While this trip was primarily concerned with baseball (driving to and attending games did indeed take up most of our time), we were still able to see some of the cities we visited. Since we’re both hungry beer nerds, we focused mainly on eating and drinking the best food and beer we could find. With the help of recommendations by local friends, I think we did a pretty good job of that.Â
I’ve been a big baseball fan my whole life, but as a kid that passion was generally spent during my little league games or on the hometown Red Sox. I became a true fan of the sport after graduating high school, when my father and I went on an 8-day, 7-stadium road trip. Ever since, I’ve wanted to visit all 30 stadiums.
You would be forgiven for thinking that Guatemala isn’t exactly a craft beer destination. I certainly didn’t expect much. After arriving, I did what I always do when I move to a new place: I worked my way through the local beer selection. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of craft options. Even the national mass-produced lager was solid.Â
Before leaving for Israel, I was cautiously optimistic about their craft beer scene. I was told there was a small but dedicated industry that really started to blossom in the late 2010's. While there are dozens of breweries around the country, the retail scene can be boiled down to about 15 companies and 5 styles. It took me roughly one week to realize I set my expectations too high.
Misha and I took advantage of the September holiday season in Israel to skip town for a week and head to Germany. Rather than return to Bavaria, this time we spent two days each at the beginning and end of our trip in Berlin with two days in Saxony sandwiched in the middle. The food was delicious, the weather warm and sunny, the trip a great success.
This past November, Misha and I were lucky enough to host a party for our friends and family at the 3 Stars brewery. It was a wonderful evening complete with great food, music, friends and beer. 3 Stars was gracious enough to work with me and come up with a beer recipe for the event,... Continue Reading →
I received a request for more about our dog, Mochi. I post about her fairly often on Instagram, but have only mentioned her briefly on here so far. She has a led a pretty interesting, if not challenging, life so far. For those who have yet to meet her, here's a little more on our... Continue Reading →
About a month after moving to DC, I found work with 3 Stars Brewing. Located in the northern part of the city and less than 10 minutes from the Maryland border, 3 Stars services the entire DMV area with top notch beers. I was hired to help out with events because the summer is prime... Continue Reading →
By the time Misha got the call about the Foreign Service, we had been dating for three years. We had discussed marriage on several occasions, but didn't think it was an expenditure we would be able to afford for some time. Misha is a big proponent of the FIRE movement, which means Financial Independence, Retire Early. Having a big wedding complete with a hashtag was never part of our plans, but I still wanted to do something to celebrate our love in front of our families. Balancing these factors would take a lot of effort, so it was a conversation we decided to floor until it made a little more sense. The Foreign Service life changed all that.
One of the cool things about living in Virginia is the proximity to Civil War and other historical sites. I come from Massachusetts, where Revolutionary history abounds and everyone who grew up there has been beaten over the head with this history from a young age. However, having only traveled to DC once when I was in high school, I never really got a chance to see much from the Civil War period. Living down here gives me the rare chance to visit these sites, and I chose the Antietam National Battlefield in Maryland as my starting point.
Beer and Diplomacy 
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