Why a beer blog?
It's pretty simple: I like beer.

I didn’t always like beer. In fact, I never even started drinking beer until I tasted one that I actually enjoyed at a local microbrewery (BIG shout-out to Bristol Brewery in Colorado Springs, CO)... And the rest was history.

I have always enjoyed being in brew pubs, whether in the US, England, Ireland, Germany, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, or Canada. I am also very interested in the brewing process, being somewhat of a home-brewer myself.

In this blog I want to capture the essence of the American microbrewery, an industry that is growing exponentially due to its focus on quality and creativity.

I believe that good food and drink bring people together in a way like no other... Good beer breeds good culture.

I want to experience the culture of local pubs across the country and document the fantastic beers being produced by people who love what they do. In this blog, I intend to not only focus on the beer itself, but also on the places I drink it, and people I drink it with.

Let’s see how this goes.

Ska Brewing Company - Durango, CO (May 31-June 1, 2011)


“I can’t believe there’s a place in this world that has thought of a way to combine 2 things as great as ska music and good beer.”  This is a direct quote from a fellow drinker (who turned out to be an intern) at the bar of Ska Brewing Company in Durango, CO.  I have to admit that I had to hold back my laughter because, to be honest, from the moment I loaded up the Ska Brewing website, I was a little turned off.  I hate ska music (or at least I have since about 1997).  And, even if I liked it, I probably would have found this site to be a little cheesy.  So, because of the connection that has been deliberately contrived between ska music and this brewery, despite having lived in Colorado for 6 years, I had actually never tried their beer.* 
Upon entering the brewery (and trying their product) I was, however, pleasantly surprised.  It was a simple place with an industrial feel.  It's not the warmest, most welcoming place – a lot of stainless steel and concrete with limited seating and a small home-brewing supply section.  But the staff was really friendly and easy to talk to so I spent a lot of time there, feeling very welcome to do so.  They also directed me to a  taco shop (Zia Taqueria) where I was pleased to easily find a tasty vegetarian option for dinner that was kindly delivered to me right at the bar.  June 1st was also my birthday and for that, they gave me a free beer – A good way to win me over.

Mexican Logger –
A light and refreshing lager with a hint of lime.  Good citrus flavor with a subtle but solid malt backbone.  Basically what a Corona should taste like.

Amber Hefeweisen –
A collaboration beer (with Steamworks Brewery, Durango, CO).  Being a German style wheat beer, you get the nice aromatic esters that give it hints of spice and fruit (coming from the yeast)- BUT this was also an amber, so the malt added a little more of a rich flavor and body than you usually expect in a hefeweisen.  It worked well.

Buster Nut Brown Ale (Cask aged) –
Perhaps get a sample, but don’t buy a full pint.  It was rather flat (as if it reached its peak a while ago) and somewhat watery with less flavor than should be expected from a beer of this style.  Not recommended by me. 

Big Shikes Orange Blossom Imperial Pilsner –
I’m a big fan.  When a pilsner is good, I like it.  A good pilsner is really refreshing with good flavor and a crisp finish.  This is one of the best I have had.  It was a high gravity imperial so there was a bit of sweetness, but there’s a also hint of orange blossom on the nose that lightens it all a bit and makes it very drinkable for being a beer of such high gravity.  I had a second glass after a pint of their high IBU Modus Hoperandi IPA, and it still stood up very well.

Modus Hoperandi IPA –

I’ve had a lot of IPAs.  By a lot, I mean a lot.  There are a lot of them out there, and a lot of them are over-rated - But this is a good one. It has a great piney aroma with really good citrus/grapefruit flavors from the hops that balance out the bitter finish very nicely.  This is a great example of what an American Style IPA should be. 

*After I wrote this I remembered I had tried a Ska brew before...  I had their True Blonde Ale at a restaurant once.  It was good.