Craft Beer Concierge
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Certified Cicerone with a passion for beer education and supporting the beer community at large. Lager lover, Saison savant. Come see beer through my eyes.
Can’t stop, won’t stop immersing myself in new beer-soaked experiences and that’s exactly what Laughing Monk Brewing invited me to the other night.
They hosted a Kamayan style filipino feast , which turns everything you know about a beer dinner on its head.
Just having celebrated their 10th anniversary as a Bay Area Brewery and in advance of debuting a new flavorful flight for Asian Pacific Islander celebrations coming up, their chef invited a handful of friends to their NOPA gastropub and said “leave all conventions behind about how you’d usually eat”
Kamayan feasting involves laying a smorgasbord of food such as noodles, grilled meats, lumpia, shrimp out on a table covered in banana leaves where you’re supposed to ‘nest’ the proteins into a pile of rice or noodles, and just dig in - no utensils needed! I felt so ‘dirty’ but also so free literally eating off an aromatic table with my hands.
We were brought 4 beers of laughing monk’s that had been infused with flavors to match the intensity of the foods and sauces. These were beers like a Calamansi blonde ale, Mango Mexican Lager, and to finish things off - an Ube infused baltic porter which was so earthy and delightful.
No, this wasn’t your typical sit and pair a course with a beer type of dinner. But that’s what made it so fun. It was truly meant to bring a communal sense to everyone at your table and have you interact not only with each other, but with the food. It was awesome getting to see the Hop Raised and Hop Bay Area friends there too!
Thanks to Laughing Monk for the invite!
04/21/2026
You’ve all heard of Monkish Monday…
Welcome to Monkless Monday, part one!
This Abbey inspired brewery was the bucket list brewery that was the impetus for my trip to Bend a few weeks back, and they have two locations that if you’re a fan of Belgian beers - you must get to.
Their beers are steeped in heritage and driven by innovation and that’s been fully clear since their first time I sipped on their Hazy Day in Brussels, a dry hopped hazy Belgian Tripel that came my way via back in COVID times.
I couldn’t wait to get to the Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie, a beautifully carved out pub that has river views and a killer list of Belgian inspired beers. For those who know me, it was like being a kid in a candy store getting to try my way through their Imperial Peppercorn Wit, Trinity Tripel, and devilishly rich Belgian Dark Strong Ale.
Their food is also a must try. I wish I had friends with me because I would have shared so much more! Their balsamic and goat cheese brussels with crispy bacon lardons hit the spot paired with that peppercorn witbier. Their server helped me battle my options i was weighing before ultimately landing on their fantastic take on a french dip.
Between the beautiful pub and monk chanting music that made the bathroom visit an added (and needed) “must” - this Belgian beer lover soaked in every second and cant wait to share about their other Bend location on a future monday!
04/17/2026
It was great to get a dose of Boston beers and friends on a whirlwind trip over last weekend!
When I moved last summer, I’d left my furniture and belongings behind because I was unsure where I’d be landing. With the new job on the horizon it was time to go collect, pack, and deal with cross country moving logistics. But THOSE things wouldn’t be fun to take pictures of 🤣
Just so happens I was able to squeeze in a few solid outings with some of the friends I’d made over 10 years of Boston living and it helped balance the stress of moving out. I was super thrilled that my trip just so happens to coincide with the monthly beer friends meet up put on by and at Untold Brewing Plymouth. It was so fun hanging out with people at a brewery i’d only been to once before and I enjoyed their Seatown Lager and Totem of the Tides American IPA.
When a favorite brewery makes a favorite beer style for the first time in years, you just gotta go, right?! I made sure to get to Idle Hands Craft Ales who had just released their Back to Basics Saison, which speaks to their roots in Belgian beer. Anyone remember Blanche de Grace?! 😍 I was also able to snag a smoky rich pour of their People’s Smoke Rauchbier. A brewery doing classic styles well? Be still my heart!
I of course couldn’t be visiting the area without swinging into Widowmaker Brewing where I got reacquainted with their Logic Gate Helles, silky and flavorful as ever. I also was able to get a freshly tapped pour of their Beer is Not Doomed WC IPA while catching up with
Cheers to a weekend well spent catching up, while packing up, and onto newer adventures!
Thirsty Thursday Beer Chat!
With just a few days left in the Pacific Northwest, I’m soaking up all the beers I have in my fridge while I can. This week I’m sharing Barrel Aged Saison VII from pFriem Family Brewers which I got on my trip up to Hood River a few weeks ago.
Saison Day is this coming Saturday and while you may be thinking - hey save that! I’m going to be traveling back home that day and can’t guarantee I’ll find time to enjoy it. So “Drink It Now”, it is!
This Beer is from 2024 and aged about 2 years now, sitting at 6.2% with gorgeous funk notes exuding bright lemon and pineapple. A pleasant but not in your face acidity, and a bright white head from the ceremonial uncorking - there isn’t much more of a beautiful sight than that!
Pfriem continues to put out exquisite beers and this one, which was a special gift from their bartender, is a perfect Saison Day Eve Eve (yep, it’s a thing) libation.
Cheers and happy Thirsty Thursday from your Craft Beer Concierge!
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