I'm checking to see if I can blog with pictures. Here's what I'm drinking right now. More to come on canned beers.

I'm a bad bad blogger, I know. I haven't written in ages and I sincerely apologize. I've been focusing on the book but am now re-committed to the blogging. I've been neglecting my responsibilities. I feel guilty. Hmmm, that reminds me of something.... Oh yeah! My Mom! Just kidding. Kind of.

I can't tell you how proud my parents were when I told them that I had discovered my passion, and that my passion was beer. Their reaction was less than effervescent to say the least. They were more casky (see Real Ale article) about it.

Slowly, though, through methodological tasting and pulling and prodding, I've finally turned my mother (who's past annual beer consumption consisted of one-half can of Bud Lite on Superbowl Sunday) into a bonafide beer drinker. And thank God, because there are times when she could really use one, believe me. Love you Mom!

So, with Mother's Day coming up. I thought that it might be interesting to list the beers that led up to her becoming a cool beer chick.

The first time I brought my parents to my favorite beer bar I knew I had my work cut out for me when they told me - the self-proclaimed beer chick - that they wanted a beer that tasted like Diet Coke and they weren't kidding. So I went to the bar and I ordered a Lindeman's Peche Lambic for my mother and I ordered a Rogue Hazelnut Brown for my father. I brought them to the table.

My parents tasted both beers and quickly traded, my dad opting for the Lindeman's Peche (we'll talk about him another time), and my mother savoring the Rogue. "I love this!" she said. And then she uttered a statement that I hate, "This doesn't taste like beer at all." I let it slide, because, you know, she's my mother; and I focused on the positive. That a) my MOM was drinking a dark as molasses beverage that b) wasn't Diet Coke that c) was BEER and that d) she was loving it!

Since then, my mom's been open to trying many new beers. Some she loves, and others not so much. Most of the beers that she likes are beers that "don't taste like beer at all," and that's okay. I've tried to explain to her that beer has a huge vast width of taste and flavor and the beer she likes does indeed taste like beer - but, what are you gonna do? Baby steps.

Here are some of the beers my mom (and hopefully your mom will too) dig.

Hazelnut Brown Nectar - Rogue Ales Brewery - Newport, OR:
I mentioned before that this was the first dark beer that my mother had consumed in her life. This American Brown Ale is wonderful. Full of roasted hazelnut and chocolate notes, this beer maintains its richness without being cloying or heavy.
6.2% abv.

Hoegaarden Original White Ale - Hoegaarden, Belgium:
My mom discovered this beer on a trip to England. She wrote it down while she was there and brought the note back to me. "YES mom... I've HEARD of Hoegaarden." (They really don't get what I do yet.) Anyway, turns out that my mom really likes Belgian Witbier. This one, I'm sure you all know with its coriander and citrus zest and bright light body....but did you know your mom would like it?

New Glarus Spotted Cow - New Glarus Brewing Company - New Glarus, WI:
My mom called from the University of Wisconsin's Student Union to tell me that she was enjoying this farmhouse ale. "Brewed with flaked barley and the finest Wisconsin malts." This beer "gives a nod to our farmers with a little hint of corn." This beer is unfiltered and on the lees to create full flavor in a relatively light bodied beer.
4.8% abv.

Jahva Imperial Coffee Stout - Southern Tier Brewing Company - Lakewood, NY:
This one surprised the heck out of me. My mom and I wanted a late afternoon coffee, but we didn't want to get all jacked up. I had a bottle of this in my fridge (Thanks Larry), and I suggested that we try this. I thought for sure that mom would poo poo this one, but turns out she loved it. This beer is made with Jamaican coffee, so, I assume there is some caffeine there, but the 12% abv. balances that caffeine right out, let me tell you.

Happy Mother's Day to all you hot beer drinking mamas out there!

Your man comes home from a long hard day at work, and you've been in the kitchen for hours. This isn't the stereotypical situation here though. You've been slaving in the kitchen over a hot stove, but you're not coming up with a pot roast. You've been brewing BEER! YES!

Homebrewing is so much easier than people think. Well, I take that back. It is something that, like cooking, takes a little time to learn and some practice to get right. You'll develop a deep appreciation for what master brewers can actually do. But, homebrewing is easier than you think. Its really just a little cooking and cleaning. You know...womens' work. (heave)

I'm going to start a series on homebrewing for women, focusing on smaller batches and starting out with easy partial grain recipes, but in the meantime, if you are interested, Los Angeles women can start at my friend Natalie's Homebrew Club just for Women called the ALT Society.

This month the meeting is on February 28th at 7:30pm at Culver City Home Brew Supply Co. This place is headquarters of the homebrew club that I belong to called Pacific Gravity, which luckily for me, is mostly men. But this meeting is just for the chicks, who sometimes can feel a little intimidated by all the testosterone floating around that place. There will be home-brewed beers there, of course, with munchies and lots of female support. Its a great place to go to get your questions answered and to get geared up for brewing beer at home.

Click here for directions. You can email Natalie at emtcutie959@yahoo.com if you have any questions or want additional information.

Good luck ladies! And get to BREWING! A woman's work is never done.

Want some recommendations on some great beers to celebrate the Super Bowl holiday? Wine Sommelier and Consultant (and friend and cool beer chick) Bonnie Graves interviewed me for her yahoo.com food blog called Girl Meets Grape.

Click HERE to read all about the beers.

P.S. One more year Favre! One more year.

I'm a YODA today! I'm the Yeppie of the Day! What the hell is that?

Well, my dear friends, yeppienation.com says, "Remember the Yuppies of the 80's? Baby boomers who where hungry for money and status, well many of their kids are now Yeppies (Young Experimenting Perfection Seekers)...These 20 and 30 somethings don't aspire to a job in finance and a BMW in the driveway. If anything they quit their jobs to go backpacking for an undetermined duration... Yeppies are life shopping...in search of ideal existence."

That's what I am...I'm a yeppie, and proud of it. However, instead of dropping a job to go backpacking, I'm left jobs to go beer drinking. I'd like to thank my parents who are so thrilled beyond words that my passion is beer. I'd like to thank the readers of this blog who have supported me in my effort to elevate beer to the level that it deserves. I'd like to thank companies like Craftsman Brewing Company, Deschutes Brewing Company, Unibroue, Telegraph Brewing Co., Artisan Ales, Wine Warehouse who have helped me in this endeavor. I'd also like to thank the Yeppie Nation, who clearly understand what's important in life. So do not try to drink good beer, DRINK good beer. Seek it, live it, love it. In the words of the original Yoda, "Do or Do Not, There Is No Try."

May the Force be with you.

Winter Warmers Beer Social
"Upstairs" @ 3 on Fourth

Wednesday, January 23
6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Along with Chef Daniel Snukal, I'm going to be hosting a casual tasting of Winter Warmers, a unique style of beer made with sweet malts and flavored with spices, herbs, nuts and fruits. A naturally higher alcohol content and the spicy aromas make these microbrews the perfect elixir for a chilly January night. Complimentary appetizers provided by 3 on Fourth. (See menu below.)

A special prix fixe dinner will be available after the event to beer social guests only.

$35 per person, including tax
$30 special prix fixe dinner (optional)
Space is limited for this event; call 310.395.6765 to reserve a glass.

3 on Fourth
1432A Fourth St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405

Winter Warmers Menu

Beer
Telegraph Winter Ale - Telegraph Brewing Company, Santa Barbara, CA
Honesty Ale - Craftsman Brewing Company, Pasadena, CA
Holiday Spruce - Craftsman Brewing Company, Pasadena, CA
Quelque Chose - Unibroue, Chambly, Quebec
...and more!

Appetizers
Warm Roblochon with Orange Marmalade
Goat Cheese, Beet and Balsamic Crostini
Brillat Savarin with Strawberry Arugula and Fried Bread
Chocolate-dipped Cherries

So I'm lucky enough to have several close relatives that live in Wisconsin. My father is from Wisconsin. This is especially lucky because New Glarus Brewing Company, one of the best breweries in the midwest in my humble opinion, is only available in - you guessed it - Wisconsin. Dammit!

I've had their Wisconsin Belgian Red, which is a hell of a beer. They describe the style as a "Wisconsin Cherry Ale," who knew? Its a wonderful fruit beer that truly tastes like fresh summer cherries. Tart and sweet, tannic and dry, this ale is not the cloyingly sweet Kool-Aid that we are sometimes used to getting with fruit beer here in the states. They call it "a marriage of wine and beer." This beer is brewed with whole Door County (where I used to swim in the summertime) Montmorency Cherries, Wisconsin Farmed Wheat and Belgian Roasted Barleys. This beer is then cold cellared in oak tanks for one full year. If you have a chance to try this beer, do so.

Now then, on to the topic of this blog which is the Best Name For A Beer Ever. A few times a year, NGBC will cut their brewmaster and co-owner Daniel Carey loose to brew whatever he chooses, crazy, unfettered and free. Always handcrafted, these beers are very limited editions with no promises of ever being brewed again. Right now, one of those beers is one named Smoke on the Porter. Yes! Isn't that awesome? Can't you just hear Deep Purple now?

Here's what the brewery says about this beer. "Smoke on the Porter began with our neighbors at Hoesly's Meats. Their smoke house aromas waft through our door creating a special kind of decadence that must be shared. Wisconsin barleys were generously cold smoked with apple wood by the Hoesly family. Brewmaster Dan then harnessed dark malts smoked in Bamberg to create a team that steps out as a creamy smooth black brew that will forever linger in your mind as Smoke on the Porter."

This beer is creamy and smooth. Beer Advocate magazine says, "...the malt really shines with a soft cake-like sweetness within. Suggestions of dark roasted coffee and bitter dark chocolate come to mind.... No doubt, the balance of this smoked porter is unsurpassed."

So toast life with beer from the land of Wisconsin.

Did I mention that The New Glarus Brewing Company is located in and named after the quaint town of New Glarus, Wisconsin? New Glarus is known as "America's Little Switzerland," a fact that is evident the minute you drive into town. You feel like you stepped back in time a hundred years to a small town in Switzerland. The Brewery is just one of many unique businesses in New Glarus. There are also antique stores, meat markets, two museums, an authentic Swiss bakery and a fine array of restaurants with authentic Swiss cuisine. In fact, my family and I used to make the treck from Madison, WI for schnitzel and noodles! For more information on New Glarus and its local business, visit the New Glarus Chamber of Commerce at www.swisstown.com.

Also, I thought that this would be a good time to announce that my fantasy football team, Testeverdes Settatesties, is in the Superbowl. (I'm playing the person who introduced me to New Glarus Brewing Co. - But I will still beat him down.)

And also, Go Packers!