M-O-O-N, that spells “fun”

Werewolves, take note! The biggest and brightest moon of the year will be making an appearance for Cinco de Mayo.

The full moon has had a dangerous reputation for centuries. Women have “moon babies,” people lose their minds, and emergency rooms fill up with people suffering from strange and exotic injuries, or at least that's how the old wives' tales go. Tales of crazy behavior and the moon's phases are so inextricably intertwined that they spawned the word “lunatic,” which comes from the Latin word luna, meaning, of course, moon.

We don't think any of this is a bad thing. In fact, we think that this is a great time to go a little crazy! Come howl at the supermoon with us and we'll show you the best places to let your lunatic flag fly: Join us for the Cinco de Mayo weekend festivities!

Brooke B., Moonbat

Posted in Beer, Breweries, bus tours, Food and Vine, Happy Hour, holiday, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Wineries |

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 |

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 |

Earth Day – We Live it!

Since Earth Day debuted on April 22^nd,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 |

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. 

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 |

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 |

A Beautiful Beer Tour

At 3pm on a Friday in La Jolla Village, what better way to spend your time than with your family and friends enjoying local craft beer and delicious food.

Posted in Beer, Breweries, Tours, Walking Tours |

A Taste of Little Italy

Posted in Beer, Breweries, Food and Vine, Happy Hour, Local Business, Tours, Uncategorized, Walking Tours, Wine, Wine Train, Winemaking, Wineries |