Last week when brainstorming upcoming posts, I was prompted to write about what I typically do with my spare time. And drinking came up as an undeniable part of my life. So, I figured, why let my caffeine and alcohol consumption go to waste by hoarding this vast wealth of knowledge all to myself? That would be super selfish.

This got me thinking back to a time when I was building an online magazine whose written pieces corresponded to a wine paired to match the article based on content and flavor profile. So, although I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination, I do feel uniquely poised to provide you with some recommendations… and a good story on how it was enjoyed…

A story about this beer:

Overlooking a running stream in the Smokies, Jaime and I stood on a balcony taking in Tennessee’s cool fall breeze with this European-Style Dark beer in hand. It’s the kind of beer that makes me feel warm with its richness, even though it was served cold. Didn’t matter. The sun was setting on the burgundy and mustard colored trees after a long day that included horseback riding for the first time. I was tired but felt accomplished.

Enjoying the view reminded me that we live in the Smokies. Earlier that day, several people asked us where we were from. It still seems strange to say we live in North Carolina. I thought about how I’d need to perfect our answer so I wouldn’t get tripped up saying we live in North Carolina but really we’re from Miami, Florida. I wondered at what point in our lives we’ll drop that second part and just be from North Carolina adding nothing more. I took another sip while the sounds of the stream calmed me. Normally, I’m not a beer drinker, but the chocolate flavor felt like an apt equivalent to hot cocoa. It was exactly the right way to end a day spent in the mountains we now call home.

Info on this beer:

**Bronze award winner at the 2016 World Beer Cup for European-Style  Dark/Muenchner Dunkel!! **

Rich, deep and complex, our Munich Dunkel is many things, but heavy isn’t one of them. This classic German dark lager is the beer style that started it all for our Brewmaster. Take the time to savor it slowly and you’ll find flavors of biscuits, cocoa and caramel. To enjoy life on the dark side, just say…YEE-HAW!

BEER TYPE – Munich Dunkel
IBUS – 25-30 IBUs – Hop heads, don’t be afraid of the dark
ABV – 5.5%
AVAILABILITY – Year-round on draft and in 6-pack bottles!