Denver Brewery # 2 – TRVE

Our second stop in Denver, home of the Great American Beer Festival is TRVE Brewing Company.  And pretty much everything you need to know is summed up with this snapshot from their stark, black website….

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They also advise employees about Slayer tattoos.  So there is that as well.  And though that type of music is more for my brother-in-law, I would not be scared of walking in and ordering the following taster tray:

Hellion – American Table Beer

Scorn – Dry Hopped Pale Wheat Beer

Grey Watcher – Grisette

and I would love to try one of their Solera efforts, their Brett beeers or the Winter Zephyr, a sour black ale which sounds intriguing.  I am sure I would walk away with a bottle cause those labels would be perfect for Halloween.

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Rev up the Brewery

The wine country of Covina.  Let’s just say that is not on the tips of peoples tongues but Rev Winery is making European inspired wines from Temecula grapes.  And now they are branching into our favorite beverage, craft beer.

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They have hired Erick (Better known as Riggs) Villar of Ohana Brewing to join Patrick Bustos and Adam Jaime to work a seven barrel brewhouse.  This had flown by my beer radar to the point where there beers will be coming out fairly soon.  No waiting for this permit or that review.  They will be joining with Alosta Brewing to fill up the pint glasses of beer fans in the San Gabriel Valley.

More news to follow when I have had a chance to try their beers.

Denver Brewery # 1 – Former Future

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Our first stop for Denver is Former Future Brewing Company.  Bronze Medal winner at GABF this year in the experimental category.  They opened in February of this year with the purpose of “combining modern science and innovation with historic styles and traditions.”  They only brew 120 gallons at a time so I would hazard a guess that the beer goes fast and changes frequently.

Here is what I would put on my first taster tray…..

Countinghouse – a pre-prohibition cream ale

Ryetly Oaked – a rye ESB fermented in red wine barrels

Golden Feather – a golden sour aged in sherry barrels

Salted Caramel Prim & Porter – a salted robust porter

BC Brewery # 3 – Deep Cove

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Our final BC stop goes by the name of Deep Cove and not only do they brew beer but they also distill spirits as well. A dual threat or you could just combine the two into a craft beer cocktail. Using any of the beers that would be on my first taster tray, if I was visiting….(all are 5% and under)

Patersbier Belgian Enkel

“A Trappist style table beer designed to be flavourful and thirst quenching. The name literally translates as “Father’s Beer”- referring to it traditionally being brewed for the monks’ own consumption.”

Kentucky Common

“A pre-prohibition American style that utilizes ingredients and techniques used in the making of bourbon – corn, rye, and a sour mash.”

Trapper Johns Lager

“Our Brewmaster has created a bright and crisp lager that displays hints of sweet malt and lemon. Adding a touch of local tradition, Trapper John’s was named for the longest running employee of Mt. Seymour- A man, they say, who’s skiing ability is legendary.”

Sun Kissed Tea Saison Summer Ale

“This playful beer will surprise you with its combination of fruity tones, peppery spice, and a refreshingly dry tartness. Made with apple, mango and papaya infused Rooibos tea, Sunkissed is the perfect summer sipper.”

Or you could go with the extremely unique Oyster Gin “Ahab” that is “made with BC Royal Miyagi Oysters & local botanicals”

BC Brewery # 2 – Four Mile Brewing

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The middle stop in British Columbia is in Victoria and Four Mile Brewery.

They brew on a Peter Austin system which according to their website “is a direct-fired, brick clad, copper whirlpool and hop percolator, and you cannot buy it at Costco when you get a Vitamix.”

They also enlisted Alan Pugsley to be the brewmaster. Pugsley has come in and brought his expertise to a few breweries, Shipyard being the most known, then he leaves the brewing to a resident brewer. In this case Doug White who has UC-Davis learning in his past.

Without further ado, here are the British style ales that I would have in my first taster tray…

Best British Beer

The 4 Mile crew call this their “Stiff Upper Sip.” A cask conditioned beer that they deem a true session beer. Comes in at a low 4.25% ABV.

Golden Ale

A golden blond Canadian style ale with a crisp dry clean finish. Plus, “Just a flash of sweet.” And another low ABV at 4.6%.

Brown Ale

5 malts including crystal, chocolate & roasted barley are used to bring out “notes of caramel, mocha and coffee and chocolate.” Comes in at 5.3% ABV.

English Strong Ale

A style that is overlooked as people go to barley wines but the ESA is a more subtle dance of malt and hops and despite the Strong in the title it still clocks in under 7% ABV.

 

Bagby Beer

One of the most hotly awaited brewery openings is coming so close….

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Bagby Beer Company has a massive space in Oceanside that was once a car dealership.  You can check out some great photos HERE from Jay Brooks.  Keep following their Facebook page for details.  This will be a popular place and not just because of the ocean.

 

BC Brewery # 1 – Bad Tattoo

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Our first Canadian and more specifically British Columbia stop is the Bad Tattoo Brewing Company with their impressive logo.  They are based in Penticton (which I have yet to visit) They just started up kegging and serving beer in late July/ early August.  And since they are so new, their website only shows four beers  so those are the four beers that I will put on my taster tray.

You can start with ACP their sessionable beer that is short for Achieve, Conquer & Persevere.  Then move on to Los Muertos Cerveza  Negra a malt forward dark lager.  Before dipping into the hop pool with their West Coast IPA.  To finish the aptly named Full Sleeve Stout.

Frankly I don’t know how people stand the pain of tattoos but if an arm with a tattoo is proffering me a beer, I frankly don’t care.

Can’t Keep Up with PDX

I’m start to get happy about the increasing rate of brewery openings in the greater L.A. / SoCal area and then I read an article like this ONE from the New School Blog that covers the Portland area.

Touting three new openings coming soon. (I particularly like the name Culmination for a brewery)

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Now I feel like we are back to being months and years behind Portland’s beer scene.  Aaargh!

Dutch Brewery # 3 – Brouwerij Maximus

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Our final stop in the Netherlands is back in Utrecht at Brouwerij Maximus.  They have a wonderful design sense which really draws you and then you peruse their beer list and even in Dutch, you can tell what kind of magic they are wielding with their brew kettles.

The beer that really caught my eye (which I assume is a seasonal or special release) is their Maximus Cuvee Bergamot Brett.  Tea is not used enough in beer and I think the combo of Brett bugs and Bergamot would make a really crazy combo. But the following are the four beers that I would put in my taster tray first.

Maximus Highhops 6 – A Dutch take on IPA.

Maximus Pumpkin – How theatrical will their Pumpkin be compared to the American amped versions.

Maximus Stout 8 – A basic stout can tell a lot about a brewery

Maximus Koffie Stout – European coffee can be quite different and I would to see if their is a major taste change.

Dutch Brewery # 2 – Rooie Dop

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The second stop in the Netherlands is Rooie Dop. Don’t even ask how to pronounce it. Just drink up from this Utrecht brewery.

And the first beer on my e-taster tray is “Dedicated to the king of all Dutch beer hunters – Ot Louw. A bitter concoction dry hopped with our American hops into an 8% double IPA.

Utrecht Strong Ale is next a big ale that has “Big hops dominate the aroma and big malts support them in taste.”

Lastly I will try the Double Oatmeal Stout Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Oatmeal Stout. Long name indeed. They “took our regular Double Oatmeal Stout and put that beauty in barrels. It has been aged for five months in three different barrels: Wild Turkey, Satin wood and Buffalo Trace.”

I haven’t seen their beers in the L.A. market but they have done collaboration beers with English breweries to create a Double White IPA and a Lapsang Saison so maybe they might hop the pond to the US!

PS – As of today, Daily Grind, their coffee beer is in LA now!