Let’s briefly discuss boxed wine before this month’s roundup. Boxed wine was on sale at the local market this week. I thought it might be an excellent alternative to the bottles, which I rarely finish before they go bad.
Somehow the wine disappeared faster. The convenience of wine on the draft may not be conducive to my need for instant gratifications. Do any local wineries make good boxed wine? What’s your favorite boxed wine? Please, let me know @cheersnorthcounty on Instagram.
Now, here’s the roundup:
…The data is in. Dry January is growing…at least in terms of non-alcoholic drink sales. Check out this chart put together by shankennewsdaily.*
NA beer sales have nearly tripled, NA wine has skyrocketed, and NA spirits growth is otherworldly. People want the experience, and I’m guessing the socializing, but not how alcohol makes them feel.
This is pure speculation, but I’d imagine a good chunk of on-site NA sales are due to people wanting to avoid drinking and driving. So if I’m out in the world, have a drink, but am not ready to head home, I’ll order a NA beer from Athletic Brewing Company or Two Roots Brewing Co. I still get to cheers my buddy’s can, but without the risk on the ride home.
…I love plants. I often enjoy my afternoon cocktail surrounded by the succulents and sage on my patio, but I struggle to grow flowers. So I have to go out into the world to get my fix of spring’s splash of floral colors.
In honor of The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, the hotel bar at Hilton’s Cassara Kitchen & Bar is offering a limited-time cocktail inspired by colorful ranunculus blooms. The Flower Power Sour cocktail is made with Cali Fino Blanco Tequila, grapefruit, aquafaba, lemon, agave nectar, and bitter-hibiscus syrup.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch will be open to the public from now through May 14 (Mother’s Day). The Cassara Kitchen & Bar is just around the corner and opens for a post-Flower Field romp Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 11 pm.
…Plan Nine Alehouse will be ending its kitchen service this week. Per an announcement on Instagram, “PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: In an effort to focus all of our attention & energy on brewing brew world-class beer, we will be ceasing kitchen operations as of next week. We will also continue to offer the best root beer, soft drinks, cold brew coffee, snacks, hot sauces & vinyl records that we possibly can. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your understanding. Stay tuned for new & improved hours. Cheers!”
…Belching Beaver Brewery continues to be newsworthy. They’ve just been named the Official Craft Beer of The Mint 400, a 400-mile off-road race for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and utility task vehicles (UTVs) held in Las Vegas since 1968.
The brewery is re-releasing its Mexican-style lager Buenos Tiempos and calling it The Mint 400 Buenos Tiempos Cerveza. The Mint 400 is often called “The Great American Off-Road Race” and features 500 racing teams worldwide. Buenos Tiempos — which translates to “good times” in English — will be served in Vegas during the festivities March 8-12.
If you aren’t among the 60,000 attendees headed out to the desert, all four Belching Beaver tasting rooms in San Diego County have Buenos Tiempos on draft and in six-packs while supplies last. The cans feature the artwork of 2022 Unlimited Truck winner Nick Isenhouer’s Ford #205 truck jumping through the flames at the finish line.
…Second Chance Beer Co. is celebrating Women’s History Month with the inaugural Ladies & Pups Market on Saturday, March 11, from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. The market at the Carmel Mountain location will feature pop-up shops from small women-owned businesses such as Bold Bouquet, Borrego Babe Co., and Eggy’s Pocket, No, you sit! Treats, The Salty Eclectic, and Wet Nose Pottery.
Specials on its Fistful of Gummies Berry Edition will also be available at the event. The beer was created in collaboration with the Pink Boots Society, encouraging women and non-binary individuals to advance their careers in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry.
…Shout out to Anita’s in Oceanside. The restaurant is celebrating 50 years this week. It’s an incredible achievement in an industry where most businesses only last a few years.
…I missed National Margarita Day on Feb. 22, so I thought I’d share the perfect margarita recipe.
The Perfect Margarita — Step 1: Go to a local bar with a view of the beach. Step 2: Order a margarita. Step 3: Drink the margarita. Perfect.
…Tips for a successful St. Patrick’s Day: Avoid green beer, but don’t avoid Irish Whiskey or Eppig Brewing’s Sinister Path Export Stout.** On March 17, Eppig gives stout drinkers a pint to take home at all three local tasting rooms. Success.
*I saw this chart first on vinepair.com. **Or another great local stout.
