Lipstick on the Rim

Posts Tagged ‘beer drinkers’

This is one of my favorite styles of beer. Saison is French for “season”. Typically brewed for the fall season, however I’ve enjoyed this well into winter probably because of it’s added characteristics. It’s not just simple and clean like a Hefeweizen. There is variation within this style that keeps it interesting. There is a citrusy fruitiness in the nose, it may have a moderate hop aroma and some spices. Typically bottles conditioned. That means just pour gently as to not incorporate air into the bottle and stir up the yeast at the bottom. I particularly enjoy the high carbonation because the flavor profile and the added bubbles. Makes me feel like I’m drinking champagne. That’s what I love the most. A beautiful beer that I can enjoy like champagne. Can it get any better?

It pairs well with a variety of foods from bar-be-cue (yes) to hot peppery dishes. It is great on the deck with cheeses, grapes, and conversation. Enjoy!

Can be found at our friends at Monon Food Company in Broad Ripple.

Lunch with out Sponsor

I have every good intention with this blog but life and the other blogs sometime take up all of my time.  Unfortunately this little blog gets left behind in pursuit of my life.  As a way of reconnecting to my passion of teaching women and others about beer and my love for the varied and lovely taste of beer I decided to attend The Beer Bloggers Conference.

I had to choose between the National Speakers Association Conference or the Beer Bloggers Conference, I am happy that I chose Beer Bloggers, I could not have made a better decision.  I am learning, reconnecting and remembering why I decided to do this blog in the first place!  I enjoy beer, I enjoy introducing others who want to enjoy beer at a different level.  Not just the pub crawls and sucking a beer from the brown bottles, but the woman who wants to be educated about what is a good beer. How do you serve it, where do you get it, what food goes with it and how brewers can connect more effectively to the women who are in their market.

Networking and connecting with others who have the same interest that I do is another passion.  I teach people and business all over the world the importance of networking and connecting. This has been my opportunity to do just that!

If you are a blogger, a beer lover, or someone who just likes to connect then you want to find conferences on your topic and connect with that community.  Regardless of what you love there is a community out there for you to connect to!

Thanks to Beer Bloggers Conference for putting on a great conference and educating me so that I will be a better blogger, lover of beer, and educator!

Q.  I had a big party over the summer, and we have a lot of beer leftover.  We are keeping it in the fridge in the garage.  How long can we keep the beer and still be able
to drink it?

 A.  This is a common question for women who are new to the beer drinking and purchasing community.  Beer is perishable just like many other food items but brewers are not required to put use by dates on the bottle.  As a mother and a wife, I don’t like to keep things for very long in my fridge or my cupboard for fear of my family becoming ill from something they might eat.  We pay close attention to the labels on the food products that we by, especially the Use By Date.  For many women not being able to find that date on a beer is a little unnerving.

Anheuser-Bush does put a “born on” date on their bottled beer, but that date still may not help you if you do not know how long from that date the beer is good.  I remember the first time I had the opportunity to see the born on date, my first thought was, “Great, and when is the “Dead by Date”.  I have learned that beer is good 4-9 months on the shelf.

Many brewers put a code on their bottles that represent their expiration dates, it’s just in secret code.   You can learn more reading this blog, The Secret Code of Beer Expiration Dates.  

It is not easy, and many avid beer drinkers will tell you it never sits around long enough to get stale.  That may not be the case with you, in fact people give me beer as a gift quite often, and sometimes it sits for longer than I would care for it too.  Brewers could do a lot to make it easier for us by putting a simple – “best if used by” date on their labels.

You won’t get sick from drinking an out dated beer, but you may not enjoy the beer as much.  It begins to have a dull taste or off flavor, so if it is a beer you like and it taste off, flat, papery or metallic then indeed it may be time to toss it out!

Beer, it is one of the worlds oldest beverages, found in Egypt during the time of the Pharaohs, it has been long enjoyed by many but only truly appreciated by a few. Unlike wine that has a massive following of connoisseurs, beer has been looked down upon by the elite.

Women have never been big drinkers of beer, it was never considered very proper for a woman to be hoisting a big mug of beer. More proper was the glass of wine or sherry, while the men sucked down the suds.

Beer has never gotten the same level of respect that wine or a fine brandy has received. No one would ever consider picking up a bottle of wine or a nice brandy and just chugging it from the bottle. Yet day after day, good beers are chugged from a bottle and not appreciated for the rich nose or beautiful color. Not allowed to breath, or form and nice creamy head, beer is never fully appreciated.

Craft beer artisans around the world are ready for us to take beer to a new level of respect and appreciation. The next time you pick up a nice small batch brewed craft beer, like a Stone Cali-Belgique, grab the right stem wear, pour it in the glass, admire the head and the scent of the hops and hold that glass up to the light and admire the color of your beer. Then take your first sip and enjoy it the way a wine enthusiast enjoys that first sip of a very fine wine.

Taking beer to a whole new level of appreciation ladies in our mission.