{"id":37934,"date":"2023-01-18T09:03:35","date_gmt":"2023-01-18T17:03:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=37934"},"modified":"2024-03-14T13:59:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-14T20:59:33","slug":"keeping-it-cozy-at-home-beer-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/keeping-it-cozy-at-home-beer-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Keeping it Cozy: Delivering a Mindful At-Home Craft Beer Experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

January is often the toughest month to muddle through \u2013 it\u2019s cold, wet, and dark, and we\u2019re all dragging ourselves back into our regular schedules. It\u2019s tough for breweries, too. With so many people participating in Dry January, tasting rooms go empty and sales go down. Even people who aren\u2019t going dry this month may not be in the mood for venturing out of the house. What\u2019s a brewery to do?<\/p>\n

Well, many of them are expanding on what they did during the pandemic. Various beer delivery options are becoming increasingly common in BC, which is great for those of us who would rather stay curled up at home. After a couple of weeks of socializing and cold weather, it\u2019s time to take advantage of beer delivery and enjoy a craft brew at home while doing something a little quieter, a little more calming for the soul.<\/p>\n

\"A
Getting cozy by the fire. Photo: Yasmine Hardcastle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beer at Home: A Unique Experience<\/h3>\n

Drinking at home can easily lead to overconsumption if done simply out of habit. However, practicing what Lisa Perizzolo (@ALadyAndLibations<\/a>) calls \u201cmindful drinking\u201d at home can provide an enjoyable sensory experience and a psychological break \u2013 without a hangover. Perizzolo emphasizes that food and drink are a special part of her Italian heritage and that the right drink for the occasion makes all the difference. She adds that \u201cthe best is a Zen night in which I can practice mindful drinking and enhance my libation ventures\u201d from the comfort of her hot tub gazebo.<\/p>\n

Other beer fans may not have Perizzolo\u2019s special \u201csip and dip\u201d oasis, but they nevertheless see beer at home as a fundamentally different experience from enjoying beers out with friends. Food blogger Emma Clark (@We.Eat.Vancity<\/a>) finds the highly stimulating taproom environment distracting if she really wants to focus on the flavours and experience of drinking a good beer. Being at home helps her focus. Craft beer aficionado Dominic Kohler (@Doms_Ale_Tales<\/a>) describes having a new beer as a new experience, and one that is predominantly about the nuances of flavour. If he\u2019s out at a brewery, the experience is more social, while \u201cat home is a peaceful setting, somewhere I can relax and take my time with a beer.\u201d<\/p>\n

Erika Maeghan van Veenen (@BeerMeCanada<\/a>) of the Brewery Creek Liquor Store practices slow, mindful drinking and makes sure she\u2019s always up on new styles and breweries by keeping her \u201cTasty Notes\u201d journal. Due to her dog Tansy\u2019s medical needs, she often does these tastings at home. She describes getting comfy with her tasting journal and a beer before dinner when her taste buds are fresh. Darren Lof (@Hop_Around_BC<\/a>) takes special care when having a good craft beer at home; he uses proper glassware, puts on some quality music, and has a couple of good friends join him for the experience.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Erika Maeghan van Veenen (@BeerMeCanada) of the Brewery Creek Liquor Store<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting Cozy<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re not up for braving the weather \u2013 or the crowds \u2013 to join friends at a taproom, you can still have a great craft beer experience from the comfort of your home. You may find that some of these quieter beer-drinking activities provide a mental health break as well as an opportunity to really smell and taste your beer in a new way. Try pairing some of these at-home activities with a beer that will be delivered right to your door!<\/p>\n

\"A
Dageraad’s Brune Kelderbier is a great beer to sip while patiently perfecting your baking skills.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Baking:<\/strong> Beer and bread have gone together for millennia. Mixing, kneading, rising, kneading again, rising again\u2026baking bread is a lengthy process that requires patience. It can also help you quiet a busy brain.
\nSuggested pairing:<\/strong> Slowly sip on a glass of Dageraad Brewing’s<\/a> Brune Kelderbier as the smell of rising bread dough fills your kitchen. Don\u2019t worry about getting your floury hands all over your glass \u2013 no one\u2019s watching!
\nDelivery Options:<\/strong> Delivery is free on orders over $40 if you\u2019re in Vancouver, Burnaby or New West. Outside of those zones, you can pay a bit extra for shipping via Canada Post.<\/p>\n