Caren West: A Lady Who Loves Beer

Photo credit Teodora Nicolae

Naming her dad as her ideal drinking buddy, she says that although she prefers more hop-forward beers when given a beer list, she'll try just about anything (including drinking a PBR when the time calls for it). Hells yeah.

Celebrating nearly a decade of business in Atlanta handling public relations for some very beer-centric clients (including Wild Heaven, Frozen Pints, and Cypress Street Pint & Plate to name a few) this social butterfly really knows how to throw a party and is a powerhouse of positive energy and enthusiasm wherever she goes.

Meet Caren West: a lady who loves beer.

How did you end up in Atlanta, and do you think you'll stay for always?

"To make a very long story short: I graduated from Auburn University, so ended up spending a lot of time in Atlanta throughout my college career, but never thought I would make it my home. After I graduated, I spent one last glorious summer at the beach working at the Weekapaug Inn in Rhode Island, moved to South Carolina for hot minute, and then the next thing I knew I found myself in Atlanta looking for jobs.

I love our city. I am so proud to live in Atlanta and own a business here. I don't see myself leaving any time soon (or really ever) other than buying property in other cities and the beach, but I will always have a home in Atlanta. I made a very conscious decision to open a business in Atlanta and will continue to do my best to support the community and all the incredible businesses and people who make our city so great."

Leigh Germy: A Lady Who Loves Beer

Meet Leigh. She's Terrapin Beer Company's Atlanta Market Rep. and an all around awesome Lady. 

A crazy talented photographer, and a resource for healthy balance between beer and brewing up a hella strong immune system (she gave me some rad tips on juicing a while back) this sweet and sassy beer beauty jumped in to fill the feature for Atlanta's October Lady Who Loves Beer. 

Thanks Leigh!

Hey, go ahead and wish her a happy birthday while you're at it by drinking a Terrapin beer (it's her birthday month, she tells me).


Tell us about you. Where are you from? How did you end up in Georgia? Do you think Athens will be your forever home?

"I'm a nomad from the midwest. My family moved around most of my childhood. I moved to Atlanta 10 years ago, looking for something new and warmer weather. I live in Decatur currently. I always dream about going West; who knows what will happen?"

Jen Price {A Lady Who Loves Beer}

While her brick and mortar might still be a ways off, she says she's gone to bed dreaming of the customers who frequent her "beer boutique" every night for two years. And she's recently taken a huge step forward in making that dream--reality.

A transportation planner by day, this Lady has led a not-so-secret life as a craft beer evangelist in her off hours, and is hoping to one day make it a full-time affair.

Already up and running with a mobile craft beer education venue called Atlanta Beer Boutique, she's partnered with businesses in the Atlanta area to make use of their space, and is spreading "the good word" through events featuring craft beer cocktails and food pairings located throughout the city.

With a series of 'Perfect Pairings' on the calendar in coming months--she's focused on bringing non-beer drinkers who have been turned away in the past--to the gospel of craft beer.

I had a chance to sit down with Jen last week (over some beers of course) and chat about her first loves and future plans.

Meet Jen Price: a lady who loves beer.  

Have you always been into beer? How did you get interested in it?

I think my earliest memory of drinking beer is with my Dad. Probably at 5, maybe. He used to drink High Life. The champagne of beers. I would prepare his beer, when I knew he was coming home. Pour it for him into his glass, and he would let me drink the foam off the top.

It’s my first choice. Next to that might be liquor, and if nothing else is available then I might drink wine. I would probably have water before I drink wine.

Mary Macrae {A Lady Who Loves Beer}

A recent graduate from Georgia State University, this Gremlin Growlers intern has goals of lobbying on behalf of the beer community. A local Peachtree City Chapter Rep. for GA Girls Pint Out, she's also an active volunteer within the Georgia craft beer community. 

Meet Mary Macrae: a lady who loves beer. 

Tell us about you. Where are you from? How did you end up in Atlanta? Do you think this is your forever home?   

I’m originally from New York. My dad’s job relocated us when I was still fairly young. I can’t definitively say that Atlanta is where I want to be forever, but I really enjoy exploring the city. Over the past few years I’ve been exposed to some of the state’s most interesting places and gotten the chance to meet some really cool people. If I were to leave now, I would definitely miss it.

When you're not drinking beer, you're...

{6 Women} + 12 Beers = IPA Day Celebration!

In preparation for International IPA Day (which this year falls on August 7th) I asked five women who love craft beer for their local and all-time favorite India Pale Ales. OK, 6 really--but I cheated and included myself. I can do that, right? 

With a few exceptions--Bell's Two Hearted (and old standby) and Tropicália from newly opened Creature Comforts were in quite a few of these ladies' top five picks--most IPA selections were unique. Drink any of these delicious India Pale Ales to celebrate today, or every day! Just not all at once, mkay (#everythinginmoderation)? 

Join the celebration by using #IPAday2014 and tagging any of the Ladies using their handles below on Twitter (or your favorite social media platform). Cheers, y'all! 

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{TOP GEORGIA PICK}

Terrapin's Belgian IPA, Monks Revenge 

Athens, Georgia | Style: Belgian IPA (Cabernet barrel-aged)
9.6% ABV | 82 IBUs

"I've had this beer on draft at Trappeze in Athens and in Atlanta at Brick Store Pub. It's an excellent take on the regular Monks Revenge. The red wine is perfectly present. You almost forget you're drinking an IPA."

Mary O. Boyle {A Lady Who Loves Beer}

As a special offer to Hey, Brewtiful readers, our feature for the month is offering a $50 credit to her online shop good for a custom order or existing listing! Enter here {http://bit.ly/1r2Tvth} or at the end of this feature.

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Born and raised in Arizona, this west-coast woman has counted over 20 years in Atlanta home. When she's not out promoting the book on beer she recently co-wrote with her partner (detailing the history of brewing in Atlanta), you'll likely find her sipping on spirits or gluten-free beer or working on her libations line of jewelry. With a beer crush that includes the witty Brew Dogs duo, an aversion to non-readers ("we won't talk about those people"), and a love for the older Georgia breweries who are still innovating (count me in on all three), this Lady and I have a lot of common ground.  

Meet Mary O. Boyle: a lady who loves beer.  

Tell us about you. Where are you from? How did you end up in Atlanta? Do you think this is your forever home? When you're not drinking beer, you're...

Well, I was born and raised in Arizona more years ago than I like to count.

Ladies Who Love Beer {2014 Roundup}

We're halfway through the 2014 edition of Ladies Who Love Beer, with seven new features including Aly Moler of Frozen Pints, Kim Leshinksi of Hail to the Ale, Molly Gunn of The Porter Beer Bar, Haley Cowan of Eventide, Cori Paige of CRAFT by UMH, Rebekha Jennings of Enterwoven Productions, and Osayi Endolyn of Atlanta Magazine's Covered Dish.

Click your way through the interviews with the ladies below, and check back here each month for a new feature on a lady who loves beer. Cheers ya'll!

  

   

    

Osayi Endolyn: A Lady Who Loves Beer

photo credit Andrew Thomas Lee

A prolific writer based out of Atlanta, this California-born woman dreams of visiting Tokyo (for the sumo wrestling of course) and counts her tenacity through tough times among her proudest accomplishments. 

Currently working on a book about the U.S. Marine Corps, and an ongoing column on craft beer and cocktails in Atlanta Magazine (which you should definitely check out), this lady is a class act with a taste for Lagunitas (all the Lagunitas) and Orpheus Brewing's Serpent Bite.

Meet Osayi Endolyn: a lady who loves beer.  

Tell us about you. Where are you from? How did you end up in Atlanta? Do you think this is your forever home? When you're not drinking beer, you're...

I’m from California, born and raised. I grew up all over the state, but moved to Atlanta not long after finishing undergrad at UCLA. Atlanta means a lot to me. I have dear friends in this city and fell in love here. I started my pursuit in writing as a career here, so I discovered things about myself that are uniquely connected to this place. This is the city where I really became a grownup. Atlanta has given me some amazing opportunities.

When I’m not drinking beer, I’m reading, writing, editing, practicing yoga, tracking down good charcuterie, and depending on the season, watching sports. Also, having a solo dance party from time to time is really good for morale.

Rebekha Jennings: A Lady Who Loves Beer

After living in Japan for a few years, she returned to Atlanta and saw the city anew appreciating both the arts and craft beer scenes alike. When she combined her interests by creating an "Art of Beer" event, where she met brewer Greg Niznik, the idea for the Ponce De Leon Festival was born.

With plans to put her love for community and creation to use by opening a farm to table resort and a brewery in Asheville sometime in the near future, this month's Lady Who Loves Beer is one to watch as she continues to make her dreams take flight.

Meet Rebekha Jennings: a lady who loves beer.

Where are you from? How did you end up in Atlanta? Do you think this is your forever home?

Originally I was born in Richmond Virginia. I think my parents chose that location because as I hear it "Richmond is for Lovers."Not that I remember anything about the area because my parents moved me to Atlanta when I was two, but I try to keep the "Lover" inside my heart. 

Over the years I dance back and forth on my feelings about the Atlanta area. I see it being an overall violent town but also look upon how it has blossomed over the years. I love seeing the art scene developing and really contribute it to SCAD opening its doors a few years back. 

Also, I enjoy the inner whispers of the film industry coming into fruition. I know this will do great thing for the city's growth. I was able to step away from the city and moved to Japan for a few years. Being on the other side of the world can give you enough space to see Atlanta from a far and when I returned I could enjoy the city as a whole. I will always keep Atlanta as my base but I do have my eye set on Asheville and feel its only a matter of time before I make my move.

Haley Cowan: A Lady Who Loves Beer

Haley Cowan is one busy lady. Juggling both her Doctorate of Pharmacy degree and her role as Brand Manager for the local and newly launched Eventide Brewing, this South Georgia native grew up among the cotton blossoms and the peanut crops. 

When she's not talking, tasting, and toeing the beer line, she's got her nose in the books studying for exams. Despite her Georgia roots, she'd gladly relocate to Spain (tomorrow, if you asked) and travel back in time to meet Amelia Earhart for a flight of another kind. Find out more about Haley in this month's focus on Atlanta Ladies Who Love Beer.

Tell us about you. Where are you from? How did you end up in Atlanta? Do you think this is your forever home?

I grew up in a small town in South Georgia, in a place where the smell of freshly dug up peanuts permeates the air in late summer, giving way to cotton blossoms in the fall. I spent my college years in Statesboro at Georgia Southern where I met Nathan and Geoffrey. After graduating, Nathan and I spent a few years living up and down the East Coast. We settled on Atlanta in 2009 so that I could pursue a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree at Mercer while he pursued a career in engineering. While we have a lot of roots and family in Atlanta, we have high hopes of living abroad. I would happily move to Spain tomorrow given the opportunity.

When you're not drinking beer, you're...

Not drinking beer…ha, that’s a rare occurrence, though a truer statement would be when you aren’t sampling beer. It’s rare that I get to sit and enjoy a full glass. When I am not focusing on my family or Eventide I am buried in the books, studying for my next exam, or working on my research project.

{Update} with Kati Collier: A Lady Who Loves Beer

What's new with last year's LadiesWhoLoveBeer? I caught up with Kati Collier to find out.

With a new address already busting at the seems with beer, and the new title of Decatur's Girls Pint Out Rep., their growing beer family collection is showing little sign of slowing any time soon.

Kati dreams of making Ina Garten a "craft beer convert" and hopes to one day make space for solid food in the fridge. Catch up with the rest of Kati's news in today's update.

Any new developments on the beer horizon? 

I have had so much fun being back in ATL and getting back into the beer community here. Especially because I’ve met so many great ladies who love beer!

Props to our friend and fearless leader Gina, @atlbrewbabe, for starting up the new Georgia branch of Girls Pint Out. She’s doing a bang-up job of getting events and logistics going. I am honored to serve as the Decatur Chapter Rep and hope to keep getting connected with great local girls who love beer!
Brett and I closed on our house in Decatur in the fall and have really enjoyed entertaining friends and family there. 

We had a bottle share at the house before Christmas and I made a Mexican chocolate stout pound cake to pair with the epic Mexican Cake stout by Westbrook. The lovely Aly from Frozen Pints brought along some Moo-Hoo Mint Ice Cream and it was a match made in heaven. (Hey Food Network, if you’re reading this I’m totally down to host a show about beer and baking. Call me, maybe?)

I’ve helped Brett work a bunch of events around town, such as the Decatur Beer Festival, Hotoberfest, and Secret Stash Bash. Stone opened up the Alabama market to great fanfare, and so I helped work the Cask & Drum music/beer festival in Birmingham.

New brew loves?

Living in Decatur, a.k.a. the Epicenter of Good Beer in ATL, isn’t terrible. I love being close to Leon’s, The Porter (not actually Decatur, but still nearby!), and the newly renovated Decatur Taco Mac.

Fave new beers in the past few months: the new Stone Go To IPA. It’s a delicious IPA that clocks in at only 4.5%, so it’s not only sessionable but much lower in calories. It just hit the market on March 3rd and is their newest year-round release. Dreams do come true.

Brett and I celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary in January by taking a trip to Washington DC. We really enjoyed sampling the local brews at ChurchKey and City Tap House, among others. Beercations are the best!

Future goals/plans/dreams either beer-related or not... 

I’m excited to help see Girls Pint Out grow in the state and meet more like-minded beer ladies! Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay updated with events.

We also need to do something about our beer cellar situation. Beer currently occupies about 90% of our fridge (terrible problem, I know) so it would be nice to make room for actual solid food again!

If you could have one beer anywhere and with anyone you like (past or present) who/where would you raise your glass and why?

I’d love to make a craft beer convert of Ina Garten. She just needs to know well a Stone IPA goes with her homemade pizza dough. We’d obviously be drinking on the porch of her fabulous Hampton’s home. I’d impress her with my encyclopedic knowledge of her cookbooks, suggest pairings with her food, and we’d laugh over IPA’s as she offered me rosemary roasted cashews.

Pictures from top left, clockwise: Working the Secret Stash Bash, Cask & Drum festival in Birmingham, Monday Night Brewing with a friend, and sharing beer-mosas with Brett at City TapHouse in DC.

{Update} with Tierney Pomone: A Lady Who Loves Beer

A dream date with Dave Grohl, Bourbon County Rare, and a kitten named Simcoe, Tierney Pomone has her priorities in order. Check out more of what Ms. Pomone has in store in today's update. 

So what's new? I decided to rope myself in about halfway through last year realizing I had stretched myself pretty thin and my priorities were a mess. I've focused my writing to just Stouts and Stilettos and SaraBozich.com. On the professional side I've successfully scaled myself down to just one job, maintaining my cubicle-drone-by-day, craft-beer-evangelista-by-night persona. In my personal life I moved into a new place out of the suburbs and into the actual city of Harrisburg and got a kitten who we appropriately named Simcoe.

Kim Leshinski: A Lady Who Loves Beer

Kim Leshinski is serious about her beer.

A New England native, this Rochester Institute of Technology graduate has combined her love for beer and design into her own small business. Since moving to Chicago to expand her tastes and her portfolio, she's become a noted beer blogger and avid home brewer, founded the Chicago Beer Gals Collective, and left her full-time agency job to pursue self-employment.

Currently working toward becoming a certified beer judge and Cicerone, this smarty-pants beer drinker has made quite a name for herself and no doubt will continue to inspire other women to join the ranks.

Read more about this lady who loves beer in this month's {BeyondATL} feature on women and beer. 

{Update} with Jessica Smyer: A Lady Who Loves Beer

The updates from last year's features on women and beer are still pouring in. Here's an update from Jessica Smyer, a local imbiber with a taste for Asheville, Belgian style brews, and beer-cations.

So, update. What's happened since we last checked in with you? 

Admittedly, not much has changed lately. I suppose smooth sailing on the sea of life isn’t always a bad thing. Cheeseburger Bobby’s recently held a fundraiser for Murphy-Harpst Children’s home and raised $11,000. I’m glad we got to benefit a local organization. We are developing the new restaurant schedule for the next year: oncoming franchisees, store updates, and the like. Personally, I’d love to see one open near Savannah or in Florida.

Aly Moler: A Lady Who Loves Beer

There might be a chill in the air, but Aly Moler still has ice cream on the brain. Ice cream and beer, that is. Her goal? More designated ice cream eaters. 

Inspired by a night of drinking, someone poured a beer in the ice cream maker and the idea for Frozen Pints was born. 

A Virginia native, this small-town girl has big city dreams with hopes of growing her small business into a nationwide brand. Partnering with local craft breweries like Terrapin for a series of limited release flavors, Frozen Pints is focused on building a strong presence in Atlanta before expanding to a wider audience. 

With more beer than cream, you'll still need your drinking card to partake. So pick up a pint yourself with your ID ready from local Atlanta markets like Gremlin Growlers, Smyrna Beer Market, and Barrel and Barley (to name just a few). You'll also find Frozen Pints making it's way onto restaurant and bar menus around town, so ask your server for a scoop.

I caught up with Aly over the holidays and asked her to dish about her future plans, past achievements, and favorite spots in Atlanta to partake. 

{Update} with Sarah of Wild Heaven

As we inch ever closer to the new year I'm checking in with the ladies who made this first year of features a success. Here's what Wild Heaven Sarah had to say when I asked her for an update...

New developments…
In my personal life, I got engaged. At work, we are finally on the road to opening up in Avondale Estates! Major plumbing, trench drain, and some tile flooring went in most recently. It's really coming along well, and on-schedule. I'm confident we'll be open by early Spring 2014. Stay tuned to our Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram for updates. We're so excited about the progress that we can't help but post about it as it's happening real-time.

New brew loves? Old favorites?

I have to say our Ode to Mercy Special Winter Ale turned out quite well this year but that's too easy!

{Update} with Erin Lundmark of Jekyll Brewing

As we inch ever closer to the new year I'm checking in with the ladies who made this first year of features a success. Here's what Erin Lundmark had to say when I asked her for an update...

So, update. What's happened since we last checked in with you? Any new developments on the beer horizon?

Well, Jekyll Brewing opened in August. We've been very successful and well received. I'm doing all the sales, marketing, and special events. It's a full load, but it's a labor of love. As for new developments, we're finally at the point of being able to play around and make some fun stuff. Most of them will only be in the tap room for a bit, but we'll see what happens with them. We've got a Smoked Porter pouring right now, and a Foreign Export Stout that each of the brewers has taken a 1/6 barrel of and played with.

{Update} with Hops Diva: A Lady Who Loves Beer

As we inch ever closer to the new year I'm checking in with the ladies who made this first year of features a success. Here's what Hops Diva had to say when I asked her for an update... 

What's happened since we last checked in with you? 

In the last month, I’ve helped coordinate a beer festival, went to the GALS Christmas party/bottle exchange and attended the Summit's Wayside Tavern Georgia Brewer's Dinner at the Cumming and Snellville locations. Needless to say my liver and I have been busy.

Since you last checked in back in May, I wrangled volunteers for HOToberfest and the Wrecking Bar Brewpub's Strong Beer Festival, I attended my second GABF, I was a judge at SweetWater Brewing Company's Brew Your Cask Off for the third year and I started brewing!

{Update} with Sande Edwards: A Lady Who Loves Beer

As we inch ever closer to the new year I'm checking in with some of the ladies who made this first year of features a success.

I reached out to Sande Edwards, who has continued to entrench herself in the local Atlanta craft beer scene, to see if she'd be interested in speaking about her recent involvement with the Georgia Craft Brewer's Guild. Not only has she taken on the task of managing the social media for GCBG, but she's also been hard at work building her own presence on the web with her blog BeerHeadATL (check it out).

With Sande's help, GCBG has partnered with HeyBrewtiful to offer memberships directly through our site (see the ad top right). In exchange, they've offered me one year of free member benefits. Isn't that dandy? I admit, I did a jig.

AND I immediately bought tickets to the upcoming inaugural Strong Beer Fest at Wrecking Bar coming this Saturday, December 7th. Become of member of GCBG today and your ticket is only $20 with a special promo code!

See what else Sande had to say when I asked her for an update.

Kati Collier: A Lady Who Loves Beer

An Atlanta native who returned to her roots after living in Ohio with her husband (and Stone Brewing sales rep.), she's looking forward to settling down in Decatur not far from Brick Store Pub (jealous yet?). Marketing analyst and "Professional Beer Wife" (no, seriously), this foodie will probably be found crying and clutching cookbooks this October when she get's to meet her idol--Ina Garten (How could you NOT love a woman that puts coffee in her brownies?). A woman after my own heart.

Meet Kati Collier: a lady who loves beer.