{things that make me happy} really good beer

I have a secret. It's not bad, not really. Well, it's kind of bad. Just a little.

Mike and I's relationship is based on a mutual love of beer.

There, I said it. For the whole world (errr, blog-world) to see (err, um, read).

It's not bad, I promise. We're not lushes and we don't over-imbibe on a regular basis - we both just really and truly appreciate good beer. Not only is it yummy, but it's an association thing. Have you ever been driving down the road, wind in your hair, sunglasses on, and a song comes on that just transports you back to that one great moment?

That's what good beer does for me. Really good beer takes me here:

One of our gorgeous Montana Loveshoot photos by Sara of Whitebox Weddings

With that first sip, I can't help but smile. I get fluttery butterflies in my tummy. It takes me back to that first summer. A summer full of great beer, quiet water and huge mountains. A summer that was graduation, internships and not having a plan. It was road trips, meeting family, and being the first person each of us ever "brought home." One sip takes me to that first year in Portland, escaping the rain and finding solace in Bend. It makes me want to hike to the top of a mountain and appreciate how amazing this world is, and then realize it's in our own backyard. It makes me want to pack up my dogs, my tent and my husband and go float down a Montana river. It makes me want to sit and just... be.

But mostly? Mostly it just makes me smile and want to enjoy a really, really good beer. Together.

A few of my favorites:

1. Mmmm Guinness

2. Deschutes Brewery from Bend, Oregon. Nothing quite says summer to me like the June debut of Twilight every year.

3. Twisted Tea. A Montana thing by far and not a "great beer" but man, is it satisfying when it's 90 degrees out and you're floating down the river. Seriously, trust me.

4. Missoula, Montana. 'Nuff said.

5. Big Sky Brewery. One of many brewery options in Missoula, but Summer Honey is my Montana equivalent of Twilight.

6. Beltian White (Belt, MT). Only available in the state of Montana, they just started bottling it and it needs to go back to being only on tap. It is by far my favorite MT beer; we had it at the wedding and it was tapped before the sun set.

7. Ditto with Cold Smoke from Kettlehouse Brewery (Missoula, MT). Wedding choice, gone before sunset. Yum.

What do you associate with and why? Leave a comment and possibly win a $15 gift card! Winner will be announced Monday!


~di