Europe, Travel

Visiting the Vienna Wine Gardens

Visiting the Vienna wine gardens, located in the Vienna Woods, can seem daunting to first-time visitors, as the Vienna Woods aren’t exactly central to the tourist path. Thus, many newbies tend to skip them. This is a huge mistake! Much like beer plays an integral part in Munich’s culture, wine plays a major role in Vienna’s culture. In fact, Vienna is the only major metropolitan city in the world to boast 1,700 acres…

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Travel, United States

72 Hours in Milwaukee – A Milwaukee Food Guide

This Milwaukee Food Guide is my first-hand account of devouring my way through the original Beer City USA over a long weekend. Feel free to condense the schedule if you must, but Milwaukee is definitely deserving of three full days. From an exploding craft beer scene to old-school working-class bars, supper clubs, and brat houses, you won’t go home sober or hungry!     Milwaukee Food Guide Day 1 1:15 pm –…

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Caribbean, Travel

The Best Adults Only Resorts in Aruba

Updated for 2018 with a new addition!!! I strive to keep my content current by constantly refreshing articles, like this guide to the best adults only resorts in Aruba revised after a recent trip to Aruba.  You’re poolside in Aruba – the vacation you’ve been dreaming about for years. You have a boat drink in one hand, an e-reader in the other, and a glimpse of the ocean over the tips of your…

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Brewery Reviews

September Craft Beer Report – Zima, Gizmo Brew Works, Crying Eagle Brewing, Bayou Tech Brewing, NoLa Brewing, MIA Beer Company

Whether a brewery sends me a courtesy sample, I visit a brewery on a press trip, or I stop in a brewery because beer, I sample a lot of beer. Each month, I summarize my favorites in a craft beer report. September was rad! Which is why my craft beer report starts out with a review of THE throwback to the 90s – Zima! After our little stumble down memory lane (most…

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Beer Flights, Craft Beer Travel, Travel, United States

Beer Flights – Pizza Port Brewing Carlsbad Beer Review

Of the breweries on my itinerary for Carlsbad, California, I was most excited to visit Pizza Port Brewing. With the company’s 90-plus Great American Beer Festival medals coupled with the fact that Pizza Port Brewery is not widely distributed on the East Coast, you can easily understand why. Pizza Port Brewing traces its roots back to 1987 when brother and sister team Gina and Vince Marsaglia purchased a struggling pizza parlor in…

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Craft Beer Reviews

August Craft Beer Report – Southern Barrel Brewing, Hilton Head Brewing, Big Ditch Brewing, White Hag Brewing, Community Beer Works, 42 North Brewing

Whether a brewery sends me a courtesy sample, I visit a brewery on a press trip, or I stop in a brewery because beer, I sample a lot of beer. Each month, I summarize my favorites in a craft beer report. The summer has been crazy with travel, work, family vacations, and a daycare disaster which left me taking on more stay-at-home-dad duties than normal. Along the way, I dropped the ball…

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Travel, United States

48 Hours in Carlsbad, California

Day 1 – 48 Hours in Carlsbad 10:38 am Who schedules a 45 minute layover in LAX? This guy. My flight arrived 15 minutes early but ground control held us for a half hour. I now have 24 minutes to change terminals. I hit the ground running, praying that I make my flight given the wait for the shuttle bus. There goes any notion of grabbing lunch to bring on the plane….

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Charlotte, Travel, United States

How to Plan a Charlotte Winery Crawl

This story is sponsored by Charlotte Limo, which offers smart, fun, and safe choices for exploring Charlotte area wineries. Please note that I’ve been to and approve of each destination mentioned below. A winery experience is something that soothes the senses. In the age of hustle and bustle, it’s nice to be able to sit back and relax in a low key environment with a glass of your favorite vintage in hand….

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Craft Beer Reviews

June Craft Beer Report – Country Boy Brewing, West 6th Brewing, Blue Stallion Brewing, Alltech, Haint Blue Brewery, Fairhope Brewing

Whether a brewery sends me a courtesy sample, I visit a brewery on a press trip, or I stop in a brewery because beer, I sample a lot of beer. Each month, I summarize my favorites in a craft beer report. It’s been a heck of two months filled with travel and a bit more freelance work than I was expecting (which is a good thing). Thus, I’m getting my June Craft…

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Brewery Reviews, Craft Beer Travel, Travel, United States

Mother Bunch Brewing and the Story of a Modern Alewife

I thought a great way to wrap up my mini-series on Phoenix’s craft beer scene was with a Brewery Snapshot on Mother Brunch Brewing. I visited Mother Bunch Brewing last September on a whirlwind tour of breweries lead by Arizona Brewery Tours. As my guide for the day, Hoppy Motto, explained, our itinerary included breweries in the “Beermuda Triangle” – Mother Bunch Brewing, Helton Brewing, Helio Basin Brewery, and Wren House Brewing….

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