IRMA IPA Lands in Jax

IRMA IPA 
(Photo: Linda Johnson)

November 28, 2017: 
It's a name that no one in Florida will soon - if ever - forget. Irma. By the time the mammoth hurricane reached the southern part of the state in mid-September 2017, it had already inflicted severe damage to island nations. As it began and ended its this-way-and-that-way trek through the Sunshine State, all of Florida was affected in one way or another, sadly with some areas sustaining major damage and impacts never before seen. From the pre-storm warnings and computer forecasting models, evacuations, flooding and wind, caravans of out-of-state utility vehicles, water shortages, to repair and recovery, it was an experience made of historical proportions, and for some, the story still has not reached its final chapter. 

Of Bus Rides 'n Beer: From Bold City to Cigar City, Beer Bloggers Conference 2016 Covered It

Around this time last year, I was following the tweets from Asheville, NC as those attending the 2015 Beer Bloggers Conference energetically took to social media to report their real-time accounts of the activities. I noticed a blend of snippets about beer education and beer drinking -- not too surprising, I concluded. I thought that maybe I should attend one of these conferences in the future, and awaited the announcement of the 2016 Conference location. And, with a rising level of fanfare, there it was: TAMPA! WooHoo! That's only a 3.5 hour drive from my home base in North Florida, so I was immediately psyched. 

It's Jax Beer Week!

Jax Beer Week......... is here!

Jax Beer Week officially started yesterday, Nov. 7, with the "Mash In" Kickoff Event at the Engine 15 Brewing Co. Downtown Jacksonville Production Facility. Presented by the Jax Beer Society, this party set the stage for the upcoming week of beer events all around Jacksonville.  Check out some of my photos here.

Even Mother Nature Had a Beer This Year ... at Rocky Water Brew Fest

Time flies when you're here for the beer!  

About a year ago, I made my way to Melbourne (Florida) for the inaugural Rocky Water Brew Fest, held in the Eau Gallie Arts District. I had visited the Space Coast area a couple of months earlier, including stops at local breweries (See Blog Posts Episode 1 and Episode 2), and this fest sounded like a cool little event with all Florida breweries. It rained, but the beer still poured, and we didn't let Mother Nature put the damper on things .... read about it here.  I love beerfests, and this one definitely made an impression right out of the gate.  So, of course it was on my radar for Year Two.  

Do You Know Your Boot from Your Maß ("mass")? It's Oktoberfest time!

There's probably no more festive time of year in the beer world than OKTOBERFEST! The original German Oktoberfest happens each year in Munich during the last two weeks of September through the first weekend of October, and is host to approximately 6 million fest-goers each year.  If you aren't one of those attending the "Wiesn" (German for "meadow") this year, don't get your shorts all in a bunch.  We also celebrate it here in the U.S. So, grab your lederhosen and dirndls because everyone's German during Oktoberfest!