Meet the Chicks
"BYOBates"
Beth J. Bates, (aka “BYOBates”)
Front Royal, VA
In my professional life I am a professional blogger and digital marketer, so starting a blog seemed the logical way to share my love of beer. Thus, behold the birth of “Chicks Love Beer.”
My dad gave me a sip of MGD when I was five. It was bad then and its still bad now. During my “formative” years, I was a vodka drinker. My husband was a Guinness drinker and at the ripe old age of 25 I discovered how wonderful beer could be. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed some great beers and found that my tastes change pretty erratically. As a consummate advocate for the “little guy”, I love talking to people about craft beers. I’ve found so many great brews that deserve some attention and hope that I can bring these incredible beers to you. I also love to “dish” about beers, the beer-making process and how we gals are making our mark in a historically man’s world.
I don’t drink Bud, Miller, Coors Light or PBR…not my bag. I do dabble in wine and scotch from time-to-time, so don’t be surprised if I throw you an occasional curve ball.
Please let us know what you like, want to see, think we should do – whatever. This community is FOR YOU. So, don’t be shy – get involved!!
I look forward to meeting you all, enjoying tasty beer and having a fab time!
Fave Brews: Guinness, Rogue Chipotle, Terrapin Hopsecutioner, Abita Strawberry Harvest, Legend Tripel, Allagash Tripel, La Chouffe , Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel
"The Lightweight"
Lori de Pedro (aka “The Lightweight”)
Front Royal, VA
I write all the time. Mostly notes to myself or to people that will never actually read them. I fancy myself a novelist actually, but all of the books are in my head. As far as enjoying beer goes, I’m a total newbie. I’m a wine girl by trade, but beer is just as vast and fascinating and diverse. I’m open to trying anything at least once. I love experiencing small producers – I find them especially exciting!
Fave Brews: Chimay Blue Label, Abita Restoration (with a splash of Sprite – trust me), Legend Brewery Tripel. Stylistically, I like full bodied, sweet finishes that aren’t too bitter or hoppy.
"Boozie Suzie"
Susan Touchette (aka “Boozie Suzie”)
Winchester, VA
I wasn’t much of a drinker til my later twenties and I fell in love with vodka. The sips of Bud, Molson Ice and Rolling Rock from my Dad & sister just never appealed to me. In the last few years however I have grown to enjoy a great beer. I currently manage a Pub and it’s heaven for beer drinkers! With an inventory of roughly 100 beers to choose from you can’t get bored! I am always on the lookout for new beers to try & love getting other people to switch from a boring old Bud Light to a quality beer with FLAVOR! There really is so much passion that goes into a beer and to see someone taste it, get it, and truly enjoy it can be exciting. I would love to attempt home brewing at some point when I have some time. I love ales, stouts and wheats but the IPA’s are starting to work in there too.
Fave Brews: Guinness/Ohara’s Stout, Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA, Jefferson Reserve Bourbon Barrel, La Chouffe, Schneider Weiss, Paulaner, Magners Irish Cider, Maudite Triple, Legend Heffe, Kasteel Rouge on ice with lime & Unibroue
"The Half-Pint"
Rebecca Ash (aka “The Half-Pint”)
New York, NY
I’m not entirely certain if I’m a writer who likes to drink or a drinker who likes to write, but I prefer to do both with creativity and wild abandon. I’m a former freelancer & bartender with a novel in the works and a sixer-mixer of good stuff in my fridge at all times. I am a tried and true oenophile and “beer nut” and delight in trying new brews/vintages whenever possible. In short: I’m Irish. Slante and good luck to the barley mow!
Fave Brews: Paulaner Dunkel, Duvel, Kwak, Leffe, Ommegang & Ommegang Three Philosophers, (obviously I’m a big fan of Belgian beers), Ommegang Hennepin, Maudite, La Fin du Monde, Schneider Weiss, Boddington, La Trappe Dubbel, Red Hawk Ale, Blue Heron, Negra Modelo, Coopers Stout, Spaten Optimator, Phat Abbot Belgian Dubbel and yes…Amstel Light!
Great breweries/beer gardens I’ve tippled at include:
NYC: Blind Tiger, Loreley, Biergarten, McSorley’s, Brooklyn Brewery, Troy Brew Pub (upstate NY)
San Diego, CA: Rosie O’Grady’s, Rock Bottom Brewery, The Firehouse
Other:: Ram Big Horn (WA), Corner Brewery (MI), Harpoon Brewery (MA)
"The Dive Bar Tender"
Ryan Ledford (aka “The Dive Bar Tender”)
Panama City Beach, FL
“Always pour your beer in a tilted glass.” With these words I have mastered the art of the pour, made a mountain of tips and a world of friends. To my father I am truly grateful because this was some of the best advice hes ever bestowed upon me. Ive given up the lifestyle of professional bartending but it will forever be in my heart. Most importantly beer will always be my first love of the drink.
I will admit to being a saloon girl and I’m very proud of it!! I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida where day drinking is a way of life and fully acceptable in the middle of the week. My unnatural love of the dive bar may or may not have gotten me in trouble a time or two and lastly I believe that sharing a beer with the right person can change your life!
I look forward to sharing my adventures, my crazy antics, and my love of beer with all of you. Cheers!
Fave Brews: Some of my faves are…Guinness, Chimay Red/Blue, Fat Tire, Abita Golden, Stella Artois, Newcastle, Grolsch, and shoot me if you must but I won’t turn down a Bud Light if it’s offered.
"Jenni-Firkin"
Jennifer Spence (aka “Jenni-Firkin”)
Chesapeake, VA
I’m connected with St. George Brewing Co (full disclosure here!) but promise to provide ethical reviews that are in no way influenced by my affiliation (my husband works for St. George). My experience with beer does mean that I’ve done a lot of tasting and am familiar with most beer styles. At the end of the day, I’m a huge beer lover and give every beer I try a fair chance.
Fave Brews: I love well-balanced beers in which both the malt and hops complement each other. For the most part, I prefer more classic (often European) beer styles, though the beer definitely doesn’t have to be from a European brewery, because I tend to be a traditionalist. I especially love Belgian and British beers – my beer of choice will often be London brown (such as Fullers), ESB, Belgian golden (ranging from Delirium/Unibroue to Malheur), saisons, or biere de gardes. In terms of the US craft market, I tend to drink Bells, Sierra Nevada, Ommegang, New Belgium, etc (I currently have several cases of beer from small micros in the Midwest that was just given to me that I’m excited about trying). The only styles that I’m not overly thrilled about drinking are Hefeweizens and Bocks (though I do like Dubbels/Trippels/Quads). But even with styles that I don’t personally love, I try to be a fair reviewer and separate out my palate preferences from the actual quality of the beer.
"Micro Brew"
Whitney McKim (aka “Micro Brew”)
Lovettsville, VA
I’ve been blogging since 2002/3. I guest blog on iPhonespaz.com when the occasion arises, and post a weekly blog post on bethjbates.com for the wonderful Beth BYOBates! In addition, I’m a 3 time NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) winner. This means that I’ve been able to successfully “complete” a 50,000 word novel in 30 days (or less) three times!
Unlike many of my high school buddies, I stuck to the straight and narrow and didn’t partake in the nectar of the Gods until I was (nearly) of legal drinking age. Despite my late start in life, I like to believe that I became a lover of beer rather quickly. I enjoy a nice frosty mug the best among friends.
Fave Brews: Flying Dog Brewery, Microbrews, Home brews (sadly not my own… haven’t gotten that far but I have some friends who are rather talented). Never Bud Light, Miller Light, Mich Light…. or the other “fizzy yellow beer” ilk. Occasionally in the winter a nice dark stout or porter is nice… especially if it reeks of coffee or chocolate.
“Real Beerwife of VA”
Harrisonburg, VA
Our household motto is if you don’t like it don’t drink it. I’m always willing to try new brews, but I do tend to gravitate towards the Belgians, Hefeweizens and Witbier in Summer and malty stouts in the Winter.
Fave Brews: Cally’s Smokin’ Scottish, Ommegang Hennepin, North Coast Pranqster, La Chouffe, Crispin Cider, Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout.
I also love to travel, here are breweries I’ve visited (the ones I can remember).
Virginia: Blue Mountain, Cally’s, Devil’s Backbone
Oregon: Big Horse Brewpub, Elysian, Full Sail, Mac & Jack’s
Juneau: Alaskan Brewing Co
Kill Devil Hills: Outer Banks Brewing Station
Reno: Silver Peak
Munich: Hofbrauhaus, Spaten
Salzburg: Ausgustinerbrau
Valencia: Portland Ale House
