Category: Brewery Tour

A concise brewery bio

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from the Austin Beer Guide – Hops and Grain Brewery


Our second stop in our swing through Texas is Hops and Grain. They have two canned beers. A pale ale and an alt. One of the first canned alts that I have seen.

But what really got me interested is their Greenhouse series. Here is how their website describes it, “The Greenhouse is a breeding ground of sorts. A place where all new ideas are invited, style guidelines thrown out the window and happiness abounds. The Greenhouse is our 3 bbl pilot system and in the Greenhouse we grow all sorts of things. Some of it we sell, some of it we keep but we always serve it in the tap room first.”

Oh and they are part of the sustainability movement too. So I like them all the way around.

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from the Austin Beer Guide – Adelbert’s Brewery

Our first stop in Texas is Adelbert’s Brewery…

…in Austin. They have been brewing with Bohemian Floor Malts and a multi-step decocotion method since 2010 and these are the beers that jumped off the computer screen and got me thirsty.

“Scratchin’ Hippo is a dark reddish-brown ale brewed in the style of a traditional, rustic artisanal French farmhouse ale, Bière de Garde. Complex flavor profile with a prominent malty sweetness and earthy character.”

Philosophizer is a “hearty flavorful reddish orange beer with natural spices, clean hops, and a dry finish.”

Maybe, if a trip to Austin happens, I will be able to buy a pint at the Alamo Drafthouse and watch a movie with an Adelbert beer.

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Bagby beer

One of the hardest things to do in opening a brewery isn’t brewing the beer or designing the logo or hiring staff. Nope, one of the hardest things to do is find a suitable location. One that doesn’t require breaking through mile after mile of red tape and that can fit into your vision for now and the future.

And in California, what with prices still being higher than in other parts of the country that problem is exacerbated. Even for someone like Jeff Bagby who has Great American Beer Festival medals galore.

But now the good news. The Bagby Beer Company has taken that step and found a place to call home in Oceanside. They have taken over an old car dealership space. If all goes well, construction will begin in 2013 and maybe if the process goes according to plan beer will be made.

The San Diego scene shows no sign of flagging.

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ManRock Brewing

One of my great joys in life is to travel and when I do, I love finding a local brewery that doesn’t distribute beyond its borders but supplies the community with great craft beer. That is one reason why I write this blog, to expose all these places and beers to the masses. So now we travel to Grover Beach in California to ManRock Brewing.

You will notice a them amongst the beer names. If you are paying close attention…..
“Reap Wheat You Sow” – Banana Wheat
“Dirty Reapin’ Blonde” – Blonde
“Fear The Reaper” – Amber
“Reapers Creepers” – Pale Ale
“Reaper-cussion” – IPA
“Apocalyptic” – DIPA
“Grim-onade” – Barley Wine
Their tasting room is open 7 days a week and all you have to do, if you are in LA like me, is to drive north a stretch and get out of the city.

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Brewery Tour – Fort Collins stop # 1 – Funkwerks


I was quite happy that I was able to get a taster of beer from Fort Collin’s Funkwerks. They along with Crooked Stave (which brews at their facility) have been getting a bit of beer praise and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. And I was impressed.

They focus on the saison style and have a primer on this now thoroughly Americanized style on their website HERE.

I had the Tropic King but their list of beers include ingredients like grapefruit, fennel, and green tea too. So after hitting New Belgium and Odell’s, head over and try a Belgian Oatmeal stout or a citrus saison.

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Brewery Tour – Fort Collins stop # 1 – Odell’s

I made my first trek to Fort Collins this year. It was brutal. Shuttled by New Belgium with beer on the bus to their brewery. But I did miss out on the rest of the scene in this Colorado beer city. So this month, we will travel together to some breweries that I have not visited, yet.

First up is Odell Brewing Company…..

I have had their 90 Shilling Ale and their recent Woodcut offering (#6) but there are quite a few more beers of theirs that I want to try. So let’s get to my list….

St. Lupulin
“A mystical legend echoes in our brewhouse – that of St. Lupulin (loop-you-lin) the archetypal hophead. He devoted endless summers to endless rows of hops, tending to the flowers and the beloved resin within – lupulin. Extraordinary oils in this yellow resin provide this dry-hopped extra pale ale with an undeniably pleasing floral aroma and clean, crisp finish.”

Shenanigans
“Our spirited brewers diligently cultivate recipes on our pilot brewing playground. Sometimes, things don’t turn out as planned…they turn out better. Destined for another adventure, this delightful crimson ale is aged in oak with just a touch of Brettanomyces. The subtle Brett tartness balances the rich amber malt with hints of dried fruit and light citrus. Our ode to the happy accident, Shenanigans was just too good not to share.”

This is family started business that counts sustainability and philanthropy among their core beliefs. That is three mission statements (when you count the beer) that I can believe in.

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Pacific Plate

There are many breweries bubbling under the surface here in the Los Angeles area and here is some positive news from one of them, Pacific Plate via Jonathan Parada! “..we found a location in San Dimas and will be signing the lease sometime this month. Supposing the licensing goes well we can look forward to having a tap room open as early as February or as late as July 1st.”

And it looks like the brewery swag will be really cool, “We’ve found an exciting relationship with a clothing company called Loud & Obnoxious that have become full-time partners of our company and are heading up the marking/merchandise of the company. They’re looking to turn the name Pacific Plate into more than just a beer, but a brand, a style. With some really innovative artists on board we’re looking to design labels/ logos for two lines of beer.”

But let’s focus on the beer, shall we, “First, our historically accurate Ales/ Lagers will consist of a Double Decoction Bavarian Heff, a California Common, and a Trappist Duble.

Our second line will be modern day fusions of popular styles with Central American Flavors, Horchata Stout: An English Milk Stout brewed with cocoa beans and cinnamon, Mango IPA, Agave Wheat, and our WidowMaker IPA.” I am glad to see a twist on the near forgotten milk stout. Looking forward to tryin’ them.

Pacific Plate Brewing Co.

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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.”