Against all odds, Porter and I escaped this past week to San Diego sans baby for the World Beer Cup and Craft Brewer’s Conference. We attended seminars, drank beer, socialized with other brewery owners and brewers, drank beer, and drank…beer…. Yes, it was an awesome event. We arrived the evening before to avoid a 5am wake-up to make the two hour drive. Making the most of our freedom we headed straight for Blind Lady Ale House Normal Heights, a suburb [...]

Emmett and I took a trip down to the Tustin Brewing Co, Smog City’s home base, this morning. I had to visit a chiropractor to loosen up my neck muscles after I had a harsh run in with reality; I’m apparently too old to act like a 15yr old while riding The Zipper at the carnival. Bummer… Here’s what we found down at the brewery! Porter in his “office”…yes, that is the Tustin Brewing Co’s bar but he makes it so [...]

I hope that all of you have had the opportunity to eat a ramp.  Of all the culinary treats that spring brings it is tied for my favorite with the morel mushroom that I cooked on video here last week.  If you can have them together it is truly amazing.  What makes these items so exciting is that their season is so fleeting.  Here in Western North Carolina there are a great many wondrous wild edibles popping up to greet [...]

Adventures abound when you’re delivering beer and taking care of a toddler. I’ve enjoyed my fair share of experiences over the last few months. So I figured it’s about time I share some the highlights with you. People talk about “Mommy Brain” but I don’t believe there have been many studies on “Brewery Brain” or “Mommy Brewery Brain”. I would be a good case study. One morning, I was preparing Emmett for preschool and getting ready to head to a [...]

How sweet it is… strawberries, honey, butter & whiskey all on top of a flaky puff pastry. Straight up strawberry seduction. That’s all that is. Lucky me, I seduced an amazing photographer into documenting my impulsive behavior… I have to preface this recipe with one rule: you’re only allowed to make this during strawberry season. Otherwise, save yourself the disappointment and just drink the whiskey. Strawberry Honey Jack Pastry 1 – 2 pints of the sweetest organic Camarosa strawberries you [...]

Home brewers! Smog City loves them. Porter has been a member of Pacific Gravity Home Brew Club since 2003. He bought his first kit for 100 bucks and in that one day an addict was born and over the next few years, a brewer evolved. He has learned so much from their collective knowledge and still to this day he bounces ideas off of them. They are an incredible group of guys (and ladies!) Here’s an example of their loyalty [...]

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! Napa has been a little dead these days. The grapes are dormant, the tourists are gone, and it is generally quiet and a little gray (Napa-gray, not actual February-gray for those of you who live in the real world with things like snow.) But like an early spring, I was greeted this morning by a wonderful surprise. Balloons! Balloons everywhere! (here’s a pic from one of the balloon company’s websites). It was like something out of [...]

“This is my event and I’m going to do it right!” That’s what I’m chanting to myself every night between 1:30 and 3am. Yup, you read that right, I’m planning a Smog City event resulting in my first bout of insomnia EVER…go figure. I’m the queen of sleep, never missed a wink…until now. I guess you want to know what’s got me worked up. I’m planning Smog City’s first ever Tap Takeover. <Pause for clapping and hurrahs!!> How did this [...]