Big Tahoe Weekend

I just got home from what may well be my last Tahoe trip for awhile, and I'm happy to report it was a fun and successful trip! We spent Saturday at Squaw, which had never been a favorite destination of mine, but I've been twice this season. Thanks to Seth for inadvertently pushing me to try some "blue runs" that I never would have tried otherwise (why are some blues at Squaw the equivalent of black diamonds at other resorts??). On Sunday we went to Northstar, whose lift ticket prices have gone up astronomically! Holy cow- $76?!? Anyway, due in part to Saturday's adventure, I wound up skiing my very first black diamond run. Yay me!! (Immediately thereafter, I was taken out by a teenager on a snowboard, but that is another story... LOL)

OK then, so on to the important stuff: the beer.

We stayed in Truckee and I was really rather disappointed with the beer selections at the restaurants we visited. I hear there's a casino in King's Beach (or thereabouts) that has over 100 beers (yeehaw!) but we didn't quite make it to that area. Instead I had to settle for Tahoe Red, a Lake Tahoe area staple. I can't find a website for the brewer or really much info at all on it. I know there USED to be a brewpub down near Incline Village, but that it's long gone, and I don't even know if it's the right one.

The upside, though: I discovered Florian's Fine Wines and Specialty Foods. Not only do they have a very nice wine selection, they have a number of great beers! I walked out with a big bottle of Black Sheep Ale and a sixer of Deschutes Jubelale, one of the last two the store had in stock. I had tried the Jubelale at Kirkwood earlier in the season yet had not been able to find it down here in my area- I highly recommend this tasty, belly warming seasonal ale! The Black Sheep was quite tasty as well- crisp, dry, very "British" tasting. I will be picking up the Black Sheep again for sure.