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“Okay, so the premise is a little off-kilter – teaming up exhausting adventure sports with craft beer. These well-written columns are fast-paced, fun and really will get you off and exploring natural areas, with a cold brew as your reward.”
James Murren is an award-winning independent writer, with numerous pieces having appeared in outdoor sports and recreation media outlets, adventure and travel magazines, newspapers, practitioners’ journals and newsletters, including:
L.A. Times, The Surfer’s Journal, Adventure Sports Journal, Mountain Flyer, Roads & Kingdoms, Backpacker Magazine, Cranked (UK), Snowshoe Magazine, Sub-Saharan Magazine, San Diego Union-Tribune, Spoke Magazine (NZ), Dirt Rag Magazine, Bike Magazine, Bicyclist Magazine, Strung Magazine, Bicycle Times, Switchback, and XXC Mag.
Currently, he is a columnist for Adventure Sports Journal (“Earn Your Beer“). Earn Your Beer is about pushing yourself in the mountains, deserts, oceans, rivers, wherever and then sitting back and enjoying a beer when relaxing at camp or home. Additionally, he is on the editorial team for Snowshoe Magazine.
I’ve a new project for 2021. Check it out here: MTBeer
Several articles and writing samples are available under Portfolio in the menu bar up top, where you can also enter the Blog for current postings.
Murren has published three books. Go Here, Go There: Travel and Workis a collection of words and photos depicting such experiences in ten countries around West Africa, Central and South America, North America, and Eurasia. The other two books are based on his work and travels in Honduras and Ethiopia. You can buy the books online via the link in the sidebar, or at the following locations: The Reader’s Cafe in Hanover, PA and Verbatim Books in the North Park neighborhood of San Diego, CA.
Member: Society of American Travel Writers and North American Travel Journalists Association
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- Earn Your Beer #131: Mendocino Redwoods - 12/14/2023
- Earn Your Beer: Issue #130 - 08/28/2023
Earn Your Beer Mendocino
The Earning
The beach at Van Damme State Park along the Mendocino County coast is where you’ll find Kayak Mendocino. Their sea caves tour offers an hour and a half paddle adventure that will leave you with a greater sense of awe for planet Earth and a big smile on your face. The stunning rocky coastline, home to oystercatchers, seals, jellyfish, sea stars, and other aquatic life, showcases natural beauty at its finest.
Paddling through the rock gardens, you can explore what are known as the Rumbler and Cathedral sea caves, where you’ll witness the raw intersection of water and rock — a testament to the passage of time. On my outing, the gentle ocean, bluebird sky, and soft breeze made for a relaxed experience, with each turn revealing new encounters to appreciate non-human life.
Kayaking Mendocino offers beautiful scenery. Photo: Liquid Fusion Kayaking
After a few hours of kayaking, I strolled along the boardwalk at MacKerricher State Park’s beach. Suiting up in my winter wetsuit at Pudding Creek Beach, I embraced the chilly 55-degree water and waited for 2-3 foot waves to ride. In the lineup, I bobbed and bodysurfed, catching decent waves from time to time. One perfect wave carried me to knee-deep water near the shoreline, leaving me grinning and chuckling with joy. As I swam back out into the vast blue Pacific Ocean, I eagerly awaited more thrilling sets. kayakmendocino.com
The Beer
North Coast Brewing Company does not need an introduction. Since 1988, they have been at the forefront of California’s independent craft beer movement. What I was not aware of, though, is that they use non-GMO ingredients and are a Certified B Corporation (a company that has voluntarily met the highest standards for social and environmental performance) brewery. I respect that, as well as their support for marine research.
Walk inside the front door of North Coast Brewing Company on Main Street in Fort Bragg and you will see the array of awards that any brewery would dream of attaining. Scrimshaw, their classic pilsner, is iconic, so much so that I would put it up there next to Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale as being a pillar of California and USA beer. Oh — and they have beer cocktails! I had the White Russian for dessert. Three letters sum it up … Y-U-M! northcoastbrewing.com
While in Fort Bragg, stop in and check out Tall Guy Brewing. Pat, the owner/brewer, worked at North Coast for 30 years and as of July 7th, he has his own brewery. The London Fog English Porter on nitro was as it should be for the style. Maybe check out Overtime Brewing, also in town. I am not much for what I call gimmicky beers (artichoke beer and jasmine green tea beer, anyone?), but their Drinkin’ Beer, a pilsner-style light beer, was on-point and went down easy. To savor the best of Fort Bragg’s breweries is to embrace the heart of California’s craft beer culture — a delightful journey of flavors and dedication.
Read other Earn Your Beer columns here
