Last Friday in order to kick off the Memorial Day Weekend off properly, Scott and I attended the Columbus Beerfest 2010.  This was the first official Beerfest (not to be confused with Beer Camp which was also lots of fun!) for Columbus with the focus on bringing craft beers and breweries the attention that they deserve.

If you know anything about me, you know I love a good dark beer! I prefer craft beers over anything else but I will drink a Sam Adam’s if that’s my only choice.  That’s as big business brewery as I get though.

The man behind Columbus Beerfest is also the man who is responsible for the Cincinnati Beerfest, so he’s done this before and has plenty of experience from what I’ve been told.

Ticket cost provided attendees with a 5oz sampling cup and 25 5oz tasting tickets.  I didn’t count,…

Scott and I are lucky that our local Kroger carries a very well stocked line of Rogue beers.  What we can’t find at Kroger we can usually get at another local joint, The Anderson’s (who has some great brews!).  After being introduced to Rogue Ales last year at the Foodbuzz Festival, it’s been my goal to try as many as I can.

One of the beers that recently caught our eye was the Chipotle Ale.  Neither Scott nor I have ever had a beer spiced with a smoked hot pepper.  We’ve had spices and nuts and berries but never a pepper.  As we were picking out beers for the next few months, we decided to add the Chipotle Ale to the list.

As is custom now, it sat in the fridge for a long time before we had a chance to…

There is a small group of Columbus-ites who are discussing, drinking, and sharing well made craft beer.

The Beer Family.

Right now our numbers are small but there are constantly new additions announced and much rejoicing occurs.

I initially “met” James, The Beer Family Godfather (you totally are James!), via Twitter and we’ve been chatting for months about whatevers and also beer.  Sadly I’ve missed some of the Tweet-ups but I was able to finally meet him and other family members on Sunday when we attended Beercamp.

Even before meeting on Sunday, we had recently been talking about a Beer and Food pairing and how fun that would be!  It was decided that it would happen and take place the Monday after Beercamp.  The Family was currently celebrating Beer Weekend and decided to conclude it on Monday with the potluck.

We were unable to attend one of the Beer…

Since I’m going to be attending Beer Camp Columbus 2010 today, I decided it would be fitting to post a recipe using beer.

I am that kind of clever!

We love pork in this household.  I often talk about my love for seafood and how I like to use that as my main animal protein source.  I do enjoy the groundwalkers (said with a growly voice. Bonus points to those who get it!) as well and my favorite groundwalker is swine.

Yes you read that right, the good ole’ pig.  My heart belongs to the swine.

If you are a long-time reader then you also know that I love me a good brine.  Pork and poultry get brined, it’s house rules.  I decided to try something fun and make some beer brined pork chops.

The first time I made these, after one bite, Scott looked me straight in the eye and said,…

Scott and I love seafood.  Like LOVE it, in what probably results in something verging on ridiculous.  I try to make sure that we have seafood at least twice a week since that is our preferred “animal” protein source.  Tuesdays we have fish so that leaves another day free for whatever.

And while I don’t eat a lot of meat, one thing I love is sausage.  My love for it would be just a few levels down from seafood.  Seafood I would eat everyday if you gave it to me, sausage I have to be in the mood for.  I swear I’m not trying to make a joke with that statement.

Sometimes those two wants just happen to collide with each other.

I will tell you that because I love food so much, I am constantly thinking about it.  I would guess this is the way most foodies behave.  Wondering…

Porters and stouts, I love ‘em!  Okay well I love stouts a little bit more than I do porters but don’t tell porters that.  I’m trying to keep our relationship smooth and casual.

Scott and I were perusing the beer aisle not long ago and we came across this vanilla porter by Breckenridge Brewery.

A dark beer brewed with actual vanilla beans?  You don’t say.  Interesting!

And because curiosity got the best of us, we purchased it.

It sat waiting in the fridge for the perfect moment.  Even though I do love beer, I have to be in the mood for beer.  I don’t want to waste a good beer on a moment when I’m not digging the carby goodness.  That doesn’t do anyone any favors.  Plus it could tarnish what would otherwise have blossomed into a beautiful affair.

Eventually it was beer night at the house and we poured ourselves…

Let’s play pretend.  I’ll start.  This is my new boyfriend.  Remember his name because you’ll see references to him often I hope.  His name is Black Chocolate Stout created just for me by the Brooklyn Brewery.  That’s the pretend part, he wasn’t created just for me but he is my new boyfriend.  Our story goes a little something like this.

Sometimes I buy things on a whim.  And sometimes I’ll see something in the store and pass it over several times before finally deciding to purchase it.  This Black Chocolate Stout is an example of the latter.  I saw this at Whole Foods numerous times and while the chocolate in the title called out to me, I never felt compelled to purchase it.

Until a few weeks ago when I could no longer ignore the call for something dark chocolate.  I also had yet to try a stout, so I finally broke down and purchased a 6-pack.

I do…

I have been intrigued by the beer can chicken technique ever since I first saw it done.  At first I thought it seemed a little silly and then I realized that perhaps those folks were on to something.  Just maybe this would be an awesome idea.  However, when I saw it done it typically involved a smoker or using a grill for hours on end.

Those things did not appeal to me.  I just sort of stored the concept in the back of my mind.  Time had passed and if this were a video blog I would insert some sort of musical montage at this point but since it’s not a video blog, you’ll have to imagine one.  Be sure to include jazz hands, headbands, and 80s music.

Trust me it’s fitting because the person who brought the beer can chicken concept back to the forefront of my mind was Guy Fieri.  Bling, bling!  I saw him make beer can…

I have seen people here and there talk about beer bread but that’s about as far as I went in giving it any attention.  Then over the holidays I saw it pop up again and thought, “Hell Yes!  Beer Bread!”

New Years at OHC HQ means sauerkraut and some sort of pork dish.  I wanted to make the beer bread to go with that meal but then I forgot.  And when I remembered about dear old beer bread we were past the holiday.  I still wanted to make it though and started doing some research.

Most of what I found was pretty basic.  Beer, flour, and some baking powder.  Well that’s lovely but can’t we pump this up a little bit.  Where’s the seasonings and extra kick?  I decided to try my hand at making some beer bread with some umph!

Andrea’s Cheddar Beer Bread

• 1 C All purpose flour
• 2 C whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 TBSP of baking powder
• 3 TBSP of sugar
• 1 tsp of…