A Toast to Brews

Had a blast at the festival at last weekend. It's a very cool space and there were lots of good breweries.

There were also a few things that really clenched it as a solid festival for me (other than great beer).

1. People from the breweries pouring the beer
2. Dump/rinse stations
3. Plenty of restrooms (especially women's)
4. Vip exclusive beers

Ok, the last is a little extra. Early entrance is usually more than enough for me to go vip, but having access to a couple special beers is always cool. Also, the more stickers/swag available the better.

What makes or breaks a beer festival for you? Any favorites you go to every year?

A couple weeks ago we visited the new location in Alexandria.

The space is cool. They've got a good amount of outside seating for when we aren't under heat advisories, but have plenty of seating inside as well. Anywhere you sit inside has a good view of a t.v., so definitely a good spot to watch a game.

We went on a weekday afternoon, and they have one of the coolest happy hour deals around, 2 slices of and a pint for $10.

I usually go for a Dance of Days Pale Ale, but that day I got to try The Precious One, an American IPA absolutely loaded with apricot flavor.

Good beer, good food, and a place to watch games. I'll be adding this spot to our brewery rotation, check it out if you get a chance!

A couple weeks ago we had the day off for Juneteenth and decided to go rock climbing with some friends. This was my first time climbing outside so we found a fairly easy route and I was able to make it to the top. It was hot, incredibly tiring, and totally awesome.

After a quick trip home to shower we decided to check out the new brewpub. As a reward for such amazing feats of athletic prowess we deserved some 🍻 and some a/c. Their King of Hop IPA was just what I needed. It drank light for an imperial and the grapefruit finish was delightfully refreshing.

We knew the beers would be good, but the venue is cool as well. Tons of space, the food looked great, and there were TVs everywhere on the 2nd floor. Definitely would be a good spot to catch a game.

Overall a great day. Can't wait to make it back out climbing and I know we'll be back out to Starr Hill for both the biergarten and the brewpub.

After a long, hard day of judging beer at the , what do you need? A relaxing beer! And what better place to stop than a previous medal winner, .

It was our first time here, and while their tap selection is small, the beers are solid. I enjoyed a couple "Wardio's West Coast", which were nice and light despite being jam packed with hops. Danielle enjoyed a couple raspberry sours, which were deliciously thirst-quenching, perfect after a ride.

The space is cool, the people are awesome, and it's right on a bike trail. We now have plans to bring our bikes down to get serviced (and to drink more beer) so we can start enjoying some rides this summer.

If you have not been, I highly recommend! Anyone else have some bike-friendly breweries or trail adjacent stops they'd like to share?

First weekend judging for the in the books. Big thanks to for hosting. I had a great time, got to try a lot of excellent beers from some great Virginia breweries, and met a ton of really cool and talented judges.

As if that wasn't enough, they sent us home with last year's best of show, a red IPA called Crimson Gaze by , which I cannot wait to try.

Looking forward to more judging next weekend, but then will have to wait until the gala in July to see who is taking home medals this year.

Any great Virginia beers you've had lately that you think would be medal worthy? Let me know in the comments, always on the hunt for great beer!

Had a busy past couple weekends with beer.

Two weeks ago we went up to Frederick, MD for the . The weather was nice, the beer was good, and we got to try a lot of breweries we've never been to before. We were sad that wasn't there, so we had to represent with our shirts.

I also picked up a couple coupon books from . They were only 7 bucks, and when you go to a stop you get your 2nd pint half off. They could use some more stops in VA and MD, but most of the ones in there we haven't been to before, so it will be a good excuse to go exploring.

Last weekend was the .va . It was rainy, but still a good time. I had to get a picture with the sign since I was wearing their hat. Definitely looking forward to hitting Aslin's beer garden again when the weather is a bit better.

This weekend will be a little more relaxing. Checking out some live music and enjoying the warm weather with a couple beers. Hope everyone else has some solid plans for the long weekend!

Beautiful day for a beer , and the women of are here for their period product donation drive.

Audi field does not have the craft beer selection that Nats park does, but I've watched enough Champions League that Heineken will always be associated with soccer for me.

It was our first game and I could not have had more fun. I don't think there is a bad seat in the stadium, tickets were cheap, and the game was great. I'm hooked and can't wait to go back.

Also, is only a couple blocks away, and they have an awesome happy hour deal on pizza and beer. Definitely going to be the go-to pregame spot.

It was our first pro team game in DC, looking forward to checking out the other teams/stadiums as well, but I won't be surprised if the Spirit stay my favorite.

The beercation down to Asheville started out solid. was the closest brewery to our airbnb, and ended up being one of our favorites. It was so good, in fact, that we started and ended our trip there.

They had a huge outside area, live music, food truck, friendly staff, and some solid beers. They had quite the selection, and some interesting ones, including a turmeric farmhouse and a Thai basil chili saison. My personal favorite was the Quail pale ale.

Not a bad place to relax and do some last minute studying before the exam. Next time we go to Asheville we will definitely be hitting this place up again.

Yesterday we went to for their grand opening. It was packed, which was great to see. It is a huge space, with multiple outdoor bars and lots of green space. Even though it was busy it didn't feel too crowded. They've also got a kitchen, and the food looked great. Lots of seating inside and out. You can order at the bar or from your table. Everything was fairly quick, especially considering how busy they were. Very kid friendly, dog friendly outside.

The beer was fine. Not bad for an opening, and I'll be excited to see what they can do moving forward. We'll give it a little bit, but we'll definitely be back.

Since we were out that way we did have to stop by on the way home. We don't make it out that far often, but their beer is worth the trip.

We wrapped things up with a flight at , which we had not been to before. It's a smaller space, but the beer was good, the staff was great, and they have darts in the back.

Definitely no shortage of breweries in the area! Glad we had time to make a day of it, pace ourselves, and try a couple cool new places. Pretty solid Saturday.

This weekend I got to judge in my first beer competition, the homebrew competition. I learned a lot from the other judges and was very impressed with the skill of these homebrewers. Overall an awesome day. I met some cool people, tried some great beers (one that I judged ended up winning best of show), and got to relax afterward with a beer (or two) from .

My certification tasting exam is in a couple weeks, and then I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for some more competitions as an official judge. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's a few pics from our trip to a couple weeks ago. I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. The brewery is very cool and they had a huge outside space, although it was not open to dogs. We went at what we thought would be an off time, but we still had a bit of a wait for a table. Thankfully, you can order beers while you wait, but if you go, plan accordingly.

They had a wide variety of beers on tap. I didn't even know that they brewed IPAs. We tried a little bit of everything, but of course we had to make sure we drank the classic stout, which seemed drier, more roasty, and less sweet than those I've had at bars.

Overall a lot of fun. Solid tap list, good food, and fun atmosphere. We will definitely be heading back this summer to enjoy the outside area.

As an added selling point, it is just a short trip from , one of the best breweries out there, if you want to make a day of it.

Happy , may your glass always be refilled and your beer never flat.

Went to for the release of their il Palio, an Italian style pilsner that hits all the marks. It's light, hoppy, and a little citrus. This style is definitely on the rise right now, and for good reason, check it out before it's gone!

First time brewing beer!!!

and I went out to The Flying Barrel in Frederick, MD where you brew on premise. They have all the ingredients and gear, handle a lot of the prep and sanitation, but let you do everything else (and teach along the way). I went with a West Coast with Centennial hops, she went with a Bordeaux.

I had a blast. The staff were incredible, the other people brewing were also having a lot of fun, and I learned a lot. I go back in two weeks to bottle, and then a couple weeks later it will be ready to drink.

I can't wait to do this again, I'm already thinking of new recipes for the next round. The video will be up soon, so keep an eye out.

And since we worked up such a thirst making beverages, we had to stop by afterward to reward ourselves for a job (hopefully) well done.

We were able to sneak over to Des Moines yesterday in between blizzards to visit a couple more breweries. We started out at because their food is always 10/10, and the basilisk IPA I had was awfully good too. (I'm a sucker for a west coast).

A block away was , so we had to stop by to try the DSM brewed beers that weren't on tap at the Iowa City location. Their experimental hazy was super juicy and super good.

We finished up at , which we had not been to before. It's pretty big, and I bet the outside area is awesome when not covered in snow. They had an altbier on tap which was pretty good, but my favorite there was their pilsner.

I love the Des Moines brewery scene, there are so many to choose from. Next time I plan on making time for , but there are many other great choices as well. If I didn't mention your favorite Des Moines brewery please drop it in the comments so I can add it to the list for next trip.

Winters in Iowa, can't say I miss 'em. We decided to brave snowmageddon to hit up out in Davenport. The roads weren't too bad and it was a short drive. We weren't the only ones to make the journey, and after tasting what's on tap I can definitely see why. I was a big fan of their IPAs. The "clash with reality" was very hoppy, but not overly bitter and came in at a warming 7.4%. enjoyed a pineapple and cherry sour, which was lighter in abv at 5.4%, but not light on flavor!

Glad we found a brewery that was open, but it sounds like there are some rough roads out there, so stay safe!

Went out to to have my last new beer of the year today. Had to try the hybrid availment, a lager made with triticale, a wheat/rye hybrid that they grow there. Definitely made for a cool lager, lots of head and body from the wheat with just a bit of that rye spice. Very creative and well worth the trip. As usual, their IPAs were also delicious.

Solid new year's eve trip, here' to more in '24.

We had a blast at a couple weeks ago. It was a little wet, and a little busy, but we got to try a lot of good beers and check out a ton of new breweries.

As far as beer festivals go though, the is still my favorite. Can't wait to go next weekend!

Last week I got to visit Atlanta for a conference, so of course Danielle and I had to take the opportunity to check out new breweries.

First up was as it was close to the hotel. It's a small brewery, but the beer was great. My favorite was their czech dark.

After that we hit up where our bartender was nice enough to recommend not only some great beers they had on tap, but also some of the best breweries to visit.

had a very cool indoor and outdoor space, was pretty close to the stadiums, and had slushies/cocktails in addition to some solid brews.

had some delicious food and a cool view from the rooftop bar. Very good IPAs.

had a very fun vibe and had a ton of upcoming events. They have a regular beer pong tourney too. Their marzen had just come out and did not disappoint.

was our last stop, and one of our favorites. Very laid back and comfortable. A decent selection and it was all good.

Overall a pretty successful trip, but there were tons of places we didn't get to visit. Anyone been to any great ATL breweries that we should visit next time?

Last week on our adventures we also stopped out to . The brewery is small, but the beers were easily some of the best we've had thus far. Thankfully we were doing tasters because there were also several above 10% abv. I had a spiced egg nog stout that I will dream of for weeks to come. My wife loved their fruity pebbles stout, just like drinking the milk out of the bowl. The staff was also super cool, can't wait to head back.

We followed that up with a quick trip to where we did a flight and listened to everyone play trivia. Super friendly staff and solid food selection.

16/33 down.

was pretty excited for our breweries this past Sunday since a couple were also wineries.

Our first stop was . Very cool place. Not a huge beer menu, but what was on tap was pretty good. We'll have to head back for the wine.

was up next. It is hidden away at the end of a road, but worth exploring. The staff could not have been nicer! We did a couple mixed wine/beer/cider flights as we took in the view.

Last but not least was . Enjoyed a flight and a solid IPA. Not pictured was Danielle's ice cream flight. Yes, you heard that right, an ice cream flight. A little something for everyone.

Overall a pretty solid day, and three more breweries checked off the list. 11 down, 22 to go.

We had to take a break from the today due to weather, but on Saturday we did enjoy some more .

We started out at and enjoyed their gold medal Belgian dark strong. I was a big fan of their copperhead IPA as well. They also had a flag on the wall, always nice to see a reminder of Iowa!

Up next was , a brewery and distillery. We started out with a flight of their spirits before trying the beer, and then rounded out the stop with some delicious BBQ.

Last but not least was one of my favorite spots, . We were a little late for the oysters, but enjoyed a flight and a pint of ghostfleet before calling it a day.

That brought us up to 8, only 25 to go, and over half way to our t-shirts.

We continued our trip down the yesterday. The did not disappoint.

Started off at , which had a lot of outdoor seating and a pretty cool loft. The beers were solid. I was a big fan of the IPA, made with regional grains. Several of their other beers use grains they grow there. Apparently they also have a farmers market on Saturdays, so we'll definitely have to come back for that.

Up next was , which was having open mic night. They had a pretty good selection, so we had a couple flights and I left with a new t-shirt.

We ended the night at , which had the best views of the day. They had a raspberry ghost pepper sour which was awesome, and I got to try their bronze medal hellles, which did not disappoint.

5 down, 28 to go (only 9 more for our t-shirts). We plan to knock a couple more off the list today.

In June we had a blast attending at Burley Oak Brewing Company. In this video I cover the staff favorites at each tent, do a recap of the experience, and try a couple other Burley Oak sours. While there we also picked up our tickets for coming up in November. Can't wait to attend that as well!

A Toast to SourFest @ Burley Oak We took a trip to Burley Oak in Berlin, MD to attend their 8th annual SourFest. First, we talk to staff at each tent to hear their favorite beers. Then, Da...

They were closed on the 4th, but we celebrated a little late by taking a trip out to veteran-owned for some beers.

We went all in on the hops for our flight, with a hoppy lager, an IPA, and a couple American pale ales. This place did not disappoint. Each beer was great, and had a distinctly different flavor profile. Our favorite was dittybopper. With loads of citrus, a bit of pine, and plenty of bitter/pithyness, this beer brought the west coast flavor but was still light, crisp, and oh so drinkable.

It definitely has a small-town brewery feel. It's comfortable, welcoming, and the staff was as nice as could be. They also have a charity tap line where they donate a percentage of sales to a monthly rotating non-profit. Once again, a great example of breweries just making the world better, one beer at a time.

I can't wait to go back and try some more of their beers (and their smoked wings, they smelled delish). This place is well worth a stop!

A couple weeks ago I was able to visit Hot Air Brewing, and the video is finally up. While the production value leaves something to be desired, you get to see the inside of the brewery, learn about Hot Air directly from the owner, and hear about some of their excellent beers.

The filming could use some work, but Katie is a natural on camera and did a wonderful job sharing what makes Hot Air so cool. My videos will definitely get better, but Hot Air is already awesome.

If you've been to Hot Air I'd love to hear your thoughts. Did we leave anything out? What was your favorite beer? If you haven't been, then stop on by and let me know what you think, I doubt you'll be disappointed.

More videos to come, so if you like craft beer and breweries check back in, and if you have any recommendations on other excellent spots let me know!

A Toast to Hot Air Brewing On this episode I travel to Creston, Iowa to visit Hot Air Brewing. Named after the local balloon festival, this gem is well worth a visit. In the video I ...

Yesterday I logged some hours editing video from our trip to . My skills are a little rusty, but they are slowly coming back. Thankfully I had some beer on hand for inspiration/motivation.

I did have to take a break to head to for the release of their derecho lager. It's an excellent example of creativity and ingenuity. Malty up front, ends hoppy, super flavorful.

Today we are headed out to Annapolis to sight see and maybe hit a new brewery or two, tonight I'll be doing some more editing. Come helles or high water I'll have that video up early next week, so check back in!

Made our first trip (and definitely not our last) out to last night. We enjoyed their open mic night, some delicious Middle Eastern food from food truck, and of course some awesome beers.

Their sours are sour. Lots of fruit flavor, but if you like sours that will make you pucker, these are for you. Our favorite beer of the night was their forbin IPA. Nice and fruity, but still plenty hoppy.

We left with some funky barrel aged bottles too, including a red wine sour and white wine wit. I'll have to get a video of us trying those soon. Overall a pretty solid Wednesday night!

It was a whirlwind trip through Iowa, but we made it. We managed to visit family, friends, and quite a few good breweries. We took a trip to in Bettendorf, cool spot, nerdy vibes, big fan.

In Iowa City we stopped at the new taproom in the ped mall, so well done, and the comfiest bar stools I've ever sat on. Wrapped up at in the Iowa River Landing. They were out of their medal winner, but I can always find room for a Bubba IPA.

We went down to Creston to visit friends and do an interview with (video coming soon). Such a welcoming atmosphere, can't wait to go back!

And finally in Des Moines we made it to , a favorite of my wife, , before heading to in DSM for round two. Their Baltic porter wasn't on when we went to I.C. and was the star of the day.

It went by way too fast, but it was good to see some friendly faces and visit some of our old favorite breweries. We couldn't hit everywhere though, so time to start planning the return trip for tailgating this fall (Go Hawks!).

Finally made it back to Iowa and got to visit . In case you couldn't tell from the shirt, I'm a bit of a fan. Had to do a couple takes for the pick, I just couldn't take my eyes off thise beautiful brews.

Per the usual, they did not disappoint. Some interesting things on the menu, I had an oyster stout and a Belgian tripel with nelson sauvin hops. My favorite was the brighter days west coast.

I did leave with a 4-pack of the hopocalypse round 2, which has a black double ipa and a hazy double. Can't wait to Crack those open later!