Drinking Up Podcast

Is your January and possibly beyond dry? We explored some non-alcoholic alternatives to your favorite beverages so that you can still enjoy having a cocktail (or five since you don't have to worry about driving!) while staying on the wagon.

WHAT WE HAD ON THE SHOW:

Shelley: Surreal Brewing - Chandelier Red IPA & 17 Mile Porter
Also mentioned:
O’Doul’s by Anheuser-Busch
Kaliber by Guinness
Buckler by Heineken
Partake Brewing, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bravus Brewing in Newport Beach, CA
Athletic Brewing, Stamford CO
Brew Dog
WellBeing Brewery
Mikkeller Brewing

Mary: Calvits Drinking Shrubs with cranberry, rosemary & cracked black pepper

Lily: Seedlip Garden & Grove

WHAT WE'VE BEEN DRINKING:

Lily has been enjoying Glühwein, a type of mulled wine.
Shelley visited Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank, CA to try a few beers they had on tap.
Mary has been reading The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

Is your January and possibly beyond dry? We explored some non-alcoholic alternatives to your favorite beverages so that you can still enjoy having a cocktail (or five since you don't have to worry about driving!) while staying on the wagon.

WHAT WE HAD ON THE SHOW:

Shelley: Surreal Brewing - Chandelier Red IPA & 17 Mile Porter
Also mentioned:
O’Doul’s by Anheuser-Busch
Kaliber by Guinness
Buckler by Heineken
Partake Brewing, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Bravus Brewing in Newport Beach, CA
Athletic Brewing, Stamford CO
Brew Dog
WellBeing Brewery
Mikkeller Brewing

Mary: Calvits Drinking Shrubs with cranberry, rosemary & cracked black pepper

Lily: Seedlip Garden & Grove

WHAT WE'VE BEEN DRINKING:

Lily has been enjoying Glühwein, a type of mulled wine.
Shelley visited Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank, CA to try a few beers they had on tap.
Mary has been reading The Drunken Botanist by Amy Stewart

New year, new you, amirite? Except you're not planning to go dry anytime soon. We got you. Join us as we explore a few healthy-ish-er options so that you can still satiate that craving for a pint, glass or cocktail at the end of your day. Cheers to 2020!

WHAT WE DRANK:

Shelley: Black Dog Sour Cider from 101 Cider House, purchased at Hop Merchants Bottle Shop & Taproom in North Hollywood, CA.
Mary: Old Vine Zinfandel from Cline Cellars in Lodi, CA.
Lily: LLB cocktail using Angostura bitters

SHOUTOUTS:
Shelley chatted about attending the Los Angeles Beer Summit in Long Beach, CA & a visit to Lincoln Beer Company in Burbank, CA
Mary was treated to Verve Cliquot and is currently reading The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It the story behind the brand.
Lily is enjoying using Majestic brand pickled garlic in her martinis, purchased on Instacart.

And as always, we love Trader Joe's!

New year, new you, amirite? Except you're not planning to go dry anytime soon. We got you. Join us as we explore a few healthy-ish-er options so that you can still satiate that craving for a pint, glass or cocktail at the end of your day. Cheers to 2020!

WHAT WE DRANK:

Shelley: Black Dog Sour Cider from 101 Cider House, purchased at Hop Merchants Bottle Shop & Taproom in North Hollywood, CA.
Mary: Old Vine Zinfandel from Cline Cellars in Lodi, CA.
Lily: LLB cocktail using Angostura bitters

SHOUTOUTS:
Shelley chatted about attending the Los Angeles Beer Summit in Long Beach, CA & a visit to Lincoln Beer Company in Burbank, CA
Mary was treated to Verve Cliquot and is currently reading The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It the story behind the brand.
Lily is enjoying using Majestic brand pickled garlic in her martinis, purchased on Instacart.

And as always, we love Trader Joe's!

'Tis the season to drink merrily and we have some more suggestions on how to stay warm and jolly!

WINTER BEER:
Einstock Doppelbock

WINTER WINE:
Quady Starboard Batch 88 port style dessert wine

WINTER COCKTAIL:
Hot chocolate with Bailey's Alamande

SHOUTOUTS:
Old Town Roasting Coffee | Orange, CA

Cat and Fiddle Pub | Los Angeles, CA

Bon and Viv Spiked Seltzer 

Terasse du Moulinas rosé wine

Hop Merchants Bottle Shop | Los Angeles, CA

'Tis the season to drink merrily and we have some more suggestions on how to stay warm and jolly!

WINTER BEER:
Einstock Doppelbock

WINTER WINE:
Quady Starboard Batch 88 port style dessert wine

WINTER COCKTAIL:
Hot chocolate with Bailey's Alamande

SHOUTOUTS:
Old Town Roasting Coffee | Orange, CA

Cat and Fiddle Pub | Los Angeles, CA

Bon and Viv Spiked Seltzer 

Terasse du Moulinas rosé wine

Hop Merchants Bottle Shop | Los Angeles, CA

Warm wishes for a cozy yuletide! The gals are back with some suggestions on cozy winter drinks to enjoy this holiday season.

SHOUTOUTS:

Dr L Riesling
Untitled Art & Cerebral Brewing Collaboration Chocolate Macaroon Imperial Stout 

WINTER BEER:
Samuel Smith's - Christmas Ale
Prairie Artisan Ales - Christmas Bomb
Epic Brewing - Son of a Baptist

WINTER WINE:
Mulled wine (see recipe below)
Purple Moon Merlot - Trader Joe's
Bogle Merlot

WINTER COCKTAILS:
Hot whiskey
Tom & Jerry 

MULLED WINE RECIPE:
Ingredients: 

1 bottle merlot wine (Note: Zinfandel or a fruity red blend will also work, but will produce a slightly bolder flavor. The amount of brandy & sweetener listed below may need to be adjusted in that case.)
1 tbsp brandy, optional
1 tbsp dried mulling spice blend
8 tsp (or approx.2.5 tbsp) honey or bee-free honey substitute + more if needed
4 tsp brown sugar + more if needed

Directions: 

1) In a large saucepan or crockpot, combine wine, brandy (if desired) and mulling spice. Simmer over low heat, covered, until warmed. We recommend simmering the wine and spice mixture for at least 15 minutes to allow flavor to develop. (Note: It's important to leave the pot covered while heating or the wine will evaporate.) Alternately, you can simmer the wine and spice mixture until it's just heated, then allow it to cool & store it, tightly covered, in the refrigerator overnight. This will produce a significantly more spiced flavor, and additional sweetener may need to be added in step 3.

2) If the wine mixture was stored overnight, reheat over low. Then stir in 8 tsp honey/honey substitute and 4 tsp brown sugar. Taste to check flavor.

3) If additional sweetness is needed, add an additional 2 tsp honey/honey substitute + 1 tsp brown sugar, and taste again. Continue to add honey/honey substitute and brown sugar at the same ratio (2 tsp honey + 1 tsp brown sugar) until desired sweetness is reached.

4) Remove from heat. Skim out mulling spices using a slotted spoon, or pour mixture through a strainer into another container. Note: If you leave the mulling spices in the wine mixture, they will continue to steep and may result in a bitter flavor.

5) Serve warm. Mulled wine is typically served ladled from the pot, but we think it's less messy to pour it from a thermos or other similar container. Enjoy!

Warm wishes for a cozy yuletide! The gals are back with some suggestions on cozy winter drinks to enjoy this holiday season.

SHOUTOUTS:

Dr L Riesling
Untitled Art & Cerebral Brewing Collaboration Chocolate Macaroon Imperial Stout 

WINTER BEER:
Samuel Smith's - Christmas Ale
Prairie Artisan Ales - Christmas Bomb
Epic Brewing - Son of a Baptist

WINTER WINE:
Mulled wine (see recipe below)
Purple Moon Merlot - Trader Joe's
Bogle Merlot

WINTER COCKTAILS:
Hot whiskey
Tom & Jerry 

MULLED WINE RECIPE:
Ingredients: 

1 bottle merlot wine (Note: Zinfandel or a fruity red blend will also work, but will produce a slightly bolder flavor. The amount of brandy & sweetener listed below may need to be adjusted in that case.)
1 tbsp brandy, optional
1 tbsp dried mulling spice blend
8 tsp (or approx.2.5 tbsp) honey or bee-free honey substitute + more if needed
4 tsp brown sugar + more if needed

Directions: 

1) In a large saucepan or crockpot, combine wine, brandy (if desired) and mulling spice. Simmer over low heat, covered, until warmed. We recommend simmering the wine and spice mixture for at least 15 minutes to allow flavor to develop. (Note: It's important to leave the pot covered while heating or the wine will evaporate.) Alternately, you can simmer the wine and spice mixture until it's just heated, then allow it to cool & store it, tightly covered, in the refrigerator overnight. This will produce a significantly more spiced flavor, and additional sweetener may need to be added in step 3.

2) If the wine mixture was stored overnight, reheat over low. Then stir in 8 tsp honey/honey substitute and 4 tsp brown sugar. Taste to check flavor.

3) If additional sweetness is needed, add an additional 2 tsp honey/honey substitute + 1 tsp brown sugar, and taste again. Continue to add honey/honey substitute and brown sugar at the same ratio (2 tsp honey + 1 tsp brown sugar) until desired sweetness is reached.

4) Remove from heat. Skim out mulling spices using a slotted spoon, or pour mixture through a strainer into another container. Note: If you leave the mulling spices in the wine mixture, they will continue to steep and may result in a bitter flavor.

5) Serve warm. Mulled wine is typically served ladled from the pot, but we think it's less messy to pour it from a thermos or other similar container. Enjoy!

Holiday season is just around the corner and the ladies have some suggestions of what to bring to your parties this year!

BEER:
Epic Brewery - Pumpkin Porter

WINE:
White: Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling
Red: Hahn Pinot Noir

COCKTAIL:
Aperitif: Lillet blanc tonic

Holiday season is just around the corner and the ladies have some suggestions of what to bring to your parties this year!

BEER:
Epic Brewery - Pumpkin Porter

WINE:
White: Chateau Ste Michelle Dry Riesling
Red: Hahn Pinot Noir

COCKTAIL:
Aperitif: Lillet blanc tonic