It is no secret that Kettle is my favorite brand of chips. Not only do they offer a unrivaled and delicious range of flavors, Kettle makes their chips using only the finest all-natural, non-GMO ingredients (I’m super against GMO’s). They do not use trans fats, MSG, artificial colors or flavors, or any ingredients that you cannot pronounce or need to Google to find out what they are.

Kettle Brand® is also dedicated to sustainable business practices. Green building, renewable energy, habitat restoration, recycling and reuse make up the pillars of the Kettle Brand® environmental initiatives. Kettle Brand chips are not only healthier for our bodies, but also for the planet. You read read more about their sustainability initiatives here.

In honor of the BCS Bowl Championship Series, I partnered with Kettle Brand® to create 5 kick-ass craft beer & chip pairings for each of the major 5 bowl games. I kicked the series of BCS Bowl Chip & Beer Pairings with picks for the 2013 Rose Bowl and 2013 Orange Bowl. Next up we have the Sugar Bow on January 2nd. And here are my picks:

2013 Sugar Bowl: Florida vs. Louisville

Played since 1935, The Sugar Bowl, along with the Orange Bowl and Sun Bowl, are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl. The Sugar is played on January 2nd in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. Under the current BCS format, the Sugar Bowl continues to host the SEC champion against a top-tier at-large opponent, unless the SEC champion goes to the BCS National Championship Game.When this happens, the Sugar Bowl usually selects the highest-ranked SEC team still available in the BCS pool. Starting in January 2015, the Sugar Bowl game will feature the SEC and Big 12 conference champions (unless they are involved in the national championship game).

This year, Alabama won the SEC conference as well as a bid to the National Championship game – leaving its opponent, Georgia, out of the BCS Bowl Championship Series running. Florida then, by default, slipped into the second-highest ranked SEC team spot, winning the bid to the Sugar Bowl. Something tells me that none of this sits well with Georgia.

After defeating Rutgers in its last game of the season, Louisville became Co-Champions of the Big East Conference alongside Syracuse and Rutgers (they do not have a play off at this time). Rutgers was rewarded at the end of the season with a bid to join the Big Ten, while Louisville secured a spot in the Sugar Bowl as a result of boasting the best season record and final ranking of 22 in the BCS standings.

Sugar Bowl Kettle Chip: Red Chili

Boasting a hot hint of cayenne pepper, a key ingredient in both Cajun and Creole cuisines, Red Chili is both sweet and spicy, making it a perfect match for the New Orleans-based Sugar Bowl. Back by popular demand for its 30th Anniversary series, Red Chili was actually Kettle’s very first flavor produced in 1982, after Sea Salt. It marries the flavor of sriracha sauce with a sprinkle of cayenne pepper for a searing chili sensation that leaves just the right amount of heat on the tip of your tongue.

Sugar Bowl Beer Pairing: American Amber Ale

Coppery red in color with notable Pacific Northwest hop bitterness and hints of caramel sweetness, American Ambers are a perfect match for the both the spicy heat and hints of sweetness in the Red Chili chips. Caramel malt flavors compliment the tart and sweet flavors in the chips, while the American hops sooth the hot pepper burn.

Sadly, both Florida and Kentucky are not the strongest states in the union when it comes to craft breweries per capita.

Louisville Fan Recommendations: Cumberland Red Ale, West Sixth Deliberation Amber, Lexington Brewing Kentucky Ale

Florida Fan Recommendations: Pensacola Bay Brewery Riptide, Cigar City Tocobaga Red Ale, Funky Buddha Don’t Try Amber Ale, Swamp Head Brewery Stump Knocker (APA)

Both Fan Recommendations: Anderson Valley Boont Amber, New Belgium Fat Tire, Troeggs Nugget Nectar, Speakeasy Prohibition Ale, Green Flash Hop Head Read Ale

Wench’s Sugar Bowl Pick: Florida Gators

Having to publicly state my preference for Florida hurts me much more than anyone could possibly imagine. Florida crushed my dreams of an Ohio State National Championship title not once, but twice, in the same year and in two different sports. The mere mention of Florida make my blood boil. Nonetheless, all grudges aside, Florida is by far the better team in the Sugar Bowl matchup. So, despite my sincere loathing for green and orange, the Gators get my pick.

Stay tuned, next up are my picks for the 2013 Fiesta Bowl!!

Cheers!!

Follow Abita on Twitter: @TheAbitaBeer

Cheers!

Wendy and Don have been importing some of the best specialty Belgian and Northern France beers in the world, Dupont being the most notable, for over 30 years. They are also the founders of Brewery Ommegang and established experts in food & beer pairing. Their involvement in Tales of the Cocktail® this year is a huge step for craft beer and for the beer cocktail movement.

For those unfamiliar with Tales of the Cocktail®, it is the world’s largest cocktail festival and by far the best event on planet earth for both spirits industry professionals and cocktail enthusiasts alike. For five days straight, the most respected minds in mixology converge in the city of New Orleans for a seemingly endless stream of cocktails, cuisine and culture. Anyone who is anyone is there, and the parties are beyond epic. And I would know, I’ve been.

In addition to being the biggest cocktail party in the world, Tales boasts an event schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions and tasting rooms where brands showcase their latest products. This year, Tales is featuring a seminar on a topic near and dear to my heart…. beer cocktails!

Sadly, I pitched a beer mixology panel with some of my friends and our panel was rejected. However, as an advocate of the beer cocktail movement, I am just happy that the topic was selected, regardless of who was selected to present it. This is just continued proof that beer mixology has clout and relevance in the cocktail community — yay! Next step? Convert the craft beer community!

Unfortunately, I will not be attending this year’s Tales of the Cocktail®, although I would probably give up an unborn child or two to get there. If anyone reading this gets to attend the BEERTAILS panel, I expect a full report on my desk the next day! Or at least a little insight into the action.

______________________________

About the BEERTAILS Seminar

Fasten your seatbelts Ladies & Gentlemen, it’s gonna be a bubbly ride. Beer is the most chemically complex alcoholic beverage in the world and top mixologists around the globe are discovering not only the flavor complexity it adds to a cocktail, but also the magic of its effervescence with elevating aromas and the unique texture it adds to a cocktail. You will ‘get your hands dirty’ and your tastebuds buzzing during this exciting 90 minute ride.

A properly made beertail starts with an exceptionally balanced cocktail onto which an appropriate beer is floated on top. The brew not only pulls the aroma of the cocktail beneath ‘up’ with its effervescence, but also compliments and contrasts with the cocktail to create a unique ‘beertail’. The lucky drinker tastes the beer with the first few sips, but with the subtle aroma of the cocktail. Then the middle of the drink is the beer and cocktail together on the palate. Because the beer floats, the final tastes are the cocktail on its own.

Our beer sponsor Vanberg and DeWulf for 30 years has been the leading importer of world class beers from Mecca..oops, Belgium. Aren’t they the same place? Through this tasting lead by some of the most forward thinking minds and palates in the beverage world, you will enjoy 20 unique flavor experiences. With Four Beertails, you will taste the cocktail on its own, then the beer on its own, then the beer floating on the cocktail with the cocktail’s aroma coming thru the head, then the cocktail and beer together and finally the cocktail at the bottom with just a hint of the beer’s malt, but sans bubbles.

To compliment Vanberg & DeWulf’s world-class beers, the base spirits for this experience will be HUM Botanical Spirit, Sombra Mezcal, El Dorado 15 Year Demerara Rum and Labrot & Graham Woodford Reserve Bourbon. “”At BEERTAILS, we treat you right””.

As cocktails hit their renaissance and craft beers hit an all time high, Tales of the Cocktail’s 10th Anniversary is the perfect forum for the movers and shakers in the cocktail world to taste and hear first-hand the ‘next big thing’ in the world-wide cocktail movement.

Here’s a quick sneak peak into what is in store by panel moderator Adam Seger CCP:

The Beer Blogger Interview Series

Curious what goes on in the minds of your favorite beer bloggers? Well, The Beer Wench is and she has embarked upon a mission to interview as many beer bloggers that she can — from all over the world. Are you a beer blogger? Do you want to share your story? Send me an email!

INTRODUCING: JEREMY LABADIE

AUTHOR OF: THE BEER BUDDHA

Beer Blogger Interview

Full name: Jeremy Labadie
Twitter handle: @TheBeerBuddha
Name of blog: THE BEER BUDHA
Current location: Panama City Beach, Florida

Background “Snapshot”

1. Where did you grow up?

I was a military brat so I’ve lived in lots of places. Mostly grew up in Virginia though.

2. What sports if any did you play growing up, through college and beyond?

I played all sorts of sports growing up from football, basketball, baseball, soccer, wrestling, etc. Focused on football and baseball in high school and after a short stint playing football in college at Tulane decided on playing rugby instead.

3. How old were you when you had your first beer?

16

4. If you can recall, what is the story of your first beer?

My friends and I just decided we wanted some beer so we had a Marine(we lived on base) take our money and buy us beer. He brought out Schlitz 40oz.

5. Where did you have it?

Basketball court on the base.

6. What style and brand was it?

Schlitz 40oz

7. Where, if applicable, did you go to college?

Tulane University.

8. What did you study?

Social Science

9. What additional activities, organizations, sports did you partake in during college?

Drinking heavily.

Craft Beer Epiphany

Every craft beer enthusiast has at least one pinnacle craft beer experience that completely changes ones perspective on beer. I refer to this mind-blowing moment as a “craft beer epiphany.”

1. What was your first craft beer epiphany? Recall as many details about it as you can:

I had just turned 21 (1996) and I decided I was going to stop drinking shitty beer since I could buy my own now. I went to the store and was walking the aisles when I saw this cool 22oz bottle that had a skeleton sitting on a barrel. I thought it was a cool bottle so I bought it and from then on I was always on the look out for new beer. It was Rogue Dead Guy.

2. Have you have additional craft beer epiphanies since the first? Detail as many of them as you wish:

Every new beer I try is an epiphany in one way or another.

Beer Blog Background

1. How long have you been writing THE BEER BUDDHA?

A little over a year.

2. What inspired you to start writing your blog?

I wanted to learn more so I felt writing about beer would help that along and no one else was blogging about beer in New Orleans.

3. Why did you chose the name of your blog?

I was at a party where I was talking about beer and a lady said that I was so into beer that I treated it like a religious experience. She looked at my svelt figure and said, ” You’re like the Buddha of beer.”

4. What are you personal goals for your blog?

I’d really like to become a better writer and maybe perhaps get into video blogging cause I think I really have a face for TV.

5. What do you hope to achieve with it?

I know I should write how I really want to become the next Michael Jackson and travel the world writing and teaching about beer but really I just want free beer.

6. What is one of the coolest things that happened to you as a result of being a beer blogger?

I got free beer at McGuires because the brewer read my blog. That and meeting The Beer Wench.

7. What are you top 3 favorite beer blogs/beer websites?

• Beeradvocate.com
• Two Beer Queers
• Drink With The Wench. NO really. It is.

Beer Talk

1. What are your top 3 favorite beer styles?

Saisons, American Wild Ales, DIPAs

2. What are your top 3 favorite breweries?

Stone, NOLA, Saint Somewhere

3. If you could work with or for any one brewery, which one would it be and why?

I worked for NOLA already so maybe Stone because it just seems like a pretty fun and kick ass job.

4. Are you a homebrewer? If yes, what is the most unique and interesting beer recipes you’ve brewed as a homebrewer?

I wish I had the time.

5. Do you have any beer certifications (BJCP, Cicerone, Siebel, American Brewers Guild)?? If so, what are they?

I’m working on hopefully getting the Cicerone thing. Maybe BJCP.

6. What is your favorite beer and food pairing?

Funny thing. I don’t like pairing my food with beer. I like each to be completely seperate. I know. Blasphemy.

The Personal Side

1. What is your current day job?

I’m the Beer Operations Manager at Chan’s Wine World in Destin, Florida.

2. If you could change your career at this very moment, without any restrictions on what you could do, what would you want to do and why?

I’d like to own my own beer store/beer bar.

3. Are you married? Children?

Yes on both.

4. Outside of beer and writing, what are some of your other hobbies?

I enjoy movies. I’m a horror movie freak. I also like long walks in the park, snuggling with my wife in our matching snuggies and taking long baths with aroma therapy candles all around the room.

Off The Beaten Path

1. If you were a style of beer, what style would be an why?

Stout. Cause I’m fat.

2. You were caught smuggling beer illegally, which has now been made punishable by death. Right before you are sent to the executioner, you are offered one last beer. What beer would you chose and why?

Whatever the executioners favorite brew is because he might be a pretty cool cat and be all like hey man we gotta let this dude go. He’s awesome. Or something along those lines.

3. If I contracted you to brew a beer (or design a beer recipe) called “The Beer Wench” — what style would you chose and what, if any, extra ingredients would you add?

American Wild Ale cause you are one wild chick!

4. If you could be a superhero, what would you want your superpowers to be?

Mind control powers.

5. What is one of the craziest things you have ever done and lived to tell the story?

Uh, I fell out the back of a truck once. I lived.

6. What are your thoughts on bacon?

It’s the cure for swine flu and an ingredient in Buddha’s Temptation at Avenue Pub in New Orleans.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JEREMY FOR AN AWESOME INTERVIEW!

CHEERS!

Answer: My recent trip to New Orleans.

Allow me to elaborate. Recently, I decided to move to Northern California — from Florida. Now if you do the math correctly, you will see that Florida and NorCal are at relatively opposite corners on opposite coasts of the country.

Lucky for me, my whole entire life fits into a tiny little Dodge Neon. Which essentially means that I can move anywhere pretty damn easily. So it was only natural that I turn my cross country move into a cross country road trip extravaganza.

There were several options for routes across country. After contacting friends in various cities, I chose to take the southern most route because it had the most potential.

The first stop was New Orleans.

This was my second time visiting the city. The first time I was with my parents and younger sister. We took a Cajun themed Christmas “cruise” up the Mississippi River from NOLA to Natchez in one of the only paddleboats still operating on steam left in the country — The Delta Queen. It was an 8 day voyage that consisted of a Bayou tour, plantation tours, lots of Cajun & Creole food, endless Zydeco music and much alcohol consumption. Disclaimer: My family enjoys taking weird and educational vacations. It happens.

Naturally, my first time in New Orleans consisted mostly of hitting up all the main tourist destinations –> Cafe Du Monde for cafe au lait and beignets, Pat O’ Briens for hurricanes, Aunt Sally’s for pralines, Preservation Hall for live music, Bourbon Street for some debauchary voodoo etc…

This time around, though, it was imperative that I hit up New Orleans local style. Prior to arriving, I contacted a fellow beer blogger and good friend — The Beer Buddha. If anyone would know the best local NOLA watering holes with the best beer selections, it would be The Beer Buddha.

The Beer Buddha & The Beer Wench

After talking with the local beer geeks and enthusiasts, it became apparent that NOLA is seriously lacking in the beer bar department.

According to the local beer fanatics, THE beer bar of beer bars in NOLA is The Avenue Pub. The owners are extremely knowledgeable about beer and, as a result, they get first pick on the best beers that get brought into the area.

Naturally, this is where I met The Beer Buddha. Much to my surprise and delight, almost the entire crew at NOLA Brewing Co. also came out. The night began with a delicious NOLA Brewing Co. Blonde. It was extremely refreshing after a 10 hour drive through the hottest and most humid states of the south. My next beer of choice was Harpoon Leviathan Series Imperial IPA followed by North Coast Brother Thelonius and another Leviathan IPA — all on draught.

The Harpoon Leviathan Series Imperial IPA was absolutely delicious. Lots of sweet pine, citrus and grass in the aroma as well as the taste. Light to medium bodied, virtually no malt flavors. It was very clean — my kind of IPA.

I also got to sample the infamous Beer Buddha appetizer –> Blue cheese stuff apricots wrapped in bacon. And let me just tell you, they were freaking out of this world.

The night took a turn for the awesome when one of the locals offered to take us to an underground, hole-in-the-wall, cult bar — Snake & Jakes Christmas Lounge. Snake & Jakes is a garage turned bar located in a residential area of uptown NOLA. It is distinctively marked by a giant “Christmas wreath” adorned with random Christmas lights. When the lights are on, the bar is open.

Needless to say, the night ended here. And what happens at Snake and Jakes — stays at Snake & Jakes!

Stay tuned for my follow up post — “Underground” in NOLA Day TWO.

Cheers!

You see, for two weeks now I have been planning an intense 11 day road trip across the southern most states of the United States. And I have not even made one mention of it on my blog — for which I apologize.

The original purpose of the road trip was merely to move to a TBD location in Northern California.

Now, the trip has become so much more.

A good friend of mine, Shana Ray, developed a rather intruging idea for a market research project for the wine industry consisting of traveling across the country interviewing members of Generation Y about their wine consumption. The project was still in development phase when I ran into her at the 2009 Wine Bloggers Conference in Napa & Sonoma.

Attending the Wine Bloggers Conference was the final push I needed to move to California. It was the 4th time, in the course of 11 months, that I had visited the “Bay Area”. Each and every time I visited, I swore to myself (and many of my friends) that I would move there. And now I am finally holding true to my word.

This Monday, August 17th, I disembarked on a cross country voyage that will take me through the cities of Tampa, New Orleans, Houston, Austin, TBD New Mexico, Phoenix, Los Angeles and TBD NorCal.

After a bit of persuasion and a few glasses of wine, Shana Ray made the commitment to join me on the adventure. We decided that there is no time like the present to launch the preliminary phase of her market research project on the drinking habits of Generation Y.

ANNOUNCING PROJECT Y-INE — the first social media exposé on Generation Y and their drinking habits from the minds of Shana Ray and Ashley V Routson.

Project Y-ine will go past the generic survey questions and talk to people in their own backyards, bars or wherever else they hang out and drink with friends. The research and findings will be documented in an interactive, social media based journal of the experience, utilizing several social media platforms to capture their experience –including blogging, video-blogging, tweeting, facebooking, twitpic’ing, etc.

The move could not have come at a more opportune moment in my life as The Beer Wench. I’m about to launch my blog into the next phase. The talented people from Venataur Web Design recently developed a new interface for my blog. In addition to a new “look and feel,” I am in the process of reorganizing the content of my blog.

BUT. La creme de la creme of the entire “makeover” will be the addition of video blogs. The use of video on my blog will begin with my cross country trip. I have beer events set up in 3 of the cities along the trip:

1. New Orleans with Jeremy Labadie of “The Beer Buddha”

2. Austin with Chris Troutman of “Beer Town Austin”

3. Los Angeles with Chris Spradley of “Brewerires Bars and Beer Food”

I will do my best to announce the dates, times and places we will be meeting for each of the events. If you are in the area, you are more than welcome to join us and I am open to additional collaborations along the way (email me at drinkwiththewench@gmail.com)

Last but not least, I am also excited to announce that I will be attending both the Great Lakes Brew Fest as well as the Great American Beer Festival in September. Details of both of those trips are to come.

Keep your eyes peeled in the very near future for a new Drink With The Wench interface as well as the addition of video to the blog!

Cheers!