Yellow Bellies + Karaoke = Good Times

Every now and then you need a good excuse to kick it old school . A night to drink cheap beer; sing karaoke; and eat some kind of dirty pizza/taco/burger combination while watching the sunrise. That my friends, no matter how you slice it, is still a good time. Sure, the hangovers are ten times worse than when you were 22, but every so often, it’s worth it. An old friend in town is the perfect excuse.

A couple of weeks ago my good friend, who I like to call Dogwater was in LA. Dogwater is the type of guy that is always down for a good time. Period. We became friends during a transition phase in life. We were fresh out of college and slowly starting to enter the rat race (kicking and screaming, of course). Back in the days when being to work at 8 didn't stop us from staying out until 3AM. Let's face it, some entry level jobs don't require much more than a pulse, so we managed. 

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It's rare that Bryan and I get to see Dogwater and it is even MORE rare that we stay up past midnight these days. This night was an exception. A romping, roaring, singing, smokin' good time. A true regression to the days that have long passed. 

We started the night at City Tavern in Culver City. A cool tavern/restaurant where if you are lucky enough to swag one of the booths, you can pour your own beer--straight from the tap! The easiest drink refills ever! There are three choices of craft beers right at your table; Telegraph White Ale, Stone IPA and Downtown Brown. However, like most places in LA on a Friday night; it was packed wall to wall. After stuffing ourselves in a corner and enjoying a couple beers, it was time to move on to the next place; Backstage.

My first time to this fine establishment, I had no idea what to expect. We drove up to find a line of people waiting outside the door. Ugh, seriously?! Again, typical LA. Luckily the line moved fast and soon we were in the party zone. A true hole in the wall; Backstage is what you'd expect from any good timin' karaoke joint. Small, dark, crowded and plenty of off-key singing. The kind of place where it's best to stick with a simple drink. And what I ask you, is more simple than a good ole' Coors? No, not Coors Light. Straight up out of your Daddy's garage fridge--Coors Original. Or as Dogwater affectionately calls them "Yellow Bellies." At $3 a pop, they can't be beat. A couple of rounds of "Yellow Bellies," a male rendition of "Rehab," from Dogwater, and Bryan's tried and true karaoke go-to "Say it Ain't So," and the night was in full effect.

So the next time you are in LA and need to let off some steam, gather you buddies, warm-up your pipes, have a throwback to yesteryear and make it a "Yellow Belly" night at Backstage.

To good times!

--Jessica

Steaming in Vancouver, Canada!

How does Fantasy Football, an afternoon in Vancouver, a brewery called the SteamWorks Brewery, my wife Jessica, a very handsome Dermot Mulroney look alike bartender, and a meaningless game between the Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders turn out to be the best 3 hours of my life: Ill try to explain!

Most guys might be upset if their wife was sitting right next to them at a bar enjoying their tasters while drooling over a bartender that looked just like Dermot Mulroney. Well for the record I truly enjoyed it! First off, let me just say that the look alike winner was actually an extremely nice guy and someone I would be friends with. He actually did me a favor hitting on my wife because it allowed me to casually interact while really keeping my focus on Darren McFadden, who was on my fantasy team and torching the Denver Broncos defense! On an unrelated side note my Killer B’s did go on to win their 2^nd Fantasy Football Championship….I’m just saying!

My wife and I escaped Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada not really knowing what to expect. We had read the travel books and done some research but you never really know what its going to be like until you get there. What an absolutely charming place that we discovered, and if you have read previous blogs it’s a place I would actually move to. The people are extremely friendly; I had forgotten what it was like to say hi to someone passing by on the street while living in Los Angeles.  The air is clean and so is the ground, Vancouver offers such a unique vacation experience around every corner. You can go from night life, to trendy, to the great outdoors all with in about 15 minutes walk from each other. From Gastown, to China Town I absolutely love this city and I also found the beer is pretty damn good too. Make sure you go to the Granville Island Brewery which I will touch on in more detail at another time. This is all about the Steam Works Brewery!

Forget the fact my wife was in love with the Bartender, he was so kind and friendly he helped us to have an amazing afternoon. He started off by setting us up with a tasters mat, and then proceeded to put 8 tasters down for us to enjoy. The best part about tasters is if your wife doesn’t like one you get to have it for yourself! The Steam Works Brewery will offer you a very unique beer called the Espresso Stout made will real coffee. That beer is a must try, it's like nothing I have ever tasted before. You will also get to enjoy the Lions Gate Lager, Coal Porter, Signature Pale Ale, Empress India Pale Ale, Herocia Oatmeal Stout, Ipanema Summer White, and the Pumpkin Ale. All beers are hand crafted and brewed right there on the site. Next time you are in Vancouver and you’ve got a fantasy football player that you need to check on stop by the SteamWorks Brewery they will treat you right!

Cheers!

--Bryan

Steamworks Brewery, Vancouver

In Gastown, on our way to enjoy a beer!

What's the Best Beer/Late Night Snack Combo in Edinburgh, Scotland?

Negra Modelo and nachos of course! What did you think I was going to say fish n' chips?


It was the perfect finish to the most perfect first day of vacation I have ever experienced. Sometimes the first day of a trip can kind of hard; a transition day, especially if you are flying overseas. Your time clock is all screwed up, your tired, cranky, bloated from what was supposed to be food, and the smell of fourteen hours worth of recycled airplane air lingers in your nostrils. This trip was the true exception. It was as if all the travel stars were aligned just right. The plane ride was smooth, we actually fell asleep for more than an hour. On the ground, the Edinburgh public transportation was easy to understand and we found our apartment without a hitch! The place we rented was right off the Royal Mile and just walking distance to tons of sights, bars and restaurants. I recommend renting an apartment over a hotel room especially if you are staying for a week or more (this is a great site Cottages4You), it can actually be significantly cheaper. Plus, I think you get a better feel for a city. But I digress...


On this particular trip our good buddy and travel partner (who we call Shades) was with us. Once settled in to our temporary home, we three amigos set out in search of a good Scotch and some grub. Anyone who is close to me knows I like to stick to a plan. I am one of those annoying people that plans and prints itineraries for trips, making copies for everyone. According to my itinerary we could squeeze in an hour lunch, then be on our merry sightseeing way. What we ended up doing was completely opposite and totally awesome.


The Royal Mile is packed with stimulation: from gift shops to interesting taverns like Deacon Brodies and tours like that of Queen Mary's Close (very cool, by the way), and of course, Edinburgh Castle. There is no shortage of things to choose from. In our panicked search to get something in our gullets (we were starving) we stopped at the first place we saw called The Albanach. A traditional bar with a traditional scottish menu and plenty of whiskeys to choose from (at least 100). Perfect.


Wanting to take in the city, the people and the sights, we took a seat on the patio despite the cool temperatures (it was mid-October). To our surprise we were not the only patrons with that idea. At the table next to us was a rowdy group of people from England, all wearing Scottish Jimmy hats (which are these, if you don't know). By the several empty bottles of Chilean white wine littering their table, it was clear they were having a jolly good time. But, really, Chilean white wine in Edinburgh? We secretly scoffed at their drink choice and chuckled under our breath. After a couple of Belhavens and a sampling of Scotch, we soon became fast friends with our Scottish Jimmy hat wearing neighbors. And my itinerary, well that was long forgotten. We even ended up sharing a bottle of yes, Chilean white wine. Three years later, we are all still friends.


After a long night of fun with our new pals, we were in need of some serious fourth meal. Which brings me to the best late night nachos I have ever had (despite the fact the salsa may have very well been marinara). The restaurant, Pancho Villas! Naturally, the only only beer to have in Edinburgh at a Mexican restaurant...Negra Modelo. The moral of the story, sometimes you have to just let the fun come to you. Had we sticked to the plan we would have never had the good times we did...or the nachos.


Slainte Mhath! 
--Jessica

Our new friends.

          

       

 Pancho Villas, Edinburgh

Non Beer Related/Non Nacho Related

So completely random, but worth sharing. One of the telephone booths right outside the bar had the sticker below. What??? Never thought he would be the type to walk around with a label maker.

The 7th Floor

Ever been to one of those exclusive LA clubs where there is no sign and you walk in and everyone is cooler then you are? That is exactly how I felt when the silver doors of the elevator opened up and I walked into the 7^th floor at the Guinness Factory, a place so cool it doesn’t even have a name, they just call it the 7^th Floor.  Okay so they call it the Gravity Bar, but doesn’t that sound so much cooler!

I went to the Guinness Factory not really knowing what to expect, but I walked out with a sense of history and a great appreciation for what was quickly becoming my favorite drink, Guinness. On the way inside the place it just seems like an old brick building but as soon as those entry doors part way, you are immediately swept into the Guinness experience. You go up to the counter and buy a ticket like you are about to go on the most fantastic rollercoaster you can think of. First you proceed through a maze of history about where the dark rich Guinness came from and how it was made. The part I think I remember most were the old bottles displayed, and it was at that time you truly get a sense of the history in your glass. I also remember the instructional video of how they use to make barrels to transport the Guinness. Around every corner you are slammed with amazing stories that truly bring a pint of Guinness to life.

Once you have completed your history lesson you then have a choice, and I recommend you follow my instruction on this one. You have the option of going up to the 7^th floor or taking a pit stop at the 4^th floor restaurant.  There you can enjoy a pint or two of Guinness while dining on the most amazing Guinness Stew you could ever imagine. It was a man paradise of flavor with whole roasted chunks of lams, carrots, and potato in a rich brown Guinness broth. It also comes with Brown Bread, which is basically soda bread, but I have never before or after that experience, tasted bread that complimented a meal so well. Once you have completed your meal stop and learn about how Guinness is processed from start to finish before heading to the Gravity bar on the 7^th floor.

With my belly full of absolute goodness I walked into the elevator and hit the button marked 7^th floor. I truly had no idea what to expect when the doors eventually opened but what I saw was worth every cent of the admission price, which coincidently gets you a free beer when you arrive at the 7^th floor. The steal doors open and you are immediately punched in the face with the most breath taking view you will ever see. The Gravity Bar is a complete panoramic view of Dublin, Ireland and all its glory! So imagine grabbing a seat that gazes upon the entire city while sipping on your free Guinness that is poured every so delicately. A true Guinness must rest 2 minutes before being topped off and served. My buddy and I managed to finagle one extra beer apiece and we didn’t speak a word as we just sat and watched as the word went by beneath our feet. Finally it was time to go and discover more of Ireland, we had reservations at the Jameson Factory! On the way down just before the elevator shut I took one last look, that image is just for me!

Sláinte!

--Bryan

Entrance to the Guinness Factory

About to step off the elevator to the Gravity Bar.

View from the Gravity Bar.

Old Guinness Bottles on the tour.

A Delicious Organic Brew in Amsterdam

Year before last Bryan and I were lucky enough to go to Paris, Belgium and Amsterdam for our honeymoon. It was actually our second time to visit Amsterdam. Our first trip to was two years prior to that. A whirlwind 18-hour, in and out, quick and dirty good time. In a nutshell we basically had enough time to get lost on the streets of the Red Light District then hop back on a train--but that's another story. Needless to say we felt that there was definitely more to see and we had to go back.


Amsterdam is one of the most unique, breathtaking, unusual, historic, fast-paced and fun-filled cities I have ever been to. While it definitely offers something to tickle every sin bone in your body, there is really so much more to discover. Museums, interesting shops, nice people, beautiful parks, beers and my personal favorite, fries in a cone. There is nothing like enjoying a cone filled with golden fried potato goodness smothered in mayonnaise and curry ketchup. Grab a jumbo cone (b/c trust me you will want to eat it all), pop a squat and watch the hundreds upon hundreds of bicycles whiz by--there is nothing like it. Believe me when I tell you part of the reason I wanted to go back was for those fries alone. But, back to the subject at hand...beer!


Since Bryan and I had pretty much tackled the Red Light District on our first trip, we were all about exploring the outskirts of town. The week before our trip I visited the local branch of our Los Angeles public library and rented a couple of different travel DVDs about Amsterdam. On a side note; the library is really a great source for travel videos! Although, some tend to be a little outdated, so you should check the locations online before you venture out. 


Anyway, one of the places featured was this great little brewery just east outside the city center of Amsterdam called Brouwerij 't IJ. It's a short enjoyable walk that takes you out of the hustle and bustle and through a more residential area. Ten different types of organic beers are brewed right there on the premises. Some of the brews are only available during certain times of the year. Either way, if you are a beer lover, you are guaranteed to find something you like on tap. My personal favorite was the Plzen (Pilsner), hoppy, cold and crisp!


The indoor seating of the brewery offers lively sounds of good conversation and simple but funky decor. Beer bottles from around the world fill every square inch of shelving along the walls. Sit outside, and you'll get an up-close and personal view of the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands, De Gooyer. It's great you get to kill two birds with one stone; drink good beer and check one of the must see landmarks off your list!


You can even take a guided tour of the brewery to learn all about your favorite new brewski. Which we didn't have a chance to do, although judging by the staff, I think it would have been fun. The tasting room is open daily from 3pm to 8pm. It's the perfect place to end a day of sightseeing or kick start the night! 


Gezondheid!
--Jessica 

Brouwerij 't IJ

Good times inside...

De Gooyer--right outside the brewery.

Bar rules. No idea what they say, hopefully we followed. 

And just because they are so damn good; fries in a cone. 

A Flight of Beers before our Flight

From Haight Ashbury to the Chinese Gardens we wandered the streets of San Francisco in search of hippies. Instead I found out what all the fuss was about; that you could truly leave your heart in San Francisco. In my long list of cities that I have been fortunate enough to see, San Francisco resided on a very short list of places I actually do want to move to. You know that conversation you have after every vacation, where you say "I want to move there!" Well I have said that about every place I have ever been but Vancouver, Amsterdam and San Francisco are the only places where I truly meant it. For three days we got to discover a magical city with so many twists and turns, every district is like something brand new to discover.                                                                                                                                  

We saw everything from Haight Ashbury to Alcatraz. We took a ride on the trolley and saw one of the most beautiful parks I have ever seen. We also discovered a new friend, who I will affectionately refer to as the Stimmer Man. An awesome guy!

My wife and I set out on an adventure to San Francisco to celebrate her 30^th birthday. While we were there we went to an eight table authentic German Restaurant with amazing food called Walzwerk (a must visit place). Everyone in the intimate restaurant sang Happy Birthday to my wife, I will never forget that moment. We were so lucky that we got to celebrate it with such good friends and enjoy beautiful scenery for three straight days. I am having so much fun remembering the trip that I almost forgot to talk about the best part-- when the Stimmer man ran straight into a tree (Ill leave the details for just he and I). But really, that was one of the best parts.  

In our last remaining hours on that cold and rainy Sunday afternoon before our flight we pushed through the doors of the Rogue Ales Public House and enjoyed several flights of beers. A flight of beers is the ability to taste several different beers and then you get to choose the one you like. Or if you are like me, its like a playground of beers and you never have to choose just one! Rogue Beers Dead Guy Ale is one of my favorite all time beers, such a rich flavor packed Ale. Imagine a cold rainy day, with grey skies, and a beautiful woman and that is the beer that comes to mind. My flight consisted of the Amber Ale, Dead Guy Ale, the John John, Marifest, and you have to try Dad’s Little Helper. The public house will offer an amazing atmosphere with even better beers! Do yourself a favor and stop there next time you are in San Francisco.

This is Truly an amazing place to visit, one of the true gems in America. Enjoy it with friends like Wifey, Shades, Biscuits, and The Stimmer Man. Don’t forget scarves and umbrellas. Oh and don’t forget your goggles, if you need a place to score some just ask Shades!

Prost!
--Byran

Beer Doesn't Always Taste Like Pee?

Before I met Bryan, my experiences with beer were very limited. In college it was basically the cheapest thing we could find: Natural Light to Red Dog, to PBR to the occasional "40 night." Colt 45 being the usual go to. What can I say, we were party girls. The cheapest and quickest way to a buzz was just fine by us; taste didn't really matter. When it did, we stepped it up a notch with $1 cherry vodka sours (thank you Nine Flags Nacogdoches). Don't get me wrong there is nothing wrong with those particular beers. Growing up in a working class household, I watched my father and his friends kick back a six pack after a long hard days work. I know those brews can quench one's thirst. However, little did I know there was an entire world of beers beyond the grocery store favorites.  Beers with unique tastes and stories all their own. Beers that were supposed to be paired with certain foods. Breweries you could tour and learn about the process of making beer. Even fruit flavored beers! Suddenly drinking beer had whole new meaning. You mean to tell me I can drink a beer to simply enjoy the taste? This was a new way of thinking for me. Just hitting the peak of my "late twenties,"I was starting to discover a world outside of partying...starting. But to think that beer had any other purpose than to give a buzz or be chugged out of a bong was well, crazy talk! We all know when have reached that point of getting out of the party scene. It can be a hard transition. You know, when you start going to happy hour, literally just for one hour. Anyway, that's where I was at.


The night my husband and I had our very first face-to-face date (yes, we connected online, yes, it was on MySpace) we met at what would become one of our favorite Irish bars in Dallas, Trinity Hall. A couple of months prior to meeting him, my very best girl friends and I went to our college homecoming. There, reuniting with some of our old chums, one of my buddies was drinking a Maredsous 8. It was a dark and served in a goblet similar to a wine glass. Thinking it was red wine, I asked him to order me one. To my surprise it was beer, it was good...and it was strong. So back to the first date with the future hubs, I of course ordered one. Guys love it when a girl can drink a good beer, right? That's what I was thinking anyway. We met online, talked online, and had only seen what we hoped the other looked like, online. I was going to need something strong to get through this.


He ordered a Guinness, I, a Maredsous 8. The waitress brought over the drinks. Bryan stared at mine with intrigue. Yes! He was impressed with my order. Plan was working like a charm. He asked what it was, took a sip and was in. If we never met again, he would have at least discovered a new favorite beer. And I, well, had it not worked out, would have known never to meet up with someone off MySpace ever again. Keep in mind, this was back when MySpace was cool.


After a little awkward silence, a lot of sipping and nervous staring, the conversation started rolling like we had known each other for years. That night I met by best friend, my life partner the current father to our furry child (our dog, Texas) and of course the love of my life. We've been together literally almost every day since.


In our time together we have been fortunate enough to travel the U.S. and the world together. Along the way meeting great people, seeing beautiful sights and of course discovering new beers!


As the adventures continue, we hope some of our memories and stories will broaden your beer horizons and inspire you to try a new brew (to enjoy responsibly, of course).


Bottoms Up!


--Jessica

ALL IT TOOK WAS A PINT

For years and years I struggled with one thing being a man....no not the size of my penis the fact that I hated beer. I kept trying to like the taste and every Friday night I would inevitably fail! I tried Coors light, bud light, miller light all the usual suspects and eventually I turned to whiskey as my drink of choice. That is until the day the world turned for me and I discovered what had been missing from my beer. The one key ingredient that was missing was flavor and on a cold day in Ireland I found the answer. I went to Ireland in search of great whiskey and came away in love with its darker treasure Guinness. I will never forget the first time I walked into the Temple Bar area of Dublin and ordered my first Guinness. I was sure I wouldn't like it as I was on a hunt for whiskey. As the full body flavor poured over my lips, it was like kissing a girl for the first time. I knew I liked it and I wanted more. The beer age for me had begun, and the moment I got up from that bar stool I knew my life had changed. For the past 6 years I have been on a search to discover the world of beer and these are just of few of the stories...

A NEW DRINKING BUDDY

It was a cold December night and my buddy Preston and I were talking about World War 2 and the conversation quickly turned from history to beer. After that conversation there was only one logical place to go, and that was Germany. There was just one problem! I had just met a girl named Jessica. We had only been dating a few weeks but secretly I knew it was the girl I would marry, mostly because she wasn't afraid to try new things. I knew she would make the perfect companion on my quest to taste the beers of the world.  She has tasted many beers and traveled the world with me, and together we want to share those experiences with the world, or the three people who will actually read this thing. We call it..."A Six Pack of Stories"

Cheers!

-Bryan