Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
I have mentioned that L.A. Ale Works has a second location coming and though that space at Ivy Station in Culver City is not open, yet. There is a beer, and a juicy IPA at that, that might just be the house beer. Meet Me At Ivy Station.
Now I can imagine Archer taking a Spy Nap but Brouwerij West won’t be caught sleeping on hops. They have a new Hazy Double IPA packed to the brim with Galaxy, El Dorado, and Motueka hops. Leading to what the brewery says are “aromas & flavors of peach, citrus zest, and candied tropical fruit.”
Oakshire has a great name for their 3rd fearful release with The Fear That Never Was. Plus it sounds luxuriant, “Barreled down in Heaven Hill Bourbon barrels for 23 months, each cask was transferred to a secondary cask for an additional 7 months. Each of the five casks from our favorite Kentucky distillers lent its own symphony to the blended double-barrel result. Robust maple, bourbon-soaked toffee, rich caramel, and tannic-laden oak make this Fear the most complex and intriguing yet. It is unknown even to us, how deep the darkness can go.”
Readers of the blog know that I truly appreciate the art of beer labels, well, El Segundo Brewing is going to both the past and Future with their new DIPA.
Here is more info from the brewery, “To be Post-Future, means being a minimum of one step ahead of what is considered the accepted state of the world in the years to come. This type of vision is best seen through a multi-dimensional kaleidoscope and it is this perspective that made John Van Hamersveld the artist he is. Known for The Endless Summer poster, Exile on Main Street and Magical Mystery Tour album covers (to name a couple) and the Water Tank in El Segundo, John is now adding an El Segundo Brewing Co. beer label to his storied portfolio!
For this beer, in celebration of the legendary artist and El Segundo native’s 80th birthday, John created a label in his signature colorful style, splashed with pop art nods to El Segundo.
Inspired by John’s vision, we created a West Coast Double IPA that honors the past and gives a glimpse of where we see the IPA in the years to come. Simply stated, a trailblazing classic is never out of style, it only becomes more renowned.”
Next is review number three from the City Beer Store of San Francisco beer purchase. By the end of the month, I will rank all six. Currently Side Pull is one with Lenticular Cap second, how will beer # 3 fare?
BareBottle IPL is Dead is a DDH Pilsner. Full recipe is on the can down to the hopping schedule. First time seeing that. Getting grapefruit but the malt sticks around well. Nice balance here. Has a more silky mouthfeel than sharp and bubbly. Might think at first that it is a pale ale.
I would slot this into second. A little more crisp and it might have gone first.
Though the labels are touch on the neon garish side for me, the beers in this new variety pack from Firestone Walker look intriguing. Hopical Crush would be the first one that I would crack open.
Mind Haze “Tiki Smash” IPA
“Tiki Smash IPA delivers a tiki-inspired flavor combination born of pure hops and freshly toasted coconut. Original Mind Haze hops including Azacca are now joined by Motueka and Sabro hops. The Azacca portion has been increased to amplify the sense of pineapple tropical character, while Sabro delivers its complementary coconut qualities. “We use an elaborate system to introduce freshly toasted coconut for a smooth, subtle extraction,” Brynildson said. “The resulting beer showcases the special synergy of natural coconut with the tropical hop flavors of Mind Haze.”
Mind Haze “Hopical Crush” IPA
“Hopical Crush IPA delivers a double-dry hopped explosion of tropical Mai Tai-inspired flavors, including pineapple and orange. This copiously hopped beer begins by accentuating the original Mind Haze hop blend with the Strata cultivar, which offers up bold pungent fruit and a touch of dank cannabis-like character. The beer is then double dry hopped with twice the amount of hops than usual—ultimately totaling more than five pounds of hops per barrel. The resulting beer exhibits massive flavors that will have you dreaming of Mai Tais on a faraway island.“
Mind Haze “Citrus Cyclone” IPA
“Citrus Cyclone IPA delivers a head-spinning taste of all the citrus flavors under the sun, finished with a kiss of real tangerine. The base beer is co-fermented with fresh California tangerines. This base is blended back with a separate lot of dry-hopped Mind Haze, then finished off with a final dash of tangerine to elevate the citrusy top note. Along the way, the Mandarina hop adds a distinctive orange character. The result is a remarkably refreshing Mind Haze experience.“
California doesn’t see the fresh hop bounty that Oregon and Washington does but the occasional glimmer appears. Just look for the spiderweb to get a Strata Fresh Hop Arachne from Ogopogo Brewing and Three Weavers.
Institution Ales has released a new Pale Ale brewed in with the TOaked Homebrewers Club to honor their 10th Anniversary of brewing at home. (BFH)
Here is how the Camarillo brewery describes it, “This beer is a double-dry hopped Pale Ale featuring Nugget, Mosaic, & Cryo Pop. Cryo Pop is a proprietary hop blend by Yakima Chief hops that’s super tropical and citrusy.”
The whole photoshop phishbowl doesn’t do this new Helles Lager label from Brouwerij West justice. Of all the cool BW labels, the fish really pops into three dimensions. The blue rocks at the bottom really tie it together.
I like a local roaster combining with a local brewer but I don’t normally drink before 6pm most days so, I guess I would have to have breakfast for dinner in the case of this new “breakfast brew” from Santa Monica Brew Works.
I don’t normally go for the super fruited beers but this description and the two breweries starting with L.A.s own Crowns & Hops has me wanting to pick up a can…
“THE BLUE PEACH” BLUEBERRY PEACH GOSE is brewed with peach puree, blueberry puree, graham cracker, vanilla, black lava sea salt, cinnamon and coriander. This beer is a collaboration for Barrel & Flow (Pittsburgh, PA) with Black Calder Brewing Co, (Grand Rapids, MI) and brewed in honor of Stacey Abrams.Her fight to ensure the rights of all voters is an example of being a committed servant of the people.”