I'm a Lukcy Basartd!

As I type my 200th post, drink my Stone Lukcy Basartd Ale, and listen to my family singing & dancing along to music on the TV in the other room, I find myself reflecting on the last few years of my life. Lukcy Basartd is a culmination of 13 years of Arrogant Bastard, combining Arrogant Bastard, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, and Double Bastard into one harmonious brew. In much the same way, 8 years has passed since the birth of my son, almost 5 since the birth of one of my daughters, and just over 3 since the other. Thus, the roll of "Daddy" in my life was born. My love of craft beer has also grown in that time, adding a "Hop" to my otherwise grounded existence. The combination of these two identities brings me to where I am today, and where I am going tomorrow. The stage of tomorrow is not yet set, but I look forward with anticipation. I know that with my family beside me and with my passion to follow, my future will be bright, indeed! Maybe the 13 years of Arrogance in my glass is going to my head, but at this moment, as I type my 200th post and look forward to the next 200, I consider myself to be a very Lukcy Basartd!

Calculate the Cost

I dropped by a local brewery the other day and got a growler fill of one of my favorite beers. The $14 fill turned into just over $17 after tax and tip. I was happy with my purchase, and had enjoyed a frothy glass when I started to think about the six-pack of the same beer I had bought a couple weeks earlier. The $14.99 I had spent on the bottled version of the beer seemed pricey at the the time, but now I did the math comparing the two purchases. Not only was the six-pack a bit cheaper, but at 12 ounces per bottle the overall total came to 72 ounces compared to the 64 ounce growler. True, the growler was brewery fresh, but the six-pack was freshly bottled as well. Was it really worth the extra expense & fewer ounces, not to mention the trip to the brewery? Not for me. I would choose differently next time, either picking a different beer not available at my local bottle shop, or opting for the more economical six-pack instead. Am I pinching pennies? Absolutely! I love good craft beer, but I also like the best bang for my buck. The lesson? Calculate the cost of your next purchase. Remember, spending more wisely on beer means more to spend on beer, wisely!

Volunteer!

Do you love to go to beer events such as release parties, rare tastings, and festivals? These functions offer the opportunity to mingle with fellow beer geeks, try new beers, and even learn about the brewing process from the brewers themselves. With the rise in popularity of great craft beer, such events are more and more prevalent, but can cost up to $50 or more to attend. That can really add up, and most people can't fit more than a couple of these events into their yearly budgets. However, there is a way around paying the costly admission fees. Volunteer! Most of the larger events look for volunteers to do everything from ticket sales to beer pouring. Volunteering will at very least gain you admission to the event, and many times will enable you to take part in some of the festivities as well. When that is not possible, many organizers will have a separate function just for the volunteers. Whatever the case, you have the satisfaction of knowing that you played a small part in furthering the beer culture of your area, which is priceless! So, the next time an event is coming up, get in touch with the people organizing it. They typically will have something in place for volunteers to sign up, but if not, they are usually very happy for any help they can get. Whether you are pouring or being poured for, I'll see you there!

Beer Taxi

I guess this would remind the passenger why they needed the taxi in the first place.

Beer & Sweet Potatoes

Has this turned into a cooking blog? I don't even like sweet potatoes, but this looked really good, and since so much cooking usually goes on this time of year, I just had to post it. Get cooking!

Beer & Turkey

Still cooking, or haven't started yet? Check this out. Enjoy!

Where am I?

Sad beer comment

"I don't like artificial stuff in my beer." This was the comment made in a discussion about beer brewed with ingredients such as herbs, teas, & varietal grape juices. Interesting.

The Hop Daddy's Night of the Living RED

My latest release, an Irish Red Ale, has a beautiful, somewhat hazy color. The nose is muted with a slightly sweet maltiness. While it pours only a thin head, the effervescence of the first sip gives the malt profile a bit of a bite. The finish, although not extremely smooth like some other beers of this style, is dry and ends cleanly. All in all I am very happy with this brew, and look forward to my next endeavor.

Brew Masters on Discovery Channel

Tonight is the premier of Discovery's newest show, Brew Masters. What a glorious title! The show is hosted by Dogfish Head owner Sam Calagione, and should prove to be an exciting worldwide exploration of brewing ingredients, techniques, and traditions. Check out the official page for more details and local air times. Tune in, grab a brew, and enjoy!

Special Delivery!

I wouldn't mind this bad boy pulling up to my house!

Weekend Assignment

Get out there and find a beer that you have never tried before, preferably in a style that is out of your comfort zone. You may find a new favorite, or you may hate it. Either way, you can add a new brew to your repertoire. Have fun!

Welcome!

Who said that?

"Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world."
- Kaiser Welhelm

Where am I?

Memories of San Diego Beer Week 2010

How did 10 days fly by so quickly? Over 475 events spanning the entire county brought the local craft beer community together and to the fore in the public eye. From the unlimited samples offered by almost every major San Diego craft brewery at the Brewers Guild Festival, to the more intimate beachside Bikes, Boards, and Brews Festival, the second annual Beer Week didn't disappoint any beer loving citizen of America's Finest Beer City. What memories did you create? What friends did you make? What new venue did you discover? How will you plan for next year's festivities? Get out and explore new places, people, and brews. Inspire someone else to do the same. Let's build on the momentum of the past week's activities to make Beer Week 2011 even bigger, better, and more inspiring. Until next year, I bid you good drinking.

San Diego Beer Week 2010

Has a year already passed since the inaugural run of this now annual beercentric event? If you were a party to any of the festivities of last year, you no doubt have been planning for the upcoming activities for quite some time. If you are new to the beer scene, have recently relocated to the area, or just didn't know about Beer Week last year, a snippet from the official website sums it up best. "San Diego Beer Week promotes San Diego's thriving craft beer culture by sponsoring a ten-day countywide festival that attracts beer tourism, fosters knowledge of our regional brewing heritage, and serves as a showcase for San Diego's breweries, restaurants, pubs, and other businesses with ties to the craft beer community." Visit http://www.sdbw.org for a list of the over 385 events going on around town from November 5-14. With multiple events happening each day, it would be impossible to get to them all, so plan wisely! Below are a few events that I consider to be highlights of the week. Whether they are stops on your list or not, just get out there, have some fun, and be safe. I'll see you around town!

Meet the Stone San Diego County Session Ale Collaboration brewers
Friday 11/5, 5:00-7:00pm
Home Brew Mart
Free

San Diego Brewers Guild Festival
Saturday 11/6, 2:00-6:00pm
Liberty Station
$50 for VIP Session, $35 for regular session
This event is NOT to be missed, and is the official kick-off for Beer Week.

Madcap Draft Monday
Monday 11/8, 11:00am-7:00pm
Home Brew Mart
$1 per 4 ounce sample
They are featuring some rare beers that you may never get to try again.

Extreme $3 Pint Night
Wednesday 11/10, 4:00pm-2:00am
K&B Wine Cellar
$3 per pint

SDBW Stout Cask Night & Meet the Brewers
Thursday 11/11, 5:00-8:00pm
Karl Strauss Downtown San Diego
$3.50 per cask pint
Plus, $8 for 1/2 gallon growler & fill, any beer, all week!

Bikes, Boards, and Brews
Saturday 11/13, 12:00-4:00pm
$25, $30 at the door

Brewya!