Ladies of Craft Beer

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

BIG thanks to all who came out and supported the National Breast Cancer Foundation by attending our Beer for Boobs Brunch this year! Not only was the event a blast, but we raised a total of $2,409 to donate for breast cancer awareness. How awesome is that?! It’s all due to you- so again, thank you, for supporting women and craft beer.

Cheers!

Do you have a story/pictures/video that you would like to share with us about your experience at the Beer for Boobs Brunch? Please email me and we’ll put together a post sharing all of your experiences!

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs is Over 80% sold: Updated Official Attendee List
• Only 5 Tickets are left for the Beer for Boobs Brunch!
• Beer for Boobs is Over 50% sold: Official Attendee List
• UPDATE: Time Change for the Beer for Boobs Brunch
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Beer for Boobs Brunch 2011

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

For the first time ever, I was granted access to the Farm to Table Pavillion at the Great American Beer Festival this year. I decided to attend on during Thursday night’s session to make sure I got in while the going was still good. The F to T is available for anybody who purchased a ticket to the pavillion (you do need a special ticket, not just your entry into GABF,) and was open during the Thursday and Friday sessions from 5:30-9:00 PM.

This year, the pavillion featured twenty-four craft beers from breweries from twelve different states and was coordinated by Chef Adam Duyle of The Monk’s Kettle in San Francisco, California.

It took me a few minutes to not be overwhelmed by all of the great beer and food that was laid out throughout the room. In fact, I had immediately decided to stand in line for the first booth I saw when I entered the room and was surprised when I finally got to the front of the line. It was the Real Ale booth, which I was excited about, but both of their pairings were with seafood, which I do not eat. Unfortunately, I think I either confused or offended the Real Ale brewer, as he asked

me which food I wanted, between oysters or some sort of fish, as that would dictate which beer I wanted, and I tried to decline either politely. He looked a bit stunned, and then tried to apologize, stating that the food often dictates which beer to try at each table, and then he poured me a healthy glass of their 15th Anniversary Ale, which was absolutely delicious. Feeling a bit sheepish from that encounter, I took a better look around the room (the food pairings were not printed on the program, which was slightly annoying) and set off with more purpose and a better understanding of how to conduct myself.

The pairing were as such:

• Allagash Brewing Company from Portland, Maine paired with The Monk’s Kettle
• The Brooklyn Brewery from Brooklyn, New York paired with Signature Room, Chicago, Illinois
• Cigar City Brewing from Tampa, Florida paired with Fruition from Denver, Colorado
• Dogfish Head Brewery from Milton, Delaware paired with The Kitchen, Boulder, Colorado
• Funkwerks from Fort Collins, Colorado paired with The Monk’s Kettle
• 

  Josh Brewer of Mother Earth Brewing Company

  Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales from Ann Arbor, Michigan paired with The Pinyon from Boulder, Colorado

• Maui Brewing Company from Maui, Hawaii paired with LOLA from Denver, Colorado
• Mother Earth Brewing from Kinston, North Carolina paired with Johnson & Wales University, Denver, Colorado
• Nebraska Brewing Company from Papillion, Nebraska paired with Vin 48 of Avon, California
• Oakshire Brewing Company from Eugene, Oregon paired with Wildwood Restaurant of Portland, Oregon
• Real Ale Brewing Company from Blanco, Texas paired with Monterey Fish from San Francisco, California
• Three Floyds Brewing Company from Munster, Indiana paired with The Trencherman from Chicago, Illinois

The stand out beer for me was Maui Mild Onion by Maui Brewing Company: Anita Lum of Maui Brewing Company was kind enough to explain to me that the brewers actually carmelized onions and then added them into the brewing process for this beer. The result was a sweet onion twinge, but not overwhelming to the palate. Fantastic!

Stand out pairings were:

•  Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout with marscaponecheese cake, cocoa nib drizzle, and caramel brewer’s malt puree
• Funkwerks White with braised rabbit
• Mother Earth Brewing Barrel Aged Tripel Overhead with duck prosciutto crostini
• Three Floyds Moloko with lamb bacon and Moloko mole sauce (sinfully good!)
• My ultimate favorite: Cigar City Jose Marti with chocolate flourless cake in espresso pudding and topped with pork skin, bacon and marcona almond brittle (pictured right)

Luckily, I paced enough that I wasn’t a walking wreck after all of that fantastic and filling food. My advice for those going to future Farm to Table events? Pace properly, drink lots of water, and don’t expect to get filled up from the food samples in the tasting. Farm to Table is not a substitute for dinner, but meant as a sampling to show how well beer can pair with food…

…which I think they did, perfectly.

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• GABF Announcements
• Beer for Boobs is Over 80% sold: Updated Official Attendee List
• Beer for Boobs is Over 50% sold: Official Attendee List
• UPDATE: Time Change for the Beer for Boobs Brunch

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

Today, I was lucky enough to be on the first tour Oskar Blues held during this year’s Great American Beer Festival.  After being picked up by bus outside of Falling Rock at 8:30 in the morning, we traveled to Lyons and were greeted by breakfast burritos and Priscilla, a wheat made with orange and coriander, at The Old Chubway. Next we got a tour of the original brewing set-up at Oskar Blues Grill and Brew, which is still utilized. During the tour we were given tasters of Deviant Dale’s, which is a stronger, sweeter and hoppier version of Dale’s Pale Ale. After all, the brewer (and our tour guide) said, “you can’t drink all day without starting in the morning!”  We were then granted access to the cold room, where we were given “Roadie” cans of Mama’s Lil Yellow Pils, Dale’s, G’Knight and Gubna for the next leg of our trip.

Those of us brave enough were loaded on board of the Oskar Blues bus (everybody else took the fancy bus) and head off towards Hops and Heifers Farm, where we then loaded onto a hay ride truck and lead by Farmer Geoff (on a tractor) through the newly planted hop vines. The hops had been planted in May of this year, so currently, data is just being taken on the plants. As the name says, there are cows at the farm, too. We also got to try the HGH (Home Grown Hops)- after all, what else would you drink at a hop farm but fresh hopped beer?

After tractoring back to the bus, we rode to the production brewery in Longmont, where we got a brief tour and beer in The Tasty Weasel tasting room. At that point, I was feeling good and proceeded to add to the graffiti stories on the roof inside the Blues Bus. I have to say that I am quite proud of my limerick, but you will have to take the tour to see it.

Whoo-wee, what a day, and what a way to start of GABF! I have some great video footage from the day, which I will be sorting through to post as well, but for now, here are the pictures from this fantastic day:

Related Posts:

• Beercations — When Disney Doesn’t Cut It
• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• GABF Recap #3 – Farm to Table
• GABF Recap #2 – The Winners!
• GABF Announcements

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

Courtesy of www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com

Can you believe it?- only one more week until it’s that time again…Time for the Great American Beer Festival!

For those of you lucky enough to have scored tickets, (the festival sold out in a record seven days this year,) Ladies of Craft Beer has some announcements:

1. The Beer for Boobs Brunch  has completely sold out! Thanks to everyone for your support- I wish we had more tickets available to accommodate you all, but anyone who cannot attend but still wishes to donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation can do so at our donation page. We also have tee-shirts available here.

2. I (Stevie Caldarola, LadiesOCB President,) will be co-hosting a tasting session with Ginger Johnson of Women Enjoying Beer in the Brewer’s Pavilion during the Friday night session. Join us at 7:30PM sharp to taste five different craft beers and learn how to taste beer.

I hope to see you there!

~~~~~

Are you attending GABF? Tell us about it in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs is Over 80% sold: Updated Official Attendee List
• Beer for Boobs is Over 50% sold: Official Attendee List
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Beer for Boobs Brunch 2011
• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Only 5 Tickets are left for the Beer for Boobs Brunch!

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

ONLY 5 MORE TICKETS AVAILABLE… GET YOURS NOW BY CLICKING ON THE POSTER

Come join the Ladies of Craft Beer at Freshcraft in Denver, Colorado as we clear up our hangovers from the Thursday night Great American Beer Festival session and help support breast cancer awareness.

Women count for 25% beer sales, and yet, the stereotype still stands that beer is a man only drink. Ladies of Craft Beer is an online publication resource started almost 2 years ago in order to shift that way of thinking. We are women, and we love our craft brews! While all of our contributors and staff are women, we are proud to say that we have a large following of men as well, because, well, who doesn’t love a woman that loves beer? (Plus- we love you guys and we want to be able to meet you and enjoy some brew together!)

Last year, over 100 beer lovers (male and female) gathered at Freshcraft on Friday morning to enjoy delicious food and craft beer, proceeds of which were donated to the National Breast Cancer foundation. This year, we plan to up the ante with a very special beer (to be announced soon!) and food designed to specifically pair with this beer. The raffle will also be back, so be prepared to have your lucky face on!

Ticket prices include access to buffet style brunch and discounted draft beer and bottles. 100% of the proceeds from the discounted beer will also go towards breast cancer charities. Tickets should be printed out and brought to the door, or can also be brought via mobile device. Visit the event page at Brown Paper Tickets to get your ticket today before we’re sold out!

UPDATES:

• Ginger Johnson from Women Enjoying Beer will be at the brunch to talk briefly about women and beer and what we can do to encourage more women to at least give craft beer a try.
• We are currently putting together our beer selection for the brunch, but make no mistake- we have some special offerings up our sleeve. Stay tuned for more details.
• We will be having our raffle again this year, so remember to bring some change with you, should you wish to participate. The bottled beer for charity that we will be offering will also be cash only, so plan accordingly!
• If you aren’t able to make the brunch, but would still like to make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, we have set up a donation page here.

We hope that you will join us for this morning of food, drink, fun and prizes! Cheers!

Stay tuned on here or follow us on Twitter (@LadiesOCB) for more information and updates about the brunch as we get closer to the event date.

Visit Freshcraft’s website for more information on the venue or find Freshcraft on Twitter at @FreshcraftFood.

Official Beer for Boobs Tees are on sale in our Spreadshirt Shop!

Official Ladies 2011 Brunch Tee (Front)

Official Ladies 2011 Brunch Tee (Back Design)

Just Call Me Brah... Men's Tee (Front)

Just Call Me Brah... Men's Tee (Back)

Just Call Me Brah... Ladies Tee (Front)

Just Call Me Brah... Ladies Tee (Back)

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Beer for Boobs is Over 80% sold: Updated Official Attendee List
• Beer for Boobs is Over 50% sold: Official Attendee List
• UPDATE: Time Change for the Beer for Boobs Brunch
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Beer for Boobs Brunch 2011

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

From: http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/news/the-chance-of-a-lifetime/

“It seems fitting that, in its 30th year, the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) not only beat its sell-out record, it blew it out of the water! No one expected the festival, which in 2011 has 51 times the number of beers it did in 1982, would see such an overwhelming level of interest from attendees around the world—enough so that tickets sold out in one week.

Well, the sad truth is that some beer lovers didn’t end up getting GABF tickets. Maybe they were on vacation that week, or perhaps they missed the initial announcement, but fortunately, the good folks atCraftBeer.com are offering a last-chance giveaway. One lucky person will win a trip for two to the 2011 GABF. The trip will include lodging during the festival, round trip airfare for two, and two tickets to each session of GABF.

This promotion ends August 31, 2011 at 11:59 am, so register now for your chance to win! All previously registered CraftBeer.com users will be included in the drawing. See the Prize Giveaway Rulesfor more information and details.”

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Beer for Boobs is Over 80% sold: Updated Official Attendee List
• Beer for Boobs is Over 50% sold: Official Attendee List
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Beer for Boobs Brunch 2011
• Beercations — When Disney Doesn’t Cut It

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

Come join the Ladies of Craft Beer at Freshcraft in Denver, Colorado as we clear up our hangovers from the Thursday night Great American Beer Festival session and help support breast cancer awareness.

Women count for 25% beer sales, and yet, the stereotype still stands that beer is a man only drink. Ladies of Craft Beer is an online publication resource started almost 2 years ago in order to shift that way of thinking. We are women, and we love our craft brews! While all of our contributors and staff are women, we are proud to say that we have a large following of men as well, because, well, who doesn’t love a woman that loves beer? (Plus- we love you guys and we want to be able to meet you and enjoy some brew together!)

Last year, over 100 beer lovers (male and female) gathered at Freshcraft on Friday morning to enjoy delicious food and craft beer, proceeds of which were donated to the National Breast Cancer foundation. This year, we plan to up the ante with a very special beer (to be announced soon!) and food designed to specifically pair with this beer. The raffle will also be back, so be prepared to have your lucky face on!

Ticket prices include access to buffet style brunch and discounted draft beer and bottles. 100% of the proceeds from the discounted beer will also go towards breast cancer charities. Tickets should be printed out and brought to the door, or can also be brought via mobile device. Visit the event page at Brown Paper Tickets to get your ticket today before we’re sold out!

UPDATES:

• Ginger Johnson from Women Enjoying Beer will be at the brunch to talk briefly about women and beer and what we can do to encourage more women to at least give craft beer a try.
• We are currently putting together our beer selection for the brunch, but make no mistake- we have some special offerings up our sleeve. Stay tuned for more details.
• We will be having our raffle again this year, so remember to bring some change with you, should you wish to participate. The bottled beer for charity that we will be offering will also be cash only, so plan accordingly!
• If you aren’t able to make the brunch, but would still like to make a donation to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, we have set up a donation page here.

We hope that you will join us for this morning of food, drink, fun and prizes! Cheers!

Stay tuned on here or follow us on Twitter (@LadiesOCB) for more information and updates about the brunch as we get closer to the event date.

Visit Freshcraft’s website for more information on the venue or find Freshcraft on Twitter at @FreshcraftFood.

Official Beer for Boobs Tees are on sale in our Spreadshirt Shop!

Official Ladies 2011 Brunch Tee (Front)

*UPDATED* Official List of Attendees (so far):

With Nebraska Brewing Company:

Paul Kavulak,
Kim Kavulak,
Tyson Arp,
Angela Arp
Ray Knott
Carla Knott
Sam Riggins

With Beltane Brewing:
Alan Atha

Cathy Portje

With Ruination Press:
Jeremy Banas
Brooke Barker

Official Ladies 2011 Brunch Tee (Back Design)

Steve Barragan

Patricia Benevenia

From Newport Beach Brewing Company:
Derek Bougie

From BillyBrew.com
Billy Broas

From Rogue:
Sebbie Buhler

Just Call Me Brah... Men's Tee (Front)

Kevin Butler

Stacey Butler

Pat Callard

Richard Callard

John Chetbundit

From The Roaming Pint:
Brian Devine
Maria Scarpello

From Total Bev:
Bess Dougherty

Jason Evans

Rebecca Evans

Just Call Me Brah... Men's Tee (Back)

From Mystery Brewing Company:
Sarah Ficke
Erik Myers
Jen Shields
Chris Shields

Jennifer Fowler

Robert French

Amy Gentry & friend

Michelle Ham

Ken Ham

From Denver Off The Wagon:
PJ Hoberman
Monica Ignaszewski
Jess Hunter

Just Call Me Brah... Ladies Tee (Front)

The New Brew Thursday Crew

Nicole Hughes & friend

From Alaskan Brewing Company:
Ashley Johnston

From Kupko’s Mind. Bottled.:
Jeff Kupko
Janine Turner

Michael Loewenthal

RJ Mauro

From Georgia Ale and Lager Sirens:
Jennifer O’Connell
John O’Connell

Al Scullin

Just Call Me Brah... Ladies Tee (Back)

Michelle Simons

David Simutis

Michelle Simutis

From Craft Beer Consultants:
Chris Spradley

Leslie Sprague

John Speights

With Big Sky Brewing:
Don Cutler
Joseph Petrilli

Rich Glazier

From Great Divide Brewing Co:
Hanna Laney

From PowderKeg Travel:
Mark Camp
John Farmer
Michael Lemoult
Michael Lemoult, Jr.

Christine Dempsey

John D. Dempsey

John N. Dempsey

Darci Hopkins

Cheryl Jacobs

Ralph Jacobs

Mike Vail

Bruce Yeoman

Tyler Barshows

Katie Trzebiatowski

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs is Over 50% sold: Official Attendee List
• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Beer for Boobs Brunch 2011
• Updated: Beer for Boobs Brunch- Friday, September 17, 2010
• GABF Announcements

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

UPDATE: The Second Annual Beer for Boobs Brunch is now 60% sold out! Get your ticket while  you still can!

Come join the Ladies of Craft Beer at Freshcraft in Denver, Colorado as we clear up our hangovers from the Thursday night Great American Beer Festival session and help support breast cancer awareness.

Women count for 25% beer sales, and yet, the stereotype still stands that beer is a man only drink. Ladies of Craft Beer is an online publication resource started almost 2 years ago in order to shift that way of thinking. We are women, and we love our craft brews! While all of our contributors and staff are women, we are proud to say that we have a large following of men as well, because, well, who doesn’t love a woman that loves beer? (Plus- we love you guys and we want to be able to meet you and enjoy some brew together!)

Last year, over 100 beer lovers (male and female) gathered at Freshcraft on Friday morning to enjoy delicious food and craft beer, proceeds of which were donated to the National Breast Cancer foundation. This year, we plan to up the ante with a very special beer (to be announced soon!) and food designed to specifically pair with this beer. The raffle will also be back, so be prepared to have your lucky face on!

Ticket prices include access to buffet style brunch and discounted draft beer and bottles. 100% of the proceeds from the discounted beer will also go towards breast cancer charities. Tickets should be printed out and brought to the door, or can also be brought via mobile device. Visit the event page at Brown Paper Tickets to get your ticket today before we’re sold out!

We hope that you will join us for this morning of food, drink, fun and prizes! Cheers!

Stay tuned on here or follow us on Twitter (@LadiesOCB) for more information and updates about the brunch as we get closer to the event date.

Visit Freshcraft’s website for more information on the venue or find Freshcraft on Twitter at @FreshcraftFood.

Official Beer for Boobs Tees are on sale in our Spreadshirt Shop!

Official Ladies 2011 Brunch Tee (Front)

Official List of Attendees (so far):

With Nebraska Brewing Company:
Paul Kavulak,
Kim Kavulak,
Tyson Arp,
Angela Arp
Ray Knott
Carla Knott
Sam Riggins

With Beltane Brewing:
Alan Atha

Cathy Portje

With Ruination Press:
Jeremy Banas
Brooke Barker

Official Ladies 2011 Brunch Tee (Back Design)

Steve Barragan

Patricia Benevenia

From Newport Beach Brewing Company:
Derek Bougie

From BillyBrew.com
Billy Broas

From Rogue:
Sebbie Buhler

Just Call Me Brah... Men's Tee (Front)

Kevin Butler

Stacey Butler

Pat Callard

Richard Callard

John Chetbundit

From The Roaming Pint:
Brian Devine
Maria Scarpello

From Total Bev:
Bess Dougherty

Jason Evans

Rebecca Evans

Just Call Me Brah... Men's Tee (Back)

From Mystery Brewing Company:
Sarah Ficke
Erik Myers
Jen Shields
Chris Shields

Jennifer Fowler

Robert French

Amy Gentry & friend

Michelle Ham

Ken Ham

From Denver Off The Wagon:
PJ Hoberman
Monica Ignaszewski
Jess Hunter

Just Call Me Brah... Ladies Tee (Front)

The New Brew Thursday Crew

Nicole Hughes & friend

From Alaskan Brewing Company:
Ashley Johnston

From Kupko’s Mind. Bottled.:
Jeff Kupko
Janine Turner

Michael Loewenthal

RJ Mauro

From Georgia Ale and Lager Sirens:
Jennifer O’Connell
John O’Connell

Al Scullin

Just Call Me Brah... Ladies Tee (Back)

Michelle Simons

David Simutis

Michelle Simutis

From Craft Beer Consultants:
Chris Spradley

Leslie Sprague

John Speights

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs is Over 80% sold: Updated Official Attendee List
• ANNOUNCEMENT: Beer for Boobs Brunch 2011
• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• GABF Announcements
• Only 5 Tickets are left for the Beer for Boobs Brunch!

Posted By: Guest

Taste Bud Map

Aren’t taste buds amazing?! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to differentiate between all the wonderful craft beer varieties that this great big beer world has to offer or experience fantastic food and beer pairings, like the one I recently enjoyed.

While out watching the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final Game between USA and Japan, I found myself in the mood for something sweet. The pub offered chocolate cake and tiramisu – then to my pleasant surprise, I noticed Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout on draft amid a selection of non-craft and import beers.

Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout

With a slice of chocolate cake and milk stout in hand, I was ready to cheer on the US Women’s National Team for the second half of the game. Not long after, US forward Alex Morgan scored the first goal of the game. Good things happen when great beer and food come together!

One amazing thing about taste buds: ladies have more of them than men. As a result, women are more sensitive to sweet, sour, salty and bitter flavors. Additionally, “women have a better sense of smell,” according to Dr. Oz.

So if we have more taste buds and a better sense of smell, let’s make sure these senses don’t go to waste! Consider becoming a certified beer judge and judging at homebrew competitions, regional craft beer competitions, or perhaps one day the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), like brewmaster Teri Fahrendorf.

Inspired to use those taste buds and know more about the Beer Judge Certification Program? Find a scheduled exam, e-mail the exam administrator for seat availability, and start studying! Exams fill quickly, so book your spot far in advance.

Catherine Portner lives at the intersection of beer, food, business and history. She and her sister, Margaret, are relaunching the family business as co-founders of Portner Brewhouse, the first craft beer test kitchen and brewery. The Portners are not strangers to the beer industry; the Robert Portner Brewing Company, founded by Catherine’s great-great-grandfather, was the largest pre-Prohibition brewery in the south operating from 1869 – 1916. Follow Catherine @cport31 for updates about her entrepreneurial journey.

Related Posts:

• Beer for Boobs Brunch Raises almost $2,500 for National Breast Cancer Foundation
• GABF Recap #3 – Farm to Table
• GABF Recap #2 – The Winners!
• GABF Recap #1: Oskar Blues Bus Tour Photos
• GABF Announcements