Weekend re-cap: Real Ale, Vista, Desert Door, Perissos, Highlands

I realize that it looks like we did a LOT of drinking, but honestly, we didn't overdo.  That being said, we started our Saturday at Real Ale in Blanco.  They were having a BBQ cook-off to benefit the Lone Star Paralysis Foundation. 

 Frito Pies and beer, YES.

I'm pretty sure that's not on my healthy eating plan...

 What a gorgeous day it was!

We walked all around the place, drinking our beer (loved the Devil's Backbone and the Fat Elvis) and listening to live music.  We had plans to visit Esperanza Winery afterwards, but the allure of craft beer had us heading to Vista Brewing in Driftwood.  Time to explore!

 My pictures do not do it justice, the place was very cool.

The yards just outside of the tasting room were fairly packed so we sat inside and I enjoyed a tasting of Dark Skies (a black lager aged in Sotol barrels), On the Grounds (a brown ale with Spokesman Coffee), Lorenzo (Imperial Stout with Mexican hot chocolate spices), and Grato (Lambic-style ale aged with Italian plums in Bending Branch wine barrels).  It was impossible to pick a favorite, I loved them all!

Hubby settled on the Lorenzo and we ended up taking home a bottle of that. 

Inspired by the beer with the smoky Sotol taste, we popped over to Desert Door.  It wasn't far away and we haven't been in ages.

We each had a bartender's choice cocktail, which ended up being raspberry lemonade with Sotol and fresh mint.  We planted ourselves on the patio, listening to live music and enjoying our snack of cheese, crackers, and pistachios.

 You could really not ask for a more beautiful day in Central Texas.  {Is this winter now??}

We listened for a bit, then headed home to eat turkey pot pie, which I must say, was DELISH and we called it an early night.

The next day we had a pick up at Perissos to attend.  We enjoyed a tasting of all of the wines and a lengthy convo with Jeremy Wilson.  He is always so jazzed about the winery and vineyards that it is hard to tear away from him!

 Burgers and brats were served in the tank room and we enjoyed a couple of glasses of Jilianico with it.

Then we took our bottle and we headed outside to listen to some live music.

Another picture perfect day at one of our favorite wineries so Life is Good!  When the guitar guy took a break we headed over to Highlands to check on things.

And ended up sitting in our lounge chairs for a bit, and napping.  We headed home at sunset and made pizza and salad, then laid on the couch and tried to keep our eyes open watching TV.  And now its hard to believe its already Wednesday.  I think this weekend coming up we will take Teddy with us, especially if the weather is nice.

Gina