long weekend

It’s been a little over a month since I visited California and I’m still trying to process it all. My whole life I’ve dreamed of visiting California and while I had never been, I decided it was my favorite state based on what I’ve seen and heard. When my job told me I was being sent for a conference, I actually cried. The conference was in Anaheim and I spent several days before the trip exploring the LA area. When it came to planning, I was overwhelmed by possibilities of where to visit, eat, drink. Santa Monica Pier, Venice Boardwalk, Hollywood, and Rodeo Drive were all obvious, but how was a beer lover to choose which breweries to check out?! I brought my 17 year old sister along who has zero interest in beer so it made it a bit harder. My list of 17 nearby breweries (YES! 17!) had to be narrowed down. I ended up checking out five and I’m happy with where I chose to go.

Monkish Brewing Co. If you know beer, are you really all that surprised Monkish was at the top of my list? Known mostly for their IPAs, I knew I had to check out what everyone on Instagram seems to be talking about and trading. When I arrived it was a bit crowded and overwhelmed my sister who had never been to a brewery before. We ended up not staying too long because it wasn’t the most comfortable place with the crowd and no seats available. I tried a few of their beers which I enjoyed a lot and left a bit disappointed I couldn’t bring anything home. Luckily a couple of weeks ago a guy from CA I traded beer with sent me a can (thanks Jesse!).

Brouwerij West After Monkish, we journeyed to Brouwerij West which was much more spacious. There was a wedding going on and the place was lively for a Saturday afternoon. I got a flight, enjoyed their beers, and purchased a bunch of cans to bring home. The bartenders were great and I could see how this place would be great for large group gatherings. Also many food truck options so come hungry!

Unsung Brewing Company If you are ever in Anaheim, go to Anaheim Packing District!!! I am telling you, it is a food lovers dream. My sister and I ended up having dinner there two nights in a row because we loved it so much. There are many options available with trendy and classic foods. There’s also two breweries! I had to choose between Unsung Brewing and Anaheim Brewery because we were limited on time and I ended up going with Unsung. It’s a relaxing brewery with ample seating and an interesting beer menu. My sister and I played a board game while I tried a few of their beers – fun for the whole family.

Bottle Logic Of all the breweries I went to, Bottle Logic was my favorite. Not just because my favorite Twitch streamer happened to be playing on their TV when I got there! I ordered a flight of their beers and took a seat in the back area next to their large brewing kettles/pots/whatever they’re called (sorry! still learning!). The beers were really good and the atmosphere gave off a fun vibe. I loved the sticker sheet they sold among other merch. 10/10 would be there all the time.

TheBruery I knew visiting either TheBruery or Bruery Terreux was a must despite not loving barrel-aged beers and only just getting into sours now. I settled on TheBruery based on location although I would’ve loved to go to both. I loved how efficient getting a flight was here – there is a spot when you first walk in with lists of their beers and pencils and you check them off before going up to the bartender. The flight also came in a very easy-to-carry, awesome holder. The beers were more unique than anything I’ve ever tried and I truly enjoyed them. At the end I picked up a few bottles to go. I also was happy to see OffShoot Brewing Co. there since I didn’t know they were related. Bringing home a Relax [ it’s just a hazy IPA ] was one of the best decisions I made – it was great!

I wish I had all the time in the world to visit all the breweries in the area (Green Cheek Beer Co., Modern Times, Noble Ale Works, and Indie Brewing Company to name a few). I also wish I could’ve spent more time exploring the beautiful state of California. Is it still my favorite state after visiting? ABSOLUTELY. Already dreaming of my next trip…

Back in January my friends and I had plans to go to the Poconos to ski, but the house we were planning to stay in had some last minute issues. So our plans changed and after brainstorming, we decided to visit Ithaca, New York. We booked an Airbnb and drove the 3ish hours up on a rainy Friday night for the long weekend.

While the Finger Lakes Region is known for its wineries, there’s also some great breweries which we visited.

Ithaca Beer Co. When I first got into craft beer, Ithaca Beer Co. was one of the first beers I remember really enjoying. Their Flower Power IPA is one of their most popular beers and one of my go-tos, not just because of the fun name and can. On our first full day in Ithaca we took the short drive from where we were staying to check it out. We went on a tour which ended up being only us and the tour guide since it was a cold, snowy day. The tour guide was extremely friendly and we had a nice time talking with him about the beer making process, learning about the brewery, and tasting some beers. I think our tour ended up being longer than a typical tour here just because we had so much fun talking to the guy! Afterwards we took a seat at the bar and ordered some flights and food and enjoyed the afternoon. If you ever find yourself in Ithaca, this is definitely a must-visit place.

Liquid State Brewing Co. We stopped by Liquid State about an hour before they closed on a Saturday night and there were a few tables hanging around having beers and playing some games (they have skee-ball!). The space was very open with an industrial feel to it and the bartenders were very laid-back. We sat at the bar to enjoy flights of beer and I was blown away by how good the beers were! The brewery is right in town and only opened up last year and if I lived near this brewery, I would be there all the time.

Bacchus Brewing Company We spent our Sunday in Ithaca going on a hike and visiting some wineries closer to Cayuga Lake. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Americana Vineyards also had a brewery on site. After tasting wines, the bartender who was helping us brought us downstairs to their bar so we could have a beer tasting. We ended up spending most of our afternoon here because the bartender was so friendly and we were really enjoying the space. My bill was $10 total for our wine AND beer tastings which was incredible. I imagine this place gets super busy in the summer and it’s clear why!

This was my second time visiting Ithaca and this town has a lot of charm. The drive isn’t too bad from where I live and I’d love take a trip up sometime in the summer to explore more of their hiking trails, breweries, and wineries. Plus, there’s some great food – more restaurants per capita than NYC!

Have you been to Ithaca before? I’d love to hear!

Craft Barr

California Dreaming

A Weekend in Ithaca, New York