If you have any kind of taproom, pub, beer garden, restaurant or otherwise serve food, what’s on the food menu?

what's on the food menu?

The assumption is in place that you are passionate about the beer. So when you look at your food choices, do they match the passion of the beer (even if the choice is simply pretzels)?

If so – great. If no, what gives?

Why would you encourage sub par food to be eaten with you high quality beer? Really. It’s like cooking in a dirty kitchen with prime ingredients. It’s like brewing in a moldy brewery – the pride and effort you’ve already invested in the front end needs to carry all the way through.

Easy and reasonably priced food can still be tasty and match your beer.

One thing women tell me about why they don’t like (some) pubs is the food selection. In fact there’s one brewpub very close to where I live that I’d like to go spend an evening at – yet their food quite frankly is poorly done, greasy and gut bombish. It’s not even good greasy food.

When given the choice why would anyone who values their beer want to go have gut bomb food? Good fresh fried foods is not what I am talking about here either – ’cause I’m all for that when the grease is fresh and it’s not the only cooking method on the menu.

You’ve paid so much attention to the beer. Pay some heed to the food – and you’ll generate more business from women & men alike.

What’s the difference between certified organic beverages and non?

Organic Nation Spirits

Well, besides the obvious, sometimes there is a special passion – of the organic pursuit variety.

I’ve recently had the uber pleasure of meeting and befriending Diane and David, Organic Nation Spirits. The gin and vodka they create is certified organic. Their passion is as clear as the delicious spirits they craft with great care and affection.

Good spirits, good beer, good wine. While we may all had our own affinities, it’s good to remain open minded to what makes other peoples’ clock tick tock.

Another common connection is the remarkable Joy and Bob of White Water Warehouse. In fact, this very day they are all on the Rogue River on a Martini Madness trip (no worries – imbibing happens at the end of the rafting day). If you’ve been reading you’ll know Joy and Bob invited me to be part of the inaugural Raft and Craft Trip in July (what a fantastic crew and trip!).

Meeting your maker can have a fun and not-6-feet-under meaning. And like Diane says, sip responsibly!

Today’s my birthday – last night we started the celebration at SOB. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Beer in my Fridge

So today I want to share some of my go-to beers (availability be damned). When we get another beer fridge, the fantasy stock incudes these beers – and we can always make room for more. It’s going to have to be a big flippin’ fridge!

• 1. Russian River Brewing sours
• 2. SOB – Pilsener and Gold Digger
• 3. Full Sail Session
• 4. Boulevard Single Wide IPA
• 5. Snake River Zonker’s Stout
• 6. The Bruery – all
• 7. FirestoneWalker – all
• 8. Monteith’s Black Ale
• 9. Lazy Magnolia - Southern Pecan Nut Brown
• 10. New Century Brewing – Edison
• 11. New Glarus – sours
• 12. Summit Red Ale
• 13. Raccoon River – all
• 14. Maui CoCoNut Porter
• 15. Bell’s Lager
• 16. Schlafly – all
• 17. Grand Teton Brewing Lost Continent Double IPA
• 18. Ninkasi Oatis
• 19. CooperSmith’s Chili Beer

So the fridge is full to overflowing…and I am compelled to mention other breweries who I really enjoy in the glass as well:

NapaSmith, Dogfish, Moonlight, Lefthand, Ska, Wynkoop, Barley John’s, Fitger’s, Karl Strauss, Everybody’s Brewing, Alaskan, Four Peaks, Alamo, Del Norte, Goose Island, Widmer, Terrapin, Duck-Rabbit, Brideport, Clipper City/Heavy Seas, Sierra Nevada, Odell, Avery, Rubicon, Buckbean, Great Dane,  Big Sky, Standing Stone, Lawson’s Finest, Rogue, Old Market, Oskar Blues, Surly, Harvest Moon, St. Arnold’s, Leinenkugel, Triple Rock, Kelly’s, Willimantic, Gritty’s, Bend, Bison, HUB, Boston Beer, Piece, Rahr…

I know I’ve inadvertently left some off the list…tell me – who would you add? Let me know.

We’re going to need another fridge…

p.s. looking forward to savoring beers at Limestone and Haymarket in October…

Bottling beer at SOB

I had the distinct pleasurable opportunity to get to be a volunteer bottler at Southern Oregon Brewing last week. What a great way to get out from computer work and meet (more) fun beer people.

SOB is already a familiar brewery to me and the people there are friends. They’ve been good to WEB – we had a monthly meet up there where we featured their beers and paired them with cheeses. Mmmmmmmm! So getting to participate at the brewery in a process I don’t know much about was very welcome.

Acacia, Larry’s intern at SSBC, and I headed over around 830 am last Thursday. She’d done it before so was a helpful colleague to have there. There were 4 other volunteers in addition to Scott, Brewer, and the Green Bottling team – Jack, Gavin, and Mike.

Lee and Acacia on the line at SOB

It’s a pretty straightforward process, really, with some very specific equipment customized to take on the road to service breweries in bottling their beers. What a great solution!

Grossly Oversimplified: Beer ready in tanks, equipment set up, bottles loaded, filled, packed into boxes, palleted, and stored. And of course, enjoyed at their end point of some one’s mouth down the road.

Bottling and canning lines are an investment that – when it’s right – are smart. It’s another smart way to serve the breweries and end enthusiasts per beer by the bottle.

Green Bottling truck

SOB bottles 22 ounce bottles and we ended up helping that luscious beer into those bombers for the better part of the day. They’d also bottled the night before (Nice Rack IPA). Thursday we bottled Pin-up Porter, Gold Digger, and Woodshed Red.

Scott already knows my hand is the air for future bottling. Can’t wait! The refreshing beers on-site and camaraderie that is so intrinsic to the craft beer community was in perfect form that day. Thanks to Scott, Tom, Jack, Gavin, Mike, Acacia, Lee, Greg, Jeff, and Buddy – what a fabulously beery day!

Grand Teton Trout Hop Black IPA

Thanks as always to the Grand Teton Brewing crew for sharing their beers with Women Enjoying Beer. Indeed, the ‘enjoying’ part is enhanced by trying samples and getting to explore the beers.

The most recent media sample is their Trout Hop Black IPA. It has a nice balanced orange chocolate aroma, a lasting coat-the-back-of-your-mouth bitterness to it. The gorgeous dark color and slightly dense head presents itself well in your glass.

It would likely pair well with a medium to rich meat dish like slow cooked ribs, a lush orange chocolate cake, and maybe even a wilted green spinach salad.

Cheers to seasonal beer!

Bottling line at New Glarus

Today is a new experience waiting to happen – I get to participate and observe in bottling beer. Southern Oregon Brewing is willing to have me volunteer to come out and be of any assistance.

Surely they have their routine down. Nonetheless I’m geared up because, while I’ve seen operational bottling lines and resting bottling lines on site at many breweries, this is the first time I get to actively be involved.

I’ll report back when the effort is complete.

Wow! Who’s up for a Gastravaganza in Denver Colorado September 18th, 7- 9 pm?!

Gastravanganza!

Details and tickets available here – on Chelly’s site.

Chelly’s Denver Gourmet Tours and Women Enjoying Beer is collaborating and partnering with terrific breweries and street food vendors to offer a totally unique and tasty adventure.

Our terrific Featured Beers will come from Avery Brewing, Wynkoop Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, Left Hand Brewing, Del Norte Brewing and Odell Brewing.

Fabulous tasty Street Food will be from Steuben’s, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Gastro Cart, Brava Pizza, and Cake Crumbs Cupcake Truck.

We’ve room for up to 300 – so sign up today. It’s happening the same week as Denver Beer Week and Great American Beer Festival (a don’t miss beer event).

Cheers – see you there!

Life jackets for the river rafting

July 19th

Yaaaaaawn…smack smack….waking up with the natural light is a treat. That’s how day 2 came about on our Raft & Craft Trip. After a fantastic first day, we’re all all-ready for another one.

Everybody rousted out and up to breakfast at 8, with one slow riser who came happily and sleepily in a bit into the meal. No real big deal…we’re on relaxed mode. After a brief good morning and a warm breakfast, we returned to our cabins to pack and be at the river for day 2 by 9:30 to set out.

So we were. Loaded up, ready to go and off we went at about 945ish – another blue sky sunny day ahead of us on the Rogue.

View from the pontoon style raft

I kayaked again for a short bit then was happy to give it to a guest for the rest of the day. I tell you what – I honestly don’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed and alert at the same time! Riding on the raft, soaking up the sun like a sunflower, and feeling so well taken care of.

The morning was smooth again with a variety of rapids as well as an opportunity to jump into the river and float along with the rafts with a life jacket – very refreshing. One of the other kayakers joined the Dunkers Club too!

We stopped for lunch for more fresh tasty fare with a cliff high view of the river. After we were full we set out for the Rogue River Lodge, an historic stop along the river with a colorful history including past visits to some Hollywood celebs years back.

Historic Rogue River Lodge

We meandered around, taking in the museum, a few of us jumped into a crystal clear swimming hole (COLD – whew!), and then headed back to our rafts.

It was only a short bit downriver till our nightly lodging – Marial Lodge - which was entirely lovely and comfortable. The crew proceeded to group unpack again – many hands, you know – and took to assigned cabin rooms. As I offered up to meet in one hour later for the beer tasting upon our arrival, several of the goers said “We have to wait an hour?!”. Good response….and it told me the guests were thoroughly enjoying a great combination trip.

After everyone was once again showered up and had wandered back to the lodge, I had the table set

Tasting night 2

and ready for the 2nd night of beer tasting and pairing. Here’s the menu we enjoyed:

• Ninkasi Double Red Believer with molasses ginger cookies – also paired with the smoked salmon and Oregon Hazelnuts
• Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout with Dagoba chocolates (milk & dark)
• Russian River Temptation with tangy chevre on water crackers

MMMMMMMMM! Again, met with happy enthusiasm and ‘mmm-ing’ all around.

Dinner in the adjacent dining room followed our tasting on the deck and we all savored a dinner and good company, including 2 other guests staying at the lodge. One of the very unique things about Marial Lodge is the turn tables at the tables - space saver, serving genius. Our host Lori told me her uncle, who had the lodge previous, hated wasted or unused space.

Marial Lodge on the Rogue

The rest of the troop bug doped up and went for a walk. I stayed in and lazily read a few of the books on the coffee tables in the lodge – history, stories, nature.

One can only take so much stress, so I headed to bed as the sun went down. Ready to get an abundance of sleep again before day 3.

‘Night!

Tomorrow – Day 3

Prepping the sturdy and stable pontoon rafts

July 18th

Gorgeous day dawns in Southern Oregon. Okay, well, it was really beautiful – partially because we were all looking forward to it as well. Funny how it’s as ‘nice’ as you want it to be.

I got up and drove to meet Bob and Guy at the Rand boat launch for the inaugural White Water Warehouse and Women Enjoying Beer Raft & Craft Trip. When I arrived they were both occupied preparing the 2 pontoon rafts, setting up equipment, gear, coolers, and so on. Practiced hands to be sure – they’ve been at this since 1983.

The guests began arriving at 9 am and everyone exchanged introductions. After our own bags were dry bagged and packed on board, Bob gave us a safety talk and we were off!

Lunching it up - Day 1

Down the lovely and very scenic Rogue River. That first morning, 3 of us experienced the trip at water level in inflatable kayaks. All life jacketed up, we floated along and had an ideal first morning.

Oh – and I started the trip Dunkers Club, going over twice – kerplunk! The key to kayaking, I learned, is to head straight into waves; being 90 degrees to them is how you’ll make it through them. The water, I’m here to tell you, was lovely and felt great in combination with a strong sun.

The river was also deep enough in most places to safely be in the river, legs dangling below you, with no fear of scraping. The tough part is getting back into the kayaks with a bulky (and important) life jacket. Once again, Bob & Guy are smart veterans who help guide you the entire trip so you are totally at ease and able to fully enjoy the adventure.

Tumultuous Rainey Falls

We put in at Rainey Falls for lunch where Bob and Guy proceeded to efficiently unpack and set up. It was obvious right away no would go hungry unless they simply didn’t eat! Fresh foods and plenty of it - cucumbers, hummus, blueberries, cherries, sandwiches (meat, tomatoes, trimmings, PBJ), pasta salad and lots of other stuffs. Lemonade and water to quench our thirst and restock the water bottles, a nice view to enjoy during the midday meal and a cloudless sky to gaze at. Tough job….

After repacking up and heading into the current again, we traveled a while more, with a stop at a water fall with a spot deep enough to cannon ball into – which some of us did following Bob’s lead!

Back into the current we go towards Black Bar Lodge, our accommodations for the night. We landed peacefully, everyone happily intact, around 5pm. After a quick group unload, we headed to our charming cabins, showered up and met in the lodge for the first beer tasting and pairing - 1 of 2 for the trip.

Craft Beer - the "Craft" part of the trip

This being the first time WWW & WEB have collaborated, it went off with much success. The lodge is comfortable, we had three courses and the very happy guests and gracious hosts all had a good time.

Ninkasi was our featured beer partner. And I couldn’t resist also featuring a Russian River beer each night too.

The menu the first night looked like this:

• Ninkasi Total Domination IPA paired with a robust blue cheese
• Ninkasi Radiant Ale with fresh mangoes and deep red plums
• Russian River Consecration paired with Dagoba chocolates (super fruit and Roseberry)

Mmmmmmmm! Lots of great questions and comments came from the group, we all polished off a few (taster) glasses of the beers and savored the foods.

Inside my Black Bar Lodge cabin

Needless to say, they were then really excited about the next nights treats!

After dinner, Bob shared some entertaining stories about the river, lodge and area folk which was totally relaxing. As if we weren’t relaxed enough! A little more conversation flowed and with the sun going slowly down, we all bade good night to each other after given our time to regroup for tomorrow and headed out to our cabins.

It didn’t take long for camp to be silent save for the deer and birds settling in around us. Lights out at 10 as the generators got turned off for the night.

To bed. Ahhhhh….

Day 2 – tomorrow.

Hello All You Female Beer Enthusiasts!!

Coming right up – this Thursday’s Women Enjoying Beer event will feature HUB beers – Hopworks Urban Brewery, based out of Portland, OR. Perfectly appropriate especially since it’s Oregon Craft Beer Month!!

Hop to it and join us!

If you’ve saved your seat – you’re set. If you haven’t yet or know another woman to forward this to if they’d enjoy it, you can RSVP directly to me until end of day tomorrow (Tuesday the 13th) via this email or by calling 515.450.7757.

We’ll be at 4 Daughters Irish Pub in , OR. Plan on starting at 7 pm and going until 830. You’re very welcome to come early – enjoy dinner and drinks – and stay late (they are open until 11 pm). We’ll be up the stairs, to the back of the building.

Come ready to savor the flavors of these Organic Beers paired with fine 4 Daughters Irish Pub food. Matt, the very accommodating and beer happy chef, will again be taking good care of us.

It’s only $15 per woman – heck of a hot weather value!

Come quench your thirst for tasty quality beer and yummy foods. See you soon -

Slainte!

Ginger