Everywhere we went in San Diego’s Balboa Park provided beautiful views of the Spanish Renaissance architecture from the 1915-16 Panama-California Exposition. Its preservation is a testament to the city. San Francisco also hosted a Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915. Sadly, very little remains there today except the Palace of Fine Arts.
One of the ten museums and gardens we visited at Balboa Park was the San Diego Museum of Man. And the first exhibit we saw drew me right in: Beer!
Beer has quenched human thirst for a long time in civilizations around the world. This ceramic beer bottle is Egyptian, from 1375-1350 B.C. Other exhibits showed growlers from the Incas and beer’s links to Chinese nutrition … even the antibiotic properties of ancient beers.
Naturally, the exhibit gave us ideas. After we left we went to a nearby restaurant and sampled local craft beers. On the left is an IPA called “Pupil,” with tropical notes of guava and mango. The stout on the right, “Apocalypse Pony,” boasted coffee and vanilla bean. Both were delicious and I learned to be a diligent Pupil with my IPA. I discovered that it was entirely too much to consume on an empty stomach. And no, I wasn’t driving.
That sounds like fun museum. Skål!
Oh dear, I’d have to avoid this beer. I have a problem. It’s a tasting problem. Wine companies hate to see me come through the door. They have a nonsensical notion that tasting involves getting your tongue wet. I think to taste something properly you must have at least 1/2 a glass. Perhaps we share this belief? And perhaps that’s why we need a designated driver when we visit places that allow, no, even invite you to come in and have a taste?
I’ve been going back through your photos of Balboa Park and they are making me want to plan a visit! What a beautiful place.
I can see myself going in to see that exhibit. That ceramic beer bottle looks like it would hold more that a pint. Beer on an empty stomach is not good, I’ve tried that more than once. 🙂
Apocalypse Pony is a hell of a name for a drink!
The dome in that first shot draws my eye.