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@fortgeorgebeer does my favorite seasonal collabs 🍕

I always look forward to their annual 3-Way IPA as like my official start to summer, but they also add some excitement to late fall/early winter with their annual Pizza Pals collab.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Fort George teams up with another brewery that also makes pizza for this beer. In the past, I’ve enjoyed versions with @rusebrewing, @fastfashionbeer, and @cellarmakerbrewing (all of which I’ve had their pizza too). This year it’s @northparkbeerco, but sadly, while I have visited, I’ve never had their pizza.

What makes this year’s Pizza Pals a little more special for me is that I got to try a Beta version called Bagel Bytes (clever) straight from the tank during a tour of Fort George in October.

Pizza Pals (2025) is a Hazy IPA hopped with many variations of Citra, Eclipse, Simcoe Cryo, Krush Cryo, and Ekuanot Cryo.

This isn’t my favorite version of this beer — I think my favorite is still the version with Ruse, and honestly, I liked Bagel Bytes more. This isn’t the first time I’ve enjoyed a Beta version more than the final product.

Nevertheless, this beer is quite flavorful without being too heavy with some nice grapefruit and melon notes. It’s also amazingly accessible and affordable for a beer by North Park.

Any collabs you look forward to every year? Or any you’ve particularly enjoyed recently?

@fortgeorgebeer does my favorite seasonal collabs 🍕

I always look forward to their annual 3-Way IPA as like my official start to summer, but they also add some excitement to late fall/early winter with their annual Pizza Pals collab.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, Fort George teams up with another brewery that also makes pizza for this beer. In the past, I’ve enjoyed versions with @rusebrewing, @fastfashionbeer, and @cellarmakerbrewing (all of which I’ve had their pizza too). This year it’s @northparkbeerco, but sadly, while I have visited, I’ve never had their pizza.

What makes this year’s Pizza Pals a little more special for me is that I got to try a Beta version called Bagel Bytes (clever) straight from the tank during a tour of Fort George in October.

Pizza Pals (2025) is a Hazy IPA hopped with many variations of Citra, Eclipse, Simcoe Cryo, Krush Cryo, and Ekuanot Cryo.

This isn’t my favorite version of this beer — I think my favorite is still the version with Ruse, and honestly, I liked Bagel Bytes more. This isn’t the first time I’ve enjoyed a Beta version more than the final product.

Nevertheless, this beer is quite flavorful without being too heavy with some nice grapefruit and melon notes. It’s also amazingly accessible and affordable for a beer by North Park.

Any collabs you look forward to every year? Or any you’ve particularly enjoyed recently?

Beer besties at @baerlicbrewing 👯‍♀️

It’s hard to find breweries @hop_doc hasn’t been to, but we managed to do this with Baerlic back in November right before she and @gmjohns253 left town.

While at Baerlic, we enjoyed:

🍺 Side Quest - a Hazy IPA full of soft citrus and stone fruit flavors.

🍺 Gold Water - a Czech style pilsner

🍺 No Kings - a “pro democracy” IPA with Citra, Strata, and Mosaic. I was going to order this no matter what, and I genuinely liked the beer too.

🍺 Downlow - a dark Czech lager

Always grateful for this app, craft beer, and a mutual love of true crime and Bravo TV for bringing us together now over 5 years ago ❤️

What have you bonded with others on here over aside from craft beer?

Beer besties at @baerlicbrewing 👯‍♀️

It’s hard to find breweries @hop_doc hasn’t been to, but we managed to do this with Baerlic back in November right before she and @gmjohns253 left town.

While at Baerlic, we enjoyed:

🍺 Side Quest - a Hazy IPA full of soft citrus and stone fruit flavors.

🍺 Gold Water - a Czech style pilsner

🍺 No Kings - a “pro democracy” IPA with Citra, Strata, and Mosaic. I was going to order this no matter what, and I genuinely liked the beer too.

🍺 Downlow - a dark Czech lager

Always grateful for this app, craft beer, and a mutual love of true crime and Bravo TV for bringing us together now over 5 years ago ❤️

What have you bonded with others on here over aside from craft beer?

A variation of a favorite 🖤

Void Nectar was one of my favorite beers in 2025. So when @brujos_brewing released Void Nectar (All Hallows Edition) in late October last year, I needed it, and I don’t say that about many beers anymore.

Void Nectar (All Hallows Edition) is a DDH Imperial Hazy IPA hopped with Citra, Citra Lupomax, Galaxy, Nectaron, and Eclipse. It’s been too long since I had “regular” Void Nectar for me to provide a comparison other than I do prefer the original. Nevertheless, I really enjoy this version too. It’s hoppy but smooth, as usual with Brujos, nicely creamy and dank, but it was just a little sweeter than I prefer, and this is based on the first can I drank about ten days after purchasing.

I really enjoy trying variations of favorite beers, so keep bringing them on!

Have you had any fun beer variations lately like this?

A variation of a favorite 🖤

Void Nectar was one of my favorite beers in 2025. So when @brujos_brewing released Void Nectar (All Hallows Edition) in late October last year, I needed it, and I don’t say that about many beers anymore.

Void Nectar (All Hallows Edition) is a DDH Imperial Hazy IPA hopped with Citra, Citra Lupomax, Galaxy, Nectaron, and Eclipse. It’s been too long since I had “regular” Void Nectar for me to provide a comparison other than I do prefer the original. Nevertheless, I really enjoy this version too. It’s hoppy but smooth, as usual with Brujos, nicely creamy and dank, but it was just a little sweeter than I prefer, and this is based on the first can I drank about ten days after purchasing.

I really enjoy trying variations of favorite beers, so keep bringing them on!

Have you had any fun beer variations lately like this?

If you’re a craft beer lover, don’t skip @silverstamplv when in Las Vegas.

I’ve only ever been to The Silver Stamp around Christmas, but I love visiting at this time. They absolutely succeed at tacky holiday decor perfection!

They also always have a great tap list — nothing like anything I’ve ever found anywhere else in this city.

On this most recent visit, I enjoyed:

🍺 Sang Bleu by @brasseriecantillonofficiel - a lambic blend with blue honeysuckle berries. Cantillon on draft is always such a treat!

🍺 Mind Circus by @russianriverbrewingofficial - a Hazy IPA hopped with Nelson and Strata. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did when I drank it a few years ago, but I still liked it. Very smooth and grassy, but I think I wanted more hoppy fullness. In general, I loved seeing so much Russian River on draft everywhere in Las Vegas.

🍺 Celebration by @sierranevada - a fresh hop IPA that so many of you are already familiar with. This was actually my first time drinking this well-known beer. It reminded me more of a Red Ale than an IPA as it’s very malty. It tasted as I imagined a more Christmasy beer would be. I didn’t love this one, but that’s okay!

What are some other must visit beer bars anywhere? Let’s so them all some love ❤️

If you’re a craft beer lover, don’t skip @silverstamplv when in Las Vegas.

I’ve only ever been to The Silver Stamp around Christmas, but I love visiting at this time. They absolutely succeed at tacky holiday decor perfection!

They also always have a great tap list — nothing like anything I’ve ever found anywhere else in this city.

On this most recent visit, I enjoyed:

🍺 Sang Bleu by @brasseriecantillonofficiel - a lambic blend with blue honeysuckle berries. Cantillon on draft is always such a treat!

🍺 Mind Circus by @russianriverbrewingofficial - a Hazy IPA hopped with Nelson and Strata. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did when I drank it a few years ago, but I still liked it. Very smooth and grassy, but I think I wanted more hoppy fullness. In general, I loved seeing so much Russian River on draft everywhere in Las Vegas.

🍺 Celebration by @sierranevada - a fresh hop IPA that so many of you are already familiar with. This was actually my first time drinking this well-known beer. It reminded me more of a Red Ale than an IPA as it’s very malty. It tasted as I imagined a more Christmasy beer would be. I didn’t love this one, but that’s okay!

What are some other must visit beer bars anywhere? Let’s so them all some love ❤️

🎶 Turn Your Ears — because this was a beer worth drinking 🎧

What even is a “worth it” beer? I even have this term in my bio, so I’ll explain what it means to me.

I can’t drink every beer I want that’s available to me. That wouldn’t be good for my physical and mental health, financially, or for my physique. I also cannot “keep up” with others when drinking. I have a very low tolerance. If you’ve hung out with me, you probably know.

With all this in mind, a beer worth my limited amount of consumption needs to be delicious. This beer needs to be worth choosing to drink it versus something else I could consume. It needs to be worth the potential for lower quality sleep or feeling less than optimal the following day.

I’m not going to just drink something because it’s there, it’s a certain type of event where drinking is often the norm, or if a beer is free. I’m not wasting my precious few beers on anything mediocre.

This beer was far from mediocre:

Turn Your Ears by @greencheekbeer is a Hazy Double IPA that’s both hoppy and fuller bodied with notes of mango and fruity citrus.

Thank you @hop_doc and @gmjohns253 for bringing me this one.

If you read my whole caption and you don’t agree, that’s totally fine! This is just how I determine my drinking, but I do think it’s important we continuously evaluate our relationship with alcohol.

What “worth it” beers are you drinking this weekend?

🎶 Turn Your Ears — because this was a beer worth drinking 🎧

What even is a “worth it” beer? I even have this term in my bio, so I’ll explain what it means to me.

I can’t drink every beer I want that’s available to me. That wouldn’t be good for my physical and mental health, financially, or for my physique. I also cannot “keep up” with others when drinking. I have a very low tolerance. If you’ve hung out with me, you probably know.

With all this in mind, a beer worth my limited amount of consumption needs to be delicious. This beer needs to be worth choosing to drink it versus something else I could consume. It needs to be worth the potential for lower quality sleep or feeling less than optimal the following day.

I’m not going to just drink something because it’s there, it’s a certain type of event where drinking is often the norm, or if a beer is free. I’m not wasting my precious few beers on anything mediocre.

This beer was far from mediocre:

Turn Your Ears by @greencheekbeer is a Hazy Double IPA that’s both hoppy and fuller bodied with notes of mango and fruity citrus.

Thank you @hop_doc and @gmjohns253 for bringing me this one.

If you read my whole caption and you don’t agree, that’s totally fine! This is just how I determine my drinking, but I do think it’s important we continuously evaluate our relationship with alcohol.

What “worth it” beers are you drinking this weekend?

My favorite beer every month of 2025 🗓️

I enjoyed taking a look back like this, and I hope you enjoy it too.

January: Evan’s Axe - a Hazy Double IPA by @fidensbrewing in collaboration with @greencheekbeer

February: DDH Just a Dash - a Hazy Double IPA by @breakthrubrewingco

March: Void Nectar - an Imperial Hazy IPA by @brujos_brewing

April: Rafters - a quadruple dry hopped Hazy Triple IPA by @outfieldbeerproject

May: Even More Foggier Window - a Hazy Triple IPA by @eviltwinbrewing in collaboration with @monkishbrewing. Still can’t believe I had this in Tokyo.

June: Death, Decadence, and Immortality - a Hazy Triple IPA by @thetestbrewery that I enjoyed at their Brujos tap takeover.

July: Arboles Fantasmas - a Hazy Triple IPA by Brujos in collaboration with @talltreesbrewlab

August: Other Vision - a Hazy Double IPA by @humanpeoplebeer

September: Biere De Coupage - a farmhouse ale by @lesserknownbeerco

October: FH Sitra Achra - a fresh hop Imperial Hazy IPA by Brujos

November: Mallet - a Hazy Triple IPA by @rarbrew in collaboration with Fidens

December: Fuel for your Dreams - a Hazy Triple IPA by RaR in collaboration with @noblesavagebrewco

I’m not as surprised by the number of hazy beers on this list as I am by the number of them being Hazy Triple IPAs. I don’t choose TIPAs as often as I used to, but turns out I still really enjoy them when I do.

What were some of your favorite beers in 2025?

My favorite beer every month of 2025 🗓️

I enjoyed taking a look back like this, and I hope you enjoy it too.

January: Evan’s Axe - a Hazy Double IPA by @fidensbrewing in collaboration with @greencheekbeer

February: DDH Just a Dash - a Hazy Double IPA by @breakthrubrewingco

March: Void Nectar - an Imperial Hazy IPA by @brujos_brewing

April: Rafters - a quadruple dry hopped Hazy Triple IPA by @outfieldbeerproject

May: Even More Foggier Window - a Hazy Triple IPA by @eviltwinbrewing in collaboration with @monkishbrewing. Still can’t believe I had this in Tokyo.

June: Death, Decadence, and Immortality - a Hazy Triple IPA by @thetestbrewery that I enjoyed at their Brujos tap takeover.

July: Arboles Fantasmas - a Hazy Triple IPA by Brujos in collaboration with @talltreesbrewlab

August: Other Vision - a Hazy Double IPA by @humanpeoplebeer

September: Biere De Coupage - a farmhouse ale by @lesserknownbeerco

October: FH Sitra Achra - a fresh hop Imperial Hazy IPA by Brujos

November: Mallet - a Hazy Triple IPA by @rarbrew in collaboration with Fidens

December: Fuel for your Dreams - a Hazy Triple IPA by RaR in collaboration with @noblesavagebrewco

I’m not as surprised by the number of hazy beers on this list as I am by the number of them being Hazy Triple IPAs. I don’t choose TIPAs as often as I used to, but turns out I still really enjoy them when I do.

What were some of your favorite beers in 2025?

Merry Christmas from Las Vegas 🎄

I used to live in Las Vegas, so my Vegas trip probably doesn’t look like yours.

Instead, I’m a big fan of the downtown Arts District. I love seeing how this area has developed since I moved away over 13 years ago.

I always make sure I stop at @ablebakerbrewing. It’s also one of the few breweries where I’ll consistently get a flight. How can I not considering it comes with a rubber ducky that you get to keep? And I got the cutest, holiday themed ones too!

From my two flights, my favorites were:

🍺 Etched in the Fields - a Bavarian-style Hefeweizen with those typical banana clove notes, but also some prominent bubblegum flavor.

🍺 Explosive Sour Series: Strawberry Kiwi - a thin, but flavorful fruited sour. I felt the strawberry shined more than the kiwi.

🍺 SIX - a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout brewed to celebrate their sixth anniversary. Reminds me that I still have my bottle of FOUR to drink at home.

🍺 Of Balloons & Unicorns #12 - a Hazy IPA full of fruit flavor. I’d had previous versions of this beer, but I think this has been my favorite.

How did you celebrate Christmas this year? Any good beers?

Merry Christmas from Las Vegas 🎄

I used to live in Las Vegas, so my Vegas trip probably doesn’t look like yours.

Instead, I’m a big fan of the downtown Arts District. I love seeing how this area has developed since I moved away over 13 years ago.

I always make sure I stop at @ablebakerbrewing. It’s also one of the few breweries where I’ll consistently get a flight. How can I not considering it comes with a rubber ducky that you get to keep? And I got the cutest, holiday themed ones too!

From my two flights, my favorites were:

🍺 Etched in the Fields - a Bavarian-style Hefeweizen with those typical banana clove notes, but also some prominent bubblegum flavor.

🍺 Explosive Sour Series: Strawberry Kiwi - a thin, but flavorful fruited sour. I felt the strawberry shined more than the kiwi.

🍺 SIX - a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout brewed to celebrate their sixth anniversary. Reminds me that I still have my bottle of FOUR to drink at home.

🍺 Of Balloons & Unicorns #12 - a Hazy IPA full of fruit flavor. I’d had previous versions of this beer, but I think this has been my favorite.

How did you celebrate Christmas this year? Any good beers?

My top new brewery visits of 2025 🎉

I visited 18 new to me breweries in 2025. This does not include different locations of a brewery I have already visited, and this doesn’t mean that I hadn’t drank their beer before.

Below are my top 10 in the best order I could determine:

1️⃣ @humanpeoplebeer - with just one visit, Human People has become a must-visit whenever I’m in Seattle. I didn’t want to leave! I skipped my next planned stop just to drink more here.

2️⃣ @humblesea - I visited their newest San Francisco taproom right on the waterfront conveniently located for tourists on Pier 39. I was hesitant about visiting @humblesea.sf in such a touristy location, but it still had a large beer selection, and it felt like an oasis away from the tourists with beautiful views.

3️⃣ @everywherebeerco - @everywhere_pdx was the best surprise this year. From attending my first ever soft open, I was hooked on this new addition to the Portland beer scene.

4️⃣ @uchubrewing - I visited few breweries in Japan preferring to focus on the food, but Uchu was well worth the visit. Their newish Tokyo taproom is super tiny with a small tap list, but you can do can pours and take single cans to go. I caught some of their anniversary releases with breweries like @highlandparkbrewery and @cloudwaterbrew.

5️⃣ @wcbshizuoka - their Dark Lab was located an easy walk from my hotel in Osaka. There were so many I wanted to try here, and the taproom also had a cool vibe. It reminded me of an American brewery.

6️⃣ @luabrewing - when I told people I was visiting Des Moines, everyone said I had to visit Lua. They were all right! Lua has a beautiful taproom (even the bathroom is gorgeous), the food is good, and I enjoyed every beer I tried. I hope to try more someday!

7️⃣ @fortgeorgebeer - I’m embarrassed to have lived in Oregon for 10 years and this October was my first ever visit to Fort George. I recommend their one-hour brewery tour, wish I had come hungry for pizza, and I still think about Fresh Pierogi, their collab with @hopbutcher.

Continued in the comments ⬇️

My top new brewery visits of 2025 🎉

I visited 18 new to me breweries in 2025. This does not include different locations of a brewery I have already visited, and this doesn’t mean that I hadn’t drank their beer before.

Below are my top 10 in the best order I could determine:

1️⃣ @humanpeoplebeer - with just one visit, Human People has become a must-visit whenever I’m in Seattle. I didn’t want to leave! I skipped my next planned stop just to drink more here.

2️⃣ @humblesea - I visited their newest San Francisco taproom right on the waterfront conveniently located for tourists on Pier 39. I was hesitant about visiting @humblesea.sf in such a touristy location, but it still had a large beer selection, and it felt like an oasis away from the tourists with beautiful views.

3️⃣ @everywherebeerco - @everywhere_pdx was the best surprise this year. From attending my first ever soft open, I was hooked on this new addition to the Portland beer scene.

4️⃣ @uchubrewing - I visited few breweries in Japan preferring to focus on the food, but Uchu was well worth the visit. Their newish Tokyo taproom is super tiny with a small tap list, but you can do can pours and take single cans to go. I caught some of their anniversary releases with breweries like @highlandparkbrewery and @cloudwaterbrew.

5️⃣ @wcbshizuoka - their Dark Lab was located an easy walk from my hotel in Osaka. There were so many I wanted to try here, and the taproom also had a cool vibe. It reminded me of an American brewery.

6️⃣ @luabrewing - when I told people I was visiting Des Moines, everyone said I had to visit Lua. They were all right! Lua has a beautiful taproom (even the bathroom is gorgeous), the food is good, and I enjoyed every beer I tried. I hope to try more someday!

7️⃣ @fortgeorgebeer - I’m embarrassed to have lived in Oregon for 10 years and this October was my first ever visit to Fort George. I recommend their one-hour brewery tour, wish I had come hungry for pizza, and I still think about Fresh Pierogi, their collab with @hopbutcher.

Continued in the comments ⬇️

ABLONDEWITHABREW WRAPPED 2025 💫

A look back at my year in beer: favorite beers, new brewery visits, and much more!

Cheers to a delicious year 🍻

Tell me about your year in beer in the comments. What were your favorite beers, breweries, breweries you first tried, etc in 2025? ⬇️

ABLONDEWITHABREW WRAPPED 2025 💫

A look back at my year in beer: favorite beers, new brewery visits, and much more!

Cheers to a delicious year 🍻

Tell me about your year in beer in the comments. What were your favorite beers, breweries, breweries you first tried, etc in 2025? ⬇️

Returning to the beers that “infiltrated” my love for @rootandbranchbrewing.

My most recent trade for Root + Branch closely mimicked my first ever trade for this brewery almost three years ago. In fact, it’s the same two beers!

🍺 Medium Raw (Batch 6) - a multi-oat and wheat Hazy TIPA hopped with Citra and Freestyle Motueka. This batch tasted almost smoky and more sweet than I remembered. It still had that creamy mouthfeel, and was pretty easy drinking, but I did not love this version nearly as much as I did the original.

🍺 Infiltrator (Egger’s Blood Moon Harvest) - a multi-oat and wheat Hazy IPA hopped with @eggershops Nelson and Full Moon Harvest Nelson. This is the fourth version of Infiltrator that I’ve tried and it’s my favorites since I first drank this beer.

Have you ever returned to drinking beers you first tried years ago like this?

Returning to the beers that “infiltrated” my love for @rootandbranchbrewing.

My most recent trade for Root + Branch closely mimicked my first ever trade for this brewery almost three years ago. In fact, it’s the same two beers!

🍺 Medium Raw (Batch 6) - a multi-oat and wheat Hazy TIPA hopped with Citra and Freestyle Motueka. This batch tasted almost smoky and more sweet than I remembered. It still had that creamy mouthfeel, and was pretty easy drinking, but I did not love this version nearly as much as I did the original.

🍺 Infiltrator (Egger’s Blood Moon Harvest) - a multi-oat and wheat Hazy IPA hopped with @eggershops Nelson and Full Moon Harvest Nelson. This is the fourth version of Infiltrator that I’ve tried and it’s my favorites since I first drank this beer.

Have you ever returned to drinking beers you first tried years ago like this?

A Grand (Fir) time with my beer bestie 😍

I really appreciate that when @hop_doc and @gmjohns253 come to Portland that they want to explore new places and not just return to certain breweries or only visit certain more “hype” spots.

This time we checked out @grandfirbrewing for both beers and dinner.

I drank West Cult, a west coast IPA brewed in collaboration for Grand Fir’s 3rd anniversary with @brujos_brewing. I truly loved this beer! Hopped with Citra, Citra Cryo, Strata, and Mosaic, it’s a little resinous, but also very crisp and hoppy. Only my dinner kept me from drinking this one really fast! Really well done by both breweries!

Be sure to not miss the last picture where you can see Megan and I in our matching @brasseriecantillonofficiel merch ❤️🩵

Are there places near you out of town people always want to go? Or, where do you typically take out of town visitors?

A Grand (Fir) time with my beer bestie 😍

I really appreciate that when @hop_doc and @gmjohns253 come to Portland that they want to explore new places and not just return to certain breweries or only visit certain more “hype” spots.

This time we checked out @grandfirbrewing for both beers and dinner.

I drank West Cult, a west coast IPA brewed in collaboration for Grand Fir’s 3rd anniversary with @brujos_brewing. I truly loved this beer! Hopped with Citra, Citra Cryo, Strata, and Mosaic, it’s a little resinous, but also very crisp and hoppy. Only my dinner kept me from drinking this one really fast! Really well done by both breweries!

Be sure to not miss the last picture where you can see Megan and I in our matching @brasseriecantillonofficiel merch ❤️🩵

Are there places near you out of town people always want to go? Or, where do you typically take out of town visitors?

@rarbrew x @dogfishhead x 2️⃣

I love a good collab, but I especially love getting to drink two different beers from the same collaborating breweries.

🍺 600 Seconds - a Hazy Triple IPA brewed to be the hop saturated version of Dogfish’s Flagship IPA. Really big citrus flavor and some obvious booze taste, which I actually like. I thought this was pretty easy drinking for 10.1% ABV despite some alcoholic bite. However, it was just too sweet for me. I think this is often the case with TIPAs, and I’m selective about who I will even try them from.

Fishing Stories - a New Zealand style Pilsner hopped with Nelson and brewed with freeze-dried passionfruit. I had no idea passionfruit was in this beer while drinking it. I didn’t really taste passionfruit, but instead really just enjoyed this crisp, flavorful Pilsner. This was my favorite of the two beers here. Turns out RaR brews more than just fantastic Hop Saturated Ales and weirdly delicious smoothie sours!

Have you enjoyed any great collabs lately?

@rarbrew x @dogfishhead x 2️⃣

I love a good collab, but I especially love getting to drink two different beers from the same collaborating breweries.

🍺 600 Seconds - a Hazy Triple IPA brewed to be the hop saturated version of Dogfish’s Flagship IPA. Really big citrus flavor and some obvious booze taste, which I actually like. I thought this was pretty easy drinking for 10.1% ABV despite some alcoholic bite. However, it was just too sweet for me. I think this is often the case with TIPAs, and I’m selective about who I will even try them from.

Fishing Stories - a New Zealand style Pilsner hopped with Nelson and brewed with freeze-dried passionfruit. I had no idea passionfruit was in this beer while drinking it. I didn’t really taste passionfruit, but instead really just enjoyed this crisp, flavorful Pilsner. This was my favorite of the two beers here. Turns out RaR brews more than just fantastic Hop Saturated Ales and weirdly delicious smoothie sours!

Have you enjoyed any great collabs lately?

Need some last minute gift ideas for the beer lover in your life? Or just want to treat yourself?

I got you 😊🎁

Here is my holiday gift guide for the beer lover. I even have some of these on my own wish list.

Everything is linked on my @shopmy (link in bio) and you can look back on my reel from last December for even more ideas. I tried to pick mostly different ones this year.

This year’s ideas:

💎 Beer earrings - I have a similar pair and I get compliments every time I wear them.

🎒 Beer cooler backpack - perfect for your next bottle share or haul back from the brewery/bottle shop. I really like this one from @hydroflask and it comes in several colors.

📚The Beer Bible by @jeff.alworth - this version is leather bound and extra gift worthy.

🧼 Beer soap - a small, simple gift. There are a lot of varieties online and even some breweries make them, like this one from @biggrovebrewery. Another similar idea is a beer candle. I really like my one by @wickcraftbeercandles. Mine smells exactly like @greatnotion’s Blueberry Muffin.

🎁 Beer gift box - this one by @halftimebev is one I’d love to receive. Another option is a @tavour gift card and your lucky beer lover can pick out their own beers shipped to their home. I was gifted this once by a friend and loved it.

🍺 Glassware - I’ve always had my eye on this one by @pretentiousglass. I also love ones I own by @thepint_gw and @glasstomouth.beer. Some breweries have amazing glassware for sale too.

☕️ Coffee by a brewery - some breweries roast their own coffee beans and they’ll ship them anywhere like these from @treehousecoffeeroastery. This is on my own wish list.

💰 Gift Cards to a favorite local brewery or bottle shop - a really great last minute idea that also supports local. I’m pretty sure anywhere would offer a gift card.

Would you want to receive any of these? What are you gifting the beer lover in your life?

Need some last minute gift ideas for the beer lover in your life? Or just want to treat yourself?

I got you 😊🎁

Here is my holiday gift guide for the beer lover. I even have some of these on my own wish list.

Everything is linked on my @shopmy (link in bio) and you can look back on my reel from last December for even more ideas. I tried to pick mostly different ones this year.

This year’s ideas:

💎 Beer earrings - I have a similar pair and I get compliments every time I wear them.

🎒 Beer cooler backpack - perfect for your next bottle share or haul back from the brewery/bottle shop. I really like this one from @hydroflask and it comes in several colors.

📚The Beer Bible by @jeff.alworth - this version is leather bound and extra gift worthy.

🧼 Beer soap - a small, simple gift. There are a lot of varieties online and even some breweries make them, like this one from @biggrovebrewery. Another similar idea is a beer candle. I really like my one by @wickcraftbeercandles. Mine smells exactly like @greatnotion’s Blueberry Muffin.

🎁 Beer gift box - this one by @halftimebev is one I’d love to receive. Another option is a @tavour gift card and your lucky beer lover can pick out their own beers shipped to their home. I was gifted this once by a friend and loved it.

🍺 Glassware - I’ve always had my eye on this one by @pretentiousglass. I also love ones I own by @thepint_gw and @glasstomouth.beer. Some breweries have amazing glassware for sale too.

☕️ Coffee by a brewery - some breweries roast their own coffee beans and they’ll ship them anywhere like these from @treehousecoffeeroastery. This is on my own wish list.

💰 Gift Cards to a favorite local brewery or bottle shop - a really great last minute idea that also supports local. I’m pretty sure anywhere would offer a gift card.

Would you want to receive any of these? What are you gifting the beer lover in your life?

My last brewery in Des Moines was @biggrovedsm.

A number of people told me to check out @biggrovebrewery — even people who don’t drink beer like it here!

The space was large and still fully decked out for Halloween just two days later. They have a large variety of beers, a full food menu, and one or the better merch selections I’ve seen anywhere.

Despite all of this, I barely took any pictures! You know how it can be at the fourth brewery of the day with good company, right? I think pictures one and two with @erinescapingreality say it all.

My beers:

🍺 Pink Anchovy Club - a Hazy IPA featuring, as expected, Pink and Anchovy hops, along with Cashmere and Vista. Brewed locally at their Des Moines location, this beer is full of sweet, juicy flavor.

🍺 Royal Eddy - the Hazy Double IPA of Easy Eddy heavily hopped with Citra and Talus. I admittedly took no notes, but I rated it a 4/5 on untappd. Again, you know how it goes at the end of the night 😂

What’s a brewery that you think appeals to everyone?

My last brewery in Des Moines was @biggrovedsm.

A number of people told me to check out @biggrovebrewery — even people who don’t drink beer like it here!

The space was large and still fully decked out for Halloween just two days later. They have a large variety of beers, a full food menu, and one or the better merch selections I’ve seen anywhere.

Despite all of this, I barely took any pictures! You know how it can be at the fourth brewery of the day with good company, right? I think pictures one and two with @erinescapingreality say it all.

My beers:

🍺 Pink Anchovy Club - a Hazy IPA featuring, as expected, Pink and Anchovy hops, along with Cashmere and Vista. Brewed locally at their Des Moines location, this beer is full of sweet, juicy flavor.

🍺 Royal Eddy - the Hazy Double IPA of Easy Eddy heavily hopped with Citra and Talus. I admittedly took no notes, but I rated it a 4/5 on untappd. Again, you know how it goes at the end of the night 😂

What’s a brewery that you think appeals to everyone?

I didn’t know a thing about @singlespeedbrewingco in Des Moines other than I liked their glassware.

When @erinescapingreality suggested we stop there, I was excited to finally try the beer in the glass!

I chose Hidden Gem, a Hazy Double IPA brewed with hops that were primarily grown in Idaho. This beer was more bitter and crisp than the Hazy DIPAs I usually drink, but it was easy drinking and not too heavy.

There were a few others I had my eye on to try, but this was brewery number three for me on the day, so I had to pace myself.

And yes, I bought a glass 😊

Are there any breweries where you admire the glassware?

I didn’t know a thing about @singlespeedbrewingco in Des Moines other than I liked their glassware.

When @erinescapingreality suggested we stop there, I was excited to finally try the beer in the glass!

I chose Hidden Gem, a Hazy Double IPA brewed with hops that were primarily grown in Idaho. This beer was more bitter and crisp than the Hazy DIPAs I usually drink, but it was easy drinking and not too heavy.

There were a few others I had my eye on to try, but this was brewery number three for me on the day, so I had to pace myself.

And yes, I bought a glass 😊

Are there any breweries where you admire the glassware?

Beer shares 🍻

Like most things I post on here, I meant to post this about two weeks ago 🤦🏼‍♀️

The week before Thanksgiving wasn’t full of Friendsgivings, but instead beer sharing with friends.

Pictured are many of the highlights in no particular order.

Below were some of my favorites:

🍺 Informal #9 by @fermentery_form - an aged farmhouse ale with grape pomace. I also tasted berry flavors, which are my favorite in saisons. I loved this beer.

🍺 On the Altar of Gore by @troonbrewing - a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout aged for 1.5 years before conditioning on toasted coconut, raw coconut, and cinnamon bun filling.

🍺 do we belong to another dream? by @everywherebeerco - a bourbon barrel aged stout with toasted and raw Oregon filberts (I had to google what a filbert was), toasted and raw coconut, Madagascar vanilla beans, and sea salt.

🍺 Triple Weka by @fidensbrewing - a Hazy Triple IPA hopped entirely with @eggershops Motueka.

🍺 Evil Haze by @treehousebrewco - the Hazy Triple IPA hopped”dastardly rendition” of their classic Haze.

🍺 Ladybird by @kingsanddaughters - a bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout with vanilla, cocoa nibs, and coconut. I thought it tasted like alcoholic hot cocoa.

Thoughts on beer shares? Have you shared any great beers with friends lately?

Beer shares 🍻

Like most things I post on here, I meant to post this about two weeks ago 🤦🏼‍♀️

The week before Thanksgiving wasn’t full of Friendsgivings, but instead beer sharing with friends.

Pictured are many of the highlights in no particular order.

Below were some of my favorites:

🍺 Informal #9 by @fermentery_form - an aged farmhouse ale with grape pomace. I also tasted berry flavors, which are my favorite in saisons. I loved this beer.

🍺 On the Altar of Gore by @troonbrewing - a bourbon barrel aged imperial stout aged for 1.5 years before conditioning on toasted coconut, raw coconut, and cinnamon bun filling.

🍺 do we belong to another dream? by @everywherebeerco - a bourbon barrel aged stout with toasted and raw Oregon filberts (I had to google what a filbert was), toasted and raw coconut, Madagascar vanilla beans, and sea salt.

🍺 Triple Weka by @fidensbrewing - a Hazy Triple IPA hopped entirely with @eggershops Motueka.

🍺 Evil Haze by @treehousebrewco - the Hazy Triple IPA hopped”dastardly rendition” of their classic Haze.

🍺 Ladybird by @kingsanddaughters - a bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stout with vanilla, cocoa nibs, and coconut. I thought it tasted like alcoholic hot cocoa.

Thoughts on beer shares? Have you shared any great beers with friends lately?

Everyone said I had to visit @luabrewing

Everyone was right. Lua was my favorite brewery that I visited in Des Moines last month. Prior to this visit, I had not even tried their beer.

Lua really has everything going for it: beautiful space that’s big enough, but not so big that it gives brew pub vibes (even the bathroom was really pretty), a big tap list but not so big that you question the quality of each brew, and really delicious food. I had a hard time decided between their brunch menu and lunch.

I also couldn’t decide on just one beer, so in total, I got 5 tasters (it looks like 7 how I photographed it, but was just 5).

The beers:

🍺 Say Yes - a blackberry, boysenberry, and blue raspberry fruited sour. This was probably my favorite beer I had my whole time in Iowa. It was fuller, almost smoothie sour like, and I really picked up on the blackberries.

🍺 Full Time Travis - a juicy and sweet, but too much so, Hazy Double IPA.

🍺 Sun for Miles - Hazy IPA

🍺 Zen Scientist - Hazy Double IPA

🍺 Collapsible Plans - a Hazy Double IPA hopped with Krush, Motueka, Simcoe, and Mosaic Cryo. Beers with Krush are often hit or miss for me, and this was my least favorite. However, I rated it a 3.75/5, so not low at all.

What’s a new to you brewery you’ve visited recently?

Everyone said I had to visit @luabrewing

Everyone was right. Lua was my favorite brewery that I visited in Des Moines last month. Prior to this visit, I had not even tried their beer.

Lua really has everything going for it: beautiful space that’s big enough, but not so big that it gives brew pub vibes (even the bathroom was really pretty), a big tap list but not so big that you question the quality of each brew, and really delicious food. I had a hard time decided between their brunch menu and lunch.

I also couldn’t decide on just one beer, so in total, I got 5 tasters (it looks like 7 how I photographed it, but was just 5).

The beers:

🍺 Say Yes - a blackberry, boysenberry, and blue raspberry fruited sour. This was probably my favorite beer I had my whole time in Iowa. It was fuller, almost smoothie sour like, and I really picked up on the blackberries.

🍺 Full Time Travis - a juicy and sweet, but too much so, Hazy Double IPA.

🍺 Sun for Miles - Hazy IPA

🍺 Zen Scientist - Hazy Double IPA

🍺 Collapsible Plans - a Hazy Double IPA hopped with Krush, Motueka, Simcoe, and Mosaic Cryo. Beers with Krush are often hit or miss for me, and this was my least favorite. However, I rated it a 3.75/5, so not low at all.

What’s a new to you brewery you’ve visited recently?

Mediocre pictures of an extraordinary beer 🤩

I don’t know about anyone else, but the limited daylight this time of year hurts the beertography!

This beer was too good to not share despite a picture that doesn’t totally meet my standards.

Mallet is a Hazy Triple IPA by @rarbrew in collaboration with @fidensbrewing. It’s hopped with varieties of some of my favorites: Freestyle Riwaka, Citra Hyperboost, Citra, Mosaic, and Riwaka Hop Kief. This beer is absolute perfection, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s fuller bodied and creamy, as expected with these two breweries. It’s hoppy and so smooth for a TIPA with notes of tropical passionfruit. No boozy burn or sweetness. Maybe my favorite beer all year, or at least one of them.

What’s the last beer that absolutely blew you away like this one did for me?

Mediocre pictures of an extraordinary beer 🤩

I don’t know about anyone else, but the limited daylight this time of year hurts the beertography!

This beer was too good to not share despite a picture that doesn’t totally meet my standards.

Mallet is a Hazy Triple IPA by @rarbrew in collaboration with @fidensbrewing. It’s hopped with varieties of some of my favorites: Freestyle Riwaka, Citra Hyperboost, Citra, Mosaic, and Riwaka Hop Kief. This beer is absolute perfection, and I don’t say that lightly. It’s fuller bodied and creamy, as expected with these two breweries. It’s hoppy and so smooth for a TIPA with notes of tropical passionfruit. No boozy burn or sweetness. Maybe my favorite beer all year, or at least one of them.

What’s the last beer that absolutely blew you away like this one did for me?

When my friend told me the @silverstamplv reminded her of @elbaitshop, I knew I had to visit El Bait Shop.

I wasted no time literally going right after leaving the airport in Des Moines. I even went back to try a few more beers two days later because they have over 260 beers on draft plus an assortment of cans.

A few highlights:

❤️ Not a beer, but catching up with @jashleyc after not seeing one another in over 2 years

🍺 You’re Compensating - a Hazy IPA by @blackstackbrewing hopped with “aggressive amounts” of Citra, Strata, Mosaic Cryo, and HBC 586. It had been awhile since I’d had any BlackStack, which made this a very welcomed treat that I absolutely loved.

🍺 Easy Peel - a Hazy Double IPA by @adventurousbrewing. After choosing some favorite Midwest breweries, I challenged myself to drink something by a local brewery I neither tried or heard of. This beer was triple dry-hopped with Nelson. I picked up flavors of candied citrus without it being too sweet.

🍺 Aspect of Virgo - a pale wheat ale by @hopbutcher that I took back to my hotel to enjoy. I didn’t know what to expect from a pale wheat ale, but it just reminded me of a hazy pale ale, which is one of my favorite styles.

Have you visited any great craft beer bars lately?

When my friend told me the @silverstamplv reminded her of @elbaitshop, I knew I had to visit El Bait Shop.

I wasted no time literally going right after leaving the airport in Des Moines. I even went back to try a few more beers two days later because they have over 260 beers on draft plus an assortment of cans.

A few highlights:

❤️ Not a beer, but catching up with @jashleyc after not seeing one another in over 2 years

🍺 You’re Compensating - a Hazy IPA by @blackstackbrewing hopped with “aggressive amounts” of Citra, Strata, Mosaic Cryo, and HBC 586. It had been awhile since I’d had any BlackStack, which made this a very welcomed treat that I absolutely loved.

🍺 Easy Peel - a Hazy Double IPA by @adventurousbrewing. After choosing some favorite Midwest breweries, I challenged myself to drink something by a local brewery I neither tried or heard of. This beer was triple dry-hopped with Nelson. I picked up flavors of candied citrus without it being too sweet.

🍺 Aspect of Virgo - a pale wheat ale by @hopbutcher that I took back to my hotel to enjoy. I didn’t know what to expect from a pale wheat ale, but it just reminded me of a hazy pale ale, which is one of my favorite styles.

Have you visited any great craft beer bars lately?

Is it ever too late to Give Thanks?

I had planned to post this on Thanksgiving, but I’ve never been good at posting timely 🤦🏼‍♀️

When I saw Give Thanks, a Hazy Double IPA by @alvaradostreetbrewery at @toronadosf the day before Thanksgiving, it only seemed appropriate to drink it. Very much an added bonus that it was delicious — a very “me” beer. It’s creamy with notes of juicy mango and not too bitter or too sweet. I’m thankful for beers like this.

I believe we can all be thankful any day of the year. I’m thankful for the family I would even choose to be around and friends that feel more like family. I’m thankful for my cats that I love more than I ever imagined I could love an animal. I’m thankful for a safe place to live, a good job, and especially after a recent scare, my health.

And, of course I have many gripes about social media in general, but I’m still thankful for it too. I cannot possibly write a beer post without mentioning all the great people I have connected with on here — many even in real life. And then, there are those friends I have made on here that are way more than just my “beer friends”. I never saw you all coming, but I am the most thankful ❤️

What’s something you’re thankful for year round that has come out of social media? Or, you can Give Thanks to anything you’d like here too.

Is it ever too late to Give Thanks?

I had planned to post this on Thanksgiving, but I’ve never been good at posting timely 🤦🏼‍♀️

When I saw Give Thanks, a Hazy Double IPA by @alvaradostreetbrewery at @toronadosf the day before Thanksgiving, it only seemed appropriate to drink it. Very much an added bonus that it was delicious — a very “me” beer. It’s creamy with notes of juicy mango and not too bitter or too sweet. I’m thankful for beers like this.

I believe we can all be thankful any day of the year. I’m thankful for the family I would even choose to be around and friends that feel more like family. I’m thankful for my cats that I love more than I ever imagined I could love an animal. I’m thankful for a safe place to live, a good job, and especially after a recent scare, my health.

And, of course I have many gripes about social media in general, but I’m still thankful for it too. I cannot possibly write a beer post without mentioning all the great people I have connected with on here — many even in real life. And then, there are those friends I have made on here that are way more than just my “beer friends”. I never saw you all coming, but I am the most thankful ❤️

What’s something you’re thankful for year round that has come out of social media? Or, you can Give Thanks to anything you’d like here too.

A quick hop into @greatnotion 🐸

This is what I get for always posting late. It looks like I’m wearing a frog hat for no reason (🚫👑)

Admittedly, I didn’t wear it all night, but it deserved a moment here.

The beers enjoyed:

🍺 Haze Division - a DDH Hazy Double IPA brewed in collaboration with @trackbrewingco. I particularly enjoy trying collabs with breweries that I don’t often see or have access to. I liked this beer, but enjoyed the others from this visit more.

🍺 Fear of Madness - a Hazy Triple IPA with flavors of sweet, juicy orange.

🍺 Mega Ripe - a Hazy Double IPA featuring Citra in every form. Slightly sweeter than I prefer DIPAs, but I still really enjoyed this one. In fact, so much so that it was my favorite of the visit. I genuinely enjoy GN’s Ripe series of beers, and this was no exception.

What are you drinking this weekend?

I don’t know exactly what I’m drinking, but I’m so excited for who it’s with 👯‍♀️

A quick hop into @greatnotion 🐸

This is what I get for always posting late. It looks like I’m wearing a frog hat for no reason (🚫👑)

Admittedly, I didn’t wear it all night, but it deserved a moment here.

The beers enjoyed:

🍺 Haze Division - a DDH Hazy Double IPA brewed in collaboration with @trackbrewingco. I particularly enjoy trying collabs with breweries that I don’t often see or have access to. I liked this beer, but enjoyed the others from this visit more.

🍺 Fear of Madness - a Hazy Triple IPA with flavors of sweet, juicy orange.

🍺 Mega Ripe - a Hazy Double IPA featuring Citra in every form. Slightly sweeter than I prefer DIPAs, but I still really enjoyed this one. In fact, so much so that it was my favorite of the visit. I genuinely enjoy GN’s Ripe series of beers, and this was no exception.

What are you drinking this weekend?

I don’t know exactly what I’m drinking, but I’m so excited for who it’s with 👯‍♀️

Post Travel Reset ✨

I love a vacation, but all the travel can be tough on my body, especially as I’m getting older.

This is what helps me to bounce back after traveling.

@thetoxportlandcedarhills’s Master Tox is their signature body sculpting service for body contouring, improved digestion, and overall wellness. It’s also incredibly relaxing! After this 60 minute session, I felt totally rejuvenated and practically glowing.

Now a few days later, I continue to feel better — so much so that I might be hooked!

Do you have any post travel hacks?

Now you know one of mine 😉

#ad #ablondewithabrew #portlandlife #portlandgirl
#postvacation #thingstodoinportland #portlandblogger

Post Travel Reset ✨

I love a vacation, but all the travel can be tough on my body, especially as I’m getting older.

This is what helps me to bounce back after traveling.

@thetoxportlandcedarhills’s Master Tox is their signature body sculpting service for body contouring, improved digestion, and overall wellness. It’s also incredibly relaxing! After this 60 minute session, I felt totally rejuvenated and practically glowing.

Now a few days later, I continue to feel better — so much so that I might be hooked!

Do you have any post travel hacks?

Now you know one of mine 😉

#ad #ablondewithabrew #portlandlife #portlandgirl
#postvacation #thingstodoinportland #portlandblogger

Monkish Monday ❤️🍻

Still showing off the beers from that one month @monkishbrewing shipped to Oregon.

Vocabulary Spills is a DDH Double IPA hopped with Mosaic, El Dorado, and Galaxy. A lot of Monkish DDH DIPAs remind me of one another, but in a good way because I love them, and that’s true here too. This beer is hoppy and way too easy drinking for its 9.1% ABV. I tasted flavors of juicy pineapple balanced out by some dankness.

This beer helped make my weekend truly delicious.

What did you drink this past weekend?

Monkish Monday ❤️🍻

Still showing off the beers from that one month @monkishbrewing shipped to Oregon.

Vocabulary Spills is a DDH Double IPA hopped with Mosaic, El Dorado, and Galaxy. A lot of Monkish DDH DIPAs remind me of one another, but in a good way because I love them, and that’s true here too. This beer is hoppy and way too easy drinking for its 9.1% ABV. I tasted flavors of juicy pineapple balanced out by some dankness.

This beer helped make my weekend truly delicious.

What did you drink this past weekend?

I love a midweek brewery visit 🍻

When in Portland, I highly recommend dinner at @eempdx followed by beers at @cmnsl across the street.

The taproom feels like a cozy hotel lobby or living room and the tap list isn’t full of hazy IPAs. Believe it or not, sometimes I even appreciate this!

I split a few beers, and in order of preference:

🍺 Alpenglühen - a biscuity and crisp pilsner brewed in collaboration with @olympiaprovisions.

🍺 Gold Weight - West Coast Pale Ale hopped with Mosaic Lupomax, Nelson Sauvin, and Rakau.

🍺 Rainbow Chase - a Hazy IPA that tasted exactly like pineapple juice.

And like every time I visit Commensal Fermentation, the staff was super friendly and welcoming — I was even sent home with some cans ☺️

Do you like to make midweek plans like this? I don’t do it often, but I love how it breaks up the work week.

I love a midweek brewery visit 🍻

When in Portland, I highly recommend dinner at @eempdx followed by beers at @cmnsl across the street.

The taproom feels like a cozy hotel lobby or living room and the tap list isn’t full of hazy IPAs. Believe it or not, sometimes I even appreciate this!

I split a few beers, and in order of preference:

🍺 Alpenglühen - a biscuity and crisp pilsner brewed in collaboration with @olympiaprovisions.

🍺 Gold Weight - West Coast Pale Ale hopped with Mosaic Lupomax, Nelson Sauvin, and Rakau.

🍺 Rainbow Chase - a Hazy IPA that tasted exactly like pineapple juice.

And like every time I visit Commensal Fermentation, the staff was super friendly and welcoming — I was even sent home with some cans ☺️

Do you like to make midweek plans like this? I don’t do it often, but I love how it breaks up the work week.

Airport beers ✈️ 🍻

What else was I going to do with a 3 hour layover at @mspairport?

Luckily, @stonearchbrewpub was really close to my departing gate and their entire tap list is local craft beers.

Hefeweizens were my first craft beer love, so I started with Ewald the Golden by @utepilsbrewing. I didn’t realize until I went to untappd it that I’d drank this before. However, I’m happy I hadn’t checked because I loved it so much more than I had prior! It’s one of the best Hefeweizens I’ve had in a long time. If I was a local, I’d probably drink this often. I was blown away with how much I enjoyed this beer.

For my second round, I chose my current favorite beer style, which you all may know is a Hazy Double IPA. Blissful Ignorance by @lupulin_brewing is hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Columbus. It’s juicy and smooth while not being too sweet or boozy. My perfect Hazy DIPAs are a little more fuller bodied, but I overall enjoyed this beer. In fact, this was my first by Lupulin.

MSP now ranks as one of my favorite airports for beer in the US. Not only did I have such a huge selection of local craft options, but the prices also weren’t outrageous.

Which are your favorite airports for craft beer? Bonus, if you tell me where specifically at those airports.

Don’t worry, my all time favorite airport for local craft beer is still @pdxairport.

Airport beers ✈️ 🍻

What else was I going to do with a 3 hour layover at @mspairport?

Luckily, @stonearchbrewpub was really close to my departing gate and their entire tap list is local craft beers.

Hefeweizens were my first craft beer love, so I started with Ewald the Golden by @utepilsbrewing. I didn’t realize until I went to untappd it that I’d drank this before. However, I’m happy I hadn’t checked because I loved it so much more than I had prior! It’s one of the best Hefeweizens I’ve had in a long time. If I was a local, I’d probably drink this often. I was blown away with how much I enjoyed this beer.

For my second round, I chose my current favorite beer style, which you all may know is a Hazy Double IPA. Blissful Ignorance by @lupulin_brewing is hopped with Citra, Mosaic, and Columbus. It’s juicy and smooth while not being too sweet or boozy. My perfect Hazy DIPAs are a little more fuller bodied, but I overall enjoyed this beer. In fact, this was my first by Lupulin.

MSP now ranks as one of my favorite airports for beer in the US. Not only did I have such a huge selection of local craft options, but the prices also weren’t outrageous.

Which are your favorite airports for craft beer? Bonus, if you tell me where specifically at those airports.

Don’t worry, my all time favorite airport for local craft beer is still @pdxairport.

I 🧡 Monkish’s October Oregon shipping 📦

Seriously, I hope this comes back again next year, but it’s probably for the best I can only ship @monkishbrewing to my door one month a year.

I think Monkish brews some of the best Hazy Pale Ales, which is a style I always gravitate to, but see infrequently. This is definitely one of my favorites.

DDH Desert High is hopped with Riwaka. It’s crushable, but flavorful. It’s citrusy, but balanced by grassiness. It has the fuller mouthfeel of a stronger ABV beer. I love this beer so much. If Monkish shipped to Oregon year round, I’d buy this one every time.

What beers have you tried for the first time and loved lately?

I 🧡 Monkish’s October Oregon shipping 📦

Seriously, I hope this comes back again next year, but it’s probably for the best I can only ship @monkishbrewing to my door one month a year.

I think Monkish brews some of the best Hazy Pale Ales, which is a style I always gravitate to, but see infrequently. This is definitely one of my favorites.

DDH Desert High is hopped with Riwaka. It’s crushable, but flavorful. It’s citrusy, but balanced by grassiness. It has the fuller mouthfeel of a stronger ABV beer. I love this beer so much. If Monkish shipped to Oregon year round, I’d buy this one every time.

What beers have you tried for the first time and loved lately?

A long awaited IRL meetup 🍻📚

After chatting with @erinescapingreality for years on here, I knew we’d absolute click in real life too. I always thought of our accounts as perfect opposites: if you’ve been following Erin, she posts about books, but also loves craft beer, and I obviously post about craft beer, but also love books.

Admittedly, I always kind of thought we’d meet someday in Portland — so much so I had mentally planned a day of visiting bookstores like @powellsbooks, shops like @portlandleather, and of course several breweries. But instead, I found myself in Des Moines!

Erin was kind enough to take me to a couple of breweries, the first of which was @confluencebrew where I joined her after she celebrated a family event there. As a result, I got to meet her whole family!

I know I enjoyed this flight where I purposefully chose a variety of styles to try. Truthfully though, I spent more energy enjoying time with Erin, her family, and her friends like @lindsayericksondsm than focusing on any tasting notes or tracking these beers on untappd.

If I’m ever back in Des Moines, I’d love to try more beers here and I hope Erin will join me once again.

I highly recommend giving Erin a follow if you aren’t already!

Have you recently met anyone IRL that you connected with on here? Or any plans to in the near future?

A long awaited IRL meetup 🍻📚

After chatting with @erinescapingreality for years on here, I knew we’d absolute click in real life too. I always thought of our accounts as perfect opposites: if you’ve been following Erin, she posts about books, but also loves craft beer, and I obviously post about craft beer, but also love books.

Admittedly, I always kind of thought we’d meet someday in Portland — so much so I had mentally planned a day of visiting bookstores like @powellsbooks, shops like @portlandleather, and of course several breweries. But instead, I found myself in Des Moines!

Erin was kind enough to take me to a couple of breweries, the first of which was @confluencebrew where I joined her after she celebrated a family event there. As a result, I got to meet her whole family!

I know I enjoyed this flight where I purposefully chose a variety of styles to try. Truthfully though, I spent more energy enjoying time with Erin, her family, and her friends like @lindsayericksondsm than focusing on any tasting notes or tracking these beers on untappd.

If I’m ever back in Des Moines, I’d love to try more beers here and I hope Erin will join me once again.

I highly recommend giving Erin a follow if you aren’t already!

Have you recently met anyone IRL that you connected with on here? Or any plans to in the near future?

Happy International Stout Day 🖤

I held onto this one by @outfieldbeerproject so long that it became the last known bottle of this beer in existence.

Contra (Batch 2) is a Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout aged for five months in a Journeyman 4 Grain whiskey barrel and conditioned on Madagascar vanilla beans and cacao nibs. I always feel strange saying I can taste the barrel, but I think the barrel kept this beer more balanced. This beer is syrupy in a way I like my stouts to be and chocolatey without being too rich or sweet. I was a little sad once I had finished the bottle making this beer officially extinct.

Outfield Beer Project is the home brewery that hooked me on home breweries, and I still think Sam is one of the best out there, home brewer or commercial.

What stout are you drinking today, or in my case, posting today?

Happy International Stout Day 🖤

I held onto this one by @outfieldbeerproject so long that it became the last known bottle of this beer in existence.

Contra (Batch 2) is a Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout aged for five months in a Journeyman 4 Grain whiskey barrel and conditioned on Madagascar vanilla beans and cacao nibs. I always feel strange saying I can taste the barrel, but I think the barrel kept this beer more balanced. This beer is syrupy in a way I like my stouts to be and chocolatey without being too rich or sweet. I was a little sad once I had finished the bottle making this beer officially extinct.

Outfield Beer Project is the home brewery that hooked me on home breweries, and I still think Sam is one of the best out there, home brewer or commercial.

What stout are you drinking today, or in my case, posting today?

Both a first visit and a first taste.

Last month, my second stop visiting Astoria was @obeliskbeerco. I’d actually not even tried their beer prior to this visit.

Well now I’ve tried a few:

🍺 Fresh Hop Sculpture Garden - a West Coast IPA hopped with fresh Citra.

🍺 Chill Touch - a Czech Pale Lager brewed in collaboration with @solarisbeer. I was completely blown away that this was only 3.5% ABV because it was so flavorful. Easily my favorite of those I drank here.

🍺 Chandelier - a more malty and biscuity Czech Pilsner. While I enjoyed this, I preferred Chill Touch.

I’d absolutely stop here again next time in Astoria.

Have you tried any breweries for the first time recently?

Both a first visit and a first taste.

Last month, my second stop visiting Astoria was @obeliskbeerco. I’d actually not even tried their beer prior to this visit.

Well now I’ve tried a few:

🍺 Fresh Hop Sculpture Garden - a West Coast IPA hopped with fresh Citra.

🍺 Chill Touch - a Czech Pale Lager brewed in collaboration with @solarisbeer. I was completely blown away that this was only 3.5% ABV because it was so flavorful. Easily my favorite of those I drank here.

🍺 Chandelier - a more malty and biscuity Czech Pilsner. While I enjoyed this, I preferred Chill Touch.

I’d absolutely stop here again next time in Astoria.

Have you tried any breweries for the first time recently?

A friendship brewed on Instagram 🍻

I love a repeat beer friend meet-up, and between Boston and Portland, this was my third time getting to drink beers with Allo @craftbeerconcierge.

@steeplejackbeer often attracts visitors as it is one of the most beautiful and unique taprooms in Portland. They also have a large selection of beers that aren’t all hazy IPAs by any means.

Between Allo and I, we drank:

🍺 Crosby West Coast IPA - crisp, not too bitter or piney, and very flavorful for only 6.3% ABV

🍺 West Coast Pilsner - or as I would call it from its taste, a pale ale. Extremely flavorful and hoppy.

🍺 Stonewarden Porter on Nitro - smooth and easy drinking

🍺 Farmhouse Table Lager - brewed in collaboration with @vcbcbeer.

So nice to get to hang out with you again Allo! If you want the chance to meet Allo yourself, be sure to stop by his Boos & Brews beer and Halloween candy pairing event at @function_pdx NE tomorrow at 6pm.

Have you had any beer friend meetups lately? I have more coming up this weekend that I’m looking forward to!

A friendship brewed on Instagram 🍻

I love a repeat beer friend meet-up, and between Boston and Portland, this was my third time getting to drink beers with Allo @craftbeerconcierge.

@steeplejackbeer often attracts visitors as it is one of the most beautiful and unique taprooms in Portland. They also have a large selection of beers that aren’t all hazy IPAs by any means.

Between Allo and I, we drank:

🍺 Crosby West Coast IPA - crisp, not too bitter or piney, and very flavorful for only 6.3% ABV

🍺 West Coast Pilsner - or as I would call it from its taste, a pale ale. Extremely flavorful and hoppy.

🍺 Stonewarden Porter on Nitro - smooth and easy drinking

🍺 Farmhouse Table Lager - brewed in collaboration with @vcbcbeer.

So nice to get to hang out with you again Allo! If you want the chance to meet Allo yourself, be sure to stop by his Boos & Brews beer and Halloween candy pairing event at @function_pdx NE tomorrow at 6pm.

Have you had any beer friend meetups lately? I have more coming up this weekend that I’m looking forward to!

Why can I never find recycling for those @paktech can rings? 😰

Do we have anything in common? What would be on your own Betrayal List?

#ablondewithabrew #betrayallist #beerreels #beergirl #craftbeergirl #beerbabe #craftbeer

Why can I never find recycling for those @paktech can rings? 😰

Do we have anything in common? What would be on your own Betrayal List?

#ablondewithabrew #betrayallist #beerreels #beergirl #craftbeergirl #beerbabe #craftbeer

It’s not often anymore that I try a brewery for the first time…

But I did recently!

Finally got to try @theredoesnotexist thanks to their pop-up at @function_pdx.

The beers I tried in order of preference:

🍺 Psychic Advisor - a West Coast Double IPA that was deliciously piney, floral, and dank.

🍺 Feathers, Bone Chimes, & Eternal Rest (Vanilla) - a strong ale brewed in collaboration with @horusagedales. This was super smooth for its high ABV. The small pour was perfect.

🍺 Festbier - described as a more modern take on the marzen style, this beer was really easy drinking and caramel malty.

Have you tried any breweries for the first time recently?

It’s not often anymore that I try a brewery for the first time…

But I did recently!

Finally got to try @theredoesnotexist thanks to their pop-up at @function_pdx.

The beers I tried in order of preference:

🍺 Psychic Advisor - a West Coast Double IPA that was deliciously piney, floral, and dank.

🍺 Feathers, Bone Chimes, & Eternal Rest (Vanilla) - a strong ale brewed in collaboration with @horusagedales. This was super smooth for its high ABV. The small pour was perfect.

🍺 Festbier - described as a more modern take on the marzen style, this beer was really easy drinking and caramel malty.

Have you tried any breweries for the first time recently?

What’s a local brewery you will always buy when you see their beers?

One such brewery for me is @kingsanddaughters and another, not as local but still PNW, is @miragebeer, so when I saw they did a collab, it had to be mine.

Also, to be honest, Kings & Daughters can art never hurts either. If I have an aesthetic, this is it.

Natural Symmetry is a Hazy Double IPA that well balances the “symmetry” between brightness and softness plus smoothness and bitterness, I really enjoyed the grapefruit notes, especially as this is one of my favorite flavors in IPAs. Overall, I just loved this beer and wish I bought more than the one can, but I rarely ever do of any single beer.

What’s a local brewery you will always buy when you see their beers?

One such brewery for me is @kingsanddaughters and another, not as local but still PNW, is @miragebeer, so when I saw they did a collab, it had to be mine.

Also, to be honest, Kings & Daughters can art never hurts either. If I have an aesthetic, this is it.

Natural Symmetry is a Hazy Double IPA that well balances the “symmetry” between brightness and softness plus smoothness and bitterness, I really enjoyed the grapefruit notes, especially as this is one of my favorite flavors in IPAs. Overall, I just loved this beer and wish I bought more than the one can, but I rarely ever do of any single beer.

Is Tall Trees Thursday a thing?

If not, maybe it should be.

I wanted this collab since the moment I heard it was brewing. Honestly, I look forward to anything by @talltreesbrewlab and @studentsbrewing individually, so when they collaborated it was extra exciting.

Canopy Curriculum, aside from being a clever name for a beer between these two breweries, is as good as imagined. This Hazy Double IPA is hopped with Nelson, Nectaron, and Dolcita. It has that fuller creaminess that I really enjoy with Hazy DIPAs, hoppy without being too bitter, and flavors of candied fruits without being too sweet.

Definitely one of the best collabs I’ve enjoyed recently!

Have you had any standout collabs lately? Or any you’re looking forward to that should be on my radar as well?

Is Tall Trees Thursday a thing?

If not, maybe it should be.

I wanted this collab since the moment I heard it was brewing. Honestly, I look forward to anything by @talltreesbrewlab and @studentsbrewing individually, so when they collaborated it was extra exciting.

Canopy Curriculum, aside from being a clever name for a beer between these two breweries, is as good as imagined. This Hazy Double IPA is hopped with Nelson, Nectaron, and Dolcita. It has that fuller creaminess that I really enjoy with Hazy DIPAs, hoppy without being too bitter, and flavors of candied fruits without being too sweet.

Definitely one of the best collabs I’ve enjoyed recently!

Have you had any standout collabs lately? Or any you’re looking forward to that should be on my radar as well?

A long overdue brewery visit 🍻

I’m approaching my ten year anniversary of living in Oregon, and it took me way too long to visit @fortgeorgebeer.

I started my visit with their brewery tour, where I got to not only learn about their brewery, but also tried samples of:

- Vortex IPA
- Pilsner
- Bagel Bytes
- Fresh Hop Mosaic Architect with @ghosttownbrewing

After the tour, I explored their large taproom (more like taprooms) some more, but I absolutely had to sit outside on this surprisingly warm and sun October day. It’s here I enjoyed:

- Fresh Pierogi: a fresh hop Hazy Double IPA brewed in collaboration with @hopbutcher using fresh Strata. I love this one so much that I almost went back for seconds.

- Fields of Green: a fresh hop Hazy IPA with fresh Chinook. It’s juicy and hoppy, and not my typical descriptor, but this beer truly tasted resinous.

This isn’t even the extent of all I wanted to try, and this includes both beers and their pizza.

What brewery have you recently visited that was long overdue, or where is somewhere you want to visit that is long overdue?

A long overdue brewery visit 🍻

I’m approaching my ten year anniversary of living in Oregon, and it took me way too long to visit @fortgeorgebeer.

I started my visit with their brewery tour, where I got to not only learn about their brewery, but also tried samples of:

- Vortex IPA
- Pilsner
- Bagel Bytes
- Fresh Hop Mosaic Architect with @ghosttownbrewing

After the tour, I explored their large taproom (more like taprooms) some more, but I absolutely had to sit outside on this surprisingly warm and sun October day. It’s here I enjoyed:

- Fresh Pierogi: a fresh hop Hazy Double IPA brewed in collaboration with @hopbutcher using fresh Strata. I love this one so much that I almost went back for seconds.

- Fields of Green: a fresh hop Hazy IPA with fresh Chinook. It’s juicy and hoppy, and not my typical descriptor, but this beer truly tasted resinous.

This isn’t even the extent of all I wanted to try, and this includes both beers and their pizza.

What brewery have you recently visited that was long overdue, or where is somewhere you want to visit that is long overdue?

Cousin of Death 💀

How many unofficial “rules” of the beerstagram am I breaking here?

• I’ve posted this beer before (back in 2023)
• I’m not posting @monkishbrewing on a Monday or a Wednesday.
• I got this beer in December 2024, drank it very early in 2025, and then saved this picture to post for several months until this beer is irrelevant, but the season is more relevant.
• I did nothing creative or spooky themed to go along with it — in fact, it’s just a boring beer photo on my piano.

Nevertheless, I’ve now had this beer twice and I really enjoy it!

Cousin of Death is a the DDH version of I Never Sleep, which I’ve sadly never had. It’s hopped with Citra and Motueka. As I drank this so many months ago, I cannot tell you more about it other than I gave it a 4.5/5 rating, which definitely means I loved it.

Did I violate any more unofficial “rules”? Do you have any posting guidelines you follow yourself? One for me is I will almost never post a beer unless you can also see it in the glass. At least I did that here!

What are some other unofficial “rules” of posting beers on here? Anything you follow?

Cousin of Death 💀

How many unofficial “rules” of the beerstagram am I breaking here?

• I’ve posted this beer before (back in 2023)
• I’m not posting @monkishbrewing on a Monday or a Wednesday.
• I got this beer in December 2024, drank it very early in 2025, and then saved this picture to post for several months until this beer is irrelevant, but the season is more relevant.
• I did nothing creative or spooky themed to go along with it — in fact, it’s just a boring beer photo on my piano.

Nevertheless, I’ve now had this beer twice and I really enjoy it!

Cousin of Death is a the DDH version of I Never Sleep, which I’ve sadly never had. It’s hopped with Citra and Motueka. As I drank this so many months ago, I cannot tell you more about it other than I gave it a 4.5/5 rating, which definitely means I loved it.

Did I violate any more unofficial “rules”? Do you have any posting guidelines you follow yourself? One for me is I will almost never post a beer unless you can also see it in the glass. At least I did that here!

What are some other unofficial “rules” of posting beers on here? Anything you follow?

All the fresh hops at @pfriembeer 🍻

I was very overdue to finally check out Pfriem’s newer taproom in Milwaukie. Located in the former City Hall, it has some of the most sophisticated looking bars I’ve seen in a taproom and a really enjoyable indoor/outdoor space. It was definitely outdoor weather when I visited — I even biked there!

Of the beers I tried, these were my favorites:

🍺 Fresh Hop Pilsner - my absolute favorite of the visit.

🍺 Fresh Hop West Coast IPA - despite being a haze lover, I enjoyed this more than the two hazies I tried.

🍺 Fresh Hop Hazy IPA

I also highly recommend that mac and cheese. I’d seriously just visit again for it.

Have you visited any new spots lately?

All the fresh hops at @pfriembeer 🍻

I was very overdue to finally check out Pfriem’s newer taproom in Milwaukie. Located in the former City Hall, it has some of the most sophisticated looking bars I’ve seen in a taproom and a really enjoyable indoor/outdoor space. It was definitely outdoor weather when I visited — I even biked there!

Of the beers I tried, these were my favorites:

🍺 Fresh Hop Pilsner - my absolute favorite of the visit.

🍺 Fresh Hop West Coast IPA - despite being a haze lover, I enjoyed this more than the two hazies I tried.

🍺 Fresh Hop Hazy IPA

I also highly recommend that mac and cheese. I’d seriously just visit again for it.

Have you visited any new spots lately?

There is something about a saison in a clear bottle ✨

@floodlandbrewing beers are always entirely elegant and the color of the bottle doesn’t really matter, but I love when a clear bottle shows off a pretty beer. Even better when it’s also delicious, like this one.

CFO2 (2024) is a saison created with three varietals of organic pluots and one type of peaches all grown by @collinsfamilyorchards. I don’t often reach for peach beers, but I tasted more of the apricot and plums flavors, both of which I prefer to peach. This beer was mildly acidic and tart, but still more crushable than I anticipated. I was very happy with this choice for my birthday.

What breweries do you think produce the most elegant beers?

There is something about a saison in a clear bottle ✨

@floodlandbrewing beers are always entirely elegant and the color of the bottle doesn’t really matter, but I love when a clear bottle shows off a pretty beer. Even better when it’s also delicious, like this one.

CFO2 (2024) is a saison created with three varietals of organic pluots and one type of peaches all grown by @collinsfamilyorchards. I don’t often reach for peach beers, but I tasted more of the apricot and plums flavors, both of which I prefer to peach. This beer was mildly acidic and tart, but still more crushable than I anticipated. I was very happy with this choice for my birthday.

What breweries do you think produce the most elegant beers?

Birthday Snapshots 🥳

If you haven’t figured this out yet, I really like my birthday 😅

I also have a tendency to extend it beyond the one day (it’s the 6th).

🍺 Fresh hops at @fortgeorgebeer and @obeliskbeerco
🍝 Dinner at @fedeastoria
🦭 Astoria waterfront and sea lions
🍺 Finding that @humanpeoplebeer x @everywherebeerco collab at bridgeandtunnelbottlesandtaps
🍪 Birthday cookie from @cookiemccakeface
🍺 @floodlandbrewing is always special
🍚 @rusebrewing and the white curry with brisket burnt ends at @eempdx
🍺 more beer at @cmnsl across the street

How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

Birthday Snapshots 🥳

If you haven’t figured this out yet, I really like my birthday 😅

I also have a tendency to extend it beyond the one day (it’s the 6th).

🍺 Fresh hops at @fortgeorgebeer and @obeliskbeerco
🍝 Dinner at @fedeastoria
🦭 Astoria waterfront and sea lions
🍺 Finding that @humanpeoplebeer x @everywherebeerco collab at bridgeandtunnelbottlesandtaps
🍪 Birthday cookie from @cookiemccakeface
🍺 @floodlandbrewing is always special
🍚 @rusebrewing and the white curry with brisket burnt ends at @eempdx
🍺 more beer at @cmnsl across the street

How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

Birthday beer 🥳🍻

I consider myself extremely lucky to be born during fresh hop season.

I’ve talked about not really seeking out fresh hop beers in cans much in previous posts, but I snagged one can of this beer to enjoy last night on my birthday.

FH Sitra Achra is an Imperial Hazy IPA by @brujos_brewing hopped with fresh Citra. This beer completely conceals its 9.2% ABV. It’s perfectly smooth and creamy, a touch green, and has some mild bitterness. There’s nothing I’d change about this beer to be honest! I rated it a 5/5.

What’s the last beer you thought was absolutely perfect?

Or, want to guess what was in this present? ☺️

Birthday beer 🥳🍻

I consider myself extremely lucky to be born during fresh hop season.

I’ve talked about not really seeking out fresh hop beers in cans much in previous posts, but I snagged one can of this beer to enjoy last night on my birthday.

FH Sitra Achra is an Imperial Hazy IPA by @brujos_brewing hopped with fresh Citra. This beer completely conceals its 9.2% ABV. It’s perfectly smooth and creamy, a touch green, and has some mild bitterness. There’s nothing I’d change about this beer to be honest! I rated it a 5/5.

What’s the last beer you thought was absolutely perfect?

Or, want to guess what was in this present? ☺️

An impulse purchase I don’t regret 💀

I had major FOMO thinking this beer made its way to Portland and I didn’t get it.

Fortunately for me, I noticed @beerstoremilwaukie last weekend visiting @pfriembeer, and we all know I can’t resist at least stopping in to look at the beers.

Did I need any beer? Of course not, but some beers are justified, like this one.

DDH Ghost Daydream is a Hazy Double IPA inspired by two beers I very much enjoy on their own: @parishbrewingco DDH Ghost in the Machine and @otherhalfnyc Double Citra Daydream. This beer is hopped entirely with Citra, and the DDH Ghost base was given the OH oat cream treatment. If you know my taste in beer, you can see why I “needed” this! I had high expectations and they were met. I really loved this beer.

What was your last beer impulse buy?

An impulse purchase I don’t regret 💀

I had major FOMO thinking this beer made its way to Portland and I didn’t get it.

Fortunately for me, I noticed @beerstoremilwaukie last weekend visiting @pfriembeer, and we all know I can’t resist at least stopping in to look at the beers.

Did I need any beer? Of course not, but some beers are justified, like this one.

DDH Ghost Daydream is a Hazy Double IPA inspired by two beers I very much enjoy on their own: @parishbrewingco DDH Ghost in the Machine and @otherhalfnyc Double Citra Daydream. This beer is hopped entirely with Citra, and the DDH Ghost base was given the OH oat cream treatment. If you know my taste in beer, you can see why I “needed” this! I had high expectations and they were met. I really loved this beer.

What was your last beer impulse buy?

Fresh hops or Festbiers?

It’s hard for me to choose during my favorite beer season of the year.

Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I don’t seek out fresh hop cans. I just think they’re so much better, you could even say fresher, on draft.

And while I love a festbier in some more proper glassware, I still think they taste great from a can at home in a Baby Groot glass.

Festbier by @vebrewing is a Bavarian-style festival lager brewed with German Tettnang. It’s got some malty sweetness, and a touch of biscuity clove where it’s a little reminiscent of a Hefeweizen, but definitely still a lager. I’d happily drink this again.

Let me know where you stand on choosing festbiers or fresh hops this time of year.

Fresh hops or Festbiers?

It’s hard for me to choose during my favorite beer season of the year.

Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but I don’t seek out fresh hop cans. I just think they’re so much better, you could even say fresher, on draft.

And while I love a festbier in some more proper glassware, I still think they taste great from a can at home in a Baby Groot glass.

Festbier by @vebrewing is a Bavarian-style festival lager brewed with German Tettnang. It’s got some malty sweetness, and a touch of biscuity clove where it’s a little reminiscent of a Hefeweizen, but definitely still a lager. I’d happily drink this again.

Let me know where you stand on choosing festbiers or fresh hops this time of year.

@rusebrewing looking fresh 💚

Hops, that is. These are some of the beers I most look forward to every year.

I attended Ruse’s Hop Harvest Party, tried most of the available fresh hop beers, and these were my favorites:

Fresh Hop Papyrus Iris - the fresh Citra version of the Hazy IPA that sold me as a Ruse fan years ago.

Fresh Hop Star Senders - a Hazy IPA with fresh Simcoe. While I’m a Papyrus Iris Stan, this beer was even better! It’s creamy, hoppy, and has some really nice floral and tropical fruit flavors. It was my clear favorite here and maybe my favorite fresh hop of the season so far.

Fresh Hop Alien Plant Farm - a Hazy IPA with fresh Strata brewed in collaboration with @holymtnbrewing and @burgeonbeer.

North of Summer - not a fresh hop, but I loved this festbier! It’s mildly sweet, a little malty and bready, and very refreshing.

Have you enjoyed any fresh hop beers? What have been your favorites?

@rusebrewing looking fresh 💚

Hops, that is. These are some of the beers I most look forward to every year.

I attended Ruse’s Hop Harvest Party, tried most of the available fresh hop beers, and these were my favorites:

Fresh Hop Papyrus Iris - the fresh Citra version of the Hazy IPA that sold me as a Ruse fan years ago.

Fresh Hop Star Senders - a Hazy IPA with fresh Simcoe. While I’m a Papyrus Iris Stan, this beer was even better! It’s creamy, hoppy, and has some really nice floral and tropical fruit flavors. It was my clear favorite here and maybe my favorite fresh hop of the season so far.

Fresh Hop Alien Plant Farm - a Hazy IPA with fresh Strata brewed in collaboration with @holymtnbrewing and @burgeonbeer.

North of Summer - not a fresh hop, but I loved this festbier! It’s mildly sweet, a little malty and bready, and very refreshing.

Have you enjoyed any fresh hop beers? What have been your favorites?

Lambics are always in season…

Or at least I think so!

And as someone who spends considerable time on her beerstagram, it doesn’t hurt that they’re extremely photogenic. I don’t think any beer beats a lambic inside a basket aesthetic-wise. Maybe taste-wise too.

I brought everything seen here back with me from when I visited Belgium in 2022.

Oude Quetsche Tilquin à l’Ancienne (2020-2021) by @gueuzetilquin is a fruited lambic with purple plums. It’s tart and the plum flavor really comes out nicely balanced by what tastes like a little bit of citrus.

Any other lambic lovers out there?

What do you think is the most photogenic beer?

Lambics are always in season…

Or at least I think so!

And as someone who spends considerable time on her beerstagram, it doesn’t hurt that they’re extremely photogenic. I don’t think any beer beats a lambic inside a basket aesthetic-wise. Maybe taste-wise too.

I brought everything seen here back with me from when I visited Belgium in 2022.

Oude Quetsche Tilquin à l’Ancienne (2020-2021) by @gueuzetilquin is a fruited lambic with purple plums. It’s tart and the plum flavor really comes out nicely balanced by what tastes like a little bit of citrus.

Any other lambic lovers out there?

What do you think is the most photogenic beer?

One of my most anticipated @function_pdx pop ups ever 🤩

I’ve had a tragically small amount of @burialbeer, like maybe one actually brewed by them and a handful of collabs.

Fortunately, earlier this week, I was able to change this and didn’t leave disappointed despite my high expectations.

Beers I enjoyed:

🍺 The Savages of Ruminating Minds • Heavy Resin Edition - a Hazy IPA brewed with wheat and oats and hopped with Mosaic Incognito and Cryo and double dry-hopped with more Mosaic Cryo, Mosaic, Motueka, and Idaho 7.

🍺 Deformation - a pilsner with fresh Cashmere and El Dorado.

🍺 Merely a Parcel of Manifested Flesh Wounds - a Hazy Double IPA hopped with Citra, Citra Incognito, and Amarillo and double dry hopped with Strata, Simcoe, and more Citra and Amarillo. This DIPA lighter than anticipated, but still very flavorful with notes of citrusy grapefruit.

🍺 A Disfigurement of Elemental Understanding - a Hazy Double IPA and my favorite of the beers I tried. I absolutely want more beers just like this one. This one was similar to the other Hazy DIPA, but it was fuller, and I thought a little more flavorful, which gave it the edge.

I took home another Hazy DIPA to try at home plus two NA beers also by Burial. I would love to see more breweries of this caliber brewing NAs.

What breweries have you tried little by and would love to have a local pop up in order to try more?

One of my most anticipated @function_pdx pop ups ever 🤩

I’ve had a tragically small amount of @burialbeer, like maybe one actually brewed by them and a handful of collabs.

Fortunately, earlier this week, I was able to change this and didn’t leave disappointed despite my high expectations.

Beers I enjoyed:

🍺 The Savages of Ruminating Minds • Heavy Resin Edition - a Hazy IPA brewed with wheat and oats and hopped with Mosaic Incognito and Cryo and double dry-hopped with more Mosaic Cryo, Mosaic, Motueka, and Idaho 7.

🍺 Deformation - a pilsner with fresh Cashmere and El Dorado.

🍺 Merely a Parcel of Manifested Flesh Wounds - a Hazy Double IPA hopped with Citra, Citra Incognito, and Amarillo and double dry hopped with Strata, Simcoe, and more Citra and Amarillo. This DIPA lighter than anticipated, but still very flavorful with notes of citrusy grapefruit.

🍺 A Disfigurement of Elemental Understanding - a Hazy Double IPA and my favorite of the beers I tried. I absolutely want more beers just like this one. This one was similar to the other Hazy DIPA, but it was fuller, and I thought a little more flavorful, which gave it the edge.

I took home another Hazy DIPA to try at home plus two NA beers also by Burial. I would love to see more breweries of this caliber brewing NAs.

What breweries have you tried little by and would love to have a local pop up in order to try more?

On Tuesday nights I’m better known as Ablondewithabat 🥎

Probably no surprise to anyone who knows me here, I’m in for beer after a win (honestly, or even a loss, but we won big)!

I’m celebrating a win here with @giganticbrewing’s Fresh Hop Pilsner. I don’t pass up available fresh hop beers this time of year. This Pilsner is brewed with fresh Tettnang hops picked from @goschiefarms in the Willamette Valley.
It’s really crisp and refreshing like some light biscuity sweetness. A very perfect post game pint 🍺.

What beer style will you never pass up if you see it on a draft list?

On Tuesday nights I’m better known as Ablondewithabat 🥎

Probably no surprise to anyone who knows me here, I’m in for beer after a win (honestly, or even a loss, but we won big)!

I’m celebrating a win here with @giganticbrewing’s Fresh Hop Pilsner. I don’t pass up available fresh hop beers this time of year. This Pilsner is brewed with fresh Tettnang hops picked from @goschiefarms in the Willamette Valley.
It’s really crisp and refreshing like some light biscuity sweetness. A very perfect post game pint 🍺.

What beer style will you never pass up if you see it on a draft list?

Fresh Hop Friday 🍻

I think @thresholdbeer does everything well and this includes fresh hop beers.

They started fresh hop season strong with Fresh Hop Centennial Electric Fields, a West Coast IPA that’s resinous, a little sweet, but also bitter, and manages to strike the right balance between it all.

I’ve been eyeing all of Threshold’s more recent fresh hop releases since this initial one. Fresh hop season is my favorite beer season and it’s hard not to drink all the releases!

What’s your favorite beer season?

Fresh Hop Friday 🍻

I think @thresholdbeer does everything well and this includes fresh hop beers.

They started fresh hop season strong with Fresh Hop Centennial Electric Fields, a West Coast IPA that’s resinous, a little sweet, but also bitter, and manages to strike the right balance between it all.

I’ve been eyeing all of Threshold’s more recent fresh hop releases since this initial one. Fresh hop season is my favorite beer season and it’s hard not to drink all the releases!

What’s your favorite beer season?

@greatnotion is the only place where I routinely order a flight for myself.

I used to regularly order flights at breweries, usually to share, but more often I’m opting for sharing a couple of half pours or just picking even fewer full pours to share.

But Great Notion does the best flights! Just look at it!

On this flight:

🍺 Super Duper Ripe - the Triple IPA version of the Ripe IPA series. It could be my favorite of the series now too.

🍺 Fresh Hop Dune - a Hazy IPA with fresh Simcoe. This was the standout of the flight and one of my favorite fresh hop beers of this season so far.

🍺 Fresh Hop Van Beer - a Hazy IPA with fresh Strata.

🍺 I Love It When a Van Comes Together - a Hazy IPA brewed in collaboration with @vicebeer.

🍺 Double Strawberry Raspberry Cheesecake - few breweries make a fruited sour better than Great Notion. In fact, they are the brewery that initially got me into this style with beers just like this one.

Seen as a half pour:

🍺 Fresh Hop Easy Lift - a West Coast IPA with fresh Centennial.

Do you like beer flights or prefer full pours? Does it depend on the brewery, like me, or the situation? Tell me in the comments and let’s discuss!

And if you’ve read this far: did you notice the giraffe? 😂

@greatnotion is the only place where I routinely order a flight for myself.

I used to regularly order flights at breweries, usually to share, but more often I’m opting for sharing a couple of half pours or just picking even fewer full pours to share.

But Great Notion does the best flights! Just look at it!

On this flight:

🍺 Super Duper Ripe - the Triple IPA version of the Ripe IPA series. It could be my favorite of the series now too.

🍺 Fresh Hop Dune - a Hazy IPA with fresh Simcoe. This was the standout of the flight and one of my favorite fresh hop beers of this season so far.

🍺 Fresh Hop Van Beer - a Hazy IPA with fresh Strata.

🍺 I Love It When a Van Comes Together - a Hazy IPA brewed in collaboration with @vicebeer.

🍺 Double Strawberry Raspberry Cheesecake - few breweries make a fruited sour better than Great Notion. In fact, they are the brewery that initially got me into this style with beers just like this one.

Seen as a half pour:

🍺 Fresh Hop Easy Lift - a West Coast IPA with fresh Centennial.

Do you like beer flights or prefer full pours? Does it depend on the brewery, like me, or the situation? Tell me in the comments and let’s discuss!

And if you’ve read this far: did you notice the giraffe? 😂

Congrats on 16 years @thebeermongers 🎉

I know I’m about a week late posting, but I think it’s never too late to highlight and celebrate one of my favorite places in Portland. I think it’s physically impossible for me to be anywhere near The Beermongers without at least stopping in for cans.

Last week, I enjoyed some seasonal options on draft, plus one more beer that when it showed up on draft I couldn’t resist.

🍺 Festbier by @littlebeastbrewing - exactly what the name suggests.

🍺 Fresh Hop Pale by @pfriembeer - my first fresh hop of the season and it set the bar high. Bright and hoppy, but also grassy and earthy. This even tasted fresh — I loved it!

🍺 Fresh Hop Tuck’s Harvest by @block15brewing in collaboration with The Beermongers and @indiehops - a Belgian Pale Ale with Brettanomyces and dry-hopped with fresh Hallertau Mittelfrüh. Really light with some mild cherry and bubblegum flavors.

🍺 Nath (2024) by @brasseriecantillonofficiel - @hop_doc agrees, we don’t see Cantillon on draft and not get it. This easy-drinking lambic is tart and dry with some rhubarb flavor.

Congrats again on the huge milestone The Beermongers! I’m sure I’ll be back soon 😊

What are the local beer bars and bottle shops that you love?

Congrats on 16 years @thebeermongers 🎉

I know I’m about a week late posting, but I think it’s never too late to highlight and celebrate one of my favorite places in Portland. I think it’s physically impossible for me to be anywhere near The Beermongers without at least stopping in for cans.

Last week, I enjoyed some seasonal options on draft, plus one more beer that when it showed up on draft I couldn’t resist.

🍺 Festbier by @littlebeastbrewing - exactly what the name suggests.

🍺 Fresh Hop Pale by @pfriembeer - my first fresh hop of the season and it set the bar high. Bright and hoppy, but also grassy and earthy. This even tasted fresh — I loved it!

🍺 Fresh Hop Tuck’s Harvest by @block15brewing in collaboration with The Beermongers and @indiehops - a Belgian Pale Ale with Brettanomyces and dry-hopped with fresh Hallertau Mittelfrüh. Really light with some mild cherry and bubblegum flavors.

🍺 Nath (2024) by @brasseriecantillonofficiel - @hop_doc agrees, we don’t see Cantillon on draft and not get it. This easy-drinking lambic is tart and dry with some rhubarb flavor.

Congrats again on the huge milestone The Beermongers! I’m sure I’ll be back soon 😊

What are the local beer bars and bottle shops that you love?

Unpopular opinion:

I’ve never been big on drinking at Disney. I know this may be surprising from someone who loves beer as much as I do, but there is little to nothing there alcohol-wise that I can’t get elsewhere.

Instead, I’m definitely a try all the foods kind of girl, especially at Tokyo Disney.

@tokyodisneyresort_official has some pretty unique options, and over the course of two days, I attempted to try as many of them as possible. The crowds at Tokyo DisneySea absolutely made this more challenging — literal 45 minute lines for churros, so almost everything we ate at that park was mobile ordered to skip those waits.

My favorites:

🍡 Alien Mochi - I think I got these 3 times and they’re available at both parks.

🥟 Gyoza Sausage Bun - available at Tokyo DisneySea and through mobile order.

🍿Popcorn is a big thing at Tokyo Disney! People collect the different souvenir popcorn buckets too. There are some more “standard” flavors, but I enjoyed trying ones I wouldn’t typically see in the United States, like curry flavor.

🍠 Tipo Torta - not what I associate a torta to be in any way. I had the chocolate version on my first visit in 2020 and was underwhelmed, but I cannot stop thinking about this purple sweet potato one. I got it twice!

🍮 Creme brûlée churro - I will try creme brûlée anything, and this is one of the better flavored churros I’ve ever had.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about visiting either park at Tokyo Disney. I think it’s a unique experience for anyone, especially a Disney lover, and the fun foods are such a bonus.

Unpopular opinion:

I’ve never been big on drinking at Disney. I know this may be surprising from someone who loves beer as much as I do, but there is little to nothing there alcohol-wise that I can’t get elsewhere.

Instead, I’m definitely a try all the foods kind of girl, especially at Tokyo Disney.

@tokyodisneyresort_official has some pretty unique options, and over the course of two days, I attempted to try as many of them as possible. The crowds at Tokyo DisneySea absolutely made this more challenging — literal 45 minute lines for churros, so almost everything we ate at that park was mobile ordered to skip those waits.

My favorites:

🍡 Alien Mochi - I think I got these 3 times and they’re available at both parks.

🥟 Gyoza Sausage Bun - available at Tokyo DisneySea and through mobile order.

🍿Popcorn is a big thing at Tokyo Disney! People collect the different souvenir popcorn buckets too. There are some more “standard” flavors, but I enjoyed trying ones I wouldn’t typically see in the United States, like curry flavor.

🍠 Tipo Torta - not what I associate a torta to be in any way. I had the chocolate version on my first visit in 2020 and was underwhelmed, but I cannot stop thinking about this purple sweet potato one. I got it twice!

🍮 Creme brûlée churro - I will try creme brûlée anything, and this is one of the better flavored churros I’ve ever had.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about visiting either park at Tokyo Disney. I think it’s a unique experience for anyone, especially a Disney lover, and the fun foods are such a bonus.

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