ITH Beer Guide

For over a month I've been meaning to put together a bucket list of beer for 2019, but I just haven't been able to carve out the time. The beginning of a new semester always seems to kick my butt. I've even been nearly non-existent on twitter the last couple of weeks! However, I see the "finish" line approaching as we are about to turn the page on January, so here goes! Ithaca(ish) This past year brought us the great addition of Liquid State to the Ithaca beer scene. It is one of our favorite places to go and enjoy a pint, especially given how kid-friendly they are. Also, Salt Point opening in Lansing gave us an option on that side of town. While seating may be limited, they too are family friendly, and the quality of the beer has been a nice addition. This year, I'm planning on checking out two others, one growing and one brand-spanking new. Summer Hill Brewing out in Groton has been up and running with tasting hours when possible. Unfortunately, those h

According to a press release at My Beer Buzz, Ithaca Beer Co will be adding to its lineup of variety packs. A lineup that currently includes just the one fall Box of Hops. Coming in February, they will release a Box of Sours featuring two familiar faces: Cayuga Cruiser, a tart berliner weiss style ale, and Raspberry Soiree, a fruited berliner weiss style ale. Joining those two will be two new fruited kettle sours: Passionate One with--you guessed it--passion fruit juice, and Früt containing grape juice and cranberry juice and puree. The Passionate One sounds like a very interesting mix to me that I'm looking forward to trying--a sour, tropical blend featuring wonderful Galaxy hops. But let's be real, I'm mostly excited about another Box of Hops... Following Box of Sours, a spring Box of Hops will be out in mid-March. Of course Flower Power, the old stand-by, will remain. Returning from a couple years back will be Pacific Gravity, which I'm happy about. I've pr

Apparently it is now the year 2019. I'm not sure exactly when that happened. A few days ago says the calendar. But really, I'm not sure where the last few months went. Working at a university, I tend to measure time in semesters. This last one went by in a blur. Perhaps it was being out of commission for a few weeks with a ruptured appendix. Perhaps it's an age thing. Either way, here we are! I've got some goals for 2019. I may not call them resolutions per se, but certainly things I hope to accomplish/change in the new year. But first, a quick look back at some of the awesome beer I've had the pleasure of imbibing this past year. The Standouts While there have been many, many great beers this past year, I think the beers I've had from Other Half and Threes Brewing standout the most when looking back. We stumbled into what was left of an Other Half tap takeover at Tap and Mallet on one of our trips to Rochester this year and also had more at the New York C

Yep. It's happening. I said I wouldn't last year , but this year? After overindulging in food and drink throughout the holidays, I'm in need of hitting the reset button. A reset on my health. A reset on my wallet. A reset on my time. So, I'm taking January off...ish. We had a few beers the night we returned to Ithaca on January 1st, but other than that I currently have just two "cheat" days planned (a birthday party and a celebration friends have planned at a brewery). There were a lot of beers consumed over the last couple of weeks. A few snapshots.  While I may not be imbibing much over the next few weeks, I do hope to actually write more. I'm excited about a number of openings in the coming year and plan to highlight that in coming posts. Here's to 2019 and all there is to come! Catch you on the flip side.