About Road Trips for Beer
Gerard Walen, Editor
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first: I like road trips, and I like beer.
So when I got the opportunity to become editor of Road Trips for Beer, I jumped for it (after carefully setting down my pint glass).
My story is probably not that unusual. My love of the beverage began with a few stolen sips of my dad’s Schlitz or Old Milwaukee or whatever he happened to buy on sale that week. As I got older and possibly wiser, so did my taste buds as I moved up through Budweiser, Michelob, Heineken and other imports, that is until I noticed the craft beer revolution that was happening around me.
My current tastes in beer lean toward IPAs and English- and Belgian-style ales, though I certainly enjoy brews in other styles, especially stouts and porters. Being a Florida resident – and native – I’m not averse to a cold Corona on a hot day, and if someone hands me an icy Bud Light at the beach, I’m not turning it down.
I worked as professional writer and editor for 15 years at Florida newspapers, most recently the New York Times-owned Sarasota Herald-Tribune, where I was assistant business editor. I worked there for 10 years.
I’ve been across the U.S. several times in my life, with a few excursions to other points in the Western Hemisphere. It seems that each time I travel, I find something new or unexpected in the world of barley, hops, yeast and water. I look forward to sharing my discoveries with you.
When I’m not on the road, I’m based in Central Florida, in the shadow of a certain famous mouse. Road Trips for Beer intends to guide you across the country and around the world in search of good beer, good food and good times. But since I live in a state that’s a destination for many road trippers, I’ll make sure to let you know what’s happening near me.
Follow along, and if I meet you along the road, first pint’s on me.
Contact me with your news and comments at gerard@roadtripsforbeer.com.
Cheers!
IN THE NEWS
Media coverage of Road Trips for Beer.
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: (March 19, 2010) Three Florida beer festivals and tips on attending
Drink with the Wench: (April 20, 2010) Featured Beer Blogger Gerard Walen
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: (June 3, 2010) Tips for beer pilgrims
Beernews.org: (June 4, 2010) World’s First Beer Bloggers Conference Announced
MatadorNetwork: (June 11, 2010) #FollowFriday: A Baker’s Dozen Twitter Beer Experts
Jenn and Beer: (July 2, 2010) Why take a road trip for beer?
Guest Blogger, i.see.kissimmee.com: (August 2010) Author Archive
Guide to Culinary Schools: (December 14, 2010) 50 Best Beer Blogs
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: (December 23, 2010) Craft beer spots thrive (guest columnist)
AARP.org: (January 5, 2011) Beer Vacations: If you love hops, these destinations are tops
Sarasota Herald-Tribune: (January 27, 2011) When beer bloggers sip
Beer Bloggers Conference: Beer Blogger Gerard Walen and His Blogs
Kalamazoo Gazette (June 17, 2011): Michigan Summer Beer Festival ranked as one of the Top 10 Summer Beer Festivals
AmericanTowns.com, Del Mar (June 23, 2011): San Diego International Beer Festival Gets Top 10 Honors
Herald-Dispatch (June 30, 2011): Athens’ Ohio Brew Week named a Top 10 Beer Festival
High Country Press (August 25, 2011): Hoppin’ for a Good Time
Life on Tap (August 28, 2011): 8 Presentations by #BBC11 Bloggers
Savannah Morning News (August 30, 2011) : More than 3,000 people expected for Craft Brew Fest Labor Day weekend
Brookston Beer Bulletin (November 21, 2011): Muppets’ Beer-Drinking Habits
The Roaming Pint (November 22, 2011) Meet the Beer Traveler: Gerard Walen
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