Ladies of Craft Beer

Posted By: Sara Bryce

Featured image courtesy of Blue Point Brewing.

Are you new to craft beer, or just want to get more involved in the craft beer community?  There’s a lot you can do to raise your Brew I.Q. Here are five craft beer activities you can resolve to imbibe this year:

1)      Follow the #craftbeer hashtag on Twitter: Download Tweetdeck, click the Add Column icon, and type in #craftbeer. Cry tears of hop-infused, malty joy. Watch the minutes hours weeks fly by as you saturate yourself in unadulterated craft beer talk. You’ll find news, petitions, reviews, and more! You’re welcome.

2)      Join Untappd: I know a woman in Tallahassee who has a large notebook filled with handwritten comments of every beer she’s ever tried. Each entry is dated. Feeling envy, but deep down inside know you’d never have the patience or the pen? Me too. That’s why I was entirely too excited to find the brilliant website and mobile app, Untappd. Sign up for an account and you’ll find a large database of craft beer. “Check in” to a beer, and you can leave comments for prosperity. “Toast” other users, and leave comments for them about their selections.  Every so often, you earn a badge just for drinking beer! Cheers!

3)      Buy your macro-drinking friend a craft beer. Once.: No matter what one’s opinions are, it’s hard to turn down free beer.  And craft beer has quite a few options the big guys don’t, like fruit ales and sour ales. As long as your approach is, “You love [insert food that might taste like it here]; I thought you might like this” instead of “Your constant imbibing of swill makes me sick; you need to drink this 12% ABV bourbon cask ale immediately to redeem our friendship” it probably will be well-received.

4)      Attend a beer festival: There are the big ones, like the Great American Beer Festival; but there are also smaller ones that are cheaper and closer to home. The chances of a beer festival happening any given weekend within 5 hours of your residence are remarkably high. The Beer Festival Calendar is a great resource for your festival-going pleasure. You get to try lots of different regional brews, and some surprises!

5)      Contribute to the State of Women & Beer report survey: Why do you like beer? How do you choose beer? What are your thoughts on beer marketing for women? These are just a few of the questions Ginger Johnson, founder of Women Enjoying Beer, wants you to answer. Email your responses to her by February 29^th, and pick up some awesome Women Enjoying Beer Swag!

Congratulations, you’ve achieved your 2012 Beer Resolutions! You look gorgeous.

These are only five of many things we can do to engage in the craft beer community.  What are some your craft beer resolutions?

Related Posts:

• Review Responsibly
• Beki’s Pumpkin Draught
• He Said/She Said #3 Dogfish Head Ancient Ales
• New Cities Added (8/26/2011)! Complete list of cities for our Untappd East/West Brew Crawl Badges
• New Cities Added (5/31/2011)! Complete list of cities for our Untappd East/West Brew Crawl Badges

Posted By: Sara Bryce

Dear Reviewers,

PLEASE REMEMBER: The craft beer drinking community is the life of craft breweries.

My fiancée works as a cellar man for a small brewery. This means he gets to do awesome stuff like get a picture holding “the Golden Keg” or meet unnamed cast members of Cheers at the local Oktoberfest celebration. This also means he gets to do some not-so-awesome stuff, like spending three hours in a crouched position bottling beer, or turning over 40 full kegs on a pinched nerve so that El Hefe can be stored upside down. He comes home most days aching; taking a fistful of ibuprofen and laying on the floor because it’s a flat surface. But, he loves his job.

Did you happen to click on that “El Hefe” link? That’s what I want to talk about today.  Pearl Street Brewery has a limited distribution radius, and isn’t even available throughout all of Wisconsin. And the exact thing that this brewery of nine employees pours its heart into has been reduced to a number rating out of 5 and a few short words, many of which are negative.

You may not realize how little information is available about the smallest breweries on the Internet; but when it comes to the small guys, anything you write about a random beer might affect the purchase of that beer by others. Really.

You.

People will be searching for certain craft beers on the Internet, and they’ll come across your blog or review. Do the craft beer community a favor and help it out a bit!

www.metrobrewing.com/main/index. html

I decided to finally write this out after reading a great comment left by Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewery on a Beer Advocate thread. Yes, even though they may have had a television show, larger craft breweries are still actually small enough to care what you have to say about them on the Internet; and for a good reason. Dogfish Head isn’t sold in Wisconsin anymore, but the most often-heard response to my undying love for them is: “Oh yeah, Dogfish Head. Aren’t they over-rated?” No, they’re just bigger than some other breweries and are actually a recognized name because they put out a wide range of quality brews. I’d call that “hard-working and pretty freaking awesome.” In order for craft beer’s market share to rise, we as a craft beer drinking community need to look past the exclusivity of “we are the 5%” and try being positive and inclusive (some ideas for that can be found in my first post at LadiesOCB). Everyone is going to like something different, and we’ll help our own cause if we concentrate on the beers we like rather than those we don’t.  Sam explains: “that doesn’t mean the one you didn’t prefer sucked. And the breweries you don’t prefer but are growing don’t suck either. Respect Beer.”

There are some reviewers who know the power of Internet word-of-mouth, and I surely appreciate them. One of my favorites is Hoptopia.  The number ratings are usually high, and so one might argue they’re arbitrary; but where the power lies in these reviews are the written portions. Each sentence provides an objective description that gives a real voice to every beer.  I also love the deep connection the blog has with the craft beer community. I was proud of myself when I finally received the “I Believe in IPA” badge presented by Hoptopia on Untappd. Funnily enough, I achieved it after a $75 beer stock-up in Detroit, Michigan when my fiancée and I discovered a Dogfish Head oasis near my parents’ house. Happy Holidays to us!

There are some blogs that are heavily craft-beer friendly yet region-specific, like Cleveland Food & Brews. Even though posts are about Ohio beers, what a great way to spread the word! I’ll be looking for these breweries at future Midwest beer fests. I also have to give a shout-out to the Great Brew Tour.  These guys know how to be blog-positive when it comes to breweries. After a short Twitter conversation with me, Pearl Street Brewery became the first brewery on their 2011 tour. Later on, they blogged about the PSB Double IPA, Dankenstein as well as the sample flight they thought was cool. They gave awesome props to other small Wisconsin breweries, such as Capital Brewery and New Glarus Brewing.

When it comes to truly advocating for craft breweries on the Web, you can’t beat these!

Friends, when you crack open a craft beer, you taste the fruit of blue-collar labor. Think about the men and women who spend their hours assembling boxes by hand, cranking archaic but affordable bottling lines, and driving two hours to hand out free samples at grocery stores. People who talk about their work like it’s the greatest thing in the world, even as they’re wincing through the long hours and the pain.

It’s a labor of love for the craft beer community.

Respect beer.

Review responsibly.

And for goodness sake, enjoy it (It’s beer, after all)!

Related Posts:

• He Said/She Said #3 Dogfish Head Ancient Ales
• Saison du BUFF – When Craft Brewers Collaborate
• Slate.com – The Hops Ceiling
• 2012 Beersolutions
• Vicki Stowe – Brewmaster (Part 21)

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

Photo courtesy of Vanberg & DeWulf

 According to the Vanberg & DeWulf Inspiration from Coast to Coast™ Eventbrite Page:

On November 15, 2011, the best Belgophile bars, restaurants, and stores across the nation will be raising a glass to celebrate Vanberg & DeWulf’s 30 years of importing Belgian beers to American shores.  We could not have hit the big 3-0, however, without the help and support of beer patrons like you.  We’re ready to party – are you?

~~~~~

Vanberg & Dewulf, located in Cooperstown, New York, has been a leading importer of belgian beer for thirty years. Help celebrate this momentous anniversary by participating in the Coast to Coast™ Toast. For more information on venues that are participating in the toast, visit the Vanberg & DeWulf Eventbrite Page. Click here to see the official event beer list.

Here are some more details from a recent Vanberg & DeWulf email:

With the Coast to Coast™ Toast drawing closer, Great Ideas are popping up everywhere!  The executions of the Coast to Coast™ Toast are as varied as the venues themselves.  In the spirit of cross-pollination, we thought we would share some neat ones:

• ChurchKey (DC) is pouring a whopping 18 Vanberg & DeWulf beers on tap and a bunch more in bottles.
• The Publican (Chicago, IL) is preparing a 5 course dinner with a choice of over a dozen beers
• Tully’s (Wells, Maine) is holding an in store tasting and Belgian beer knowledge quiz – with prizes for correct answers.  For example: Name 3 Belgian beer styles (wit, abbey, lambic, etc.), name 3 spices Belgian brewers use (paradise grain, curacao orange peel, star anise), and name 3 classic Belgian beers & the style( Saison Dupont, Saison; Witkap Stimulo , Abbey; Scaldis, strong golden ale, etc.)
• A Philly venue is organizing a Belgian beer class with our beers.
• Vandaag (New York, NY) bier, restaurant, bakery is inventing a new cocktail for us for the occasion.

Do note that you don’t have to be Belgian to get in on the fun!

• Ceres’ Table (Chicago, IL) is pouring Posca Rustica. This Italian resto likes the fact that the beer was inspired by libations of the Roman era in Belgium.
• El Rey Burrito Lounge (Montgomery, AL) is serving Mexican fare – but pouring Belgian ale.
• In some towns, beer enthusiast clubs are organizing pub crawls.
• Native Belgians living in the States are organizing parties at various venues.
• Fabulous Belgian beer bastions like Lucky Baldwin’s (CA), Monk’s (Philadelphia, PA), and Tria (Philadelphia, PA) are pouring the full lineup of our portfolio in a literal outpouring of affection. Thanks, we love you too!

Got a fun idea or unusual twist?  Let us know by posting on our facebook page or shooting me [Wendy] an email.  We would love to share your stories!

That’s not all… Vanberg & DeWulf has teamed up with our friends at Untappd for an amazing offer:

Vanberg & DeWulf co-founder, Wendy Littlefield, revealed that the Belgian beer import specialist is partnering with the year-old, fast-growing site and mobile app for beer enthusiasts, Untappd. Untappd will unveil their Belgian beer badge in Vanberg & DeWulf’s honor on Tuesday, November 15^th.

Belgian Holiday Badge

November 15^th is the day (and night) of the Coast to Coast Toast ™. It is expected to bethe single largest one-day national celebration of Belgian beer culture held in the USA this millennium. An estimated 350 bars, restaurants, and shops across America will feature Vanberg & DeWulf beers and raise a toast to the importer that has been singularly dedicated to building Belgian beer connoisseurship in the USA. To find the beers and the hosts for the events, people need only consult the Vanberg & DeWulf and Untappd sites. Find the locations hosting toasts on the Coast to Coast Toast™  Eventbrite page and check in with the beers on Untappd.

Much excitement surrounds the launch of a new badge at Untappd. There have been more than 2 million “check-ins” in year one alone.  To earn the Belgian badge Untappers need to try at least one (1)  “related” beer and share it on Untappd. Starting November 15^th and for a month, the Belgian badge can only be earned by “checking in” with Vanberg & DeWulf’s beers. Aspiring badge-earners have the option to be entered into a drawing to win a trip for two to Belgium sponsored by The Belgian Tourist Office and Delta Airlines.

The Coast to Coast Toast ™ is at once an anniversary party and a salute to the people and places that have done so much to build today’s vibrant US beer culture. Participants span two generations of craft beer advocates – uniting pioneers like Lucky Baldwin’s and Toronado (CA), Monk’s, Eulogy and Tria (PA), Higgins and Belmont Station (Portland), Hopleaf, Map Room (IL), Winking Lizard (Ohio), BJ’s (the West) and Flying Saucer  (6 states), Gingerman, DBA (NYC), and the Brickstore (GA) and more recently minted “Heroes of the Good Beer Movement” ™ like El Rey Burrito Lounge and J Clyde (Alabama), The Publican and Bluebird (Chicago), Church Key (Washington, D.C.) , Capital Bar and Grill (Arkansas), Jimmy’s 43,  Rattle N Hum, Vandaag, and Blue Monk (NY), The Fred (GA), and Redlight Redlight (Florida) to name but a few.

Not just on premise locations are participating in the celebration. Retailers all around the country – from Tully’s in Wells, Maine to Whole Foods on the Bowery in NYC, from Binny’s in Chicago to Wine Thief and Ale Jail in St Paul, MN – are taking part in the party.

“We have had a great career that has allowed us to pursue our love of Belgium and Belgian beer. As our 30th anniversary approached, we were absolutely convinced that we had to send a huge bear hug to our friends and colleagues. They took up our passion and together we changed how Americans enjoy beer ” said Wendy Littlefield.  “Untappd lets us spread the love in a new and unprecedented ways,” added Don.

Posted By: AWeller

He Said / She Said is a series where a lady contributor from Ladies of Craft Beer will pair up with a person of the male persuasion- be it her husband, boyfriend, brother, father, friend, uncle, co-worker, etc, and as a pair they will review two or three beers in succession.

The object of this experiment is to get an idea of how men taste different brews versus how women taste different brews- are there really distinct differences or is it mostly just due to the fact that different people in general have different tastes- while having a blast in the process. What is the real answer? (Is there a real answer?)

My husband and I have very different tastes in beer.  He loves stouts, porters and all things dark.  I love hops.  The more hops the better. MORE HOPS!  For our He Said/She Said reviews, we thought it would be interesting to tackle styles of beer neither one of us drinks regularly or has a set opinion on.  We’d been wanting to get our Untappd Ancient Ales badge, and thus the plan was born!

But first, to Buffalo!  Dogfish Head isn’t sold in Ontario.

We managed to get our hands on 3 different Ancient Ales to sample: Chateau Jihau, Sah’tea, and Theobroma.  Over two days- these are strong beers in big bottles!- we sampled and took notes.

First up: Chateau Jiahu

This beer is based on a recipe found in pottery in ancient China.  We were pouring into a tulip glass and a goblet.  Hey, these beers are pricey so we got out the ‘fancy’ glassware! Both of us noticed the intense carbonation in this beer immediately.  It bubbled more like what I would expect from a champagne than a beer. There was also a fair amount of sediment present.  I found the aroma to be very sour, whereas hubby just found it (quoting here) “weird”.  Both of us found the taste to be more in line with a mead or wine than a beer.  That is to be expected, I imagine, given the heavy use of honey in the style.  It was very boozy and  we knew we were drinking 10% beer.  Speculations were held on just how drunk the ancient drinkers must have been.  At the end of the large bottle, we’d both had enough.  Neither one of us were big fans of this particular beer, although it was great to try.  Bravo to Dogfish for resurrecting the recipe.

Second: Sah’tea

According to the website:  ”A modern update on a 9th century Finnish proto-beer. ” Right then: time to dive in.  The nose on this was really spicy.  We both found that and really loved the overall aroma.  In fact, hubby notes it was even “sexy”.  It had less carbonation than in the other beers we tried, but still bubbly. There was actually some head on this beer.  Yay! As in the Jiahu, there was a ton of sediment in our bottle. The taste followed through on the spicy aroma.  I even found it a bit woody in parts, though hubby didn’t seem to find that.  As Juniper berries are used, I would suspect them of bringing the herbal notes. This was definitely the most ‘beer-like’ of our samplings and the one we liked most. We would have this again for sure, though probably in a half pint or a smaller bottle.

Third: Theobroma

We did this on the second day.  We were really looking forward to its promise of cacao and chilies.  The recipe is based on an ancient Honduran alcoholic chocolate drink.  Alcohol and chocolate! What’s not to like? I found the nose on this to be WHAM! booze!  Interestingly, hubby didn’t find it had much aroma at all.  Maybe I was hallucinating in the anticipation of chocolate.  As with the other ancient ales, there was more carbonation present and not much head.  The taste on this was more complex than the other two.  We both found it very sweet upfront and then a tingling  on the tongue as it leaves the palate.  This could be from the use of chilies. The chocolate was really not to be found, sadly.  I got more honey than chocolate from the sweetness. Much like with Chateau Jiahu, finishing the bottle was enough for both of us.  We’re glad we tried it, but probably wouldn’t seek it out again.

We had a lot of fun tasting these beers and comparing notes.  With only a few minor cat-based interruptions, we were able to sample ancient ales inspired by 3 different time periods and cultures.  I think it is amazing that Dogfish Head is doing this and it certainly provides a unique opportunity to look into the past.

Related Posts:

• He Said/She Said #4- Guest Post by Kim Riemann
• Women in Beer Series – Maggie Foley
• Interview with Randy Mosher about Women and Beer (Guest post by Ingrid Calderoni)
• Beer Apps for Techno Geeks
• How Do You Judge a Good Beer Bar?

Posted By: Theresa Carpine

Untappd is celebrating its first anniversary very soon and they have plenty of reasons to celebrate: a merger with popular beer app Red Pint, One Million Check-ins, t-shirts…those Untappd folks are doing alright.

I find that Untappd is a really useful app if you want to track which beers you have tried. I also enjoy seeing who is drinking what and where, especially updates of who earned our East/West Coast Brew Crawl Badges; the list is also a great guide of local watering holes when you’re traveling (if you’d like your city included, please email five craft beer locations to infoATladiesocbDOTcom).

As I was browsing The Pub recently, I started thinking about the gender breakdown of Untappd users. A quick glance at the most recent check-ins revealed to me that more men check-in than women; at least, I deduced that they were men, what with generally accepted masculine names and/or profile photos.

Are men more likely to use Untappd? Would viewing The Pub at a different time of day reveal an equal number of check-ins of men and women? Is this a simple reflection of the statistical fact that more men drink beer than women?

In the interest of satisfying my curiosity, please respond to this brief and unscientific poll!

If you have any thoughts on the subject, please leave a comment and share your perspective!

Related Posts:

• Beer Menu Poll Wrap-up
• How Do You Want Your Beer Organized on a Menu?
• Review Responsibly
• He Said/She Said #3 Dogfish Head Ancient Ales
• New Cities Added (8/26/2011)! Complete list of cities for our Untappd East/West Brew Crawl Badges

Posted By: Jessica Rice

Stone Brewing Co. celebrated their 15^th Anniversary on August 20^th at Cal State San Marcos and I was fortunate enough to have two VIP section tickets for me and my fiancé, Sean. The weather was hot and sunny, which made for a beautiful afternoon. The event was split into two sections: general admission (sessions A & B), and the VIP.

Being wide-eyed and overly excited, I ran into the general section before I even noticed the VIP arrows in the upstairs meadow. Happily, I was able to pre-order the new book The Craft of Stone Brewing Company: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance from Warwick’s (a local book store) in the main event which meant I was able to purchase 1 bottle of the following choices: 2010 Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine Aged in Bourbon Barrels, 2010 Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine Aged in Bourbon Barrels or 2010 Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine Aged in Wine Barrels. We ordered three books so we could get three bottles- one of each. Can you tell I am a fan of Stone?

When we finally found our way out of the madness that was the session A crowd, we found the VIP section to be open and comfortable with no crazy crowds. I am not a crowd person so having the space to roam in between the two booths for rare beer and talk to fellow beer geeks was completely worth the extra ticket prices. I had a great time talking to John Holzer and Stephen Johnson of New Brew Thursday and Patrick Rue, CEO and Founder of The Bruery. “Dr.” Bill is always so fun to hang out with, but I am convinced he is a secret ninja because every time I spotted him he would disappear again way too quickly.

15th Anniversary Tasters

Included were only ten tasters out of a choice of 47 different rare beers… how could I make these types of choices?!

The nice thing about having too many good beers to choose from is you are very unlikely to get a bad beer. At the least, you might give something three stars on Untappd.com, which is still pretty damn great.  Here are some of the highlights from what I tasted:

15^th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA by Stone Brewing Co.: “Hoppy Amazingness black IPA with a chocolate-brown head.” ABV: 10.8, 100 IBU’s. We drove over to Stone Brewing Co. after the Anniversary event and bought a case of this…that should tell you how damn good this is.

12^th Anniversary Bitter Oatmeal Chocolate Stout Aged in Bourbon Barrels by Stone Brewing Co.: “Great sting of bourbon with a sweet forgiveness of chocolate creaminess.” ABV: 9.6%

Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin Ale by Ballast Point: “What?! Even the head is spicy!? This beer poured with a huge head and was way too spicy for me. The beer still had really good flavor.” ABV: 7%.

VIP Area

SKA Local Series #12 Merlot Stout by SKA Brewing: “Really smooth stout with flavors of coffee and slight hops.” ABV: 9.6%. This helped a lot with my Sculpin burn.

AleSmith/ Mikkeller/ Stone Belgian Style Triple Ale: “Amazing Triple, fruity and spicy and light. But, of course, Mikkeller seems incapable of making bad beer so I expected as much!” ABV: 8.7%.

Double Bastard (2005) by Stone Brewing Co.:  “Fantasmic! This beer pours amber red with a sweet forefront and a hoppy background. I could sit around and drink this one all day long.” ABV: 11.2%

Stone Brewing Co.’s proceeds go to worthy non-profits such as: The Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, The Palomar Family YMCA, The Surfrider Foundation, and Fight ALD (Sawyer’s Triple also benefits this charity) . Maybe I just like that I can tell my mom that I am going to a charity event instead of a beer event! It’s really admirable the charity work that Stone Brewing Co. does, and, to me, it just makes the beer taste even better. Cheers to 15 more years of fantastic beer from Stone Brewing Co.!

Related Posts:

• Pubcakes
• “Most Arrogant Bar in America” Celebration
• 2012 Beersolutions
• Review Responsibly
• Vanberg & DeWulf Inspiration from Coast to Coast and @Untappd/ @BelgianExpert Belgian Badge Holiday Giveaway

Posted By: Stevie Caldarola

It’s that time again- time for our additions to the LadiesOCB/Untappd East/West Coast Brew Crawl Badges!  In previous updates, we’ve linked back to the older posts that included cities already available on the badges, but this time, we’ve decided that it would be more beneficial to our readers if we put together a master list… here we go!

First, here are the new additions as of today:

Tuscon, AZ
1702
Barrio Brewing
Old Chicago Pasta and Pizza
Frog and Firkin
Nimbus Brewery

Spokane, WA:
Jones Radiator
Flying Goat
The Hop Shop
Steam Plant Grill
Northern Lights Brewing

Omaha, NE:
Brass Monkey
Max and Joe’s
Jake’s Cigars and Spirits
Library Pub
Dundee Dell

Lexington, KY:
The Beer Trappe
The Chase Taproom
Pazzo’s Pizza Pub
Marikka’s
Buster’s

Madison, WI:
The Malt House Tavern
The Old Fashioned
Vintage Brewing Co
Ale Asylum
The Alchemy Cafe

Orange County, CA:
Haven Gastropub
Beachwood BBQ
Newport Beach Brewing
Taco Asylum
The Crow Bar

Now, here is a master list of the cities that have already been available for the badges:

Raleigh, NC:
Busy Bee Cafe
The Raleigh Times Bar
The Pit
Village Draft House
Woody’s at City Market

Cincinnati, OH:
Cock and Bull 
Gordo’s Pub
The Famous Neon’s Unplugged 
Lackman Bar
Allyn’s

Western Massachusetts: Since Western Mass is a bit lacking in larger cities (sorry guys, but it’s true) we went with a suggestion by one reader which was to include craft beer establishments in a couple of towns from the area.
The Moan and Dove 
Dirty Truth Beer Hall
Moe’s Tavern 
Lady Killigrew Cafe
The Dam Cafe

Columbia, SC:
Hunter-Gatherer Brewery & Alehouse
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium 
Liberty Tap Room & Grill 
Cock n’ Bull Pub-Grille 
Speakeasy

Tampa, FL:
World of Beer 
Datz Restaurant
Taps 
New World Brewery 
Mellow Mushroom

Miami, FL:
DRB (Democratic Republic of Beer)
The Abbey 
Titanic Restaurant and Brewery
Tom’s NFL
Zeke’s Roadhouse

Rehoboth, DE: 
Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats
Specific Gravity
Fins Fish House & Raw Bar
Pickled Pig Pub
Arena’s Deli & Beach Bar

Charlotte, NC:
Mac’s Speed Shop
Dandelion Market
Duckworth’s Grill and Bar
The Liberty
Mellow Mushroom

Burlington, VT:
American Flatbread Hearth
Vermont Pub and Brewery
Three Needs Brewery and Taproom
The Farmhouse Tap and Grill
BlueBird Tavern

Cleveland, OH:
Buckeye Beer Engine 
Fat Heads 
Winking Lizard 
Ballantine
The Brew Kettle
Tremont Tap House

Detroit, MI:
The WAB 
Detroit Beer Co 
Dragonmead
Kuhnhenn’s 
Motor City Brewing Works

Durham, NC
Fullsteam Brewery 
Dain’s Place 
Tyler’s Taproom 
Bull City Burger and Brewery 
Pinhook

New Haven, CT
Prime 16
The Cask Republic
Delaney’s Restaurant & Tap Room
Mikro Beer Bar
Eli Cannons’s Tap Room

St. Louis, MO
The Stable
Cicero’s
Bridge
Schlafly Tap Room
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
Square One Brewery
Highlands Brewing Co.

Eugene, OR:
Ninkasi Brewing Company
Rogue Ales Public House/ Eugene City Brewery
Oakshire Brewing
High Street Brewery and Cafe
Hop Valley Brewing Company

Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota:
The Muddy Pig
The Happy Gnome
Groveland Tap
The Bulldog NorthEast
Acadia Cafe

Phoenix, AZ:
Papago Brewing Co
Flanny’s Bar & Grill
The Hungry Monk
Sun Devil Liquors
Four Peaks Brewing

Austin, TX:
The Ginger Man
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que
Black Star Co-op Pub and Brewery
Draught House

Nashville, TN:
The Melrose Neighborhood Pub
Yazoo Tap Room
12 South Taproom and Grill
Boscos
Blackstone Restaurant and Brewery

Washington DC:
Churchkey
The Black Squirrel
Iron Horse Tap Room
The Big Hunt
Granville Moore’s

Denver, CO:
Falling Rock Tap House
Freshcraft
Dry Dock
Cheeky Monk
Euclid Hall

Portland, OR:
Horse Brass Pub
Bailey’s Taproom
Green Dragon Bistro & Pub
Henry’s 12th St Tavern
Cascade Brewing Barrel House

New York City (Manhattan), NY:
Rattle N Hum
The Pony Bar
The Ginger Man
Blind Tiger
Burp Castle

New York City (Brooklyn), NY:
Bierkraft
Barcade
Mug’s Alehouse
The Gate
Mission Dolores
Spuyten Duyvil

Philadelphia, PA:
Monk’s Cafe
Nodding Head
Grace Tavern
Devil’s Den
Local 44

Boston, MA:
Cambridge Common
Deep Ellum
Boston Beer Works
Redbones
John Harvards

Houston, TX:
Saint Arnold
Flying Saucer
The Ginger Man
Rudyard’s British Pub
Anvil Bar and Refuge

Seattle, WA:
Uber Tavern
Beveridge Place Pub
Naked City Brewing
Collins Pub
Pike Brewing Pub

Baltimore, MD:
The Brewer’s Art
Alewife
Elliot’s Pourhouse
Max’s Taphouse
DuClaw Brewing

Pittsburgh, PA:
Bocktown Beer & Grill
Fathead’s Saloon
Church Brew Works
Hough’s
Harris Grill

San Francisco, CA:
Toronado
City Beer
Beer Revolution
Churchkey
Zeitgeist

San Diego, CA:
O’Briens
San Diego Tap Room
The Ritual Tavern
Downtown Johnny Brown’s
Hamilton’s Tavern
Small Bar

Kansas City, MO:
Foundry
Beer Kitchen
Flying Saucer Draft Emporium
Blanc Burger’s and Bottles
Grinder’s

Jacksonville, FL:
Bold City
Kickback’s Gastropub
Engine 15 Brewing Company
Brewer’s Pizza
European Street Cafe

Chicago, IL:
Quencher’s Saloon
Small Bar Division
Revolution Brewing Company
Goose Island Clybourn
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery
Hopleaf Bar
Haymarket Pub & Brewery

Los Angeles, CA:
Blue Palms Brewhouse
The Surly Goat
38° Ale House & Grill
Boneyard Bistro
The Daily Pint

Atlanta, GA:
SweetWater Brewing
Ormsby’s
The Porter Beer Bar
Cypress Bar
Brick Store Pub

Portland, ME:
Three Dollar Deweys
Novare Res Bier Cafe
The Great Lost Bear
Sebago Brewing Company
Gritty McDuff’s Brewery

Canada:

Toronto:
C’set What?
Beer Bistro
Bier Markt
Smokeless Joe
Bar Volo

Vancouver:
Steamwork’s Brewing
Granville Island Brewing
Yaletown Brewing
The Alibi Room
Biercraft

Montreal:
Brasserie Dieu Du Ciel
Le Cheval Blanc
Benelux Brewpub
Le Saint Bock
Reservoir Brewpub & Bistro

For those of you who are unfamiliar with these badges, the way to earn them is easy: check into a craft beer in three of the LadiesOCB hand-picked craft beer establishments available in cities in western US and/or Canada for the West Coast Brew Crawl Badge or in eastern US and/or Canada for the East Coast Brew Crawl Badge.  As you can see, the badges are not limited to coastal cities, but are divided pretty much straight down the middle of North America.  Travel a lot?  Well, you can win BOTH badges!

Don’t see a city on this list that you think deserves to be there?  Either send me a list of at least five (if not more) craft beer establishments in that city to this email address with the city, your name and your email and we will get in contact with you for more information.

Please make sure to thoroughly check the above list to check if your city is there before sending us duplicates. Your attention is very much appreciated! (Otherwise, my inbox will cry.)

Thanks and cheers!

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Posted By: Guest

CBE Beer & Cheese Tasting

The Columbia Beer Enthusiasts in Columbia, Missouri, is part craft beer tasters and part homebrewers. We have monthly tastings with different styles and themes. In July, we had a beer and cheese tasting, so in that spirit, here are some of my other favorite beer “pairings.”

Beer and Social Media: I now use Untappd in place of scrawled tasting notes, and to see what friends are having and to get recommendations. We use our Facebook Group and Twitter to post updates about new beer arrivals in stores, and we probably helped statewide efforts to bring more breweries to MO via online nagging. We have gained Green Flash, Stone, and Firestone Walker just in the past year.

CBE Kansas City Road Trip

Beer and My Local Community: Columbia has a couple of brewpubs (Flat Branch Pub and Broadway Brewery) that support the CBE by hosting our tastings. Sycamore Restaurant is where the group originated and continues to host beer dinners and launch events. 1839 Taphouse and 44 Stone Public House are also expanding their craft beer lists. Through our events, I have had the pleasure of meeting sales reps, distribution reps, and bar owners, getting to talk and learn about beer with new friends.

Beer and Travel: I don’t travel a whole lot, but when I do, it is planned around local brewpubs and store recommendations on Beer Advocate or through word of mouth. Sharing the plunder when I return home is also a plus. I’m excited to get the chance to do a beer tour in Belgium in September and return to Ireland to try something besides Guinness.

In summary, craft beer pairs well with most everything! If you’re ever passing though the I-70 corridor, or on your way to an infamous truck stop (not actually in Columbia, by the way), contact us on Facebook. No, we don’t have a local LOCB chapter yet, but I would love to start one. We are the few and the proud.

Jade Elwess is president of the Columbia Beer Enthusiasts in Columbia, MO and a newbie homebrewer. Columbia is midway between St. Louis and Kansas City, or between Schlafly and Boulevard. Her love of beer started when traveling in the U.K. and Ireland, and was simply aghast at the Bud drinkers. Since then, it’s been her mission to create awareness that there is more beer out there to discover if you leave your comfort zone.

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Posted By: Guest

I recently tweeted about “friends with beer benefits” as I was getting my act together to host the fourth in an ongoing series of beer tastings at my house. These beer tasting are informal gatherings of friends who appreciate craft beer. Nothing more, nothing less.

Beer for tastings at home.

I fetch a few select bombers from the cellar, and others bring a beer or three that they want to sample and share. Everyone brings beer munchies and something to add to the dinner menu. My husband mans the grill and we use dinner time to take a different kind of “beer break.” It makes for a great afternoon/evening of beer tasting. In addition, there’s plenty of no-tow parking, no lines at the restroom, and crash space if someone needs to sleep it off.

These get-togethers began earlier this year when a pre-planned outdoor activity was rained out. A couple of friends wound up at our place and they discovered a nice selection of beverages in the fridge. Once questions started to fly, we broke out the sampling glasses. I introduced my company to Untappd and they quickly caught on to the routine. We sampled 10 brews that afternoon and decided this would become a regular gathering. It gives us a chance to share brews we’ve discussed with friends and justify expenses for beer we’re curious to try.

Our beer tasting sessions have evolved slightly since then; we’ve worked our way up to 12-13 brews over a 3-4 hour period. Everyone pours a sample amount and can get seconds only after everyone has had a taste. While that may not sound like much beer, it really can be, especially if there are more than a couple of high-gravity selections in the mix. We strive to finish off each opened bottle to avoid the sometimes inevitable leftovers. It’s rare that we run across a beer that everyone gives a thumbs down (or a one on the Untappd rating scale), but given the law of averages, it’s bound to happen sooner or later.

Setting the stage is nothing complicated. A leaf is added to the dining room table, extra chairs are put in place. Freshly cleaned sampling glasses are arranged on a bar towel with plastic cups stacked for water. A growler of water takes its place in the center of the table and is refilled as often as needed. A couple of bowls are set out for incoming munchies and the tasting begins as soon as someone arrives.

What started as me, my husband and two friends has now become me, my husband and up to five friends. Other friends ask to be notified of the next gathering. The beer selection has increased in number and variety of style. The conversation is about beer color, aroma, taste nuances, aftertaste and overall impression. We discuss beer sightings, what can be bought where and what’s on tap locally. We celebrate Untappd badges earned, plan trips to beer festivals and add a new dimension to sharing time with friends. Football season is coming up and we believe it may make for some fun extended beer tasting sessions!

Tonya Vots

Tonya Vots is a freelance writer and photographer. She spends her time pondering the limits of chocolate in dark ale, fine tuning a homemade BBQ smoker, and medieval reenacting. She resides in Douglasville, Georgia with her husband and a cat. She occasionally writes for Road Trips for Beer and can be found on Untappd as tcv66. Follow her @tonya_v on Twitter.

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