Category: About the Search Party

General information about the blog.

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1,000 – part 1

I have now rated 1,000+ beers on RateBeer. and it is time to break down into some real statistical geekery.

Over the last few weeks, I have been parsing the data to look for interesting trends or factoids from my craft beer drinking. Not just the usual top 10 / bottom 10 (though that’s here too).

So let’s dig into the numbers……
First, my average score was 3.14 out of a possible 5.00. Which to me is good because it means I am not being too generous or too stingy with my scores. It also signifies that I am not drinking crappy beer.

And speaking of, here are the bottom 10 finishers….
Tecate 1.80
Ukiah Willits Wit 1.80
Eagle Rock Sriracha 1.80
Liefman 1.70
McMenamins Jalapeño Wheat 1.60
Miller High Life 1.50
The Bruery Provisions Series: Salt of the Earth 1.50
Game Day Ice 1.40
Coors Light 1.40
Budweiser 1.20

The usual suspects are here so I will skip flogging that vortex bottle but there are a couple surprises. First off, I hate peppers and scovill heat so the Sriracha and Jalapeno are only here because of that, not due to anything else. The Liefman is there due to exceeding amounts of sugar which may are may not have been part of the plan. The huge shock to some (who haven’t tried it) is the Bruery being in the bottom. Well, the beer tasted like salad dressing and smelt worse. And the worse sin was it took a lovely style that I adore and made it undrinkable.

Kern River Citra DIPA 4.40
The Bruery Chocolate Rain 4.30
Magic Hat #9 4.30
The Bruery Melange #1 4.30
Ballast Point Victory at Sea 4.20
BrewDog Punk IPA (5.6%) 4.10
Hair of the Dog Cherry Adam from the Wood 4.10
The Bruery Loakal Red 4.10
Hair of the Dog Matt 4.10
Russian River Sanctification 4.10

I don’t think there is too much to argue with here. Magic Hat is probably rated too high (1.24 higher than the average Ratebeer score) but both times I have had it on a hot summer day and it has delivered. The Punk IPA is probably a skosh over as well but still within a 1/2 point from the average.

More 1000 ratings data coming up on future posts.

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In the Tap Lines for June 2011

June brings another month of new brew news. Here are the other highlights:

~ e-visits to three breweries in my adopted state of California, again
~ video reviews of beers from Iron Fist
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ my 2011 Beer challenge will enter the letter writing phase
~ … and Session # 52 will pose an interesting view on the beer world
~ And an analysis of my first 1,000 beers reviewed on RateBeer
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your June started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) June 11 – Blue Palms Ultimate Brown Bag party

2) June 4 – ColLAboration # 2

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California Growler Challenge – May Update

Letters to politicians. In enough quantity and on a topic with no blowback can be powerful tools to get a law passed. And barring that, they can at the very least get politicians aware of the issue.

So with that in mind. Here is a sample letter about the California growler issue:

I am a proud and vocal consumer of craft beer that is brewed in our fine state of California and I would like to bring your attention to a small but important issue regarding how craft beer is legislated.

Brewers across the state sell growlers. A portable and recyclable glass container that can hold up to 1/2 gallon of beer. Right now, I cannot take a blank growler to a brewery and purchase their beer. I am forced (sometimes not unwillingly) to buy a specially branded growler from that brewery. But then I cannot take that growler anywhere else and use it.

So if I live in San Francisco and want to bring some beer back from Green Flash Brewing in San Diego. I have to hope they sell the beer I want in regular bottles or buy a growler that I can only use at Green Flash and not at Anchor Brewing.

There is a way to fix this inequity. A Brewed in California growler. A growler that can be taken anywhere in the state and filled at participating breweries. I would buy one (because we want to reuse and help the environment) and then I would buy more beer which will help business around the state. And who knows how many visitors to the state would buy them as keepsakes and for use on trips through the Golden State.

Please take this into consideration. Thank you for your time and service to California.

Sincerely,

YOU

Once you have copied or altered to your liking, go HERE to find your local representative.

Remember to keep things cordial and respectful. Foul language and attitude are only going to distance people from the cause.

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In the Tap Lines for May 2011

The craft beer world just keeps expanding. Every time I think that I may have to post less, more beer and beer news arrives to save the day. Like Beer and Cupcakes. Here are the other highlights:

~ e-visits to three breweries in Indiana
~ video reviews of beers from New Planet
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ my 2011 Beer challenge will enter the letter writing stage…
~ … and Session # 51 will pose an interesting view on the beer world
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

Here are two events to get your May started in the Los Angeles craft beer world:
1) May 2 – Library Alehouse with Stillwater beer and other exotic Belgian offerings

2) May 6 – Blue Palms Brewhouse with Triple Rock bringing SF goodies

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In the Tap Lines for April 2011

This is no joke! April brings showers of beer posts from the Beer Search Party. 60 total in the works. Here are the highlights:

~ e-visits to three breweries based in the state of Washington
~ video reviews of beers from Grand Teton Brewing
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ my 2011 Beer challenge will be expanded, again…
~ … and an update on last year’s challenge
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

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Cap Collection

What do I do with these?

Well I can craft something or I can make a game of it. Here is part one and two of my guess the brewery behind the cap game.

See how many you know

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In the Tap Lines for March 2011

March. The month where I spend every waking hour buying birthday gifts because all of my relatives are born in these 31 days. I will need some good beer to get me through. So I will post about beers that are coming your way, are already here or are just plain hypothetical plus I also have this planned for you……

~ e-visits to four breweries based in Canada
~ video reviews of gluten free beers
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ my 2011 Beer challenge will be expanded, again
~ photos of my growing cap collection
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

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In the Tap Lines for February 2011

The shortest month of the year is upon us.

Here is what is planned this month for all of you readers/drinkers.

~ e-visits to four breweries of New Zealand
~ video reviews of two beers from my local, Eagle Rock Brewing (I mean it this time!)
~ Three suggested beers to buy this month
~ I will tap the Firkin and give my opinion on the craft beer world
~ my 2011 Beer challenge will be expanded
~ plus many more posts about new beers, beer products and breweries

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2011 Challenge – California Growlers

Last year in a post on FoodGPS, I proposed the creation of a Brewed in California growler. This year I have challenged my shy self to raising awareness of what I consider an opportunity for the State of California to promote tourism and the craft beer industry. (And maybe help close a small part of the budget gap in the process)

As with last years challenge, this won’t be easy and may not be finished in one year. It is government after all. Putting things off is their specialty. But that’s why it’s challenging.

Two items to start:
1. I want to show you the actual wording of the California law so that alternate legislation can be crafted.
2. Get an online petition going (thanks internet) so that I can contact legislators with some muscle behind me.

Both items will pop up in February so keep your eyes peeled!