Day One has us driving from Vancouver to the Okanagan using Highway 3, through the Similkameen. Josh has done this leg before; I had not. We paused at two fruit wineries: Rustic Roots and Forbidden Fruit. Both had solid fruit wines, with Forbidden Fruit edging out Rustic Roots for overall depth and maturity. But we…
And…Back to Travel (Remember That?)
After a few posts more drink-related than travel-related, I thought I’d fill you in on the latest travel news on our agenda. That and, I’m tired of people asking when we’re going to leave and where we’re off to next. So much for a relaxing year-long staycation in Vancouver. We, my friends, are going to…
Death of Style 2: Dying with Style
Originally posted on OCONNOBLOG:
Don’t cry over spilled beer; get angry. Last week I wrote a mini-manifesto that centered on my conflicted feelings about the current state of craft brewing. I kind of figured I’d get my usual response: some double digit hits, an occasional “nice job” from people I know off-line, but mostly the usual ambivalent silence.…
Response to “The Death of Style”
There’s a well-written blog post going around, written by one Michael O’Connor of Portland, Oregon, another in a string proclaiming the “death of beer styles“. It’s an interesting read, makes a lot of good points, gets a couple of minor things wrong that aren’t worth dwelling on (cough, Reinheitsgebot, cough), and is generally good food…
Official: Hidden Beer is Hiring!
This week, an anonymous group of billionaires started to hide $100 bills around Vancouver. Their project was quickly followed by another anonymous group of billionaires (or perhaps the same group, who knows?) hiding beer. Now, these beeranthropists are hiring globally. If you want to be part of this exciting project as a “hidden beer agent,”…
The World’s Top Beer Festivals
Beer festivals span the year and the globe. Don’t know which ones to hit up? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few of our personal favorites, followed by our bucket list of beer festivals. Weekend of Spontaneous Fermentation: If you love lambic (and if you don’t, you can leave quietly now. go ahead…), then you…
Cheap Souvenir Ideas for People with No Room in their Bags
When you’re traveling, space is limited. Unless you’re willing to ship a box to mom and dad, you might stop buying souvenirs altogether. But there’s a problem with this approach. Even the smallest and cheapest trinket can flood the mind with memories. And it doesn’t matter how small or cheap it is, a souvenir for your loved ones will be…
Sexism in Beer
Here’s an article about a family-run Franconian brewery. Exciting, right? Oh how I love Franconian beer, and I’m thrilled to see a new generation of brewery owners stretching the boundaries of traditional brewing. The region needs more breweries like these. But there are many problems with this article, and that’s what I want to talk…
Is it Possible to Outgrow Our Literary Heroes?
In the space of a week, Maya Angelou died and Tom Robbins published his memoir, signaling the end of his career. Let’s reflect on our heroes. First have a look at this video of Angelou talking about Malcolm X, Dr. King, and W.E.B. DuBois, urging us to stop believing our heroes are “larger than life.” Her premise is that…
Traveling Without Kids
Much has been said about the logistics of traveling with children. Very little–perhaps nothing–has been said about what it’s like to travel as a child-free individual or couple. I’d like to open this discussion. Having children in tow presents some constraints over things like where you choose to spend the night, the activities you plan, where…
5 “Beertastic” Off the Beaten Path Day Trips from Vancouver
Summer’s pretty much here. It’s time to play! For us, that means following fresh air and exercise with a pint of something tasty. There are few places you can combine outdoors activities with a local brewpub as easily as Vancouver. The variety of things you can do outside the city–even using public transport–is astounding. Everyone knows…
The Best Way to Overcome Writer’s Block? Stop Believing In It.
The other day, I heard a guy complaining that he had writer’s block, and I wanted to tell him, “That’s impossible! Writer’s block isn’t real.” Then I realized, it would be like breaking the news about Santa Claus to someone else’s kid. Who am I to mess with the religious convictions of strangers? So I’m going to let…
Love and Barley 