Hello, again. It’s been a while. I have a lot of things to write about, and hopefully I’ll get around to some of it. This is just a bragging post. I have almost made it to 250 unique breweries! As of 3/19/2022, I am at 246, though I’ve likely missed one or two on the list. Since the laws changed in 2015, it’s been a ton of fun – err,…
Raise a Glass for Nariki (aka, Kiki)
I know life goes on, but I’ve been in a bit of a rut lately. It’s been a tough year. One of the hardest things Scott and I had to do was say goodbye to our little one, Kiki. Kiki was just a great source of comfort each day for me. Having a bad day? Hug a Kiki. Having a good day? Hug a Kiki. Her sister, Shady (Lady Nightshade, 2000-2014),…
Comprehensive Map of Dog-Friendly Breweries!
2022 Update: 3/19/22: This map is very far out-of-date. I realize that there are laws and loopholes that make saying yes or no with a straight face, sans-wink is a tough thing to do. I want to respect breweries, but that makes complete data very difficult. I am part of a private FB group called New England Brew Dogs on Facebook for a good, dog-friendly brewery list. It’s the most…
Activate Your Liquid Yeast! 5 Tips to Avoid Brewing Nightmares
This last batch of beer Scott and I brewed was a nightmare. After four very successful batches, #5 kicked our butts. What happened to make this one so difficult? Well, there were a few things. Here are five quick tips for I wish I’d remembered when brewing beer – especially because I’m starting to know enough to be dangerous. Note: Scott and I are also recognizing the pains of having starter equipment… more on that…
Bottling Day! (steps and video for George :D)
Bottling day makes you realize how cool kegs really are. However, some of us don’t have the extra cash to eliminate bottling day, and so for me and Scott, it takes a tiny bit more effort to get our tasty beverage into a final vessel. Since my brother is attempting his own bottling very soon, we decided to notate our bottling day yesterday. We made a scottish ale recipe written by the brewmaster…
New Year, New Beer
Jan 23, 2016 Happy New Year, beer lovers! It’s been a little while since my last blog post. It’s also been a while since I’ve been to a new brewery. In fact, I haven’t been to a new brewery all year. I did get an Ommegang sampler for Christmas, which was nice. I tried a few good holiday beers, like Long Trail’s Culmination, which was one of my favorites. Sure,…
30 Breweries and Counting!
* Remember to bring cash to tip when visiting smaller breweries! Today I added Black Pond Brew to the list of breweries I’ve visited, and I realized that make 30 breweries on my map! I plan to add 31 to the map this afternoon when I use my Whalers Brewing Groupon. 2015 has been a good year! Here’s a recap of this month’s additions: Cold Creek Brewery – Ellington, CT New Brewery! What…
November Breweries
I haven’t written a post in a while, but trust me – I’ve still been doing my brewery reconnaissance. Since November, I’ve added a few new names to my brewery map. Below are five heart-warming, make-me-thankful beer memories. Broad Brook Brewery (East Windsor, CT) We’re there just about every Wednesday, and I love the place! BBB has recently rolled out their holiday Homewrecker (6.7%). It’s a little strong on the finish – I think last…
Don’t Blame the Beer – Session Variables That Can Foul Your Review
TL/DR: Use baking soda and hot, hot water to wash your beer glasses Practice proper pouring if you plan to review head If the environment is being cruel to a beer, don’t review it based on that session! When I first decided to write a beer blog, I expected that I would start writing a lot of beer reviews, and I wanted them to be good. I decided to ask experts from the…
Growler Laws in New England
Before you bring your local growler to fill at a new brewery – especially a brewery in a different state – check out their growler laws first. While at Broad Brook enjoying a 6-Balls Alt, my husband and I chatted with a guy who recently traveled to New Hampshire with growlers to fill. He found out the hard way that in New Hampshire, there is a law banning breweries from filling up growlers with…