Category: Brewery Tour

A concise brewery bio

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Ruhstaller

Just when I think that I have a handle on all of the breweries another new one pops up. Case in point, scanning the beer shelves at my Glendale Whole Foods, I ran across a canned four pack with a weird face on the silver can.

It was the 1881 California Red Ale from a brewery in Sacramento called Ruhstaller. And they have taken the novel step of having an Oregon hopped version and a California hop version. Screams for a side-by-side comparison for sure.

As I mentally noted this Raider color schemed can, I saw another Ruhstaller beer with a black fabric around the neck. A CAPT California Blk IPA. That is the name.

When space in the ‘fridge opens up, I will have to investigate these new offerings from the state capital.

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GABF Brewery # 3 – DC Brau

While at the Great American Beer Festival, of the 35+ some odd 1 ounce samplers that I had, one was called the Corruption from DC Brau.

Once you get past the political themed names, you find some solid beers. Before GABF, I had their collaboration fall beer, Fermentation without Representation that they brewed with Epic from Utah and really enjoyed it. The Corruption IPA also fell into the enjoyed category. A crisp beer that had enough bitterness for a left coaster like myself.

Two other tidbits that raise their approval ratings for me are that they are canning in the Capital and that they are politically active in the arena of DC statehood. Canned beer has a better chance of making it out to me and if we got DC as a state maybe people will stop talking about Ohio for half a second. (Sorry, election year rant)

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Milwaukee Brewing

Being from the Milwaukie of Oregon, when I saw an ad for Milwaukee Brewing, I was intrigued. Even more so that they go by the handle of MKE.

Because that looks almost like my middle name. I will let you guess. Shouldn’t take long.

But then I started looking at their beer and saw that their head brewer studied culinary arts. Which would be an odd but maybe inspired choice for a brewery background.

Plus the beer names and packaging are very cool. A little old school looking with some wit. I was most taken by Louie’s Demise, “Our flagship brand; this medium bodied amber ale starts with a rich malt flourish that’s kept in perfect balance by a smooth hop finish. This MBC original is similar to a German style malt beers.”

I also liked “Admiral” Stache “Milwaukee Brewing Co’s take on a classic European style. Baltic Porters are the stronger lager fermented cousin of the classic London Porter. The higher strength and cold fermentation help to create a smooth, less fruity porter, rich in roasted malt flavors and aromas. The “Admiral” Stache has a deep brown hue with a light caramel head. Toffee and milk chocolate dominate the flavor with subtle hints of dried fruit. One month of aging in Bourbon Barrels imparted a layer of vanilla and oak.”

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GABF Brewery # 2 – No-Li Brewhouse

One of the new breweries that I tried at the recently concluded Great American Beer Festival was No-Li Brewhouse out of Spokane, Washington.

I was drawn to their booth by their simple but cool bottles that they had next to the pitchers of their beer.

L.A. people may bristle at the W.S.U. Cougar roots of No-Li. They will not at the beer. I sampled Silent Treatment (One of the best beer names ever) and it cut through the other beers that I had sampled at the convention hall.

Next time, I will try the following….

BORN & RAISED IPA

“This big bold copper colored ale showcases a big malty body and sweetness contrasted against a substantial hop presence which begins in the nose, continues in the flavor and ends with a lingering hop finish.”

CRÉME ALE

“Very pale, flavorful version of an original American beer style which combines the fermentation characteristics of an ale with the smoothness and maturity of a lager. Look for delicate soft maltiness complimented by the finest Northwest hops.”

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GABF Brewery # 1 – Back Forty Beer

Since I will be making my triumphant return to Denver for the Great American Beer Festival, I thought that this month, I would focus on three little known breweries that I will attempt to sample from while I am there.

First up is Back Forty Beer from Gadsden, Alabama.

Per their website, they have four offerings currently Naked Pig Pale, Truck Stop Honey (which is a brown ale), Freckle Belly IPA and Kudzu porter. The artwork for the labels is simple but very effective especially for the Naked Pig which is described as “German malts provide a perfect balance to the five hop additions that go into every batch we make.”

Sounds good to me! I will add a review below if I get the chance to taste it!

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Franconia Beer Guide

One of the perks of being on the Beer Advisory Board for the 4 Points Beer Hotel is the chance to talk shop with other craft beer fans. What I did not expect was to be rubbing shoulders with someone who made the acknowledgements of the World Atlas of Beer book.

Fred Waltman got that honor because of his knowledge of the beer scene of Franconia which is in interwebs form HERE.

The next time you make the trip to Germany, you will want to consult this page for some sage advice on where to go and what to do.

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September Brewery # 3 – Elkhead

When I want to make myself feel jealous about the craft beer that I am not trying, I head over to some other beer blogs and when I last vistied the Brewdad, I read about a tiny brewery in Buckley, Washington by the name of ElkHead.

They have quite the eclectic list of beers including one called Blast Zone that is pepper filled. Check out all of them right HERE. The Huckle Buzz and Citronic grabbed my attention.

You can also pick up their beers at Ocean Shores and watch the waves.

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September Brewery # 2 – Throwback Brewing


New Hampshire doesn’t have the same hops and malts growing area that the Pacific NW does but that isn’t stopping the optimistic folks at Throwback who are trying to push for their own “beer-oir”

The beers that struck my fancy are the Maple Kissed Wheat Porter which “is a medium-bodied porter that tastes amazingly smooth and velvety. The rich and creamy mouthfeel is a result of the wheat used in the brewing process. Local maple syrup gives this beer just a hint of palate-pleasing sweetness as well as a nice depth of flavor.

We call this beer “maple-kissed” because we use just the right balance of maple syrup to impart a delicious flavor without the beer becoming sweet.”

There is also the Spicy Bohemian a “pilsener and “dry-hopped” it with roasted jalapenos. The result is a well-balanced beer with a very intoxicating peppery-type aroma, great jalapeno flavor, and just a bit of lingering heat. This beer pairs extremely well with any type of Mexican food, as well as many types of hard cheese.”

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Ritual Brewing

Redlands is getting a new brewery, Ritual Brewing

Now the trip east becomes even more worth it now that there will be two stops in town.

Plus, thanks to a bright-eyed FoodGPS reader, there is another brewery fermenting in Riverside by the name of Thompson Brewing.

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September Brewery # 1 – Offshore Ales

When I think of Martha’s Vineyard, my first thought isn’t craft beer but thanks to Linzy Mahoney of the Edible Westside (Los Angeles) magazine. I now know about Offshore Ales.

And they cover a gamut of beer styles from an ESB (Extra Sensory Beer) to a few different IPA options to a Breakfast Porter as well. And it is a brewpub, so you can get food too as you sample from the 10 beer lines and 2 cask engines.

It is good to see craft beer penetrating every nook and cranny of the U.S.