Two Years Later – Same Brewfest – Same Anxiety

I went to another Brewfest and didn’t have a panic attack.  Two years later and it’s still a major win.  A crowded event is always a stressor, even just a crowded restaurant can send me into a tailspin. Coming back to the Cushwa Brewing Co for the 7^th Anny Brewfest celebration I was reminded of the 5^th anniversary two years ago. (Brewfests with Anxiety)

The 7^th Anny was held at the Cushwa Brewing Co. tasting room shared with Rad pies.  It was a congested area and bumping into other Brewfest goers was inevitable.  I think by the end we all were done apologizing to each other for it.

It was a decent weather day for a Saturday in January.  I was so glad we could take advantage of the picnic benches outside of the tasting room.  For some reason I had an idea in my head that I needed to feel as carefree as I did two years ago; that I had to absolutely not feel any anxiety about entering a crowded event space.  I am not sure why we build these unfair expectations in our minds sometimes but it’s a silly waste of energy.

Also it’s been a crazy two years since the last Cushwa Brewfest:  I got a new job, I moved in with my boyfriend and we had a baby together.  I’ve had a rough time adjusting to motherhood in my forties and I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have him.

The beers at the brewfest were absolutely wonderful. We loved the RAR offerings, the Crooked Crab barrel aged beers were fantastic, Fidens was a good TIPA, and there were so many different options and different styles. It was nice to see that it wasn’t just “here’s an IPA” “here’s another IPA” “and oh look, another IPA”, there were lots of varieties and different styles, and from breweries from all over which was a nice change of pace too.

Ben Taking Over

Amy has been working on this column piece since… pretty much since we got back from Cushwa and Williamsport, MD. After the brewfest we did a small share with friends at the hotel, just like we had two years ago, and the day after we hit a few breweries on the way back home (we hit Interchange Brewing, Amani Brewing, Thick n Thin Brewing, Upper Stem Brewing, and Fourscore Beer). She asked me to help finish our the column for her since she’s been struggling with it a bit. Its certainly not easy doing weekly columns, and especially about one with such a serious and delicate issue – and even moreso because of how close it hits to the bone on this one.

This is a serious matter, and one that is definitely not to be taken lightly or a joke. Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, etc are all big deep issues, and something many, many, many, many, many people face. Most without having someone to talk to about it. Most without having a chance to discuss their very serious issues and thoughts with someone.

Thank you to Amy for talking about her issues, and her fight against anxiety. Its great to see her being able to step out of that, to overcome it, and get to go have fun at events like this. Her Brewfests with Anxiety post is perfectly worded and she does an absolutely amazing job of discussing it.

The Overnight Walk

Dealing with mental illness is NOT easy either by living with it yourself or supporting a loved one living with mental illness.  This summer I will be walking 16 miles overnight in Boston in the out of the darkness walk.  This walk is very important and supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevent in  Funding Research for Suicide Prevention, Create and Distribute Education Programs, Advocate for Public Policy and Support Those Affected by Suicide.  Please consider donating here:  https://www.theovernight.org/participant/45186

Amy’s Column Series

Since getting back to writing for the blog after a short hiatus, Amy has started up a weekly column style writing for the blog. You can find these articles here:

• Brewfests with Anxiety (Amy’s original weekly column start)
• I’ve Missed Drinking (A Look at Non Alcoholic Beers)
• Beer and Pretzel Review: Legends and Lore (St. Boniface Brewing Company) and Garlic Parm Pretzels (Pretzels.com)
• Peanut Butter Eggs, Easter, Beer, and YAH Brew’s Shimmy Shake (Beer Review)
• Cox Brewing Company: Back to Their Roots
• Amy’s Day Off
• It Was All A Dream (A Visit to YAH Brewing)
• Just Another Weekend (A Hike at Saint Pete’s Trail and Hares Hill Brewing)
• I’m Pretty Darn Lucky (Happy Mother’s Day)
• Ready to Kick of the Summer
• Beer Review: Beer Devil IPA (Niagara Brewing Company)
• World MS Day
• Have you ever picked a beer based on the can art?
• Happy Father’s Day
• What is Your Summer Time Go To Beer?
• Holiday Weekend and Bomber Bottles
• Baby’s First Ffej
• We Can’t Always Be a Glutton Right? – Perfect Portions and Allusion Brewing Company
• Beer Review: Pocono Punch (Barley Creek Brewing Company)
• Getting Sworn In: A Sneak Preview of Sworn Brewing
• Beer Review: Tropical Stout (Troegs Independent Brewing and Windy Bridges Brewing LLC)
• RAR Brewing Brings the Nostalgia with Muppets Out of Order Series
• Happy Birthday to Ben
• Brewery Review: Cold Spring Inn and Brewery
• Hummelstown Doesn’t Deserve Maritza
• Enchilada Stuffed Peppers and Sunshine Pilsner
• Master of Pumpkins, Cupcakes, Cookies, and Bacon Cheeseburgers
• A Beer Review by Grandma SueAnn (Beer Review: Braaaiins! by Spring House Brewing Company)
• Grandma SueAnn and More Beer: Beer Reviews of: Zoktoberfest (KCBC – Kings County Brewers Collective) and Devious Imperial Pumpkin (Fegley Brew Works)
• Oh Ever Grain: 7 Years, 7 Beers
• Pumpkin Beer Review with Grandma SueAnn – Abomination Brewing: Forbidden Pumpkin, Greater Good Brewing: Giant Pumpkin, and Pizza Boy Brewing: Sunny Side Up Double Coffee Pumpkin
• Grandma SueAnn Helps Review More Pumpkin Beers: 2 out of 3 Ain’t So Bad
• Halloween Candy and Beer Pairings
• Brewery Review: Otto’s Pub and Brewery
• Munching on some Thanksgiving leftovers?
• The Holidays Always Bring On Waves of Nostalgia For Me
• YAH Brew and Desserts Pairing
• Christmas Cookies and Beer Styles Pairing (Pairing Christmas Cookies with Beer)
• New Years Day
• Winter Beers
• Two Years Later: Brewfests with Anxiety
• You can find all of Amy’s articles here: Amy’s Archive of Articles.

(And please take a moment to fill out Amy’s survey on her ‘Holiday Weekend and Bomber Bottles‘ column.)

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