I’m off to celebrate James’s 4th Birthday! He’s a big boy now!
In fact, he’s such a big boy that Meghann and I are taking him to the bar with us. Yes, really! 
The Orlando Brewing Company, Orlando’s organic brewer, allows pets in the tasting room on Sunday afternoons. Meghann is bringing her pup, too. Maggie, however, is staying at home because I can’t handle both James and her at once in public spaces.
I ate lunch at home to save some money:
I made a delicious hummus, roasted sundried tomato, and artichoke heart sammie. I’ve found that the key to the tomato and artichoke hearts (which are packed in olive oil) is to rinse them under tap water, press with a paper towel, and then throw into a hot wok for a few minutes.
And an orange:
I’ve got about an hour before James and I are meeting Meghann at the bar, so I might have another snack soon.
Are you a fan of beer? I (obviously) love beer. I prefer beer over wine or spirits. My favorite types of beer include:
- Blue Moon
- Killian’s
- Sam Adam’s Winter Lager
- Hoegaarden
- Red Stripe
- Sol
As you can see, I like all types of beer – dark, light, wheat, tropical, wintery. I am an equal opportunity beer drinker. The only beers I do not like are Miller Light, Bud Light, or Anything Light. Ew.
What’s your favorite brand of beer?
Twitter
Operation Beautiful
Aw I actually love Bud Light. True story.
I love Blue Moon! But the best and cheapest beer out there is HONEY BROWN! Also a favorite, of course, Guinness.
Happy Birthday to James!
hahah light beers are the only thing I drink b/c I never liked the strong stuff. Maybe you can take me on a beer tasting tour when were down and change my mind??
Thats cool about the dogs at the bar too. have fun!
Happy birthday to James!
Haha. But even once I can drink I really don’t see myself having much one mroe than once or a while. I’m already a chocolaholic and that’s enough for me
No beer… yet
So fun! I would love to take my pup beer tasting with me!
We are big beer fans in our house. And I’m with ya. Light beers are awful! We love all kinds, but I love a good brown ale! Smutty Nose and Brooklyn Brown are my favorites
I like youngs double chocolate stout
Happy bday to ur pup!
I actually like Coors Light…not sure I should admit that! It was the first beer I ever drank, and I still love it! Maybe it just brings about nostalgic memories of college.
My mom is obsessed with Coors Light – its the only beer she’ll drink.
I love dark beers ,bitters and especially some of the great
Canadian microbrewery stuff!
Hate to gloat toooo much,but Canadian beer is pretty fab.
Also,when in Ireland the Guiness is amazing and unlike the Guiness here in North America unfortunately.
Love lots of Brit brews too…mmm
Hahah what about Molson XXX?? That stuff will knock you on your feet.
I’m more of a wine gal, but I do enjoy a Blue Moon every so often
yup we are beer drinkers at our house . . . I don’t think I have favourite beer
we were lucky to live across the street from a brewery at our old house, it’s called Amsterdam (although I’m fairly certain you can only get it in Toronto)
I don’t drink too often, but I do enjoy a good beer. I like Blue Moon the most!
Do you have a suggestion for a pumpkin beer? I tried Dogfish Head and it was vile. I tasted no pumpkin, brown sugar, or any taste of deliciousness, in fact. I thought it might have been bad, because it was truly awful and I always heard good things about it. Anyway, good pumpkin beers?
aww i loved that one! it was my fav. maybe you had a bad one?
Blue Moon has a seasonal pumpkin ale!
And I agree with Caitlin, definitely try Dogfish Head again, it’s the top rated pumpkin beer!
Another really tasty pumpkin beer is Shipyard Pumpkinhead. It’s seasonal and I’ve only seen it in New England (it’s made by the Shipyard Brewing Co. in Maine) but if you get the chance to try it next year, it’s delicious!
I cant drink anymore but my fav used to be Sam Adams Oktoberfest. Did you use to partake in the Blue Moon Specials at Hemmingways in the Burgh?? I sure did
$1 Blue Moons, every Wednesday night! The bane of my existence and pretty much the single reason why I was so out of shape in college.
You should try Delirium! They sell is at Whole Foods and it’s amazing:)
Happy Birthday James.
My favorite beer is Stella Artois. I also like wheat beers like Paulaner, Blue Moon and Hoegaarden.
Agreed about light beers. Left those behind in the college days
I love nut browns like Newcastle. I had an UHmazing beer that was organic – Honey Basil beer from a brewery in Oregon I think. I don’t really like hoppy beers but am always up for giving anything a try. I do love my wine though!! Colorado is FULL of microbrews…so hard to pick a favorite.
i love miller lite and guiness, they are both the nectar of the gods!
I’m not a huge fan of beer. I much prefer red wine.
By the way, I tried pumpkin yogurt today! Oh my goodness! Rocked my socks! LOVE LOVE LOVE it! My only concern is that apparently Upstate NY has a pumpkin shortage so they didn’t have any at the grocery store. I managed to find a can at Target but they only had a few. I’m concerned I’ll become obsessed then upstate NY will officially run out of pumpkin! Okay so that probably won’t happen, but this is going to become a regular part of my diet!
Have fun at happy hour!
I TOTALLY love light beer. I always wish I weren’t such a girl about it, but I’ll take a Bud Light with Lime over pretty much any other type of beer.
have fun at happy hour with Meghann!
and happy birthday to your little boy!
hope he gets a beer (he’s legal, ya know!)
xo-Molly
http://www.givignanythingbutup.wordpress.com
Yuengling (which I can’t get in Chicago; I miss living in Florida) and Coors Light.
I loved Yuengling when I lived in Pennsylvania! I actually drove several cases back from South Carolina for our rehersal dinner.
My other favorites include 312, Bolivard, and Mother Wit. I like almost any wheat beer, but I’m not a big fan of hops. This was very unfortunate when we spent almost a month on the west coast home of so many IPAs (Indian Pale Ales).
I have yet to try the new Bud light Wheat. Anyone tried it, is it good?
I am a New England girl. Sam Adams all the way!!!
I am more of a wine drinker but I do love Leine’s, Sierra Nevada, Summit, and a lot of local micro brews.
I’m with you on the light beers. Ew. While that’s all I drank in college I much prefer a tastier beer. My favorite is Sam Adams. I love all the seasonal brews!
Hi, this is my first comment to your site, but I read it everyday! How did you find a dog friendly restaurant in Orlando? I have lots of friends and family there and frequent Florida often even though I live in Ohio. Enjoy your happy hour.
its not really a restaurant, just a brewery – i just randomly stumbled upon it! i’ve been before but never with the pups. there is a dog friendly outdoor restaurant on lake eola though.
How fun! Happy birthday to James!
Mmmm, beer. Since living in Kansas City I’ve acquired a love for Boulevard Wheat, but the native Chicagoan in me loves all things Goose Island, too. I also love Pyramid Apricot Ale for something fruitier.
You’re a girl after my own heart! Drinking beer is one of the things I struggle to keep in moderation with my weight and fitness. But, my favorite beer is Sierra Nevada. LOVE it! I live in California, so I guess I just like to keep it local
Aww – how fun! Happy Birthday James
) and I realllly love Same Adams Cherry Wheat.
My favorite beer. I can never turn down a big mug of Bud Light Draft (sorry
What a unique idea to add artichokes to a sandwich!
Argh I’m with you, I HATE Bud Light and crap like that. I’m a big fan of dark beers…A local brewing company in Amherst (BBC) has to be my favorite, but I’ll try anything!
Happy birthday James!
I’m a huge Blue Moon and Hoegaarten fan, too, though my favorite is Shocktop. It’s an orange-flavored beer that’s 12%…meaning it’s deliciousness is very dangerous!
I’m not a beer drinker at all, but I just wanted to tell you that James shares his birthday with my son! He turns 3 today! Happy birthday, boys!!
Happy Birthday to your son!
I’m not really into beer (or any alcohol for that matter) but my husband has to try every kind he comes across. He loves dark beers.
Oh, and Happy Birthday to James!!!
I love beer from Bells Brewery in Kalamazoo Mi. My absolute fav is Oberon, their summer brew. Think Blue Moon, but more citrus
Abita is my favorite beer, all of its varieties are out of this world! I also like Red Stripe, Southern Tier, and Heinekin Light a lot.
Blue Moon is hands down my favorite. I like Yeungling too though. I also like Woodchuck Cider too — if you consider that beer.
I’m not a huge beer drinker. Don’t love it, don’t hate it. I prefer red wine (Merlot) or a fruity cocktail =) but simple – like vodka and cranberry juice. I don’t like the triple berry banana pomegranate citygirl martinis…if you know what I mean!
I’m not a big beer fan myself, but a tasting room with pets sounds so fun!
A big happy birthday to James! My 2 are 4, also (the cats will be turning 9). I use a double leash on them, and they’re fairly well behaved in public places.
We used to live in Austin, TX (for many years), which is very dog-friendly, and took them out to eat with us every once in a while. Albany isn’t quite so dog friendly.
How fun to take the pups along!!
i like beer…but haven’t tried too many good ones. but i did try blue moon w/lemon over thanksgiving w/my BIL (he’s a beer connaisseur) and LOVED it!!
I’m still developing a “taste” for beer. But, I did try a black wheat beer this weekend, and liked it!
I absolutely can’t stand the awful taste of beer. More for the rest of you! =)
Aw, what a cutie. I’m not a big beer drinker but do like Carling in the UK.
Oh I love beer. Hoegaarden and Blue Moon are both awesome, and I love Fat Tire. I agree about light beers, although Amstel Light’s not so bad…
I love different kinds of beer. I am not a fan of the standard “lights”. Some of my faves include: Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout, 1554, Rogue Hazelnut Brown, and Delirium Tremens. I highly recommend!
[...] 2010 by Courtney I see so many cute puppy/doggie pictures from various bloggers (check out the Birthday Boy!) that I thought I would share a little puppy love, too. Thanks, [...]
For normal ones I really like Bluemoon, but I also like Flying Dog and Saranac. I love Duclaw beers in MD and Natty Greene’s beers in NC (I love trying local beers)
Dogs in a tasting room!?!? Combining beer and dogs is a fantastic idea, so much fun! I love all beer really (except miller and bud…blech) but Rouge in Oregon makes some of the best. AND we just started brewing beer at my apt, should be amazing.
Aw my pup just turned four too- happy birthday to James!
I love Blue Moon and Guinness… yum!
Guinness and Smithwicks, plus the occasional Landshark.
Reading about you not being able to control your dogs brought back some hilarious memories. I have a black German shepherd/black lab/wolf mix (living at home while I’m at college) and my family has a yellow lab. The wolf mix still had the instinct to chase rabbits, squirrels, and dogs for the longest time, and the yellow lab would follow her. They’re both over 80 pounds, so I ended up flat on my ass literally every walk for about four years haha.
In Houston, there’s a cafe/burger style restaurant called Barnaby’s that I’m obsessed with that allows dogs. They have amazing veg options (like 3 veggie burger varieties) and they also have a $1 special where they give you a brownie with a big scoop of ice cream that I loved pre-veganism.
Blue Moon is definitely my fave! I actually just recently started drinking/ liking beers. The key for me was to run away from the Miller Lites, Bud Lights, and all those other cheap-o beers. Wheat beers are my favorite. I’m also a big fan of ciders which I guess aren’t technically beer.
I have a friend who’s started brewing his own beer so I’m really excited to get to try his stuff. He brewed a beer specifically for my friends’ Jennie and John’s wedding. Right now he’s doing a cider.
ABITA!!!! Come to NOLA and get some Abita! And I agree. No light beer for me, either. Yuck.
Have you done the Abita Brewery Tour? It’s so much fun! (Primarily b/c they give you a LOT of time in the tap room before and after the tour.)
No, but we want to…one of those things we keep putting off.
I’ve been! It was awesome, and free.
Hahaha, I really only like light beers. Bud light, Miller light and even Keystone light. In my defense, I am still in college.
I believe Blue Moon is my favorite also, but I pretty much love all beer. I haven’t met a beer I didn’t like so far.
Happy Birthday, James!
Is it weird to say I wish I liked beer? I wish I liked alcohol. I hate it. I hate drinking, the taste and the way it makes me feel. I know I’m crazy. lol.
Happy Bday James!!!
dogs and beer…fantastic!
I am a self-proclaimed beer-snob and I find that micro-brewed beer has the best flavor. It takes a while to get used to (my favorites are, now, the most bitter…i.e. IPAs), however after acclamating your taste buds, I think the flavor is much more rewarding. I only allow myself to drink on Friday and Saturdays and I savor every sip of the complex flavors!
I thoroughly enjoy anything from Anchor Brewery or Stone Brewery. Both are Californian, but you (like me) can purchase them at Whole Foods.
Bueno Brewing!
Happy Birthday James! My dogs 4th birthday was on the 15th!
I don’t drink but I do love root beer!
Bells Brewery – Kalamazoo, MI brews great ales, porters and stouts, wheat beers – nothing light to say the least. I bet you’d love it! Check it out http://www.bellsbeer.com
Yummy Sammie!
I like some types of beer, and i usually need to have it with food.
I like Rickard’s Red and wings. It’s an awesome combo.
I also like Rickard’s White, Strongbow (cider), Killian’s to name a few.
I love beer – Guinness is my favourite! That is so cool that the pub allows pets – I have never heard of such a thing!!
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat, Grolsch,Avalanche and Blue Moon!
My husband always says there’s a “way” to drink beer and enjoy it. I have yet to discover this, but I eagerly want to learn. Any advice?
Your dogs are seriously so unbelievably cute. I love your pictures of them!
Try a wheat style beer like Hoegaarden or Blue moon with a slice of lemon or orange. They’re not very bitter, and I find them to be really refreshing once the weather gets a little warmer.
best beer i’ve ever had is at a brewery here in colorado – it’s called the Nutcracker porter! they brew a really great chocolate/caramel porter with roasted hazelnuts….omg I’m drooling right now. it tastes like dessert
Seeing as I’m 16, I don’t really have a beer preference yet. =P I do like Pellegrino, though. =D Your dog is sooo cute! Love those big eyes!
<333 cor
errh I can’t stomach beer
I actually hate all alcohol..the smell of wine makes me want to be sick!! I really missed the boat on the whole alcohol thing lol 
Have a good time anyways
dogfish 60 minute ipa!!!!!
I’m primarily a wine drinker, but I do love a good beer. I like Abita brand beer (I’m in New Orleans so it’s practically a law that you have to like Abita), Hoegaarden, Blue Moon, Boddingtons, Guinness, Pete’s Wicked Strawberry Blonde, Spaten, Paulaner….so I agree with you- just about anything as long as it’s not a light beer. Also, though I like Corona, Corona does not like me. I’ll get a horrible hangover from like 2 of those.
That’s awesome that Orlando has a place you can take your dogs! I want to take my pup everywhere, but chicago isn’t that dog friendly!
Happy birthday, James!!! Hope you have a good one!
My favorite beers are Shiner Bock (the husband is Texan and he would kill me if I said anything else). Also I love a special organic chestnut beer I found at a health food store here in Paris!
I LOVE beer, it is definitely my drink of choice. I love newcastle, double chocolate stout, and Duvel!
Blue Moon, Widmer, Magners (if that counts), Trader Joe’s SUMMER BREW!
My favorite is Abita Purple Haze. I do like Blue Moon also.
I’m definitely not a beer gal. My boyfriend pretty much will only drink Guiness (or the closest thing to it) and he likes to make me take a sip just so see the awful face I make.
I’ve actually only had beer a couple times and i’ve never had a good experience with it. Maybe i’ve tried the wrong ones?
The idea of taking James to the gym makes me giggle.
I don’t drink alcohol now but when I did I didn’t like beer. I only ever had one I liked and that was with lemon squeezed in it.
I love Blue Moon or Shiner (TX beer)…yum-yum!
I just had Sol for the first time this weekend! Very good… although I’m not a huge beer person. I’ve had a case of 312 (local brewery) in my refrigerator forever that doesn’t get touched usually unless I’m passing it off on people who come over!
My favorite beer is Blue Moon. Although my knowledge of beer is limited. I just bought some artichoke hearts at Trader Joe’s and have been wondering what to do with them – this looks like a delicious idea!
Happy Birthday James!
My favorite beer is Blue Moon.
Or Sam Adams Summer Ale.
I’ve never been much of a beer drinker, unless it was for drinking games. If given the choice I’d rather drink wine. I’ve been following some of the local Jersey wineries lately and learning alot.
Hey Caitlin
Just wanted to pop by and say how much I love that you are doing the Fitnessista’s strength training program. It came at a perfect time and now I’m following along with you. I just did the legs program today and I can feel it already! Keep up the great work, you’re a real inspiration.
I’m baby-sitting for a little ball of puppy love right now who is small and looks kind of like a brown and white Maggie! But I think he is a JRT, not a dachshund…
If I’m out at a regular bar, I usually grab a Blue Moon, any hefeweizen, or a Hoegaarden (yep, fruity wheaty ones). But if I was in or around Upstate New York, I would search high and low for the local brew Ithaca Apricot Wheat. I totally took the availability of that beer for granted all through college!
Happy Birthday James! Cash says happy birthday! Favorite beers include Blue Moon, Miller Light, Tecate.
LEINENKUGEL Sunset Wheat is the best beer ever! Tastes like Fruit Loops! I also like Corona/Corona Light, Bud Light, & Abita Purple Haze.
Happy Birthday sweet James! Hope ya’ll had a great day.
As for beer, blech. I don’t drink it but hubby likes Red Stripe. It’s funny you ask because he just bought some at World Market last night. Anything to bring Jamaica home while we wait to go back every Dec. LOL
I prefer beer too! My favourite is Moosehead, which I very rarely manage to find here in the UK, and a couple of UK brands – Old Speckled Hen and Brains Dark SA.
I love both wine and beer–what I have depends on the occasion
My faves are Hoegarden, Boreale Red (great beer made in Quebec and culprit of many late nights out in grad school) and Cruzcampo (Spanish beer my parents used to drink when I was a little girl and we lived in Spain; when I went back I discovered why they loved it so much!)
There is this belgium beer that is wheat free that rocks. I forgot the name of it but it comes in the big green bottle. I’ll have to find out soon. Great post!
Cheers,
LCotter
Mmm, beer. I’m a fan of microbrews, my husband is a homebrewer and we’re attempting to visit all the microbreweries in Michigan (we’ve hit 40 of about 70). My favorite is from Short’s called The Soft Parade. And cheap beer has it’s place too – for tailgating/beer pong/flip cup/shotgunning/beer bong we prefer some PBR.
Happy Belated Birthday James!
I’m a wine drinker, but occasionally I’m in the mood for some beer. I love Blue Moon and Stella Artois.
I’m not a big fan of beer (I think bad beer at college kind of ruined it for me), but I do like Peroni. I definitely prefer wine to beer.
I don’t drink often, but if I do, I can drink either beer or wine, depending on my mood and where I am. Blue Light (labatt) is my favorite and Yuengling is also pretty good.
Happy birthday to James
When I drink beer, I prefer a local brewery’s cask beers. They’re so tasty. For a bottled beer I like Newcastle on occasion or Bells Oberon. It’s perfect for summer
Yay happy birthday James!
I love beer. I actually like Mich Ultra (haha you must be thinking ewww!) but I definitely like a lot of different kinds.
New Hollands Dragons Milk, Goose Island Bourbon Barrel Stout, yum-yum!
I’m a little late to the party but I had to chime in when I saw a few other Yuengling fans — I have to say I agree!!! I’m a PA girl at heart, Yuengling is my all time top beer. I’m a big fan of Sam Adams Oktoberfest too!
Sweetwater Blue!!! A local Atlanta brew. If you see it, you should try sometime. A lighter tasting beer with a blueberry flavor. Tastes great in the summer.
Every now and then a beer is refreshing but I’m definitely a wine girl.
James is so cute, hope he had a great b-day!