Category: Brewery Tour

A concise brewery bio

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Back to the Brueing Source

It has been a long, long while since I was at the OG location of The Bruery. Heck, I don’t get down to Orange County much at all and I have only been to location two (Terreux) twice.

Since I was in the vicinity, I decided to check out the taproom on Dunn Way and see if it has changed…

But first some teeny-tiny beer reviews of my taster tray…
Bitters and Mash – tastes more like pils to me. Really good. Grain taste shines through.
A Prilz – perfect beer for this month. super light yellow. Crisp and metallic.
Girl Grey – soft tea taste. Creamy orange aroma and initial taste. I can see how this was a chef driven beer.
Smell that Smell – great aroma. Collab with Garage Project. Soft hop taste. Lactose-ness does not warm well.
One Way or Another – Cascade collaboration that is Marionberry red in color. Like pink lemonade really zippy on the tongue. Not really a Tripel to me.

The tap room was not super busy on a hot April day, (I probably should have checked to see the crowd at Terreux) so it like the same old spot. Down to the two big screens with tap list and video that are still washed out and hard to read.

It is cool to see that The Bruery has pretty much taken over the industrial park. I vividly remember early visits where they were tucked into the far side with a tiny bar.

Another pair of positives is that there is a much longer list of beers (especially now that Offshoot has been added) and that crowler fills are now available on select beers.

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A Mad Era in Simi Valley

Breweries are backfilling into Los Angeles suburbs and neighborhoods that have gone without their own local. Now Simi Valley is getting theirs with Mad Era Brewing.
The new brewery will be taking on the space of a former Marie Callender’s. With the ex-restaurant being shuttered for 7 years, it might take a while to whip back into shape but it probably has a good floorplan for a possible brewpub.

The brewery is being shepherded along by locals and Husband and wife Adam and Christine Greenberg. At the brewing helm are Mike Stavrakis and Alex Khamudis.

Look for later this year for Mad Era beer.

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Midwestern Brewery # 1 – Zipline Brewing


Our first stop in the middle of the U.S. is in Lincoln, Nebraska and Zipline Brewing founded by the trio of Marcus Powers, Tom Wilmoth, and James Gallentine in 2012. As is evidenced by their name, they are aiming at adventurers.

Here are the beers that I would sample….

Copper Alt – “A hybrid style between an ale and a lager, this bronze-hued brew goes down easy with subtle nuances of chocolate and hazelnut.” 2015 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal Winner!

German-Style KÖLSCH – “A refreshing ale that drinks like a lager, our German-style Kölsch pours straw yellow with hints of honey malt character and a smooth, crisp finish.”

IRA – “IRA brings together the alluring red hue and malty body of a red ale with all the citrus, grapefruit, and piney hoppiness you’d expect from an American IPA.”

Alpha Modern – “This contemporary IPA explodes with smooth and juicy hops, ushering in a new age of alpha.”

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Ximix?


This brewery snuck up on me. I would have remembered the name for sure. It is a bit unwieldy but if the beers are good, people will learn how to spell it.

Ximix Craft Exploration Brewery will be open starting today!
Here are the opening weekend hours:
Thursday: 4 pm – 9 pm
Friday: 4 pm – 9 pm
Saturday: Noon – 9 pm
Sunday: 1 pm – 6 pm

As usual, I will report back with a 1st Visit as soon as I can.

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Southern Brewery # 3 – Smith & Lentz


The last March stop is in Nashville at Smith & Lentz who have gone the route of a small brewing system surround by what they call “an army of fermenters and aging vessels…” to allow them to keep bringing the new. Though they do have a couple core beers in their Mosaic IPA and German Pils.

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

Happy Hearts Club Pilsner – “Brewed with bohemian floor malted heirloom malt and Czech Saaz. Happy Hearts Club was fermented with urquell lager strain and then conditioned for eight weeks.”

Münkel Dunkelweizen – “Pleasant Malt character. White grape & Orange Hop Aroma”

A Long Way From Huell IPA – “Featuring Huell Melon hops from Hop Head Farms, selected for HHF’s attention to detail harvesting and processing these beauties. We layered in Mosaic, Citra and Azacca to make this a dynamic beer that glorifies excessive hop use!”

Mosaic IPA – “A west coast style of IPA aggressively hopped with Mosaic. This is a very unique, highly sought after hop varietal which is reminiscent of blueberry, grapefruit, and pine.”

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Wiretap

I was Untappd’ing recently when the following notification popped up….

…I had a vague feeling that Wiretap Brewing was in the works but from their website, it appears they are up and have been up and going in Lincoln Heights.

They have Black IPA named NSA which is rare style to see as well as a hybrid Mexican Strong Ale. I haven’t seen any of their beers on draft or in packaging but I will report back after visiting.

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Southern Brewery # 2 – Lost Forty Brewing


40 acres of forested land in Calhoun County, Arkansas is where Lost Forty Brewing took its name.

Here is what would be in my first taster tray (not forty, just five)…

Bare Bones Pilsner – “a robust, slightly sweet malt character on the front of the tongue, notes of alpine flowers and just-baked bread as it goes back through the palate. A clean, mildly bitter finish to round things off.”

Love Honey Bock – “a full-bodied, beer naturally sweetened with Arkansas honey for a smooth, creamy complexity.”

Twig Table Saison – “a bright, lemony, addictively refreshing, delicately tart, perfectly spritzy, and oh-so-laid back table beer. TWIG’s mildly sour and refreshing flavors come from fermenting our light Farmhouse Saison with wild yeast cultivated from the local Dunbar Community Garden inside a lightly charred white oak Foeder vessel.”

Forest Queen Milk Stout – “More than a stout. In addition to roasted barley used for deep, delicious flavors in all stouts, our lucious Milk Stout includes lactose, or milk sugar, for a velvety, medium body, and luxurious finish. Enjoy flavors of cocoa berries and dark chocolate covered espresso beans.”

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1st Visit – Hermosa Brewing


I took off on a Saturday morning and drove through the SoCal rain to Hermosa Beach within steps from the pier to the new Hermosa Brewing Company.

You can imagine that a beach adjacent location probably isn’t zoned for brewing beer and you would be correct. But the beers on offer are being brewed at much better locations than most L.A. gypsy brewers have used in the past.

Dave and Jorge, the home brewers behind this new brewery have dual brewing operations. One in Westlake Village at 14 Cannons and down south at Rouleur Brewing in the San Diego area. And it shows in the beers.
Hermosa Brewing

I sampled all but the two saisons and was impressed for a spot that has only been open for 8 weeks.

Both the Lost Sirena Mexican Lager and the Windmill German Pilsner were bright and tasty and all of the beers were crystal clear (minus one with “Hazy” in the title). That Hazy was probably my pick of the hop trio with the Out the Back DIPA being a close second.

And they even have food, not from a truck food. (Not that there is anything wrong with that) There are tacos, burgers and a tight menu of beer food that is great for the beers.

Currently, their Hermosa Avenue location is the only place to get the beers on draft as they build up inventory and contacts. No crowlers/growlers yet but this makes for a good trifecta of PCH pit stops that starts at Select Beer then heads to the King Harbor – Harborside and then to Hermosa Brewing.

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Southern Brewery #1 – Torched Hop


Two Tigers from Auburn University, Chris and Stephen Bivins are the folks behind the Torched Hop Brewpub.

Here is what I would put into a taster tray if/when I make it to Atlanta…

Anthem of the Angels – a Porter with coconut & cocoa nibs

Southern Haze – a Hazy Pale Ale

Once You Go Nelson – a 100% Nelson Hopped IPA

Cinnamon Golden Crunch – a Cinnamon Vanilla Cream Ale

Raspberry Lucy – a Berliner Weisse w/ Raspberries and Blackberries

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Canadian Brewery Tour # 3 – Bent Stick Brewing


Our last stop in Canada is in Edmonton, Alberta and Bent Stick Brewing.

Here are some options from their website that piqued my interest…

First Pull Coffee Amber
“​This amber ale was cold-steeped with Sanson No. 7 coffee beans from our chums at ACE roasters here in Edmonton, Alberta. If there was ever any doubt, we’d say the coffee makes this a legitimate morning beverage.”

Swap the Hops
“Gotta have my hops! Dive into our Swap the Hops pale ale for your hop needs. Brewed on a semi-regular basis.

It’s the same but different ‘cause we swap the hops every time! Version # 8 – Simcoe Single Hopped?? [Early 2018!!]”

Rush Job IPA
“There was some tasty Galaxy & Ella hops in the freezer with a gap in the brew schedule, so we whipped up a West Coast IPA! Rush Job has big fruit and floral notes with light toffee to balance it out.”

and a past menu item….
Wakatu Wheat
“Not your poppa’s wheat beer. Wakatu Wheat has a savoury cotton candy sweetness with a nice grainy edge. It’s got a full body and smooth long linger.”