Half Moon Bay Brewing

Type: Brewpub

Location:  390 Capistrano Rd. Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Website: http://www.hmbbrewingco.com

Cost: Reasonably priced Menu

Visit Date: 11/05/2013

Beers: Big Break Ale

          Bootleggers Brown

          Mavericks Classic Amber

          SHS Pale

          Pacesetter Belgian Wit

          Back in the Saddle Rye Pale Ale

          Pitstop Chocolate Porter

          Hefeweizen

          Pumpkin

          Oatmeal Stout

Nearby: Half Moon Bay

Notes: I had dropped my parents at the airport and decided I didn't have a lot of sunlight to make the drive out to the Sierras so I decided to enjoy the day by the ocean.  Driving down the coast, I stopped and walked around at Mori Point.  

Lovely enough, California.  Walked around for a bit as I made my way down the coast, ending up at Half Moon Bay by sunset, convenient!  Had a veggie burger, it was eh, but the beers were nice.  The Bootlegger Brown was malty but still managed to be light.  The Oatmeal Stout was perfect.  The Chocolate porter was chocolate porter... In other words too chocolate.  Blegh to sweet in my beer.  I sat by the fireplace.  Seemed like a nice spot.  

When I got the check, I pulled out my credit card and a $20 to ask for change.  I wasn't really paying attention (yeah, I was fiddling with my phone..traveling alone and missing my boy) when the waitress came to get it. She came back; she'd deducted $20 from the bill and charged the rest.  Um, that's a really weird assumption.  Ok, I'll put your tip on the credit card if that's really what you thought I meant (and now that I don't have any cash).  Do people who aren't in groups often do it this way?  Should've said something but I didn't have a second to think when she grabbed it.

Adventures on Hotwire

Tired from a handful of mountains and canyons in Kings Canyon and Sequoia National parks, I planned the biggest adventure of the trip.  I booked a room in the Good Nite Inn in Redwood City, so I could get a shower in and sleep in a real bed before my flight home.

I had no idea it would be so creeptacular.

Horror movie chic, eh?

So yeah, if cheap is what you're going for.  ...well, actually it wasn't all that cheap.  But it was the cheapest thing on hotwire, within 20 minutes of the airport.  The hallway was the creepiest, and the room was falling apart.  Holes in the walls patched but not painted over.  Holes in the walls not patched.  A whole corner of the room with tiny bugs smashed into the wall.  

Both the shower and the sink dripped all night, and the room smelled like cheap perfume.  

The blanket had a lot of holes in it but the sheets seemed clean enough.  Yes, I checked for bed bugs.  And then I checked again.  When I didn't find any, I checked again because I was sure this was a hotel that should have bed bugs.  The balcony door looked like it'd been broken into before.  Yeah, it took awhile to fall asleep.  At five AM a lovely couple in the hallway woke me up with screaming and cursing, that continued for an hour.  They went away, and then they came back.  I woke up and packed up my suitcase for the flight home.  Then took another shower.

I did find good coffee in town though, and stumbled across an incredible farmers market.  Too bad I was flying.  

Lookout Peak

If I'd seen any other humans, I probably would have looked silly.

But having seen no other humans, it was probably wise to carry the ice axe.

After a family visit in San Francisco, I took 3 days to myself and drove out to Kings Canyon.  Its been a couple years since I crossed paths with the Mountain Lion but I was still a little nervous to be out in the California woods alone.  Maps and guides said there were mountain lions here.  I was a little nervous in general because it was November.  But the weather reports looked good.  0% chance of precipitation and the road into the canyon was open!  I told myself there might be ice on top of the mountain, but I didn't bother to carry my snowshoes.  The axe was really for peace of mind, even if I told myself otherwise

The woods were pretty relaxing.  A couple times my mind thought I was being watched.  But it wasn't bad.  I made the 10 mile hike without any major issues.  In the drive into, and then out of the canyon, the only other car I saw was a park ranger.  The only creatures I saw on the trail were birds.  Chirpy little birds.

It's on the map as a trail to the summit, but the main trail doesn't go that way.  Near the peak, the trail to the summit becomes very hard to follow.  Eventually, I gave up, marked a waypoint so I could find my way back and just went for it.  


A couple times, I thought I'd found the trail again, but I didn't find it until I saw a cairn near the summit.  The push to the top was a scramble up rocks.  Another waypoint got marked, and my pack was dropped.  At this point I didn't care that the ice axe stayed with it.

Oh, I know that even if i needed to use it, it probably wouldn't do much against a Mountain Lion, but shhh, it gave me peace of mind up until this point.  So the pack got tossed down.  I took a gulp of water, and started climbing.  

Quickly emerged from tree cover, and wow.   The view down the canyon was spectacular. I love that hazy - blue Sierra Nevada view.  Damn, California.

Unreal, and so very worth the 10 mile walk.

The trail was pretty had to follow going back down too.  I followed it for a good while, but eventually gave up when it wasn't leading me back to my waypoint.  Looked down at my trusty Colorado and found my way back to the trail, and then safely to the car.

Shakespeare Brewery and Hotel

Type: Brewery

Location: Auckland, South Island, New Zealand

Website: http://www.shakespearehotel.co.nz
Cost: $8.50 pints
Visit Date: 02/26/2012
Beers: Wheat

Nearby: Auckland

Notes: This seemed like the perfect spot for our last night in New Zealand.  We stayed in a nice, tiny, but tidy room.  OMGYAYSHOWER.  The only house beer they had was a wheat.  It was ok.

The Brewery Britomart

Type: Brewery

Location: Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Website: http://www.thebrewerybritomart.co.nz
Cost: $9 pints, $7 Happy Hour, $14 4-beer sampler
Visit Date: 02/26/2012

Beers: Gold Rush- Golden Ale
           Anchors Aweigh - "California" Lager
           Witful- Belgian Wheat
           Element 5 - Pale Ale
           Customs 69 - IPA
           Old Fort - "Old Style Ale"
           Black Rose

Nearby: Auckland, short walk to the ferry to Rangitoto Island

Notes: This brewery was in a neat old building.  Seemed like a good spot, all the beers were very good.  The IPA was the best I'd had in New Zealand.  The Anchors Aweigh was dark for a lager, but still light in flavor.  Very smooth, and clean.  The Old Fort was a rich malty brown, and the Black Rose was very good, malty and yum.

Brew Moon

Type: Brewpub

Location: Amberley, South Island, New Zealand

Website: http://www.brewmooncafe.co.nz

Cost: $12 NZD Sampler

Visit Date: 02/17/2012

Beers: Amberley Pale Ale

           Broomfield Brown Ale

           Hophead Organic

           Dark Side (of the moon) Stout

Nearby: Christchurch

Notes: This was another great spot.  Tiny brewing system, outdoor garden, local artwork on the walls for sale, baked goods, and a coffee shop.  I wish I lived near a place like this!

Harrington's

Type: Brewpub

Location: Belfast, South Island, New Zealand

Website: http://harringtonsbreweries.co.nz

Cost: Cheapest restaurant food I saw on South Island

Visit Date: 02/17/2012

Beers: Best Botter

           Stout

           Dark

           Wobbly Boot

           Big John

Nearby: Christchurch

Notes: They had 14 beers on tap, but don't offer a sampler tray.  The food was pretty good- and cheap! But service was abysmal.  Our food was delivered and we never saw the waitress again.

Stoke by the McCashin Family

Type: Brewpub

Location: Nelson, South Island, New Zealand

Website: http://mccashins.co.nz

Cost: $14NZD 8-beer 200ml Sampler

Visit Date: 02/04/2012

Beers: Gamber - A golden/amber mix

           Lemon Cider

           Stoke Lager

           Stoke Gold

           Stoke Amber

           Stoke Dark

           Bomber Smoky

           Bomber Biscuit

           Bomber KPA

           Bomber Stout

Nearby: Abel Tasman National Park

Notes: This spot was great.  Cozy and relaxed with couches.  Beer garden in the backyard, artists selling their work out front.  We sat by an outlet and charged my phone and took advantage of the free WiFi.  They had homemade ice cream and pastries and a coffee shop.  Games and books.  If I were going to open a brewpub, this is exactly what I'd aim for.  

If I had to pick a favorite, I'd go with the Bomber Biscuit.  Theirs that biscuit word again.  Very fitting.  Just the right unique maltiness.  

Bays Brewery

Type: Brewery

Location: Nelson, South Island, New Zealand

Website: http://baysbrewery.co.nz

Visit Date: 02/04/2012

Beers: IPA

           Light

           Lager

           Draught

           Dark Ale

           Dopplebock

           Pilsener

           Cider

Nearby: Abel Tasman National Park

Notes: Overall the beers were pleasant, and easy drinking session beers.  We had a nice chat with the guy working here about differences between US, and Kiwi craft brewing, and his brewery in general.  The Dopplebock or the Dark were my favorite.

Founder's Brewery

Type: Brewpub

Location: Nelson, South Island NZ

Website: http://foundersbrewery.co.nz/brewery/index.html

Cost: $10NZD sampler, $6.50 1/2 pint, $8.50 pint + $7 park entry

Visit Date: 02/04/2012

Beers: Tall Blonde

           Fair Maiden

           Weizen (seasonal)

           Red Head

           Generation Ale

           Long Black

Nearby: Founders Park, Abel Tasman National Park

Notes: This brewpub is within a little historical park, founders park.  Wouldn't have minded wandering around a bit, but somebody I happened to be traveling with objected to paying $7 for entry to the park.  So he pled with the girl at the entrance to let us in for free, promising we'd go straight to the brewery.  So that we did.

It was a pleasant stop, we sat outside and enjoyed a sampler.  They were all pretty good.  The Blonde was nice and malty with a slight saaz kick.  The Red Head was my favorite with rich biscuity malt flavors.  Biscuity seems to be a britishism but it is a very fitting description.  The Generation was a bit peppery, and nice, although being a Brown could have been maltier.  The Long Black was a dark lager, rather than a stout, but very nice.

PIzzaria Orgasmica

Type: Brewpub

Location: 2 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco CA

Website:www.pizzaorgasmica.com

Cost: Reasonably priced Menu

Visit Date: 01/28/2012

Beers: Golden Ale

           4 Grain Hefeweizen

           Amber

           Blueberry

           Peach

Nearby: San Francisco

Notes: Last stop before running back to the airport.  We had a 12 hour layover enroute to New Zealand, and decided to take a quick tour of the city.  

They have a happy hour from 4-7, for $8.50 you can get pizza all-you can eat.  Pints are $3.  During non-happy hour pints are $5.  Considering the location, and being from NYC, I'd say that's pretty decent.  

They don't have sampler trays, so we shared a few pints, and the server was willing to give us a few samples for free.  The Amber kicked while he was pouring it, and he gave that to us for free too!

The Amber was malty and tasty with a little belgian kick and the Hefeweizen was great.  The Golden was full flavored, but not quite that crisp malty golden I've come to love.  The peach was terrible.  Very artificial tasting.

Steelhead Brewing Company

Type: Brewpub

Location:  333 California Drive, Burlingame CA 94010

Website: http://steelheadbrewery.com

Cost: Reasonably priced Menu

Visit Date: 11/09/2013

Beers: Hazy Hefeweizen
           Broadway Blonde
           Raging Rhino Red
           Bombay Bomber APA
           Double Play APA
           Pumpkin Pie Ale
           McFaddens Oatmeal Stout

Nearby: San Francisco, SFO

Notes: Damn, after the terrible pizza I had the previous night at Sequoia Brewing, I really, really wanted to order the vegetarian pizza.  Artichokes, mushrooms, eggplant, omg pesto.  It sounded damn good, but I was afraid it would take too long.  It needed to be a quick stop since I had a flight to catch.  

I was killing time, taking photos, walking around bay front parks, when I changed my mind.  I *should* visit that nearby brewery, what the heck is wrong with me?!  So with an hour and a half until I needed to be at the airport, I rushed over to steelhead....only to drive around looking for parking for 20 minutes.  They even have a (small, full) lot!  AND there are two municipal lots nearby, it was still tough to find a spot.  Hopping town.  

Finally found a spot, fed the meter and darted across the street.

I liked this place.  Grabbed a cozy table and sat in an armchair! Ordered my sampler, and hmmm quesadilla will probably be quick.  Quick it was and super-duper cheesy.  Not bad but not great.  White people mexican.  Adequate.  

The beers were pretty average.   Overall the light ones were better than the dark ones.  Which is unusual.  The stout was too sweet, but the blonde was pretty good.  The Pumpkin had WAY too much spice.  The Red, APA, and the Hefeweizen were ok too.  So, the top row.They were out of the seasonal so they mixed the APA and the Red.  It was ok.

Finished up pretty quickly, and caught my flight with no issues.  Don't think I've ever made it through airport security so quickly!