Hi, all! Welcome to back to our new feature called PUB DATE where Estelle from Rather Be Reading, Andi from Andi’s ABCs, and Maggie from Just a Couple More Pages and I all team up to pair books + beers in harmony! Each week, one of us will features a beer and a book of our choice, each with a different theme for that month!

This month’s theme: BOOK & BEER VALENTINE

Let’s be honest for a minute. I’m married and I still think Valentine’s Day sucks! Those who have significant others get stressed out about planning something special. Those who don’t feel crappy (or have an EXCELLENT time with friends), but either way, I’m not a huge fan of the holiday. Actually, I shouldn’t say that — I’m just totally indifferent. I’m spending this Valentine’s Day with books. Anderson’s Bookshop is hosting an event with Cary Elwes who you may know better as Wesley from The Princess Bride. THAT’S RIGHT. So guess where I will be on Valentine’s Dayyyyyy! (I invited my husband and he actually did not want to come. He also hates Valentine’s Day so it’s just anther day for us. We’ll PROBABLY go to a really non-fancy dinner at our favorite dive bar). So all in all, yes, I’m spending Valentine’s Day with my husband (for part of the day) but also with books and beer! [Edit: We actually MAY end up taking a staycation… possibly to New Glarus? … like I talked about in the last Pub Date post!]

While my real-life book and beer valentines are yet to be determined (although clearly AS YOU WISH will be getting lots of love that day), I wanted to share with you some book & beer favorites that always give me the feels! The book one is easy. I took some time assessing my book boyfriends and after my re-read of ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS the other month… I think Etienne St. Clair is the clear winner. Anna is my girl and her relationship with St. Clair gives me ALL THE FEELS. I seriously melted the last time I read this book and plan on re-reading it every year now! (This year’s re-read will actually come in March with On the Same Page!)

My beer, as you will see, is Weihenstephaner. Why is this my beer valentine? Well, our very first official date was at a restaurant called The Country House. It was Shane’s “regular” spot and a little bit dive-y which was perfect for the both of us. It was a big deal to him to show me his spot and we ended up going there quite a bit after that first date! Me being me, I tried to ninja the bill from him (how silly on a first date, but I couldn’t just LET him pay) and I ended up knocking his beer over as I reached across the table for the check and SPILLED HIS BEER ALL OVER HIS PANTS. He was a tiny bit upset but mostly amused and we both ended up laughing. If he could handle me knocking his beer over on the first official date, he could handle anything I could throw at him (figuratively. I don’t throw things at him!!) and it’s been a great story ever since. So when we found out that The Country House was closing that location and opening a new restaurant a few streets down, we HAD to go back for one last dinner and set of beers before they shut the doors of our old hangout for good. We both had a fantastic time and it was nice to go back — after over a year — and we even saw the old manager who knew Shane really well. So sad that we’ll never get to go back there again but I’m SO glad we went back one last time, even though it’s so far from where we live. It was a perfect night and we both really had an amazing time. We even took a picture which is not something we hardly EVER do (unless we’re on vacations)!

Thanks for joining us for another edition of Pub Date! Missed any posts? You can catch up at any time on my blog page for the Pub Date Feature!

Recent Beers 

• Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbeer by Bayerische Staatsberaueri Weihenstephan. Hefeweizen // 5.40% ABV. This was actually one of the first hefeweizens I’ve had, I think. I wasn’t a huge beer drinker before Shane and I started dating though I did enjoy it. I fell in love with Weihenstephaner and many more hefeweizens after that! Tastes amazing with a lemon or without!
• Fat Tire by New Belgium Brewing Company. American Amber/Red Ale // 5.20% ABV. Fat Tire is always a favorite! It has a bit heavier flavor BUT you’re also drinking an amber, not a light beer. I love the flavor, though, and it’s always delicious. I’ve been past New Belgium TWICE now on the single day of the week they aren’t open. Sigh. SOMEDAY I will visit this brewery!!!
• Blue Moon Belgian White by Blue Moon Brewing Company. Witbier // 5.40% ABV. Okay, so Blue Moon isn’t anything new or special either, but I always love it. It’s another always-favorite, easy-drinker, and crowd-pleaser! It’s another always-available craft beer so that’s usually what I get if I’m in a spot where there aren’t a lot of craft beer choices!

** Beer styles and alcohol content from Beer Advocate **
** Drink responsibly ** 

Are you a beer fan? On the Untappd app? Add me as a friend!