Today is my turn to contribute to the fabulous feature, the brain child of Brittany at The Book Addict’s Guide, where myself, Brittany, Estelle at Rather Be Reading and Maggie at Just a Couple More Pages are paring books and beer. Pretty perfect for a bunch of beer and book lovers if you ask me.
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I had a harder time with this month’s theme for Pub Date, Back to School. When I first read it I immeditaley thought an apple beer would be perfect. I personally have had a few that I love and thought, ‘awesome, I’ll get one of those and BAM, done’. It didn’t really work that way. I went to three, yes THREE, different liquor stores only to not be able to find an apple beer. And then I started to think about it. Really back to school is more than apple. It is wanting to hold on to summer for as long as you can. Here in Boston schools mostly go back after Labor Day weekend. Kids from elementary school to high school to college try to hold on to that last bit of summer before being forced back intoΒ the real world. So on the Friday before Labor Day weekend I give you my “Back to School” Book and Beer pairing.
The Beer
I decided to go with my new favorite beer of the summer, Hell or High Watermelon put out by 21st Amendment Brewery in San Fransisco. I found this beer around the 4th of July weekend at a local bar. Having had a watermelon beer before at Hingham Beer Works and not having been a fan I was skeptical of it. But I tried a taste of it and I fell in love. Like most beers the draft version had a more watermelon taste and I would say is more enjoyable than the can, but I still really liked the can. Hell or High Watermelon is a wheat ale so if you don’t like that you post likely won’t enjoy this beer. But I didn’t find it too over powering. And the alcohol content is under 5% so that also isn’t too bad. Honestly the saddest part about Hell or High Watermelon; it is only available from April to Setpember. I already can’t find more in the stores. Sigh. Other summer beers I love: Shocktop Lemon Shandy and Leinenkugel Summer Shandy
The Book(s)
Duh. Nothing says back to school to me more than Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins that all basically start right when school is about to start up again and where school plays a huge part in the story. There was no way in Hell (or High Watermelon) that I would not have used these three for my pairing. You know I love them, I have told you a million time, and if you still haven’t read them we can no longer be friends. Okay, okay, we can be friends, but things may be strained. Basically…GO READ THEM. π
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And there you have my Pub Date. I will be hosting this lovely feature every few weeks and would love for you to stop by and share a pint with me…or at least tell me what you are currently enjoying. Make sure you follow along with Brittany, Estelle and Maggie too. You never know when you will find your new favorite beer.
*banner by Estelle’s sister
**Drink Responsibly!
OMG!! I love this feature! How fun!!!
Julie Prestsater http://www.juliepbooks.com
I need to try this watermelon beer! =)
Haha anything to sneak in a Perkins rec! π I kid.
I’m glad you liked this watermelon beer! I wish they sold it (or something like it) around here but I have yet to see a watermelon beer around these parts. I generally like fruity beers and I love wheat beer! π
I love your point about how part of going back to school is wanting to hold on to summer for as long as possible, great point! And I love Hell or High Watermelon, it’s one of my favorite summer drinks. I actually used to be able to find it at a bodega by my old apartment well into the fall, but sadly that’s not an option for me any more. Great pick!
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