Category: Brewery Tour

A concise brewery bio

Posted on

Premier League Brewery # 2 – Love Lane Brewery

Our next featured Premier League club is Everton, who have a new manager in former Chelsea midfielder and manager, Frank Lampard as well as two new high profile signings in Donny Van de Beek and Delle Alli.

We head to Love Lane Brewery for this e-tour. The brewery (and distillery) is based in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle.

They took an old rubber factory and turned it into a 18,000 Hectolitre brewery where they also create Gin.

My taster tray would start with the Baltic Haze, then move on to the Oatmeal Cookie Brown before the third beer which would be the Pale Ale followed by their take on a West Coast IPA and finishing with their big Sgt. Peppermint at 12% abv.

Posted on

Premier League Brewery Tour # 1 – Wylam Brewery

We head to new big spenders Newcastle United with Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood newly added to the side. Our brewing stop is Wylam Brewery. And boy oh boy is this a beauty of a building they reside in.

Let’s dive into a sampler tray…

Hickey the Rake – “A Limonata Pale… An Ultra Pale which emulates almost toxic levels of citrus zing. A nuclear sherbet dib-dab of lemon, lime and tropical pineapple.”

Jakehead Supercharged IPA – “Supercharged India Pale Ale…. Rich/bright & amber/bronze with lots of American hop aroma. Distinctly bittersweet on the palate with a massive hop complexity fashioned deep within the IPA tradition.”

Poundage Porter -“A hark back to bygone days with Poundage Porter… Brewed with heritage malt, oats and driven with brown malt, giving out mellow tones of raisins, pipe tobacco, freshly ground coffee and dark chocolate.”

Big Trouble Al’Owa – “A behemoth of an Imperial Stout mashed in with toasted malted oats, toasted wheat, malted rye, manuka raisins, black currants, figs and pecan nut.

Fermented out using dark Canadian maple syrup with a late addition of toasted coconut flakes and dark cacao. Monumentally monstrous with chewy notes of mixed granola, vintage fruit cake, port wine, dark chocolate torte, coconut and roasted pecan nut.”

Posted on

1st Visit – La Bodega Brewing

You walk past the windows of La Bodega Brewing in Whittier, seeing the fermenters and other brewing equipment but then you enter and if you are slow like me, you might be confused, is it a butcher?  Then you might not take the neon hint of what is the password or lack of entrance before being carefully led in by one of the many kind staff to the easy speakeasy behind the cooler door.  

Inside is one of the swankiest environs for a brewery that I have been into.  Blue lights, movie house ceilings, low light.  Prohibition vibe.

And lagers.  Mexican, dark, regular plus a blonde ale.  The Mala Suerte was a solid start, the Pale Ale was dialed in.  Bright and citrus. The Hazlitt Hazy was a little letdown from the first two.  Creamy and hoppy but lacking a dominant flavor.  Toma, the Double IPA was in between.  Better than the hazy but dull compared to the pale. I wish I had gone for the three lagers and the pale for the taster tray.

Plus food that is steakhouse meets LA plus Fosselman’s ice cream makes this brewery more of a special night out

Posted on

Want To Visit in 2022 Brewery # 3 – Drake’s Dealership

Who doesn’t like a beer garden, especially now when you can tuck yourself away in a corner with a beer and if you happen to be at the Drakes Dealership in Oakland, you can have a wood fired pizza along with your choice from over thirty taps.

Here are a few to tempt you to the bay…

Parma Pils – “Our Director of Packaging and Logistics, Anthony FINALLY brewed a beer. BIG PARMA created an Italian Pilsner for the masses. Enjoy this crispy dry-hopped pilsner which included a hefty dosing of Penne in the mash. We selected a gorgeous Noble hop called Saphir to dry-hop with. This hop gives aroma and flavors of tangerine, and a subtle herbal spiciness.”

Idaho 7 Days a Week – “Idaho 7, one of our brewers’ favorite hops, is going to be presented in a brand new way! Double dry-hop? Triple dry-hop? This extremely dry-hopped beer will explode your mind with the pungent fruity flavor you’ve ever had!”

Smashing Grass DIPA – “Enjoy pound after pound of sticky, resinous, high quality hops in this super dank West Coast Double IPA, including Delta, Simcoe, Citra, Cascade and Nelson Sauvin.”

Death of the Sun Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout – “Death of the Sun came the day the world went black. A beast of an Imperial Stout aged for over a year in the cosmic dark of Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels. Notes of layered malt, dark fruit and chocolate tame its heat. A beer so good you will rejoice in its perpetual darkness.”

Posted on

A Spark

Looks like Ventura is getting more beer if that is possible. Welcome Bright Spark Brewing!

I do like the logo. Nice and cheerful. I also have a guess as to the brewer so I figure the beers will be quite solid from the jump.

Keep an eye out for opening dates.

Posted on

Want To Visit in 2022 Brewery # 2 – Gamecraft Brewing

Next up in my beer travel in SoCal wish list is Gamecraft Brewing in Laguna Hills.

And here are some taster tray picks…

Czechpoint – “a Czech-Style Dark Lager collaboration with Resident Brewing of San Diego. Malt-forward, medium bodied, smooth finish. Enjoy notes of chocolate, roast, dates and toffee.”

Piranha Plant – “hop forward pilsner, brewed and dry hopped with German noble hops, Opal and Saphir. Notes of citrus, orange blossom, and red berries with underlying tones of herbs and spices. A plant with a bite.”

Otaku – “Like American-style Lagers, Japanese Rice Lagers are brewed with rice in addition to barley in the mash. Rice provides fermentable sugars for the yeasts that produce alcohol, while keeping the beer light in color and body. Hop bitterness is low but mildly perceptible, providing a balance to the grain sweetness. Crisp and refreshing, with a slightly dry finish.”

Face McShooty – “West Coast IPA, with a very simple malt bill to give a foundation for the hops. Amarillo, Ekaunot and Simcoe. Notes of citrus, peach, pine, orange, grapefruit and pineapple.”

Posted on

Want to Visit in 2022 Brewery # 1 – Wagon Wheel Brewing

First we travel north to Oxnard and Wagon Wheel Brewing. Opened in the auspicious year of 2020.

Let’s dive into what I would put into a taster tray…

Swanky Bear Hazy IPA – “Swanky Bear is our first Hazy Single IPA featuring Simcoe and Citra hops. Soft citrus and stone fruit flavors pair well with the silky mouthfeel of this crushable Hazy IPA.”

Switch Back IPA – “This West Coast IPA is light, pale and dry. Nelson, Simcoe and Chinook hops leap from the glass with pineapple and grapefruit aromas balanced with a crackery malt backdrop. This IPA is fruity and dank with a lean but expressive bitterness.”

Road Rash DIPA – “Road Rash is a high octane Hazy Double IPA with a rider friendly delivery. Layered with German Pilsner, American Oat Malt and Wheat, this beverage goes down smooth. The Galaxy and Citra deliver the bottom end power with intense notes of orange, tangerine and grapefruit.”

Posted on

Best of Brewery # 3 – Grist House Brewery

Our last stop for all of 2021 is in Pittsburgh at Grist House Brewery.

Let’s see what is in their house…

Twilight Hour Czech Amber Lager – “A sessionable lager full of flavor that is ideal for the winter months. This 14° Czech Amber lager was brewed with Bohemian pilsner and a variety of Crystal, Munich, and Vienna malts that lend flavors of caramel, biscuits, and honey. Hopped with CZ Saaz for balance and slight spice flavors and fermented cold with Czech Pilsen yeast.”

Frosted Silence Dessert Sour – “A beer to warm your soul in the cold winter months. Tart red plums and apple cider combine perfectly with cinnamon and vanilla for a delightful frosted treat.”

Clean Line West Coast IPA – “With big aroma and inviting bitterness, this West Coast IPA may rock the boat. Brewed with Ekuanot, Mosaic, and Simcoe, Canoe Rocker boasts delightful notes of tropical fruit and citrus.”

Siberian Highway Imperial Stout – “This Russian Imperial Stout was aged 12 months in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels and condition on cacao nibs, Indian Mysore coffee from Allegheny Coffee & Tea, Madagascar Vanilla beans, Cinnamon, Cascabel peppers, and Lactose.”

Posted on

Best of Brewery # 2 – Cohesion Brewing Company

To Colorado and Czech beers at third Cohesion Brewing Company.

Let’s have some lagers, shall we?

Cohesion 10º: Světlé Výčepní Pivo (Pale Draft Beer) “Single decocted lager with a light hop flavor and touch of malt sweetness. The most commonly consumed style in the Czech Republic. Honey, refreshing, smooth.”

Cohesion Polotmavý: Ležák 12º (Half Dark Lager) “Our amber lager with a name that translates to “half dark”. Rich notes of caramel malty goodness are balanced by herbal hop flavors, and a touch of bitterness. Malty, nutty, balanced.”

Cohesion 12º: Světlý Ležák (Pale Lager) “Our version of the most famous Czech lager – the original pilsner from Pilsner Urquell falling in this style. A full bodied malty lager with a rounded bitterness. Sweet hay, herbal, pleasant bitterness.”

Cohesion Tmavý: 14º Tmavý Speciální Pivo (Special Dark Beer) “Dark brown with rich malt flavors, this double decocted lager has flavors of toffee and a touch dark chocolate, with a light finish. Rich, toasted malt, full-bodied.”

Posted on

Best of Brewery # 1 – Roaring Table

I read through the 2021 Best Of… issue of Craft Beer & Brewing magazine to select three that grabbed my attention. Let’s start with Roaring Table Brewing Co. from Lake Zurich, Illinois.

12 Degree Czech Dark Lager – “Coming in at 4.4 abv this tmavé pivo features pilsen, caramel, roasted and toasted malts. Smooth, crisp and perfect for this time in the Midwest. Na Zdravi!!! And before you ask.. no we are no fluent..”

Ex Libris Wild Ale – “This blonde mixed-fermentation beer comes Solera-style from our Foeder Crafters oak foeder, which we first filled in July 2017.”

Frequency # 2 Pineapple Soursop – “Our tart and funky foeder base aged 14 months on fruit purée in a second-use Chardonnay barrel. Big sweet-tart pineapple and subtle coconut on a dry and zesty body. “

Supergigantic Metafantastic Hazy DIPA – “Get your haze, your hazy days, your metagaze on those metaplays, the one where the one is the one. Get a turtle, get a tortoise, here we are now, thus comport us.”