<![CDATA[JACQUI KOEBEL

<![CDATA[JACQUI KOEBEL - Blog]]>Sat, 26 Jul 2025 12:43:50 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[The Gulch Brewery Day - Nashville, TN]]>Fri, 15 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMThttp://www.jacquikoebel.com/blog/the-gulch-brewery-day-in-nashville-tn

Nashville may be known as the Music City and for its bars on Broadway, but it is also full of start-up craft breweries. A day filled with visiting multiple craft breweries is a great way to avoid the crowds downtown and live like a local while visiting Nashville. The Gulch is the perfect location to try multiple breweries in close proximity. Here is a list of a few breweries all within walking distance of each other.

1. Yazoo
Yazoo is an independently owned and operated brewery that all started from a homebrewer's dream. Linus Hall opened Nashville’s first production brewery since Prohibition in 2003.
Yazoo’s flagships, like their Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, and Sly Rye Porter draw most of the crowds and have made Yazoo known as one of the most popular brewery in Nashville. Take a visit to their 40-barrel brewhouse, hangout on the outdoor patio, enjoy a $8 tour with beer samples, and try out the food trucks.

My favorite: Hopry Hazy
Dans Favorite: Dos Peros
Location: 900 River Bluff Drive, Madison TN 37115 ( new location)

2. Jac kalope Brewing Company

Jackalope may be one of the smaller breweries in the area but their beers are some of the best. I was not disappointed during my visit here. I enjoyed all the beers they had and I don't think they can make a bad beer! They have two taprooms: one located on 8th Ave and one on Houston Street. The tap room on Houston Street offers Bingo on Wednesdays and trivia on Thursdays.
The taproom on 8th Ave is within walking distance to the Gulch. It also is the taproom connected to the original brewery that offers brewery tours on Fridays and Saturdays, food trucks throughout the week and specializes in barrel-aged brews to reflect the heart of Nashville, Tennessee. There’s also a coffee shop, ZolliKoffee, connected to the taproom so you can caffienate or just chill out pre-drinking hours.

My favorite: Rompo & Lovebird
Location:
701 8th Ave S., Nashville, TN 37203 (for Gulch beer day)
429B Houston St., Nashville, TN 37203

3. Tennesse Brew Works

Founded with the discovery that great beer can be brewed at home, what began as a kitchen hobby amongst friends transformed into something greater. Tennesse Brew Works supplies it all, from live music, great beers, amazing food and a large outdoor seating venue.
There is plenty of places to sit and things to do here. They have seating options outside on the patio and inside the big room where they actually make the beer. They have a room with a dart board and other games. They also have a stage downstairs with a live band! They hope to capture the essence of the land and culture in all of their brews. Check out their calendar on their website for events, happy hour and music.

My favorite: Hippies & Cowboys
Location: 809 Ewing Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

Czanns Brewing Company

This is a low key small local brewery and unlike some of the other bigger local breweries in town as it is all about the beer and less about creating a "specific brewery vibe". The Brew Master's overall approach to designing each beer is to strike a balance between solid malt flavor and hop bitterness. Base and most of the specialty malts are supplied by Franco-Belges, one of the largest malteries in Europe. Czanns beer is not available anywhere but Nashville! So make sure to stop in when you are in town.

Location: 505 Lea Ave, Nashville, TN 37203

New Heights Brewing Company
New Heights Brewing is a small craft brewery that creates ales we’re passionate about and crave—from intensely hoppy IPAs to crisp, clean ales and rich imperial stouts. They offer different events throughout the week such as brew tours, trivia nights, pint nights and sweaty Sunday runs.

Location: 928 5th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37203

NOTE:
The breweries are not in order for the best beer but they are in order for which is the best to start and end at for walking purposes.

Unfortunately I recently discovered Yazoo moved locations to the other side of Nashville so it is unavailable to walk to. While I was visiting we were able to walk to all 3 breweries and it created a perfect day. Since Yazoo moved I added two other breweries to the list above.

My walking suggestion ::
Start: Czanns brewing Company
Second: Tennessee Brew Works
Third: New Heights Brewing Company
End: Jackalope Brewing Company

New Heights ---> Czanns Brewing Company = 11 min walk (0.5 miles)
Czanns Brewing Company ---> Tennessee = 7 min walk (0.3 miles)
Tenessee Brew Works ---> Jackalope Brewing Company = 11 min walk (0.5 miles)

After two breweries and lots of beers you might be starting to get the muchies and Tenesses Brew Works has some of the best food! Their menu often utilizes their beers in the process of making every dish. They offer snack, salads, burgers and sandwiches! But if you are in the mood for something greasy wait until you walk over to Jackalope brewing Company because some of the best hot chicken is located at Party Fowl right next door.

Sip on beer, eat hot chicken & be hoppy!

]]><![CDATA[Chicago]]>Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:00:00 GMThttp://www.jacquikoebel.com/blog/chicago

COFFEE

Limitless Coffee : different latte choices you don’t see everywhere / great drip dark brew & great avocado toast
Heritage Bike & Coffee : awesome lavender latte
Elaine’s Coffee Call
Goddess baker
Big Shoulder Coffee : Cute and TINY shop. Great place for a grab and go coffee or just to sit for a little while. seating is limited outside. Their iced latte is terrific and people rave about their Marshmellow Latte
CCferns Chicago
Our fairgrounds : they have a Brew Bar where you can pick three for a flight, or get a full cup of your favorite coffee
Sawada coffee

FOOD

*Breatrix : have to go for brunch!! My recommendation is the Cauliflower Grits & Eggs or Quinoa Cakes W/ Poached Eggs
Gino’s East : deep dish pizza
*Lou Malnati's Pizzeria : deep dish pizza (the best in my opinion )
Giordano’s : deep dish pizza
Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill : Chicago's first deep dish pizza restaurant
Portillo’s : famous for the Italian beef / hotdogs
Uptown Pho : it was a cold day and we were craving soup. some of the best Pho I have had
Eataly
*Jeni’s : best ice cream in the world / dairy free options
Cindy’s rooftop: great restaurant, brunch + view of the bean
Food by Fare
Farmhouse Chicago
Emma
Federales : Mexican / order a shot in a ice shot glass then throw it at the wall
Wrigleyville : bar scene around wrigley field
Stan’s Donuts
Little Beet Table
Pacific Standard Time
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Hampton
Café Babareeba

BARS

Bub City : awesome live music / have food as well
Fados
The Laurel Room : Coastal California fare meets Chicago summertime
Blue Chicago : fantastic jazz music
Happy camper
Parlor pizza
Offshore
Three dots and a Dash

ACTIVITIES

Buckingham Fountain
Drinks/brunch at Cindy’s on the rooftop overlooking the bean
Millenium park : the famous Chicago bean is located here
Bar hoping around wrigleyville
Take the L (CTA train) at least once for a full Chicago experience
The Lincoln Park zoo : completely free
Navy Pier
Willis tower sky deck: views of the entire city
Revolution Brewery
Goose Island Brewery
Architecture boat tour
Walk down Michigan Ave : shopping along the way
Take a water taxi on the river
Riverwalk : walk along the river for awesome views!
City Winery Chicago on the Riverwalk : sit outside and enjoy a bottle of wine while people watching
Lakefront bike trail : run, walk or rent a bike

]]><![CDATA[Virginia is for Lovers]]>Wed, 23 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMThttp://www.jacquikoebel.com/blog/virginia-is-for-lovers

"Virginia is for Lovers" is the tourism and travel slogan of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. Spending the past 4 years in the state of Virginia has taught me that the people in Virginia are some of the nicest people I have ever met. Every person I had an interaction with was genuine and sweet. Once you begin a conversation with someone from Virginia, you can't help but notice the good feeling running through your body. The amazing people compliment the beautiful mountain range found in Virginia. During my time at James Madison University, I was unable to explore the entirety of Virginia due to my volleyball schedule in the Fall. The days that I was free from school, work, and volleyball I was always searching for something new and exciting to do! This state has brought me some of my best friends, my fondest memories and greatest adventures.

If you are thinking of planning a trip to Virginia near the Shenandoah Valley, here are some of my favorite things to do throughout the year. As you might tell from reading through this blog, Fall is my favorite time of the year!

1. Hiking

Shenandoah National Park offers 500 miles of trails! The trails offer a range of scenic views, waterfalls and views of the Shenandoah River. Keep in mind that choosing the right hike depends on how much time you have, where you are going in the park, your physical capabilities, your fellow travelers physical capabilities and what you want to get from your experience. My tip is do not plan anything after your hike. Enjoy the day, your experience will be much more enjoyed if you are able to soak in everything around you without worrying about later obligations. But...... if you have time after your hike and are a beer lover like me, head over to a brewery and enjoy a cold one, you deserve it after that hike! I have completed over 10 hikes during my time in Virginia and they all brought a unique experience and adventure!

my top 3 trails :
Old Rag
Rose River Falls
Black Rock Summit Hike

2. Breweries

What time is it?? BEER TIME! Virginia has over 200 breweries and the Shenandoah Valley has some of the best! Some breweries are close in proximity to each other so you can make a full day of visiting multiple! Remember to plan ahead and have a DD or Uber! Drinking and driving is not cool. Bottoms up!

my favorites:
Devil's Backbone
Bold Rock Hard Cider
Pro Re Neta
Brothers Craft Brewing
Three Notch'd Brewing Company

3. Wineries

Virginia is home to over 230 wineries. Many have beautiful outdoor patios where you can sit outside and enjoy the view of the mountains while sipping on some excellent wine. There are 22 wineries located in the Shenandoah Valley.

5. Pumpkin Patch

The fall is B-E-A-utilful !!! All the leaves change color and it is a jaw dropping sight! I would drive around the state just to look at the beauty of the trees. Fall is a perfect time of the year to go outside on a nice day and pick some pumpkins. Most patches have wheelbarrows and clippers on sight, all you need is a nice day and a great friend. The fields are scattered with all sizes of pumpkins, pick your favorite and have a wonderful time!

6. Apple & Peach Picking

Virginia offers fruit and vegetable picking year round, but my favorite ones to pick are peaches and apples! During the summer months, they offer strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Apple and peach season generally runs from late August through the middle of October.
My two favorite places to pick apples and peaches are Chiles Peach Orchard and Carter Mountain Orchard. At Carter Mountain Orchard, they have a tap room selling cider from Bold Rock. Bold Rock uses the apples and peaches from Carter Mountain to make there ciders. It’s farm to glass!

7. Watch a VA Sunset

The State of Virginia has, hands down, the best sunsets in the country! My friends and I would always go to the same hill on campus to watch the sunset. The whole sky illuminates with beautiful oranges, reds and pinks. It's a bucket list sunset to see! You can watch the sunset from multiple locations across Virginia. My favorite way is to grab a 6-pack of Bold Rock Hard Cider and a couple great friends!

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