You don’t have to drink alone.
Like everything good, The Great American Beer Festival was held online this year. I’ve never been to the GABF but I do love a good food or beverage festival, wandering around the venue sampling. And you can pick up some cool swag from vendors. I don’t know how enjoyable a virtual festival can be, but as an event that draws thousands of people, they had no choice. I’m not really a beer drinker but do enjoy the occasional fruity brew. I’m intrigued by this guava sour ale from Del Cielo Brewing in California.
And I was pleased to see Gravely a Louisville based brewery win in the Pilsener category.
The complete list of winners can be found here. See any of your favorites?
91 categories? Mein Gott!
I do see some favorites in there. I’m biased in favor of Pacific Northwest and Intermountain NW brewers (back me up here, @loveshaq?), so I was very happy to see that region well represented. I’m a bit disappointed that none of the fine breweries that I frequent are listed. However, I have no idea whether those guys entered or not.
Lots of stuff to try in that list, though. Thanks for posting that, especially for a non-beer enthusiast.
My uncle owned a beer distributor when I was growing up. And my brother worked for one of the big American breweries. So it’s sort of in my blood, like it or not!
This is funny because I just got back from beer shopping since a friend is coming up from Portland for weekend. Many of my favorite local breweries won in the IPA category and some destination breweries I force my family to go to whenever we travel. I can vouch for Bale Breaker (though they have better ones than the winning entry in my opinion), Reuben’s Crush is an ever changing hazy so not sure which Crush got silver. Cloudburst is a regular brew for me (ironically I just got the collaboration of Bale Breaker & Cloudburst fresh hop called Citra Slicker). I’ve been to all 3 winners in the Fresh Hop category but have only had the Reubens. Moonraker in Auburn CA. is a amazing but they have 10 better hazy’s than Yojo at any given time. Alvarado, El Segundo, and Pizza Port & Belching Beaver are all on my CA. beer tour list when I am in that area. I’ll have to read this more closely but yes, we are usually well represented, I even saw a few in my area won that I haven’t been to yet. Looks like I’ve got some work to do!
I had a feeling you’d be familiar with some of these. I’m not saying you drink too much! Just that you’re a connoisseur. 🍻
Both statements could be true but I prefer beer snob! I embrace it. Life’s too short to drink piss water Bud & Coors products.
all ive got to say is
riverside motherfucker
*bounces*
That’s awesome!
I have a horrible thing to reveal. Not a Jeffrey Toobin-level horrible revelation, but pretty bad. Skip to the last paragraph for the Halloween-appropriate level of horror.
We went to my local ATM branch today around lunchtime. Under the best of circumstances it’s very Greyhound Bus Station circa 1975, and I decided to go at lunchtime on a Friday. The line was out the door and one of its least endearing qualities is half the people approach the ATMs as if they’ve never seen one before. So it’s all gross, the buttons are gross, the customers (including me) are gross because pandemic.
The Better Half said, “At that CVS across the street they’ll give you cash back if you use a debit card.” That CVS is also gross and again, half the people in there act as if it is news to them that they have to pay for things and how does this all work. The place is also kind of a rip-off, but to its credit all the employees have the patience of Job.
For want of anything else to buy I bought a 12-pack of Budweiser in cans and am drinking one right now out of a red Solo Cup. Now let me explain: I’m not a big beer drinker and we never have beer in the house, so this is a novelty for me. As loveshaq so eloquently put it above, I am drinking pisswater but at least I think it’s impossible to get drunk off this stuff.
As a non beer drinker myself, Cousin Matthew, I think the expensive craft brews are wasted on me. So I don’t judge you harshly. I might have done the same myself faced with the nightmare of a pandemic ATM!
Victory brewing , Sour Monkey. 9.5%
Mrs yellowbird is downing Double Nickel, Saint Nickels Pickle. Only 4.5%
Still have a fridge full of sours from the summer, and it’s pumpkin season! Any pumpkin ale suggestions or favorites are appreciated. Token: Whole Hog pumpkin ale was good ish.
Coming soon: the winter of our discontent…Stouts.
I’m not a big pumpkin ale fan but prior to Elysian being bought out and destroyed by AB, Punkuccino was a good beer. Here’s what the Thrillist said about this year’s pumpkin beers…
https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/the-best-pumpkin-beers-dogfish-head-avery-brewing-elysian
I was at the liquor store today and the stouts are out. Lots of winter and Christmas ales too. I didn’t see many pumpkin beers but I wasn’t really looking. I hope someone can make some good suggestions for you.