RenoVous

 These are a few of my favorite things... While pizza has its own day in February, and beer has one in August, the pair of them deserve celebration as well. Voodoo Ranger Brewery even sells an I Pizza A. "Inspired by Tombstone's born-in-a-bar heritage...." Wait, what? Yep, founded in Medford, Wisconsin and named after the Tombstone Tap owned by Pip and Ron Simek, back in 1962.  They were picked up by Kraft Foods in 1988. So maybe get your pizza tavern style today.

The term sometimes has more negative connotations, but really it's just a bar that doesn't advertise and doesn't get fancy in the decor.  It exists for you to drink, not to vibe. There certainly are some shabby ones, in that regard, and for some perhaps that is the vibe. You can expect cheap drafts and well drinks, no curated cocktail list. This day was started by Seagram's, for their interest in preserving the history of dive bars. The oldest operating in Reno is the Alturas.  The oldest in Nevada is in Genoa. The phrase dates back to 1871, from a New York Herald article.

  One of the few India Pale Ale's I actually like, but even then it's usually one and done. IPA have a high hop content which can leave a bitter, dry taste. I was surprised to find Imperial IPAs a tad smoother, even though they're 2-3x the hops and malt.  Maybe it's the higher alcohol content. A Hazy IPA, or New England IPA, has some citrus or other fruit flavors, which I tend to prefer.  I had a Citra Flash Mob from Russian River Brewing and it was nice. West Coast though....I can barely finish a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The origins date back to the mid-18th century and George Hodgson's Bow Brewery in Middlesex-Essex.  He was exporting his pale ale where it became very popular among the East India Company's traders.  The "October beer" benefited from the conditions of the voyage and was highly regarded.

  On this day in 1935, canned beer makes a debut. In 1909, the American Can Company first started experimenting with beer with many trials and errors.  Then they had to wait for Prohibition to end.  In 1933, they finally developed a can that was pressurized and had a special coating to prevent the beer from chemically reacting with the tin. The can helped Krueger's sales, eating into the market share of the "Big Three" national brewers: Anheuser Busch, Pabst, and Schlitz.  They started canning too, and by the end of 1935, over 200 million cans had been produced and sold. The article mentions a renewed interest in canning from microbrewers.  Not only does it get their product out from the taphouse, but there's also the crowler as a to-go order. Cheers!! And here's an old local band.

  We were able to stop at a few breweries in Alaska, but this was the only taster flight I had. It's how I tourist, checking out the local beers.  Even in the stores, I'm looking for something I can't get at home. We do see Alaskan here, but typically only the Amber.  I was able to try a lot more up there, including this limited edition. There was only one place on my list though. Gummi Bear Beer: A Belgian Strong Ale Yummy. To your health.  <3

 It's been a boozy week, so let's look at the science of fermentation, which is the chemical process that converts sugar found in fruits or grains to ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. Wine, beer, and alcohol all begin with sugar and yeast, which provides the necessary enzymes for the chemical process.  Spirits take the extra step to distill the alcohol, removing excess water until the desired proof is obtained. Many believe that mead is the oldest alcoholic drink, sometimes referred to as honey wine.  Residual samples found in ceramics date it from 2800 to 1800 BC, and the ancient Greeks considered it "the nectar of the gods," since bees were seen as messengers of the heavens. Mead is also referenced in literature throughout history, such as in  Beowulf  and The Canterbury Tales. Some histories suggest it originated in the African bush in the hollowed out portions of Baobab and Miombo trees where wild bees would nest.  During the rainy season, the hollows w...

  Showing love for local businesses!  Last night was the finale. Each post showing a visit to a participating location earns a raffle ticket. To start, we tried a new place called Teriyaki Madness. On Monday, we met up with my cousins for some pizza and beer. Noble Pie Pizza Parlor and Pinon Bottle Co.  They have draft options as well. Other places we've visited in the past: Frey Ranch Distillery Ryan's Saloon and Broiler Best burger in town. The Union, in Carson City. And my favorite brewery, IMBIB. We'll see if I win anything!

Random table at a bar and music venue we used to frequent.  I'm still bummed that they've closed - the scene hasn't been the same around here since.  I saw one of the best rock shows of my whole life there, played music trivia with my Pa...memories.   Fun restroom at a hole in the wall bar downtown.  The bar itself isn't as much of a dive as the motel next door to it.  I'll be honest, it was mostly 'Buffy' that makes me love this. Local brewery featuring local art.  I love the breweries in town, but Hubby isn't much of a beer drinker, so I have to run off and do tastings with friends. And from our favorite Irish pub, with one of the best burgers in town!  Home of the team I played softball for this spring.  :-) Feel free to share your own pub shots!  Cheers!!