2009 Boonville Brewfest
May 2, 2009
Boonville, CA
I traveled all the way up north to visit this infamous brewfest. Some of the best breweries in the country display their crafts here, so it’s a must-attend for any beer enthusiast. Boonville is a little town about 2.5 hours north of San Francisco. The brewfest is by far the biggest event of the year for Boonville; the town proved to be very hospitable.
Despite it raining ALL day during the fest, we had a great time. Throngs of people crowded under the covered areas and posted up next to their favorite breweries. We made our way around the entire fest and tested just about every beer we could find. Below is a review of some standouts (in my opinion).
Anderson Valley Brewing Company
AVBC is based out of Boonville and has quickly become one of the most respected craft beers in the country.
All I can say is WOW!! What a beer! This was by far my favorite beer of the weekend; I went back and got 4 tastes. The first taste was a little odd…a little tangy; this could be attributed to the not-so-good beers I had tasted previously. After another couple of sips I was hooked.
This beer would be best served on a warm/hot day w/ a cool meal (e.g., cold sandwich). It’s very quenching, yet pleasing to the palate. You can easily plow through 3-4 of these…they go down reaaaaal smooth. I’d recommend going to your local BevMo and finding a 6-pack of these today….NOW…what are you waiting for…GO!!
The Bruery
I really enjoyed this beer from the ‘Bruery’ w/ a funky spelling. It was light, a little hoppy, with some other flavors that I couldn’t really identify…but were a great complement to the overall structure of the beer. This too is a good beer for warmer weather. It’s light in color and would easily wash down a good meal.
The beer has a fairly high alcohol content at 6.5%, so it would only take 2-3 to catch a good buzz (which is what we’re all after, right?). Definitely recommend trying this if you come across it.
Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing
First of all…I love Ambers! Women named Amber and Amber beers. Therefore, I loved this beer. I would drink this beer with just about any guy-type meal (e.g., hamburger, pizza, ribs). I would also drink this beer if I were out at a bar w/ the fellas…I could easily put down 5-6 of these and not feel bloated.
All-in-all, this is a simple, yet classic beer. The flavor is good, it’s not too heavy, and it pairs well w/ just about any situation (i.e., meal or activity). Grab some and enjoy.
StumpTown Brewery
Any beer that uses the word ‘Bastard’ in its name is a must-try in my book. The girl serving the beer was very friendly and took time to explain the beer to me. Overall, I was impressed w/ this beer. It’s fairly hoppy, which I usually don’t like…but this one had a nice finish that doesn’t have too much aftertaste. I would definitely drink this beer in larger quantities if I could find it around here.
Sacramento Brewing Company
I tasted this beer after having about 15 other tastings. So, 1) I was a little buzzed; 2) I was full (from beer and a tri-tip sandwich); and 3) I wasn’t looking forward to any darker, heavy beer. But I tried it anyways (way to take one for the team).
This beer wasn’t nearly as heavy as I thought it would be. The color is a little deceiving; I felt the taste was much lighter than the color indicated. It was fairly hoppy, but a good hoppy. After the first taste I went back for another so that I could get a proper dose. The second taste was much better. It went down smooth and I could envision myself drinking it with a spicy dish or some type of fish. Usually hoppy beers go good w/ spicy dishes, they enhance the spiciness. Grab one of these tasty little beers and chug away.
2009 New Orleans JazzFest Beer Tasting
Some of our taste testers recently met up with some beer drinkers for the 2009 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. This is 10-day cultural feast with thousands of musicians, cooks and craftspeople showcase their talents. During this trip, it was only natural for us to test out some of the beers from Louisiana
Abita Andygator
This was a new one for us to review. The Andygator scored well amongst our reviewers. This is not to be treated lightly, because at 8% alcohol and at a 22 oz bottle, this is close to the equivalent of 3.5 regular beers (in terms of alcohol). The taste was not too heavy and there was the perfect level of carbonation in this beer. Very good pairing with the seafood our taste testers had in New Orleans while trying this beer. A definite crowd pleaser with a cool bottle as well.
Website: http://abita.com/brews/andygator.php
NOLA Brewing Brown Ale
This is the new comer and definite welcome to the beer tasting world. NOLA Brewing Company is actually the only beer we are told brewed in New Orleans. The overall rating from our taste testers was near perfect. This is a perfect compliment to any meal and kudos to the makers for being able to capture the ambience and comfort of a relaxing day in New Orleans into a cold glass. Another perfect pairing with seafood or even a po-boy sandwich. The fill was perfect and all of our testers were satisfied looking for another. One of our reviewers commented it was the best beer they had the whole weekend.
Website: http://www.nolabrewing.com
Abita Amber
This is probably the most well known Abita brand outside of New Orleans. This was a nice compliment to everything from seafood to hamburgers. Not too filling, but definitely something to order which will let people know you have tried many beers and have found a comfort in its smooth taste and flavor. We were also told that the Abita Amber is also the perfect addition to any cooking recipe and is frequently used in preparation.
Website: http://www.abita.com/brews/amber.php
Abita Purple Haze
Our tasters were familiar with this beer from prior experiences and on the nice hot day in New Orleans, the perfect ending and feel to this beer were well received. The company’s website states it is best served with salads or light fruit desserts, but we found the raspberry wheat brew to be good with or without food.
Website: http://www.abita.com/brews/purple-haze.php
Our taste testers are looking forward to including all of the above in our upcoming taste testings and welcome responses and opinions on the above from all readers. We have not included the prices from the above as we normally do on a review, as no doubt the average price we paid is different from the actual retail value you will find and given it was a special event / weekend in New Orleans, and additionally as the beers were not all purchased from the same location. Overall, we were very happy with our beer tasting experience and recommend each one of the above beers (as we also recommend Jazz Fest) for years to come. If you find yourself sitting in a lounge chair on a sunny day, watching live music, then you are in definite need of one (or more) of the above beers.
10 Best St. Patrick’s Day Festivals in the U.S.
St. Patrick’s Day started out as a religious holiday commemorating the patron saint of Ireland. Today “St. Paddy’s” in America has become a celebration of Irish food, culture, and drink, as well as anything having to do with the color green. Typically observed with loud music, dancing, parades and green beer, St. Patrick’s Day festivities happen everywhere in the country, and they are perfect opportunities for beer enthusiasts everywhere to come together and have their fill.
No matter where in America you live, chances are there’s going to be a festival in a city near you come March 17. Below is a list of what we think are the top 10 St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S.
1. Downtown Chicago
Downtown Chicago hosts one the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. It begins with the world-famous dyeing of the Chicago River. The huge, vibrant green river flowing through the middle of the city is a must-see sight.
After the dying of the river, people cluster up along Columbus Drive to witness the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, replete with pipe bands, giant floats, Irish dancers and tons of other entertainers commemorating Irish culture. Then it’s on to the nightlife, as the party continues in the many Downtown Chicago bars and nightclubs.
2. Boston
St. Patrick’s Day first came to America in 1737, and the holiday was first celebrated in none other than Boston, Massachusetts. Over 850,000 people show up every year to this Irish bash, many of them from out of state. And with the population of the city being 16% Irish, Boston hosts one of the most enthusiastic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country.
Boston starts partying a full week before St. Patrick’s Day. This year, the city will host the fourth annual Gaelic Gourmet Gala, featuring top chefs from Ireland and Boston. Throughout the week there will be Irish band concerts as well as beer and food specials at bars and restaurants, like the 75 Chestnut, for those who dress their Irish best. On the 15th, South Boston hosts one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, with an estimated 600,000 people showing up.
3. Washington D.C.
There are many, many celebratory events and activities throughout the Nation’s capitol come St. Paddy’s Day. The most famous of these is probably the Shamrock Festival at the RFK Stadium. It happens on March 14 and it’s an all-day event showcasing over 50 Irish bands, dancers, games and other activities.
There’s a huge parade the following day, featuring bagpipe players, and Irish folk dancers, as well as the required floats and marching bands.
4. New York City
New York City has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a parade since 1762. They expect well over 1 million people to show up. There are over 150,000 marchers alone. Green beer and the sound of bagpipes will be everywhere in the streets of NYC.
If you get there a few days earlier, take the time to make the pilgrimage to the beautiful St. Patrick’s Cathedral as well as the many Irish Pubs and Bars scattered throughout the city.
5. St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is by far the best mid-western city for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. To start, Michelob sponsors a 5 mile run on the 14th. There is then a huge St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown St. Louis, featuring character balloons, Irish dancers, equestrians and large floats.
At night, the celebration crescendos as people head off the many bars and pubs in the area offering festive drinks, plenty of green beer and Irish food.
6. Savannah, Georgia
Savannah has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with parade since 1825. What started out as a modest affair has turned into one of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the country. Savannah’s parade draws crowds of over 400,000 people.
Dying the city’s fountains green is one of the traditions unique to the city. Seeing the green fountains, as spring starts creeping up on the Georgia city is one of the most enjoyable sights you can witness.
7. San Francisco, California
In the western United States, you won’t find a St. Patrick’s Day celebration that’s bigger or richer in history than the one that takes place in San Francisco. Called one of the most fashionable parades in the country, San Francisco’s St. Patrick’s Day parade follows the city’s iconic trolley tracks.
Afterwards the nightlife gets livelier throughout the city’s many Irish bars and pubs, as the celebration draws thousands of people from all over the state.
8. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia has been celebrating the famous Irish holiday since 1771. The city’s annual parade is the second oldest parade in the country, and it is organized by the Saint Patrick’s Observance Association. The parade draws about 500,000 people and this year, it will be held on March 15th. There will be thousands of marchers and CBS will be broadcasting the event live.
9. Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City first held a St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1873. Today the event draws a crowd of about 200,000 spectators. One of the things unique to this particular parade is that the grand prize winner of the procession gets an all-expense paid trip to Ireland, so participants really give it their all.
After the parade, head over to Westport, where you’ll find some of the best post-parade drinking and partying establishments in town.
10. Dublin, Ohio
There are nine cities in the United States named Dublin, but Dublin, Ohio is the one that lives up to its name the most, especially when St. Patrick’s Day comes around. The city hosts a miles-long parade featuring floats, bands and leprechauns. There are plenty of post-parade bashes to attend.
If you are in the mood to explore some of the city’s Irish heritage, you can head over to the Historic District, and enjoy some Irish food and Celtic music.
