Category: Brewery Tour

A concise brewery bio

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North Carolina brewery # 3 – French Broad

Our last stop in North Carolina is French Broad Brewery in the east coast craft beer mecca of Asheville.

The first beer that caught my attention, partially due to the patriotic name, is 13 Rebels ESB — Named for the 13 colonies, our Extra Special Bitter features generous Goldings profile and a complex malt palate. I am predisposed to breweries that have ESBs, brown ales or milds on their regular menu and this would be the first one that I would go for. Then my hoppy extreme side would get a chance to order the IPA because who wouldn’t want to solve this conundrum “Here’s a really easy riddle: what has twelve hops additions and rules your face?”

French Broad has been around since 2001 filling taps and growlers with their offerings.

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MOA

No, it is not someone asking for “moa” beer please. It is a brewery from New Zealand. Blenheim to be exact.

MOA Beer recently held a tasting of 5 of their beers up in Oregon at the famous Belmont Station. And maybe some of their line will reach a little further south here to Los Angeles.

The ones that most interest me are:
Moa Five Hop Winter Ale shows the unique signatures of traditional North European bottle conditioning. Displaying a Nelson-dominant hoppy nose with a subtle oak character leaving extra smooth and creamy, honeyed characters on the palate. A well-balanced companion to eastern style spiced foods. Traditionally served just below room temperature.

Moa Methode is bottle fermented and conditioned to give a natural, more consistent carbonation and flavour. Due to the natural brewing process of Methode Moa, a light, beneficial sediment will remain. This sediment protects the beer from premature aging and leaves full, slightly spicy characters on the palate.

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I & I

I was reading about the new Little Bear bar on the interwebs (I forget where, apologies in advance) and I ran across this bit of news: “I & I Brewing, the newest in the thriving micro and small brewery business, has opened shop today in Chino. The menu currently features six offerings, including Honey Cream Ale, Peach Wheat Ale and a Belgian Cranberry Wheat. Their tasting room is open only on Fridays (4PM to 9PM) and Saturdays (1PM to 9PM)”

Aside from the fact that my last name starts with I, this is cool on another front. Every community should have their own brewery. And maybe one day I&I will make it to L.A. and be a player just like Hangar 24 from Redlands is today.

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North Carolina brewery # 2 – Pisgah Brewing

Our second stop in North Carolina is the hard to spell (for me) Pisgah. It is an organic brewery in Black Mountain (near the epicenter Asheville).

I found many beers that I would love to try but these two really stood out…..

Pisgah Pub Ale
“Brewed with local Haw Creek Wildflower honey, this blonde english style drought beer is pushed through a Nitro creamer fawcett creating the classic “whipped cream” foamy head and waterfall pour. A lighter 4% abv and lower carbonation produces the ultimate session beer. Treat yourself today! Draft only.”

Dancin’ Hobo
“The Hobo is a creation is now 23 month in the works. This beer was first brewed incorporating orange peel and thyme. Next, we added some charred oak and champagne yeast. And finally a healthy dose of raspberries. Much later, the Dancin’ Hobo was born. Hang on to your hat. If you don’t dance, you may after one of these. 13% ABV

Sorry folks, the Hobo has wandered off down the tracks. Will we ever see him again? Only the Hobo knows…”

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North Carolina brewery # 1 – Wedge Brewing

The first stop of the January e-tours of North Carolina is the beer bastion of Asheville and Wedge Brewing.

“The Wedge Brewing Co. is located in the lower level of the Wedge Studios situated in the River Arts District of Asheville, N.C. The building is a classic brick warehouse adjacent to the railroad tracks. The original use of the structure was probably as a food warehouse. The space the brewery is in at onetime stored slaughtered hogs.”

Here are a couple beers to think about ordering the next time you find yourself in North Carolina.

Community Porter – “English Style Robust Porter with a West Coast twist, Carob and Maple are added into the Kettle. Kent Golding Hops are added just to balance the Malt Sweetness. Organic Pale, Munich, Chocolate, and Caramel malts comprise the Grain Bill.”

Golem – “Belgian Strong Golden Ale. Wicked and Dangerously drinkable, this brew is made with Belgian pilsner malt, and small portions of wheat, oats, and corn, true Belgian candy sugar, and a variety of European Noble Hops including Saaz. No Fruit or Spices are used in this Brew! It’s all the Yeast’s Flavor Contributions.”

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Where Santa might Stop – Bethlehem Brew Works


Since Santa shares this holiday with a certain other fellow, he might want to stop and raise a glass in Bethlehem. Pennsylvania of course and the Bethlehem Brew Works home of Rude Elf’s Reserve.

The story behind this beer is quite fascinating. Check it out HERE

Here’s to a merry and beer filled Christmas and let’s hope Santa Claus (Kris Kringle, Sinter Klass, St. Nick) has a fun and safe journey around the world!

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Where Santa might Stop – Red Jacket

While flying over Michigan, Kris Kringle may pause at Red Jacket which is inside the Michigan House Cafe.

They brew a 1/2 barrel at a time and produce a coffee oatmeal stout with the same type of ingredients that breweries used before prohibition. It has 13 shots of espresso that should keep Santa going well into the night.

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Where Santa might Stop – Pear Tree Inn

While in England, St. Nick might stop at Banbury for a drink at the aptly named Pear Tree Inn (no mention of partridges). It is part of Hook Norton.

“This pretty 18th century pub, which also serves as the Brewery’s tap, is ideally located for use by the many walkers who pass by or visitors to the Hook Norton Brewery Visitor Centre.
The Pear Tree has a single, beamed bar with welcoming log fire. The Pear Tree is open all day and has the full range of Hook Norton beers.

Double bed in roomThe pub has three bed and breakfast rooms, which are much in demand during the summer months.

The pub is famed for its annual beer festival which is held every July.”

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Cannery # 3 – Southern Star


Since this is CanFest month, my featured breweries don’t come from just one state or region but share the commonality of canning!

Southern Star got on my radar due to their Buried Hatchet stout. And due to recent expansions to brewing capacity and the canning line more canned beers will be flowing out of this Texas brewery. And that might include seasonal cans to!

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The LAB in Agoura Hills

I and beer buddy Richard had the opportunity to get a tour of one of the newest breweries to open up in the LA area today, The LAB Brewing Company. Big thanks to Roger Bott for taking the time out of his busy brewing schedule to sit down and chat with us about the brewery.

We got to sample 5 of the beers (primarily 1st batches), including the still not quite done Kona coffee beer. And better than that, we got to hear the stories behind the beer and about Roger himself. He has been homebrewing and dreaming of opening a restaurant for a long time and now he is living the dream and creating a great beer destination in Agoura Hills just a few miles away from Ladyface Brewing.

Roger has been brave enough to put the first batches on display of the initial three brews:
Big Ass Red — Amber Ale
LAB XPA — IPAs baby brother
Take Her Home — Belgian style tripel
And we tasted the Wit and coffee beers too. I liked the XPA which was strongly bitter and vegetal and stronger hop-wise than intended due primarily to mechanical issues and Richard enjoyed the coffee stout the best which had a really great aroma and strong with a velvety taste. Probably due to the whole beans used in the brewing process.

I like the lab concept (water comes in beakers) which meshes well with Roger’s Amgen work background and it will be interesting to see where these beers go and how his other ideas pan out. It is so fun to see the growth of a brewery from the start. I will certainly try the coffee beer again and I am looking forward to the IPA and other creations too.