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laceandlager

Dames, Draughts & Debauchery
🍻Ali, Savannah, Erika, Meg & Emily
📍CO, MO/KS, FL, CA, UK 🇺🇸 🇬🇧
#craftbeerbabe

in beer we trust 🔔 • in philly enjoying @3flo

in beer we trust 🔔
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in philly enjoying @3floydsbrewing turbo reaper west coast ipa at the delicious @monsterveganphilly. i'm not a big ipa fan, but if i can find any tropical notes, i'm happy...so i'm happy ☺️

When I saw that @northcoastbrewingcompany was doin

When I saw that @northcoastbrewingcompany was doing an event at @petespizzaandtaphouse I knew I had to go.

I’ve been a North Coast Brewing fan since my early days of learning about beer. Old Rasputin was one of the first craft beers I ever had, picked up at the recommendation of someone I considered to be a very-cool-person™️. I grabbed one from World Market (🫠)and honestly, I hated it. I had never heard of an Imperial Stout and I was totally caught off guard by a beer being so rich, bold, complex. Definitely not a PBR.

Since then I’ve learned a lot about beers, from what to expect from a style to what my preferences are. While I appreciate how good it is in its category Old Rasputin still isn’t my go to. Brother Thelonious, though? 👌The good brother has become a nostalgic stronghold. Le Merle? A beer I want to cheers with. Then there is Scrimshaw, which would have been a more gentle introduction to craft beer, with is crisp Munich malt and light hops.

I’m so glad I found North Coast those years ago, and love getting to enjoy their beers now.

Cheers to beers, friends!

When it all started 🍻 Almost 10 years ago, I

When it all started 🍻

Almost 10 years ago, I was reading an article about @forbiddenroot by the @chicagobeergeeks. I was in my old classroom where I taught literature and English to high school students. My days were spent editing student work and planning for the next assessments and lessons. I wasn’t bored, but I needed more.

I reached out to @sonicgt of the CBGs, and asked if I could possibly edit their work for no charge. I just desperately wanted to be involved! Not only did Dan say “yes,” he invited me to join as a Chicago correspondent. I began attending events, taking photos and writing about my experiences in the Chicago brew scene, and refining my taste for craft beer.

1. Celebrating 500 years of the reinheitsgebot at Prost!
2. Running the @chicagobeergeeks merch booth
3. Taking photos for the opening of @ten90brewing
4. Pouring hops for Penguin Hops with @revbrewchicago and @shedd_aquarium
5 + 6. Fun at @fobab
7 + 8. Podcasting from @tightheadbrew
9. Enjoying a rice lager in Echo Park last month 😘

Now I live in another fabulous beer town - Fort Collins - and have my very own beer blog, @laceandlager. Our female-forward group is comprised of myself and 4 other fantastic women in 4 other cities and 2 countries. Almost 2,500 of you think we are really cool, and we are so grateful for that.

It’s amazing what can happen in 10 years!

Cheers 🍻 Ali

#beerscene #chicagobeer #chicagobeerscene #laceandlager #craftbeerbabe #craftbeerchick #craftbeerwife #craftbeermom

It’s springtime in Kansas City, and everybody kn

It’s springtime in Kansas City, and everybody knows that means it’s Pale Ale on the Roof season ;).
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@boulevard_beer Pale Ale is my year-round go-to these days. It is Our Original, after all. This caramel-colored beauty is the perfect balance, showcasing a malty backbone with bright Cascade hops shining over top. The bitterness is just right for a gal who doesn’t live and die by hops (me), and it pours with a beautiful white, fluffy head. I think it’s one of our most appetizing looking beers, and it always, always hits the spot.
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Cheers to sunshine and great beer. A timeless combo. 🍻E

Serendipity: A total chance occurance resulting in

Serendipity: A total chance occurance resulting in an extraordinarily favourable outcome.

You may remember that last month I went to @sirencraftbrew and brewed a beer with some wonderful women on IWD. I hold that very beer in my hand now and never has a beer name been more apt.

With every sensational sip, it's blowing my mind to know that this extraordinary beer is the product of a chance meeting between myself and @hayley.pearce . We'd been following each other on Instagram for a while: Hayley enjoyed reading my beer reviews and I enjoyed her insights into life as a female brewer. When she got in touch and asked if we could combine our skill sets to make a beer, I was flabbergasted, but of course jumped at the chance.

One evening back in October, we met up to discuss ideas over a pint. We connected over our love of Belgium, including Belgian chocolate; we spoke about our favourite beers - both from Siren and beyond; we chatted ABV, mouthfeel, ingredients; and all of this was documented in Hayley's sparkly notebook ✨

We settled on a 7.4% Ruby Chocolate stout. If you've ever tried Ruby Chocolate before, it's sweet like white chocolate but with a fruity edge; it's 100% natural and made from rare ruby cacao pods. We wanted to experiment with making a white stout; creating a pale base beer and using ingredients to naturally alter the colour to a ruby-like red. We also wanted it to have a thick, luxurious mouthfeel, so we opted for a 5 hour extended boil.

This has shed loads of cacao, sweet black cherry purée, vanilla and ruby chocolate in, as well as some tonka too 😋

And the finished product? It's everything I hoped it would be!! Beautiful red colour, velvety smooth, thick mouthfeel; hugely chocolatey and sweet; the cherry bounces around your taste buds melding to the chocolate notes, without adding any of the sourness you can sometimes get from cherry.

Honestly guys, I'm suuuuuper proud of @hayley.pearce and I for this one. For those of you who are able to grab yourself a can of Serendipity or try it on draft, I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts!

- Emily 💕

Took a little trip to the big city and visited the

Took a little trip to the big city and visited the prettiest tap room! @hopgardenpub is in the Curtis Park neighborhood in Sacramento. It has a great tap list and excellent food.

I had been wanting to try Camp Fog Lake from @slicebeer since I saw it was being made! Riwaka hops give this Hazy IPA lots of lemon and passion fruit flavor, but it has a funky side, too. Mysterious and compelling as a foggy lake, indeed!

Cheers to thriving gardens and delicious beer!

Two ladies, lightly lagering on a Tuesday 🍻 I

Two ladies, lightly lagering on a Tuesday 🍻

I met Cassie 4 years ago through my old beer group, Babies & Brews. Our oldest kiddos are the same age and we now have 5 kids between the two of us!

We both had a few hours to escape today so we met at @stodgybrewing to enjoy some yummy beers without threat of kids or work.

We had the doppelbock, pale ale, winter ale, and hazy ipa. Each one was so delicious! Especially since we’re sitting outside in the fresh air and sunshine.

Cheers to friendship and fermentation!

(and alliteration)

🍻Ali

#stodgybrewing #coloradocraftbeer #laceandlager #craftbeerbabe #craftbeerchick #craftbeermomma #fortcollinsbeer @skicc5

After pressing the pause button on beer for the la

After pressing the pause button on beer for the last week or so, I'm treating myself tonight to Big Dave by @twoflintsbrewery .

We visited Two Flints' taproom over in Windsor a few weeks back on Mother's Day, where I tried Big Dave on tap. Just like the other 'Bigs' in TF's range, Dave is pretty sensational, so needed to take a can home with me.

Weighing in at 8.2%, this hazy DIPA is loaded with Nectaron, Riwaka and Citra. The aroma is tropical fruits with a dank, slightly savoury edge. Full, creamy mouthfeel with notes of mango, passionfruit, peach; a smokey, savoury undertone coming from the Riwaka 🤤

- Emily 💕

that first vacay beer at the airport hits differen

that first vacay beer at the airport hits different 😆
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@hey30a @graytonbeer blonde is just heavy enough to satisfy that beer quench and light enough for multiple pours 🍻 cheers to the weekend, friends! sav🖤

Soooo excited for Verboten North!! One of my fav

Soooo excited for Verboten North!!

One of my favorite NoCo breweries is opening a second location in Fort Collins. Loveland’s @verbotenbrewing bought Black Bottle and will bring its “forbidden” beers to College and Prospect any day now. They are hiring currently!

I’m sad to see Black Bottle go, but Tom is doing just fine at @mythmakerbrewing - definitely check that place out if you haven’t been yet!

If anyone has any extra bottles of their 11th anniversary Brewer’s Select barrel-aged blended ale, pretty please DM me at @laceandlager

🍻 Ali

#verbotenbrewing #coloradocraftbeer #craftbeerbabe #craftbeerchick #craftbeermom #laceandlager #drinklocalbeer

Everybody must get “Stoned” Last weekend, I f

Everybody must get “Stoned”

Last weekend, I flew out to San Diego for a ladies weekend with some dear friends from college. Our adventures took us to Oceanside and of course we had to spend a few hours at the @stonebrewing taproom.

I chose their 8.5% Hazy Double IPA Fear.Movie.Lions, a blend of cross-country styles. Its bitter/hoppy backbone perfectly balances the haze and aroma of an east coast ipa. Next up was their Gargoyle’s Slumber Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels. This beer was incredibly rich, roasty, full of coffee and cocoa - perfect for slow savoring.

What is your favorite Stone beer?

Cheers! 🍻 Ali

#stonebrewing #californiacraftbeer #imperialstout #laceandlager #craftbeermom #craftbeerbabe #craftbeerchick @everthrive

Oh heyyyy Simcoe Saturday 🙌 I wouldn't say I'v

Oh heyyyy Simcoe Saturday 🙌

I wouldn't say I've ever classed Simcoe as one of my favourite hops. Typically NZ hops like Riwaka, Nelson and Motueka are more my bag, but ooooh boy, have @vibrantforest changed my mind! Caldera Lake is an 8% stunning showcase of Simcoe and it's abso-bloody-lutely delicious 🤯

Apricot, pineapple and peach on the nose. These notes are reflected in the taste but with an extra hint of resin and pine. Smooth, creamy and full-bodied. My goodness, I could drink this all day; although that would be dangerous..... 👀

Hope you're all having a great weekend!

- Emily 💕

the only thing i'm working on is my tan ☀️ •

the only thing i'm working on is my tan ☀️
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@destin_brewery emerald coast ultra is the perfect lager for a beach day: clean, crisp, lower than 5% and you always want more than one!
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cheers to warmer weather, my friends! sav🖤

We are back with a 1-2 Punch from @crookedlanebrew

We are back with a 1-2 Punch from @crookedlanebrewing!

So glad that @reelrock came to Nevada City this year, and thankful that @communalcafenc had excellent food and drink to get us ready for the show!

I’m so glad to be in a community that supports each other through so many spaces- beer, food and climbing included.

Cheers, all!

Happy Spring! It’s 63° and sunny in Fort Coll

Happy Spring!

It’s 63° and sunny in Fort Collins, which means the real feel is about 80°. The irises and tulips are emerging from their winter slumber, and I was so distracted by nature’s beauty that my pour turned out horrible 😂 swipe to see too much head on this otherwise flawless Hazy IPA “Chasing the Mirage” from @bigcountrytaproom.

If this spring weather is a mirage, I don’t know what I’ll do 🤪

Cheers to warmer temps and spring time fun ahead!

🍻Ali

#bigcountrybrewing #organicbeer #hazyipas #laceandlager #craftbeerbabe #craftbeermom #craftbeerchick #texascraftbeer

Post hike beers with friends always hit the spot.

Post hike beers with friends always hit the spot. We got to take a dear friend to one of our favorite places, @threeforksnc . They are an incredible part of the community, supporting the area with awesome local food, excellent beer, and a welcoming place to visit and hang out.

This go around I had the Sugarloaf Hazy IPA, which is always a good choice, but I have to give a big shout out to the (not pictured) Secret Spot Cold Pale Ale. It’s new to the menu and an absolute gem of a beer. Crisp, malty, just the right amount of Mosaic hops to offer some fruity bite.

If you find yourself in Nevada City, please check them out and drink their beer! You won’t regret it. And you might see me there.

Cheers! 🍻

Hellooooooo, California! I am so happy to be back

Hellooooooo, California!

I am so happy to be back in my element, enjoying the ☀️ It’s been 18 years and yesterday since I lived in SoCal !!

To celebrate, I started with a crisp, clean San Diego Lager. This one is from @harlandbeer is crafted with puffed Jasmine Rice, perfect for a warm sunny Los Angeles day picking grapefruits in my brother @jarvisusa ‘s front yard. I even squeezed some grapefruit juice into the beer for an extra zing!

Cheers to returning to places and spaces of yore, better than before

🍻 Ali

#californiacraftbeer #harlandbrewing #japaneselager #ricebeer #laceandlager #craftbeermom #craftbeerbabe #craftbeerchick

There are many things to love about International

There are many things to love about International Women's Day: it's a day to celebrate women's achievements throughout history; to recognise how far we've come and to lobby for further change where it's needed.

It's also a day where tonnes of breweries host women-led brews, and these are incredibly important. Women like beer. This, thankfully, no longer seems to be a surprise to many. Yet the industry is still very male-dominated. IWD brew days provide many women with opportunities to not just explore the processes of brewing, but to be inspired by other female brewers, and to have a brief insight into what could become a potential future career.

This year, I was so incredibly fortunate to have been invited along to @sirencraftbrew by the wonderful @hayley.pearce to take part in a very special brew - one of our own! 🤩 Hayley and I met and started writing a recipe together a few months back and we feel so proud of what we've come up with: a ruby chocolate stout 🩷 If you've ever tried ruby chocolate before, it's smooth, creamy, almost like white chocolate but with a fruity edge - and it's completely natural! The beer is going to be full-bodied, with lashings of cacao nibs, ruby chocolate and a sweet fruity edge 🤤

We were joined for the brew day by some absolutely amazing women who work in all different departments. Yes, brewing is physical work, but we quite frankly smashed it 🤣 And we left at the end of the day feeling super proud of what we'd done, and incredibly excited to see/ taste the finished product!

- Emily 💕

happy international women's day 🫶🏽 cheers t

happy international women's day 🫶🏽

cheers to all the craft beer-loving women with nuanced palates who love what they love, regardless of societal norms!

raise a glass, or a plastic cup, to badass females everywhere♀️ cheers, sav!

I haven’t had anything from @societebrewing sinc

I haven’t had anything from @societebrewing since a visit to San Diego way back in 2016. I loved the branding and taproom then, and when I saw The Pupil on a local market shelf, I was ready to revisit!

This beer is on the bigger side at 7.5%, but it doesn’t read big at all. It has a tropical nose and crisp flavor with a little funk. This is a beer I want to enjoy with friends around a fire. Beer Folk Unite, indeed!

Also, shoutout to the kind woman who rung me up for said beer and told me she liked my look. Here’s to complimenting strangers!

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