Category: Brewery Tour

A concise brewery bio

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Garden State Brewery #3 – Chimney Rustic Ales

You might have noticed a not so subtle theme running through the choices this month, whimsical names. The last is no exception.

Chimney Rustic Ales from Hammonton. Here is what I might put into a sweep of a taster tray…

Griz Lemongrass Grissette – Traditional farmhouse ale from France and Belgium.  We allowed our house mixed-culture to free-rise during fermentation and conditioned it on lemongrassto compliment the expressive yeast.

Persistent Gratitude Sichuan Peppercorn Table Beer – Fermented with our house mixed culture, a bright citrusy flavor is complemented by a floral nose. This is NOT a spicy beer.

DubZ Belgian Dubbel – Our take on the Abbey Dubbel features dark fruit flavors that are traditional to the stylen that give way to the dry finish of our house-selected farmhouse mixed culture.

Realm #1 Cryo IPA – The original iteration of our Extra Special Interdimensional IPA series. Brewed with Citra and Mosaic Cryo hops, this beer pops with mango, grapfruit pith, and citrus gummies.

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Garden State Brewery # 2 – Alementary

We are off to Hackensack for our second New Jersey virtual brewery stop and Alementary.

Here is what I would add to a taster tray….

Seoul Brothers Fruited Rice Ale – “This collaboration with Kimchi Smoke is reminiscent of Makgeolli, a traditional fermented rice beverage. Brewed with sushi rice and Korean Pears, Seoul Brothers marries American craft beer with Korean flavors.”

Work Boots Pale Ale -“re-envisioning of the classic American Pale Ale, Work Boots is an homage to hard-working stiffs who deserve a beer at the end of a long day in the trenches. Dry hopped with Cascade and Falconer’s Flight for bursts of bright citrus and fresh, dank resin.”

Spotted Dog Cream Ale – “A delightfully crisp classic Cream Ale, made with American 6-Row barley and flaked corn. Note: there’s no cream in a cream ale!”

A-Game IPA – “Our flagship East Coast IPA is double dry hopped with Citra and Centennial for a fresh burst of citrus goodness.”

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1st Visit – Party Beer Co.

We are heading to the West Adams area of Los Angeles to visit Party Beer Co. for the first time.

Near the Farmdale Station of the Expo Line is the new Party Beer Co. tucked into the West Adams district, an area that looks to have had some Highland Park business activity happening before you know what happened and stopped most business in its tracks.

The space is lots of patio with a small rooftop area. You have to use the architectural design to imagine what the space will be like when fully operational so this first visit is more like a “what can be” review. It will most likely be similar to Block Party in Highland Park. More communal hang, birthday party, spring break. But with better drinks served.

Party Beer Co. also has a Beastie Boy video feel as the staff on opening day were all in jumpsuits. Some white and some peach. Which made the masks and shields less off putting and more part of the costume.

I will review two of the beers later this month. Pizza Cat Pilsner, Black Lives Matter Golden Ale, Destroyer of Worlds Hazy IPA, California Kölsch, West Coast IPA, and Nonna’s Bitters & Soda (a hard seltzer) were the available choices for takeout (or curbside pick-up). More seltzer’s to come but they will be more of a cocktail inspired version and not just insert fruit here.

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Garden State brewery # 1 – Fort Nonsense Brewing

First NJ flight is in Denville at the excellently named Fort Nonsense Brewing Company. The name derives from part of the Morristown HQ for George Washington that included “Continental Store”, Fort Nonsense and Camp Jockey Hollow.

Let’s dive into what I might choose for a taster tray…

Benedict Amber Traitor Ale – “Malt forward and moderate hop profile.”

In Full Effect IPA – “Brewed and DDH with Simcoe, Amarillo, and Citra hops.”

Arnold’s Tavern Porter – “A roasty brew with chocolate notes.”

Project Lola Pilsner – “This crisp, 5.4% lager has a strong malt character with a citrus finish.”

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US of A Brewery # 3 – Foolproof Brewing

To Rhode Island we head for socially distant visit to Foolproof Brewing Company.

I would add the following to my first taster tray…

Ocean State Lager – “This bold, crisp lager is brewed in homage to the great state of Rhode Island. With an extended cold fermentation, we’ve taken careful consideration to preserve the beer’s delicate nature. Ocean State Lager has a soft and subtle malt profile balanced with a refreshing hop flavor.”

Ocean State Hazy Session IPA – “Ocean State IPA is one of the most drinkable craft beers you’ll ever have the pleasure of enjoying. Jam packed with Sultana hops, you won’t believe how much hop flavor and aroma we’ve squeezed into this 4.6% ABV wonder.”

Tatou Rose Saison – “Tatou, French for Armadillo, is a saison inspired by the dry rosé wines of Provence, France. Brewed with the must of Grenache grapes and hibiscus flowers, this sparkling pink ale is dry, effervescent, fruity, and complex. Tatou is a marriage of the sophisticated, delicate nature of an expertly produced French wine and the bold ingenuity and creativity of American craft beer.”

Backyahd – “The ultimate suburban brew, Backyahd is an aggressively hopped American IPA with a tantalizing hop aroma. The beer’s bitterness pairs perfectly with spicy foods coming straight off the grill. Enjoy it with friends, family, or whomever you choose. After all, it’s your Backyahd.”

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US of A Brewery # 2 – Axe & Arrow

Next stop is New Jersey to e-visit Axe & Arrow.

Let’s dive into a possible taster tray…

Meat Sweats Chile Beer – “collab brew conjured up with a little help from our friends at Three 3’s, Cross Keys, and Core 3. Chili spices and peppers were added to pack just a little heat ”

Frostbite White IPA – “This hybrid beer style combines a Belgian wit beer with a floral , tropical IPA. The Mosaic and Amarillo hops combined with the yeast really produce a unique and highly crushable beer.”

The Axe DIPA – “Lighter body and maltiness with pronounce citrus notes in aroma and flavor. Moderately high bitterness from beginning to end with a clean finish.”

The Arrow IPA – “Medium body with a slightly higher maltiness subdued by a strong but not overpowering bitterness with lots of earthy and piney notes. Strong initial bitterness that gently fades.”

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Don’t Forget Brewery Tour # 3 – Alaskan Brewing Co.

Recent posts have been about old school breweries like Dogfish Head and Deschutes but for the final, “hey, remember me” brewery we head north, to Alaska.

Let’s reconnect with a few of their beers…

Fireweed Blonde – “A classic light-bodied American Blonde Ale, Fireweed Blonde is brewed with a touch of fireweed honey to balance the slight hop bitterness. Sometimes called the “champagne of honey,” fireweed honey is the result of honeybees harvesting nectar from the vibrant fireweed plants that bloom in summer throughout Alaska.”

Amber – “Slow fermentation helps condition the flavors in Alaskan Amber, contributing to its overall balance and smoothness.”

SMaSH Galaxy – “Single Malt and Single Hop Double IPA, brewed with only Australian Galaxy hops and Premium Northwest Pilsner Malt. The Galaxy hops take center stage and are joined by the very intense bitterness typical of this variety of hops.”

Smoked Porter – “The dark, robust body and pronounced smoky flavor of this limited edition beer make it an adventuresome taste experience. Alaskan Smoked Porter is produced in limited “vintages” each year on November 1 and unlike most beers, may be aged in the bottle much like fine wine.”

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Don’t Forget Brewery Tour # 2 – Avery Brewing

One of the OG Colorado breweries, Avery has been overshadowed by the new kids but have some real interesting beers to take a second look at, like…

Stampede Lager – “Every day is game day with this clean, crisp, and crushable Colorado Gold Lager. Team Avery developed this refreshing beer shoulder to shoulder with the University of Colorado at Boulder. Pure Rocky Mountain water sourced from our Colorado home makes Stampede light, clean, and perfect for game days in every season.”

Rocky MTN Rose – “Sparkling, bright, and crisp, with just 100 calories and 3 carbs, Rocky Mountain Rosé is an effortlessly drinkable true grape and grain hybrid. The Avery Brew Crew has over a decade of experience brewing grape and grain beers. With Rocky Mountain Rosé, the team used their talents with grape and grain fermentation to create a flawlessly crushable rosé ale with real wine grapes. Rocky Mountain Rosé has an unmistakable wine-like aroma and flavor, with an acidity, sharpness, and minerality reminiscent of your favorite rosé.”

Double Digit Hazy IPA – “Giant fruity hop overtones, and easy on the bitterness, Double Digit IPA is a juicy and hazy IPA first warm dry-hopped with Simcoe and Amarillo hops, then traditionally dry-hopped with all Mosaic hops to put it over the top. Our Brewing Director Fred couldn’t cut it as a butcher, but luckily found his calling with brewing and selecting amazing hops. We were ready to drink a juicy, hazy IPA in the double digits so Fred lent his skills (and partial hand) to create this Imperial IPA with an immense fruity hop load and low bitterness. To accomplish this feat, we first warm dry-hopped with Simcoe and Amarillo hops, and then traditionally dry-hopped with all Mosaic hops to put it over the top.”

Plank’d – “Aye, fellow rumscallions. No needs t’ shiver about walkin’ off this plank. Set adrift in this sea o’ chocolate ‘n coconut wit’ notes o’ Nelson’s Folly. We be comin’ wit’ ye.”

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Don’t Forget Brewery Tour # 1 – Ninkasi Brewing

This month, I want to put the focus on those medium sized breweries, that might not be thought about as often, and we’d start with Ninkasi Brewing in Eugene, Oregon.

Here are some of their less well known offerings:

Peach Maiden the Shade Summer IPA – “refreshing, tart notes of peach and grapefruit dancing freely on your tongue.”

N10 Imperial Blended Ale – “N10 commemorates ten wild and wondrous years of independent brewing in Eugene, Oregon. Crafted with Imperial Stout, Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout, two Imperial IPAs and Barleywine, these five heavy-hitting beers collide to celebrate one unforgettable decade. Big and flavorful, our N10 blend offers a striking hop intensity followed by a rich backbone of caramel and roasted malt. Enjoy now or save for later, this beer is crafted to change over time in the most delicious way.”

Galaxy Trippin’ IPA – “lost in a mind-bending swirl of Galaxy Hop notes like peach, passionfruit, and papaya. Marvel and be mesmerized by its smooth and velvety finish. ”

Megalodom Legendary IPA – “bold, yet balanced: fruity with a slightly sweet, smooth finish.”