2018 was another great year. So many fun brewery visits, events, and great craft beer. I have to admit that this year was incredible! I love being able to promote craft beer, especially the beer that is being brewed in my home state of Nebraska.

I enjoy meeting people who are also craft beer enthusiasts. Each and every conversation is so much fun. I continue to learn a lot from those who are brewing, serving, and consuming beer. It is a great time to be involved with craft beer doing any or all three of those items!

I still am amazed at all of the new things I got to experience. Here are a few of my firsts from 2018:

• Attended the Nebraska Growers & Brewers Conference

• Published a Book

• Started Writing for a Craft Beer Magazine

• Experienced the Brewing Process

• Trained on How to be a Craft Beer Server

• Volunteered at a Craft Beer Festival at a Hop Farm

• Took a Beercation

Here are a list of the breweries I visited this year along with the beer I enjoyed most. The ones in bold are new for me this year:

• 5168 Brewing

  • Hawaiian Porter - coffee, vanilla, coconut, and cocoa nibs.

• Benson Brewery

  • Brewers’ Duet - chocolaty, coffee stout.

• Blue Blood Brewing Co

  • Two Gun Joe - malty, coffee,nutty brown ale with vanilla

• Boiler Brewing Company

  • Coconut Coup - coconut porter.

• Bolo Beer Co

  • Liberator DIPA great hop flavor.

• Bootleg Brewers

  • Naked Orange Stinger - orange zest and honey in a refreshing ale.

• Code Beer Co

  • IPA - Mosaic and Amarillo hops in one of this year’s best IPAs for me!

• Empyrean Brewing Co

  • Long Route Peanut Butter Porter - chocolate and peanut butter in a well balanced porter.

• Farnam House

  • Scarlet Rooster Amber Farmhouse Ale - French style biere de garde that was the most unique beer for me in 2018.

• First Street Brewing Co

  • Popular Blonde - I am new to having coffee in a Blonde Ale and this one grabbed my attention!

• Infusion Brewing Company

  • Peanut Butter Stout - an excellent dry stout with lots of peanut butter flavor

• Kinkaider Brewing Co

  • Bearded Bock - robust, malty, and a little smoky - an eye opener for me to bocks.

• Kros Strain Brewing Company

  • Hop Streaker - American Pale Ale nice and citrusy that was a summer favorite!

• Lazy Horse Brewing

  • Breakfast Stout - robust, coffee stout with the creamiest head you will ever find!

• Lost Way Brewery

  • Ye Olde Creamery Milk Stout - roasty, chocolaty goodness in a smooth stout.

• Lucky Bucket Brewing Co

  • Wicked Joe - Certified Evil Imperial Oatmeal Stout with coffee aged in Cut Spike Single Malt Whiskey Barrels.

• Nebraska Brewing Company

  • MOAB - Mother of all Bettys monster of a Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout. Rich, sweet, and potent!

• Pint Nine Brewing Company

  • Oso Cafe brings a balance of hazelnut and Brazil coffee to a wonderful brown ale making it “oh so good”!

• Prairie Pride Brewing Co

  • Wind Devil Red IPA - full of hop flavor without being too bitter - great balance.

• Scratchtown Brewing Company

  • Black Eye Porter has been a knockout for me! This Imperial porter is creamy and chocolaty and the bomber bottle remains a center piece in my den!

• Scriptown Brewing Company

  • Kolsch - this style of beer has been new to me this year and Scriptown nailed it!

• Thunderhead Brewing Company

  • Calico Espresso Stout won’t disappoint your coffee craving and blends so well with the stout beer! An all time favorite!

• Vis Major Brewing

  • If This Be Treason - is a New England style IPA that is a wonderful hazy, citrusy IPA.

• White Elm Brewing

  • Imperial Stout is one of the richest stouts I have ever had! So decadent for dessert.

There are so many friendly faces around the state that are involved with craft beer! I had a great time visiting with everyone over the past year and yes I did put quite a few miles on the Jeep. I am always thankful for the brewer’s time to meet and discuss what they are up to. I know that everyone is really busy brewing trying to keep up with the demand!

Had so many great times this year meeting with friends whether at a tailgate, around the fire pit, or just for a casual conversation. Yes you can say I am kind of a “Oh My God Try This” type of guy! I love introducing people to new types of beer and to see their reaction!

2018 is almost in the books and I look forward to what 2019 will be. Need a story told, then let me sharpen my pencil and let’s get started!

Cheers!