Blackstone for Brews

Since I went around a full week guzzling any wine that was put in front of me, I think its time to hit the brews. Anddd its perfect timing because Blackstone is hosting a Founders Night, TONIGHTT!!

Baseball is in full swing, the sun has actually come out, all thats missing is a chilled brew to actually make it feel like we are getting out of this never-ending winter. 

Blackstone will be tapping 10 Founders brews starting at 4pm.

Although I love beer, I am no beer connoisseur so I'll save my over zealous details for the food and let y'all read up on the brewskies:

Some little tidbits:

UPDATE UPDATE!! Instead of the Porter there will be a Rubaeus. Founder's site explains the beer to be "fresh raspberries to get a perfect balance of sweet and tart" ABV 5.7%

The Sweet Repute... the Backwoods Bastard... and the KBS are all bourbon barrel aged beers...I mean I think I could drink anything out of those barrels and it would taste amazing. Oh and don't worry, Blackstone is prepared and has a Bourbon Barrel Aged Reds Rye to tap after the KBS pops! 

The Curmudgeon Old Ale is a limited edition...so its pretty darn special.

And whats better than one beer...being able to taste four at once! there will be one flight available with these four brews, each with a 5 oz pour: 

All Day IPA, 

Red's Rye, 

Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale, 

 Rubaeus

Now onto my favorite part...the food specials! 

Our own Chef Will is making four specials...so you can try one, get all four and share, or do as I do and order all four to yourself (and slap anybody's hands away that tries to smooch). And hey...with all the beer that you're going to be drinking, you are gonna need some grub to absorb that booze!

Coffee-Cocoa Chicken Wings

This pound of wings will be hand rubbed with a coffee-cocoa rub and served with a creamy wasabi-cilantro cream and a fresh cooling slaw. 

Pretzel Bites

These nuggs are made out of housemade dough and then baked to puffy perfection. Then they are adorned with black lava salt (we fancy). And still upset basketball season is over...? No worries there are two sauces that you'll be able to dunk with: honey mustard and smoked gouda. 

suggested pair: CENTENNIAL IPA OR KBS

All Day Fish & Chips

So if you weren't able to try out the fish and chips Blackstone had, don't worry you still have the opportunity! Chef Will is using the All Day beer to batter some pullock until golden. Served with some hand cut cottage fries and a jalapeño tarter sauce, but don't shy away it's more cooling than bringing the heat. 

suggested pair: ALL DAY IPA (obvi)

Braised Short Ribs

Short ribs braised in pear, apple, onion, ginger, and carrot over a cheddar and gouda polenta...I repeat a cheesy polenta and a creamy korean coleslaw. Goodness gracious, I am such a sucker for some ribs

suggested pair: SWEET REPUTE or CURMUDGEON

This is such a HUGE opportunity to experience some great brews while munching on a lot of food. Founders will also be giving away samples and beer merchandise! So get your booties to Blackstone people, and when you get there and grab a beer make sure to check in via Untappd or tag @blackstoneic on Instagram and receive a free Blackstone "can-glass"! 

San Fran

Yes yes, I know this is a super late post of the latter half of Spring Break in San Francisco, but its been a majorly busy week and a half of being back. 

Day one: 

We started by driving into San Francisco and stopping for lunch at this beauty of a place, The Spinnaker. The views were absolutely to die for and it was the perfect day, weather and all. 

I shockingly went with a salmon salad, after eating the way we had been for so long it was time for something fresh and simple…minus the tons of bread that I ate. Oh and don't worry this salad had some goat cheese on it…I mean do you expect anything less? 

We then headed to Bay Area to take a "tradish" pic…but more like a throwback pic from when we were little with the tye die and all. 

Finallyy we made our way to the hotel. Middle sister had plans with some friends around town so oldest sister and I decided to walk around downtown and go shopping. Needless to say I did a lot of damage with some valid stores to go to rather than the holes in the wall that Iowa City provides me. We also snuck up to the top floor of a really tall hotel to try to see some good views…I'd say that we got some. 

Then it was time to watch the Hawks. Dad tried to find a "real" sports bar but that wasn't going too well so we stopped in a place called Paragon. Although the food was good, two small tv's didn't really do its justice for the title sports bar. But anyways…back to the food. 

I started off with a white blood orange sangria, which was delicious. I absolutely love sangrias, especially white wine ones, especially blood orange…this thing had my name written all over. it. 

Then it was time for the apps. We started off with some wings, to be honest I don't know what the sauce was on these but it was a combination of spicy and sweet and were a delight. On the right were something that we kept seeing pass by us so we decided to give them a try, mushroom cigars. The only way I can think of how to describe these are very thin taquitos (if you don't know what a taquito is…move to Texas), butt they were filled with mushrooms, which is in my obsession phase of the moment so these were a win as well. 

Then came my meal. I went all in and got some St. Louis style ribs and Mac and Cheese. I can't lie, both of these were amazing. The ribs were fall off the bone and covered in this sweet bbq sauce, and that slaw on top…okay I need to stop my self. And the mac and cheese was…well I mean it's mac and cheese with white cheddar parmesan, do I really need to go any further ?

With that and a Hawkeye loss it was time to head home and hit the bed…we were gonna need sleep for day 2. 

Day two…

Now before I start, if you don't know our family we are active and there are no obstacles…everything is accomplishable. Like walking the whole entire city of San Francisco…and you think I am joking, but I am not. 

Started off with a "walk" (a very glacier run) to a coffee place Blue Bottle, where I got to stare at some food I wanted while I waited for this cup of jo. 

Then it was shower and get ready time to hit the city, first stop the Embarcadero. 

All the vendors outside the Embarcadero Market area…once again another chance for me to stare at food that I really wanted, but this time the smells got ya too. It wasn't cool. 

We kept walking among the Piers were we got to see these boats and Dad got a cool shot of me checking out Alcatraz…yes THE Alcatraz. Next time I go to San Fran I am making it a goal to spend a whole day on that island, so interesting to me. 

Then the little stops began. First off, The Buena Vista for an irish coffee. 

Then Ghirardelli square, where we got to stare at some chocolate and try a piece too…I wanted absolutely everything in sight. 

Then Lombard Street…which is the most crooked street ever, I have no idea how people live on it. But we also had to walk up the steeeeeepest hill to just walk down it. It was one of those paths that you would try to run up and you felt like you moved an inch. 

Then Ma's only wish was to walk through China town and get some Dim Sum. No pics there, they didn't taste bad but nothing very pleasing to the eye. Then it was time to head home to relax for a bit, change and head to dinner plans. 

We ended up at Capps Corner, which I guess was a place our parents used to go. It was a very hole in the wall Italian restaurant, that was cozy and old school. It was family portions, so we went through a few baskets of bread (okay I probably went through one myself) and got this massive pot of minestrone soup, which I LOVED! 

Then I got, you guessed it…Salmon! This was super buttery and the veggies were amazing in the left over buttery semi creamy sauce. It was a very simple meal, but still as pleasing for the tastebuds. 

Then it was showwwwtime! Our parents had been ranting and raving about this performance Beach Blanket Babylon, and it lived up to every comment and even more. Its so hard to explain so you just need to go if you are ever in San Fran. Its comedy about modern day things, but they sing the whole time and wear these elaborate outfits…its hilarious. 

After two bottles of wine and too many laughs to count we headed home to pass out…after eating some salt water taffy of course. 

Day three: 

Our last day in San Fran was very chill, and I was tired so pictures were majorly lacking…my bad. 

We started the day at Pete's Tavern to sadly watch Duke lose in the first round…I don't wanna talk about it. 

We headed to Cliff House, that once again had an amazing view. I got some mushroom sammy, but the showstopper of the night were their rolls. They were popovers that were so airy and tasted like french toast…I repeat FRENCH TOAST. I think I ate about six of them.  

Later sisters and I headed down to the Embarcadero again to shop around at the little tents and then I also waited in line for this amazing ice cream by Humphrey Slocombe. I got a flavor called Secret Breakfast, which was bourbon and cornflakes and then Cinnamon Brittle, which is exactly what it tastes like. I did not want this cup of creamy delight to end…sadly it had to, and without a pic too. 

Then it was chill hotel time and then time to find another spot for March Madness watching. The sisters had plans with some friends from when we lived in Cali and so the rents and I headed back to our spot of the weekend Pete's Tavern. The rents and I got some nachos to munch on and called it a night. 

The next morning we got up early and headed to the airport to get back to the Dirty D. 

I can't even begin to explain how amazing that week was, every second made me want to pack my bags and move to Cali…anybody wanna pay for my rent?!