Thirsty Thursday | Geneva Lake, Imperial Cherry Stout

Sticking with the Door County theme this week, we are drinking Geneva Lake’s Imperial Cherry Stout…. I mean what else is more “Door County” than something cherry, right?! We actually picked up this bottle of cherry heaven at a great farm stand market in Door County called Koepsel’s that you need to check out if you are ever up there because they have an extraordinary amount of craft beer.

Like so many breweries in Wisconsin right now that are fairly young Geneva Lake is among them having been established in just 2010. Though I have only had maybe one of their brews quite some time ago, the Imperial Cherry Stout sounded like something we needed to try and I am glad we did! I would say it’s more of a tart cherry flavor finishing with just a touch of the roastyness you would expect from an imperial stout. With a very unshy abv of 10.6% some aging would do this one very nicely. If you have the chance and love cherries (especially Door County cherries) certainly give this bad boy a try!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | The Breeders, Last Splash

There are days when I feel like my teenage years were a lifetime ago and yet in other instances just a memory away. Full of angst and the wanderlust of what lies beyond the best way I am reminded of these thoughts and feelings is always through music.

My husband and I actually talk about it a lot these days, mostly because many of our favorite artists from the 1990’s (the time when we were both young and all music it seemed was full of those teenage feelings) are celebrating their 20^th Anniversaries… Its such a crazy big number, how the hell did TWENTY years go by?!

When I think of these times there are countless albums that come to mind that I listened to over and over again in bedroom writing in my diary (yeah I was one of those kids, ha!) One such album was The Breeders, Last Splash. Headed up by The Pixies own Kim Deal and her twin sister Kelley Deal, songs like Cannonball, Devine Hammer, Saints and No Aloha just seem to take me back to a different time in my life. I honestly believe listening to music is it’s own real form of time travel. I love when something like Last Splash can bring you right back to an exact place in the past and just hang there for a moment.  

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Travel | Door County Wisconsin

Those of you from Wisconsin should be familiar with the popular tourist destination known as Door County! A favorite vacation spot of Wisconsinites, those from the Midwest and to some, Door County is known as the “Cap Cod of the Midwest”. Others might simply acknowledge it as the “thumb” of Wisconsin sticking out into Lake Michigan. Regardless, it’s always a great place to visit... especially in the Summer time!

If you have never been to Door County here is a brief run down… Door County is not only known for it’s beautiful, quint atmosphere and picturesque views of Lake Michigan but also it’s wine producers, cherry producers and overall slower pace of life highlighted by Peninsula State Park (which we biked and saw the Eagle Bluff Lighthouse) and also got to view the many talented artists who feature their work at local establishments. There certainly is not a lack of delicious places to dine either I might add!

We had the weekend off from wedding photography so I could sample lots of Sprecher products for the fine folks of the area, which I love to do! In our free time we took full advantage of our surrounds from biking, wine tastings and indulging in something very cherry (hello Cherry Brandy Old Fashioneds!) 

Probably the highlight of our weekend had to be the double feature we took in at the Skyway Drive-In Theater that runs every night from Memorial Day to Labor Day. It also happens to be the 2nd longest continuously running drive-in in Wisconsin. I haven't been to a drive-in since college and Matt since he was a kid so it was simply an awesome night of nostalgia!

Our favorite little winery in Door County is Harbor Ridge located just outside of Egg Harbor as they not only produce wonderful wine but also sell an assortment of craft beer and soda. Needless to say we had to make one last stop here before heading out of town!

Like the rest of the state the locals that make Door County tick are really amazing and friendly people who love welcoming guests into their small yet special corner of Wisconsin. Thinking of ideas for your next weekend getaway?? Look no farther than Door County, we absolutely had a blast!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Fornear Photo Friday | Felicia & Nikko’s Craft Beer Themed Engagement Shoot

Yesterday in my Thirsty Thursday post I mentioned our awesome clients, Felicia & Nikko, so today I thought it fitting to post their craft beer themed engagement shoot that inspired that post!

Like so many of our clients Felicia & Nikko found us through Offbeat Bride and plan to get married in Wisconsin this Fall. In the meantime they wanted to incorporate their love for craft beer into their engagement shoot, which we were more than happy to do! We started the day at the very heart of the craft beer world, Three Floyds Brewing Company in Munster, Indiana where we had blast trying some of their great brews as well as having a tasty lunch.

After Three Floyds we continued on the craft beer tour heading to one of their other favorite watering holes appropriately named Beer Geeks in Highland, Indiana. If you have never been to this place I highly recommend it, plus you have to check out the amazing murals in this place!!!

Lastly we shot at White Oak Park also in Highland where Felicia & Nikko first met. I always love learning this bit of history on the couples we work with, every story is so unique and this one was no exception! It's really the best when you can see through the camera eye how in love couples truly are. Needless to say we can’t wait to till their wedding…. it’s going to be a blast!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Thirsty Thursday | Kuhnhenn Brewing, 4D Olde Ale

I am sure I have said it before but I will again... our photography clients ARE THE BEST! In fact, many of them are so awesome that they share/swap craft brews with us from time to time and this post is about one of those awesome couples doing that! About a month ago we shot a fun craft beer themed engagement shoot for our clients Felicia & Nikko in the Munster, Indiana area. If you know ANYTHING about craft beer you know that Munster is currently at the pulse of the craft brewing world and the home to the infamous Three Floyds Brewery… but this post actually isn’t about Three Floyds!

When talking about the upcoming nuptials between this couple they mentioned their favorite brewery is actually a small brewery out of Warren, Michigan named Kuhnhenn Brewing, which they hope to serve at their wedding. After lots of photo taking and craft beers they were kind enough to give us a few samples of Kuhnhenn’s to sample at home in which 4D Olde Ale (also known Bourbon Barrel Fourth Dementia) was one of them!

In all honesty I am a bit embarrassed to say I had never heard of Kuhnhenn until Felicia & Nikko told us about them. This delicious, boozy delight was a wonderful sipper that the husband and I shared. With hints of raisin, sweet toffee and melt in your mouth caramel this tasty beverage did not disappoint either! Oh and did it ever pack a punch in the abv department… a fine 13.5%, right up there with the best bourbon barrels I have ever had! I even gave it 5 stars on Untappd (which is quite rare for me) but I found after looking at 4D on Rate Beer, I am not the only one since it has a solid 100 rating!

If you ever have the opportunity to try one of Kuhnhenn’s fine brews do no pass it up, I know we sure hope to try more come this November at Felicia & Nikko’s wedding!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Pete Townshend, Empty Glass

As most will know Pete Townshend is a music legend in so many different rights. Being the legendary writer and guitarist for The Who, Empty Glass was his first solo breakout album. The album was written and recorded between 1978 - 1980, when movement within The Who had started underway again, Pete found himself partaking in the writing for both his solo project and as well as The Who.

I just love this album mostly because of all the awesome hits on it, I think I have listen to the love song Let My Love Open the Door like a million times (which Pete claims was just a little "ditty" he worked up)! Plus there are some other really great songs like Rough Boys, Empty Glass and Little is Enough that do tend to have a bit more of The Who type of feel but honestly it doesn’t matter because not only are they good but they are penned from the same hand so it is completely understandable. Overall a great album and one you should check out if you can!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo