“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”– Benjamin Franklin
There is no way to NOT talk about beer, as it is my second most favorite thing! Very, very passionate about beer. No one should fear it, in moderation. As I learned in grad school (~our bone lab did alcohol studies), beer is very good for musculoskeletal health; was consumed for it’s health benefits in ancient times ( = sanitized, liquid bread); and, provided sustenance to monks during lent. The monks of today continue to brew some of the finest beer in the world! 
I had always been fond of dark beers, having become intrigued with the complexity of microbrews while doing summer research at Montana State. My interest grew while attending grad school at Oregon State and then living in Colorado. Of course, all three places have some of the finest microbreweries in America! As a researcher by trade and beer lover by night, it only made sense to some day merge the two loves and create our own.
Ohhhhh, let me tell ‘ya….. this is the best hobby ever! Totally worth the time and effort twice a month. It’s like baking bread, but with liquids. I love the patience of waiting, and finally the surprise of what the final product will taste like (a month+ later). It’s both a science and an art, trying to figure out how to tweak the variables and get an even more amazing product. With my research/lab background…. I’m a total geek on trying to get everything just right! I love the smells at the various stages (~when you add the hops, or when you siphon it into the bucket, ahhhh!). It is the healthiest beverage in the world and chock full of micronutrients!
We had always liked Bocks, Hefeweizens, Porters, and Stouts. However, I grew to love the New Belgium Abbey while living in Colorado (~trappist-style ale, like what the Belgian monks brew). While we started with a basic Nut Brown Ale, we eventually progressed to making the trappist ale. The various-timed hops gives it a unique, aromatic flavor…. the candy makes it sweet…. and the grains and malt are perfectly balanced. Definitely my most favorite beer (and quite possibly the most intoxicating too, hahaa!). The monks know how to do it right!
It is funny that you mention brewing. Two years ago, I bought my sweetie a Mr. Beer kit off the internet for Christmas. It was the cutest thing. It came everything you need to make a batch of beer including a two gallon fermenter in the shape of a keg. Unfortunately because we live in the Northeast, he had to wait for the weather to warm up a bit before he started brewing. But once he got started, I was making trips for bottles, yeast, hops, sugar cubes, siphons and all things beer related (I have a lot of flexibility in my working schedule). This was one of the best gifts that I bought him. Every since I have known him (almost 9 years) he has loved a “good” beer and in recent years has been interested in brewing. Now that the weather is warming up again, I think the ale pail will be coming out soon and I’ll be back on the road to get him what he needs to resume his quest for that “perfect” taste.
Wow, that’s awesome! Homebrewing is definitely becoming more popular and accessible. I buy stuff online through Northern Brewers or Midwest Brewing Supplies. Soooo true, always in search of the “perfect taste”! Enjoy and have fun with the whole process and savoring the “final product”!
I have to admit to coming to this page FIRST.
Ahahahaa, I love you Andreia!!!! Absolutely can’t avoid devoting a full page to my second most favorite thing!
Love it – my two passions! I actually brewed a Black Pale Ale on Saturday (after an easy 5.5 miles). I justify my love of good beers with 45-55 mile weeks. Good luck in Houston; I’ll be cheering you on and running the marathon the next day…and maybe visiting St. Arnold’s Brewery on the trip as well. Cheers!
Awesome! Black pale ale– that sounds interesting! Did you buy a kit or use a recipe? I believe we should do the things that make us happy. Cheer to you too and good luck in Houston! I plan to spot the “tailgate parties” along the course and do my cooldown back to them.
I did a recipe similar to a Sierra Nevada, then added 3/4 lb. of some sort of dark malt (can’t remember now which one). I’m very interested to see how it will turn out. I call it the Moonlight Mile Black Pale Ale…I hope it turns out well.
Seriously, I’ll be screaming for you during the race. It’s good spectator’s course (not-so-good for the runners) so you’ll hear me half a dozen times or so. See you in a little over a month.
Yummm!!! That sounds amazing! I always like to pour any leftover malt on my porridge, mmmm!
Thank you for the support! My biggest job will be trying to focus and not get overwhelmed by all the enthusiasm. Fortunately, I had a ‘test run’ at NYC– soooo many people for 26.2 miles!
Camille, the more I read about you the more I like you. Lol. I was almost 40 when I found a passion for running, much younger when I found a passion for Beer. Lol I just wish I had known way back then that the two go together so well maybe I would have started running long ago. It’s people like you with the passion for the sport that make us newbies ao much more comfortable. Thank you!!
Ahaha, thanks Pete! That’s great you’ve found that beer + running go well together.
Keep it up and enjoying what the sport has to offer!
Camille,
I’m an American ex-pat living in Costa Rica. I found your website after a local running organization, Pasion Por Correr, posted an article about you on their Facebook page.
I doubt I could do any training with you, since I’m just lumbering through my first ever 10k training plan, but we do have a local micro brewery here that may entice you to make a few training runs through the mountains.
http://www.facebook.com/craftbeercostarica
Happy training and good luck!
Hi Chris! Thank you for getting in touch– that’s awesome you live in Costa Rica! We hear it’s a nice place to live. We’re very excited to come down there…. and now you’ve given us even more reason to be excited! I definitely enjoy trying new beers around the world.
Best wishes with your training! That’s great you’re getting into running– beer + running going well together.
I’ve been following your blog….a tough couple of race trips (Grandmas and Costa Rica)….my wife is now gluten free because of the Grandma’s Marathon issue…no gluten, no migraines, no portaport scampers….worked for her…hope you get back to your prosperous self. As you recommded, I’ve had my son training a bit in the warm part of the day, and he has responded well in recent 5k races…we didn’t opt for the ice vests, but that may still be a plan….thanks for the advice. Because you are into brewing beer, I thought you might appreciate a great beer that you might like…some running friends have enjoyed it…no endorsement here, but Belhaven Scottish Ale is a fine brew to try if you are looking for a way to relax and recover from those long runs. It may be tough to find…also I use McEwans Scotch Ale to make Irish stew (and drink)… Good luck and thanks for the training advice..hope you come back to Grandma’s next year. Take Care!
Hi RK! I know, my gut has been through some crazy stuff the past month! I think I have IBS– I know I’ve had issues since I had food poisoning in ’09, and I’m feeling similar problems right now since Costa Rica (post-infectious IBS?). I’ve read that all of this can trigger IBS and dietary issues. I seem to get constipated too much (sometimes) if I cut back on fiber leading up to a marathon. It’s the best way to carbo-load, but I need to strike a balance so I don’t compromise the positive (carbo-loading) with a negative (constipation and bowel issues!).
That’s great your son is benefitting from heat training! A lot of people fear the heat and try to avoid it, but really we should embrace it! It’s tough to deal with at first, but you adapt. I’m learning with time, esp. with the mileage I do, that I have to really stay on top of my hydration and getting enough sodium (= makes you like a camel!). This is definitely beneficial!
Cool, I’ll have to look for the beers you suggested! Unfortunately, our beer selection tends to be limited here in Oklahoma. I’d have to go to a liquor store to buy anything beyond 3% beer. You can’t get New Belgium in Oklahoma (bummer!). There is a brew shop for buying brewing supplies in OKC, so that’s cool. Thanks– YES, bring me back to Grandma’s for a do-over!
IBS is a tough diagnosis….celiac disease (gluten allergy) is easily diagnosed through a blood test…just food for thought…..many people actually develop the allergy in adulthood…I hope you get to the bottom (sorry, no pun intended) of this….it’s tough to train that hard and not be able to reap the benefits….Best wishes to you!
I stumbled across your blog visiting other elite runners blogs. I am focusing on being a pure runner after years of being a triathlete and seeing if I have an OTQ time in me. Your blog intrigued me because my husband owns Midwest Brewing Supplies. If you are ever in the Minneapolis area, let me know – we know all the breweries and he can hook you up with any brewing supplies type stuff you might like.
Hi Angela! Oh wow, good for you on focusing on the running… AND that’s way cool your husband owns Midwest Brewing Supplies! I joke that I need a beer sponsor, but really what I need is a Beer Brewing Sponsor cause it’s way more fun to brew it! That’s great- we buy kits for MBS. Thanks for messaging, best wishes with your training, and I’ll let you know if I’m ever up that way (I’ve run Twin Cities twice, favorite course)!
Camille