Belgian Lace is the name for that foam that coats the inside of your glass as you’re drinking a beer. Belgian lace makes me happy because it means I’ve just enjoyed a good brew. So I figured Belgian Lace is the perfect name for this blog.

I’ve spent the past five years enjoying craft beer, all the while wishing that I knew more about this booming industry and cultural phenomenon. I always say I want to know more and really learn, and this blog is me finally committing to that.

Here are eight things I love about craft beer:

1. It’s never boring. There are always new breweries, taprooms, seasonal beers, limited releases, flavors and packaging to experience. I can’t get enough of the latest, but love to come back to my favorites.

2. Flights! If there’s an option, I’m ordering one.

3. Day drinking beers on a patio. ← description of my ideal day. It’s so relaxing to take in the flavors and chill outside on a beautiful day. That’s bliss.

4. The Minneapolis scene. Especially in Northeast. I can walk or bike to over 10 taprooms in my neighborhood and that is a good thing.

5. We are past the hop craze. As one of my favorite articles from Slate cites, beers overloaded with hops are a pointless gimmick. Craft brewers have moved beyond the age of pale ales and IPAs and are expressing their creativity through countless other beer styles and I say bravo!

6. Beers on nitro. Give me that creamy goodness.

7. The community. I love seeing other breweries’ growlers when I visit a new taproom, or their stickers on the bar. The brewers in this business build each other up. And good collaborations are where the magic happens.

8. High ABV beers. I’m up for the challenge.

A few of my favorite styles: stouts, porters, sours, goses, oktoberfests, pumpkin beers, kolsches, belgians, coffee beers

A few of my favorite MN breweries: Schells, Surly, Able, Indeed, Insight, Big Wood

A few of my favorite out-of-state breweries: Left Hand, New Holland, Founders, Goose Island, Prairie Artisan Ales, Deschutes