Layered Mango-Strawberry Lassi-Inspired Smoothie

As the heat rises in the summertime, so does the heat level in the food I make, and I'm not talking temperature! There's something about a hot day that has me craving spicy food. While my tolerance for spice is pretty good, I've been known to push my own limits from time to time, resulting in me turning to shots of milk or yogurt to fan the flames on my tongue. Whenever I order in Indian food I'm reminded of how soothing a cold lassi can be after a hot-as-fire bite of curry. With that in mind, and my tendency for putting hot chilli oil on my morning eggs, I wanted to create a lassi-inspired smoothie that could aid in keeping my tastebuds happy and cool when enjoying my spicy morning eggs. With Ontario strawberries still in the markets, I wanted to combine the mango-flavoured lassi that I'm most familiar with, with a strawberry one in a unique way that would allow the flavours of each to shine individually.

I adore the flavour of honey that always shines through in the lassi's that I've tried, so I kept that consistent, using it as my sweetener. To switch things up a little bit, I also chose to use a lighter Greek yogurt to give the drink that same rich taste that I love in a lassi, but with a more viscous consistency that's easier to drink in the morning. While I had previously never tried any myself, I had read that there are some lassi's that can be infused with rose water, turmeric, or saffron. I loved the idea of really making that yellow colour pop against the pink strawberry smoothie, so I infused the honey with some saffron to give it that extra intensity.

Not only does this layered lassi-inspired smoothie look gorgeous, it's also delicious and cooling! I love the idea of serving this smoothie for an elegant outdoor summer brunch for friends and family. Let me know how you enjoyed this layered lassi-inspired smoothie in the comments below!

Tip: If you're shot on time, forget about layering and just toss all the ingredients together!

Ingredients:
For the Mango Lassi Smoothie
2 cups Metro Irresistibles Frozen Mango Chunks, thawed
2 tsp Metro Irresistibles Organics Pure Honey
pinch of saffron threads
1/2 cup Metro Irresistibles 0º Plain Greek Yogurt
handful of ice

For the Strawberry Lassi Smoothie
2 cups fresh or frozen strawberries, sliced
3 tsp Metro Irresistibles Organics Pure Honey
1/2 cup Metro Irresistibles 0º Plain Greek Yogurt
handful of ice

Directions:

1. In a blender or food processor, add mango chunks and blend until relatively smooth.
2. In a small bowl add the honey and saffron threads and stir to combine. Add to blender with Greek yogurt. Blend until very smooth. Add a handful of ice, blend, and transfer to a container and set aside in fridge. Clean blender or food processor bowl.
3. In a clean blender, add strawberries and blend until relatively smooth. 
4. Add honey and Greek yogurt and blend until very smooth. Add a handful of ice and blend.
5. Divide the Mango Lassi Smoothie between 2-4 cups (depending on the serving size you prefer). Using a large spoon to avoid the two smoothies from mixing, carefully spoon the Strawberry Lassi Smoothie over the Mango Lassi Smoothie. Serve immediately!

This post was created in partnership with Metro Ontario.

Listening To:
Snail Mail - Pristine

Making White Peach Sangria with Polar Ice Ontario Peach Vodka

The Spring and Summer seasons in Ontario are most definitely my favourite for more than just the beautiful weather, but for the incredible abundance of fresh and local produce available. Ontario produces some pretty spectacular fruits and vegetables during our warm months, but the one item that I look forward to more than anything is Ontario peaches. 

If you've ever had a ripe and juicy Ontario peach in August, you know that we make some of the best! Insanely sweet and flavourful, with juices that run down your chin, Ontario peaches are a treat in themselves, and an ingredient that I love to take advantage of in both sweet and savoury applications. 

With a few more weeks to go before I can get my hands on some Ontario peaches, I was delighted to get to try Polar Ice Vodka's new Ontario Peach Vodka! Made with 100% Ontario-grown peaches, and quadruple distilled and triple-filtered for a pure and smooth taste, this vodka is delicious on its own with some soda water and ice, but is taken to new heights when made into a fresh summer cocktail. 

On a beautiful summer day there is no beverage that I crave more than sangria! I love how refreshing and easy-drinking sangria can be (particularly for someone like me who doesn't drink a whole lot!), and I love catering the flavours in my sangria to the season. Polar Ice was kind enough to also provide me with a few recipes for using their new peach vodka this summer, and low and behold, they included a White Peach Sangria recipe! 

The most recent long weekend was the perfect opportunity to try the recipe out with some friends on my balcony in the sun. With Ontario peaches still a few months away, I chose to use frozen peaches for this batch, as well as some other berries that I had on hand in my fridge. I also added a little bit of ginger to give the sangria a bit of a zing, and some mint from my balcony garden for more freshness. The sangria turned out absolutely delicious! I loved how the Ontario peach flavour shone through the cocktail, making me even more excited for peach season. 

I will definitely be making this sangria again and again throughout the summer, but am also looking forward to playing around with different cocktails using Polar Ice Peach Vodka. I love the idea of adding a shot of peach vodka to a peach or ginger kombucha for a lil' kombuchatail, or making a boozier version of a bellini by adding both the peach vodka and Prosecco to peach nectar. As someone who's not a big drinker, Polar Ice Peach Vodka was a great option for me! I loved the smooth taste and the natural peach flavour, as I think we all know (and hate!) when an infused liquor has that awful artificial taste to it. This product is a limited edition flavour, sold exclusively in Ontario, with a limited number of bottles produced, so get your hands on it while you can and let me know what you think in the comments below. I would love to hear your suggestions for what other cocktails I can make with it! 

White Peach Sangria

Ingredients:

fresh or frozen peaches (and any other fruit you have on hand that you may want to add)

2 Tsp. fresh ginger, grated (optional)

a handful of fresh mint leaves (optional)

1 cup Polar Ice Ontario Peach

1 750 mL bottle of Pinot Grigio

1 L ginger ale

Directions:

1. In a large pitcher/vessel, gently muddle the fruit with the ginger and mint (optional).
2. Add Polar Ice Ontario Peach, Pinot Grigio, and ginger ale. Stir, add ice, and enjoy in the sun! 

Listening To:

Vince Staples - Big Fish

Melitta Media Breakfast

Me (Danielle Rose) getting a tutorial on how to brew the perfect single cup of Melitta coffee

Being a loud and proud feminist, my favourite business success stories are that of feminists before their time. Melitta was established in 1908 when founder Melitta Bentz was sick of getting grinds in her cup of coffee. With determination to create the perfect cup of coffee, Melitta started experimenting with different types of homemade filtration systems. She landed on what is now the most commonly used type of coffee filtration, the paper filter. So yes, Melitta Bentz (a woman!) was the inventor of the coffee filter! How cool! 

It was a delight to be able to hear about the history of the Melitta brand from Melitta representatives David Viola, Ian Buckingham, and Donna Gray last Thursday as they invited myself, along with a selection of other media representatives, to attend a Melitta-inspired breakfast at the beautifully chic Maman Bakery & Café. As we sipped on seemingly never-ending cups of Melitta's popular Deluxe roast (a medium-dark European blend), we learned about Melitta's commitment to maintaining their reputation for delivering the perfect cup of coffee by covering everything from bean to cup. Today, the family-owned company is proud to call themselves the number one coffee filtration company in the world! 

While I've always been a dark roast kind of gal, thinking that I liked my coffee nice and strong, I had no idea that a medium-dark roast is actually the most ideal type of coffee bean, as the more the beans are roasted the more they will pick up on the carbon flavour from roasting, which ultimately takes over the true taste of the bean. Additionally, I learned that it is actually a misconception that darker roasts have more caffeine, as a lighter or medium roast actually does. As it turns out, as the beans are roasted, the level of caffeine represented in the beans is reduced. 

So what else helps to contribute to the perfect cup of coffee? While yes roasting and filtration is key, you must also consider the freshness of the beans as a major factor in making the perfect cup. Ideally the beans should be roasted right before being ground, and ground right before brewing. It only makes sense that whole bean coffee is the freshest, as their is less surface area that is in contact with oxygen, therefore the bean goes stale at a slower rate. With this in mind, it was recommended to resist the urge to buy large quantities of beans or grinds to have stocked in your cupboards, and instead buy small amounts at a time to ensure the freshest beans. Lastly, one of the major factors in creating the perfect cup is heat. Heat is vital in ensuring the proper extraction process from the beans, which means that water must be boiling! 

With the small event held at the renowned Maman Bakery & Café, we of course had to try some coffee-inspired treats created by their pastry chef. The baked goods were created using Melitta's European blend, which is bold yet smooth, with a sweet finish. A coffee-flavoured eclair and Madeleine were both created exclusively for the event, but I have to say, I think they should both stay on the menu! Both treats were incredible, with a subtle hint of coffee that shined through, yet didn't overpower the rest of the pastry. 

Lucky for us, Maman was lovely enough to provide me with recipes of both of the treats that I could share with you! Below is Maman's recipe for their Coffee Madeleines. Keep your eyes peeled for the fantastic eclair recipe, which I will be sharing in a separate post.

Treats from Maman, including the Coffee Madeleine

Coffee Madeleines 
Recipe provided by Maman bakery & Café

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

0.6 tsp baking powder

7 tsp butter

1 tsp Deluxe - European Blend Melitta Coffee

1/4 tsp lemon zest

2 eggs

1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Sift flour with baking powder. 
2. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Let cool.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk eggs with sugar for about 5-minutes. Mixture should be bubbly. Add the flour mixture, melted butter, Melitta coffee, and lemon zest. Stir until just combined.
4. Preheat oven to 425ºF.
5. Butter Madeleine pan and add the dough so that it fills 2/3 of the mould. 
6. Bake at 425ºF for 5-minutes, then reduce heat to 390ºF and cook for an additional 10-minutes. 
7. Let cool to room temperature. 
8. Unmould the Madeleine and allow to fully cool. Serve! 

Listening To:

Summer Friends - Chance The Rapper

Egg Nog Punch for Fredi Magazine

How is Christmas already next week?!?!?! Insanity! Get yourself into the Christmas spirit quickly and easily by making this fantastic egg nog alternative! Though this was one of the craziest recipes I have ever heard of, the results were delicious and perfect for your next holiday party! I love the wild mix of ingredients that go into this festive cocktail, which somehow end up tasting like an expertly made egg nog, minus all of those raw egg yolks! Check out the recipe in the latest issue of Fredi magazine and on their website! 

Pro Tip:
Make a festive cocktail stirrer by stringing fresh cranberries through rosemary sprigs! The rosemary looks just like Christmas tree trimmings and will add an aromatic note to your bevvie. The stunning contrast of colour between the vibrant green from the rosemary and the deep ruby red from the cranberries add a striking detail set against the off-white drink.  

Listening To:

Vince Guaraldi Trio - Linus & Lucy

Toronto Beer Fest 2014

Just as July starts to wind down and August begins to peek its sunny head out, I can't help but begin ticking off my essential summer checklist. My essential summer checklist is a combination of nostalgia-inducing old favourites such as 'visit Centre Island' and "enjoy a picnic in a park," to new favourites like "ride my bike to Belwoods for beers and books" and "attend an outdoor concert." With 2014 being my third year attending the Toronto Festival of Beer, the massive beer-guzzling festival has officially made it onto my essential summer checklist. The festival, which is sponsored by The Beer Store, has become one of those events that is just so quintessentially summer to me. Running around outdoors, day drinking, making new friends, enjoying new experiences; the Toronto Festival of Beer ticks off all the right boxes for a spectacular summer day! 

(From top left) Left Field Brewing; The menu at Left Field Brewing; A festival favourite, Beau's Brewing Co.; The menu at Beau's Brewing Co.

It's crazy to look back on my past Beer Fest entries to see just how much my palate has grown since attending for the first time three years ago. I remember being intimidated by all the different types of beer that at the time I was so unfamiliar with. More than that, I was so overwhelmed by the fact that I hadn't a clue what type of beer I really liked, and was apprehensive about which beers to choose. Would I be judged if I chose a the "wrong" beer? As my taste has grown over the years and beer has played a more prominent role in my daily life (at times too much so), I've learned that the amazing thing about Beer Fest, is that there really isn't a "wrong" beer to choose. Everyone is at the festival to have fun, to learn, and to educate, without judgement. With that being said, although there are really no "wrong" beers to choose from at Beer Fest, there is definitely a right and wrong way of taking part in the Beer Fest experience. 

Me (Danielle Rose) catching major shade from this Bulls fan!

So, how does one do Beer Fest the "right" way? The first thing is to forget all about the beers you've already tried. You've tried them, you've formed an opinion about them, you know where to get them, now move on! Beer Fest is all about introducing yourself to new flavours, but that doesn't mean you should avoid the brewers that you've already tried. Just because you've only ever found one type of beer from a particular brewer at the Beer Store or LCBO doesn't mean that they don't have more to offer. For me, my favourite part about Beer Fest is getting to try all the wacky and unique beers that are hard to find at a liquor store or, even better, are in limited release, meaning that that may be your only chance to try that particular brew. This is particularly true when you venture into the Local Ontario tent, which is always my first stop at the festival (after the Media Tent of course), as I am guaranteed to start off sipping on a winner! 

(From top left) Flying Monkeys Orangemungus Radler; Flying Monkeys beer menu; Great Lakes Brewery; Hop City Brewing.

My favourite brewer for tasting limited released brews is always Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, who's motto "normal is weird" is clearly represented in their extensive list of offerings at the festival. This year, their tap list was so large that they had to set up two pouring stations in order to feature all sixteen brews, which ranged from a boozy 9.3% ABV to a very light 4% ABV. With quirky names like "Strawberry Beers Forever" and "She Gives Good Hop," you can expect your taste buds to be enlightened with new tastes and big flavours that cater to both new and seasoned beer drinkers. For novice beer drinkers and those who prefer lighter and sweeter beers, Flying Monkeys offers a range of beers that feature fruits like lemons, strawberries, and oranges (orange creamsicle to be exact!) that are low in alcohol percentage. For those who prefer punchier beers with stronger flavours and unique undertones, Flying Monkeys delivers with brews that have notes of hops, fennel, and rye.

(From top left) Hop City Lawn Chair and Sommersby Cider being poured in the Media Tent; Me (Danielle Rose) with some strangers...don't remember this photo being taken; Collective Arts Brewing; Junction Brewery.

Another favourite that I am sure to check as soon as I catch a glimpse of their logo is Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. More than just hipster-looking signage and packaging, Beau's has become a festival favourite thanks to their commitment to quality and use of all-natural ingredients such as certified organic hops and malts and local spring water. Having gone for more heavy-sitting beers with strong hops flavours at last years fest, this year I tended to lean more towards crisp and refreshing beers, which meant I was always on the hunt for the word "saison" at each brew station. Saison is a type of pale ale that is highly carbonated that features fruity and spicy flavours, making it extremely refreshing for a hot summer day. With Kissmeyer Nordic Saison on the menu at Beau's, it wasn't hard for me to choose which of their fantastic options I would try. Brewed with a bouquet of organic sea buckthorn berries and rosehips, as well as an infusion of fresh local rhubarb, Beau's Kissmeyer Nordic Saison offers medium bitterness, along with spicy, floral, and fruity aromas, and finishes slightly fruity, tart, and crisp. 

Me (Danielle Rose) finishing off one of many brews.

Another brew that got points from me for being a great summer beer option, was Granville Island Brewing's Hefeweizen. With aromas of ripe banana, clove, and bready malt notes and flavours of clove, banana, and orange with a medium-body and a dry, crisp finish, Hefeweizen is a great wheat beer to enjoy with rich foods on a hot day. 

Me (Danielle Rose)...I think I've had a bit too much to drink...

When looking for a summer brew that featured more of a rich malt flavour, I turned to Left Field Brewery's Maris Pale Ale. Maris Pale Ale was inspired by Roger Maris, who made history when he beat Babe Ruth's home run record in 1961. With its crisp taste and familiar flavours, Left Field's Maris is reminscent of Roger Maris' straight, and to-the-point ball-playing, that was never flashy or boastful.

(From top left) Red Racer IPA; Red Racer IPA; Me (Danielle Rose) and a stranger...again only vaguely remember taking this photo; Red Racer.

It would be a shame to go to Beer Fest and only taste light and refreshing brews, so I got my hop fix in the form of Red Racer IPA from Central City Brewers and Distillers. Red Racer got my attention...or should I say my redheaded sister and I got their attention, thanks to their striking label featuring a pin-up inspired redhead on a bike, which they called out to us as we almost passed saying "Hey! You're on our label!" Maybe it's narcissism, but I just couldn't turn down a statement like that. I had to give it a try. I loved the intense aroma and long, lingering hops finish from their IPA. 

Me (Danielle Rose) excitedly approaching the Porchetta and Co. tent.

(From top left) Porchetta and Co.; Me (Danielle Rose) devouring my porchetta sandwich; Porchetta sandwich; Me, very pleased with my sandwich.

This is where things get fuzzy, fizzy, and hazy. With all that beer in your system, there are only so many postcards, coasters, and photos that will jog your memory into remembering what stood out at the festival. But of course, I always remember the food! With my sister Justine and I as a team, we love to try several food options throughout the day to allow us to have more tastes than our tummies can take all alone. We started our food journey with a sandwich from Porchetta and Co. Although I have had their delicious, classic porchetta sandwiches before, Justine had not, something I couldn't fathom and had to fix immediately. Just as I was after my first bite, Justine was positively smitten by the juicy layers of pork shoulder, pork belly, and prosciutto mixed in with crunchy crackling and served on an incredibly fresh bun. It was the perfect snack to begin soaking up all that liquor! 

(From top left) Fidel Gastro's Pork Belly Sandwich; Me (Danielle Rose) enjoying another summer brew; The crowd taking in Matthew Good Band; Side Launch Brewing.

Next stop on the food train was one of our festival favourites, Fidel Gastros. Last year we were blown away by Fidel Gastro's Alabama Tailgators, resulting in us each getting several servings to ourselves Although we were disappointed not to see the savoury bites of Alabama Tailgators on the menu this year at the festival, we were happy with getting another pork sandwich in our bellies. We opted to go with their Pork Belly Sandwich that was served on a soft bun with slaw and a drizzle of mayo. Greasy, crispy, and soft perfection. I'm pretty sure that sandwich saved me from abandoning my tickets and going home early. 

(From top left) Hot Bunzz; Me, holding my Hot Bunzz (innuendo unintended, but hilarious!); Lobster and Bison Short Rib Hot Bunzz; Me holding my Hot Bunzz (again, innuendo unintended, but hilarious!).

Our final taste of the day was at Hot Bunzz. I had tried Hot Bunzz last year at TUM and was impressed with their array of savoury fillings, freshly baked in a soft, warm bun. I was eager to try a different flavour this time around and selected a duo of a lobster and Bison short rib Hot Bunzz. The lobster Hot Bunzz was a much welcomed departure from red meat at the festival, and was just as buttery and delightful as I had imagined it would be. I could have easily had two lobster bunzz all to myself!

Me (Danielle Rose) looking like I've had just about enough beer for a century.

Another fantastic Toronto Festival of Beer complete! I can't wait to take on the fest next year with hopes of seeing many new local brewers!

Photography by Justine Rose.

Listening To:
Wild Nothing - Chinatown

Perfect Weekends Begin & End With Pisco Sours

It's that time Toronto! It's time for shorts and skirts, patios and pitchers, frolicking with friends, bikes and baseball games, and sweet, sweet spontaneity! The warm weather has finally arrived and with it comes those perfect fun and sun packed weekends that seem to go on forever, yet still end far too soon. To kick off what has officially been the first five-star weather weekend of Spring 2014 in Toronto, my boyfriend Chris was able to track down a bottle of Chilean Pisco, a boozy fruit liquor that is the main component to one of my favourite Summer cocktails, Pisco Sours. 

I had my first Pisco Sour experience less than two hours after landing in Chile for an adventure-filled vacation with my dad seven years ago (SEVEN YEARS AGO?! Where did the time go?). I was jet lagged but dying to hit the lounge chair by the pool of our hotel, desperate to feel the sun on my Vitamin D-deprived skin after escaping Toronto's cruel February chill. The moment my tush hit the chair I was presented with my very first Pisco Sour. So delighted to be in such a beautiful foreign country relaxing by the pool, I downed my drink, not realizing that the citrusy, easy-drinking cocktail actually contains a whopping three shots of the 41% spirit. I was a goner. I spent the remainder of the afternoon passed out and drooling in my lounge chair, while the sun burnt my fair, milk-coloured skin. That damn delicious cocktail took the wind right out of me, but that certainly didn't stop me from having at least one Pisco Sour every day for the remainder of my trip. 

It probably would have been a good idea to fill Chris in on that story, before we started drinking our Pisco Sours, as the poor guy didn't have a clue what he was getting himself into. He read "fruit liquor" and thought "oh like a Campari! Like an aperitivo!" It wasn't until we had drained our glasses and Chris went to pour more of what remained in the cocktail shaker, that he got a real whiff of the Pisco and realized how similar it smells to Tequila. A quick peek at the alcohol percentage on the bottle and it was back to chugging water! Just like after my first boozy Pisco experience, Chris had become hooked on the South American cocktail, declaring it to be our drink of the Summer! I sure didn't oppose! Recipes for Pisco Sours differ slightly, but here is one that my dad and I made a few years ago.

With the sun blazing and not a cloud in the sky on Saturday morning, Chris and I had our sights set on bikes! We headed over to Queen West to check out the selection at the Giant store. Thanks to my guy doing some initial bike research for me, we quickly found a reasonably-priced dream bike that had great value, was light and speedy, had good design features, and was cute and sporty looking. We took her out for a test ride and I fell in love! It had to be mine! I purchased my first good bike with a skip in my step and a smile plastered on my face. 

After all that excitement and test riding, we had worked up an appetite and decided to go around the corner to check out North Of Brooklyn Pizzeria, a gourmet pizza shop we have been meaning to try since opening. The small and dark largely-takeout shop features wood and metal accents with four tables for two and bar seating. We each picked up a slice of their Pepperoni and Margherita pizza and a can of, Howe Sound Lager and tucked in. The perfectly thin hand-stretched crust was very tasty and topped with an absolutely delicious hand-crushed tomato sauce, with wonderful concentrated tomato flavour and just enough Buffalo Mozzarella, pepperoni, and basil. I particularly liked the extra touch of sesame seeds that lined the crust of the pepperoni pizza, giving it a nutty bite. It's rare to find such great gourmet pizza sold by-the-slice in the Toronto, and with North Of Brooklyn taking such great care in producing a high-quality product, there's no doubt that their slices take the lead!

There's no better way to end one of those perfect Spring weekends than at a packed Jays game, with the dome open, beers, and good friends! To celebrate another Jays sweep we all headed back to Chris' condo to send the weekend off in the only way we knew how, more Pisco Sours! Cheers to a Spring and Summer filled with gorgeous weekends just like this!

Listening To:

Tove Lo - Stay High (Bad Habits Remix)

Mott's Clamato Thanksgiving Day Caesar

Mott's Clamato has your Thanksgiving cocktail covered with their festive take on a Thanksgiving Bloody Caesar. The classic Caesar cocktail is given a Thanksgiving twist thanks to the addition of a thanksgiving favourite, cranberries. There's nothing like that combo of sweet and savory to get my mouth watering! Make Canada's Cocktail Thanksgiving Day Caesar apart of your family's holiday celebration! 

Glass: Highball

Rim: Fresh cracked salt & pepper

Garnish: Turkey, cheese, & cranberries on a skewer or rosemary sprig

Ingredients:

1 oz. gin

2 dashes hot sauce

3 dashes Worcestershire Sauce

1 oz. cranberry juice

3 oz. Mott's Clamato Original

Directions:

1. Rim the glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Add ingredients in order listed above.
4. Stir.
5. Garnish.

Listening To:

Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built

Toronto Festival Of Beer 2013

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Goose Island's Sofie & Matilda beer in the Media Tent; Me (Danielle Rose) cheers-ing with new friends while hiding from the rain; Goose Island's Matila & Sofie chilling in an ice bath; a guitar-playing crooner at the Smirnoff Ice station

Right as July begins to wind down and you start to fear that your Summer may be nearing its end, The Toronto Festival Of Beer swoops into town to remind you that the summer is just beginning! An event that truly reflects the carefree and laid back attitude of summer in Toronto, our city's Beer Fest is really just a giant park party, which just so happens to be filled with over 60 brewers featuring more than 200 brands of beer from all over the world. I walked into the festival last year a novice, without a clue about what I was getting myself into, and very little knowledge of beer (despite what I may have said about my "mature" taste at the time). Ultimately, we did have a great time and did try some interesting beer, but, to be honest, the majority of our beer drinking was pretty tame, as we kept to a lot of brands we were already familiar with, just beginning to get our taste buds comfortable with the bitter flavours in hops, the sweet and often grainy flavours from malt, and so on. 

Now, one year later, we consider ourselves true "beer drinkers", having spent the last year tasting different beers from around the world, experimenting with trying various styles of beer, shades and colours, degrees of filtration, and percentages of alcohol, many of which from craft brewers playing around with natural ingredients, straddling the line between art and science. With a game plan, and my list of "The Do's Of Beer Fest" fresh in my brain, we were definitely ready to conquer the festival! 

Me (Danielle Rose) sipping on my first brew of the festival in the Media Tent

We started our beer drinking festivities off in the Media Tent, sectioned off with high tables, bar stools,  cozy couches, and lots of Neal Brothers chips so that all participating media could have a place to "kick up their feet and tweet!" thanks to free wifi. We eagerly checked out the mini bar secluded off in the tent, curious to see if they had stepped up their game this year and were pouring something other than Labatt 50 (as they were unfortunately doing last year). Sure enough, bobbing in a bath of ice were two of my favourite craft brews that I had tried this year, Goose Island's (Chicago) Matilda and Sofie. Goose Island's Matilda is my standout favourite of the two with fruity aromas and a slightly spicy flavour, this dry and quenching beer has been a great easy drinking beer all summer long for me! Goose Island's Sofie is more reminiscent of a tart and dry sparking wine, with flavours of spicy white pepper and a hint of citrus thanks to the addition of orange peel. Goose Island's Matilda and Sofie make great gifts as they are bottled in beautiful 765mL wine bottles.

Me (Danielle Rose) digging in to Fidel Gastro's Kingzilla Sandwich

All it took was one sampling glass of beer to work up my appetite and have me rushing over to Fidel Gastro's tent, and see what interesting creations he was cooking up this time around. The hardest part about going to Fidel Gastro's station at any event is deciding what to order, as every item sounds so mouth-wateringly delicious and unique. This issue is generally solved as you snake your way through the inevitably long line of hungry snackers, but it just so happened that we got lucky and had no line at all. Our growling stomachs forced a speedy decision, and two minutes later we were tucking into their Kingzilla Sandwich, rootbeer braised short rib and kimchi on a soft bun. How good was it? Just look at my satisfied face! As we were waiting for our sandwich, we got distracted by the sight of their grill, which was covered in bacon-wrapped something. We had to know what that something was. It turned out to be their Alabama Tailgaters, beef carpaccio, kimchi, and havarti cheese wrapped in bacon. Good lord! We knew we had to go back and try those later! 

 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Me (Danielle Rose) drinking Waterloo Brewing's award winning Amber brew in front of their tent; The selection at Lake of Bays Brewing Company; Flying Monkeys Brewing pouring me my Diary of a Mango Madman beer; Posters at Beau's Brewing, including the Tom Green Beer poster

One of the next exhibitors we checked out was Lake of Bays Brewing Company from right here in Ontario. I had enjoyed their Rock Cut lager when I first tried it at the Stop's Night Market, with its gentle notes of fresh cut grass and a a hint of caramel, but Beer Fest is all about trying something new, so I went for their River Walker Summer Ale, which their representative informed us was getting mixed reviews all day. She said if you aren't a fan of ginger, you probably won't like this beer. Both my sister and I immediately gave her a knowing glance. Come on...you're talkin' to two proud gingers here. Of course we like ginger! That fresh grated ginger definitely gave the beer a bit of a punch, but a welcome one! The kick of ginger and citrus makes this seasonal ale the perfect beer for beating the heat, with its bright and refreshing flavours and crisp finish. 

Me (Danielle Rose) shielding myself from the rain at the Lake of Bays tent

After enjoying a few light brews, we were ready to take on the dark and headed over to Hop City (Brampton, ON) to try their 8th Sin Craft Lager, a pitch black lager brewed with eight different types of malt. This smooth, sweet beer was an absolute treat with  a medium body and flavours of chocolate and espresso. I also tried a very similar and perhaps even more delicious dark brew from Beau's All Natural Brewing Company, arguably my favourite Ontario craft brewer. Instantly, upon walking up to the Beau's station I noticed a silk-screened-looking image of Tom Green on the board. What the heck does Tom Green have to do with Beau's? I quickly learned that Tom Green and Beau's have partnered to create The Tom Green Beer, a milk stout displaying flavours of chocolate and coffee, while delivering a creamy, velvety texture, and finishing with a mild sweetness. Definitely another winner of the day! 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

The menu board at Fidel Gastro's; Fidel Gastro's Alabama Tailgaters; A non-edible mock up of the spread at Fidel Gastro's; Alabama Tailgaters on the grill

It was right around this time that we decided we just couldn't wait one second longer to finally try Fidel Gastro's Alabama Tailgaters, that hadn't left our brains since we first set our eyes on them. After excitedly proclaiming "We came back!" we were handed a plate of the most perfect bite of savory and smokey deliciousness. Piping hot from the grill, the grass-fed beef carpaccio took on a great flavour and texture from being cooked while wrapped in the seasoned smoked bacon, the havarti cheese sauce adding a comforting creaminess to cut the saltiness of the meat. These little babies were so damn delicious, we may have come back again to order another two orders, one to eat on the spot, one to take home. Oh man, I've gotta get myself over to Fidel Gastro's recently opened bricks and mortar, Lisa Marie, to try their full menu ASAP! 

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The buzzing crowd; Me (Danielle Rose) drinking Brooklyn Brewery's IPA; Buskerville at the Mill St. tent; Me in front of the Hop City station drinking their 8th Sin Craft Lager

With more food in our bellies, we were ready to fill up our mini steins once again! We headed over to Brooklyn Brewery from, you guessed it, Brooklyn! I was first introduced to Brooklyn Brewery by my boyfriend who considers Brooklyn Lager to be his "house beer". I absolutely love their amber-gold coloured lager which displays a firm malt centre supported by a refreshing bitterness and floral hop aroma. After drinking so much of Brooklyn Brewery's lager this summer, I was ready to try something else from the New York brewery. The only other option was their East India Pale Ale, inspired by the original East India Pale Ales brewed in England in the early 1800's for the troops in India, which featured extra malt and hops to give the brew the bitterness and strength to endure the long sea voyage. The bright aroma of hops, lemongrass, pine, and citrus fruit give this IPA its unique and delicious flavour. I hope to start seeing this in stores soon! 

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The giant Meatball sign at the Campagnolo and Dolce Lucano station; Me (Danielle Rose) ready to dig into my meatballs and beer; The menu board at Campagnolo and Dolce Lucano; The Meatballs with Italian Pretzels from Campagnolo

Beginning to feel all that beer kicking in, we stumbled over to the tent with a sign with the words 'ITALIAN MEATBALLS' scrawled in bright red, drawing us in like bulls to a matador. The tent was home to Campagnolo and Dolce Lucano, serving up meatballs with ragu and bread, as well as an antipasto platter with salami, olives, and Italian pretzels. After having so many wonderful experiences from Campagnolo in the past, including last years Grilling Tent cooking demo from Chef Craig Harding, I was excited to try their take on a classic Italian meatball. Although the dish was delicious, I was surprised to find cut sausages in my container as opposed to the promised meatballs. Perhaps this is how they do their meatballs? But they weren't balls...Delicious, but deceiving, the ragu-soaked bread actually tasted more like meatballs than the cut sausages did. 

Me (Danielle Rose) sad, confused, and happy all at once about the rain invading the festival

It was by this time that I was beginning to feel very beer'd out, and still had a pocket full of tokens needing to be used up. I pushed myself through two more beers (rounding out an approximate total of a whopping 14 samples that day!) and had to call it a day. One of my last samples came from Double Trouble Brewing Company (Ontario), trying their Hops & Robbers IPA. I have picked up their tall cans of their Prison Break Pilsner a few times before, but was eager to try something a little heavier from the quirky brewery. Their Hops & Robbers IPA hit the spot with its fruity aromas of lemon with hints of pineapple and toasty caramel. I had to end things off on a super light note, wanting nothing but a refreshing glass of juice to wash away all that beer. Flying Monkeys Brewery had exactly what I was looking for in their Diary of a Mango Madman beer. Incredibly light, this fruity beer was almost like sparkling mango juice, but with the added complexity of a light brew. Really refreshing and interesting, I enjoyed Flying Monkeys mango beer, but it is definitely a super girlie beer! 

Tired, thirsty for juice, and wet from the rain I was ready to hop into a cab and crash on my couch, with happy memories of another successful beer fest dancing in my mind. Is it too soon to start counting the days until next years Toronto Festival of Beer? I can't wait!! Until then, get excited for the Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival coming up August 10 and 11! 

All photography by Justine Rose.

Listening To:
Klingande-Jubel-Original-mix

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The Do's Of Beer Fest

Last year I walked into the Toronto Festival of Beer a first timer. Donning bright orange pants and a silk tank, with little research beforehand, I thought by simply having my camera and my festival map on hand I was good to go and ready to conquer the festival. From the moment I walked up to Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place, I knew I was out of my element. Already using my map as a fan to attempt to beat the heat, I was kicking myself for not finding comfort in the jean cutoffs that seemed to be the official festival uniform for women. Already parched from our TTC journey, my sister and I headed straight to the first tap we could set our sights on and began our beer drinking debauchery. Completely overwhelmed by the enormous size of the festival and huge selection of exhibitors, we abandoned all previous thoughts of having a game plan, and stumbled into a manic beer drinking mess. Despite our silly, unorganized, and at times messy first experience, we had the time of our lives bouncing around the festival, trying out some new beers, wasting our drink tickets on ones we had already tried in the past, and making lots of new friends! Now, going on my second year of what I now consider to be one of my favourite festivals in the city, I feel full of beer festival wisdom that I feel is my blogger duty to pass on. So before you stumble into the Toronto Festival of Beer this weekend a naive beer fest goer, make sure to know Tho Do's Of Beer Fest to make sure you have the absolute best beer drinking experience. 

• DO - Download the APP! This year the Beer Fest is going paperless, which is not only good for the environment but also for clumsy or careless festival goers who may accidently leave their festival map at one of the pouring stations. Make sure to download your TFOB 2013 APP before hitting the fest here! Not an Android or iPhone user? No worries, here is a map of the fest for you to print out before this weekend!

• DO - Try new beer! Go out of your comfort zone and try a new style or brand of beer you're not familiar with or haven't liked the past, you might learn something new about your taste buds! This is all about having a new experience and trying beers that may be tricky to get ahold of, and don't forget to ask others about what beers you should be trying...if they say Molson Canadian, don't trust their advice! 
• DO - Wear light clothes. Don't make the same mistake that I made last year by wearing pants! I spent the whole day shvitzing up a storm! 
• DO - Wear comfortable shoes. Honey, put those heels away! This ain't the place! This is an all-day outdoor event with lots of beer and walking on grass. Trust me, you will thank me later.

• DO - Eat lots of food! There are some awesome food exhibitors at the event that you are definitely going to want to try! Not to mention food will certainly help with soaking up all that alcohol. Check out who's exhibiting this year here. 
• DO - Drink lots of water! I know you want to get your drunk on, but you don't want to be that person who passes out from all the beer and heat and ruins your friends day...you also don't want to be the person getting sick and getting kicked out. Make sure you locate the water stations immediately upon arriving at the festival. Trust me, they will be your savior!

• Do - Make friends. You're not a kid anymore, so have fun making friends with strangers! Ask them what their favourite beers of the fest have been, you might learn something new!
• DO - Wear and bring sunscreen...especially it you're a redhead! You are going to be outside in mostly uncovered areas all day long in the blazing hot sun. Do yourself a favour and slather on the highest number you can get your hands on. 

• DO - Find shelter from the sun in the Grilling Tent. Cool down while you learn about pairing beer with food from some of Toronto's hottest chefs! Check out the schedule here to be sure to catch your favourite chef in action.
• DO - Have a game plan. This is a very large event, so having a general idea of what stands you want to hit will help you to not get overwhelmed. Check out the list of exhibitors to see which breweries sound the most interesting to you.

• DO - Stay up to date on Twitter! Make sure to have a peek at Twitter every now and then and see what beers other guests are tweeting about. Search the hashtag #BeerMe and make sure to tweet your own faves from the event! 
• DO - Plan a safe way to get home. This is the absolutely the number one most important tip of the festival. Either take a taxi, the TTC, or have a designated driver pick you up. Don't be an idiot. Don't drink and drive. 
• DO - Have fun!....obviously! 

Read all about my experience at the festival last year here! 

Listening To:

Timber Timbre - Bad Ritual

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Mott's Clamato Maple BBQ Caesar

Every year I seem to find something new and exciting to do on Canada Day. Whether I'm hanging out with friends watching fireworks, lounging on a dock at a cottage, or kicking back on a patio, there's one thing that always remains consistent, I always have a caesar, Canada's official cocktail, in my hand. This year Mott's Clamato's Official Caesar Mixing Officer, Clint, has created a very special Canada Day caesar that truly represents our beautiful country! Clint's Maple BBQ Caesar features Canadian whiskey, bacon bits, and maple BBQ sauce to fill you with the feeling of hanging out with your favourite people at a Canada Day BBQ. Make sure to make Clint's Maple BBQ Caesar apart of your Canada Day celebration this weekend!

Glass: Highball

Garnish: Lime wedge, fresh cracked black pepper, maple bacon knot on a skewer

Rim: Bacon bits, fresh cracked salt and pepper

Ingredients:

1 oz. Canadain whiskey

1 spoon maple BBQ sauce

2 dashes hot sauce

3 dashes Worcestershire 

3 dashes fresh cracked salt and pepper

4 oz. Mott's Clamato

Directions:

1. Rim the highball glass.
2. Fill with ice.
3. Add ingredients in order.
4. Stir.
5. Garnish.
6. ENJOY!

Follow @CaesarClint on Twitter!

Listening To:

Kanye West - I Am A God (Featuring God)

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Toronto Festival of Beer 2012

  CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Me (Danielle Rose) enjoying my first beer of the fest in the Media Lounge; Labatt 50, compliments of the Media Lounge; Photobombed by a new friend; HOP CITY Brewing Co.

My fascination with beer started when I was only a child, mischievously sneaking sips of my parents beer the moment they were unattended, with Sleeman's Honey Brown my favourite stolen sip of choice. I couldn't have cared less about feeling tipsy or getting drunk (and at that age, we can be very thankful that that wasn't on my mind!), I simply loved the taste! Once I hit 19 I had fun discovering my first hangovers, shooting back uber-sugary vodka coolers, loving that "I [couldn't] even taste the alcohol!", while I stumbled around like a newborn giraffe just learning to use her legs. Just after that I did a 360, deciding that classy was the way to go. Classy in my mind meant wine drinking. I attempted to throw myself into the wine scene, desperate to understand the jargon and how to describe and pair different wines. Although I was eager to taste different wines when at the many tasting events that I attended and worked at, I found myself continually ordering beer when at restaurants, and picking up 6-packs at the LCBO. Don't get me wrong, I love a good glass of wine, but I think it all comes down to the attitude. I was never able to fully immerse myself into the wine world, scared that I would say the wrong the thing and have a group of snooty wine drinkers turn their noses up at me as they slurped their Cabernet...because yes, this has happened. So what if I tasted vanilla and you tasted cherry? Isn't wine subjective? Despite how many times I've heard that yes, it is subjective, I never really felt accepted when expressing my opinions or even speaking up to ask a question. 

Beer is a whole other story. We like what we like, and if you don't like that, well, we couldn't care less! There is no shame when it comes to beer drinking, all is accepted. Whether you like the taste of a little salt in your beer, citrus fruits, or hey, there's even a man who comes into my pub who likes his Canadian draft microwaved for 35 seconds, all is accepted in the beer world!...but that microwave thing is a liiiittle strange, let's be honest. 

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Me (Danielle Rose) ready to check out what Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery has to offer; Edinburg brew Innes & Gunn; Me & a new friend...I WOULD befriend the dude in a Snoop Dog (er...Lion?) T-Shirt; Fidel Gastro's awesome Spicy Short Rib Sandwich.

Working at a pub this summer has allowed me to learn a lot about beer, and most importantly, has helped me figure out what exactly I like...which turns out to be quite a lot! My taste buds have matured in next to no time, taking me from easy-drinking, multiple filtered light brews, to unfiltered hoppy brews with worlds of character. I was eager to try whatever I could get my hands on! So my invitation to the Toronto Festival of Beer could come at no better time! With my photographer for the day in tow (my very talented sister Justine Rose), I was ready to take on the festival! 

Walking up to the Exhibition grounds I couldn't help but feel special, being escorted past the line, thanks to my "Media" bracelet, and taken straight to the exclusive Media Lounge, complete with cozy couches, wifi, snacks, a mini bar serving up Labatt 50, and lots of free swag (ew...I hate using the word "swag"). Not a bad way to start off a beautiful Saturday! We quickly cheers'd our Labatt 50 in our complimentary cute glass beer mugs to a great fest, and went to grab our beer tokens. 

Me (Danielle Rose) enjoying a tasty brew from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery.

Overwhelmed by the size of the festival, we decided to each get 20 tokens, with 1 token representing a half glass of beer, and 2 tokens for a full. Our first stop was one of our favourite Ontario craft beers, Flying Monkeys from Barrie, Ontario. Being fans of both their Hoptical Illusion Almost Pale Ale and Amber Ale, we wanted to give their Smashbomb Atomic IPA a try, attracted by the name. Just like all of the previous Flying Monkey's brews that we've tried, we absolutely loved their Smashbomb Atomic IPA! Smashbomb Atomic IPA stands out with its extreme Citra hop flavour, which means you get flavours of grapefruit, lime, apricot, melon, lychee, pineapple, mango, papaya, and other tropical fruit flavours and aromas. The hoppiness of the beer is balanced out with a strong malt backbone. Oh and hey, I learned that day that "IPA" stands for "India Pale Ale"...I couldn't have been the only one to just learn this right? 

Next stop was Shock Top Beer from the US. I've just recently discovered that I really enjoy the taste and ease of drinking that comes from wheat beers, so Shock Top, a spiced Belgian-style white wheat beer, was definitely of interest to me. With real orange, lemon, and lime peels as well as a bit of coriander, the unfiltered Shock Top had a unique and striking flavour that both my sister and I loved! 

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Chef Craig Harding from Campagnolo taking charge of the Grilling Tent; Chef Harding created a food pairing to go with the classic Budweiser that was served; Chef Harding heating up the kitchen on the Napoleon Grill; Me (Danielle Rose) posing with Chef Harding's delicious Octopus & Chorizo Sausage sample.

Being true food lovers above all else, my sister and I were most excited to check out the Rockstar Napoleon Grilling Tent! With the food demos being led by Chef Craig Harding from one of my families favourite restaurants in Toronto, Campagnolo, and Rob Rossi from recently opened Bestellen restaurant and most notably Top Chef Canada Season 1, expectations were high! Chef Harding was first up at the grill, leading his demo with casual confidence as he showed the audience how to make his Octopus with Chorizo Sausage paired with a classic Budweiser. By giving a cash donation of your choice, you were given access to as much Budweiser as you liked, with the donation going towards Ted Reader's favourite charity. As always, Harding did not disappoint. The octopus and chorizo was absolutely delicious...I only wish I could have purchased a whole plate of it! 

Me (Danielle Rose), being a goof, posing with my food sample and beer.

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Rock Lobster Food Co. Serving up buttery Lobster Rolls; Shock Top Unfiltered Belgian Wheat Beer; Me (Danielle Rose) anticipating my decadent Lobster roll; Ox Heart Philly Cheesesteak from the Feasting Room.

With only a short time before the next grilling demo began, a few glasses of Budweiser on our system, and 18 tokens remaining, we quickly grabbed a bite of food to make sure we could last the last two hours that we had at the festival. I couldn't resist the Rock Lobster Food Co. tent, serving up yummy little Lobster Rolls to tide as over before Chef Rossi's demo. Buttery, tender, and oh so decadent, I devoured my lobster roll with a smile on my face!

"Mmmmm...lobster roll...soooo good...om nom nom"

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Me (Danielle Rose) & my new friend; The Mill Street Busker Experience tent; Me & the guy who I stole the beer goggles from; Lake of Bays Brewing Company.

With a few more minutes to spare, we quickly hopped into the Mill St. tent, drawn in by their Busker Experience show, led by a mustached man in a top hat. Mill St. Organic is often my go-to beer, once again, with it's ease of drinking. I'm also a big fan of Mill St. Tank House, with its perfect balance of hops, citrus, and spice. High in both alcohol and hops, we decided to give Mill Streets IPA a try, now knowing what IPA actually meant. I really enjoyed Mill St.'s India Pale Ale with it's slightly roasted notes. 

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Chef Rob Rossi from Bestellen and Top Chef Canada doing his thing in the Grilling Tent; Me (Danielle Rose) & Chef Rossi; Chef Rossi answering questions from the audience; Chef Rossi's delicious Grilled Scallop with mushrooms & Cilantro.

With a delicious lobster roll and some Mill St. in our system, we rushed back to the grilling tent to grab front row seats for Chef Rossi's demo. After watching every episode of Top Chef Canada, it came as no surprise that Rob Rossi is quite the charmer, saying "hi", shaking hands, and talking up the audience members as they found their seats. There was no question, he owned that stage! With the help of Chef Frank Vanditti, Rossi grilled up insanely delicious Sea Scallops with Mushrooms and Cilantro. It was really cool to watch as Rossi tasted along the way, following his instincts to adjust the recipe based on the conditions to deliver the most successful results. Originally he had planned on pan frying the scallops on the grill, but at the last minute, changed his mind and decided to place the scallops directly on the hot grill. Another last minute decision was topping the scallops with fresh cilantro, an addition that I felt really made the dish sing! The scallops were paired with another classic beer, Alexander Keiths. Once again, I found myself wishing I could cash in my tokens for a whole plate of Rossi's creation! 

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Me (Danielle Rose) with my beer goggles on...that I may have taken off of a stranger; Shock Top unfiltered Belgian wheat beer; Me & more new friends; Cheerleaders to get everyone in the Beer Fest spirit.

It's at this point that things start to get a little fuzzy. I guess we didn't realize quite how much beer we had consumed in grilling tent, with our glasses being topped every few minutes, and only a few samples of food in our bellies. We spent the next hour or so hopping around from booth to booth, attempting to fill our stomachs, all the while treading dangerous territory trying even more beer samples. Unfortunately, I can't seem to recall what beer I tried during this time, although, thankfully, my memory for good food never seems to fail me! 

I spotted a stand for the Feasting Room serving up what looked like succulent Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and quickly forked over my tokens to get my hands on one. With my yummy sandwich in hand, I picked up a recipe card on the table to pop into my purse. Perhaps I should have actually read what I was about to eat before I placed my order, because it turns out my sandwich was actually Ox Heart Philly Cheesesteak! Having never tried Ox nor heart before, I was a little timid to take my first bite. As I sunk my teeth into the tender meat smothered in red peppers, mushrooms, and montgomery cheddar cheese all previous apprehensions went right out the window! It was damn good! Who knew I would be a fan of Ox heart?! Thank you liquid courage! 

"Do I really want to be eating Ox Heart?...Oh yeah! So damn good!"

I also made sure to check out Fidel Gastro's stand, dying to taste what all the hype was about for myself! Fidel Gastro's has recently begun filming a show for Food Network Canada that everyone seems to be talking about. It took all of a second to realize why the name Fidel Gastro's has been on everyone lips lately, taking a bite of my favourite food vendor eat of the festival, Fidel Gastro's awesomely amazing Spicy Short Rib Sandwich. Oh man, it was to die for! I can't wait to check out his  reality show coming to Food Network Canada this Fall, Rebel Without a Kitchen.

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Fidel Gastro's delicious Spicy Short Rib Sandwich; Me (Danielle Rose) & more new friends; You can't have a successful festival without live music; Me & yet another new friend.

Although the beer and food were clearly the standout of the festival, one of my favourite parts was the atmosphere. It felt like going back to first year Frosh, with swarms of young people eager to mingle, chat, and party with one another, but with a bit more maturity being in our mid to late twenties (the average age of the crowd on Saturday). I met so many awesome and hilarious people throughout the fest that made my sister and I's experience truly memorable! Kind, respectful, accepting, and interesting, I had so much fun getting to meet all of these unique beer lovers! 

The Toronto Festival of Beer has been one of my favourite memories of the summer so far, not to mention one of the best food and drink festivals I've been to! What an awesome way to spend a beautiful, sunny Saturday! I can't wait to make the Toronto Festival of Beer a yearly tradition for my sister and I! If you missed it this year, make sure to grab your tickets early next year, as they sell out pretty quick! Also be sure to check out the Roundhouse Craft Beer Festival taking place this weekend! I'll be there! Come say hi! 

All photography by Justine Rose
Check out more of Justine's work here:
Intoxicated Ink
The Good, The Bad, & The Disposable

Listening To:

Miike Snow - The Wave

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