During my latest travels I made my way to Cancún and, to be honest, after a few chats with beer buddies around the globe, I really thought my beer options would be minimal . However, after sampling a few margheritas (it is Mexico after all) I pondered my beer options.
After scouring supermarkets and local bars our original choices were pretty narrow. I’d had Pacifico a few times with accompanying burritos when in San Fran so I grabbed a bottle of this when dining out, followed by a Montejo and to be honest neither of them rock my world but I was happy to down them with my eats for the night.
Another day passed and thankfully an Instagram beer pal (thanks ‘Martigaragardo‘) recommended a few Mexican beers to try and nab and after scouring another supermarket (that wasn’t Walmart) we struck beer gold – high five to the beer gods.
Here’s a nifty list of the beers I sampled so that hopefully you can pick them up when you’re on vacation in Mexico:
Cucapa – Honey Beer
Tijuana – Guera
Albur – Chalupa
Cerveceria Allende – IPA
Insurgente – Tiniebla
Out of the list my definite favourite had to be the Tiniebla. Not only does this beer look the part, it had a complexity that the others were missing. I really wished I’d have got my hands on a few bottles at the start of our trip.
If you’d like to read more about Insurgente, based in Tijuana then check out this LA Weekly article – if you live there you’re lucky as you can get your hands on their tasty beers in quite a few places (jealous).
So, although Mexico “isn’t synonymous with craft beer,” as a lot of people cited – I was certainly surprised that I managed to bag more than a few beers to choose from and they were a delicious complement to the plentiful spicy food I consumed by the bucketload there.
After managing to get my hands on a can of Jai Alai from Warwick Real Ale I was intrigued to find out more about Cigar City Brewing whilst staying in Orlando for Star Wars Celebration. Equipped with hire car for the entire stay, I decided to get behind the wheel and make the 80 minute trip to this little power house of a brewery.
Upon arrival I was met by a series of friendly faces and a whole lot of beer choices, which was a shame due to the hire car situation! I consoled myself with the thought that I could stock up the car with bottles and cans to take away and sip by my hotel pool.
Our tour guide, Duke was enthusiastic to say the least; he was open to questions and his passion for the brewery oozed out of every fibre of his Cigar City t-shirt clad body as he took us on the 45 minute tour.
Owner Joey Redner, a third generation Tampanian (I now know what locals are called and that sometimes they get called tampons according to Duke) founded the brewery back in 2007 following stints at Dunedin brewery and as a beer writer at the Tampa Bay Times where he often wrote about the burgeoning craft beer scene. Wayne Wambles was recruited as brewmaster (previously worked at Foothills brewery) and the brewery flung open its doors in 2009 after lots of graft from the pair.
In our tour we learnt about Wambles time spent living in Alabama experimenting with beer, ‘bootlegging’ due to state laws forbidding the sale of alcohol (crazy I know) – I love that rebellious streak.
The brewery now produces 92,000 bbls per year over 6 days. It has two brewhouses and 19 x 120 bbl fermenters so it’s by no means small. If you haven’t tried the brewery’s most popular beer, Jai Alai then you really are missing out but this is understandable, as 95% of its distribution is in Florida which makes me feel thankful I’d nabbed a can in the UK. This kick ass IPA is named after an infamous Spanish sport and Tampa, the home of the brewery was obsessed it – hence the beery homage. Jai Alai makes up 55% of the brewery’s sales and sipping it at source certainly reminded me of its intoxicating charms.
So, what else did I sip on the tour? Well the four samples we were given were; Invasion Pale Ale, Jai Alai, Florida Cracker and Maduro Brown Ale, plus I also bagged a sample of a barrel aged beer that I wasn’t actually told what it was (it will always remain a delightful mystery). I stocked the car with a six pack of guayabera – I’ve sipped a few and it’s definitely refreshing.
Unfortunately I had to leave my bottle of ‘Alive or just brewing’ a limited collaboration brew with Killswitch Engage in the hotel due to my killer luggage situation when travelling further to Mexico.
I’m gutted I couldn’t work my way around the vintage cellar ales and the abundance of beers in the taproom but I’m happy I got to look around the brewery – I’ll definitely have a smile on my face when I sip any elusive cans of Jai Alai at home with my Cigar City glass adorned with ‘Hecho a Mano’ which means handmade in Spanish.
I recently had the pleasure of spending just under 24 hours in York. It was actually my first visit (well, that I can remember) and I was a little too excited to sample its delights.
My reason for visiting? Well, I was invited to attend the IoIC awards by Purple Monster who were up for the ‘Standout Communication’ award – and they only bloody won didn’t they?! Thanks so much for the invite guys.
I’ve been to a lot of award type events (it comes with with the marketing job territory right?) though this venue was definitely the best one yet. The National Railway Museum was definitely magical – the sight of the opulent trains dripping in gold trimmings actually got my pulse racing nearly as much as my trip to Hogwarts at Universal Studios last summer. I wasn’t sure this was possible at all.
Yes, I found the train with a bar inside it of course – you can always rely on me. I’m mentioning the awards because I munched on a tasty Yorkshire pudding with pulled beef and black sheep ale gravy! I’m not sure I’ll ever look at a Yorkshire pudding in the same way now. This little delicious treat was like a cross between a filthy Mexican meaty delight and a home cooked Sunday roast. Weird like a Heston-bluemential creation but I’m sure I’ll spend hours trying to recreate that delectable little Yorkshire pudding dream.
The delectable Yorkshire Pudding
The day after the night before… so what to do? According to my research, I’d heard that the Trembling House of Madness and Brew York were the places be. My extremely helpful Twitter buddies also pointed out that I might like to give the Maltings, York Tap and also Fossgate Social a try to. With only five hours and a couple of vintage shops to throw into the mix I had to be smart with my decisions.
Vintage treats
It was only 11am and I was residing in a ‘post awards do red wine mist’ so we decided that a vintage shop would be the first stop in the five hour trip round York (with a rather heavy suitcase in tow may I add). Dog and Bone Vintage seemed to summon me from the allure of its photo on the Google listing and I’m seriously glad it did. I’d be happy if this place was my next home and this really is no joke. From the NASA bags, the vintage games and its shiny books that will make any table glimmer, this place is a winner. I felt like a magpie figuring out what jewel to make its own first. The choices were plentiful.
My credit card was happy that I walked away with just a cropped cowboy red jacket, a zany patterned shirt and a series of pinup goodies that will look rather splendid in our collection at home.
Bowler Vintage
The next stop was Bowler Vintage in Fossgate. Sharply dressed gents, this really is the place for you with its glorious hat collection, sharp tailoring and beard grooming essentials. Gals fear not, the upstairs is like a treasure trove where labels like Collectif and Hell Bunny adorn the rails – there are also some genuine vintage gems to be found, like old school denims and the sunglasses collection kept me busy for a while. I walked away with some sunnies and little red pillbox hat – which I’ve longed for. Normally finding a hat that perches nicely on my massive head is rather difficult.
Beer o’clock
It was just past noon when we went on our quest to locate Brew York. We arrived at the gates and my heart sank when I thought the tap room wasn’t open but I’d read the sign wrong and realised it opened at noon – phew!
Brew York is located around 15 minutes from the station and hosted within York’s historic city walls. The brewery houses a 20 hl Brewhouse which is perfectly set up to brew it’s core range of six beers.
This place really remind me of Nightshift which I visited in Boston. Although it wasn’t busy due to it being so early we really sensed the good vibes in this place – I wish there was somewhere like this where I live, I’d definitely be a regular. For such a big space it really managed to feel homely and I really could have stayed there relaxing for hours. I’d love to have experienced the place on a Friday evening as I’m sure it would have been bursting with energy.
Brew York
We chose to sip the Brew York, Brew York American IPA and the Big Eagle IPA. The latter was definitely my preference, it was just well a little more punchy and I certainly needed something with a little more flavour to get me going.
Next stop: The Hop – the sheer thought of having a stonebaked fresh pizza with a beer had me salivating like Homer Simpson lusting after his favourite shiny pink ring doughnuts. The bar man (sorry I didn’t catch your name) was so friendly and whilst pouring me a half of White Rat he placed a bet that the pizza would rock my world. I was sceptical after suffering major pizza disappointment in the past from so called ‘artisan’ outlets that tricked me and my cheesy lust with their promises.
Our ‘spicy pepperoni’ landed on our table and my eyes popped out my head because it looked so darn tasty. Would it taste as good as it looked though? It really tasted sublime, the right side of spicy, it was crispy edged and they didn’t scrimp on the cheese – good work guys. The venue was great, airy and quirky and with our pizza (big enough for two to share) and my beer coming in at under a tenner this place did rock my world.
My ‘must-visit’ was definitely the House of Trembling Madness and what a place this really is. So many beers to choose from downstairs and so much quality banter upstairs in the pub/restaurant area. With a whole floor of beer to drool over it was hard to know where to start.
I needed a beer to contemplate my overwhelming beer purchasing decisions, so upstairs we went. After making friends with a few locals we managed to hustle a few standing spots which was perfect before the epic three hour train journey we’d need to catch afterwards. If there’s more than a few of you wishing to eat here plan carefully, this place was buzzing and hard to find a few seats if you were craving their mouthwatering pies to eat. What I will say is – be patient, browse the beer selection, grab a half and chill standing up and it won’t be long before your reach table nirvana.
As we sipped our beer, mine was a cheeky little half of ‘Seed of Good Hope’ by Bad Seed Brewery we drank in our surroundings. A collection of taxidermy animals stared at me from the high wall above as I considered if I could truly manage the £9 yard of ale before the train journey home. I decided it wasn’t a great idea, Virgin Trains are hellish enough.
If carrying beer wasn’t an issue we’d have no doubt walked away with more beery delights. So, what did I grab….? Here’s the lowdown below:
Last stop on the way to our train was The Maltings which kind of looks like a crazy old school rock club from the outside with its plethora of black paint. Getting a seat inside was really easy mid-afternoon and the beer choice was pretty good. I settled for a ‘Howl’ by Rooster brewery which I sipped while readout the hilarious trip advisor review adorning a wall near the bar. The reviewer in question really wasn’t happy at the spice of his chilli – you’d have thought the term ‘chilli’ on the menu may have been a good enough hint at it’s possible taste. You’ve got to love a pace that has a great sense of humour and this place certainly has personality a plenty.
The TripAdvisor review in question
I might have only spent a day in York but it has certainly made its way into the chart of one of my favourite places in the UK for a short break. I’ll be back York.
I love coffee and I love beer, so when the two are combined I get majorly interested. There’s loads of coffee beers on the market and I’m pretty sure I have at least another thousand to taste – wish me luck.
Thanks to my buddies at Coffee Architects I visited the London Coffee Festival in April which got me thinking about coffee beers and how my love affair with them is intensifying by the day. At the festival one of my favourite coffee tinged delights was available to sip – Wild Beer’s Wildebeest, if you haven’t tried it yet get out there and hunt a bottle down pronto. It’s so good that I have one bottle that I’m coveting in my cupboard for a ‘special occasion’.
Coffee being a stimulant and beer being a ‘depressant’ in classic terms should surely cause some trouble, right? When combined though they are an unbeatable combination. So why do they pair so well? Well if you’re a fan of porters and stouts you’ll know that they are already on the malty side of the spectrum anyway – giving hints of coffee aromas and flavours, especially in the delectable finish.
Although classically attributed to these beer styles this has now been turned on its head and brewers are experimenting with a new breed of coffee beers. Craft beer and craft coffee go hand-in-hand and as a major coffee fan, I like my coffee rich, complex and chocolatey – similar characteristics to some of my favourite beers! We can rejoice and cheer while we benefit from some these tasty craft partnerships like Beavertownand Caravan, or Wild Beer Co and Tincan Coffee.
So what other coffee beers should you check out? Try these gems:
Weird Beard – Out of the Office – I’m in love with this coffee IPA! It’s the right side of coffee without being sickly. I actually think I could drink a couple of these quite happily but at 7.0% I better pace myself. It’s brewed with Hasbean Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Konga Sedie Natural beans and it’s as smooth as hell.
Marble – Chocolate Marble – This really is sublime. I would normally steer clear of anything that says ‘liquorice’ on the label so prominently but the liquorice is subtle, in fact the cocoa finish makes it super moorish.
Nest Beer – Espresso Stout – Nest never disappoints me so I had to give this beer a whirl. I finally purchased this from Beer Gonzo, Coventry and I like it a lot. After a few sips I could actually taste currants in the aftermath of sipping it. Very different to other coffee beers I’ve tried, not as thick and there’s is certainly a tinge of fruitiness about it.
Beavertown/Caravan – Spresso – I first sipped this at the Beaver for my Valentine event and if I see any cans of it around again I’ll be stuffing them in my bag pronto. This beer gave me a major hit, like a big coffee clenched fist in fact. If you like your coffee flavours big then this is the beer for you.
The countdown is on to Swingamajig and I’m really stuck about what I should do with my hair for this amazing event! Incase you aren’t aware of the the crazy vintage inspired party that is Swingamajig – it’s a crazy vintage inspired party filled with music, dance, cabaret, walkabout, art installations and street food. This all takes place this Sunday (May 1st) at Birmingham’s Rainbow Venues – hence my hair preparation.
Vintage styles are always my go-to – well, if I have the time and inclination that is.
This weekend I’m sure there’ll be lots of gorgeous ladies bringing their hair A-game to the party, so I’ll need major help and inspiration.
To help me in my hour of need I’ve asked my buddy Jane, owner of Chez Titine (a vintage salon in Leamington Spa) for some handy hair tips that will ensure you get the perfect hairdo that stays in place all night when your shaken’ what ya momma gave ya!
Jane’s Tips
1) Always start with nice, clean sections and have a strong idea of what style you want to create.
2) We dust the hair with a root lift/volumising/plumping powder. This makes the hair more gritty in texture making it much easier to back comb and gives your Up-do/Victory Rolls/Beehive super Longevity.
3) “Its all in the Backcombing!!!”
We take relatively small sections, hold them up and backcomb with a pintail comb. Spray each section first and use small, even strokes working your way to the ends of the hair. (No matter how long your hair is, you should be able to get it to stand up)
backkcombing heaven4) Smooth over the backcombing using a back combing brush or a bristle brush, this will leave the backcombing inside the section intact.
5) When using your bobby pins to secure your rolls/beehives/French twists etc, the Jaggedy edge, (commonly thought of as the top of the Bobby pin) is actually the side which needs to go against the scalp. This secures it better. Always have a thin layer of hair over the pins so they can’t be seen.
If you’re off to Paris in the coming months, please make sure you visit the Barbie exhibition at Les Arts Decoratifs. Running until 10th September, its the first show of its kind in France – Barbie has never been invited there before…gasp.
Barbie is a figure that incites an awful lot of debate. You only have to look at the recent release of the more ‘body positive range celebrating diversity’ to see the controversy this little lady courts on a regular basis. Online some ladies have lashed out against the launch saying that “adult hangups are being forced on kids”, yet others heralded it an amazingly positive move that should be celebrated.
There’s no doubt that Barbie divides opinion. However, I’m going to chime in with the great words of Marilyn Monroe to explain why I’m celebrating her on my blog:
“it’s better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring”.
Barbie – What a woman
This pinup has been breaking hearts since 1959 when she created by Ruth Handler, head of Mattel following a fascination with how her daughter Barbara played with paper dolls (hence her name Barbie).
Although some see Barbie simply as an airhead, her creator’s intension was far deeper:
“My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.” – Ruth Handler.
For me, Barbie was an integral part of growing up. As someone with a rather crazy imagination I could dress Barbie in all manner of creations, most importantly ones which I was too scared to even contemplate wearing myself for fear of my fellow classmates making fun of me. As the years went on there were other rival dolls competing for my attention; Cindy and also Jem – both of which I liked an awful lot. The bugbear for me though was that I couldn’t actually swap shoes between them (Jem’s feet were majorly bigger). Although they competed for my affections, Barbie took the number one slot.
Yes she’s plastic and at times jeered at for being an unrealistic role model due to her inhuman like proportions but she has her redeeming qualities. When I was an infant Barbie allowed me to use my imagination and surprisingly I also found her ambitious and inspiring – hey, that astronaut Barbie was kick ass! Even though I knew I’d never look like her, the amount of clothes and accessories I could adorn her with, and the imaginary situations I could place her in were truly endless.
The perfect outfit: The Pinup Girl Clothing ‘Amanda Dress’
The exhibition features Barbie’s humble beginnings – her creation was designed to embody the “American way of life”. It then delves deeper into Barbie’s evolution through social, political and cultural changes. The new range might have attracted publicity in the shedloads but Barbie has always been diverse. The first ethically diverse Barbie’s actually appeared in the 70s, contrary to what the latest news stories would lead you to believe about the new range’s groundbreaking launch.
Throughout the decades Barbie has undergone a fashion evolution too. Her style and occupations have echoed contemporary trends. The exhibition takes you through a myriad of Barbies clearly evidencing her relevancy through the ages. Of course there’s some great Barbies to glare at: The Alfred Hitchcock, DC Comics and the Marilyn incarnations are my personal favourites from the collection.
Passion for Fashion
Although Barbie was far from a classic Pinup figure wise, she definitely put her stamp on society from her release. A highlight of the exhibition explored her relation to the fashion world: firstly her relation to the traditional pinups of latter-day, right through to the partnerships with couture houses – think Diane Von Furstenberg, Versace, Thierry Mugler, Christian Lacroix, Jean Paul Gaultier, Maison Martin Margiela and Christian Louboutin…the list goes on!
I’m not sure there’s a better symbol for ‘Pop’ than Barbie herself, hence why she was immortalised by Andy Warhol – a picture than took pride of place in the art section of the show.
The wall of Barbie clothes and accessories at the end of the exhibition nearly sent me into meltdown. I was transported back to my childhood where I’d throw all her clothes onto my bedroom floor and spend hours choosing outfits for her. For me it’s the endless possibilities that Barbie had at her fingertips that was alluring – and I realised while standing there (nose pressed on glass) that nothing’s changed. Even as an adult I left the exhibition feeling ‘hey I might be 33 but dammam what a world of possibilities there is out there’! And who can argue with that right?
Craft Beer Pin Up 