. $1 Amercian could get you a cold one just about everywhere, pour it in a plastic cup and you're free to walk around. But don't overlook the deliciousness of the margarita, or the luxury of Coke made with real sugar when you go... I don't know what's in the Diet Coke in Mexico, but it tastes awesome and I swear it got me a little high.

Back in San Diego we stumbled across the bar Top Gun's "You've lost that lovin' feeling" scene was filmed at (Kansas City BBQ) and even better the Coronado Brewing Company. Just a 15 minute ferry ride from San Diego is the little island of Coronado. It's famous for the Hotel del Coronado, where Some Like It Hot was filmed. It's totally worth the ride out for the cupcake bakery and a great brewery. The West Coast kinda thinks it kicks butt at hoppy beers, and generally I think, "ppfffttt". But Coronado Brewing Company makes a delicious, fully hopped IPA that they call the "Idiot" mainly due to the 8.5% alcohol making you into an idiot that thinks drinking 3 of them is a good idea. I loved it! The hardest part for me was deciding which beers to try with only one night to drink. If falling down drunk isn't in your vacation plans they have the Islander Ale IPA or the Mermaid Red Ale that has a little more caramel roast, but not too sweet.

http://www.coronadobrewingcompany.com/

Skal!

Having a frequent-flyer ticket burning a hole in your pocket makes you dream big. Where should I go? How about Florida's eastern coast, tagging along with my husband on a work trip? And how about a great husband that looks up local breweries and pubs? Why is this all questions?

Our first stop was at Amilia Island. Cute and touristy. We stopped at a Irish pub called O'Kanes to watch the Steelers kick the crap out of the Vikings. Luckily the food was good because they had their heads up their arses when it came to pouring me a snakebite. (They had Harp and cider on the draftlist, so I figured it was a given.) Instead I got quickly poured Guiness floating on cider. I picked up my husband's drink, not realizing that the other glass was actually for me. I stared at it for a while, with my head cocked like a puppy who has a question. Some places serve this calling it a black velvet, but that's actually Guiness and champagne. I don't want to bellyache so I sip the Guiness off the top and try my best not to mix them.

We did not order a second round but walked a block toward the beach to "The Palace Saloon" the oldest bar in Florida and had some Pirate Punch. (3 kinds of rum and some gin) I understand it's not beer, but it is tangy and tasty- and boozy-about half way through I was convinced I needed a souvenir t-shirt. The bar itself is totally haunted, my camera battery went to red while taking a shot of the handcarved bar. (See above!)

Not that far north? Hit up Meg O'Malley's in Melbourne. It's a great Irish place, not only do they know how to pour a snakebite but the corned beef is so tender it's hard to eat! The bar has great atmosphere, a great draft list, and after hearing about their Halloween bash I was bummed to move on...

http://www.megomalleys.com/

I'm not sure why you would, but if you'd like to read about the trip and not just the beer, check out my husband's blog...and yes, sometimes he does call himself Karate Chop Jones. And yes, sometimes he does suggest that we name a child Karate Chop Jones, Jr. Oddly, our last name is not, in fact, Jones.

http://karatechopjones.blogspot.com/

Let's define "douchy"

Here's what's douchy. When your husband goes on a road trip to a brewery you enjoy (and have not yet visited), during their Oktoberfest, blogs about how great it is, and brings you home an empty stein. AN EMPTY STEIN. No 'to go' six packs, no 'sampler pack'...an empty stein. Thanks, baby. I now have something to tell the judge at our divorce hearing.

My only consolation was the Oktoberfest at Hofbrauhaus went well and is now over. I'd like to address some tomfoolery that's been going on down at HB. Twice in two weeks we had drunk fools forget their potty training. (Both #1 and #2.) Really, folks? I know beer is fun and being drunk is fun, but poop only goes in a toilet. That's a rule. And the fighting when intoxicated...just because you're wearing an "Afflicted" tee doesn't mean you can get all Kimbo Slice in the biergarten. Nor does fighting impress the newly crowned and multi-talented Miss Oktoberfest.

Oh, one more thing...stop whining about $5 beers! A plastic cup of crap light beer that's been sitting in the basement of (enter name of sports stadium here) for heaven only knows how long is $7.

Now, on to the beer conversation. Oktoberfest is gone (wipes tear from cheek). But the consolation prize is pretty good. 1810 Prince Ludwig is a bit fuller and a bit hoppier than the traditional HB lager and by far my favorite of the speciality brews. Go get one. Or two. But not so many you forget where to poo.

Oldie but Goodie

I'll be brief today, with a lesson I won't soon forget. Sometimes in my quest to find my favorite beers I forget about the old standards. I'm writing about Yuengling. It's 'old' because they've been making it since 1829, and 'standard' because it really is one of those beers that I compare others against. I surprised my friends by ordering a tall, cold lager with a 15 beer tap list in front of me. Sometimes I take for granted that I've found it in bars all over the country and that pretty much get it whenever I want it. Good beer doesn't have to have snazzy labels, snappy names or only be found in Angkor Wat. I don't mind trying the weird or new, I'm willing to sip the duds and bad batches. Variety may be the spice of life, but knowing you've got a beer that's always going to taste good is golden.

Labor Day Nerd-Fest

I didn't have a beer at a single Labor Day cookout, campfire, college football game or picnic. Instead I drank in the people-watching at Dragon*Con in Atlanta. "Whaaa?" you ask. Dragon*Con is the sci-fi, fantasy, all-things-nerdy convention. And let me tell you, there is no shame for letting your geek/dweeb/dork/freak out for a couple days here...in fact, it's the 'mundanes' (those not in costume) who are the outsiders. (I wore my Merlotte's t-shirt- tell me you've read Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse series or at least have seen True Blood on HBO!)

After dodging a gang of steampunkers and getting my picture with DoubleMeat Palace Buffy, R2D2 and the guys from GhostHunters we hit up a place called Mellow Mushroom Pizza. I hate to steal a phrase, but the pies were FIERCE. And they make their own Bogart Brew. A medium pale ale that has a perfect body for washing down some slices of pepperoni and olive.

http://mellowmushroom.com/#/store/index/downtownatlanta

Lucky for me the rest of Atlanta also features a decent line up of beers. Sweetwater Brewery makes a full and lively 420 Extra Pale Ale. (I didn't find it as hoppy as they describe it, but I liked it!) Almost everywhere we ate or drank carried it, but I had to hit "The Vortex" to get their IPA, which had a fine burst of hops and clean finish.

http://www.sweetwaterbrew.com/

"The Vortex" has an attitude and a fabulous beer line-up (plenty of international labels!) with reasonable prices and a burger called the "Double-Bypass." As you see in the pic, my husband couldn't resist...in lieu of a bun you get two grilled cheese sandwiches. Seriously, guys only a double-bypass? Quintuple is more appropriate.

http://www.thevortexbarandgrill.com/

Try it out and if you don't like it, complain to them...I dare you.