Enjoy some fresh beer at Ska Brewing or play cards in this sad wet tent. Tough decision.

Two days ago I returned home from the annual week-long camping trip I take with my father and the stack of camping equipment is just about dry. Due to a wild fire in our usual spot in southwestern Utah, this year we ended up in Durango, Colorado. One of my favorite places in the country, mostly for the beauty of the mountains, rivers and forests, Durango is also home to Ska Brewing, one of the coolest little breweries in the state.

After being out in the mountains since Sunday, we drove into town on Wednesday morning. The goal was to restock out supply of ice and a few other necessities that didn’t hold up so well in the almost-daily monsoon downpour, and after a brief shopping trip, we ventured over to Ska Brewing for an early lunch.

Ska Brewing – the new way to lunch

Not much of a beer person, I had to coax my father into Ska with the promise of a tour of the facility, which, unfortunately, I had to renig on. I found out, immediately after we sat down, that the tours are only run at 4PM, albeit every day. I could have looked this up on the Ska web site, sure, but since we camp about 10 miles from any cell signal I was kind of flying blind. And since it was 11 AM, and as much as I would have liked to stay dry and happy with a beer in my hand for five hours, it just wasn’t going to happen.

Ska has one of the coolest (and on-brand) taprooms around. Inside is Food Container, which is a modular restaurant add-on to the taproom constructed of reused shipping containers. You can get amazing brick oven-fired pizzas, fries, sandwiches, etc, and eat it right there in the brewery. I ordered some of the pub chips to go with our beers, as we had a finished off a stack of huge pancakes as a late breakfast at the campsite and weren’t very hungry.

I started with the Mexican Logger, Ska Brewing’s cerveza equivalent. Not normally one to put a lime in my beer, I decided “when in Rome” and went with it. The beer was crisp and refreshing, deserving of the awards garnered at the last few Great American Beer Festivals.

I really wanted to try brews I can’t get in Arizona, so next I ordered the Steel Toe Stout. This creamy, dark beer is more my speed, and didn’t disappoint. Also offered on Nitro, but I went with regular strength version of the brew. Notes of coffee and a little sweetness made this a great beer to sip while contemplating the local art. Turns out, I’m an idiot, and we can get Steel Toe Stout here in AZ. Apparently, just not where I’ve been looking for it.

I finished up with a Decadent, which, yeah, we can also get in Arizona, but since dad was driving and this was likely the last place I was going to have access to a flush toilet and hot water that didn’t involve starting a fire for the better part of a week I wasn’t in a big hurry to leave.

All in all, it was a fun visit, but much too short. Looking out the big windows towards the mountains in the east, a storm was brewing. We decided it was time to bail. Next time I’m in Durango I’ll go back and try a flight of taproom-only offerings. With any luck, I’ll be able to try a few more of the local breweries that don’t distribute to Arizona…

Oh yeah, and take the damn tour.

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My goal for the week I was there was to hit 12 breweries, which is really ambitious for me. Especially considering there were going to be three full days of conference sessions and basically one full day of travel. In the end, the goal of twelve proved too much, but I was able to get ten in. That said, one was a second-location duplicate, but I didn’t realize it until I had to improvise. I thought it would be nice to capture my thoughts about the places I spent time while there, so here is what could be the first in a nine part series, I guess.

My hotel, the Edgewater, was, as the name implies, right on the water, so everywhere I went was an uphill hike, but walkng around the city was a great way to find the little holes in the wall shop, like Cloudburst Brewing. Located basically just uphill from my hotel, this cool little place was the first spot I found. The long, narrow taproom was packed that night, as it was one of the nights Gonzaga was in the NCAA tournament. The one television over the bar had the room crowded around it, and while I normally try to avoid the TVs in a brewery I was lucky enough to find a single seat, so who am I to say no to the barstool gods?

Phoenix? Do you ever get any rain there?

Almost exclusively made up of locals, the other patrons were friendly enough though, especially when they discovered I was from Phoenix. Because that just so happens to be where the tournament was being played.

“How hot is it there now?”

“Why would you leave Phoenix in the Spring to come here?”

“Did you see the Gonzaga players in Phoenix?”

Very. For work. No.

Anyway, back to Cloudburst. This great little spot loves their IPAs, as evident from their butcher paper menu. I also tried the Dumpster Fire Smoked Oatmeal Stout, and it lives up to its name.

At the end of the day, the juicy Shame Spiral Double IPA was my favorite of their fantastically-named offerings. When you find yourself in the Pike’s Place region of Seattle and want to get away from the crowds, just head northwest. You’ll run right into it.

Next up in my Seattle Beer Tour session will be Holy Mountain Brewing. Not downtown, but well worth the drive.

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Arizona Beer Week

Learn more about the Arizona Beer Week Strong Beer Festival here.

While there are literally events all over Arizona at virtually every brewery, bottle shop and tap room, the first major event is the 17th Annual Arizona Strong Beer Festival on Saturday, February 11, 1:00 – 5:00 pm. If you can only attend one beer event a year in Arizona, this is definitely the one to hit. At last count, there will be 130 breweries from around the country here, and with over 450 craft beers on tap, there will be something for everyone. Tickets start at just $40 for 40 tastes, with (sold out) VIP tickets for $75 and Super VIP, which is now apparently a thing, tickets for $100.

Arizona Beer Week is put on by the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, a fantastic organization that represents nearly 100 breweries, breweries in planning and craft beer businesses in Arizona.

Great Arizona Beer Festival

Hot on the heels of Arizona Beer Week is the Great Arizona Beer Festival, March 11, 2017 in downtown Phoenix. This amazing craft beer tasting event showcases over 200 beers from more than 50 breweries! And not just from Arizona but around the country, with each one bringing their A-game brews. Another great part: the Great Arizona Beer Festival is a locally-organized fund raising event. All proceeds benefit Sun Sounds of Arizona, a non-profit radio reading service helping 49,000 people in Arizona with print disabilities.

Tasting Books

Tasting book, recording the new Oatmeal brown at Helton Brewing in Phoenix.

Sure, some of the attendees are going to look at these festivals as giant keggers. To really enjoy the festival and create a lasting impression of the beers you liked (or didn’t), take your time! Actually taste the beers, and bring along a pocket notebook to record your thoughts as you drink each beer. Taking notes as you drink is a lot easier than trying to remember how each beer tasted later.

And who knows, if you don’t write it down you might forget you found a new favorite!

With 200-beer tasting books or super-easy-to-carry 48-beer pocket size books available, there’s one that suited to you!

Shop on Etsy

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I didn’t even realize we were in this issue until a couple of people at Phoenix Flea approached my booth and mentioned “I saw you in Draft Magazine! I didn’t know you were local!”

Back in the summer, I was contacted about the possibility of being in the magazine, and provided a few books to the local Draft Magazine photo editor. I never thought it was going to be part of the Gift Guide!

This was back before I started doing the pocket notebooks. Probably why they’re not included in the blurb, but still…how cool is that?

Merry Christmas!

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Fast forward six months to the first craft fair I did (Jackalope Phoenix, always a good time, by the way). While there, I spoke with people who liked the beer box idea but wanted lined notebook paper. I started to warm up to the idea of exploring other types of books. Sure, I’m into drawing, but a lot of people aren’t. Lined notebook paper makes perfect sense. After the notebooks, I started doing smaller, pocket versions, one of which I always have on me anyway, I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner. Beer tasting books came next, and now, just in time to be a stocking stuffer for Christmas, pocket-sized beer tasting notebooks.

Then, this happened

This summer, I was contacted over Instagram with an interesting idea by a local beer guy extraordinaire, who just happens to be the manager of a steakhouse at one of the higher end resorts in North Scottsdale. He wanted to explore the idea of doing a custom menus for their bar in the style…the wheels are turning now!

At the time, the existing restaurant was a steakhouse, but was going to change focus and reopen as a gastropub, with an extensive craft beer list and locally-designed custom cocktails and food. The beer box idea was going to be a great match to the concept. The rotating tap list has over 75 different craft beers and ciders from around the country, but we wanted to highlight Arizona breweries, and feature as many local boxes as possible. I put an appeal out on social media, and Mother Road Brewing, Four Peaks, and Dragoon all came through in a big way. I keep saying, beer people are the coolest people!

Creating a menu out of a beer box seems like an easy enough task, but the size of the boxes quickly became the largest challenge. Most six-pack boxes have no panels larger than 6 inches tall by 8 inches wide. Unless we wanted to wrap the menu in the box sideways, we were limited to a shorter form factor. Knowing that was the challenge going in, everything else was easy!

A dozen hi-fi mockups (and many more concepts that never saw daylight) later, we ended up with our first collection. The first pass of hand-stitched custom menus, all crafted from the boxes from nine breweries on the tap list. Of the nine, four of which are in Arizona, with more in the works for the next go round!

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Even though I have probably a half dozen apps on my phone that are designed to let me record quick thoughts or jot down a list or number, I always fund myself coming back to my trusty pocket notebook. Pen on paper, or even better, a pencil on paper. No waiting for a frozen phone, or a stupid app to update before I can use it, I always know I can count on a notebook to get it done.

The Pocket Notebook phenomenon

I personally have an entire shelf of Field Notes, Moleskines, even some detective-style/Blues Clues flip notebooks. Sure, an app can hold a task list, but can it also hold a doodle while you wait for your car? Or the scores from a pickup dart game? Or capture a quick idea sketch for a table?

My personal pocket notebook is just the right amount of beat up.

The first pocket notebook I made was out of a Crazy Mountain Brewing Horseshoes & Hand Grenades Bitter Ale box, and I carry it every day. Not only is the design of their packaging hilarious, but it’s always fun to answer the “Uh…what’s on your notebook?” question.

Beer boxes are designed to withstand a decent amount of abuse from transport and still protect the precious cargo, so in my opinion, they’re perfect for a pocket notebook. The small size fits in your pants pocket or purse perfectly, usually smaller than your phone.

See the collection of readily available pocket notebooks on my Etsy store, or request a custom two-pack!

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Phoenix Flea does Small Business Saturday

This happens to be Small Business Saturday as well! You have the chance to get a jump on your Christmas shopping while keep your shopping efforts local. If you’re staying in Phoenix the weekend after Thanksgiving, make sure you stop by and shop dozens of local artists and craftsmen!

Get more information here.

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Sure, there are apps on your phone that allow you to record your beer tasting notes for a thousand different beers at locations all over the world, but remember before there was an app for that?

Enjoying a beer isn’t a digital experience, its a sensory one. Why sit there staring into the same little screen that you probably stare at all day anyway, when you could put the phone down and actually enjoy that beer? How about thinking about what you’re drinking and capturing those flavors and aromas on paper? With a pen? Now, you can!

Beer tasting notes you can fill out, with a pen! Or pencil! Or dull crayon supplied by the bartender!

Introducing custom Tasting Notes Books!

Put your phone away and go old school, writing down those flavors using real words, on paper! Forget trying to squeeze your description into 100 characters in an app – write it out, doodle it, make notes in the margins. Color outside the lines!

But how do I share my tasting notes with my friends?

Its easy! Using your hand, or otherwise similarly-enabled appendage, simply grasp your book and gently pass it to your friend, allowing he or she to peruse one or more pages of your reviews. This may be a good way to start up what used to be called a conversation, utilizing your vocal chords for something other than “Hey, Siri.”

Have more than one friend who is interested in your thoughts on the alcoholic beverages you enjoy? Now is the time to pull out your phone. Not at the bar, don’t be that guy. Or lady. Wait until you get home, or back to your office, and take a good picture of your notes under a decent light and post to your favorite social media site! Internet fame achieved!

Love a certain box design? Have your beer tasting notes custom wrapped in it!

Sounds great! What do you have on hand?

Currently, there are only a few beer tasting note books on hand, as most of the books get created on the fly as custom requests. So, have a favorite beer you’d like to use for your notebook? Maybe an ironic Natty Light box that can you can use to record your craft beer conquests? Simply start a conversation on Etsy or contact me over email to get your custom book started!

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Got the stash of tasting notebooks, journals and sketchbooks all set up!

Mother Road Brewing in Flagstaff, Arizona has been so cool! Not only did their rep Caliegh buy several books, but she also supplied me with a stack of boxes to use in the future! Thanks again, Mother Road!

I’m insanely excited to share that beginning with the install June 28, Three Sheets Books are available at Made Art Boutique! Starting with the July Phoenix First Friday, my books have the featured artists slot, on the front table right side the front door. You can’t miss ’em!

Since the Phoenix First Friday is basically an institution, I have a special focus on local Arizona breweries. Dragoon, Nimbus, Four Peaks, Grand Canyon, Mother Road – I went all out building up my Arizona collection of this event. As always, if there’s something specific you’re looking for, please don’t hesitate to ask, either at the event or through my Etsy shop!

Speaking of Phoenix First Friday

I know it’s hot, but I’ll be there for both July an August First Friday events, answering questions. If you’re in the Phoenix area, feel free to swing by and chat! Interested in a custom box special request? You could even bring it down and get the process started right there.

By the way, Made is chock full of other awesome locally-made artisan work too. Jewelry, distressed pallet signage, prints and paintings, ceramics, you name it, Made carries a constantly changing inventory of one-of-a-kind items made by more than 100 local artists!  If you’ve ever been to a Phoenix First Friday, you know that Made is a core player in the Roosevelt Row Arts District. Definitely worth your time! Pop into JoBot next door and get something cool to drink and get your First Friday started off right!

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When I get around to doing a larger run, I’ll probably go with StickerMule, since at high volumes the prices are comparable, and let’s face it, that’s where the cool kids get their stickers done, so they’re obviously doing something right, but for now, these will do just fine.

My beat up HydroFlask bottle in front of an outdoorsy photo in our conference room. Because we all like to pretend we’re not in cubicles on digital hamster wheels.

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