Beer Touring in Belgium with Ninkasi Brewing

By Monday, June 2, 2014 Permalink

Ninkasi Brewing invites friends and fans of the brewery to join them this September for a trip over the pond: a 7-day beer tour in Belgium. Jamie Floyd, the founder and top brewer at Ninkasi Brewing, serves as your host for Over the Pond: Belgium Bound with Ninkasi Brewing.

Working with Zephyr Adventures, Ninkasi created a first class beer itinerary, not to mention a delicious look at Belgium’s culture and history. Yes, you will taste a lot of beer and learn a lot about Belgium’s beer culture, but this tour also offers you a taste of the country’s delicious food, another important part of the “Burgundian lifestyle.”

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Trip Report: Whales, Trails and Ales, an Un-Cruise Adventure

By Saturday, May 24, 2014 Permalink

We recently enjoyed a seven-day, beer-themed cruise aboard the Wilderness Adventurer. With only 40-something passengers aboard the small cruise ship, Seattle-based Un-cruise Adventures proved itself a different kind of cruise company, offering various levels of adventure and various types of fun to appeal to a wide range of cruisers. Our cruise included beer as part of the program. Kim and I happily served as hosts for the beer-fueled events along the way.

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Explore the Eugene Beer Trail

By Saturday, May 24, 2014 Permalink

Eugene_ale_trailTravel Lane County announces the upcoming launch of the Eugene Ale Trail. Starting on June 2, 2014, the program invites beer lovers to explore 19 craft beer destinations in and around Eugene, Oregon. Using Eugene Ale Trail passports, beer trekkers earn stamps for each stop along the way to collect prizes as a reward for their travels.

The official launch party takes place at 16 Tons Taphouse in downtown Eugene on June 2nd from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. At the event, Travel Lane County will unveil the official Ale Trail Map. Eugene’s breweries will pour beer at the event to provide a preview of what beer trekkers can expect to find along the Ale Trail.

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A 3-Day Beer & Kayak Adventure in the San Juan Islands

By Friday, May 23, 2014 Permalink

You’re invited to join Icicle Brewing Company and Outdoor Odysseys for a three-day adventure in the San Juan Islands. The beer-themed kayak trip is just about one month away: June 27 – 29.

Walk on the ferry in Anacortes and step off in Friday Harbor. Actually, get to Friday Harbor however you like and Outdoor Odysseys will take care of the rest. This is an all-inclusive adventure. You’ll spend two nights camping on Jones Island and three days paddling around the islands. Gourmet meals and delicious beers are included.

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Beer Touring in Astoria, OR and Beyond

By Wednesday, May 21, 2014 Permalink

Most beer travelers around the Northwest fail to think of Astoria, Oregon as a worthwhile destination when planning their beer adventures. People imagine Fort George Brewing to be alone in the wilderness, but that is no longer the case. In fact, Astoria’s best-recognized brewery is not the city’s original brewery (Astoria Brewing holds that title) and Fort George has never been alone. Recently, new breweries have popped up on both the north and south sides of the mighty Columbia River and this micro-region is now even more worthy of attention from beer gypsies, with six breweries waiting to be explored.

Enjoy Downtown

Let’s face it, the greater Astoria area offers other breweries to visit, but staying within easy walking distance of Fort George Brewing is probably a good idea. That’s why I recommend staying downtown. There are several hotels within walking distance of the brewery and downtown Astoria still enjoys a small town vibe.

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Beer Touring: Jackson, Wyoming

By Friday, September 20, 2013 Permalink

My husband and I enjoy beer touring together, and our vacations often end up including a variety of brewery destinations. Even when we aren’t vacationing together, the road often leads me to beer. Such was the case when some friends and I recently visited Jackson, WY for a hiking trip.

When people think of Jackson, they think of Tetons National Park, of skiing, perhaps of hiking or cowboys. While it’s not a premier beer destination, Jackson boasts two GABF-decorated breweries within a town of 10,000 plus change. And, as we found out, a third brewery just opened last winter west of town proper, near Teton Village and the nearby town of Wilson.

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