Friday Fun Fact

San Diego is on track to have 100 working breweries by the end of this year!  What other county in the country can say that?  Brewya!

UCSD Extension Brewing Certificate program

Back in January I posted about the free informational sessions being offered for the new UCSD Extension Brewing Certificate program.  I will be attending one of the sessions this evening, so it should be interesting to see how comprehensive the program will be.  I'll keep you posted.

And the winners are...

The results of the San Diego International Beer Competition have been going around for the past couple of days, but I haven't had a chance to post them until now.  Check out all the winners here.  Perhaps you'll get a chance to sample some of these beers at the festival later this month.

When to drink out of the bottle

Drink out of the bottle?  I've talked numerous times about how important the right glass for the right beer is.  Have I somehow changed my mind?  Have I recently learned something new?  Yes and no.  No, I haven't changed my mind.  Yes, I have learned something new.  Great craft beer should be enjoyed, not from the bottle, but out of a proper glass.  However, what if you are faced with mediocre beer?  I have learned that there are certain beers, let's call them "supermarket beers", that can actually taste pretty good out of the bottle.  A hot summer day is the perfect time to reach for one of these "supermarket beers".  They can be refreshing and delicious.  However, if you were to pour one of these beers into a glass, any glass, let's just say they become less impressive.  Much less impressive.  I'm not advocating drinking mediocre beer, but we've all had the occasion to be handed a bottle that we wouldn't necessarily choose for ourselves.  Don't be rude.  Don't be a beer snob.  Just keep it in the bottle.

True craft beer lovers are not drunks!

It's time to address another one of my pet peeves.  I like craft beer.  Lots of people do.  Call it a hobby, pastime, or even a passion.  It's true.  I like to drink good craft beer on a regular basis.  I like to go to beercentric restaurants, pubs, and the like that have a respect for craft beer and those who enjoy it.  I like to visit local breweries so that I can see where my beer comes from and taste it at its absolute freshest.  I enjoy various beer festivals throughout the year that allow me to sample brews from near and far with people who share my interest in the craft beer culture.  What can I say, I'm a beer geek.  I'm proud of it.  I'm not a drunk.  I don't drink quality craft beer to get drunk.  If I did, I certainly couldn't call myself a true craft beer lover.  I have to believe the same of my fellow craft beer lovers.  Drinking to the point of drunkenness shows no respect for the beverage you are drinking, let alone the hard work that went into creating it.  There are plenty of people who do drink to get drunk.  You can typically see them toting their 24-pack of junk beer home on a Friday night.  Maybe they're hanging out in front of their local watering hole or liquor store, clutching a wrinkled brown paper bag containing 40 ounces of swill.  Perhaps you'll even see them at beercentric restaurants, breweries, or even beer festivals from time to time.  It happens, but I believe it to be more of the exception than the rule.  For the most part beer lovers, true craft beer lovers, enjoy and respect the beer they consume.  I can certainly say that is true of myself.  So please, those who don't share this same love of craft beer, those who don't drink beer, those who don't drink at all, if you know someone who does, if you know someone who enjoys beer, good quality craft beer, don't assume the worst.  Don't equate a craft beer drinker with a drunk.  Don't assume someone who enjoys beercentric establishments, breweries, or festivals must get drunk at those places.  Educate yourself.  Explore craft beer for yourself.  At the very least, give credit to those who do.  Now, before I fall off of my soapbox and hurt myself or an innocent bystander, I will simply step down and go back to what I was doing.  Thank you for listening, and thank you for your support.

The Brewery Project: Stone Liberty Station

 

There is only so much I can, or will, say about my visit to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station.  I made mention of the opening of the new location here and here.  After being open just 11 days, I was able to pay them a proper visit.  A proper visit is exactly what is needed to fully appreciate the awe, grandeur, and splendor that has been captured in this establishment.  Few words that I could find would be able to fully express the professionalism of the large staff, who are there for no other reason than to make sure your experience is nothing less than stellar.  Nothing I could type would ready you for the massive interior, one bar are leading to another, one spectacular dining room leading to another, even more spectacular dining room.  I could hint at the many outdoor spaces, including a huge beer garden, several open grassy areas, and even a courtyard set aside for complimentary Bocce Ball tournaments, but you would have to see these areas to believe them.  That goes for the whole place.  Yes, the food is great.  Of course, the beer is awesome.  Without question, the restaurant itself is unbelievable.  Everything here comes together perfectly, creating an experience like no other.  An experience you need to have for yourself.  Go alone.  Go with friends.  Go with family.  However you go, just go.

The Sore Eye Cup Vote Down

I don't know much about this competition, but why not support friendly beer rivalries and vote for your favorite.  Check it out here.  It should be interesting to see how this turns out.