Craft Beer.
 

i was talking to co-workers. we all live smack dab in the middle of Sonoma WINE country, and we all drink beer more. one guy said Santa Rosa is the Craft Beer capital of the USA. i had to Google it. i'm shocked even knowing that there is a craft beer spot everywhere, (or a tap-house)..BUT IT IS!!

i live near the best MTN biking park in the area. Annadel Park. i ride from my house to the park, pedal around..then pedal home. sometimes, i take a 100-yard detour and hit a bike shop/tap-house. i roll my bike in, hook it on a wall right next to the workers for their watchful eyes..and order a beer for my sweaty ass.. if my bike is acting janky..get a quick adjust, maybe get new brake pads..

i dont know what linked Mountain biking and Beer so strongly together, but it just works. everyone talking about the route they chose for the day..the debate about E-bikes..the discussion about the Lululemon wearing girl joggers for the day.. it is the best of times in my neighborhood. i'm usually drinking a beer ONLY if i rode for the day. either way..its a great payoff. i ride alot, or i dont drink beer. :) i'm about to donate my wine fridge.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1504732455.jpg

I thought craft made cheese and macaroni and cheese???

Dunno on Santa Rosa. Neither Lagunitas or Russian River would fill my (unlabeled) growler. Lagunitas even claimed it was state law that I had to buy theirs.

Kinda douchey. Why, besides their profits, would I buy their bottle when I have one in my hand? (not state law BTW)

Went back to my east-bay/tri-valley-hell hotel by way of Drakes in San Leandro. Chill place - and they happily filled my jug with some tastiness. Bacon-fat tater tots were a bonus. I'm always through OAK so Drakes is my go-to.

Vermont has the most Breweries in such a small State. They are everywhere.
Looked that one up! I'm pretty sure we're NO.1 10.8 per capita. Vermont's the only double digit one.

https://www.brewersassociation.org/statistics/by-state/

Forgive me. I live out in the cornfields of Ohio and I am not up on all the latest terminology. I can I assume a Lululemon is ... never mind. It probably is.

I hate it when a brewery will not take a growler from another brewery. The industry used to have a comrade, now it's just business. When told a brewery will not fill my growler, we just leave.

Beer and mountain biking have a connection here also. But more so between x-country skiing and beer in the winter. Although, there are quite a few fat tire bikes at the local brewery in the winter also.

In my area there are tons of craft breweries. They have gotten together and formed a sort of craft brewers association which has turned into a soap opera of who is and is not a craft brewer, voting various breweries out if they are deemed "too commercial" or "too mainstream". They are eating their young, it's entertaining to watch but they are acting like a bunch of douche bags.

Anyhow...wine is dead. Craft beer is king now in the USA. I used to drink wine by the gallon...haven't had a glass in a couple years.

I try not to mix my exercise with my drinking. It just makes the drinking that much less fun. BTW, I'm my own craft brewery. I'm drinking a really good Porter that I just finished kegging.

I keep trying to find something I like better than an ice cold Bud in a frosted mug. I have tried 10-15 different brands of craft beer, and actually spit some out from thier nasty stout/hoppy taste.

Do yourself a favor and pick up one (or two) of these:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1504750665.jpg

Easy to clean, easy to fill, and easy to pour. It's also great being able to keep them in the trunk without fear of breakage and most breweries will happily fill them since it's not from another brewer.

I get that some will only fill their own, but I've found that a quick check of their website FAQ will warn you in advance..

Look into a Kolsch. If it's true to style it won't have a lot of hop flavor but is a very crisp refreshing beer. You have to be careful with some of the Blonde Ales out there. I had one that should have been labeled an IPA.

Oohh... Pretty! I see this in my future.

I get that it's a business thing to sell more merch. Who wouldn't want to sell some $1.50 bottles for $8 or more? Especially for those big name brewers, the ones that people travel long distances to visit, the crowd will probably give in and buy yet another jug.

Besides "law", I hear "quality control" thrown about too. Why not add a "Our beer's awesome at <location>. Thank you for bringing some home. We take care of our beer but can't guarantee that you do..." or something like that to the required tag/label/whatever that they put on the growler?

I've (fortunately) never seen that around here... only places that refuse to fill "stinkers". If somebody made me buy a new one, I'd probably "accidentally" drop my spare on my way out!

I wish I had read this thread before coming to Portland. Should pick up a growler or two to take back, but would have to buy an ice chest too.