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A concise brewery bio
Our final NE stop is at Lamplighter Brewing Co.L based in Cambridge, Mass.
Here is what I might sample first:
Alyosha Abbey Ale
Cuppa British Ale with Cold Brew coffee
In Bruges Belgian Tripel
Richard III British IPA aged in Brett Barrels
Group Theory Wheat Ale with Honey and Chamomile
Our 2nd stop is second arm of Jack’s Abby, Springdale.
Firstly for their collaborative IPA, ANY which is literally a clear Hazy IPA (CHIPA). You can go read about it HERE.
Let’s move on to the other hoppy beers (with the prototypical Hazy names) that I would want to try…
Good ‘n You? – IPA dry hopped with Citra & Galaxy
You had to Be There – IPA with Comet and Mosaic
But I Digress – IPA with Amarillo, Simcoe and Citra
I had not heard anything about RT Rogers Brewing minus one Facebook post from noted home brew expert Drew Beechum. On a recent (and rare) cloudy day in Los Angeles, I hit the 210 freeway to check out this 5 month old brewery in Sierra Madre.
RTR has a lovely little front garden with patio seating at the entrance and a little beer tank seating nook inside the warm and cozy space. Forties music was on the spotify and fairy tale beer names and a German tap tower with the five beers that were pouring. That total will be augmented by a German pils, Amber and other beers coming through the coupler with an aim of nine beers in rotation.
The taster tray was really solid and I was most impressed by the IPA’s which seemed just left of center enough to make you sit up…
The Shoemakers Red IPA – quite zippy. Really good. Little spicy and medium hoppy
The Woodchoppers IPA – lemon and cat pee. Interesting. Would stand out in a tasting
The Milk maids milk stout – Solid if a little lactose light
The Henny Penny English style brown porter – not bad but a little light to me.
The Gold Spinners hefe – light on the banana. Not much clove but still tasty
One of the rare breweries new breweries that has started on solid footing. Gonna check back on this one and you should too.
On a recent warm Sunday afternoon, I took a little drive on the Reagan freeway to check out the recently opened 8one8 Brewing taproom which just recently opened.
I ordered up a flight and had it delivered to me at my table along with a water! Here are my quick hit reviews:
Bodie’z Pale Ale – rye and mosaic. More rye than hops to me little bit green too
1st Stage IPA – smells light. More session. Grain forward to me.
Good Day DIPA – bronze color. Way too much caramel. No hops at all. Not great.
Gravity Hill Belgian – big banana esters. Little overboard on it. Doesn’t grow on me.
There is a lot in front and I like part of the decor. It has a flight freight Indiana Jones decor going on but then that is a bit diminished by a Staples open sign, some “art” 2 and two TVs tuned to the Dodgers.
There is a nice amount of space inside with 22oz bottles to go. I was given a shade more than the taster fill line which was probably the opening week hospitality in effect.
They have some room to grow but a decent start for this brewery.
Our first stop for May is at Zero Gravity who have two locations in Burlington Vermont. Let’s get some lagers into this virtual tasting tray…
Green State Lager
“A crisp, easy-drinking Pilsner beer that is influenced by the great brewing regions of the world, but that charts its own course through this elegant style. The Noble hops play a key role, but allow the malt to take center stage, providing a clean and satisfying quencher that is as welcoming as the Green State itself.”
Keller Dry-hopped Lager
“Our take on a rarely-seen classic. Start with one of our favorite lagers and add a boat-load of Mandarina Bavaria hops. A fine balance is struck between hoppy and refreshing.”
Sans Souci Farmhouse Pale Ale
“French for “No Worries,” this Farmhouse Pale was brewed exclusively with Pilsner malt to showcase Belgian yeast with an American hop. The yeast adds spicy notes, while El Dorado hops contribute tropical fruit and melon aromas to this light-bodied refreshing ale.”
Bretthead IPA with Brettanomyces
“We brewed our popular Conehead IPA with a wild twist. Single-hopped with Citra and fermented with Brettanomyces wild yeast, this beer stands at the crossroads of hoppy and funky.”
Last April stop is in Iowa and Pulpit Rock Brewing founded by four alumni from Luther College who have converted an old dairy facility into a brewery.
Here is what I would choose from their rotating tap list:
Heavy Lifter Lager – “Classic pale, golden lager. Biscuity notes and an aromatic aroma.”
Decorah’s Sweetheart – “One part Vic Secret, two parts Citra, all parts Party Starter.”
Glass To Mouth IPA – “2/3 Citra, 1/3 Mosaic, 100% delicious! Grain-to-glass, glass-to-mouth.”
Clarion ESB – “Fancy-speak for “loud & clear,” this English-style pale ale is a delicious balance of malt & hops and pours a copper/amber hue.”
Colombian Pour-Over Porter – “This special Pour-Over variant is infused with beans that are initially picked as ripe purple cherries (Castillo) by farmers in the Jambalo region of Columbia.”
The Big Rip Brewing Company is a growing 4bbl brewery that opened in May 2013 in North Kansas City. They have an eclectic list of beers which made choosing hard to do but after deliberation, here is what I would put into an initial taster tray…
Satine Raspberry Gluten Free
Zelda’s Vanilla Cream Ale
Franklin Road Coffee Porter
T.H.I.C. Amber Ale
Delta 88 IPA
That covers a wide gamut of styles I think.
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.
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.
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.”