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How to Become a Beer Person

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I know a lot of people in college, especially girls, who always say things like ‘I just don’t really like beer that much!’ I used to be that girl up until last year. So here’s the thing, people think they don’t like beer but in reality they’re just drinking the wrong kinds. There are so many different types of beer out there that you’re bound to like one.

I thought I hatedbeer, but it was only because I was drinking the absolute worst possible kinds. Think Natural Light, Busch and Keystone. Those are basically dirt water; I’m not even sure how they are legally allowed to be labeled as beer. The problem wasn’t that I wasn’t “a beer person” it was that I was just drinking really shi**y beer. So I started buying different kinds of beer at the liquor store and ordering new things when I went out to see what I liked.

If you really have no idea what kind of beer you like I would suggest going to a brewery where you can get a flight of beer, meaning you can taste test about 5 different types at once. This is a great way to figure out what you’re into. I would try to start off lighter at first with shandies, pale ales, or beers with fruity undertones. If you like those then great, if you want to try something else I would then go into the darker ones such as stouts, lagers and porters. I personally hate dark beer; it is definitely an acquired taste for sure so be warned.

The main point here is that you really just need to STOP DRINKING CRAP BEER. Do yourself a favor and branch out a little bit! If you have any self-respect you will put down the keystone and natty light and get yourself a real beer. Trust me, it will be worth it and you may just find your new favorite drink.

Hannah Kate

How to Combat the Sunday Scaries

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If you don’t know what the Sunday Scaries are, please remove yourself from underneath the rock you have been living under and join the rest of 2018. The Sunday scaries has become a common phrase that many people can relate to no matter the age. It is defined as the dread you feel on Sundays when you have to prepare for the week ahead of you. However, this is the Bar Bible and to me the Sunday scaries are when you are so hung over but you have sh*t to do and you don’t know how the hell you are going to get it done in the state that you are in. But it’s okay I am here to help!

First things first, wake up and take a shower because you will automatically feel better after. Next, pull yourself together and go and get yourself a bagel and coffee because you deserve it (not really you 100% made poor decisions the night before). Now, whatever you have to do I guarantee you that you are not as hung over for it as you think you are. Half of a hangover is mental and half is you being dehydrated. So drink some water and remember who the F you are.

I realized from recent experiences that you can do anything while hung over, and I mean anything. This weekend I played a game of flag football at 9 am so severely hung over. I have no idea how to play flag football. You know how hard it is to play a sport you don’t know while hung over? Think about that next time you feel like laying in bed all day! Surprisingly, I actually felt a lot better after playing. So maybe it’s not mental and you should just exercise? Seems fake but if you are into that whole “healthy lifestyle” thing definitely give that a try when you’re hung-over. If you are anything like me (a lazy POS) just stick with water, coffee, and a bagel and give yourself a pep talk; you got this!

Oh, and Advil. Lots of Advil.

Hannah Kate

Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten

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I recently went here with my friend for dinner and drinks. From the outside it looks like a renovated factory with the exposed brick and massive windows. Asbury Festhalle & Biergarten is painted on the wall in a distressed fashion, giving an antique look to the restaurant.

The inside is quite similar, with plenty of exposed wood and beams, pairing well with the long wooden tables and benches. The entire restaurant is styled to be German and they definitely did a good job at making it seem very realistic. Not only did they achieve this through their décor but the food and drinks as well seem to be German inspired. My friend and I both got sausages that came with sauerkraut, potatoes and bread. So bad for you but SO good. We ate it like we had never seen food before in our lives; it was just great quality and such comfort food.

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The drinks were also exceptional; we each got a flight of beer meaning we were able to pick four beers to try in smaller glasses. If you wanted just one beer they had a range of glass sizes, all in frosted mugs to ensure that your drink stays extra chilly. The beer list what quite lengthy, which I appreciated, I mean they should have options, they are a Biergarten after all. Each beer was described well and the menu was split up into different sections to help you make a decision better.

What I liked most about this bar was the atmosphere for sure. It was a very relaxed environment. If you are looking for a chill night this is 100% the place for you. It is a place to talk and laugh with your friends or family and the whole building just gives off warmth that makes you want to stay. I will without a doubt be back here very soon.

Hannah Kate

The Shrimp Box & Outside the Box Patio Bar

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Point Pleasant Beach is a quaint little beach town right on the Jersey Shore, a picture perfect setting where the Shrimp Box & Outside the Box Patio Bar is located. It is right by the inlet, giving you a nice view of all the boats and yachts that aren’t yours.

I went here for lunch with my Dad and we sat at the patio bar which he claimed was actually moving on the water, but he has vertigo so we really can’t trust anything he says. Moving on, the drink menu at this restaurant was extensive which I appreciated, I ended up getting the Kona Big Wave, which is a nice light and fruity ale. If you didn’t want beer, they have plenty of cocktails and choices of wines to choose from.

The food here was absolutely amazing. We started with appetizers of the garlic shrimp and crab cakes, each were made to perfection. Our entrees were a medley of seafood and you could just tell that everything was so fresh; I was really impressed with each dish. It was hard to choose what to order because they had so many options, each sounding just as good as the next. They do have none seafood options, but not many, so if you aren’t a fan of fish or other seafood, I would not recommend dining here.

Overall, I was very pleased with my experience here between the food and extensive cocktail list it was a great way to spend an afternoon. I will definitely be back since I’ve heard their rum buckets are a must!

Hannah Kate

Porta

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Porta, located in Asbury Park, New Jersey is a restaurant by day and club by night- the best of both worlds. They are famous for their amazing pizza and authentic Italian cuisine, bringing in people from all over to experience it. Their aesthetic during the day is rustic chic; with exposed beams and Edison light bulbs it gives you a modern hipster vibe, which I personally love. But do not let this fool you- because at night Porta transforms into the hottest club in town.

The string lights are swapped for dangling crystals that light up with the music and a huge DJ stand. Porta is notoriously busy on Friday nights with a line around the corner, packing the house. Some people come for the drinks and dancing, others come for the infamous DJZA (short for pizza? The world may never know). Anyhow, once you get in it is one giant dance floor with three bars on each side of the room, making it pretty easy to get a drink, which not a lot of bars can say.

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If we are being honest, you have to be extremely drunk to last more than an hour here, which is fine by me because I usually do that anyway… but for the not as seasoned drinker I would prepare before coming here! The dancing is fun but can be overwhelming, there is a large amount of jumping and fist pumping involved, we are in Jersey after all. If you need time to cool off there are other rooms off the main one with additional bars and more of a relaxed environment for talking and drinking instead of dancing.

The drinks at Porta are more on the expensive side, ringing up at around $10 for a tiny vodka cran that I can suck down in about two sips. Pre-gaming is a necessity if you aren’t trying to break the bank. My other complaint is that they only play club/electronic music and I am really more into music I can belt out the words to, but hey you can’t have everything. Overall, Porta is great vibes and if you want to dance and fist pump then look no further than this upscale Jersey shore bar.

Hannah Kate