Ultimate 6er | 6 Reasons to Love Bale Breaker Brewing Company

The Yakima Valley in Eastern Washington accounts for nearly 80% of the United States hop crop, and the team at Bale Breaker Brewing Company have established themselves as leaders in the Yakima Valley hop scene, both as growers and as brewers. The brewery is located amongst hop fields that were first planted in 1932, and the brewers at Bale Breaker have made a point of showcasing Yakima Valley hops in virtually every Bale Breaker brew. Though a relatively young brewery (they opened in 2013), Bale Breaker has become one of the most well-known IPA producers in Washington and is a leader in the Eastern Washington brewing scene. Today we present an Ultimate 6er dedicated the people who made Bale Breaker what it is today: 6 Reasons to Love Bale Breaker Brewing Company. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Witches Brew

‘Tis the season for Halloween haunts and deliciously tasty beers! Halloween is just around the corner and I could barely contain my excitement. I’ve been busy prepping all month long for my favorite holiday by visiting pumpkin patches, putting out spooky decorations, deciding on the perfect costume and watching more horror films than I could count.

I love watching any horror film I can find. Zombies, clowns and slow-moving psycho maniacs, I can’t get enough of them. But since witching hour is nearly upon us, we have to honor some truly classic “black magic” women.

If you are gearing up for an evening of some bewitching entertainment, here are six beers to pair with some witches that graced us with their presence. Read More

Ultimate 6er | The CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

“He made me feel warm like glitter was exploding inside me”

These words are from the first episode of CW’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend and I have felt that way ever since. When the show first came out, everyone (myself included) rolled his or her eyes just because the title evokes that same type of romantic drama we know too well. I couldn’t be more wrong; Rachel Bloom’s comedy-musical series was one of the most original, introspective takes on will they-won’t they wacky love featuring great commentary on mental illness. Along with the witty writing, you get high quality, hilarious songs that riff on every genre like the Marilyn Monroe inspired “The Math of Love Triangles” and the best pop-punk song since 2009, “Ping Pong Girl.” Read More

Ultimate 6er | Comfort Beers

It’s time we all took a seat and enjoyed a comfort beer, don’t you think? We are in the midst of a year dominated by natural disasters, shootings, political turmoil, fake news, nuclear war fears, a cold-war resurgence and societal fractures. But, there’s something about sinking into one’s favorite chair and opening a beer that calms the nerves. Here are six uncomplicated, security-blanket beers that help bring joy even as we are enduring unfathomable tension.

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Ultimate 6er | More Netflix Original Programming

Netflix has become the new home for incredible original content spending six billion dollars for this year alone. As more people are ditching cable for the comfort of streaming, we expect to see shows that can do great things without corporate oversight. Last year, I talked about the best pairings with this company’s more publicly renowned shows, but this time we’ll point out the newer, more innovative series around!

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Ultimate 6er | The Cinematic Films of Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola emerged from the shadow of her family name in 1999 when her directorial debut The Virgin Suicides—an adaptation of Jeffrey Eugenides’ novel—hit screens. From the beginning, Coppola’s films have melded scene-perfect rock music with evocative visuals to explore the inner lives of her (usually) female main characters. Coppola’s sixth film, The Beguiled, came out last month, and while the movie has faced some controversy since its release, what is not controversial is that the director has an eye for great shots and an ear for great tunes.

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Ultimate 6er | Summer Seasonal Cans

Two weekends ago I waited in line three days in a row to see my favorite band at Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Avett Brothers. While that may sound like a big time suck (it was) it was totally worth it to sit close to the stage each night. There’s a caveat though, the beer they sell at Red Rocks is not craft (Shocktop, anyone?) and you have to kill time in line, right? So why not bring along a few beers to enjoy with your husband and friends! These are some of the Summer seasonal cans that I enjoyed while waiting around for many hours and highly recommend them to anyone tailgating Red Rocks or camping in the plethora of mountains that Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region has to offer!

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Ultimate 6er | Chicago Summer Ale Varieties

The dog days of summer are upon us. With every drop of sweat comes a need for refreshment, and what better way to achieve that relief than with a beer? The citrus-laden and coconut-flavored brews are just begging to be enjoyed under the summer sun. Here are six summer ale selections to help carry you through July and onto the season’s dog days.

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Ultimate 6er | Surviving Your Big Move

After nearly three years with two awesome roommates, I’m moving this weekend. And for the first time in 27 years of existing, I won’t be living with someone else. Exciting? You’re damn right. Stressful? You have no idea. Moving is one of those experiences when no matter how sure you are that you’re absolutely sure you have everything under control, there’s always something you’re missing. You might know where every single thing is going to go and the exact layout for your ideal living room, but once someone asks if you have dish rags your whole plan falls to shambles. Luckily, in the grand scheme, this big step and all the accompanying madness will all be worth it. Here are the six beers to get you through your big move.
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Ultimate 6er | Ode to The Star Spangled Banner

Feature image courtesy of the Smithsonian.

It’s Fourth of July season, which means it’s time for intense patriotism on social and other media. We’ll see slews of posts on the most Americana XYZ thing and guides to finding the most Independence Day-themed stuffs, all the stuffs, out there.

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Ultimate 6er | Friday Night (Summer Edition)

Oh Friday nights; they offer so much intrigue, so much anticipation for what’s to come. Regardless of the myriad of plans you might have for the weekend, one of my most cherished Friday night activities is cracking open that first beer of the weekend. It just seems crisper, more refreshing and full of unbridled possibility.

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Ultimate 6er | “Better Call Saul”

“Better Call Saul” is not just the most successful TV spin-off of all time (apologies to Frasier Crane), but the best drama currently on television.

Fans of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” came to love Saul Goodman, the smug, sleazy, wise-cracking *criminal* lawyer. Saul got Walter White and Jesse Pinkman out of a few legal jams, and his way of bluntly telling the truth delivered some of the series’ best one-liners.

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Ultimate 6er | Lawn & Garden

As the weather begins to warm up, it’s time to uncover your lawnmowers, fill up your watering cans and put on your best pair of overalls and top it with a big floppy sun hat. OK, so living in a high-rise in Chicago doesn’t lend itself to really having lawn and garden upkeep, but when I was growing up in the suburbs I always had a long list of outdoor chores to do.

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Ultimate 6er | Feeling Nostalgic About Pop-Punk Music

I recently attended 2 sold out nights of New Found Glory’s 20 years of pop-punk anniversary tour in Philadelphia. I was feeling a little nostalgic to think this band has been around for 20 years now. They had performed during the first concert I ever went to. Completely unsure of what to expect at my first concert, I stood in a mosh pit with platform sandals on. Years later, I learned not to wear that same footwear attire to a concert ever again. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Schlafly Six Pack

Photo Credit: St. Louis Brewery/Schlafly Beer

Craft with a conscious. It’s the phrase commonly found on the underside of Schlafly Beer bottle caps, and it captures the essence of a brewery that recently celebrated 25 years in the business. Schlafly is Missouri’s largest locally-owned and independent craft brewery, and it’s dedicated to upholding the craft brewing industry values consisting of community, sustainability and innovation.

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Ultimate 6er | Gilmore Girls

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Carole King said it best when she sang, “where you lead, I will follow,” in the intro song for the Gilmore Girls. Since the beginning, the show has created a cult following that’s multi-generational, divisive (are you Team Jess or Team Logan) and very loyal. For seven seasons I followed the Gilmore Girls around the town of Stars Hollow, through the halls of Chilton, attended Friday night dinners, and had coffee at Luke’s. I cheered as Netflix announced the release of a four-episode continuation of the series and then mourned when it was all over (seriously, what’s up with those last four words)? But what I love about the show is that it’s always there waiting for you. Frozen in time, from the span of 2000 – 2007, filled with kooky characters and questionable fashion choices, the Gilmore Girls welcome you to step into their world and enjoy the ride. Read More

Ultimate 6er | The Masters Golf Tournament Edition

The first golf major of the year is one that’s filled with mystique, nostalgia and fierce competition. The Masters, held at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia, is defined by its majestic blooming azaleas and fast greens that test the nerves of even the most accomplished veteran golfer. It is, as Jim Nantz proclaims, “A tradition unlike any other.” For die hard golf fans, few things surpass Sunday at the Masters, capped off by the presentation of the famed green jacket to the tournament winner. As golfers worry about picking the right club, fans must be sure to pick the right beer. So, let us be your beer caddy.

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Ultimate Sweet 6(teen)er | 2017 March Madness Sweet 16

Feature Image Source: Chapel Hill Recorder

Once again, here we are on the brink of the Sweet 16! For a couple of days, it sure seemed like the tournament might end up being kind of boring, even if we had no lack of good, competitive games. And then the games were played on Saturday and Sunday and we see Tom Izzo’s Spartans, the overall #1 seed Villanova, and five out of the top six regular season ACC teams (Florida State, Notre Dame, Virginia, Louisville and Duke) get dropped in the Round of 32.

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Ultimate 6er | The Simpsons

Since 1989 The Simpson family has been a mainstay on American television. It is the longest running animated show, sitcom and most recently primetime scripted series. The family of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and Grampa are the most beloved family on TV today.

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Ultimate 6er | Easy-To-Find (Good) St. Paddy’s Day Beers

St. Paddy’s Day is right around the corner, but the festivities often begin days in advance. Hosting a party, heading to a parade or fun at the pub are some of the many ways one can embrace their inner Leprechaun. But, for the love all things Michael Flatley, please refrain from drinking bad, green beer. Finding a quality beer that pays homage to Ireland isn’t that difficult; there exists many easy-to-access, readily-available beers one can enjoy at nearly any bar or purchase in any store.

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