Growing Hops!

So we are totally doing it. We are going to try to grow hops. It seems like the natural home brewer progression, after all. Order has been placed: 2 rhizomes of Cascade and 2 rhizomes of Nugget which seem to be beginner-friendly. (Time will tell…)

I have 5 days to figure out where to plant them. The empty half wine barrel seems like a good candidate.  I like that it is somewhat mobile in case we need to move the hops between seasons. It seems like we have two good sunny spots in the backyard and the front drive. I think I will plant two rhizomes in each spot and see how they do. 

What I am trying not to do is piss off the neighbors with a 15 foot monster-trellis but perhaps regular deliveries of home brew on their doorstep will help with that potential situation!  But maybe I am thinking like a renter still. It’s my property right? I finally get to grow what I want to grow!  Who cares that it could grow as high as a two-story house? It may be prudent to bribe them, I mean, give them a few more 6-packs per brewing session, just-in-case! Everyone loves free beer! And everyone loves a good neighbor!

I would like to see how the hops do before investing the time and expense in making or buying a permanent trellis so maybe this year we will use the twine creatively to connect to our existing structures.  I will keep you posted. 

Cheers!

-The Beer Dietitian

To hear my latest beer musings and what I am drinking, follow me on Twitter!

SLO Brewing Company- SLO is the Way to Go!

Snoop Dogg and Dietitian Approved

We arrived for a quick lunch at this brewhouse in addition to being a live music venue. We sat at the table that featured a Snoop Dogg poster from a past performance and I have to say I was a little bummed to have missed that performance. The food was the yummiest AND healthiest that I have ever seen offered at a brewpub! One of their specials for the day was a corn and quinoa soup (Delish!), fish tacos (full of veggies- Delish, as well)! The Lettuce Wraps were also excellent. Whoever designed the menu knows their way around a nutrition class or two!  

And Onto the Beer

The Tasting Sampler featured a delicious variety but I loved the Honey Blonde and of course, the IPA. I really, really, really loved their Irish Stout. The Nitro IPA was a nice variation, as well. It is cool to taste both the normal IPA and the C02 infused one side-by-side. 

No T-shirt For Me!

I walked out with a girly-sized black zippy hoodie which is a deviation from my usual beer tank/t-shirt. The magical mixing of excellent beer and healthy, delicious and nutritious food made me a believer and proud to rock their gear. Plus, it was raining. I guess the vacation gods can’t give me everything: good beer AND sun. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Manuia!

-The Beer Dietitian

For more info: 

http://www.slobrewingco.com/

To hear my latest beer musings and what I am drinking, follow me on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/#!/BeerDietitian

Solvang Brewing Company-

This place is a trip. We have been reading the Game of Thrones series and even tried our hand at making our own wassail (pronounced “vassal”) so this place was perfect for us! Just check out their labels: they feature windmills, bar wenches, scary soldiers, and castles! AND you could even order their version of a wassail! I have NEVER seen that on a menu! (Faithful readers: if there is a wassail out there in the US that I should try, let me know.)

I, of course, ordered several taster sizes of their beer: I picked the Windmill Wheat Ale (European-style Hefe!), the Danske Amber Ale, Valhalla IPA and the seasonal Black IPA. (I would have ordered more but I am "low volume".) I also tasted the European Bitter Brown that Husband ordered. The Amber Ale was literally the best Amber I have ever tasted, including the Amber that I make myself. I was also blown away by the Valhalla IPA and the Black IPA was a nice treat, as well. (I am telling you, I am in an IPA thang right now.) I didn't realize how long I had been entrenched in the American-style Hefe until I had this Wheat Ale. Loved it! 

And who doesn't love awesome beer, warm pretzels with fondue dipping sauce and a girly logo tank top?! No one, that's who. 

I think I have some unfinished business at the Solvang Brewing Company. I may have to stay in town next time for easier access! Seriously, if they offered the mix-n-match 6 pack thing, I would have left with both hands full.

Proost!

-The Beer Dietitian

 For more info:

http://www.solvangbrewingcompany.com/

To hear my latest beer musings and what I am drinking, follow me on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/#!/BeerDietitian

The Santa Barbara Brewing Company

Décor to Die For

The decor and brew tanks making up the main restaurant area would be what I would want my fantasy house/brewery to be. I wish I could move right in. 

Menu Not Set in Stone

I opted for the beer sampler along with my not-on-the menu BLT that was 2 inches high (thank you!). The standouts were the Pacific Pale Ale and the IPA. I guess I am digging the hops lately but the hints of hops in the Pale Ale gave it more of a kick compared to other boring Pales. And the IPA, oh the IPA, I could drink it all day.

Blonde for a Day

As for gear, they featured only one girly shirt which was long-sleeved, pink and had their Blonde Ale logo across the boobage. Although I am not blonde, I will rock it as if I was! 

L'chaim!

-The Beer Dietitian

For more info:

http://www.sbbrewco.com/

 

To hear my latest beer musings and what I am drinking, follow me on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/#!/BeerDietitian

Pismo Brewing Company- My New Best Friend

Friendly to the Visitors

After a stint at the beach (braving the wind while trying to get some sun), popping into the Pismo Brewing Company (three blocks from the beach) was a perfect excuse to leave the swirling sands and fading rays. We got there soon after opening to grab a bite and try their tasty brews, and it already featured a good mix of locals, visitors and staff relaxing after their shift (watching a Dodger game but we won’t hold that against them). 

The menu was big enough to keep most happy. BLATs, pastrami sandwiches, soft pretzels and a vegetarian option thrown in there will please most. It certainly was good to us!

Brew Me!

I ordered the tasting menu and it was served with a glass of club soda to cleanse the palate. That is a nice touch for the serious taster. My favorite brews were the IPA and the Bolina Brown Ale. (I ordered a 6 pack made of these two to-go! Who doesn't love a mix-n-match six pack?!)

Gear galore!

I was in heaven! There were 5 girly shirts to choose from with their cool logo. And they had at least the same amount for the men-folk. The men's mechanic-style shirt gave me pause, I almost picked one up for Husband. (It will be a good excuse to go back!) Plus they even had tasting glasses available to purchase which I found are harder to find in my brewery-travels. (Pismo Brewing Company's tasting glasses are made of good-quality glass, not like the flimsy thin glass of a certain NC brewery I shall not name.) Anyways, back to the gear: lots of it, cute options and they even throw in a free keychain with a shirt purchase. I was very pleased to say the least.  Add in the fact that they (even the patrons) were cool to visitors (“Sure you don’t want to try that on there in the back and show us?”), they make a mean root beer float and the brew was excellent, I will make this place a destination from now on! 

Cheers!

-The Beer Dietitian

For more info: http://www.pismobrew.com/