I went to Seattle once, and I will admit it was a very quick stop over - but I did not do my research and I felt disappointed. I knew there were probably loads of amazing consumables and activities - yet somehow they eluded me.

This time I have dedicated a lot of time to research. Thanks to the insights of the lovely @seattlebeergirl, @SeattleTap, @DaveNguyen206 (this guy also has a tumblr- Foodhipster206), some tips from my dad, and a @NYTimes travel article - I have a hell of a to do list.

The to-dos range from free outdoor activities, coffee shops, brunch spots, upscale dinners, fancy cocktail spots, craft beer bars and bottle shops. I will not even get to 1/10th of the things on this map - which is why I am sharing it with you. If you have 12hrs or 12 days in Seattle, this map is for you!

I’m super excited I get to go back and check out these places - thanks to all who contributed to this project. Check back for photos and updates later this week.

Global Ale-ment

Generally, when we seek out craft beer destinations our internal compasses are likely to point us towards the USA, Germany, or Belgium. Additionally, a tour of the Guinness brewery has become a right of passage for many. The renaissance of cask ales across England has revived it’s credibility among thirsty travelers as well. Beyond these usual suspects, prospects are dim for those of us who don’t love Budweiser/Carlsberg/Heineken/Stella/FizzyYellowWater.

Or not. Slowly, the craft beer tide is rising and sweeping over some of the most unexpected places on the map. Travelers in Krakow might be shocked to find many bars have traded in their Zyweic accounts for kegs of IPA made by the local brewery Artzen.  And on the other side of the border, Lithuania (pictured above) earned itself a slot on the New York Times list of travel destinations for 2013. The reason: it’s overlooked historic beer trail.  

Other terroir’s that have earned their reputations in the wine world are suddenly finding that many tourists are now arriving in search of grains instead of grapes. Perhaps this trend was predictable, given California’s contemporary history of wine trails weaving around kegs West Coast IPA and California Common.

Following suit, South Africa’s iconic wine country is now also home to a vast stretch of craft breweries, with many more planning to open their doors soon. Several are perched right in the center of wine country, although if you want to try them all you will have to travel to some very remote parts of the country. If you don’t have time, trade in your Oktoberfest plans for the Capetown Festival of Beer, where you can try everything the region has to offer in one fell swoop. 

What is your dream beer destination’?

Excited? Well, then this petition is for you. Spread the word!

I’ve been distracted from this blog lately, so here are some links I’ve been collecting but neglecting to post.

New Belgium’s Kim Jordan one of few CEO’s at the DNC.

The Economist analyzes beer glasses and drinking behavior.

South Africa becomes the latest hot spot the the global craft beer movement.

Enjoy!

The New Beer Scene in Old London

And it sounds damn tasty. Even better, the article includes the must see pubs in the city. This might be a good enough reason for me to swear myself as a loyal subject of the queen. Maybe. Via the NYTimes.

Pay the Bertrands a visit and head to BroadHead Brewery, a fine operation out of Canada’s capital.

A more serious night cap.

Limelight given to NY and MA (oh, and a couple other states I haven’t lived in).  Also, is Penn. considered the Northeast….?

我在這裡。後來見你。吸盤。

I Know It’s Craft Beer Week and All

But EVERY week is craft beer week in BLager land. So I’m having a hard time, you know, participating? Or posting….but mostly I’m having a hard time concentrating because I’M SO EXCITED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

Perhaps I will leave you, readers, with some mystery as to where my adventure will take me. Well, here’s a hint: it’s going to require a 7 hour layover in Narita Tokyo Airport. Here’s my adapted to do list, sent to me via a seasoned professional:

11 Step Survival Guide Tokyo Narita Airport

1) Find the gate that you are leaving from.
2) Find newstand and buy 3 beers.
3) Down three cans of beer.
4) You have to pee now and feel like shit from the flight. Go rent a shower room for a half hour or so. Come out tipsy and refreshed.
5) Go order some killer Japanese food for lunch.
6) After lunch head to the restaurant with all of the wood paneling and order a mega beer. See how many you can drink before you have to leave the restaurant to use the public toilet.
7) Mess around in the public toilet for a while. Press buttons and be amazed at the new hand dryers.
8) Time to log onto the free internet. Rent a computer. Its free for as long as you want and they even give you a laptop. International beer blogging just got easier.
9) Its getting close to time to get on the flight now. Mega beers are out time to switch back to cans and public toilets.
10) With about 1 hour before you have to get on the flight use all your leftover Yen on the massage chairs.
11) Don’t forget to watch some sumo in between steps 1-10.

Beerflation will ruin us.

Blame it on Greece.

huffingtonpost:

Beer prices have already been set at an average of nine euros per liter, an increase from last year.

Oktoberfest Inflation Set To Rise More Than 3%

thecountryfucker:

 

Along the banks of the cascading American River on Highway 50, this historic lodge was once a stop for the Pony Express … In the Old West, hardened men and women claimed America’s frontier — rugged individualists surviving as best they could, wearing civility as a thin veil covered with dirt, grief, and disappointment, though never short of hope.

Now a watering hole to climbers. The more things change the more they stay the same. 

$5 Showers

$8 Burgers

$5 Beers

Climbing stories free. 

NOTES FROM THE FIELD
“I’m too lazy to turn this picture, but here is my beer in a jar. it was a Lagunitas IPA and quite refreshing and delicious. it might have even seemed more delicious than it was because of the jar. and yes, i was reading about “what’s on tap at the meadhall” which sounds like some new place in Boston that provides many delicious options. it sounds like a place i need to go and you need to visit me and we’ll go when i live there. okay?  BEER BLOG OR JAR BLOG OMG WHICH ONE?!!!!”
-Mme. Leelee

Notes from the Field:

“Here’s one from Brutopia on Rue Crescent in Montreal. The Scottish Ale on the left was kind of meh (so of course, I ordered that). The blond creme ale on the right was really fantastic. I never tasted anything like it before. Again, Sean’s Blackberry did not make the best pic. I’m working on it.

I stayed out of the beer-bars after that to avoid the French-Canadian holiday of Saint Patrick’s day, which lasted four days (Bonne Fete a St. Patrick!). I didn’t want to get barfed on.”

-StevieT