Need an Energy Boost? Try These Energy Drinks

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Columbia Dist Energy Drinks

 

A lot of people depend on their morning fix of caffeine to get the day started. For most, this comes in the form of a cup of coffee. In fact, many people may drink coffee throughout the day or even at night as a way to maintain their energy levels so that they can stay productive while at work.

However, coffee isn’t your only option. You can get the energy boost you need by enjoying wellness drinks or energy drinks, many of which also contain caffeine, the essential ingredient to an energy boost. The following are a few examples of wellness drinks and energy drinks that will have the same effect as coffee: Continue reading…

Understanding The Origin of Tea and Tea Benefits

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Green Tea in a Cup.

Nothing refreshes and soothes like tea — the second most popular beverage in the world, after water. From organic, to ready-to-drink varieties — tea’s benefits are far-reaching. All tea, except the herbal varieties, are derived from the camellia sinensis plant. Its five categories include white, green, oolong, herbal and black tea. Its history is intermingled with different cultures and global leaders. A look at tea’s history and benefits: Continue reading…

The Best Alcoholic Ice Cream Treats

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alcoholic ice cream treat

We all know that an ice cold beer is one of the best ways to cool down on a hot summer day (or night). However, sometimes you might be in the mood for a delicious ice cream treat as well. If this is the case, why not combine the two and enjoy an alcoholic ice cream treat?

Alcoholic ice cream treats have become all the rage in recent years, especially following the sudden burst of interest in craft beer and artisanal ice creams over the past decade. The following are just a few of the alcoholic ice cream treats that are available all over the country that you should try out this summer if given the chance: Continue reading…

Five Great Craft Brews with Outstanding Flavor – Columbia Distributing

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Glasses of beer and ale barrel on the wooden table. Craft brewery.

Over the past decade or so, there has been a surge in the numbers of craft beer created by smaller independent breweries. Located in almost every corner of the United States, they have created a veritable paradise of beer flavors for the discerning connoisseur. While we hesitate at Columbia Distributing to name any one particular brand as the very best, we do recognize true quality when we see – and taste – it. Here are five of our favorites: Continue reading…

Stay Cool With a Summer Ale

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Summer Ale-Columbia Distributing

Different types of beers are better suited to different times of the year. For example, a thick stout beer is much better suited to the winter than it is to the summer. So what should you drink to stay cool now that the summer is here? Summer ales, of course!

What is a Summer Ale?

The fact that a summer ale is perfect for the summer weather is kind of a no-brainer. It’s all in the name, after all. But what exactly makes a summer ale a “summer” ale? The main characteristic of a summer ale is a light and crisp taste. Breweries will get this taste by combining wheat and barley together. Every year, some of the best breweries in the world prepare new summer ales for the summer season. Continue reading…

Mimosa recipes for the Morning

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A mimosa in the morning is that little bit of heaven that gives you an energy boost and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Mimosas are a must-have for any brunch, but if you are a frequent brunch goer or mimosa drinker it can be easy to get a little bored with a classic mimosa. The great thing about mimosas is that they are easy to elevate, that classic orange flavor is easy to work with and compliments many other flavors.

Here’s our ideas for a mimosa for every taste: Continue reading…

Ale and More: Ginger in Drinks

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A glass mug full of hot ginger tea. Isolated on white.

While many tend to imagine plain ginger ale like Canada Dry, or typical mixed drinks with ginger beer when they think of ginger drinks, there are plenty of recipes that can bring out the nuances of this familiar spice.

Here are some unique alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages that can help expand your palate and give you some ideas about how to use ginger when you’re in the mood to throw it into the mix. Continue reading…

5 of the Best Iced Teas Around

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iced tea from Columbia Distributing

 

Iced teas are, perhaps surprisingly, a relatively new thing in the American consciousness. It’s only been a bit over a hundred years, after all, since the World’s Fair in St. Louis when Englishman Richard Blechynden served it up cold to the public. Today, the overwhelming majority of tea consumed by Americans is served iced.  Here is a selection of some of the better options for iced tea on the market.

  1. Kombucha Teas – The New Rage

You might have heard about this by now – especially if you frequent the gym or watch fitness programs. Kombucha is a type of tea-inspired beverage that has quite a few superstar qualities. Composed of probiotics, fungi, fermented tea and natural sugars, it is advertised as being able to stave off certain cancers, supply your body with loads of natural energy without the impending crash, weight loss, and immune system fortification. It’s a non-alcoholic beverage for the most part, although the fermentation process can give it a slight alcoholic kick.

  1. Snapple Tea

A true success story, Snapple was once a much smaller brand that found tremendous favor with the public; it is one of the most well-received cold ice teas on the market – ever. After just nine years of being out in the open, they were bought out and now form an essential part of the Dr. Pepper soft drink empire. A cool, refreshing sweet tea that comes in many delicious flavors such as Mango tea, Diet Peach, Snapple Apple, Green Tea and Orange Carrot.

  1. Numi Organic Tea

Another brand that started small and flourished explosively in the past decade, Numi Organic Tea comes from all the regions of the world. The herbs that comprise this delectable beverage are grown in India, Africa, China, South America and other places. The brother and sister team are also very artistic, and design the packaging on the brand. You can find green teas, bottled teas, herbal teas, chocolate teas, turmeric teas and more – all carried by Columbia Distributing. An ice tea made of orange spice or white rose makes for an amazing summer day.

 

  1. Yerbae Sparkling Water

Although marketed as sparkling water, Yerbae is enhanced with white tea extract; you can just catch the fleeting scent of the water that’s also mixed with guarana seed and a bit of natural caffeine from the tea. It is a calorie-less drink that has all the qualities of spring water. Try the Lemon, Pomegranate Berry and Strawberry Kiwi flavors to avoid missing out. For best results, make sure they’re chilled.

For more than eight decades, the people at Columbia Distributing have believed that when it comes to beverages, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic represent the best of both worlds. Our humble roots in the Pacific Northwest stretch back to the mid 1930s, which proves our long-time commitment to providing our cherished customers throughout Northern California, Oregon and Washington with their choice of successful brands of ice tea and other drinks.

Staying Cool This Summer: 10 Hydration Tips

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Summer Hydration by Columbia Distributing

The summer months these past few years have seemingly been hotter than usual, and the current one is shaping up to be the same. As connoisseurs of iced tea and cold draft beer, the people at Columbia Distributing know a thing or two about hydration in summer. With that said, we’ve compiled a list that should help you stay cool as the mercury rises.

  1. Wear cotton clothing as often as you can. Materials such as polyester, rayon and the various sweat-wicking sportswear actually retain heat better than cotton – and you don’t want that.
  2. Keep a flask of iced tea or cold water with you throughout the day. If you can manage one of those 40 oz cold-preserving flasks, then hydration in summer will be no problem for you. Many of these flasks can keep a beverage cold for a full day — especially if you put ice inside. Remember; by the time you’re actually thirsty — your body’s already been a bit dehydrated.
  3. Ditch the tight-fitting slacks and tops. Not only should your clothing be looser — it should also be light in color unless you live in the Sahara desert.
  4. Watch what you eat. Eschew those large, hot portions that benefit your body during the winter time in favor of cooler fruits and dairy products.
  5. No air conditioner? Head to your local Starbucks or shopping center for the afternoon and cool way down inside. As early evening rolls around, it will start to get a lot more manageable inside your own home.
  6. Exercise cannot wait for the cooler months to roll around; however, you shouldn’t go on a run at high noon this summer. Either start very early, or wait until late. And even then, make sure you carry a bottle of electrolyte-replenishing sports drink or iced tea for hydration.
  7. Take cool or cold showers if you’re in the house and the heat becomes close to unbearable. It will do wonders, as the effects can last for an hour. Do this before bed, in fact, and the heat will be unlikely to keep you from falling asleep.
  8. Although we mentioned fruits earlier, this one deserves its own place because of how essential it is on hot summer days: watermelon. You would be hard-pressed to find a better fruit to eat for hydration and fulfillment — without the excess calories, as 90%-plus of the fruit is actually water.
  9. Buy a fan if you cannot get an air conditioner. It will make a difference on those particularly warm days. In fact, even if you use AC, a fan will circulate the cold air and make it feel cooler at less of an overall cost to you.
  10. Hydration in summer does NOT mean you can drink anything cold. Caffeine-laden drinks and alcohol should be imbibed in moderation, as too much will dehydrate you.

Libby and Analise Take on Pink Boots

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Women Coming Together in the Name of Beer!

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The Pink Boots Society was created to assist, inspire and encourage women in the beer industry. Columbia’s own, Libby Rankin and Analise Lucchese recently attended the very first Pink Boots Conference in San Diego, CA. Here is a glimpse of their experience: 

A couple of weeks ago I had an amazing opportunity to travel to and experience the Pink Boots Society’s first major conference. It was inspiring to see so many professional women amassed together in one room in the name of a shared passion for beer!

This is a unique business to be in.  It’s one of the oldest trades in the world.  As a distributor, the beer industry is a way of life.   I educate myself daily on the industry – new product launches, market trends, and consumer purchasing data.  What I have not been able to do, previous to the Pink Boots Society meeting, is share my experience as a women in this generally male dominated industry with other women.  Though here in Portland we have a strong presence of women within the distributor and supplier networks, we still make up a disproportionately small contingent of the workforce.  This is why the Pink Boots event was such an extraordinary experience.

After nearly ten years of distributor events and conventions, this is the first event I have attended that was geared specifically to beer and the women who, like me, dedicate their professional lives to the industry.   For the first time, I had a chance to expand my knowledge in the trade surrounded by a group of my female peers. It was incredible!!  We made new friends, we laughed, and we traded industry stories.  Ultimately we bonded over our passion for beer and had a wonderful time doing so.

We had the opportunity to hear a number of fruitful discussions ranging from Distribution, Sensory Recognition, to Hops as a raw material in the supply chain. The panels and lectures were enlightening and impressive.

The Distribution panel was an especially valuable and enlightening learning experience for me. My understanding and compassion for the multiple perspectives on distribution that, previous to this discussion I did not have. I now have a stronger understanding of and increased empathy for the difficulties brewers have when deciding how and through whom to distribute their beer. It was eye opening, to say the least!

The Sensory Lecture, by Gwen Conley, was amazing. Sensory recognition is the science of understanding what you are feeling, tasting and the perception you have. Simply put, she absolutely killed her presentation. She was engaging and funny and had her speech prepared, ready to go. She made me feel as if I were the only one in the room (though it was packed!). She gave exact definitions and examples of everything that Sensory Recognition has to offer.

The most notable presentation of the event was the keynote speaker, Megan Parisi, of Samuel Adams Brewery.  She spoke eloquently about her career path, starting out as a professional musician and defying convention in pursuit of her dream to be in this industry.  Her inspirational tale of persistence in the face of adversity was refreshing not only as a fellow woman and manager in the industry but as a beer enthusiast. As a manager of a team, I found value specifically in her commentary covering what she deems her greatest accomplishment, watching the people she trained become exceptional brewers and move on to newer endeavors within the brewing craft.  Her emotion and absolute passion for encouraging personal and professional growth within her team was palpable as she neared the end of her speech fighting back tears. This segment helped reinforce my belief that being a manager of people requires you to engage and build a relationship with them.  Life is not just about numbers and making sure that you hit them. It is about the impact that you have on them as a professional. You could see the zeal that she teaches with and how she talks about her students. It was very moving to be in a room with a women with that much devotion. As leaders, we often don’t take the time to think about what kind of an impact we have on the people we manage or the impact they have on us as leaders. I hope that as my career progresses here at Columbia I can stand up and speak with as much passion as she has. And know that the passion was perceived on the other side.

This was a great weekend for me. I was not sure what it was going to be like and or what to expect. To be honest I had no idea it was the first ever! The ladies of the Pink Boots Society did a fantastic job. I can’t wait for the next. The women I met and made friends with will be friends for a lifetime. I can not wait for our next adventure.

– Libby Rankin

Thank you Libby, for sharing your experience with us! We look forward to hearing more about your involvement with Pink Boots.