Knowing that the San Diego Zoo is an experience, my girlfriend and I devoted many hours to exploring what the zoo had to offer. We were lucky enough to visit while they were running a discount on their Beer Map. Instead of paying $10 for each pint, I got four 12 oz “tastings” for $20! Not bad, right?
Beer! Yay, beer!Normally $10/16oz, I got 48 oz for $20!
No visit to the zoo is complete without finding koalas… nope! We caught these divas while they were being fed. They had zero interest in the public… Just their lunch!
Drop bear!This guy was a goof“Ugh. More tourists…”Best friends!Sneaky!Reindeer!“Can I eat, now?”
The wristband for the attendees of the 10th anniversary of the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival. Love the slogan!
The Wristband
I took an Uber there and back to be safe, and couldn’t help but wear this shirt from Woot. It was too perfect for a BBQ related festival!
Too perfect!
There were quite a few proprietors in attendance, and quite a lot of deliciousness in a very small period of time. I have a few of my favorites listed below.
TOPO Whiskey Punch RecipeTOPO Whiskey Punch
Seeing a whiskey based mixed drink that also contains tea intrigued me, and though I am not a huge fan of sweet drinks, this blew me a away. The recipe is posted above if you want to give it a go! It’s made with TOPO’s Eight Oak Whiskey, tea, juice, and bitters.
Apple-Ginger Moonshine
Willie Clay Call was also in attendance with their 96-proof moonshine, and mixed with some apple and ginger juices to create a wonderful flavor. Lots of ginger notes, so if you are not a fan of the burn of ginger, might not be your thing.
Raleigh Brewing’s House of Clay Rye IPA
I took a chance with this IPA, as I am more of an Amber & Red fan, but the Rye really makes this one work. House of Clay was brewed by Raleigh Brewing.
Jabberwock by Brothers Vilgalys
Probably my favorite non-liquor tasting was Brother Vlgaly’s Jabberwock. The amount of spice and heat brought together was a real delight and the presence of the peppers combines with the chicory to give a nice lasting heat. It’s a liqueur that you could make some very interesting mixed drinks with!
Pulled Pork, Ribs, Hushpuppies, and Slaw – perfect lunch!
After all that drinking, I figured I should take a break, and with all the BBQ around (and the shirt I was wearing), it was hard to say no to pulled pork!
The Part Time Blues Band
While eating, the Part Time Blues Band came back on stage and played some more – including a very well done cover of Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World. If you can catch one of their shows, I highly recommend it!
Voodoo Chile Hot Sauces – Saucesome!Voodoo Chile Sauce Descriptions
On my way out, I came across this vendor, and while initially drawn to them by their creative naming it was hard to leave after sampling their sauces. All of their sauces have spectacular flavors, and though I went with Phoenix (I felt it was the most versatile of the ones available), there were a few that left a fairly intense lingering heat that builds over time. I can’t say enough good things about these guys – they know what they’re doing!
For those in the Research Triangle area of NC, the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ festival will be visiting Cary on Friday August 5th and Saturday August 6th. There is a full schedule for the year on the site, as well, if you aren’t nearby. Tickets are still available for those interested!
I’ll be visiting for a few hours on Saturday, and will be following up with pictures and notes afterwards! If you see me there, come say hi!
