La Jolla Half Marathon – Beer Runner
The La Jolla Half Marathon is this Sunday, and in its honor we're going to tell you a secret. If you're a runner, you probably already know it. If you aren't a runner, this might change your mind.
Here it is. After a long run, there are a very few drinks recommended for recovery during training for a marathon. As hardcore runners and Hash House Harriers have known for generations, one of the shining stars of recovery drinks is… beer.
Thirsty after the run? La Jolla Brew House has just the ticket to quench your thirst!
That's right – after punishing your body after a long run, it turns out that tipping back a beer or two will not only help your body combat inflammation and soreness, it will also pump up your immune system and help your body fight off race-busting colds.
One study, from the Technical University of Munich, recommends up to a liter and a half a day during training – although it cautioned that non-alcoholic beer was probably better because of alcohol's dehydrating effect. Another group of scientists, these from Spain's Granada University, say that alcohol actually makes beer more efficient at rehydrating the body than water alone after exercise.
Lest you think that wine is getting short shrift here, we would like to point out that resveratrol, a component of red wines, can increase endurance by up to 100 percent – in other words, a liberal dose of red wine during training could double your long runs. After a run, to ease those worked muscles, try one of our walking wine tours or winery train tours, both have 1-2 miles of walking on them.
You can't argue with science, so drink up – preferably on our craft beer walking tours or craft beer train tours. Post-run recovery doesn't get much tastier than that!
Brooke B., Beer Runner
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Health, Local Business, Travel, 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 |
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 |
Bikes and Beer
Posted in Beer, Breweries, Happy Hour, Health, Local Business, Tours, Travel |
Spotlight on Marti–Tour Guide
Marti Bommarito was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She began cooking at a very early age as the entire family–including her father–bonded by preparing dinner together regularly. She gained further inspiration from her watching her Sicilian grandmother make homemade sausage, bread, pasta and sauce from homegrown tomatoes and basil. In the late 70s she lived la vie bohème in Paris, France, and later studied Italian and Italian Renaissance culture and language in Italy. She graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a degree in Art History.
Marti in the kitchen
Marti attributes her adventuresome palate to the fact that she was “raised in a household where the only dinner-table rule was that you had to at least try everything before leaving the table. Cleaning your plate was not a requirement but disliking something that you had never tasted before was frowned upon.” And, after moving to California 15 years ago, she caught the wine bug after going wine tasting for the first time in Temecula.
In a previous life, Marti was a legal secretary for 15 years before joining La Jolla Wine Tours in April 2011. When Marti is not leading tours, she is practicing yoga, reading, swimming, cooking, or discussing food and wine with other foodies and wine enthusiasts.
Posted in Company News, Food and Vine, Local Business, Recipes, Tours, Travel, Wine |
Drinking in the Dark
Our lovely Coaster Train Wine Tour today started off beautifully in a scenic north San Diego Village. We ate more than enough at our partner fine-dining Italian restaurant and learned all about wine tasting and the process of evaluating wine. Once full of delicious Italian fare, we strolled over to our first urban Winery and sampled a large assortment of their wine. Our talented winemaker, and his crew were busy moving things around in the winery in preparation for the harvest. Grapes are coming soon! Our hostess, Sherry, was nice enough to describe the basic wine making process and our guests enjoyed poking around the winery to check out all the fancy equipment. Once finished, we had some extra time before the coaster, so we walked down towards the water and just enjoyed the sights and sound of the ocean waves for a while. Very refreshing.
We caught the train south in perfect time. Little did we know it would be the last running coaster train for over 3 hours! We enjoyed window shopping in our next little coastal village before arriving at our next boutique winery. We tasted our way down their wine list while reports of the blackout started rolling in. Knowing that the trains were not running for a while, our winemaker invited us to stay. A winery is the PERFECT place to be stranded in a blackout! The power being out did not stop our guests from ordering lots of delicious wines. Together, they ordered a case of wine to be delivered to their home in Minnesota. We were the only guests there our winemaker and tasting host treated our guests with special off-the-menu tastings. We had fun conversations about winemaking and how long the winery could operate without power. The winemaker reported to us: “Only one day.” Good thing they got power up and running again quickly!
While waiting on the platform, we made some new friends. Lots of people ran out of gas and were hoping the Coaster could take them home to San Diego. One couple needed to get home to their dogs in Chula Vista. Our guests raved about the wine tour they were on and how much they ate and drank all afternoon. Our new friends were envious so we shared some leftover cheese and bread with them. Even after waiting an hour for the train, we all agreed that there are worse places to be stranded. Considering worst case scenario was to lay on the gorgeous beach there, watch the sunset, sip on a glass of Muscat, and dine on chocolate and cheese all evening…. I’m sure I was not the only one secretly hoping the Coaster would not come 
But alas, around 6:45pm a train pulled into the station. When the doors opened, a whole bunch of people exited the train shouting “freedom!” Apparently they have been stuck on the train since the power shut off around 3:40pm. Oh dear! Along the way south, we saw a broken sewage pipe in the road off to our left. The streets were completely flooded and blocked off by police vehicles. The news this morning reported that over 3.2 million gallons of sewage have contaminated our lovely beach towns. How unfortunate!
Next we arrived in a usually bustling town which was eerily quiet and deserted. Our final winery stop was closed but our guests were amazing and completely understanding. They enjoyed all of the wines and VIP treatment at our other stops. Before we hugged goodbye I gave them complimentary tickets for our winery that was closed so as they could experience that wonderful stop in the future. I left them with their dark chocolate bar to enjoy at their leisure and said goodbye. Their plans that evening were to drink Muscat and dine on chips and chocolate next to their hotel pool. Lovely!
Thanks to our tour guide Heather for the above blog post.
Posted in Food and Vine, Happy Hour, holiday, Local Business, Theme Tours, Tours, Travel, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Winemaking, Wineries |