Figured I should do a separate post to discuss beer life. Actually, real-life in general has been insanely busy and I don’t even know that I can say what I’ve been doing. However! There was a Brews and Bluesapalooza in Mammoth that I went to two weeks ago and will probably continue to go to every year for the rest of time.

I went with a small group of people that are beer fans. Maybe we don’t know everything, I for one am no cicerone, but put a beer in front of me and I’ll tell you what I think and we’ll have a good time in the process.

Basically it’s set up like this: In the middle of the woods (off of Main St in Mammoth Lakes, CA) there’s a small stage set up for live Blues music. I’m sure they were great musicians (I’m sure of this because I couldn’t stop dancing) but I know basically nothing about any of the bands there. Scattered throughout the rest of the lot were stands for beers and food and things. Buying a ticket gets you a handy dandy wristband as well as a small glass. You will spend the rest of the day handing your glass to various craft beer vendors to fill it up, for free. They’ll fill it up as many times as you want too!

Most of the breweries were based in California, along with some from Oregon (I think) and some from Nevada. Everyone was insanely friendly, brought forth their best beers on draught, and handed out stickers/fake tattoos if you wanted them. If you didn’t like the beer, just throw it on the wood-chipped ground. It’s probably rude to do it in front of the vendor though, so go hide when you throw it out.

It was easy to make friends, particularly friends with pretzel necklaces that let you graze off of them. It was also easy to remake friends with the dozens of random people from your hometown. The most important part to me was seeing how genuine and happy everyone was. The next most important part was obviously the beer.

I was nervous about the altitude as I didn’t want to be the only person that got wasted and had to be taken care of, but it was totally fine. I can’t REALLY pick a favorite beer, but I will say that my goal was to try a lot of different Wit Beers. Mission accomplished.

Favorite new (new to me) beer: Great Basin Brewing Company’s Whoopass Witbier. Lighter yellow than most wheat beers, beautifully unfiltered when held up to the light. A light but whole feel in the mouth with a little bit of citrus. It would’ve been destroyed if you added an orange. The girl at the booth recommended making mimosas with it.

Favorite not new to me beer: Stone Brewery’s Cali-Belgique. Seriously can’t even describe the perfection in your mouth. Just try it. Do it. Now. But then again, what Stone beer isn’t good?

Not so bueno beer: Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie Something-Cask-With-Chili-Powder-and-Cacao. Obviously that’s not what it’s called, but I can’t remember the real name. I’ve learned from a friend to always choose a Cask beer when it’s available, and this one had Cacao and Chili Powder, something I’m normally interested in and a fan of. But do it right. I love you Ladyface, I even bought a shirt to represent, but you definitely used too much Chili Powder and my throat burnt and eyes teared. Love me, interest me, excite me. Just don’t hurt me.

That’s pretty much all there is to it. It’s pure enjoyment. Even standing in the line for the bathroom was fun and I went a thousand times. Mammoth itself has a few liquor stores that are worthwhile also. One in particular, I don’t know what it’s called but you’ll find it, has dozens of Rogue beers, which makes me a happy camper. So go, stand in the woods and drink. It’s a damn good time.

of a friend, you start to realize just exactly how good your other friends are.

I don’t know if it’s a psychological thing, as if to say: I lost this friend so I better REALLY like my other ones and see them in this neverending, illustrious light.

Or if it’s genuine. Maybe it goes either way depending on the situation. In this particular instance, I’ve lost a long-term friend (I suppose you never know, maybe in 37 years we will reunite and it’ll feel so good) and have realized that my other long-term friends as well as some newbies are enormous geniuses and overall fantastic people.

Actually, really I’ve lost nothing, just gained an insight.

My life is falling apart.

Aren’t you supposed to stop feeling like you don’t fit in anywhere once you get out of high school?

Just want to go hide.

Sorry if I’m an awful person.

No one reads this until I ask them to, but I wanted to let you know that my life went off the rails (on the crazy train) a little bit.

I’ll be back after this weekend though and I’m sorry I’ve been MIA.