Mother’s Little Helpers
Mother's Day is coming up on the 13th, and we're here to help! If you're looking for the perfect gift, look no further – our beer and wine tours will make your mother's day.
Dark beers were once known as"mother's milk," because hospitals in Ireland once gave stouts to expectant and nursing mothers to increase their milk supply. In fact, Guinness once ran an entire ad campaign on the premise that dark stouts are good for you, a claim that, happily, has been bolstered by modern science.
Red wine, which (like beer) is packed with flavonoids and resveratrol, will keep mom young and her heart happy, and white wine is associated with better lung function. And both types of wine will lower "bad" cholesterol levels. Around here, we like to call it "Mother's Little Helper."
So if you want to show your appreciation for your mom and help her heart, lungs, and cholesterol levels in the process, don't delay: book a wine or beer tour with us today!
Brooke B., So"mom"lier
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Health, holiday, Tours, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
Cinco de Mayo Beer & Wine Tours
Happy Cinco de Mayo! May 5th is a holiday that owes a lot to beer.
First and foremost, it's the day that commemorates the long-shot defeat of well-equipped French forces by the far scrappier Mexican soldiers in 1862, and whether beer was involved at the time is anyone's guess. Cinco de Mayo, a minor holiday in Mexico, eventually became a day to celebrate anti-imperialism and multiculturalism in the United States.
But it really took off in the United States in the 1980s when beer companies got involved. That's when Anheuser-Busch created “Hispanic Marketing” departments and started sponsoring big Cinco de Mayo parties, and Grupo Modelo began exporting Corona, which quickly became a huge sensation in the U.S.
So while the fifth of May isn't Mexican Independence Day as some believe (that's September 16th), it has become a big, cerveza-filled celebration in parts of Mexico and much of the United States – especially the parts around the border – thanks to big beer companies and savvy marketing.
We're not complaining, though. Everybody wins when beer is involved! If you get the chance, forgo the big brands for newer, tasty Mexican microbrews like Guëra from Cervecería Tijuana or Minerva's Imperial Stout.
For local wines and microbrewery craft beer tours and parties this Cinco de Mayo weekend, San Diego Beer and Wine Tours has got you covered:
We'll pick you up and take you to the best fiestas in town. And we'll drop you back in Mexican Old Town, San Diego to party all night! We'll be running our safe, fun, and sustainable GREEN tours May 1-7, so check out our Winery Bus Tours, Beer Train Tours and Winery Train Tours for an over-the-top Cinco de Mayo Weekend Celebration!
And if getting a driver and party tour guide while you drink isn't enough, we're going to sweeten the deal: Buy cinco (5) Brewery or Winery Tour Tickets, and get a sixth one FREE* (*Good through May 7th, 2012, mention “Cinco5”)
Posted in Beer, Breweries, bus tours, Food and Vine, holiday, Local Business, San Diego Wine Country, Theme Tours, Tours, Wine, Wineries |
Earth Day – We Live it!
Since Earth Day debuted on April 22nd,1970, it's gone from fringe to mainstream as people all over the world began to realize that responsible stewardship of the earth is a matter of human survival. But it doesn't need to be difficult. You can celebrate Earth Day with fun and in style. All you need is great local beer and wine, delicious fresh farm-to-table food, and a low-emission way to travel.
It may sound too good to be true, but that's exactly what we've been doing since we started our Green Tours. San Diego Beer and Wine Tours emphasizes local food and drink, which cuts down on fuel emissions and travel time, and is committed to green living, which is why we offer Beer Train Tours and Wine Coaster Train Tours. Our unique tours showcasing San Diego's infamous craft beer scene and burgeoning wine world emphasize delicious foods and delightful drinks, all made close to home and experienced on a train (which gets about 150 miles to the gallon on a full passenger load!)
So come out and see us on Earth Day, or any other day you like. After all, we don't just talk about sustainability once a year – we live it!
Cheers! Brooke B.
http://truecostblog.com/2010/05/27/fuel-efficiency-modes-of-transportation-ranked-by-mpg/
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Local Business, Tours, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
How to Save Money and Have Fun Too!
Now that you've done your taxes, you may be asking yourself: How can I save money and have fun too?
According to Travel + Leisure Magazine, San Diego is one of the “greenest” and most eco-conscious cities in the United States, and it's getting greener than ever: public transportation is on the rise. San Diego's transit system has also received top marks for its implementation and availability. With gas prices sky-high and rising every day, hopping on a bus or a train just seems like the natural choice.
Travel + Leisure also dubbed San Diego a “locavore's delight” because it has more farms per capita than any other region in the nation, which makes it easy to sample local delights. San Diego is also a leader in the “farm-to-table” movement, which only uses locally sourced foods to cut down on transportation costs and pollution.
That's why San Diego Beer and Wine Tours is offering Coaster tours to local breweries and urban wineries. It's not just good food, booze, and great company, it's also good for the environment, and you're helping local businesses by trying their delectably fresh and delicious food, wine, and beer.
So "hop" or "graft" onto one of our wine or beer train tours and pull ahead of the curve. It's the best of all possible worlds – you're sampling the best food in the country that's fresh off the farm on one of the highest-rated public transportation systems in the country. It's a win-win all around!
Sources:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Americas-Greenest-Cities-146046975.html
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Embraces-Farm-to-Table-143007105.html
Creative Commons photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlwwycoff/3954032906/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/widnr/6583774277/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/karmadude/128272330/
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Local Business, San Diego Wine Country, Tours, Travel, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
Pair your Easter Dinner with Local Craft Beers
Tired of wine? Neither are we. But here's a different way to enjoy Easter dinner: pairing it with craft beers. Since San Diego is a beer aficionado's dream, we didn't need to look too far to find local brews to sample with your food. Here are a few suggestions:
Eggs or egg based dishes – Weissbier or wheat beer works well with eggs' characteristic flavors. Try pairing with Wahoo Wheat Beer from Ballast Point or Windansea Wheat Hefeweizen from Karl Strauss.
Ham – darker ales or lagers pair well with the smoky sweetness of Easter ham by offsetting the saltiness and amplifying other flavors. Try San Diego Dark Session Ale from Alesmith Brewing Company or Ugly, an American-style black ale from Alpine Beer Company.
Lamb – Trappist ales or Abbey ales work well with the more delicate and lean flavor of lamb (Abbey-style means the ale was not brewed by an authorized monastery.) Try your lamb with Angel's Share Abbey ale or Red Poppy sour beer, both from The Lost Abbey.
Rabbit – Not a popular food in this country, but it's tender and juicy and definitely qualifies as Easter fare. If you dig the taste of rabbit stew, you'll like it even more paired with a golden or red ale. Try it with the classic Red Trolley Ale from Karl Strauss, or Tongue Buckler Imperial Red Ale from Ballast Point.
Chocolate – If you didn't stew the Easter bunny, eat the chocolate he brings you the right way, paired with a dark roasty stout. Try your chocolate with Green Flash's excellent Double Stout, or forgo eating the chocolate and just drink a Cherry Chocolate Stout from the Stone Brewing Company instead.
And if you don't feel like cooking, we've got just the ticket. Join us on an Easter Dinner or Brunch Tour. Mention SpringFling2012 for $5 off through May 1, 2012.
“Hoppy” Easter from San Diego Beer and Wine Tours! 
Kegworks.com HomeBrewTalk.com DiscoverSD.com SanDiegoMagazine.com Alesmith.com StoneBrew.com AlpineBeerCo.com KarlStrauss.com BallastPoint.com LostAbbey.com
Posted in Beer, Breweries, holiday, Recipes, Tours, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine |
E-Z Taxes – Just Add Wine!
Are you in the RED or in the BLACK?
Every year, at about this time, I hear a sizeable, collaborative groan from the general populous regarding Tax Time.
Doing your taxes doesn’t have to get you down - Just add Wine.
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You may not create the best return, but you’ll have fun!
And if a refund isn’t in your future…don’t worry, be happy:
Throughout the month of April, we’re offering our annual tax time special of $10.40 off any tour* (includes Paso Robles Weekend!)
It's E-Z! Just mention 1040 to get your discount.
Cheers!
Shira Bliss
*Choose your Tasty Adventure:
Beer & Wine Train Tours; Walking Tours; Bus Tours; Dinner Parties
Posted in Beer, Breweries, holiday, Local Business, San Diego Wine Country, Tours, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |
Don’t be an April Fool!
Expensive wines aren't always good wines. Who hasn't had the experience of being seduced by snappy packaging into paying way too much for a bottle of wine that is, quite frankly, mediocre? The same goes for beer. Even here, in the heart of craft beer country, there are great beers… and then there are duds.
This April First, don't be “fooled” by bad beer and wine in a beautiful glass! How do you learn to tell the difference between what's pleasing to the palate and what's just barely palatable? Often, learning which brands are delicious and which to pass on is a matter of trial and error or personal taste, but sometimes people don't know the signs of a corked wine, especially when it's being served to them in a restaurant. Here's a tip – if your wine smells like a lit match, a horse blanket, wet newspaper, or a basement, pour it out or send it back, and get a clean wine glass!
Craft beer is subject to issues of its own. While mass-produced beer is pasteurized, which stabilizes the product and makes it taste homogeneous, craft beer is often “alive,” which means it is still in the process of fermentation and therefore prone to infection (yes, that's what it's called.) If your beer tastes overwhelmingly of corn, butter, sulfur, or just plain skunkiness, toss it out. However, sourness and bitterness is usually intended by the brewer.
Want to know more? Join one of our walking or train tours and learn about wine and beer from our experts. If you don't feel like walking, we’ll pick you up and drive you to sample the superb wines of San Diego Wine Country.
No fooling!
Brooke B., SDBW Resident Writer
Sources: Huffington Post Beer Advocate Rate Beer
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Health, San Diego Wine Country, Theme Tours, Tours, Travel, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Winemaking, Wineries |
Catch the Luck of the Irish!
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Saint Patrick's Day is on its way, and it's bringing a brand-new BEER TRAIN TOUR with it! Come celebrate the luck of the Irish with us as we sample the best brews San Diego has to offer. And in keeping with St. Patty’s Day, Go GREEN by traveling with us on this exciting beer tour by train! |
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Saint Patrick's Day commemorates the life of one of Ireland's patron saints. Here in the States, St. Patrick's Day is a party for two kinds of people –Irish and those who wish they were — and celebrated with green clothing, green beer, and traditional Irish food and music. Side Note: Our founder Shira Bliss was born on St. Patrick’s Day in Belfast Northern Ireland! |
The party doesn't stop at the border. Just a few miles south, Mexico celebrates its own version of Saint Patrick's Day. After Ireland's potato famine forced many Irish out of their home country, many went to the United States, joining the U.S. Army with the understanding that they would receive American citizenship for their service.
Some of those Irish soldiers were sent to fight in the Mexican-American war. Eventually, the soldiers balked at the idea of shooting Mexican soldiers, many of whom were the only friendly faces on the lonely and windblown border outposts. They defected to Mexico, where the soldiers of the Batallón de San Patricio fought against their former employers.
The United States rounded up and hanged most of these defectors, but Mexico still considers them heroes. To this day, you can find streets and towns named San Patricio and Obregon (O'Brien) and a Mexican flag flies in Galway, Ireland, to celebrate the enduring friendship between the two countries.
No matter what side of the border you're from, celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day, or any day with us, and tip back a pint on our Beer Train Tour*.
Sláinte!
Brooke Binkowski
Resident Journalist for San Diego Beer & Wine Tours
*Beer Train Tours run daily, year round, rain or shine.
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Company News, holiday, Theme Tours, Tours, Travel, Uncategorized |
Leap into Fun!
Ask us about our Saint Patrick's Day tours!
Leap into something new, turn your routine on its ear, and have fun doing it! That isn't just a suggestion – it's part of a long and storied tradition.
Leap years, as you probably know, occur only in years divisible by four (or, in the case of a brand-new century, by 400.) The extra day that gets added onto the end of February helps synchronize the Gregorian calendar with the solar year, keeping important dates, such as the spring equinox, from drifting off into other seasons.
Since it is out of the ordinary, the Leap Year is also the subject of colorful folklore. In the British Isles, back when gender roles were much stricter, February 29 th was traditionally the only day that women could propose marriage to men; if he turned her down he had to pay a substantial amount of money, either to the would-be bride or to the Crown. It all started, according to tradition, in Ireland sometime around the 5 th century, when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick that women had to wait far too long for men to propose – and thus, “The Ladies' Privilege” was born.
Whether or not the story of St. Bridey's Complaint is true is anybody's guess. What is indisputable is that February 29 th is associated with good luck (babies born on this day are thought to be exceptionally blessed) and a happy break in the routine.
So, whether you need a romantic setting to pop the question, a decadent way to celebrate your singlehood, or just a way to enjoy yourself on a lucky day, this is the perfect time to shake up your schedule in the best way possible: by booking one of our popular tours and savoring delicious wine, beer, and tasty food with us. And if you miss the quadrennial, don't despair – there are plenty more tours coming up!
Cheers!
Brooke Binkowski
Resident Journalist
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Happy Hour, Health, holiday, Theme Tours, Tours, Travel, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine |
Every Day is Valentine’s Day
Every day is Valentine’s Day when you’ve got Love in your heart. Whether or not, you have a Special Other to join you in celebrating Valentine’s day, why not create a party just for yourself? When it comes to finding the Love of Your Life, he/she may be closer than you think. Look inside your heart. You may be surprised to find that all the Love you need is right there looking back at you in the mirror.
We’re much more likely to draw our Love Partner to us if we first cultivate a deep, accepting love for ourselves. One way to do that is to nurture yourself, as if you are hosting an honorable guest. On Valentine’s Day, which, by the way, is my favorite holiday, I pop open a bottle of bubbly and create a grand meal, whether I’m with another, or by myself. I’m going to share with you one of my favorite romantic dinner menus.
For the basic ingredients, you’ll need fresh halibut, bok choy, capers, lemons, and white wine (cheap stuff is fine, this is not for drinking!). We’ll serve our “Pan Fried Halibut with Capers” on a bed of sautéed bok choy, and alongside oven roasted gold and sweet potatoes. In the spirit of Love, I like to add heart shaped, red bell pepper to this main dish. A fresh, green salad with the addition of apples, berries, and caramelized pecans, drizzled with raspberry dressing will happily accompany the entree. I paired this delightful main dish with a wonderful, local San Diego white wine blend from Salerno Winery – Bianco Tosto 2007. Our romantic dinner wouldn’t be complete without a decadent desert. You’re going to love my tasty chocolate Fudge topped with red candy, shaped into a heart. (Recipes are below.)
So, this Valentine’s Day, and everyday, celebrate the Love you have in your heart for yourself, and watch how others are drawn to your beauty that radiates from within.
And if you feel like joining others on Valentine’s Day, we have wonderful romantic tours. Come as a single or bring a friend.
Shira Bliss, La Jolla Wine Tours.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 10 oz halibut pieces
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 Tbs Italian parsley chopped
- 1/4 lemon juiced
- 4 chopped spring onion (green only)
- 3 tablespoons capers, with liquid
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the halibut on both sides until nicely browned. Remove from pan, and set aside. Sauté the bok choy in a little butter set aside.Pour the wine into the pan, and use a spatula to scrape any browned bits from the bottom. Let the wine reduce to almost nothing, then stir in the garlic, lemon juice, butter and capers. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer for a minute to blend the flavors. Return the fish to the pan, and coat them with sauce. Cook until fish flakes easily with a fork. Serve fish immediately with the sauce from the pan poured over it, on top of the cooked bok choy.
Oven Fried Gold and Sweet Potatoes
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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2 gold potatoes and 2 sweet potatoes sliced thinly
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2 large cloves garlic, chopped
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Parsley, marjoram
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Salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
Coat the potatoes with parsley, marjoram, olive oil, salt and pepper and freshly chopped garlic. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 mins. Turn once halfway through.
Valentine’s Fudge
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6 tablespoons butter
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3 1/2 cups powdered (confectioners) sugar or agave
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1/2 cup cocoa
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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1/4 cup milk
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1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Directions:
Lightly grease a 5×9 inch loaf pan using a little of the margarine. Place the remaining butter, sugar, cocoa, vanilla and soy milk in a heatproof mixing bowl or the upper part of a double broiler. Place the bowl or broiler over simmering water and stir until smooth. Add the nuts if desired. Pour the mixture quickly into the prepared pan. Chill thoroughly, and cut into squares. Decorate with red candies into the shape of a heart. For a great pairing try San Diego's Witchcreek Winery Cool Cat sparkling wine!
Makes 2 to 3 dozen squares. 
Posted in Food and Vine, Health, holiday, Recipes, Theme Tours, Tours, Valentine, Wine |