Brewpublik Blog Writing Samples
Five Reasons to Appreciate Local Beer
June 2018
At BREWPUBLIK, we’re always on the hunt to discover our latest favorite beer. Quite often, these favorites come from small, independent breweries – some that you might have never heard of, but that you can bet have a great story behind them. Today’s beer scene just wouldn’t be the same without these awesome local breweries – and here’s a few reasons why we love them:
To Support Your Hometown
One of the most obvious benefits of buying local of course, is that you're helping your hometown small businesses (or breweries in this case). We’ve never met a craft brewer that wasn’t head-over-heels passionate about their trade – so why not support these enthusiastic folks? Plus, many craft breweries often value sustainability, use alternative sources of energy and prioritize recycling and composting – in our book, that’s just called drinking for a good cause.
Because There’s Usually a Story Behind It
Whenever you drink a craft beer, you should always check out the label first, as many tell a story completely on their own. Craft brewers may even have their packaging designed by local artists and many labels don’t even highlight their own brewery logo at all. You’ll also find creative (and sometimes hilarious) names, especially for limited releases and seasonal beers. This is one instance where you can totally judge a book by its cover – or rather, a beer by its name.
To Stop Overpaying for Beer
The next time you go to place a beer order, keep an eye on the prices listed on the menu. When a ubiquitous domestic beer is listed for say, only $1 less than a local craft beer, you can be sure that you probably aren’t getting a very good deal. There are plenty of reasons that craft beers often come with premium pricing – greater distribution costs, higher-quality ingredients, a more hands-on production process…just to name a few. If a bar or restaurant is charging the same price for a big-name beer as they are for a craft beer, you might as well order that local IPA and get bit more bang for your buck.
To Think, or Rather, Drink Outside the Box
Beer should be appreciated, savored and enjoyed – and there’s just nothing like sipping a carefully formulated craft beer infused with an exotic flavor or unusual ingredient. Smaller breweries are extremely flexible and have the ability to try new (and sometimes funky) recipes and styles. You don’t have to be a full-fledged beer snob to appreciate the different options or seasonal varieties that a local brewer provides. Plus, something made closer to home is likely much fresher – meaning, it will taste the way that it was intended to.
To Help Learn What You Like
There are no lack of options when it comes to beer – hoppy beers, sours, IPAs, porters, wheat beers – the list goes on. And within these sometimes-loose classifications comes an endless number of subcategories and regional variations. Local beer often offers a wider range of beer types and flavors so that you can zero-in on what you most enjoy (and maybe even more importantly, what you don’t like). Samplers and flights are also a great way to help you directly compare different types – and also a great way to taste funky beers that you may have been reluctant to purchase a full pour of. At BREWPUBLIK, we whole-heartedly believe that no one should feel overwhelmed or confused when looking at a seemingly endless beer list – and we think that everyone should have a favorite beer (…or four).
June 2018
At BREWPUBLIK, we’re always on the hunt to discover our latest favorite beer. Quite often, these favorites come from small, independent breweries – some that you might have never heard of, but that you can bet have a great story behind them. Today’s beer scene just wouldn’t be the same without these awesome local breweries – and here’s a few reasons why we love them:
To Support Your Hometown
One of the most obvious benefits of buying local of course, is that you're helping your hometown small businesses (or breweries in this case). We’ve never met a craft brewer that wasn’t head-over-heels passionate about their trade – so why not support these enthusiastic folks? Plus, many craft breweries often value sustainability, use alternative sources of energy and prioritize recycling and composting – in our book, that’s just called drinking for a good cause.
Because There’s Usually a Story Behind It
Whenever you drink a craft beer, you should always check out the label first, as many tell a story completely on their own. Craft brewers may even have their packaging designed by local artists and many labels don’t even highlight their own brewery logo at all. You’ll also find creative (and sometimes hilarious) names, especially for limited releases and seasonal beers. This is one instance where you can totally judge a book by its cover – or rather, a beer by its name.
To Stop Overpaying for Beer
The next time you go to place a beer order, keep an eye on the prices listed on the menu. When a ubiquitous domestic beer is listed for say, only $1 less than a local craft beer, you can be sure that you probably aren’t getting a very good deal. There are plenty of reasons that craft beers often come with premium pricing – greater distribution costs, higher-quality ingredients, a more hands-on production process…just to name a few. If a bar or restaurant is charging the same price for a big-name beer as they are for a craft beer, you might as well order that local IPA and get bit more bang for your buck.
To Think, or Rather, Drink Outside the Box
Beer should be appreciated, savored and enjoyed – and there’s just nothing like sipping a carefully formulated craft beer infused with an exotic flavor or unusual ingredient. Smaller breweries are extremely flexible and have the ability to try new (and sometimes funky) recipes and styles. You don’t have to be a full-fledged beer snob to appreciate the different options or seasonal varieties that a local brewer provides. Plus, something made closer to home is likely much fresher – meaning, it will taste the way that it was intended to.
To Help Learn What You Like
There are no lack of options when it comes to beer – hoppy beers, sours, IPAs, porters, wheat beers – the list goes on. And within these sometimes-loose classifications comes an endless number of subcategories and regional variations. Local beer often offers a wider range of beer types and flavors so that you can zero-in on what you most enjoy (and maybe even more importantly, what you don’t like). Samplers and flights are also a great way to help you directly compare different types – and also a great way to taste funky beers that you may have been reluctant to purchase a full pour of. At BREWPUBLIK, we whole-heartedly believe that no one should feel overwhelmed or confused when looking at a seemingly endless beer list – and we think that everyone should have a favorite beer (…or four).
Unique Ways to Spice Up Your Next Company Event
September 2018
Social events with coworkers can be a great opportunity for team bonding and fun – not to mention a good excuse to get out from behind your cubicle. But we’ve all attended a few functions that have felt more like an obligation than an enjoyable occasion. So how do you throw a company event that everyone is actually excited to attend? We’ve got a few ideas to help spice up your next party.
Location, Location, Location
There’s nothing wrong with hosting a happy hour in your office’s 4th floor conference room – although the fluorescent lighting and drab beige wallpaper may not exactly liven up the party. Instead, why not get out of the office and host a party at the nearest park? A scenic view is sure to help everyone enjoy themselves, and we promise that glass of wine will taste better outside, too. In fact, for those of you in San Francisco, BREWPUBLIK even delivers beer and wine to many of those favorite local spots – Chrissy Field, Golden Gate Park and Mission Dolores Park, just to name a few. We’ll supply the crowd-favorite craft beers, and we can even help with the planning and execution of the entire event so that everyone is sure to have a good time.
Don’t Make Attendance Mandatory
While it would be nice to have full company-wide participation, it's just not realistic in most cases. These days, companies continue to put more and more emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, so if your special event is at night or on a weekend, chances are you'll have a few no-shows. Plus, some employees prefer to keep their work and social lives separate – and there is nothing wrong with that. Rather than forcing the fun, instead, provide some sort of incentive for team members to attend – such as starting the event an hour before your team usually clocks out, or allowing attendees to come into the office later the following day. Also, it’s basically a scientific fact that turnout increases when alcohol is served (pssst…that’s where we come in).
Make It Interactive
Mingling with coworkers can go stale quickly if there isn’t anything to liven up the chit-chat. Having a few activities at your event is a good idea to get people to come out of their shell and get to know each other a little bit better. Set up a few corn hole boards or get an impromptu game of two-hand touch going. Besides, who doesn’t love a little competition? Or, if your team isn’t the sporty type, a communal activity such as wine tasting can be a bit more exciting than your standard happy hour. Not to mention, once the wine starts flowing, so will the conversation.
Whether you are throwing a small end-of-quarter happy hour or a throwing a big bash to celebrate closing a major deal, with a little bit of effort, your party can really be taken to the next level. And don’t forget about your friends at BREWPUBLIK – we’ve been around the block and know exactly what it takes to throw a good party.
September 2018
Social events with coworkers can be a great opportunity for team bonding and fun – not to mention a good excuse to get out from behind your cubicle. But we’ve all attended a few functions that have felt more like an obligation than an enjoyable occasion. So how do you throw a company event that everyone is actually excited to attend? We’ve got a few ideas to help spice up your next party.
Location, Location, Location
There’s nothing wrong with hosting a happy hour in your office’s 4th floor conference room – although the fluorescent lighting and drab beige wallpaper may not exactly liven up the party. Instead, why not get out of the office and host a party at the nearest park? A scenic view is sure to help everyone enjoy themselves, and we promise that glass of wine will taste better outside, too. In fact, for those of you in San Francisco, BREWPUBLIK even delivers beer and wine to many of those favorite local spots – Chrissy Field, Golden Gate Park and Mission Dolores Park, just to name a few. We’ll supply the crowd-favorite craft beers, and we can even help with the planning and execution of the entire event so that everyone is sure to have a good time.
Don’t Make Attendance Mandatory
While it would be nice to have full company-wide participation, it's just not realistic in most cases. These days, companies continue to put more and more emphasis on maintaining a healthy work-life balance, so if your special event is at night or on a weekend, chances are you'll have a few no-shows. Plus, some employees prefer to keep their work and social lives separate – and there is nothing wrong with that. Rather than forcing the fun, instead, provide some sort of incentive for team members to attend – such as starting the event an hour before your team usually clocks out, or allowing attendees to come into the office later the following day. Also, it’s basically a scientific fact that turnout increases when alcohol is served (pssst…that’s where we come in).
Make It Interactive
Mingling with coworkers can go stale quickly if there isn’t anything to liven up the chit-chat. Having a few activities at your event is a good idea to get people to come out of their shell and get to know each other a little bit better. Set up a few corn hole boards or get an impromptu game of two-hand touch going. Besides, who doesn’t love a little competition? Or, if your team isn’t the sporty type, a communal activity such as wine tasting can be a bit more exciting than your standard happy hour. Not to mention, once the wine starts flowing, so will the conversation.
Whether you are throwing a small end-of-quarter happy hour or a throwing a big bash to celebrate closing a major deal, with a little bit of effort, your party can really be taken to the next level. And don’t forget about your friends at BREWPUBLIK – we’ve been around the block and know exactly what it takes to throw a good party.