Stingo in fall

As pumpkin beers and fall seasonals flood the shelves, for me, this time of year is really only marked by one beer, Samuel Smith's Yorkshire Stingo. This unique brew is released only on August 1, Yorkshire Day. This holiday is exactly what it sounds like, a day that honors the county of Yorkshire, where Samuel …

Beer and Bloating in Las Vegas

Tourism is about personal style. Some people want to see all of the landmarks. Others just want to relax poolside with a drink in hand. Las Vegas is unique in that allows each person to find what they are looking for out of their trip. Whether it is sitting in a Parisian cafe, taking a …

Warm beer in the cold winter

The holidays are over but technically winter is only getting started and the gray drizzle that has accompanied us these past few weeks has not made going outside an inviting prospect. Cold weather often inspires a desire for a warm beverage next to a toasty fire. Winter is often not seen as the time of …

The best fest in the west

Over the years the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest (FWIBF) has become known as one of the premiere beer events to take place along the west coast. Over fifty breweries are hand-picked by the Firestone staff and invited to the Paso Robles Event Center to bring their best and most obscure beers. The festival sells …

Triple Rock: Pioneers of craft beer

My sister offered to host the family this year for Thanksgiving so I found myself heading up north for the holidays. Her apartment is located in Berkeley's Gourmet Ghetto, a historic section of town that is accredited to founding the local and organic food movement.  As you walk by the legendary Chez Panisse and countless …

From ashes to beer

As with many in the area, I left the nauseating environment during the Thomas Fire to seek fresh air and a less apocalyptic climate. I intended to use a pre-planned LA trip as an excuse to escape the smoke and ash for a night or two but ended up staying away for a week. Since …