All's Well That Ends Well-- The Miraculous Trek Home From Jaffa Port

 

The trip home from Jaffa Port was complicated... read all about it...

 

Whenever I'm not sure of the route, I trust Google Maps, which is pretty reliable, especially nowadays when there are so many changes in bus routes and bus stops. Actually, I arrived at the Jaffa Port reasonably easily via Ariel, where I had taken one of the buses to Tel Aviv and had gotten off by some government offices. From there I had no problem finding the 44 to the port. The instructions for the walk to the port weren't all that clear, but by concentrating on how many meters were left, I could see if an about face was needed. Trust me; there were quite a few. But then I saw the massive building by the port and just had to find the entrance. 

Where was I going? To a beer festival, the Beer Market had returned to Jaffa Port. Last time I traveled with the rest of the beer tasters via Jerusalem, but since then I discovered that it's easier and faster to get to and from Shiloh via Ariel. 

I was the first of our group to arrive; most arrived soon afterwards. This post isn't about the festival and beers, though I hope to blog about some favorites at a later date. Wisely I packed a nice vegetable omelet for dinner-- to counteract the alcohol of the beer and give me healthy energy for the trip home. 

As usual I consulted Google Maps and then was happy to discover that my favorite Tel Aviv-Ariel the express bus was listed as the one I'd catch "somewhere," but before I left the port the instructions began changing rapidly with all sorts of cancellations. 

The Beer Maven invited me to join them in the taxi to the Tel Aviv Train Station, where they were catching the train to Jerusalem. I thought about it for a nanosecond but decided it would just increase my trip, and I may be stuck in Jerusalem. I needed a bus to Ariel where I could catch a bus to Shiloh. 

With Google Maps, and a number of helpful strangers, to guide me I finally found the 44 going back to Tel Aviv. I got off where Google Maps instructed but couldn't find an Ariel bus anyplace. I kept asking people, but they didn't see the 286 number anywhere either. Finally a nice young man took out his earphones and began searching via the app Moovit. Apparently some big event in Tel Aviv changed traffic and bus stops. 

After we walked close to a kilometer we returned to where I had gotten off the 44, and we crossed the street. The 286 wasn't listed, but there was a 285 to Ariel on a sign, but it wasn't on the board  of "live" buses. He insisted that his app said the bus was close. He spotted a bus passing us and managed to hail it for me; yes the 286. I thanked him and climbed in through the back door. Yes, the bus hadn't realized that I was waiting. That tzaddik-- righteous man really saved me. 

I used my efobus app to check if I had a chance to catch a Shiloh bus in Ariel, and thank Gd I did. It wouldn't be true to say that the trip was uneventful or quick, but I got off at the first stop in Ariel on time. 

Then I walked slowly through the Ariel Shopping Center on the road, hoping that a neighbor would notice me and take me home. Finally, at the bus stop I waited for the bus which would take me to my street, ok via the scenic route of Eli, but it was MY BUS. 

Since my phone's battery was too close to zero for anything not urgent, I didn't check how the rest of the crew was doing. Once home, I plugged in my phone and contacted them. The Pisgat Zeev Beer Tasters had "landed" in Jerusalem but still not near their neighborhood. 

I enjoyed the beer and the company... and thank Gd and wonderful strangers I made it home safe, sound and sober.

The Most Unusual and Best Beer at "Beer in Dizengoff Center" Festival

 

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Tel Aviv with the beer tasting crew, led by our Beer Maven Doug Greener, to "Beer in Dizengoff Center" Festival. We tasted lots of beers and enjoyed most plus the unique atmosphere. It was a Thursday night, and most people were in Dizengoff Center for pre-Shabbat shopping, but no doubt some shoppers were happy to sample and buy some beer. 

There was a nice selection of Israeli and a few foreign beers. We were most interested in the Israeli beers, especially the craft beers from the smaller breweries.

I will just mention one specific beer. It's Tomer, made in memory of Tomer Nagar, who was killed in the October 7, 2023 massacre. His family and friends make the beer in his memory. I tasted them, and they were all good, though my favorite was the most unusual. Rarely do I like flavored beers, since it's rare to find a fruit or vegetable that has the power to work well with a good strong beer. 

Davka Tomer's friends flavored one of them with אגוזים egozim, walnuts. Yes, it's not the usual, but the rich, earthiness of the walnut worked well with the beer. The citrus aroma doesn't prepare you for its special taste. I loved it, and when I was offered a choice of a gift beer by the festival's organizers, it's an easy guess to know what I chose.

If you hear of an Israeli beer festival in your area, I definitely recommend that you visit. Get yourself a bunch of tasting coupons, and take advantage of the opportunity to taste a good variety of beers. Then, before leaving, treat yourself to some bottles of your favorites to take home.

Shuk Habira שוק הבירה Beer Festival at Jaffa Port

 

Last Thursday, I joined the crew of beer tasters led by our intrepid tireless leader, Doug Greener, the beer maven on a trip to Jaffa Port for the best and most professional Israeli craft beer festival I've ever attended, Shuk Habira שוק הבירה WWW.BEER-MARKET.CO.IL.

I must admit that I had been a bit wary about what seemed like such a long trip from Shiloh via Jerusalem train and then a taxi from the Tel Aviv stop on the nice modern train. Thank Gd it was pleasant, the traveling and of course the company. Even the trip home to Shiloh worked out well, thanks to Gd for providing miraculous bus to train and to bus connections.

To be honest, we were treated as valuable VIPs by the management, but if the setup and/or beer had been awful, I wouldn't be praising it like I am.

There were various tasting options, reasonably priced for which you got a cup and coupons. 

If you're looking for a really good summer beer, try Ronen's B'DAY 13. It's fruity but not too sweet. I'd say it's like a cocktail, but a lot healthier. Give it a try.

I tasted more than a half a dozen different beers plus mead. This was my second, if I remember correctly, time tasting mead. The first was at a beer festival in Jerusalem's First Station, and I told them that I had remembered enjoying the mead greatly. I decided to let them choose which mead. It was very tasty, but more for winter than summer. 

This was for sure a very "only in Israel" scene. Yes, this baby was strapped to his father, the brewer. Yes, a devoted, enthusiastic father is also a beer brewer, Goren's Brewery, which I definitely recommend, great beer and a nice family. 

I was very happy to be able to taste some White Rabbit beers. We had visited their brewery last year. Since they're very careful about quality control, keeping the beers chilled, you can't find them all over, only at pubs and shops that are willing to follow their storage and serving recommendations.

Schnitt's COCONUT beer was much better than I had expected. I had once had a coconut flavored beer that seemed too fatty, but Schnitt's was very good. If you have a chance to get some, give it a try.

Ever since we had tasted a guava flavored beer at BeerBazaar's craft beer festival at Kfar Daniel, I've been craving more. It's the best fruit to flavor beer. It takes a strong fruit like the guava to do beer justice. Yes, I know that many people don't like guava, but I think that's why it's good with a strong beer. This beer with the line and guava was great, too.

These beer-flavored candies were also a treat. There were a few different flavors. Yes, LolliHop's the name, a very punny play on the words and key ingredient of beer.

Even at an enjoyable beer festival like this one, we can't avoid the fact that Israel's at war. No, we didn't hear sirens and run for shelter. One of the breweries is named for Tomer, who was one of the first soldiers killed on October 7, 2023. This is how he has been memorialized. 

Drink a "l'chaim" to Tomer and all those others murdered by the Gazan Hamas terrorists.

I wish to thank Doug Greener for inviting me to his beer tasting crew and teaching me so much. If you're on Facebook, friend him to learn more about Israeli craft beers. His beer reviews also appear in the Jerusalem Post.

What's your favorite beer?

Israeli Craft Beer Festival in Jerusalem First Station

It's rather embarrassing to admit that it has taken me so long to blog about the Israeli Craft Beer Festival in Jerusalem First Station. Considering that I really enjoy attending that beer festival. It offers a great choice of small Israeli craft beers. You're not going to find any of the larger companies, like Shapiro, Jem's, Malka, Shevet or Beer Bazaar.

Considering that it's much more difficult to find these smaller and newer craft beers commercially, versus the beers I've mentioned, I didn't miss the big ones at this venue. 

For those of us who like beer and are adventurous, enjoy tasting relatively unknown craft beers, this festival is like a gift from Gd.

It may be hard to believe, and even I'm very surprised, but besides one beer which I found rather tasteless, they were all drinkable to excellent.

How did I manage to sample a very large percentage of the beers?

On the right you can see me in my "beer tasters T-shirt." At various Israeli beer events, you'll probably see Doug Greener of Israel Brews and Views in a similar shirt. I'm one of the crew. Some of you may be familiar with his beer reviews in the Jerusalem Post.

Doug and the beer tasters at the 
Israeli Craft Beer Festival, Jerusalem First Station

At last year's Israeli Craft Beer Festival in Jerusalem First Station, the odd man out was an Israeli Whiskey, which we had also sampled. This year I was disappointed when I couldn't find them at the fair. It was excellent, so no surprise that soon after the festival we heard that it had won first prize in an international contest. Milk & Honey (M&H) has been awarded the title of ‘world’s best single malt’ by The World Drinks Awards.

In the end there was something VERY different. This year there was mead. What's mead? You may ask; I sure did. It's a liquor made from honey. It's a traditional alcoholic drink in areas where honey is much more common than grape vines. Here in the Land of Israel, grapes are much more common; even I have a mini-vineyard in my garden. They are that easy to grow. But in other parts of the world there are many bee hives for honey. They make and drink mead, while wine is our traditional drink. 

If you have the opportunity to drink/buy mead, go for it. I prefer those I tasted at the festival to many wines.

I'll repeat that this year's selection of Israeli craft beer provided lots of tasty beers of all types. I'm not going to list a favorite or say which was the one disappointing beer, since the same brewery also had a really good one.

Don't be afraid to try the various Israeli craft beers if you have an opportunity, and if you can make it to next year's craft beer festival, go.

Following are more photos from the festival.

Jerusalem Beer Festival 2022, Great Fun & One Night More

I had a wonderful time last night at the Jerusalem Beer Festival in Gan Haatzmaut. It'll be open tonight, too, so go if you can.

After I set up a display of various beers, we were instructed to take it down, as glass bottles of beer are forbidden at the festival for safety reasons. You can only buy servings of beer in plastic cups. Besides the disposable cups, heavy duty reusable plastic cups were offered for sale.

I tasted a great variety of beers, some new and some old favorites. To be perfectly honest, I liked them all and hope to write about them later on. The various beer companies sell their beer online and in some stores. But I had wanted to get this post out today as early as possible. As you can see from the lighting and empty grass, I was there early and to be honest, left early. The big performances get noisy for me. I came for the beer and wasn't disappointed.

Enjoy!

Here's Doug Greener aka the Beer Maven learning the story about Raizel Beer.

2021 Jerusalem Beer Festival Fantastic Beer

Here I am in my "uniform"
my Israel Brews and Views
 t-shirt.

If you didn't make it to The Jerusalem Beer Festival last night, you can still go tonight. It's best to buy your tickets in advance, less expensive and then you won't get disappointed at the door if it's sold out.

This year, all the beers I sampled were great. Two years ago at the Jerusalem Beer Festival many craft beer companies had been experimenting with "flavored beer," which I found mostly awful. I had even titled my post about it Where's The Beer?" Jerusalem Beer Festival 2019. Now as the world, including Israeli craft beers, is struggling to survive corona/COVID, my guess is that they don't have the "profits" to invest/waste on experimenting with unusual flavors in beers.

I won a hat from Jem's by successfully tossing hoops.

I caught Doug Greener here talking about beer, what else?

You can't see it in the photo, but Doug is wearing the same sort of T-shirt I wore. We were part of a team promoting his blog and expertise in Israeli craft beers.

Tarantino is where I bought my meat sandwich. It doesn't seem to have a website. But the food was great and inexpensive.

Shapiro Jack's Winter Ale was a treat. It includes whiskey. At present they're not selling it, just producing it for winter. But I was very lucky to be given a generous sample. Gd willing I'll order some when they market it, along with their IPA which I adore.

On the whole I requested IPA samples from all the craft beer stands offering "tastes." I'd rate them all from good to excellent, some more fruity tasting than others. IMHO the quality of Israeli craft beer has gone up. There's lots of competition. I didn't make any attempt to sample the foreign beer. Honestly, there's a limit to the amount of beer I can drink, especially when it's the same evening not from the same source. And Shapiro's "whiskey beer" was really powerful.

I hope you make it to the festival or one of the others happening in Israel. If you can't try to buy Israeli craft beer. The "little guy" is producing fantastic beer.