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A concise brewery bio
Our final Buy Local stop in April is at Asylum Brewing in Anaheim.
They have been busy brewing this month for their opening and these are the initial offerings….
F.W.F. – West Coast Pale Ale
G.M.O. – Honey Blonde
Out Of Stock – Imperial Stout
Eternal Dank – IPA
Remember to drink local, not just in April, but all year round.
Stop # 2 in our don’t buy from wolves in sheep’s clothing is in Oakland at the authorial Novel Brewing.
I love the writerly names of the beers and the following five would be in my taster tray:
Prose Gose
Point of View Pils
Paperback Porter
Narrator Black Rye IPA
Bookend Brown Ale
And I have a couple of suggestions for future beers:
3rd Person 3 Hop IPA
Carriage Return Kriek
This news item from The Bruery did appear on April Fool’s Day and unlike the other attempts at humor, (Some succeeded more than others) it seemed even more fake. I mean, what brewery has shied away from hops more than The Bruery. (shade thrown) We all sorta talk about canning IPAs or their hazy brethren that seems more business decision or credit card for equipment purchase.
But a few days past the Fools and no retraction or gotcha seemed forthcoming, so lets sort through the beers listed from OffShoot Beer Company.
Fashionably Late™ a juicy, hazy IPA
Hops: Citra, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavaria
Malts: Two-Row and Pale Wheat malts, rolled oats
Yeast: S-04
ABV: 6.5%
Better Late Than Never™ a juicy, hazy Double IPA
Hops: Mosaic, Vic Secret, Citra
Malts: Golden Promise, Wheat Malt
Yeast: BSI-Barbarian
ABV: 8.5%
with another pair….
Out of Context™
IPA with a West Coast personality and Western World malt bill, featuring Vienna malt, a light haze, a slightly bitter personality and equal heaps of Simcoe, El Dorado and African Queen hops.
Perjury™
Double dry-hopped Double IPA, fabricated from a malt bill featuring two-row, pilsner malt and oats, and an intense, fruity hop character forged from heavy doses of Simcoe, Citra and a dash Huell Melon.
Delayed Gratification™
Juicy East Coast-style IPA, with impeccable timing and mouthfeel, thanks to a malt bill featuring two-row, wheat and oats, and a fruity yeast character complemented primarily by Citra, with El Dorado and Mandarina Bavaria hops.
Looks like Whittier will be getting a new brewery and expect it to be food-centric since it comes from noted chef, Ricardo Diaz of Colonia fame.
Diaz will be opening Whittier Brewing Company at the Nixon Plaza in Uptown Whittier. Expected opening at the end of 2017
This month we stand with cities who have been SABInBev’d by an announcement that a “High End” outlet will be opening in their city. Starting in the Golden State’s capital, Sacramento.
Instead of Golden Road, how about visit…Big Sexy Brewing instead. Here are some beers that sound delicious to me…
Bracia Goddess of the Vine – Barrel Aged Blonde 11.2% abv
“This limited release blonde that has been aged to perfection with local grown Cabernet grapes and aged in cabernet barrels. This is a seasonal beer not to be missed!”
5149 – Blend 5.9% abv
“5149 is an awesome blend of two of our most popular beers. Tricky Ricky to bold? Daytime-Ish Blonde needs a little more oomph for you? Try it and this special blend and you might be hooked!”
AwKwArD HaNdShAkE – IPA 6.0% abv
“A golden bodied India Pale Ale with bold and juicy tropical flavors which delivers a subtle piney bitterness on the palate while finishing with a hoppy smoothness.”
SEXI MEXI – Mexican Lager 6.3% abv
“Yep we said it.. Sexy Mexi. This mexican lager is a smooth craft beer that delivers amazing flavors but is light enough to enjoy anytime.”
Looks like the dust did not have a chance to settle on the (now) old Valiant Brewing facility on Batavia in Anaheim as Evan Price and Brian Rauso, both formerly of Noble Ale Works have taken over the equipment for their coming sooner than you think new venture, Green Cheek Beer Company.
There is no slate of beers announced yet, but there is a collaboration beer with Cellarmaker in the wings and though no logo or web presence of yet but Green Cheek is a reference to parrots found in Anaheim…
…so expect some bird motif.
Our final stop is Wise Guy Brewing. Conjures up old-timey gangster movies which is an interesting choice for San Diego. Adding to the dissonance is the fact that founder and brewer Brett Gent will be focusing on classic German styles. Don’t get me wrong, we need to see more German and English style breweries so I would jump at the chance to try something from the 2(ish) taps dedicated to those beers, could be a Pilsner, Doppelbock, Altbier, Schwarzbier, Helles Lager, Dunkelweizen, Oktoberfest.
You might also find Brown Ales, Porters, Stouts, ESB’s and a Vienna Lager. Gent has won numerous awards for his home-brewed ales and lagers.
Lest hop heads be scared away Wiseguy will also use their 10-barrel brewhouse and five 20-barrel fermenters to make IPA’s as well.
There is light at the end of the brewing tunnel for Simmzy’s in Burbank. It glows red….
I will have my interview with Greg and Brian who are handling the brewing show on Food GPS in early April but here are a couple photos of the downstairs, where the tanks will sit….
…and the upstairs where the brewing system will be humming along…
Our second ignited stop is in Carlsbad for the European cycling themed Rouleur Brewing. Here are the San Diego beers with a Belgian twist that I would check out….
The Domestique Blonde Ale – “This beer is designed to be approachable yet memorable with a soft malt backbone and delicate Noble hop bitterness, keeping it from being too heavy or sweet. The aroma is slightly grainy, yet not astringent, and the forward palate is reminiscent of malted milkshake, grain and honey. The finish is dry and crisp with just the slightest hop bitterness. Well rounded, smooth and reliable.”
The Sprinteur Red Ale – “displays a rich and brilliant ruby red hue. The flavor and mouthfeel offer a chewy malt complexity reminiscent of dark caramel and dark fruits. The body forward beer is balanced with a dose of fresh fruity-citrusy hops. Visually pleasing, full-bodied and inspirational.”
The Puncheur Pale Ale – “This is the go-to beer of the pack, offering something for everyone. This beer has a brilliant gold color with warm hints of red in its hue. The malt and hop bills, as well as yeast character, lend it an overall fruity character. This beer is a perfect balance of malt and hops in both aroma and flavor. Resilient, fruity, and reliable.”
The Clydesdale India Pale Ale – “Rouleur takes the “Italian cooking” approach to IPAs: Few ingredients that are of high-quality yet not necessarily uncommon; balanced perfectly with a twist. ROULEUR’s India Pale Ale is “hoppy” in flavor and aroma, but not bracingly bitter, sessionable-ish in terms of alcohol content, and different enough to be memorable and go the full distance. Clean, purposeful and without pretense.”
The Grimpeur Dark Ale – “is very dark…nearly black. This beer is malt heavy yet balanced with a chocolatey and dark-caramelly flavor and aroma with a very faint roast character. With just enough hop character for balance, this is an all dark-malt-forward beer with a Belgian finish. Thick, creamy and focused on reaching the top.”
Our first “Ignited” stop is at Pariah Brewing. Helmed by Brian Mitchell who most recently was at Stone in their R&D section.
Mitchell, another home brewer gone pro, has six core beers for Pariah….
Off White Wit – a Belgian wheat inspired by boba tea. Brewed with honey, green tea, lemongrass, orange slices, and ginger
Uni Stout – a milk stout featuring sea urchin and fresh sea urchin gonads.
Dorcha – a stout brewed with molasses, cacao nibs and a proprietary blend of coffee from local Bird Rock Coffee Roasters
Dank Drank IPA – a West Coast IPA fortified with Amarillo and Mosaic hops
Drupe – a fruit IPA interpretation, made with hemp oil, peach, and mango
Erotic City – a beer brewed with Muscat grapes, honey and grains of paradise.
Now that I have your interest heightened, you can read more about the H.G. Fenton brewery igniter where Pariah has started brewing, right HERE.